History of Luzerne, Lackawanna, and Wyoming counties, Pa.; with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers, Part 127

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 127
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 127
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 127

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).

In 1841 the land at Capoose came into the hands of Pulaski Carter, a young man from Windham county,

HENRY SOMMERS.

Henry Sominers was born June 24th, 1829, in the vil- lage of Laudenbach-am-Meisner, Germany, then under the protectorate of Austria. He emigrated to the United States at the age of fifteen. After a tedious voyage of about three months he landed at New York in May, 1845. His brother, Peter Sommers, some years his senior, had preceded him several years, and located in Carbondale, Pa. Young Sommers at once proceeded to the home of his brother Peter, by the way of Rondout and the Delaware and Hudson Canal to Honesdale, and thence by the gravity road to Carbondale-there being no railway facilities in those days between New York and northern Pennsylvania. Shortly after being settled in the home of his brother he was bound an apprentice to John Reider, the principal watchmaker and jeweler of Carbondale, to learn the art and mystery of the trade. Young Henry was faithful and industrious, soon becom- ing an expert at his trade, winning the confidence and esteem of his employer and patrons.

At the age of twenty-one he determined to enter the battle of life on his own resources. So in 1850 he re- moved to the borough of Dunmore, and swung out his shingle, " Henry Sommers, Watchmaker "; where he re- sided and continued in active business until 1880, when he entered on the duties of prothonotary of Lackawanna county.

In 1855 Mr. Sommers married Miss Sarah A. Griffin, daughter of Thomas Griffin, of Providence, one of the oldest and most honorable families in the Lackawanna valley. Their union has been a long and happy one. They have had two children, daughters, now grown to ripe womanhood, of fine culture and refinement.

In political faith Mr. Sommers is a Republican, having connected himself with the party at the time of its organ - ization and ever since been an active worker for its suc- cess and perpetuity. He has been honored by the na- tional government and the judiciary of his county with several important and responsible public offices. In the

year 1856 he was appointed postmaster of Dunmore, under the administration of President Pierce, which of- fice he held until he resigned in 1861. He was again com- missioned for the same office in 1872 by President Grant, and held the same until he resigned in January, 1880. In 1871 he was appointed by Hon. Garrick M. Harding, president judge of Luzerne county, director of the poor, representing Dunmore borough in the Providence poor district, to which he was reappointed in 1877, and again in 1880, by Judge Rice, president judge of Luzerne county, for three years. For the past three years he has been honored with the position of president of the board.

In the fall of 1878 the new county of Lackawanna was formed out of part of Luzerne county. Governor Hart- ranft made the appointments of the several county officers. At the fall election that year Mr. Sommers was duly elected to the office of prothonotary, on the regular Republican ticket; but by a decision of the Supreme Court the appointees of the governor held over until January, 1880. In the fall of 1879 Mr. Sommers was again nominated by the Republican party and triumph- antly elected, although the new county is largely Demo- cratic. As an evidence of the popularity and high esteem in which Mr. Sommers is held in his own borough, where he has resided for the past thirty years, it is a fact that where the Democrats poll nearly 300 ma- jority Mr. Sommers received a clear majority of 303.

In all the relations of life, private and public, Mr. Sommers has proved by his conduct a worthy, reliable officer and citizen, having the confidence and esteem of all who have had business connections with him, ever cautious and gentlemanly in his deportment. His history is worthy of record-how a stranger emigrant to our country, from humble conditions in early life, can by in- dustry and perseverance build up a character that will win his way up, against adverse circumstances, to posi- tions of honor and trust.

LEOPOLD SCHIMPFF.

