Portrait and biographical record of Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, Volume I, Part 13

Author:
Publication date: 1897
Publisher: New York : Chapman Publishing co.
Number of Pages: 1068

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W ILLIAM J. WELSH. As a leading citizen of Scranton, one who has for ycars thoroughly identified himself with its best interests, his far-reaching enterprise. aptitude for affairs and broad public spirit being potent in advancing its welfare in various direc- tions, the name of W. J. Welsh is inseparably

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linked with its growth and progress. Especially has he been active in advancing the educational interests of the city, and through his energy and sound judgment the welfare of the public schools has been materially promoted. In December, 1893, he was nominated, and in February, 1894, elected, after a spirited contest, a member of the board of school control from the ninth ward, in which capacity he has since served. In 1895-96 he was chairman of the building committee for the new high school, and he is also serving on the high school and insurance committees, being active in every department connected with the work.

The Welsh family originated in England, the first representatives settling in New Jersey. John Welsh, who was a son of the founder of the family in this country, was born in New Jersey, served with valor in the Revolution, removed to Minersville, Schuylkill County, Pa., where he became one of the first employes of the Reading Railroad Company; he died at eighty-four years. His son, Morgan L., our subject's father, was born in New Jersey, but grew to manhood in Pennsylvania, where he was employed as a mine foreman until his death. He married Lucetta Fertig, daughter of John Fertig, who was a farmer of Schuylkill Haven, Schuylkill County, Pa. Both died in Scranton. Of their three chil- dren, Mrs. J. Orf lives in this city. George W. was a member of the Thirteenth Pennsylvania Infantry under Colonel Shepherd during the late war, being second lieutenant of his company. At the expiration of his term of service he was honorably discharged in Savannah, where he died of the black fever while waiting a few days for a comrade's discharge.

The subject of this sketch was born in Miners- ville, Pa., November 5, 1850. He remained there until fifteen years of age, coming to Scranton July 12, 1866. Here, until 1878, he was employed in the market business with D. W. Sheld & Co. From that time until 1882 he was city agent for the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Com- pany of Milwaukee, and upon the resignation of Capt. J. W. Howell, now of San Francisco, as general agent, he succeeded to the position, which he has since held. The headquarters are

in Scranton, with branch offices at Wilkesbarre and Easton, and he has seven agents in the coun- ties of Lackawanna, Luzerne, Wyoming and Northampton. The Northwestern has been rep- resented in Scranton for thirty years and until recently was the only life insurance company that had an agency here, but though others are now represented, it still has the lead in amount of business done. A number of years ago Mr. Welsh paid the second life policy issued by the company in this city. The office of the agency is in the Mears Building.

In Scranton Mr. Welsh married Miss Annie E. Werner, who was born here, and they are the parents of two children, William J., Jr., member of the class of 1897, Scranton high school; and Jessie L. Mrs. Welsh is a daughter of John Wer- ner, a native of Germany, who emigrated to America, settled in Scranton, and was a con- tractor here until he retired from active business. Fraternally Mr. Welsh is identified with the Knights of Pythias, being a past officer in the lodge at Scranton. He is a prominent member of the Masonic order, belongs to Union Lodge No. 291, F. & A. M., and has attained to the thirty-second degree in Masonry. In politics he has always upheld Republican principles, be- lieving that the doctrines enunciated by that party will best subserve the interests of the people. His religious belief inclines him toward the Metho- dist Episcopal Church, but he usually attends the English Lutheran Church, of which his wife is a member.

D R. GEORGE E. HILL. In every depart- ment of human activity Scranton may boast of successful and eminent citizens, whose superior talents have promoted the world's progress, whose abilities have won wide recog- nition and whose culture has brought them the admiration of many to whom they are personally unknown. Such a one is Dr. Hill, "the Albany dentist," as he is frequently called. He especially merits mention on account of the fact that he was the first to establish and conduct dental offi- ces in departments. His Scranton office is di- vided into different departments, operating, fill-

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ing, crown and bridge work and the manufacture of plates, with a specialist at the head of each. At one time he had twenty-two offices in different cities in the United States, all conducted on the department plan by skilled men whom he em- ployed. At Cincinnati, Ohio, he has an office at No. 136 West Fourth Street, and he also has one of the finest offices in Philadelphia, while a few years ago he had the largest office in Chicago. The secret of his success is his method of work by departments, which has proved a popular and successful plan, and is being rapidly adopted by the members of the profession in all large cities.

Born in Coxsackie, Greene County, N. Y., the subject of this sketch is a son of Dr. L. W. Hill, a native of Delaware County, N. Y., and for forty- four years a successful dentist. The grandfather, Isaac Hill, was born in Connecticut and with his wife, Betsey, became an early settler of Delaware County, his father, Isaac Hill, Sr., also locating on a farm in that county. The latter was the son of an Englishman, who emigrated to America and made settlement in Connecticut. One of the members of the family was a colonel in the Revo- lution and commanded his regiment in the en- gagement at Saratoga, as well as in other battles of the war. Isaac Hill, Jr., thoughi a farmer by occupation, devoted much of his time to hunting and trapping, in which way he not only pro- vided the family with meats, but added substan- tially to his income. Two of his sons became well known physicians and two others were successful dentists.

For a time Dr. L. W. Hill practiced his pro- fession in Coxsackie and then was similarly en- gaged at Flushing, L. I. His last days were spent in retirement at Coxsackie, where he died about 1878. He married Sally A. Finch, a na- tive of Coxsackie, N. Y., whose father, Newman Finch, was well known among the people of his day, and whose maternal ancestors, the Waldrons, were of German origin. She died in Coxsackie about the time of her husband's demise, leaving three sons and three daughters, of whom Drs. Newman H. and W. L. are dentists respectively of Kingston and Binghamton, N. Y., and a daughter is the wife of J. W. Joslyn, D. D. S., of Philadelphia.

