History of Luzerne, Lackawanna, and Wyoming counties, Pa.; with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers, Part 152

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 152
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 152
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 152

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 bright scenes and active duties of London life were left behind, with all their fascination; with a vast ocean between him and relatives, in the midst of strangers, cold, heartless and exacting; with no capital save the strong arms and willing heart with which nature had endowed himn, with no broad avenue opening before him to friends and affluence, he found himself in the midst of a wilderness with no immediate prospect of employment or business. To one of a less ardent and hopeful nature the realization of these facts would have heen crushing. Not so, how- ever, to young Jermyn. In casting his eye about him he soon discov- cred that others were in the path of success; that the new world on which he had just stepped was wide and full of rich opportunities for him as well as thein, and his determination was soon formed and his plans laid. Making application to Scrantons & Platt, his first day's work was donc at tlic old furuace unloading coal, and so well and faithfully was his task performed from day to day that he soon attracted the attention of his employers, and before many days had passed he was advanced. Encouraged by this, greater efforts were put forth, and position after position attained, until when hut a few years had passed young Jermyn was no longer a dependent upon others for employment; but with cx- perience obtained under others, and powers for controlling and direct- ing the labor of others enlarged, he was prepared to contract for himself and thus reap the hencfit of his own powers and genius. Readily per- ceiving this lie sought and secured the contract for opening the Diamond coal mines at Scranton, and was the first man to put a shovel into that important work. Never seorning labor himself, he was ever ready, by his example and superior knowledge of the application of ineans to the accomplisliment of euds, to further his enterprises and to gain the con- fideucc as well as the hearty co-operation of those under his control.

His first contract having been pushed to a successful and satisfactory close during the years 1851 to 1854, lic soon after entered into a contract to open and develop the coal of the New York and Pennsylvania Coal Company, situated in tlic notch of the mountain ahove Providenec, and since known as the " Rockwell mines." In this undertaking he was on- gaged somnc four or five years and was highly successful. The contract having been filled and the work accepted by the company, in the year 1859 he entered into a contract with Judson Clark, Esq., for the sinking of a slope and mining the coal from tho lands of the said Clark, situated on the Ahington turnpike and near the mines of the New York and Pennsylvania Coal Company. Here he was engaged for some two years, when, Judson Clark having died, hc, jointly with a Mr. Wells and Mr. Clark of Carbondale, Pa., hecame the proprietor of the mines under a lcaso with the estate, under the firm name of Jermyn, Wells & Co. This

lease continued for three years, when the mining of the coal at this point was abandoned.

Always on the alert for an opening, and with a wonderfully penetra- ting mind, we find Mr. Jermyn always looking in advance, and before he had closed his engagement at one point he had another in waiting for him. Thus, before his lease expired with the Judson Clark estate, hc had effected another with Judge Birdseye, of New York city, for the working of his mines at Archbald, Pa., two miles up the valley from the scene of his last previous operations. These mines had been badly managed for many years, and their reputation was such that the pro- prietor found it difficult to operate them successfully. This Mr. Jermyn soon remedied, however, and he had not been in possession of the mines more than three years when the proprictor was enabled to sell his mines and coal lands to the Bostou and Lackawanna Coal Company at a very large profit.

Mr. Jermyn closed his engagement here with the same success which seems ever to attend him, and, with the same foresight which has all through life characterized him, sought out and before elosing his bus- incss at Archbald effected a contract for mining the coal from the lands of the Gibson cstate, situated two miles up the Lackawanna river from Archbald, at what was then known as Rushdale. Here, as at Archbald, the reputation and the quality of coal to be mined were such that mining operations had been abandoned entirely, and the opera- tors almost literally driven from the field, the mines having stood idle for several years. With all these discouragements and contrary to the advice of his friends, who could see nothing but failure and disaster in the undertaking, Mr. Jermyn, after having examined the mines for himself and satisfied his own mind that there was money to be made there, pushed steadily forward with his improvements, keeping his own counsel until he should be fully prepared to enter upon his mining op- crations.