Leopold Schimpff was born in the city of Landau, in the Rheinfalz or Palatinate of Germany, November 14th, 1844. After receiving a good common school education he learned the trade of a baker with his father, who there had an extensive business. At the age of fifteen he com- menced to travel, which every journeyman in Germany is obliged to do for at least three years, at the expiration of which time he can start for himself. His travels were mainly in southern Germany, but he also journeyed ex- tensively in the Tyrol, Steinmark, Hungary, Slavonia, the Danubian principalities and Italy. At Vienna, the cap- ital of Austria, he located, intending to make that city his permanent residence, and worked at his trade until his parents concluded to emigrate to America, when he left for home, after an absence of two years. Coming to this country with his parents he located in Scranton, and he has lived here ever since. Mr. Schimpff was in his seventeenth year when he arrived in this country, and only a short time after his arrival the war broke out be- tween North and South. He enlisted in a New York regiment of artillery and served two years, participating in the battles of Winchester, Cross Keys and the second battle of Bull Run. After two years' service in the artil- lery he enlisted in the 19th Pennsylvania cavalry, served three years and was discharged May 16th, 1866, at New Orleans. The regiment in which he served did glorious work in the Western Army, under General Grierson.

Since his return from the army he has been in Scran- ton. In 1869 he was employed as book-keeper in the brewery of Philip Robinson, jr., which position he filled for nine years. Since the death of Mr. Robinson Mr. Schimpff has had the entire management and super- vision of the business. He was elected alderman of the eleventh ward in 1874, with 260 votes for and only one vote against him. During his eventful life Mr. Schimpff has made a record of which any American citizen may well be proud. There was no necessity for him to join the armny when he enlisted. He was an alien and a minor, and a wide field was open for a man of his ability in the then prosperous Union; but casting aside self-interest he enrolled himself among the patriots who succeeded in saving the Union from dis- memberment and dishonor. His comrades in the hard- fought battles in which he participated bear witness to the unflinching bravery of their beardless comrade, and tell many tales of his dauntless courage. In civil as well as military life Mr. Schimpff is respected by all who know him.

The general satisfaction expressed in his appointment as coroner in 1878, and the fact that but one vote was cast against him when he was a candidate for an office in his own ward, are conclusive testimony of the esteem in which he is held in the community.

411

AX, SCYTHE AND STOVE WORKS, SCRANTON-BREWERIES.

Conn., who rented the recently built shop of Jerison White, and in the fall of that year put three trip hammers and three forges in motion, and, purchasing the property, established what is now known far and wide throughout the State as "Carter's Capouse " works. Three oper- ators besides himself were employed in 1841. using three tons and a half of iron and making 180 dozen scythes and 160 dozen axes, which were ground, polished, boxed and sold by Mr. Carter himself, who was foreman, salesman and bookkeeper. The pioneers in this section pronounced these implements of superior quality. The shop, then a single building, thirty by fifty feet, has given place to a cluster of thirty or more buildings. One hundred tons of iron are used annually, and more than 1,000 dozen scythes and 2,000 dozen axes, besides a large number of edged tools used by workers of wood, iron and stone, and embracing carpenters' and railroad and track adzes, and miners' and gravel picks, grub hoes, drills, crowbars, wedges and harrow teeth, are produced.

Blake & Co., in the spring of 1863, established an ax fac- tory where the office of the Cliff works now stands. The establishment was burned about 1867 and was not rebuilt.

In 1876 a building was erected at Green Ridge, which was opened in April of that year by Messrs. J. W. Pike & Co. as a manufactory of mining and edge tools. The business increased steadily, several men being employed in the shop, until the building was burned in January, 1880. Other accommodations were soon secured and business was resumed. During 1879 about $500 worth of tools were turned out per month.

STOVE MANUFACTURE.

