History of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, Part 93

Author: edited by John F. Meginness
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : Brown, Runk
Number of Pages: 1650

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HISTORY OF LYCOMING COUNTY.

of Lycoming county, and served from January 1, 1887, until January 1, 1890. His administration of that office was highly creditable, and was characterized at all times by a strict devotion to right and justice. He is an adherent of the Republican party, and is ever ready to uphold and defend the measures and principles of that organization. Colonel Coryell is commander of the Twelfth Regiment, National Guard of Pennsylvania, and won his promotion by hard and faithful work. He is a model military officer, and under his rigid discipline the Twelfth Regiment has attained a high degree of efficiency. Colonel Coryell's regiment was at Homestead during the great lockout at the Carnegie Steel Works in July, 1892. The command won high praise for its soldierly conduct and discipline, and rendered valuable serv- ice in assisting to uphold the laws of the Commonwealth. He is prominently interested in the social and material development of this portion of the State; is a director of the Susquehanna Trust and Safe Deposit Company, and one of the board of directors of that institution, and is actively identified with a number of the lead- ing enterprises of Williamsport. For several years he has been secretary of the Clearfield Coal Company, and has a large financial interest in the Cambria Coal Mining Company. Every worthy enterprise finds in Colonel Coryell a warm friend and a generous supporter. He was married in 1887 to Mary, daughter of Hon. C. A. Mayer, of Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, and has one son, Charles Mayer. Mr. and Mrs. Coryell are members of the Third Presbyterian church, of Williamsport.

EMERSON COLLINS, attorney at law, was born in Hepburn township, Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, April 30, 1860, and is a son of John and Catharine (Hyde) Collins, natives of this county. His great-grandfather, Isaac Collins, settled in Lycoming county about 1790. He entered a tract of land in what is now Loyalsock township, and was one of the very earliest settlers of that locality. Jeremiah Col- lins, the grandfather of Emerson, was born in this county, and is now living in Upper Fairfield township. John Collins, the father of our subject, was born in 1830, and has always been engaged in farming. His first wife was a daughter of George Hyde, and died in 1882. He has since married a Mrs. Koch, and resides in Hepburn township. By his first wife he was the father of seven children, the sub- ject of this sketch being the third in order of birth. Emerson was reared in his native township, and received his primary education in the district schools and at Montoursville. He afterwards attended the Muncy Normal School, and took a four years' course at Lafayette College, graduating from the latter institution in 1884. He engaged in teaching, and was principal of the Muncy Normal School one year. He read law with the Hon. H. C. Parsons, was admitted to the bar of Lycoming county in 1887, and has since been engaged in the active duties of his profession. In 1890 he formed a partnership with Col. J. B. Coryell, and the law firm of Cory- ell & Collins stands high among the legal fraternity of Lycoming county. Mr. Col- lins is an active Republican, and has filled the offices of secretary and chairman of the county committee. He was a delegate to the State convention in 1890, and received the endorsement of his party in this county for Congress that year. During the last presidential campaign, he stumped the counties of Allegheny, Lancaster, Chester, Schuylkill, and Tioga for his party. Mr. Collins was married in 1888 to Annie, daughter of Hon. Henry Johnson, of Williamsport. She is a member of the Episcopal church.

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

JONATHAN F. STRIEBY, attorney at law, was born in Loyalsock township, Lycom- ing county, Pennsylvania, December 3, 1849. His father, Joseph Strieby, was a native of Northampton county, Pennsylvania, and a son of Jacob Strieby, one of the pioneers of Loyalsock township, Lycoming county, where the family settled prior to 1830. Joseph Strieby was born, November 25, 1817, and married Margaret Follmer, March 19, 1844. He died, April 23, 1881, and his wife, January 24, 1882, both dying on the old homestead in Loyalsock township. They reared a family of six children, and were respected members of the Lutheran church of Montoursville. Our subject was reared on the homestead farm, and was educated at select schools in Montoursville and Williamsport, and completed his education at Dickinson Sem- inary, Gettysburg College, and Bucknell University, graduating from the last mentioned institution in 1875. He read law with Hon. John J. Metzger, now presi- dent judge of Lycoming county, and was admitted to the bar in May, 1878. In 1882 he was the Democratic candidate for district attorney, but was defeated. From 1879 to 1882 Mr. Strieby was chairman of the Democratic county committee. In 1880 he formed a partnership with William E. Sprague, under the firm name of W. E. Sprague & Company, lumber manufacturers and dealers, and in 1888 the firm of Strieby, Sprague & Company was organized and carries on an extensive lumber business. In 1878 Mr. Strieby was married to Willie M., daughter of William Bastian, of Butler county, Pennsylvania, and has three children: Ilai; Guy B., and Wilford J. Mr. Strieby and wife are members of the First Presbyterian church of Williamsport.

