History of Luzerne, Lackawanna, and Wyoming counties, Pa.; with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers, Part 153

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 153
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 153
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 153

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 Landmasser colliery was abandoned after work- ing out the drifts, and No. I breaker, after standing idle several years, was burned in April, 1880. The col- lieries now in operation in the borough are the Eddy Creek and Grassy Island.

The Delaware and Hudson Canal Company, having become owners of Jones & Co.'s breaker, sunk a shaft four hundred and fifty feet deep. The workings ex- tend about one-fourth of a mile from the shaft, through portions of the Hull, North and Mann Coal Company's and Delaware and Hudson lands. The Archbald and Grassy Island veins are worked. The capacity and average production of the breakers are about 600 tons daily. Two pairs of 30 horse power hoisting engines, one breaker engine of 40 horse power, and two single en- gines of 30 horse power each are used. The number of men and boys employed inside is 285, and outside 120. James Nicol is the inside foreman, and William Bell outside foreman.

Grassy Island shaft was sunk by the Delaware and Hudson Canal Company in 1864, and the. breaker com- pleted in the spring of 1865. The shaft is three hundred feet deep, the working sloping some fifty feet deeper and extending three-fourths of a mile through the Hull, Mott, Barker, Hallsted, B. T. Reed and Delaware and Hudson tracts. Joseph Atherton was the first outside foreman suc- ceeded by William Bell, and in 1872 by J.G. Bell, the present manager. The first mine foreman was James Nicol, fol- lowed by Joseph Davis, and in 1874 by Andrew Patton, who has the position to this time. Two pairs of hoist engines of thirty horse power each and one breaker engine of the same power are in use. A self-acting inclined plane fa- cilitates the transfer of cars. Two hundred and sixty- nine men and boys are employed in the workings, and one hundred and five men and boys and one locomotive about the breaker. The daily capacity and production is 750 tons, having recently been increased from 650. The shaft is five-eighths of a mile from the breaker. The number of tenant houses is nineteen.

ST. PATRICKS CHURCH AND PARSONAGE, OLYPHANT, Pa. LACKAWANNA COUNTY,

RESIDENCE of MRS ANNA FERRIS, OLYPHANT, Pa. LACKAWANNA COUNTY,

RESIDENCE of A. H. DOTY,

"NAYAUG HOUSE" JOHN DEKIN, DUNMORE LACKAWANNA CO., P ..

WAGON AND CARRIAGE MANU FACTORY, A.H. DOTY, PROPR MEHOOPANY, WYOMING CO., Pa.

ALFRED L. GREEN, JERMYN, LACKAWANNA COUNTY., PA.

ANDREW PATTEN, OLY PHANT, LACKAWANNA COUNTY., PA

DR A . P. GARDNER, FJARING BROOK, LACKAWANNA COUNTY., PA.

HON A . B. WALKER, NICHOLSON, WYOMING COUNTY., PA

GENEALOGICAL AND PERSONAL RECORD,

BLAKELY, DICKSON CITY AND OLYPHANT BOROUGHS.

WILLIAM FERRIS.

William Ferris came to Blakely township when it was a part of Providence, his father, James Ferris, being the first settler on the east side of the Lackawanna river, and building a cabin in 1798 where James J. Lynch's store now stands. William, although for a long lifetime in rather delicate health, became an extensive farmer and the first practicing physician of the place, his skill in preparing roots and herbs making him widely known among the old pioneers. He died in 1878, aged eighty- four, after eighty years spent in sight of the place to which he was brought when a child. He married Anna Van Luvannee, of Philadelphia, in 1819, and had four chil- dren, all of whom are living. A portrait of the subject of this sketch and a view of the residence of his widow ap- pear on another page.

WILLIAM HULL.

William Hull was one of the early settlers of Blakely, coming to this place in 1835, from Massachusetts. He was a selfmade man, starting in life as a laborer and pedlar of wooden trays for his brother-in-law, one Bar. bor, who had settled here and carried on their manufac- ture on a small scale. After years of economy he became the owner of two tracts of land which proved to be coal property. He had nine children, six by his first marriage and three by his second wife, The latter lady, who was Maria B. Dewey, a native of Old Hadley, Mass., survived him, residing on the old homestead in Blakely. Mr. Hull died February 8th, 1872, at the age of seventy-six years.

