History of Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, Vol. II, Part 21

Author: Schalck, Adolf W.
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: State Historical Association
Number of Pages: 700

USA > Pennsylvania > Schuylkill County > History of Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, Vol. II > Part 21

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Gray, Robert Bruce, M. D., a practicing physician and surgcon in Port Carbon, was born at. Cressona, Schuylkill county, Aug. 11, 1866. He is a son of John and Agnes (McKelvey) Gray, the former of whom was born in Johnson, Renfrewshire, Scotland, and the latter in Pottsville, on East Norwegian and Coal streets, where the Pennsylvania depot now stands. The McKelvey family were among the early pioneers of Pottsville, emigrating from Scotland about 1820. David McKelvey, the maternal grandfather of Dr. Gray, while engaged in the early development of the coal fields in Pottsville, was killed by a falling timber under the site of the present court house, he being the first miner killed in the gate vein. His widow leased the Mt. Hope farm and sold milk, fruit and vegetables in town, by which means she reared her family of four children. At her death she was buried in the cemetery ad- joining the Center street grammar school building, in a vault which contained the mortal remains of thirty-five of her relatives. Dr. Gray's father's marriage to Agnes McKelvey was blessed with eleven children, ten of whom lived to years of maturity and nine of whom are now living. Isabella is the wife of Samuel Klock, and lives in Truly, Mont. Dr. James Charles Gray has been a representative practicing physician at Cressona since 1884; Will- iam Lincoln is a machinist at Shickshinny, Luzerne county, Pa .; Jennie B. is the wife of Adam Applegate of Pottsville; Dr. Robert B. was next in order of birth; Annie Elizabeth married William Kline and lives at Great Falls, Mont .; Agnes May is the wife of Rheinold Plath and also resides at Great Falls; John Mc- Kelvey is a practicing physician in Port Carbon, where he located three years later than his brother, Dr. Robert ; George Andrew was a ranchman in Great Falls, Mont., he having been thrown from a horse on his ranch and killed near Great Falls: the place is named Gray Butte in his honor, though his body lies in the family lot at Cressona ; Allen Eugene is a ranchman and farmer, having taken up the claim of his brother George in Gray Butte, near Great Falls; Chester Hutchison died in infancy. The mother died in 1901 at her home in Cressona and the father died in Montana eight months later and was buried at Cressona. Dr. Robert B. Gray was educated in the public schools of his native town, and profes- sionally educated at the Medico-Chirurgical college of Philadel- phia. He was graduated at the last named institution with the class of 1894, passed the examination of the board of state exam- iners of Pennsylvania and after considerable hospital experience. settled down to private practice in Port Carbon. He had charge of the medical wards in the Pottsville hospital for a few months during the first three years of the existence of that institution and also served six years as deputy county coroner in the district em- braced by Port Carbon, Middleport and New Philadelphia. He has been a member of the board of U. S. pension examiners for Schuylkill county for two years ; served five years as a member of the board of health in Port Carbon ; a like period as a member of the board of health in Palo Alto, and is at present a member of

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the Port Carbon borough council. The doctor is an uncompromis- ing Republican in his political affiliations. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and Patriotic Order Sons of America. He was married on Sept. 28, 1808, to Miss Mary Beddall Wren, a daughter of George and Lillie Wren, of Mahanoy City. (See personal sketch of George Wren.) Mrs. Gray is a grand- daughter of Thomas Beddall, of an carly established family in Schuylkill county, and prominent in the early development of the coal interests. The same may be said of her paternal grandfather, Thomas Wren. Dr. and Mrs. Gray have a son and a daughter, the latter being Miss Lillie, born Aug. 20, 1800), and the son is Master Robert, born Feb. 6, 1900. The doctor is a member of the Metho- dist Episcopal church and Mrs. Gray is a Presbyterian in religious preferences.