JAMES B. DENWORTH, attorney at law, is the eldest son of Peter J. Denworth, a sketch of whom appears in another chapter. He was born at Easton, Pennsylvania, October 8, 1844, and came to this county with his parents in the spring of 1850. He was reared on the homestead in Nippenose valley, and there received a common school education. When Fort Sumter was fired upon, and President Lincoln called for volunteers, James B. and Hugh Denworth were among the first to respond to the call of duty. The latter was rejected on account his extreme youth, but James B. continued on duty until the disbandment of the company in June, 1861. He re-enlisted, September 7, 1861, in Company K, Eighth Pennsylvania Cavalry, and followed the fortunes of that regiment from the first advance of General McClellan's army on Manassas until the last campaign of the Army of the Poto- mac, which resulted in the surrender of Lee at Appomattox. He was thrice wounded, first at Vienna, Virginia, December 31, 1861, again in Keenan's charge at Chancellorsville, May 2, 1863, and the last time at Sailor's Creek, Virginia, April 6, 1865, three days before Lee's surrender, while in command of his company leading a charge. This last wound virtually ended his military career, as he was confined to the hospital when his regiment was mustered out in the summer of 1865. He was finally mustered out of the service, August 23, 1865, although still on crutches, which he was not able to discard for six months afterwards. Since the close of the war he has taken an active part in all that pertains to the best interests of the old soldier, and has been a member of the executive committee and officer of his regi- mental association ever since its organization. Under his administration as presi- dent of the association, the survivors of the Eighth Cavalry erected and dedicated at Gettysburg, September 1, 1890, a life-size granite equestrian statue, commemor-

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ative of the 135 battles and skirmishes that his regiment participated in. He has been actively identified with Post No. 2 and Post No. 64, G. A. R., of Philadelphia and Williamsport, respectively. He was Commander of the latter in 1882, and sec- retary of its board of managers since its incorporation, and is now president of the Soldiers' and Sailors' Monumental Association of Lycoming county. Nine years after the close of the war, he read law with Gen. C. H. T. Collis, of Philadelphia, and was admitted to the bar in November, 1876, and has since practiced his profes- sion in Williamsport. He has served over four years as city recorder of this city, and was the last person to hold that office in Pennsylvania. Mr. Denworth was mar- ried. May 26, 1885, to Mary E., daughter of Frederick Friedel, of Mifflin township, and has three children: Raymond K .; Mary C., and Hugh F. He is a stanch Republican in politics, and is a member of the Masonic order, in which he is con- nected with the lodge, chapter, and commandery.

JOHN G. READING, JR., attorney at law, was born in Hunterdon county, New Jersey, March 1, 1859. His parents were Philip G. and Evelina (Evans) Reading, the former a native of Hunterdon county, and the latter of Trenton, New Jersey. Our subject was reared in his native county, up to the age of fifteen years, and then went to Lawrenceville. He was educated at the John C. Green Preparatory School to Princeton College, and was admitted to Princeton in 1876; in September of the same year he entered Lafayette College, and graduated from that institu- tion in June, 1880. The following November he came to Williamsport, entered the law office of Bentley & Parker, and was admitted to the bar in November, 1882. In 1SS5 he formed a partnership with the Hon. Robert P. Allen, which continued up to the death of Mr. Allen, December 6, 1890. Upon the death of Mr. Allen, he took charge of the estate as executor, to which position he was named in the will. Mr. Reading is attorney for the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad Company, the Tide Water Pipe Line Company, the Pine Creek Railway Company, the Fall Brook Coal Company, the Beech Creek Railway Company, and the Wilkesbarre and West- ern Railway Company. He is a stockholder in the Williamsport Gas Company, and also a director and attorney for that corporation. He is chairman of the National Furniture Company, Limited, and is a director in the Susquehanna Trust and Safe Deposit Company and in the Lycoming National Bank; he is also secretary and treasurer of the Brandon Park Commission. Mr. Reading was married in Novem- ber, 1SS6, to Clara F., daughter of Hon. Robert P. Allen, of Williamsport, and has one daughter, Ellen E. He and wife are members of the First Presbyterian church, and he is superintendent of the Sunday school in that organization. He is a Republican, and gives a hearty support to the measures and principles of that party.