EDWARD JONES.

Edward Jones, born near St. Donats, Wales, in 1814, educated at Cowbridge scientific school and coming to America in 1837 to avoid a sea-faring life for which his parents had intended him, has filled so prominent a place among the business men of the Lackawanna valley as to deserve more than a passing mention. Entering the em- ploy of the Delaware and Hudson Canal Company, at Car- bondale, as a miner, he was in a few years promoted to be a mine boss and in 1854 was placed in charge of that company's mines in Archbald, where he remained until 1858, when he became a partner in the successful firm of Eaton & Co., coal operators at that place. In the fall of that year, in company with two partners, he commenced operations which led to the successful development of the coal fields of Olyphant, which were continued until 1864 under the firm name of E. Jones & Co., and then sold to the Delaware and Hudson Canal Company. He

was afterward employed by the Erie Railway Company in developing and perfecting their extensive collieries near Carbondale, and is now actively connected with coal operations as a member of the firm of Jones, Simp- son & Co., successors to Eaton & Co., and also as a director of the Pierce Coal Company. In 1875 he was elected a director of the Merchants and Mechanics' Bank of Scranton. In 1877 he was nominated for Congress by the Republicans of his district, and was only defeated by nineteen votes in a district usually Democratic by 2,500 majority. As a business man he is prudent and saga- cious. As a practical geologist he has few superiors in the mining regions. If an unblemished reputation, a life spent in successfully developing the material resources of one's country, and a well balanced mind are evidences by which it is safe to judge, the historian deems it not an exaggeration to note the subject of this sketch as a suc- cessful man.

JAMES JORDAN.

James Jordan, one of Olyphant's oldest and most suc- cessful merchants, was born in Ireland: came from Arch- bald to this place in 1859 and commenced mercantile business. He married Ann Monohan, of Scranton, and has five children. He built in 1868 the brick building now occupied by him; was the president of the first borough council of Olyphant; is an extensive property owner and a director of the Merchants' & Mechanics' Bank of Scranton. Among his business associates he is known as a man of generous impulses and unswerving integrity.

REV. J. B. KENYON.

Rev. Jefferson B. Kenyon was born in Pawling, Dutch- ess county, N. Y., and came to Blakely about 1832. In 1836 he married Rhoda H., daughter of Levi Callender, of that town. Mr. Kenyon was one of the earliest resi- dent pastors of the Baptist church of Blakely, and sup- plied the pulpit of the church in Scott township for seven years. He retired from active service in 1871, since which time he has been engaged in looking after his farming interests. He has six children living. Har- riet J. married William H. Hull, jr .; Ann Eliza married I. D. Kinsley; Mary Emma married John T. Howe; Carrie A. engaged in teaching, and Lizzie E. is a student. Charles P. Kenyon is the only son. Mr. Kenyon is an active member of the Blakely poor board.

J. J. LYNCH.

James J. Lynch, a native of Ireland, came to Olyphant in 1858. He was married on the 22nd of February,

470 A

470 B

HISTORY OF LACKAWANNA COUNTY.

1870, to Mary E. Mooney, of Dunmore borough, and has three children. He commenced the mercantile business here in 1870, and has been active in public affairs, serv- ing as collector of Blakely township in 1871 and 1872, jury commissioner (the first of Lackawanna county) eighteen months, and now as president of Blakely district poor board. He is still a young man, with a fine public and business record and a large circle of friends.

ANDREW PATTEN.

Andrew Patten, mine foreman, was born in Northum- berland county, England, and came to America in 1837, settling at Mine Hill Gap, Schuylkill county, where for thirteen years he was mine superintendent for Charles M. Hill. In 1850 he removed to Plymouth, where with several others he opened a colliery. Six years later he sold his interest to his partners, and after superintend- ing the Spring Brook colliery for four years came to Blakely, where he had charge of works for Chittenden & Richmond. In 1864 he entered the employ of the Delaware and Hudson Canal Company at Olyphant, where he is now engaged as inside foreman of Grassy Island colliery. He married a Miss Percy, of England, and has eight children.