Green, David Bright, deceased, was in his day one of the lead- ing lawyers of Schuylkill county, and in fact of the State of Penn- sylvania. He was born at Reading. Berks county, Dec. 22. 1831, a son of John and Catharine ( Bright) Green, old residents of that city. His carly education was acquired in the schools of his native city, after which he entered Yale university, where he graduated in 1852. Returning to Reading he became a student in the law office of John S. Richards, and in January, 1855, was admitted to the bar. In April, 1856, he located at Pottsville, where he soon built up a lucrative practice. In 1862 he entered the army as ad- jutant of the 129th Pennsylvania volunteer infantry. Although he served but nine months he was a participant in some of the most sanguinary battles of the great Civil war, being at the second Bull Run. Antietam, Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville, as well as in several minor engagements. When General Lee invaded Penn- sylvania in the summer of 1863 Judge Green again heeded his country's call and went out as lieutenant-colonel of the 27th Penn- sylvania "emergency" regiment, with which he served until mus- tered out in August. In 1865 he formed a partnership with Hon. Lin Bartholomew. but this firm was amicably dissolved the follow- ing year. In 1867 Governor Geary appointed Mr. Green judge of the criminal court for the district composed of Schuylkill. Dauphin and Lebanon counties, which had been created by legislative enactment the preceding winter. The following fall he was nom- inated by the Republican party for a full term, and was elected, though the constitutionality of the law was attacked and after some bitter opposition the supreme court of the state sustained the action of the legislature. Judge Green then entered upon the duties of the office and continued in that position until about 1874. Then the present constitution of the state was adopted, by virtue of which the court was abolished, though he was commissioned as judge of the court of common pleas for the remainder of the term for which he had been elected. He was defeated for reelection in the fall of 1877 by Judge Bechtel, but was elected over James B. Reilly in 1881, and resumed his judicial functions on the first Mon- day in January, 1882. He was reelected in 1891, and had served

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one year, one month and three days, when death closed his career. Judge Green's death was due to progressive apoplexy. On Sun- day, Fcb. 5, 1893, he complained of feeling dizzy, and about nine o'clock the following morning spoke of a slight numbness in his 'right hand and the right side of his face. This numbness increased until by two o'clock in the afternoon, after suffering two distinct strokes of apoplexy, he became unconscious and remained so until the end, which came a few minutes after nine o'clock that evening. Concerning his legal career the Miners' Journal, of Pottsville, said the next day: "Judge Green was one of the best and most prominent citizens of the state. His record as a citizen, as a law- yer and as a judge, stands preeminent in the history of Schuyl- kill county. In the galaxy of such judges as Heggins, Blythe, Black, King, Elwell, Paxson, Mitchell, and many others who were associated in the several common pleas courts of Pennsylvania, there is no name that shines brighter in common pleas juris- prudence than that of Judge Green. In all matters of public im- provement he stood in front; as a friend and social companion he was ever near." In his early study of the law Judge Green de- voted a great deal of attention to the law regulating mining rights, and their bearing on the safety and preservation of railroads and highways that traversed the surface over the mines. On these questions, and the laws relating to original land titles and riparian rights, he became a recognized authority, his decisions in such cases-of which there were many-always showing such justice and equity, and such profound knowledge of the law, that many of his Republican friends urged him to become a candidate for a place on the supreme bench. These overtures he always turned aside, preferring to continue in the office to which he had been elected by the people of his own county. His decisions are still quoted, however, as sound in principle and a thorough exposition of the laws, and will no doubt continue as the highest authority on these questions in the years to come. Judge Green was in- terested in several business enterprises and at the time of his death was a director of the Safe Deposit bank, of which he was one of the founders. Eminently social in his disposition he was a favorite guest at numerous dinners, etc., and was a member of that organ- ization known as the. "Pottsville Fishing Party," one of the oldest social organizations of Schuylkill county. Of this club he had the honor of being president. On Dec. 8, 1870, Judge Green was united in marriage to Catherine Brooke, a daughter of L. P. Brooke, of whom specific mention will be found in this volume. They became the parents of the following children: Ida F., Kath- arine and Douglass Bannon.

Green, Robert P., a farmer of affluence and a dealer in timber for mining purposes, whose postoffice is Ashland, was born in that city on Sept. 3, 1856. He is one of six children of Daniel F. and Annie (Patten) Green, the others being William, Thomas. Daniel, Ida and Eleanor. His educational advantages were acquired in the public schools of Barry township and Ashland, which he at-