The Scranton Stove Manufacturing Company was or- ganized in July, 1865, under the firm name of Fisher & Co. It was the design to manufacture stoves and hollow ware. The first manufactured articles were produced in December of the same year. In May, 1868, the company was largely increased in membership and capital, and in- corporated, having as directors H. S. Pierce, T. F. and A. E. Hunt, C. H. and W. G. Doud, S. Grant and J. A. Price. H. S. Pierce was elected president, and J. A. Price general superintendent and treasurer. The prop- erty of the company is centrally located, in proximity to the shipping points of the various railroads centering in Scranton. The buildings consist of a foundry building, two fitting, mounting and machine buildings, and two warehouses. The capacity of the establishment is about thirty stoves per day, requiring the employment of about 80 men. During the season of 1879 the facilities were increased. The company have adopted the recent useful invention in stove grates called " the dock ash " grate, the demand for which has been constantly ahead of the ability to supply, and indicates a very extensive increase during the coming year. New buildings are contemplat- ed, and this industry, the first important one of its kind in northeastern Pennsylvania, bids fair to rival the larger and older growths of stove manufacturing centers.

The stove manufactory of H. O. Silkman, at Provi. dence, was long a prominent business interest.

THE BREWING INTEREST.

The first brewery in Scranton was the Scranton City Brewery, on Cedar street, established in 1854 by Philip Robinson, sen. A few years later the business passed into the hands of his sons, Jacob, Philip, jr., and Chris- tian, and was conducted by them under the firm name of Jacob Robinson & Co., erecting the present building in 1864. In 1868 this firm was succeeded by Philip Robin- son, jr., who died September 12th, 1879, leaving the en- terprise to his family, under the supervision of Mr. Leo- pold Schimpff, who has been connected with the business of Mr. Robinson since 1869. The buildings are to be greatly enlarged, and the capacity of the brewery increas- ed to 20,000 barrels yearly. About 7,000 barrels of lager are now manufactured annually. An engraving of this brewery appears herewith.

The well known brewery of E. Robinson, at the foot of Seventh street, Hyde Park, was completed and occu- pied in 1876. A large ice-house was erected in 1879. The business, under the proprietor's efficient management, has been successful. About twenty men are employed and from 15,000 to 20,000 barrels of liger are made annually. E. Robinsons brewery is represented below.

ICE HOUSE

1279

ROBINSO

ID=

BREWERY

1879

The Star Ale Brewery was established at the end of Scranton avenue bridge, in Hyde Park, in 1860, by Pos-

412

HISTORY OF LACKAWANNA COUNTY.

tens & Heller. In 1863 Ransom Briggs superseded Mr. Heller in the firm, and the entire business was purchased by Messrs. Morton & Renwick in 1868. In 1872 George Morton purchased the interest of his partner, Frank Ren- wick, and in 1874 Mr. Briggs again became a member of the firm by the acquirement of a half interest, and the style was changed to Morton & Briggs, as the firm has since been known. The original buildings were de- stroyed by fire in 1874 and rebuilt on the old foundations, with enlarged capacity for production. Five men are employed and about 3,000 barrels of ale and porter are manufactured annually.

Nine or ten years ago Oakes & Renwick, who suc- ceeded Oakes & Co., millers, embarked in the brewery business in the reconstructed flouring mill of the former firm. The enterprise was abandoned in about a year.

SASH AND BLINDS-LUMBER YARDS.

The manufactory of William B. Rockwell at Providence is a large building, stocked with all necessary modern machinery for making sash, doors, blinds, mouldings and other building materials in that line. In 1848 Hand & Von Storch rented the second floor of White's axe factory and put in machinery for making sash and blinds. In the April following William and Gregory Von Storch purchased the interest of Mr. Hand, and continued the business until the spring of 1851, when the establishment was sold to E. J. Hand & Son. About a year afterward, by the accession of L. White, the firm became Hand, White & Co. It was changed to Hand, Ward & Co. in 1862, to Hand & Bristol in 1863. to Hand & Coston in 1865, to Hand, Coston & Co. in 1868, and to Coston & Spencer in 1872. This firm was succeeded by H. B. Rock- well in 1876, and he by William B. Rockwell in June, 1879.