OTHO N. MILLER, lawyer, was born in Williamsport, March 11, 1861, son of Dr. William H. H., and E. Virginia (Hammett) Miller. He received his education in the public schools of Williamsport and under private instructors until the age of fifteen, when he took the Freshman course at Muhlenberg College, Allentown, Penn- sylvania; the following year he entered as a Sophomore at Lafayette College, Easton, Pennsylvania, the youngest of a class of 110, and from which he was graduated in 1880. He then read law with the late Hon. Robert P. Allen, of Williamsport, and was admitted to the Lycoming county bar in July, 1883. A few months later

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James Thomas

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Lafayette College conferred upon him the honorary title of A. M. While studying law he was connected with the Williamsport Sun and Banner, and also taught as a substitute in the public schools of Williamsport in all the grades from the junior floors up through the high school. Mr. Miller is a Democrat in politics, always taking an active interest in the welfare of his party, and stumped his native county of Lycoming during the presidential campaigns of 1884 and 18SS. He is a communicant of St. Mark's Lutheran church of Williamsport, also an active member of the Williamsport Board of Trade.

FRANK P. CUMMINGS, attorney at law, was born in Lewis township, Lyco- ming county, Pennsylvania, October 31, 1854. He was educated in the public schools and at the Muncy Normal School, and began teaching in the winter of 1876-77. He continued teaching school until May, ISS1, when he began the study of law in the office of J. F. Strieby. He was admitted to the bar, April 3, 1884, and has since been engaged in active practice. Mr. Cummings was one of the two examiners appointed by the respondent, in the judicial contest of 1889-90 in the Twenty-ninth judicial district, which resulted in favor of the Hon. John J. Metzger. In April, 1881, he enlisted in Company D, Twelfth Regiment, National Guard of Pennsylvania, for five years, was promoted to corporal, May 9. 1882, and to adjutant of his regiment, August 10th following, re-appointed January 29, 1885, and served for five years, until the expiration of his commission through the resignation of Col. Alfred H. Stead. Mr. Cummings has for years been active in total-abstinence work. In 1882 he was elected vice-president of the Catholic Total Abstinence Union of Pennsylvania; in 1SSS, he was elected its presi- dent, which position he held for two years. He is at present secretary of the Father Mathew Memorial Committee, appointed by the Catholic Total Abstinence Union of America, to raise a fund $50,000 for the endownent of a "Father Mathew Chair," in the Catholic University at Washington, D. C.

CHARLES J. REILLY, district attorney of Lycoming county, is a son of John and Elizabeth Reilly, natives of Ireland, who reside in Loyalsock township, near the northern extremity of Williamsport. He was born in Philadelphia, September 23, IS56, and is the eldest in a family of eleven children, eight of whom are living. He received his education in the public schools of Philadelphia, which he attended eight years, afterwards taking a private course in the higher branches and as a member of the Chautauqua College, class of 1890, has read the four years' course. In 1874 he took charge of the shipping department of J. Bartles & Company, manufacturers, of Williamsport, and subsequently attended the Williamsport Com- mercial College, from which institution he graduated in 1875. Shortly afterward he took charge of the books of J. Bartles & Company, and while thus employed conceived the idea of studying medicine, but after a year's application to the study of the science he changed his mind and determined to study law. In May, 1882, he passed his preliminary examination, and was registered as a law student with Candor & Munson, with whom he remained six months, when the necessities of his family required him to earn means for their support. He became bookkeeper for George Bubb & Sons, and while filling this position he devoted every spare moment to his legal studies. Having saved sufficient to permit him to resign his position, lie entered the law office of J. J. & V. H. Metzger, where he completed his studies

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HISTORY OF LYCOMING COUNTY.

June 4, 1884, and was admitted to practice at the bar of Lycoming county. He has since been admitted to practice in the district and circuit courts of the United States, and the Supreme court of Pennsylvania. In 1885 he was elected chairman of the Democratic county committee, to which party he has always given an unwav- ering support, and demonstrated his ability as an organizer. He was re-elected chairman in 1886, 1887, and 1888, and therefore served four years. In November, 1889, he was elected district attorney of Lycoming county by a majority of 2,368 votes, the largest majority ever received in the county for any county office. In the discharge of its duties he has shown an unflinching determination in the cause of justice, and a commendable fearlessness in the prosecution of law-breakers. He is a good, impressive speaker, and has won an enviable reputation among the members of the bar. Mr. Reilly was married in 1879 to Elizabeth, daughter of Christian Harsch, of Williamsport, and has had two children: Howard F., living, and Charles J., lately deceased. The family are members of the Catholic church, in which faith Mr. Reilly was born and reared.

