USA > Pennsylvania > Schuylkill County > History of Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, Vol. II > Part 17
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position with the Eastern Steel Company at Pottsville, at a more lucrative salary, and accepted it, assuming his new duties Feb. 15. He is the first superintendent the mills have had since their erec- tion who has made a paying proposition of them. When, on Sept. 8, 1897, he left the Twenty-ninth street mills to accept the super- intendency of the upper mills he was presented with a watch and chain by the men formerly employed under him, the watch bearing the following inscription: "Presented to Thomas E. Evans by the Employes of the 29th St. Mill, Sept. 8, 1897." Again, when he left Pittsburg to assume the responsibilities of his present position, his fellow workmen gave him a magnificent diamond stud and his employers, after his nine years of faithful and able service, made him a gift of $5,000 in gold certificates drawing five per cent. interest. Dec. 25, 1889, at the old Fifth Avenue Baptist church of Pitts- burg, occurred Mr. Evans' marriage to Miss Sadie J. Brown, a daughter of John and Martha (Park) Brown. Mr. and Mrs. Brown are natives of Ireland and they reared a family of eleven children. Besides Mrs. Evans they are May, Samuel, Jeanette, Martha, Fred- erick, Jessamine, John, George, Olivia and Roland. Mrs. Evans' grandparents were Hugh and Mary (Lewis) Park, both born in Ireland, and Samuel and Ann (Mckinstry) Brown, born in Scot- land. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Evans are three in number, Edna, Thomas and Elizabeth, all living at home. The family all claim membership in the Fifth Avenue Baptist church of Pitts- burg. Mr. Evans was at one time widely known in fraternal circles, but he has resigned his membership in all but the Masonic order. Of this he is a member of Blue Lodge, No. 45, Zerubbabel Chapter, No. 163, and Tancred Commandery, No. 48, Knights Templars, all of Pittsburg. Other organizations to which he formerly belonged are the Knights of the Mystic Chain, Knights of the Golden Eagle and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Both he and his wife are members of Mckinley Chapter, No. 20, Order of the Eastern Star. In politics he is a Republican, and as such was for a term a member of the board of school directors of Pittsburg. He was a candidate for re-election, with every prospect of success, when his removal to Pottsville necessitated his withdrawal from the contest. Mr. Evans is an exemplary type of the successful self-made man and his life is well worthy of emulation.
Evans, William T., superintendent at Shenandoah of the Home Friendly Association, of Baltimore, Md., was born in Wales, Sept. 14, 1860. He is the only survivor of four children born to Daniel and Jane (Taylor) Evans, both natives of Wales. Thomas died in youth in his native land; John died from the effects of an injury received in a colliery at Shenandoah ; and Eliza died in childhood. After the death of Daniel Evans his widow married again, and to this union were born four children: Elizabeth, Charlotte, Ed- ward and Luther. Charlotte and Luther are deceased and the other two live in Europe. Both parents have passed to their reward in the life eternal. At the age of twenty-one years William T. Evans came to America. For about a year and a half he was em-
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ployed in the silk mills at Philadelphia. He then went to Sandy Run, Luzerne county, Pa., where he was employed for a while in the colheries, and in 1885 he came to Shenandoah, which city has ever since been his home. Here for two years he was engaged in the mines and was then appointed local agent for the Home Friendly Association, a life insurance society, with which he has been con- nected ever since, in various capacities. Oct. 14, 1889, he was made superintendent of agencies for the anthracite coal district, and now has eight local agents working under his jurisdiction. He is a member of the Shenandoah Tribe. No. 155. Improved Order of Red Men : Shenandoah Lodge, No. 591, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in which society Mrs. Evans is a Daughter of Rebekah ; and both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Evans has been twice married. July 16, 1885. he married Miss Mary, daughter of William F. and Emma ( Boulton) Davis. Her father was a native of Wales and her mother of Staf- fordshire. England. Both parents are now deceased. They had a family of seven children, of whom three are deceased. Mrs. Evans died March 29. 1899, and on Oct. 31. 1900, was solemn- ized the marriage of Mr. Evans and Miss Emma Davis, a sister of his first wife. The first wife was born in Wales and the present wife in Shenandoah. The latter is a graduate of the Shenandoah high school and is a woman of rare accomplishments. To the first marriage were born six children: William Arthur, who is now an electrician, and Luther D., Lillie, Beatrice, Mary J., and William F., all in school. Mr. Evans' business brings him in contact with a great many men in all walks of life, and few men in Schuylkill county are more widely or favorably known. His genial disposition gains to him friends and his sterling qualities bind those friends to him for all time to come. In politics he is a Republican, but he devotes the greater part of his time to his insurance business, feel- ing certain that diligence and application to his occupation is more remunerative than the precarious emoluments of a political career.