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tended until he was about sixteen years of age. Then he became his father's assistant on the homestead farm and re mamed under the parental roof until he was twenty -eight years old, by which time he had saved sufficient of his earnings to purchase the farm which he is now working. The place contains some 135 acres, to of which are under cultivation, general farming being carried on and no partien lar branch being favored. In connection with his agricultural interests he owns and manages an extensive lumber yard. the greater part of the output of which is used for the tombering of mines. On May 15. 1856, was solemnized Mr. Green's marriage to Miss Susanna Kimmel, a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Kramer) kimmel, and nine children have blessed this union, of whom six survive. Edward, the eldest survivor, married Miss Ella Derr. of Barry: Ida is the wife of Monroe Kimmel of Gordon ; Edna is Mrs. Harvey Hubler, and the others are Elsie May, Sarah Emma, and John Danich, all at home. The family are all com- municants of the Lutheran church of Barry, of which Mr. Green is a deacon. In politics he is a stalwart Republican and as such hold the offices of assessor and register for a total of six years. Fraternally he is identified with Lavelle Lodge, No. 072. Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows. Mr. Green is of good English- Welsh stock. His paternal grandparents, John and Eleanor (Lewin) Green, were natives of England and Wales, respectively. and the maternal grandparents were Thomas and Alice Patten, both of whom immigrated to this country from England

Gregory. William G., agent and mining engineer for the Sheafer estate, was born near Pottsville en April 22, 1859. Ile is a Son of Elijab and Mary E. (Troutman) Gregory, the former born in England in 1834 and the latter in Schuylkill county in 1837. The parents were married in this county in 1850. The father came to the United States about the time he attained his majority, passing his twenty-first birthday on board ship, and for all his active life was engaged in mining, holding various responsible positions with different concerns. For some twenty years he was superintendent of the coal and iron company's works in the Girardville district. He retired about 1807 and removed to Reading, where he died on July 12, 1002. The mother is still living, making her home with a widowed daughter at Reading. Seven children were born to the parents, of whom the subject of this sketch is the second in order of birth. Salina, the eldest, became the wife of John Hanson. and died in 1898, leaving two children ; John is a druggist in Potts- ville : Emma is the wife of George M. Daniell. of Vivian. W. Va .; Sarah, with whom the mother makes her home, is the widow of W. AA. Oliver, of Reading, and has two children ; Harriet is the wife of Andrew Richelderfer, of Girardville : and Alice died in in- fancy. William G. Gregory received his educational advantages in the common schools of the county, rounding out his training by a course at Dickinson seminary at Williamsport. His work about the mines began when he was still a child and he first took

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up the work of engineer in 1880 at the Ashland office of the Coal & Iron Company. He remained with that concern until Novem- ber, 1892, and then was engaged as superintendent of the colliery of Leisenring & Co., of Minersville. His Minersville position he retained until April, 1894, and the following month assumed his present occupation with the Sheafer estate. His duties are many and varied, including the collecting of rentals, the building, re- pairing and leasing of houses and making surveys of the collieries of the estate. He has attended to every detail of the work with as much scrupulous care as if it were his own interest, and throughout has given the highest degree of satisfaction to his em- ployers. On June 8, 1882, Mr. Gregory married Miss Elizabeth Johnson, daughter of John and Jane Johnson of Girardville. Mrs. Gregory's parents are dead, but she has three brothers, John at Gordon, Charles at Pottsville and Frank at Shenandoah, and a sister, Mrs. J. B. Smith, living at Pottsville. In politics Mr. Gregory is a Republican, but aside from several years of service as borough surveyor of Shenandoah, he has never held political office. He is prominent in Masonic circles, having attained to the thirty- second degree, and being a member of the Blue lodge of Ashland. the Minersville chapter, the Ashland commandery, the Philadel- phia consistory and the Reading Shrine, and is a past officer in the first three named. He is also a member of the Royal Arcanum, the Patriotic Order of the Sons of America, and the American Hose Company of Ashland. Mrs. Gregory is a communicant of the Methodist Episcopal church.

Griffiths, Elmer J., the leading undertaker and embalmner of Tamaqua, was born at Lewisburg, Union county. Pa .. on March 22, 1864. He is a son of William H. and Margaret E. (McFadden) Griffiths, both natives of Pennsylvania. The father in early life was a molder by trade, and was occupied at that labor until his health became impaired and he was compelled to give it up, after which time he engaged in floriculture until his death, which oc- curred on Jan. 20, I 1881. He removed from Philadelphia to Tamaqua before the close of the war and continued to reside there. He was a most ardent advocate of temperance and never in his life did he allow a drop of liquor to pass his lips for other than medicinal purposes. Both he and his wife, who died in 1893, were very active in the work of the Methodist Episcopal church. of which they were members. Of the seven children born to the parents but three survive. Mrs. Annie Wetzel and Mrs. Edith A. Klees, widow of William Klees, are the two members living beside the subject of this memoir, with whom they make their home. Elmer J. Griffiths attended the common schools, but was obliged by the death of his father to leave school and go to work before he had completed his course. He took charge of his father's floral business and for eight years made it the means of liveli- hood for the family. At the end of that period he turned it over to a purchaser and opened in his present line of business. His reputation as a painstaking, thorough workman and a kindly,