H. E. BARNES, principal of the Peckville graded school, is a native of Franklin, Delaware county, N. Y., and a teacher of long experience and uniform success. He has held his present position since 1877. He mar- ried a Miss Hogoboom, of Oneonta, N. Y., and came to this county in 1874, teaching in Scranton three years following.

JOSEPH G. BELL, mine foreman, born in Carbondale, commenced mining in 1865 at Grassy Island colliery, hav- ing previously served through the late war as orderly sergeant of Company H 52nd Pennsylvania volunteers, and participated in the battles of Williamsport and Fair Oaks, the seven days' fight and the sieges of Forts Wag- ner and Johnson. He has been outside foreman of Grassy Island since 1872 and member of the coal and iron police. He married Eveline Silsbee, of Peckville, where he now resides, and has one son.

WILLIAM BELL, mine foreman, was born in Carbondale and commenced mining in 1867, being engaged as out- side foreman at Grassy Island for four years and since 1871 at Eddy Brook No. 2. He married Kate Cool, of Pittston, and has six children. He resides in Blakely borough and has been for years one of its officials, and is the treasurer of Harper Lodge I. O. of O. F.

ALARIC BERRY, manufacturer of and dealer in furni- ture, and undertaker, was born in Carbondale, and is a son of Alaric Berry, who built the first frame house in that city. He has been in business at Olyphant since 1860. He married a Miss Carpenter, of Uniondale, and has four children living. His son Cyrus, a promising young man, died December 11th, 1879, of malarial dis- ease contracted in Kansas. Mr. Berry was formerly a sailor; entering on an Arctic whaling expedition October 26th, 1852, he spent some years in ocean service. His grandfather, Cyrus Berry, was a surgeon in the Revolu- tion, and his great-grandfather was killed in the French and Indian war. Mr. Berry's father served in the war of 1812 with the rank of captain.

REV. BENJAMIN E. BOWEN came to America from Wales in 1841, and resided in Philadelphia five years. He was licensed to preach by the East Pennsylvania Welsh Baptist Association, and has been pastor of the church at Olyphant thirteen years. He married in Wales,

and has had eleven children, only three of whom are liv- ing; one of them is a clergyman in Randolph, N. Y .; another the widow of the late Dr. Robethan, of Provi- dence.

CHARLES BONNER, a native of New York city, when a boy of fifteen years shipped in the coasting service, and spent five years in that and the whaling service, visiting all points of prominence in the Pacific. He then engag- ed as engineer on the steamer " Alabama," of the Savan- nah line. He married Julia D. Prellis, of Lebanon, Pa., by whom he had five sons, four of whom are living. Slie died August 14th, 1877. He married in May, 1879, Miss Belle Moffat, of Carbondale. Since 1868 he has been engineer at plane C on the gravity road, residing in Peckville.

ANTHONY CORCORAN, miner, was born in Ireland, and came to America in 1846, living in Carbondale fourteen years. He married in 1857 Mary Haley, of Honesdale, Pa., and has eight children. He has been a councilman of Dickson.

MARTIN CRIPPEN was born in Glens Falls, N. Y., April 9th, 1810. He came to Blakely township in 1826, attended school and worked for his board. The follow- ing year he entered the employ of the Delaware and Hudson Canal Company. When he became of age he married a daughter of Esquire Potter, of Providence, and in company with Charles Potter bought the "ten mile" property in 1838. After the death of his first wife he married Maria Moore, of Blakely, and on her decease he was married to Charity Van Louven, a niece of George R. Ransom, a Wyoming pioneer. He was the father of twenty children by his several marriages, and at the time of his death a large owner of coal lands and a successful farmer. His son Martin married Emma Dearie, of Oly- phant, April 14th, 1880, and succeeds his father as oper- ator of the Crippen colliery.