Farquhar. Fergus G., a well known attorney in Pottsville. is a native of Schuylkill county, born in Pottsville, Feb. 21. 1845. His father. George Wildman Farquhar, was born in the West Indies, in 1802, and his mother. Amelie Farquhar, was born in Germany, in 1804: this was one of the prominent and carly estab- lished families in Pottsville. Fergus G. Farquhar received his ele- mentary education in the public schools of his native town. He then began a classical course at the University of Virginia, but the breaking out of the war of the Rebellion drove him from that institution. and as he was, by his youth and physical disability, un- able to enlist, his mother took him to Germany, where his educa- tion was completed at Bonn and Heidelberg. the university of the latter conferring on him, in Aug., 1865, the degree of Doctor Juris. He chose the law as his life profession, and sustains an exalted standing among his colleagues at the Schuylkill county bar. He has also been admitted to practice before the higher courts of the
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state and nation, and has always been recognized as a wise and safe counsellor in matters pertaining to the law. Mr. Farquhar has been twice married-first to Miss Fannie M. Gunniss, of Glasgow, Scotland, May 17, 1866. She was a daughter of George G. and Fannie (Scott) Gunniss, of Glasgow. Mrs. Farquhar died Nov. 17, 1883. Four children were born to this union and two of them survived their mother. George Edwin, born in 1867, died the fol- lowing ycar; Amelie Margaret was born in 1869; Saralı Cecelia was born in 1870 and died in 1879; and Frederick George was born in 1878. The second marriage of Mr. Farquhar occurred June 15, 1887, the lady of his choice being Miss Helen Leigh Southall, daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth Southall, of Shenandoah, Pa. The only child of this union is Walter Southall, born April 6, 1888. Mr. Farquhar is an independent Democrat in his political affiliations, though he has never had political aspirations nor taken an active part in the discussion of local politics. He has borne his share in the burdens of local offices. The religious home of the family is the Protestant Episcopal church.
Fausset, Thomas B., of Wayne township, near Long Run, is a son of John and Mary (Bassler) Fausset, who were residents of Myerstown, Lebanon county, and was born in that place, Nov. 17, 1844. His paternal grandparents were William and Elizabeth (Gantz) Fausset, both from Lancaster county. His maternal grandfather was Simeon Bassler, who was a native of Lebanon county. Thomas B. Fausset, the subject of this sketch, was edu- cated in the public schools of Lancaster county, and at the age of nine years he went to work for his grandfather on his farm, remaining until 1861. He went home that year, and shortly after- ward went to Washington, D. C., where he was a government at- tendant of the horses and mules that were corralled at Alexandria. In 1862 he returned home and finally located in Pottsville, secur- ing employment at the Fishbach mills, where he remained for two years, after which he worked for a year in the Haywood mill, at Palo Alto. He came to Wayne township for a short time and for two years he drove a powder team for Henry Boyer. On one trip which he made from Pottsville to Mahanoy City, crossing Broad mountain, he drove through a severe forest fire with a load of powder, at the risk of his life. Later he worked for L. C. Thompson, at Pottsville, in a hardware store, and upon leaving this position he went with the oil firm of Bell & Sterner, at Mount Carbon, where he was in charge for one year. when the Standard Oil Company bought the business and leased it to L. C. Thomp- son for a year. Later, Bright & Co. leased the plant for a year, and after this lease expired the Standard Oil Company took the property themselves. Mr. Fausset remained in charge of the plant under all these lessees, and he remained with the Standard Oil Company for nearly twenty years. After the business became: so large that more men were necessary Mr. Fausset took charge of the warehouse, stables and oils, holding this position up to the time of his leaving the service. After leaving the Standard
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Oil Company he moved to the farm where he is now located, this having been hus residence since 18h. Dec. 3. 1870, Mr. Fausset married Susan, daughter of John Kremer, of Wayne township. Mrs. Fausset's mother was, before her marriage, a Mliss Bretzius. Mr. and Mrs. Fausset have had six children, three sons and three daughters: Annie, John (deceased), Elizabeth, Eva, Harry Ide- ceased), and Thomas. Annie is married to William Reichhardt. of Reading: Elizabeth to George Lloyd, of Schuylkill Haven : Eva to Robert Berger, of Pine Grove. Thomas is unmarried and works at the Eastern steel works at Pottsville. Mr. Fausset has sold his farming implements to his son-in-law, with whom he makes his home, and has retired from the active management of the farm. He is, however, interested in the keeping of bees and raising honey. From twelve hives he took 735 pounds of honey in 1005. In toob he had eighteen colonies and took 1,007 pounds of honey in pound boxes from them. Ile also supplies hives, honey and brood frames and other furnishings for the keeping of apiaries and has roots supplies. In politics Mr. Fausset is a Re- publican, and is a school director of Wayne township at the present time. The family belongs to the Reformed church of Friedensburg.