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courteous gentleman in all his relations with bereaved families has brought him an mercase of business from year to year and now he has calls from all over the county. On Oct. 7. 180, he married Miss Mary F. Seiders, a native of Tamaqua and a daugh- ter of Jackson and Ellen ( Bayer) Seiders. Her father is deceased, but the mother is still living. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Grif- fiths are four in number-Edith G., in the class of 1908 in the high school : William H., Norman S. and Franklin (. Mrs. Griffiths died on May 22. 1900, at the age of thirty-two years. She was a woman much beloved and nowhere has she been more missed than in the Methodist Episcopal church, in which she was a loyal member and devout worker, as well as the leading soprano in the choir. Mr. Griffiths is one of the board of trustees of the Methodist church and a director in the Young Men's Christian Association. He is prominent in Masonic circles, in which he has attained to the thirty-second degree, and also belongs to the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows and the Patriotic Order of the Sons of America. Like his honored father he has never tasted intoxi- cating liquor of any kind, and believes the world could get along just as well without it.

Griffiths. Isaac N., proprietor of an old and well established hardware, plumbing and general repair business in Girardville, is a son of John and .Sarah (Owens) Griffiths and was born in Shenandoah on Oct. 4. 1878. He has two sisters. Mrs. W. T. Johnson and Miss Mary Griffiths, and a brother, William G. His parents were both natives of Wales and came to Schuylkill county some ten years before his birth. The father spent all his active life in this county as an employ of a mining company. The sub- ject of this sketch received his early education in the public schools of Shenandoah, and in 1894 completed the courses offered there. Hle then took up telegraphy and when he had mastered that art he became employed as a clerk in the office of the Phil- adelphia & Reading Coal and Iron Company. For nearly eleven years he held the same responsible position, leaving it only to accept the managership of the hardware business formerly owned by Peter Griffiths. The concern was established early in 1870 and is the principal store of its kind in the borough. On June 18, 1903, occurred the marriage of Mr. Griffiths to Miss Clara Morrison, daughter of Alexander and Emily (Gill) Morrison of Shenan- doah. Two sons have blessed this union, John Owen and James Alexander. The parents are both members of the Baptist church and it is in that faith that the boys are being reared. In politics Mr. Griffiths is a Republican, but he has never sought the emolu- ments of public office. Fraternally he is identified with Shen- andoah Lodge, No. 511, Free and Accepted Masons, and is the present incumbent of the chair of worshipful master. He is a young man of much natural business ability. excellent judgment and fine habits, and his friends predict for him a most successful future.

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Griffiths, Morgan, a prominent merchant of Nuremburg and a justice of the peace of that borough, was born in Ashland on May 23, 1858, a son of Howell and Catherine (Jones) Griffiths. Hc attended the public schools until he was fourteen years of age and then secured work as a breaker boy. Subsequently he lived with his family for a year in Hubbard, Trumbull county, Ohio, and then returned with them to Ashland, whence they again moved, this time to Belle Tunnel near Mt. Carmel. At that place Mr. Grif- fiths was employed as a breaker boy again and when he went to Centralia with his parents he did the same work. The family moved from Centralia to Nuremburg, where the mines were just beginning to be worked, but left there soon after to go to Audenried, in Carbon county, and thence to Sandy Run, Luzerne county. From Sandy Run they came again to Nuremburg, where the subject of this sketch was for four years employed in the mines. In 1886 he gave up his aspirations to make mining his life work and accepted a position as manager of the clothing store of Simeon Miller in Nuremburg. In December he resigned his posi- tion and embarked in the same business under his own name. Since that time he has been most successfully engaged in the business and has a wide and varied patronage. In 1888 Mr. Grif- fiths was appointed postmaster by President Harrison and con- tinued to be the incumbent of that office until 1904, when Mrs. Griffiths was made postmistress by President Roosevelt. In poli- tics Mr. Griffiths is a Republican, and is now justice of the peace, having been elected on the Republican ticket for several terms, amounting to over seventeen years. He is a member of the county executive committee of his party and of the regular county com- mittee. He has also been a school director for a number of years. On Oct. 26, 1886, Mr. Griffiths married Miss Margaret Witchey, daughter of Alexander and Catherine (Haber) Witchey of Os- ceola, Clearfield county, the ceremony occurring at Jeddo in Lu- zerne county. They have no children of their own, but have an adopted daughter, Eva. The family are attendants of the United Evangelical church of Nuremberg. Fraternally Mr. Griffiths is identified with. the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and Camp No. 96, Patriotic Order of the Sons of America. He is of good Welsh stock, his parents having come to Schuylkill county from Glamorganshire, Wales. Mr. Griffiths is recognized as a man of excellent business judgment, conservative methods and absolute integrity.