Having put his machinery and buildings in thorough repair, and added largely to his facilities for mining and preparing coal, in 1875 Mr. Jermyn entered upon the most successful undertaking of his life, and laid the foundation for a large share of the prosperity and wealth which to-day crown his career. Having effected two new leases of coal to tho amount of one million tons each, besides filling successfully the original contract of one million tons, all from the same estate, and with facilities for min- ing and delivering the entire two million tons of coal within the next ten or fifteen years, Mr. Jermyn stands to-day among the most success- ful and wealthy coal operators of the valley. Instead of the predictions made when he was about to enter on this enterprise proving truc, just the reverse has been the result. Thoroughly sifting the community when he came, nonc hut the hetter portiou was retained, and the refuse driven out. Upright, honest and industrious inen were encouraged to come in, and with a liberality which has always been a characteristic of Mr. Jermyn the helping hand was extended and the encouraging word spoken to those who wished to obtain a house for their families ; until from a little cluster of shanties found here when Mr. Jermyn took possession, in which the occupants had no interest, has grown a large and flourishing borough, with large and well-filled churches, a graded school second to none in the county, together with fine hotels and plaecs of business. When the horough of Gibsonburg was incor- porated in 1869 it was thought fitting that it should bear the name of the estate on which it was founded; hence the name of Gibsonhurg. But during 1873, the growth and interests of the horough having from its formation been so intimately connected with Mr. Jermyn and his family, it was thought hut just-and the spontancous expression of the cutiro community was given-that the name of the borough be changed to Jermyn.

In 1851 Mr. Jermyn married Susan, daughter of Joseph Knight, Esq .. of Cornwall, England, a very estimable lady, who has been a faithful sharer of all his toils und cares, and now enjoys with him the harvest of their accumulated wealth. She was born in 1834. Their children are:

458 A

468 B

HISTORY OF LACKAWANNA COUNTY.

Joseph J., born July 31st, 1852; Willie, born in 1854 (died in 1874); Frank H., born in 1856; Myron, deceased; George, born in 1862; Walter, born in 1864; Edward, born in 1866; Einma, born in 1869; Susan, born in 1871, and John, born in 1873. We cannot dismiss the subject without point- ing the moral and drawing therefrom a lesson for the good and encour- agement of young men. Mr. Jermyn, beginning in life at the bottom round of the ladder and ascending step after step to its top, always gen- erous, never withholding aid when appealed to by the truly needy, prompt in the payment of his debts, ever ready to right a wrong unwit- tingly committed, uncompromising in his integrity, temperate in all his habits, stands a bright example to those who would succeed in life and be lionored by the community in which they live.

SUMNER D. DAVIS.

Sumner D. Davis, M. D., a son of Elisha and Laura A. Davis, was born in Nelson, Cheshire county, N. H., March 1st, 1846, and married Miss Laura E. Wilson, of Lynn, Mass., December 27th, 1865. They have three girls living. Mr. Davis came to Hyde Park, Pa., in the spring of 1868 nearly peuniless, and entered the office of Dr. A. Davis. He earned aud saved enough money by bookkeeping, keeping up his studies nights, to pay his expenses during the three years of study, besides the expenses of two courses of medical lectures, one at the University of Michigan and the other at Harvard University Medical College, Boston, Mass., where he graduated Mareli 10th, 1869, aged twenty-three years, indebted pecuniarily to no one, but with his savings exhausted. He borrowed $50 of a brother and located in Rushdale, now Jermyn, Pa., in May, 1869. He borrowed money and built a drug store in the spring of 1870. During his period of study he served as assistant assessor of internal revenue for April and May of 1867 and 1868, also during the summer of 1868. He also worked a few muonthis for the Delaware aud Hudson Canal Com- pany, making out pay rolls and paying the men at the Baltimore Coal mines, near Wilkes-Barre. After the iucorporation of the borough of Gibsonburg, now Jermyn, he was elected one of the town council for three successive terms. He has been borough secretary four terms and borough treasurer one term : past master of Aurora lodge, No. 523. F. and A. M .; past N. G. of Rushbrook lodge, No. 850, 1. O. O. F. and past high priest of Eureka ebapter, No. 179, H. R. C., of Carbondale ; and is the present (1880) general of Palestine commandery, No. 14, K. T., of Carbondale. A Democrat in politics, he bas been postmaster from February 13th, 1871, about six months after the establishment of the post-office of Gibsonburg, until the present time. He has been secretary of the Gibsonburg Building and Loan Association from its organization, in October, 1871, until the present time. He joined the Masonic order in June, 1868.

A. L. GREEN.

Arthur L. Green, superintendent of the Jermyn collieries, is a native of England and has been prominently identified with collicry interests for many years, formerly residing at Providence. He bas two ebildren, one a daughter residing with ber parents, the other a son, John D. Green, manager of the Union Stove Works at Pittston, Pa. Mr. Green was the subject of a cowardly attempt at assassination described in the history of the borough, which seriously impaired his general health.

W. S. HUTCHINGS.

W. S. llutebings, superintendent of the Rushdale Powder Mills, is a native of Bermuda, West India Islands. He came to America when seventeen years of age. He entered the employ of the Moosie Powder Company as a clerk, married the daughter of the superintendent, was afterwards appointed assistant superintendent at Moosic and in 1870 was promoted to his present responsible position.