Fayhey, John B., an undertaker and furniture dealer of Port Carbon, was born in Poughkeepsie, N. Y., April 27. 1853, a son of Peter J. and Ellen ( Murray) Fayhey. His earliest educational training was in the public schools of Chester county, Pa., and after his parents had removed to Port Carbon he attended school there. At the age of twelve years he entered the office of En- gineer H. K. Nichols, of Pottsville, as a messenger. After two years of service there he went to work on the railroad and spent the following two years in that labor. For some time he was em- ployed as a clerk at the St. Clair coal station and then, in 1880, he returned to Port Carbon. There he embarked in the undertaking and furniture business and since that time has been most suc- cessfully engaged in its conduct. His stock of goods is always up-to-date and no one who knows Mr. Fayhey doubts his desire to give his patrons the best to be had. For some years now he has been one of the influential directors of the Port Carbon electric light company. He is a Democrat in his politics, but has never held or aspired to office. In October, 1876, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Fayhey to Miss Margaret Mixted, daughter of James Mixted, of Port Carbon. The union was blessed with five children. but two of whom survive. They are Nellie and Beatrice. the former of whom is a graduate of an academy in Montgomery. The family are all communicants of St. Stephen's church of Port Carbon.
Fegley, Perry W., a member of the A. E. Brown Shoe Company, of Orwigsburg, was born in that borough on May 8. 1855, a son of Charles and Lavinia ( Hoffman) Fegley. Both were natives of the Keystone state, and the father was a farmer all his life. His death occurred in 1898, in his eighty-fourth year, and on Aug. 3,
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1902, his widow, at the age of eighty-six, passed away. The sub- ject of this sketch was one of two children by his father's last marriage, and the other son, Dr. 11. C. Fegley, died in 1888, at the age of thirty-eight. Mr. Fegley took advantage of the educa- tional opportunities offered in the Orwigsburg public schools, and when he had completed the courses offered there he became ap- prenticed to the tinkers' trade. Subsequently he went into the Orwigsburg shoe factory, and in 1884 he became a partner of the late A. E. Brown in the business, under the firm name of A. E. Brown & Co. His work comprises the superintendency of the fac- tory, and the general overseeing of the output of the firm. Oct. 31, 1875, Mr. Fegley married Miss Isadora Thorn, a native of Pennsylvania, and a daughter of Theodore and Sarah ( Richards) Thorn. To Mr. and Mrs. Fegley were born seven children. The eldest is Dr. Theodore C. Fegley, of Tremont, whose sketch ap- peats in this volume. Mabel is the wife of Joseph Lamberskin, of Somerville, N. J., and is the mother of two children, Philip and Isadora. Lillian is at home; Hilda is teaching in Schuylkill county ; Perry died at the age of eight years; and Harry and Gerald are at home. The family are all members of the Lutheran church, and Mr. Fegley is a member of the Knights of Malta, the Patriotic Order of the Sons of America, and the Independent Order of Mechanics.