Griffiths, Thomas B., a popular hotel man of Shenandoah, and school director from the Second ward, was born in North Wales in the year 1867. When he was about two years of age he came with his parents, John S. and Elizabeth (Cuffin) Griffiths to America. They came directly to Shenandoah, where the father was connected with mining interests until his death, at the age of forty-nine years. The mother died at the age of thirty-nine, leav- ing five children, viz .: John C., a mine worker of Shenandoah ; Thomas B .; Hannah, wife of James S. Williams, an undertaker

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and furniture dealer, Sarah J., a saleswoman in Shenandoah, Ruth, wife of Sammel Krom, a salesman in Philadelphia. Thomas B. Guthithe began his for himself as a slate picker in the mines. From this humble position he was promoted to more responsible and profitable ones, being connected with the mining industry for twenty years In ig he engaged in the hotel business, in which line of activity he has since continued, and in which he has been measurably successful, having accumulated considerable property. Mr. Griffiths is an unswerving Republican in his political affilia- tions and takes an active part in the council of his party. He is a member of the Rescue Hook and Ladder Company and the Knights of the Golden Eagle, and is an attendant at the First Bap- tist church. On March 20, 1803, he married Miss Miriam Thomas. a daughter of David 11. and Sophia Thomas. She was born at High Park, near Scranton. Her father. now deceased, was a musician, and her mother resides in Shenandoah. She has one sister, and three half-brothers and a half-sister, children of her father by a former marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Griffiths have four children-Walter, Herbert. Sarah 1. and Hazel, all living and now attending the Shenandoah schools. Mr. Griffiths is now serving his fifth year as a member of the school board. He takes a great interest in the cause of education, as well as in everything else that has a tendency to promote the general welfare of the com- munity, and is looked upon as one of Shenandoah's substantial. public-spirited and representative citizens,

Gruhler. Christian, M. D., an influential physician and surgeon of Shenandoah, was born in Jaffa, Asia Minor, Feb. 17. 1870. Hc is the second child born to Rev. John Grubler and his wife, Caro- lina Kreuz, and at the time of his birth his father was serving as a missionary of the Lutheran church. The mother died Dec. 1. 1883. and the father May 19, 1905, leaving a family of four besides the doctor. Martin, the oldest, is a druggist in Shenandoah ; Mary is the wife of Philip Bierman, an electrical engineer of Philadel- phia : Fannie lives in Philadelphia, and Frederick in Orwigsburg. The Grubler family traces its ancestry back some four hundred years, and members of it have been identified with practically all the important movements in Germany for that length of time. The subject of this memoir acquired his education in the schools of Shenandoah and in 1885 entered the drug business as an appren- tice with the late Charles Wasley. This arrangement continued until 1889. when Dr. Gruhler entered the college of pharmacy in Philadelphia and was graduated two years later. Upon returning 10 Shenandoah he again engaged in the pharmacy business, this time with his elder brother, and remained in it until 1895. In that year he purchased a drug business in Philadelphia, and at the same time began the study of medicine at the Medico-Chirurgical col- lege of that city. When he was graduated in 1899 with the degree of Doctor of Medicine he disposed of his interest in the drug busi- ness in Philadelphia and returned to Shenandoah, where he has been actively and successfully engaged in practice ever since. He

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History of Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, Vol. II, Part 21

Author: Schalck, Adolf W. Publication date: 1907 Publisher: State Historical Association Number of Pages: 700

Author: Schalck, Adolf W.
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: State Historical Association
Number of Pages: 700