DAVID R. DAVIS was born in Wales, but came to Amer- ica in infancy. As a boy he worked in the Carbondale mines, then as a runner on the gravity road. He came to Olyphant in 1858, at the opening of the road here. He was a member of the 56th Pa. volunteers, and at the close of the war re-entered the employ of the Delaware. and Hudson Canal Company as station agent at Oly- phant. He married Mary Ann Thomas, a native of Wales, and has one daughter.

SILAS EAMES, born in Somersetshire, England, married Mary Reese, of Brecon City, Wales, and came to Amer- ica in 1853. He worked nine years for the Lackawanna Iron and Coal Company at Scranton, and came to Oly- phant in 1862. He has three children. He is a school teacher and a prominent Odd Fellow.

J. D. EVERSON, dealer in jewelry, watches, music and fancy goods at Olypliant, is a son of William Henry Ever- son, one of the pioneers of Blakely township. Mr. Ever- son opened his store in 1868. He served in the late war as a member of 30th Pa. reserves. He married Carrie, daughter of Benjamin Watres, of Susquehanna county, and has four children.

PATRICK FLYNN, a son of Michael Flynn, was born in Ireland, and came to Olyphant in 1865, since which time he has spent six years in Scranton. He is a member of the borough council, and was a delegate to the Demo- cratic State convention, in 1876 and 1877. He is in the liquor business.

RICHARD J. GALLAGHER was born in county Mayo, Ireland, in 1852, and came to America with his parents in infancy. He has been engaged in mining since child- hood and is a driver boss in the Filer colliery.

GENEALOGICAL AND PERSONAL RECORD.

470 C

RICHARD J. GALLAGHER, dealer in general merchan- disc, boots and shoes a specialty, was born in New York city; came to Luzerne county when a child, and estab- lished his trade in 1878. He married Bridget Fadden, of Olyphant. He is a school director of that borough.

REV. FRANCIS GENDALL, born in Cornwall, England, came to America in 1871. He was licensed to preach in St. Just, and traveled as an itinerant preacher for four years in England. His first appointment by the Wyom- ing Conference was in Wayne county, where he filled several appointments. He is now in his second year at Peckville. He married Grace B. White, of Cornwall, England.

THOMAS GRIER, one of the best known citizens of Dickson City, was born in Ireland, but came to this country in infancy with his parents, who settled in Hones- dale, Pa. In 1863 he commenced work for the firm of Richmond & Co., and in 1866 he removed to this place and took a position in the company's store, of which he has been manager since 1870. He married in 1873 Miss Ann Grier, of Dickson; has served as school director; in 1870 was vice-president of the county organization of the Father Matthew Total Abstinence Society, and in 1876 and for two years following was vice-president of the State Catholic Temperance Union.

HENRY T. HOWELL came from Scranton to Winton in 1874 as bookkeeper for Filer & Livy, which position he now holds. He was formerly a clerk in the Second National Bank of Scranton.

PATRICK JORDAN, a native of Ireland, came to Oly- phant in 1860, and was engaged in mining for some years. He has traveled in the west, spending a year in Minnesota, two in steamboating on the Mississippi, and one in the coal business in St. Louis. He married Mary Brogan, of Carbondale, and has six children. He has been dealing in general merchandise and miners' supplies since 1866.

JAMES P. KANE, principal of the Olyphant graded school, is a native of Ireland, where he taught in the model schools of Dublin. He came to America in 1860, and to Olyphant in 1878. He has taught some twenty- four years.

JOHN D. LLOYD, oldest son of John Lloyd, married (November 27th, 1879) Fannie M. Stanton, of Montrose, Pa. He was formerly in charge of a coffee and tea store at Scranton; later in the employ of the Lackawanna Iron and Coal Company's stores, and is now employed by the miners as check weighmaster at the Filer breaker.