In 1866 Joseph Ansley established his lumber yard in Hyde Park, and in the fall of the same year N. Wash- burn and Samuel Heller became partners. Mr. Ansley bought out Heller in 1868 and Washburn in the spring of 1871. A year later C. C. Hand became his partner, and he was connected with the enterprise about a year, the business being transacted, however, as before, in the name of Mr. Ansley. The planing-mill and sash and blind manufactory were established in 1869 by Ansley & Washburn. The building known as the Heermans shop was occupied until the completion of the present sub- stantial stone and wood shops, early in 1879. They were begun in 1876. A large amount of business has been done, the aggregate reaching $150,000 in 1870, though the past few years have witnessed a considerable reduc- tion. About thirty hands are employed.

Mr. John Benore, a well-known contractor and builder, established a lumber yard in the spring of 1871. His planing-mill was erected in 1875, on Scranton avenue, in Hyde Park. About twenty men are employed and an annual business of some $25,000 is done.

BAKERIES.

In the fall of 1867 Monies & P'ughe purchased the business and succeeded Charles Schlager in his steam

bakery. Leasing the property from Schlager for a term of ten years, at a rental of $1,400 a year, they put in new machinery and reel ovens (the first in northeastern Pennsylvania). The result of their enterprise was an es- tablished success. They introduced their well known trade mark, " Star," on their best crackers, which com- manded a continuous large sale. So successful was their enterprise that in 1870 they purchased the property, paying $35,000, and subsequently expended $10,000 on improvements which made their bakery one of the best and largest in the State outside of Philadelphia and Pitts- burgh. In connection with the manufacture of crackers Monies & Pughe bake large quantities of bread and cake.

EARLIER ENTERPRISES - MISCELLANEOUS-THE FUTURE.

In 1808 John Watres, a clothier from New York State, bought the tract where Carter's factory stands, and built a mill for wool carding and cloth dressing. In 1812 John Watres and Isaac Hart, who had bought land of Matthias Hollenback, built and operated a grist-mill, saw-mill and workshop upon the property. A portion of this land passed successively through the hands of Linus Cham- pion, Rufus Bennett, Henry Champion and Lyman Smith. Smith, who came in 1826, introduced from New England the most advanced machinery then in use for the manufacture of woolen yarns, which was operated by his wife. The yarn so made was let out, in accordance with the custom of the country, to weave in families who would weave it and return the cloth to the mill for color- ing, fulling and finishing. Mrs. Thomas Griffin, yet living, a daughter of Elisha S. Potter, did weaving for this mill as late as 1829.

A horseshoe factory was established near the depot in 1855 and opened August 17th, when the first horseshoes were made. In a short time the establishment passed into the hands of William Cook & Co., who tried without success to make locomotives, and sold out to Dickson & Co.

The extensive business of B. & A. Galland, manufac- turers of ladies' underwear at 534 Lackawanna avenue, was begun in February, 1877.

The Scranton Silk Manufacturing Company, of New York, purchased the property of the Scranton Silk Com- pany (whose business was established some years since) in October, 1879. It employs about 150 hands, almost exclusively girls under twenty years of age, and produces about 750 pounds of silk per week, mostly for weaving purposes, valued at $5,000.

Garney, Short & Co., 392 Lackawanna avenue, manu- facturers of fine domestic cigars, and the largest jobbers of leaf and manufactured tobacco in Scranton, succeeded C. Wise in 1869, and are the pioneers of extensive cigar manufacture in Scranton. They employ fifty to sixty hands and their annual sales of cigars exceed 2,000,000. They have a large trade in manufactured tobacco, hav- ing control in their market of the most popular brands of fine cut tobacco manufactured in Detroit and New York.

Clark & Snover are the only parties who manufacture fine cut tobacco in Scranton or the northeastern part of

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SUGAR LOAF MOUNTAIN Res. of Mrs. JOHN ENGLE, Seybertsville, Sugarloaf Township , Luzerne Co., Pa.