REV. WILLIAM JENKINS.

Rev. William Jenkins was born in Glamorganshire, Wales, March Ist, 1800, and married at Tievethin Cbuich in Monmouthshire to Miss Ann Miles, who became the mother of ten children and died at Jermyn in 1880. Father Jenkins was licensed to preach in 1835, and in 1869 came to America and in the following year became pastor of the Welsh Baptist Church of Jermyn. Of his children one son, Rev. D. M. Jenkins is the pastor of a large Welsb church in Liverpool, England; another, Rev. E.

H. Jenkins, pastor of a Presbyterian church in St. Louis, Mo., and several others are living at Jermyn and other points in the Lackawanna valley.

GUSTAV BATTENBUROH, a native of Germany, came to Seranton in 1869, to Archibald the following year, and to Jermyn in 1876. He was em- ployed in the Eureka Casket Works until the spring of 1880, when he established himself iu the furniture and undertaking business. He mar- rled Jennie Jones, of Jermyn, and has two children.

BARNABAS CARTER, a native of Durham, England, born January 10th, 1823, lias been for many years identified with mining interests in this State. He married Elizabeth Watson and has eight children living. Mr. Carter is a prominent Free Mason, a Son of St. George, and a warden in St. James Protestant Episcopal church.

JOHN GARDNER, born in Nottinghamshire, England, caque to Car- bondale, Pa., in 1845. He married Elizabeth Pratt, of Yorkshire, England, and has five children living. He lias been a justice of the peace for sixteen years and has spent the most of his time in this coun- try in the villages of Archbald and Jermyn.

JOSEPH MIARRIS, born in Bloomsburgh, Columbia county, Pa., came to Luzerne county in 1862 and to Jermyn in 1866. He married Mary L. Martin, of Carbondale, and has been since his settlement bere connected with the muereantile department of the Jermyn collierics. He has served as borough treasurer, member of the council, and as burgess for 1880.

WILLIAM L. HILL came from Cornwall, England, in 1870, commencing business as a butehier in Carbondale and two years later coming to Jermyn, where he died March 19th, 1874. He married Grace Josephine Olver, of Cornwall, England, who survives him. His children were William O. who married Ida W. Newell, of Jermyn, January 29th, 1879, and succeeds his father in business in the firm of Hill & Walters; Mary Olver, married to George E. Walters, the other partner; Grace, married to Thomas Dyer, of Philadelphia; Emma M. to William A Stewart, of Philadelphia, and Alexander, deceased.

RICHARD JAY, a native of St. Blazy, England, came to Jermyn as a miner in 1867 and has since spent several years in California and Nevada. He married Catharine Griffiths, of Jermyn, a native of Wales, and is the leader and teacher of the well-known Jermyn Cornet Band.

JOHN KNIGHT, mine foreman, is a native of Cornwall, England, and came to America in 1848. He has been engaged in mining since boy- hood, working in copper, iron, gold and coal mines, and belped sink the first slopes sunk at Hyde Park. His adventures in the mines of this and other countries would of themselves form an interesting narrative. He married a daughter of Joseph Coombs, of Placerville, California; has two children living and since 1869 lias been an outside foreman for Mr. John Jermyn.

THOMAS RENNIE, born in Durham, England, eame to Jermyn in 1865, married Hannah Pizer, and has nine children. He has been engineer at Jermyn collieries for thirteen 'years, served as borough treasurer one term, and since 1871 as school director.

WILLIAM B. SWICK, a native of Bath, N. Y., settled in Abington town- ship in 1853, and engaged in the business of a miller. He came to Jermyn and started the Jermyn Steam Flour Mills, and is now in charge of them. He married a Miss Proper, of New York State, and has two children. He served as deputy marshal and enrolling officer during the war for the Union.

THOMAS WALKEY, born in Callington, England, cainc to America in 1870, opening a harness shop in Jermyn. He married at Honesdale, Pa., Anna Smith. His son, Alfred William, was born in 1874. Mr. Walkey is a Son of St. George and an Odd Fellow.

IRA G. WESTCOTT, a native of Susquehanna county, came to Jermyn in 1808, working as a carpenter until 1880, when he purchased the Sweeney House, of whieb he is now proprietor. Mr. Westcott married Josephine Hughes, of Hyde Park, and has served one term as justice of the peace-from 1876 to 1879.

469

CHURCHES AND LODGES OF JERMYN.

court discharged with a compliment for his courage and success.

CHURCHES.