FRANK DIETMEIER, attorney at law, was born in Sasbach, Baden, Germany, Novem- ber 16, 1863, son of Jacob and Catharine (Graf) Dietmeier, natives of Germany. His father was a merchant of Sasbach, and a well-to-do citizen of that town. Franz was educated in the Latin schools of his native land, and at the age of sixteen years he came to America, located at Freehold, New Jersey, where he continued his studies until September, 1880, and then accepted a position as tutor in the family of Peter McKeogh, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He remained there until the spring of 1881, and then returned to Freehold, where he taught in a private family until the follow- ing September, when he went to Norwich, Connecticut. He continued to teach languages in that city until 1883, and in June of that year visited his native land. In the meantime he had commenced the study of law, January 1, 1882, under the preceptorship of Ripley & Cooke, of Norwich, and on his return from Europe con- tinued his studies. He was admitted to the bar at Norwich in March, '1885, and began practice at Waterbury, Connecticut. During the time that he was engaged in his legal studies he occasionally taught for the purpose of acquiring means to prosecute them. He continued practice at Waterbury, where he was also editor of the New England Wachenblatt, until February, 1888, when he came to Williams- port, Pennsylvania, where he has since been engaged in the active duties of his profession. Mr. Dietmeier was married in 1890 to Minnie, daughter of Emannel and Margaret Lininger, of Williamsport. He is a member of the Catholic church, and one of the prosperous young lawyers of the county.

WILLIAM MELVIRNE STEPHENS, lawyer, was born at Lenoxville, Susquehanna county, Pennsylvania, March 6, 1856, son of William and Jemima (Hallstead) Stephens, natives of Susquehanna county. His father was an architect and con- tractor and removed to Scranton, Pennsylvania, when our subject was ten years old, where he soon afterwards died. A noble mother's teachings have been his guide in life, together with a sincere belief in the fatherhood of God, and Christ as his Savior and elder brother. He lived on a small farm near Lenoxville, Pennsylvania, until his sixteenth year, when with his mother he removed to Nordmont, Pennsylva- nia, and soon after began to teach school, which was continued for three terms. He devoted his evenings, often until midnight, as well as all his spare moments through

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the day while teaching and working on the farm, in pursuing his studies, until, through the material assistance of Prof. Charles H. Verrill, he was enabled to attend the Mansfield State Normal School, from which institution he graduated with the class of 1876. He at once engaged in a general commission business in Canada and Australia for the following three years, and by hard work and indomitable perse- verance was successful. After visiting the East Indies, Arabia, Egypt, and Europe, while completing a trip around the world, he entered the literary and law depart- ments of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, from which institution he gradu- ated in 1882. He pursued his law studies under the instructions of Hon. Thomas M. Cooley, and was admitted to the bar of Washtenaw county, Michigan, and soon after to the Supreme court of the State, and the same year to the United States district court at Detroit. The intervals to 1885 Mr. Stephens passed in travel, lecturing and as a newspaper correspondent, visiting during the winter months all the West India islands from the Bermudas to Trinidad, and from the Bahamas to St. Thomas, · as well as several of the South American countries, including the great divide between the Amazon and Orinoco valleys; during the summer months he visited many of the States of the Union, Canada, and the Maritime Provinces. Mr. Stephens came to Williamsport in the summer of 1885, and the following autumn was admitted to practice in the several courts of Lycoming county. He has been twice married, first in 1880 to May Evelyn Rood of Lenoxville, Pennsylvania, who died the following winter while at the University. In 1889 he was married to Sue

M., only daughter of John E. Dayton of Williamsport, by whom he has had one child, William Dayton Stephens, deceased. He is an elder in the Second Presby- terian church, and a director in the Young Men's Christian Association; is a stock- holder in the West Branch National Bank, and has large real estate interests in Williamsport and Sullivan county. He is a Republican, but takes little active part in political matters aside from presidential years when he makes an occasional stump speech, and at all times casts his vote as judgment dictates. Mr. Stephens believes in honesty, industry, and perseverance, and his motto has always been: "Luck is a fool, but pluck is a hero."