HUNTS HARDWARE

KANNINTIMMINE SUPPLIES CUTLERY&TOOLS

HUNT BROTHERS

REYNQUIN

WROUGHTEN

HUNT BROTHERS & CO, DEALERS IN HARDWARE, SCRANTON, PA.

Lyng Barnes Mehoopany Tp. Pa. Wyoming County .

HON. HENRY LOVE, Mehoopany Tp, Pa. Wyoming County.

D! J.W. DENISON, Mehoopany Tp, Pa. Wyoming County.

A. H. RUSSELL, Washington Tp., Pa. Wyoming County.

413

BUSINESS CORPORATIONS, SCRANTON.

Pennsylvania. Their business is extensive. They paid for revenue stamps in 1878 $62,305.80; in 1879, eight months, $40,852.08, making a total in twenty months of $103,157.88.

Among the prominent objects of the Scranton board of trade are the establishment of manufactures and the encouragement of industrial enterprises. This organiza- tion proposes to institute measures for the utilization of the culm or waste coal deposit for furnishing steam heat and steam power from a central point to any section within a radius of three miles.

INSURANCE.

The Cambrian Mutual Fire Insurance Company, Hyde Park, was established in January, 1871. Its assets Decem- ber 31st, 1878, were $10,567.50; its premium notes sub- ject to assessment amounted to $117,050.68; the total expense for the year 1878 was $1,190.11. The business of the company for 1879 improved its standing. Property owned by the Welsh people in Lackawanna and adjoin- ing counties is seldom burned and the risk is small. The Cambrian Fire Insurance Company was formed to insure this class of property. The officers for 1879 were as fol- lows: President, B. Hughes; vice-president, Edward Hughes; treasurer, D. M. Jones; secretary, B. E. Evans. There are fifteen directors, five elected annually.

The Mutual Fire Insurance Company of Scranton, 426 Lackawanna avenue, was chartered in 1875. In April, 1878, the following officers were elected: Hon. John Handley, president; George I. Dickson, vice-presi- dent; E. P. Kingsbursy, treasurer; William Assion, sec- retary; directors, Hon. John Handley, George I .. Dick- son, E. P. Kingsbury, Hon. F. D. Collins, D. B. Brainard, B. E. Leonard, Hon. F. W. Gunster, P. McCann, J. H. Gunster and James Jordan.

GAS AND WATER COMPANIES.

The Scranton Gas and Water Company was chartered March 16th, 1854, and organized in 1857, with the fol- lowing officers and directors: Joseph H. Scranton, pres- ident; George Sanderson, S. & T .; T. F. Hunt, E. H. Kerlin, James Fuller, C. D. Rockwell and W. E. Rogers, directors. The following are the names of the officers and directors in January, 1880: W. W. Scranton, presi- dent; George B. Hand, secretary; G. E. Judson, super- intendent and treasurer; Thomas Dickson, J. J. Albright, Joseph Godfrey, James Archbald, Henry Battin and C. E. Judson, directors. The company has 33 miles of gas and water pipe, from 24 down to 3 inches in diameter. The gas works can make 300,000 cubic fect of gas daily and store 120,000 feet. The gas is manufactured by the Lowe process; 110 public lamps arc lighted by the com- pany.

There are 300,000,000 gallons of water constantly on storage, and the present daily consumption is about 5,000,000 gallons. The mains can supply 14,000,000 gallons daily. There are 101 hydrants. The works cost over $700,000 and expensive additions have been made from time to time. Very large extensions in the water

department were made in 1879, and others still more ex- tensive were decided on for ISSo.

The Hyde Park Gas Company was organized August 18th. 1875, with Thomas Phillips as president, A. Davis as secretary, William Merrifield as treasurer and Martin Maloney as superintendent, and the same as directors. The following are the names of those in office in January, 18So: W. W. Scranton, president; George B. Hand, secretary and treasurer; C. E. Judson, superintendent and engineer; Joseph Godfrey, C. E. Judson, W. W. Manness and Martin Maloney, directors. This company has about two and a half miles of pipe and lights sixty- three public lamps.