St. James Protestant Episcopal Church .- This society was organized in 1875, and by the munificence of John Jermyn a neat edifice, costing $6,000-$5,000 of whichi was donated by its liberal projector-was erected, and con- secrated the following year, Bishops Stevens, of the dio- cese, and Potter, of New York city, officiating. Rev. R. B. l'eet became rector. Since his removal the parish has been without a resident pastor.

M. E. Church .- The first Methodist Episcopal society in Jermyn was organized in 1862, under the pastoral care of Rev. I. T. Walker, then stationed at Peckville. It held its services in the public school building. The membership was small and at first increased slowly. The pastors at Peckville preach on alternate Sabbaths. Un- der the labors of Rev. J. F. Wilbur a site was obtained in the center of the town, and the present church edifice begun. J. Jermyn, W. J. Hill and F. R. Gill were the building committee; and J. P. Sampson, F. R. Gill, C. D. Winter, J. Maynard, J. Jermyn, J. Rymer and S. Jay were trustees.

April 16th, 1872, Rev. S. F. Wright was stationed here. Under his labors the church was finished, and it was dedicated in July, 1872. The following named pastors have served the church, in the order in which they are given: Revs. S. E. Wright, two years; R. Hivens, two; J. F. Williams, two; J. V. Newell, three. The Sunday- school numbers about 200 members. C. D. Winter has been superintendent from its organization.

Much credit is due to Mr. J. Jermyn for his liberality in donating to this society the entire amount of a heavy church debt, and for the payment of one-seventh of the pastor's salary each year. This church contains an audi- ence room seating four hundred persons; lecture room, pastor's study and class room, and a large hall for dona- tions and festivals. A good parsonage occupies an ad- joining lot. The cost of church and parsonage was $10,000.

The Jermyn Welsh Congregational Church was organ- ized about 1865, by John W. Morgans and John W. Edwards as elders, with about 40 members. The first minister, Rev. D. E. Evans, was ordained pastor of this church in 1866. Owing to a scattering of members, the organization was ultimately abandoned. It was reorgan- ized in the summer of 1870, with about 30 members. Rev. William Jenkins has been pastor since July 4th, 1870. The church under his care flourished greatly for a time, but owing to the unsettled state of the coal trade over forty members have moved away. Services are held in a hall, no church ever having been built.

LODGES AND ASSOCIATIONS.

Aurora Lodge, No. 523, F. & A. M. was constituted October 10th, 1873. The officers installed were: Dr. Sumner D. Davis, W. M .; C. D. Vail, S. W .; O. G. Mor- gan, J. W .; Thomas Rennie, Sec .; John Jermyn, Treas.

The charter members numbered 16. The present officers are: C. D. Vail, W. M .; A. W. Shaw, S. W .; Frank A Bryant, J. W .; Dr. S. D. Davis, Sec .: B. Carter, Treas .; James Shields, S. D .; Calvin Vail, J. D .; James Dunn, S M. of C .; E. Banfield, Pur .; P. Aylesworth, tiler. The membership is 28. Up to January, 1878, meetings were held in Kinback's Hall; since then in Rymer's Hall.

Rushbrook Lodge, 805, I. O. O. F. was chartered July 12th, 1873, with the following officers: John C. Evans, N. G .; Charles Hambly, V. G .; Michael Roberts, Sec .; I. D. Stocker, Ass't. Sec .; Henry Niemyer, Treas. The first meeting was held at Kinback's Hall, and officers in- stalled, August 5th, 1873. There were 21 charter mem- bers. The total amount paid for relief, donations and burying the dead is $727.15; collected for dues, $3,119; in treasurer's hands and in bank, $651.49. The present officers are: James P. Sampson, N. G .; John Solomon, V. G .: John D. Williams, Sec .; Richard Jay, Ass't. Sec .; A. Battenburg, Treas .; Thomas Jay, John B. Davis, Henry Niemyer, trustees. Number of members in good standing to July 1, 1880, 70; died since organization, 1; suspended or withdrawn, 7. Meetings were held in A. Kinback's Hall until September, 1876; since in Rymer's Hall.

Mayflower Lodge, No. 3, Sons of St. George was or- ganized October 21st, 1871, by the election of John Gardner- president, John Nicholson vice-president, John Ayres secretary and Oliver Morgan treasurer, with sev- enty charter members. The hard times following the panic of 1873 caused for a time a suspension of its operations. Its presiding officers have been John Gardner, John Nicholson, John Bainbridge, Barnabas Carter and George Bennett. Since its reorganization relief funds have been paid only to persons who have been members for six months, and the amount fixed at $3 per week.