THOMAS J. LOFTus, grocer at Olyphant, was born in Seeleyville, Pa., and married (January 24th, 1872) Ann Brogan, of Carbondale; they have two children. He has been a miner since he was sixteen years old. He estab- lished his business in 1866, but is still employed in min- ing at Grassy Island. He is treasurer of the Hibernian Benevolent Society; for two years has been a school di- rector of Olyphant, and in 1880 was treasurer of the board.

WILLIAM HULL, a native of Massachusetts, came to Blakely about 1820 and traveled for several years for a brother-in-law, Calvin Barbour, who had a small manu- factory of woodenware. He afterward purchased a tract of four hundred acres in what is now Olyphant, which proved a valuable coal property; and another of one hundred and thirty acres, on which he farmed until his death, February 8th, 1872, at the age of seventy-six years. He married in 1834 Rebecca Parker, of Abing- ton, Pa. She dicd in 1849, leaving seven children, and November 29th, 1860, Mr. Hull married Maria B. Dewcy,

of Old Hadley, Mass., who become the mother of three children and is now living on the old homestead. Mr. Hull was a man of marked financial ability and accumu- lated a handsome property.

FREDERICK LLOYD, miner, born in Glamorganshire, Wales, married Ann Evans of the same place, came to America in 1858 and in 1859 to Olyphant. He has eight children, six of whom were born in America. He is a school director of Blakely borough and an officer in the Welsh Baptist church.

EDWARD LYONS, miner, born in Ireland, came to America in 1862, and spent three years in Mahanoy City and several years in Illinois. He came to Dickson in 1870 and married (June 11th, 1873,) Margaret Livers, of Dunmore. They have three children. Mr. Lyons has been for four years the assessor of Dickson City.

PATRICK H. MCCANN, born in Philadelphia in 1841, came to Olyphant in 1858. He served in the war for the Union, as a member of the 25th Pennsylvania volun- teers (three months men), thien in the 136th Pennsylvania reserve, and finally in Battery H Pennsylvania artillery. He was married January Ist, 1865, to Jane, daughter of George Patton. He has served as assessor of the borough and is a prominent member of the Labor Re- form party.

JOHN MCHUGH is a native of Ireland, where he learned shoemaking. He came to America in 1867, and in 1868 to Olyphant, where he married Catharine Burke, a native of Carbondale. He has three children. He has been councilman, and is secretary of the Hibernian Benevolent Society, and corresponding secretary of the C. Y. M. T. A. B. S. of Olyphant.

A. F. MCNULTY was born in Carbondale, October 18th, 1874. He married Mary Doud, of Olyphant, and has three children. He is a miner and engineer and is the secretary of the C. Y. M. T. A. B. S.

U. V. MACE, born in Abington township, in 1828, mar- ried Miss H. Louisa, daughter of Rev. William Frear. Mr. Mace was for sixteen years station and express agent at Factoryville, Pa., in the employ of the Delaware, Lack- awanna and Western Railroad Company, during which time he served as justice of the peace ten years and was also a county auditor of Wyoming county three years. He has been agent for the Delaware and Hudson Canal Company at Peckville for nine years and is in his second term as justice of the peace in Blakely borough. His parents settled in Providence township in 1808.

THOMAS MASON, born in Wales, came from Gettys- burg, Pa., to Olyphant in 1868. He is a miner. He leads the Olyphant Brass Band, and is secretary of the school board. He married Elizabeth Martin, of County Cornwall, England, and has two children.

CHARLES MORTON, a native of Canada East, came to the United States in 1861, enlisting in Company G 5th New Hampshire volunteers and serving through the war; was wounded and taken prisoner at Cold Harbor and was in Libby prison nine months. He married Ellen L. Williams, a native of Wales, and has three children. He opened the Lackawanna Paint Works in 1878 and is one of its owners.

JAMES NICOL, mine foreman, is a native of Scotland, and came to America when nineteen years old. He has been engaged in railroad contracting and mining since 1852. He became inside superintendent of Eddy Brook colliery in 1877. He married Annie Hunter, of Grassy Island, and has four children.