Fegley, Theodore C., M. D., a leading physician of Schuylkill county and a prominent resident of Tremont, was born in St. Clair, this county, July 2, 1876. He is the oldest son of Perry W. Fegley, a sketch of whom appears in this volume. The doctor's preliminary educational training was acquired in the common and high schools of Orwigsburg, and then he entered the East Strouds- burg normal school. When he had completed the normal course he read medicine in the office of Dr. A. H. Halberstadt, of Potts- ville, for two years and then entered the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania. In 1899 he was graduated from that institution with the degree of Doctor of Medicine, and after a service of fourteen months as interne in the Pottsville hospital he removed to Tremont and started a general practice. He has been very successful in a pecuniary way and has come to be ranked among the leaders of his profession. He is medical ex- aminer for all the insurance companies doing business in Tremont and has served as a deputy county coroner under Drs. Bleiler and Gillars. Nov. 4, 1902, Dr. Fegley married Miss Minerva Lam- berson, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. A. R. Lamberson, of Tremont. To this union has been born a daughter. Mary Elizabeth. Mrs. Fegley is a devout member of and worker in the Methodist Epis- copal church of Tremont. Her husband ranks high in Masonic circles, being a member of the blue lodge of Orwigsburg, the Tremont chapter, the Pottsville commandery, the Philadelphia consistory, and Rajah Temple of the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, at Reading. He is also identified with the Royal Arcanum and is examiner for the same.
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Fennessy, Richard F., chief driller for the Philadelphia & Read- ing Coal and Iron Company, with residence at Frackville. Pa., was born in Cameron, Steuben county, N. Y., Sept. 18, 1862, being a son of James and Catherine (Anglum) Fennessy, the former of whom was a native of County Cork, Ireland, and the latter of County Clare. James Hennessy immigrated to the United States in early manhood and was a resident of Philadelphia for seven years prior to his removal, about 1856, to Cameron, N. Y., where he entered the employ of the Erie Railroad, and where he met and married his life companion. In 1887 he removed to Frack- ville, Schuylkill county, Pa., where he was employed as a watch- man by the Philadelphia & Reading Coal & Iron Company until his death, in 1004. He was the father of a family of cleven chil- dren, ten of whom grew to the age of maturity, viz: Mary, who became the wife of Thomas C. Kenney, of Scranton. Pa. ; Richard F ... the subject of this sketch; Anna, wife of Lucian Geisen- heimer, of Cuba, N. Y .: John. of Adrian, N. Y .: William J., of Frackville, this state: Nellie, wife of Dominick J. Lynch, of Phila- delphia. l'a .; Rose, wife of Boyd Schaefer, of Bloomsburg. Pa. : Margaret, wife of William J. Richards, of Frackville. Pa .: Thomas W .. of Uniontown. Pa .. and Catherine, deceased, who was the twin of John. Richard F. Fennessy was reared in Cameron, N. Y., but in 1873, at the age of eleven years, went to Scranton, Pa., where he remained until 1878. He then went to Bradford. l'a., being employed in the oil fields of Mckean county. In 1883 he removed to Tremont. Schuylkill county, where he entered the employ of the Philadelphia & Reading Coal & Fron Company. as a driller. He remained in Tremont for four years and in 1887 removed to Frackville. Pa., where he has since maintained his residence and where he serves in the capacity of chief driller for the Philadelphia & Reading Coal & Iron Company, having charge of all the drilling for that company. Mr. Fennessy is prominently identified with the business interests of Frackville and is recog- nized as one of its leading and influential citizens. He is a direc- tor of the First National bank of Frackville, and for ten years has been a director of the building and loan association. Polit- ically he is an active worker in the ranks of the Democratic party. and has served on the board of health of his city for ten years. He and his family are members of the Roman Catholic church. In 1883 Mr. Fennessy married Emma J. Faust, a daughter of George A. and Sarah (Spatzer) Faust, of Upper Rauch Creek. Schuylkill county, and to them have been born eight children, as follows: Gertrude. Bertha, Richard. James. Laurence. Ida, Mary, and Anna.