The Gibsonburg Building and Loan Association, whose founders were M. H. Barber, S. S. Vail, Henry Kennedy, S. D. Davis, John Jermyn, Thomas Rennie, J. B. Cole, J. A. Rymer, J. A. Vanderford and H. T. Howell, was incorporated November 27th, 1871. Its first officers were: M. H. Barber, president; S. S. Vail, vice-president; Dr. S. D. Davis, secretary; John Jermyn, treasurer. The officers for 1880 were: James D. Stocker, president; Frank M. Graves, vice-president; Dr. S. D. Davis, secre- tary; C. D. Winter, treasurer; directors-D. Carle, George McClosky, Thomas Rich, F. R. Gill, E. T. Davis, L. Pizer, Thomas Griffiths, H. Neal, Thomas Heniwood. M. H. Barber was president until 1875; James Rymer from October, 1875, until his death, in January, 1879; since then Mr. Stocker. Dr. S. D. Davis is in the ninth year of service as secretary. John Jermyn was treasurer two years; J. J. Jermyn four years, and C. D .- Winter is serving his third year. The total amount collected for dues, interest and fines has been about $40,000. The amount paid out on dues and withdrawn stock is nearly the same. But three foreclosures on real estate claims have occurred. The association's report of October 15th, 1879, showed a capital of $24,874.66.

470

HISTORY OF LACKAWANNA COUNTY.

OLYPHANT BOROUGH.

HE opening of Jones & Co.'s colliery drew here families from Archbald, Carbondale and the Wyoming valley, there having been but five or six families here. Jones & Co. opened the first store in connection with their col- liery, and were followed in 1858 by D. M. Voyle, who is still a prominent merchant. The next merchant of any note was James Jordan, who opened a store in 1859, and is also now a prominent business man, a large land owner and a director of the Merchants' and Mechanics' Bank of Scranton.

The first school was taught in 1859. The first church building was erected by the Catholics. The post-office, which until 1867 was on the north side of the river and known as Blakely, was removed in that year to the build- ing next door to the Lackawanna House, and the name changed to Olyphant.

In 1877 the borough was incorporated, and the first charter election was held February 28th, 1877, resulting as follows: M. Grimes, burgess; James Jordan, president; D. M. Voyle, secretary; R. J. McHill, collector; P. Mc- Andrew, treasurer; Edward Hughes, street commis- sioner; William Mason, chief of police. This meeting, as well as the regular meetings of the borough council for some time, was held at the residence of D. M. Voyle. The council then used Voyle's Hall until the completion of the village hall and lockup, in September, 1877, at a cost of about $500. The borough laws were adopted April 2nd, 1877. The territory included in the borough limits covers the Levi Pierce, Seth Pierce, Sarah Bell Hannah Bell, Robert Waln, Joseph Thomas and Lewis Farmer warantee tracts.

The burgesses have been M. Grimes, John Humph- reys, John P. McHale and George Pettigrew. In the spring of 1879 the borough was divided into three wards. The police department consists of 12 men. Patrick Loftus was chosen justice in 1878,and William Williamson and J. D. Regan in 1877. Cornelius Smith, Alexander Farnham and John F. Connolly have been attorneys for the borough.

The population in 1870 was 2,327 and in 1880 2,097.

The first hotel was built by John McKay, in 1861, and kept for a time by one Barnes. In 1866 it was pur- chased by William Mahon, its present proprietor, and it is known as the Mahon House. It is a well kept and popular hostelry. The Mansion House was built by John C. Edwards, in 1870. He came from Carbondale in 1858, and in 1861 opened a hotel in a frame building, which was destroyed by fire in 1870; when the present handsome block, containing two stores, the hotel, and the Odd Fellows' Hall, was erected, it being the first . brick building put up in the village. The Lackawanna House, owned by John Lloyd, is an old and well known house, with an enviable reputation for neatness and quiet.

MINING INTERESTS.

The first important mining operations were conducted by Edward Jones, Lewis Pughe, Louis Landmasser and others; the two former opening a drift in the spring of 1858 under the name of E. Jones & Co., and shipping in 1859 80,000 tons, their first mine being on the Levi Pierce tract.

Landmasser & Co. carried on operations on a small scale a year or so; their drift was on the William Pierce tract and afterward operated by the Delaware and Iud- son Canal Company as Breaker No. 3.

Jones & Co. next opened the Eddy Creek colliery, and in the spring of 1860 erected No. 1 breaker, which was completed in July of that year at a cost of $15,- ooo and was the second breaker on the gravity road. During the same year they completed No. 2 breaker, at Eddy Brook, and operated both of them until 1867, when they sold to the Delaware and Hudson Canal Company.

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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 152

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