DAVID L. OWENS was born in Swansea, Wales, where

470 D

HISTORY OF LACKAWANNA COUNTY.

he worked as a miner. He came to America in 1866, settling in Olyphant in the ensuing year. He married Hannah Clement, of Swansea, Wales; has had and lost five children and has now an adopted son, Edward G. Owens. He is a member of Colfax Encampment.

J. W. PATTEN, dealer in general hardware, stoves and miners' supplies at Olyphant, was born in Plymouth, Pa .; married a Miss Lewis, of Carbondale, Pa., and was en- gaged in mining until 1875, when he established his pres- ent business. He has one child.

THOMAS PATTEN, grocer, tobacconist and dealer in gentlemen's furnishing goods at Olyphant, is a native of Mine Hill Gap, Schuylkill county, Pa. He came to Oly- phant in 1864, and was engaged in mining until 1879. when he commenced trading. He has served as lieuten- ant in the Olyphant guards, was first triennial assessor of the borough, and is a member of Colfax Encampment.

JOHN DWIGHT PECK, of the firm of Peck Brothers, was born in Greenfield, and came to Blakely in child- hood. He was married, in 1852, to Sarah Snedecer, who died in 1857, leaving three children; and again in 1860, to Delana Stone, who died in 1876, leaving three children. His present wife, whom he married in 1879, was Mrs. Mary E. Robinson. He has served his borough as burgess and is prominently connected with local interests.

J. W. PECK, a native of Massachusetts and son of Samuel Peck and member of the firm of Peck Brothers, married for his first wife a Miss Hall of Abington, who died, leaving four children. His present wife was Hattie Clapp, of Massachusetts.

GEORGE PETTIGREW, miner, a native of Edinburgh, Scotland, came to America in 1850, and to this town in 1856. In 1863 he married Catharine Matilda Davis, a native of Wales, and he has two children. In 1880 he was elected burgess of Olyphant.

JOHN REED, born in Cornwall, England, married Ann Arter, of Cardiganshire, Wales, and came to America in 1865. He has lived in Olyphant since 1866. He has had eight children, five of whom are living. He has been councilman of the borough, and is a miner.

BENJAMIN F. REES was born in Blakely township, and resided in Gibson, Susquehanna county, for sixteen years. Since 1878 he has owned and operated a market at Olyphant. He married (August 13th, 1877) Frances A. Lyons, of Blakely, and has one child.

E. A. REYNOLDS, harness and saddlery merchant, a native of Massachusetts, resided in Providence, Pa., until 1877, when he established himself in Olyphant. He mar- ried Annie Miles, of Providence, and has one child.

JOHN P. RICHARDS, dealer in stoves, tin and hardware, came to Olyphant from Herrick, Susquehanna county, Pa. He is a native of England. He settled here in 1864, and married a Miss Turner, a native of Wales, by whom he has had six children. He succeeded H. O. Silkman in his present business in 1867.

PETER G. ROLLS, grocer, is a native of Susquehanna county; was in the employ of the Delaware and Hudson Canal Company for fifteen years and established his present business in 1870. His present wife is Einma C. Evans, a native of the Wyoming valley. By an earlier marriage with Gelana Dexter, deceased, he has three children, all residing in Blakely.

WILLIAM SHEA, wholesale liquor dealer, is a native of Ireland. He came from Vermont to Archbald, where he carried on business in company with Robert Simp-

son for some years. His present establishment has been in operation since 1866. He has served as tax collector and poor director several terms.

JASPER B. SICKLER, M. D., a native of Greenfield township, read medicine with Dr. Simmons, of Carbon- dale, and graduated at the University of Pennsylvania in 1877. He married a Miss Hermans, of Scott township, and has practiced in Peckville since he graduated.

A. A. SWINGLE, born in Canaan, Wayne county, has resided in Peckville since 1867, serving as weighmaster for the Delaware and Hudson Canal Company for eleven years. He married Sarah Curtis, of Salem Corners, Wayne county, Pa., and has four children. He is the . acting postmaster and conducts a stationery and con- fectionery store at Peckville.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Luzerne, Lackawanna, and Wyoming counties, Pa.; with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers, Part 153

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