CLARENCE E. SPROUT, attorney at law, was born in Muncy, Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, March 16, 1861, son of S. E. and Mary (Sutton) Sprout, natives of Susquehanna county, Pennsylvania, and residents of Muncy, where his father is engaged in manufacturing. Our subject was reared in his native town, where he received a public school education and subsequently entered Bucknell University, Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, from which institution he was graduated in 1883, and later received the degree of LL. B. from the University of Pennsylvania. He read law with Crawford & Dallas, a well known firm of Philadelphia, and was admitted to the bar in June, 1885. He commenced practice in Williamsport, where he has since been engaged in the duties of his profession. Mr. Sprout is a Democrat, and has won a local reputation as an organizer and campaign speaker. He is a stock- holder in various institutions in the city, and is an active supporter of every lauda- ble enterprise. He was married in November, 1886, to Annie, daughter of Daniel Clapp, deceased, who was a prominent lumberman of Lycoming county for many years. Mr. Sprout and wife are members of the First Presbyterian church of Will- iamsport.

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HISTORY OF LYCOMING COUNTY.

HON. WALTER E. RITTER, attorney at law, was born in Muncy Creek township, Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, June 29, 1860, and is a son of Jacob and Julia (Van Buskirk) Ritter. His great- grandfather, Martin Ritter, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. He had emigrated from Germany some years prior to that time, and had settled in Berks county, Pennsylvania. His son Jacob, grandfather of our subject, subsequently came to Lycoming county, and settled in Muncy Creek township. Walter E. attended the common schools of his native township until he was seventeen years of age, and then spent five terms at the Muncy Normal School, and graduated from the State Normal, at Lock Haven, in 1881. At the age of sev- enteen he began teaching, at a salary of $20 per month, and taught in the schools of Moreland and Fairfield townships during the winter season, from 1877 until 1880. After graduating from the State Normal he was elected principal of the Hughes- ville public schools, and in 1882 was chosen principal of the schools of South Will- iamsport, which position he filled for a period of three years. Mr. Ritter regis- tered as a law student with Cummings & Reilly, June 19, 1884, and passed his examination and was admitted to the bar in June, 1886. He at once began practice, and has been engaged in the active duties of his profession up to the present. He has always been identified with the Democratic party, and has invariably given it his hearty support. In 1883 he was a candidate for the office of county superintend- ent of schools, but was defeated. In 1888 Mr. Ritter was elected to the State legislature, and was re-elected in 1890 by an increased majority. During his term in the legislature he served on the judiciary committee, the committee on corpora- tions, and on other important committees, and took an active part in the business of the House. During his second term he was elected chairman of the Democratic caucus, which position carried with it the practical leadership of the minority side. He has served as school director and has held several other local positions of minor importance. Mr. Ritter was married in 1883, to Margaret Wallace, of Hughesville, and has two children: Florence E. and Allan G.

NICHOLAS M. EDWARDS, attorney at law, was born in Christian county, Kentucky, December 18, 1859, son of Stephen and Mary Virginia (Carter) Edwards. He was reared in his native county, and was educated at Lafayette Academy, in that State. In the spring of 1881 he came to Williamsport, and entered the Williamsport Com- mercial College, from which institution he graduated in March, 1882. He soon afterwards began the study of law in the office of Charles K. Geddes, and was admitted to the bar, June 25, 1886. Since his admission he has been engaged in active practice in the courts of Lycoming county, and holds a high rank among the younger members of his profession. He is the present city solicitor of the city of Williamsport. He is a Democrat in politics, and is an ardent supporter of his party.

WALTER C. GILMORE, attorney at law, was born in Eldred township, Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, November 26, 1859, son of John and Rachel (Willits) Gil- more, the former a native of Northumberland county, and the latter of Lycoming county. Our subject was reared in Hepburn township, Lycoming county, where he received a common school education, subsequently attending the Muncy Normal School and Lafayette College, graduating from the latter institution in 1884. He was valedictorian of his class. After completing his education he taught in the Lenox Academy, Lenox, Massachusetts, and was principal of the high school of

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History of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, Part 93

Author: edited by John F. Meginness Publication date: 1892 Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : Brown, Runk Number of Pages: 1650

Author: edited by John F. Meginness
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : Brown, Runk
Number of Pages: 1650