Fenton, Patrick C., mine inspector for the eleventh mining dis- trict of Schuylkill county, is a native of Glamorganshire, Wales, where he was born Jan. 3, 1860. He was reared and educated in his native land, though his early opportunities for attending school were very limited. After coming to this country, at the age of eighteen years, he attended night schools, as opportunities were
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presented, and thus became proficient in the elementary studies. He also attended night school for a time in his native country. Mr. Fenton arrived in Shenandoah, direct from Wales, in Septem- ber, 1878. He at once identified himself with mining interests, an occupation with which he was familiar in carlier days. After demonstrating his ability, Mr. Fenton occupied several prominent and important positions about the mines, being a fire-boss for ten years, assistant superintendent for two years, and mine foreman for six years. From the last named position he was elected mine inspector, at the general election in 1903, and was re-elected, with- out opposition, in 1906. This is a very important elective office, carrying with it a good salary and many responsibilities. In preparation for this, or similar positions, Mr. Fenton took the full correspondence course in mining, and passed very creditable examinations thereon, through the Scranton correspondence schools. Patrick C. Fenton is a son of James and Mary (Phil- lips) Fenton, the former a native of Scotland and the latter born in Wales. They spent their lives in the last named country. The father died in 1871, at the age of sixty-one years, and the mother survived him until 1904, when she died at the ripe old age of eighty-six. All of Mr. Fenton's mature life has been spent in the anthracite coal regions, and principally in Schuylkill county. He was married April 20, 1882, to Miss Elizabeth, daughter of John T. and Mary Ann Thomas, natives of Glamorganshire, Wales, but residents of Shenandoah, Pa., at the time of this marriage. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Fenton, the names being May, Ivor, Edith, Caroline and John. All are still under the parental roof. The family are members of the Congregational church. Mr. Fenton is a Republican in political views, and was elected to office as the nominee of his party. He takes an active interest in the supremacy of Republican principles, and is a recog- nized leader in local politics. Fraternally he is a member of the Ivorites, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and the Fra- ternal Order of Eagles. Mr. Fenton is a pleasant, affable gentle- man, whose acquaintance it is a pleasure to makc. His attractive home and handsome offices are located on East Center street, Ma- hanoy City.
Ferguson, Daniel J., has attained to distinctive prestige as one of the able representatives of the bar of his native county, and is established in the successful practice of his profession at Shen- andoah. He was born in this thriving little city, Sept. 15, 1877, and is the only living child of Patrick J. and Mary Agnes (O'Con- nor) Ferguson. His honored father is one of the prominent and influential citizens of the county, and is individually mentioned in this history, so that a recapitulation of the family history is not demanded in the present connection. The subject of this sketch was graduated in the Shenandoah grammar school and then continued his studies in the high school for one year, at the expiration of which he was matriculated in Georgetown Univer- sity, Washington, D. C., in which historic old institution he was
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graduated in 1808, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. He then took a course m the law department of Columbia University, New York city, and after his return to his native town he held the office of agent for the Adams Express Company for one year, after which he was manager of the Ferguson opera house for a similar period. He then entered the office of Guy E. Farquhar, of lotts- ville, under whose preceptorship he continued his reading of the law, and tiet. 10, 1004, he was admitted to the bar of the state, by the supreme court. He immediately opened an office in Shenan- doah, and here he has met with unqualified success in the work of his profession, having a clientage of representative character. lle further fortified himself for the work of his chosen vocation by study under the able preceptorship of Hon. John A. Mccarthy. Prior to entering college he made a trip abroad, spending four months in touring the European continent and the British isles. Mr. Ferguson is independent in his political views and his reli- gions faith is that of the Catholic church, of which he is a com- municant. He is affiliated with the local lodge of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and is one of the popular young men of his native city.
Ferguson, Patrick J .- The name which introduces this article is prominently and indissolubly associated with the borough of Shenandoah, as it is also with the history of Schuylkill county. Mr. Ferguson's entire life has been passed in this county and for more than forty years his home and principal business interests have been in Shenandoah. He was born in Minersville, in the year 1842. and in his native village the early years of his life were passed. There be duly availed himself of the advantages of the common schools, after which he continued his studies in the normal school at Port Carbon and finally completed a thorough course in the Quaker City business college, in the city of Phila- delphia. Like many other men of his generation who attained to prominence in later life, he began his independent career as a teacher. For three years he was employed in this landable work at Minersville, and his efforts in the connection met with unquali- fied evidences of appreciation. But the opportunities for growth and development in the 'Gos were too alluring to permit an ambi- tious young man to long remain a devotee of pedagogy, and thus Mr. Ferguson accepted a lucrative position in the colliery of John Anspach & Company, of Philadelphia, the colliery having been located near Ashland. He was thus engaged for about two years, at the expiration of which, in 1864. he took up his residence in Shenan- doah, which was then but a small hamlet, and he became one of the first merchants of the village. Five years were profitably de- voted to mercantile pursuits, and at the same time Mr. Ferguson took due advantage of the investment opportunities offered in connection with the rapid growth and development of the embryo city. He made judicious investments in village lots and buildings and made improvements on his various properties, which rapidly appreciated in value. He early assumed a virtual protectorate
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