A water company with necessary facilities for supply- ing that portion of the city is in existence in Providence.

STREET RAILWAYS.

Hyde Park, Providence, Scranton, Dunmore and Green Ridge are connected by the People's Street Rail- way, formed by the consolidation of the Scranton and Providence Passenger Railway and the People's Street Railroad May 11th, 1868. The companies were formed and operations begun in 1867, and for a time previous to their consolidation they bitterly contested their respect- ive claims to the principal streets. The president of the People's Company at its organization was James Blair; of the other, Hon. George Sanderson. The officers and directors of the former in 1880 were as follows: William Matthews, president; Alfred Hand, secretary and treas- urer; William Matthews, James Blair, J. C. Platt, William Connell, W. W. Scranton, W. R. Storrs, Alfred Hand, W. W. Winton and John B. Smith. The length of the road is nine and one-half miles. During the year ending October 31st, 1878, 235,163 passengers were carried over the road.

HALLS-THE OPERA HOUSE-THE ACADEMY OF MUSIC.

Before the days of public halls there stood on an eminence of solid rock where Jefferson avenue now is, between the Lackawanna Iron and Coal Company's stores and the carriage entrance to J. C. Platt's grounds, a structure known as Odd Fellow's Hall, which was erected by the early Odd Fellows of Scranton. It was taken down in 1865 and re-erected as a block of dwellings on Dodge street, near the old rolling mill. In this quaint building were formed the early societies of Scranton. For years it was a public hall, open to all for all proper purposes, and the people assembled there for amusement, deliberation and worship. This building was occupied only rarely after the completion of Washington Hall, in the brick block at Lackawanna and Penn avenues, now in use as the Lackawanna county court room. Other commodious halls have been opened from time to time within the city limits, one of the oldest of which is l'a- noo-ka Hall, in Providence.

Klein's Opera House was erected in 1871 by E. C. Klein. It passed into the possession of the Scranton Opera House Company in 1874. That company was or- ganized with E. Frear as president and O. C. Moore as

414

HISTORY OF LACKAWANNA COUNTY.

secretary and treasurer. Later C. A. Stevens was presi- dent and Joseph Walker manager. The opera house was burned in March, 1876.

The Academy of Music, on Wyoming avenue, was erected in 1876-77 at a cost of $40,000, exclusive of the site, by a stock company consisting of James Blair (presi- dent), James S. Slocum, T. F. Hunt, A. E. Hunt and J. H. Sutphin (treasurer). It is one of the most complete theatres in the country. It is on the ground floor and has a seating capacity of 1,500, divided into parquet and dress circle, balcony circle and gallery. The stage is 35 by 60 feet. The academy was opened in April, 1877, under the management of Joseph Walker. C. H. Lind- say assumed the management in the following September, and has since conducted the academy with marked suc- cess. The company in 1879 consisted of James Blair (president), J. A. Linen (treasurer), James S. Slocum, A. S. Blair and J. S. Blair ..

THE SCHOOL OF THE LACKAWANNA.

In September, 1873, Rev: Thomas M. Cann, A. M., es- tablished a young ladies' institute. A male department was added. A suitable building having been erected in February, 1875, the two departments were put into opera- tion under the name of the Young Ladies' Institute and Boys' Classical Academy. In March, 1876, an advisory board of trustees, of which Hon. Alfred Hand was made president, was called in, and the school reorganized under the name of The School of the Lackawanna. The institution has earnestly worked in the cause of higher education and Christian culture. Many of its male grad- uates are to be found in colleges or in business, and two classes of young ladies have received the medal of the institution upon their graduation. The curriculum em- braces not only the ordinary classical and scientific pre- paration for college and university education, but also instruction in music, painting and the modern languages. The instructors are teachers of skill and experience, having made the science of education and the art of teaching a life work.

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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 127

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