The youngest son of the family is the subject of this sketch. He attended the public and high schools of Coxsackie, and afterward entered the medical college at Albany, where he remained for three terms. From boyhood he assisted his father in the business, his natural adaptation for which may be inferred from the fact that he pulled a tooth when only nine years of age. He studied under his father and quickly gained a complete knowledge of the profession, the practice of which he began for himself at the age of twenty- one. After some time in Albany he went to Bing- hamton, where he remained for two years, and then, in December, 1882, he came to Scranton, his present home.

For years Dr. Hill has spent his winters in Indianola, Fla., where he has an orange grove and residence, with fine hunting grounds in the immediate vicinity. Adjoining Scranton, on a nine-acre tract, he has built a "hunter's home," where he entertains his friends in hunter's style. He has traveled extensively throughout the en- tire country and has hunted buffalo in the Yel- lowstone Park, as well as enjoyed that sport in other parts of the great west. Fraternally he is connected with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks; Knights of Pythias, uniformed rank; Coeur de Lion Commandery No. 17, and has attained the thirty-second degree. He is a member of the board of trade of Scran- ton, and politically is an advocate of Demo- cratic principles. In religion he is identified with the Elm Park Methodist Episcopal Church. His marriage united him with Miss Celia A. Hoose, of Coxsackie, N. Y., an accomplished lady, whose paintings adorn their parlors and prove her abil- ity as an artist. They have one son, C. L., who is associated with his father under the firm name of Hill & Son and who is also prominent in the Masonic fraternity, having attained the thirty- second degree.

A ARON B. KIERSTEAD. Seranton is the home of many gentlemen of fine natural abilities, thorough education and business energy, who in various fields of industry are ac- quiring enviable reputations and gaining well-

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deserved success. Among this number we pre- sent the name and life sketch of A. B. Kier- stead, one of the influential business men of the place. In 1888 he started in business for him- self as a contractor and builder and during the busy season gives employment to between one hundred and fifty and one hundred and eighty men. Among the buildings for which he has had the contract for the mason and iron work are the residence of Douglass Jay in Spruce street, the Pennsylvania Coal Company's office No. 6, Garney & Brown building, Carbondale silk mill, the Leader Building in Carbondale, Peter Krantz brewery addition and the chapel at Hillside Home.

The Kierstead family is of Holland-Dutch origin. The great-grandfather of our subject, Aaron Kierstead, was a farmer at Fairfield, N. J., and our subject has in his possession his com- mission as a captain in the Revolution. He was a descendant of one of three brothers who emi- grated from Holland, one settling in New York, another in New Jersey, while the third, who went south, was never after heard from. Hans Kierstead married Sarah, the eldest child of Anneke Jans. Our subject's grandfather, Aaron, was born in Fairfield, N. J., and was an only son; he spent his life in his native place, following ag- ricultural pursuits.

Our subject's father, J. O. Kierstead, also an only son and a native of Fairfield, N. J., was an apprentice to the mason's trade in Newark for four years and two months, the indenture, which is now in our subject's possession, being drawn up when the apprentice was sixteen years and ten months old. In return for his services he was given his board, clothes and $30 each year. Be- fore his apprenticeship terminated he became foreman on jobs. In 1850 he came to Scranton to work on the Wyoming House and later with Jacob Bryant finished the job. On settling here he bought property and built a home in Spruce Street, then in the woods. Continuing his part- nership with Mr. Bryant, they became the largest contractors of their day, having the contracts for the Hon. J. A. Scranton dwelling, the Perrott Block, Delaware, Lackawanna & Western foun- dry and the most important public structures

and private residences. He was superintendent of the government building in Scranton in 1894, when his death occurred. His wife, Sarah, was born in Chinchilla, this county, and was of Eng- lish descent; she was a daughter of Benjamin Leach, a native of Pennsylvania, and a farmer, coal dealer and lumberman, who died at eighty- seven years of age. She is still living and makes her home with her only son, our subject. Her daughters are Sarah, Mrs. C. I. Hudson; Nellie, wife of Philip Hiss, president of the P. Hanson Hiss Manufacturing Company, of Baltimore; and Grace, of Scranton.

For many years J. O. Kierstead rendered the Republican party active service. While a mem- ber of the assembly, in 1874 and 1875, he helped secure the passage of the bill separating Lacka- wanna County from Luzerne. Socially he was a Mason and Odd Fellow, and in religious belief a member of the Second Presbyterian Church. His honorable and useful life endeared him to the citizens of Scranton and his death was uni- versally mourned as a public loss.

After completing his education in the academy at Newton, N. J., the subject of this sketch was employed as a clerk in Scranton until 1877, when he went west as traveling salesman for Schuster, Tootle & Co., wholesale clothiers, this position being given him as a result of his promptness in filling an engagement. For three years he trav- eled in Colorado and New Mexico, and as there were no railroads then, traveling was slow and tedious. He usually started from Trinidad and ended his route at El Paso, traveling sixteen hun- dred miles in three months. He went to Las Vegas on the first train entering that place, and also visited Albuquerque and Ft. Wingate, where he was offered a partnership, but the "boom" being on in Pueblo, he declined to go to the former place. His father started the first hat store in Pueblo, his son Aaron assuming charge of same, and he sold the first stiff hat in the town. After two and one-half years there, he went to Wyoming Territory, his father hav- ing bought the Brown ranch, twenty miles west of Laramie. After operating it a year the father sold out and Aaron B. went to the Pacific Coast. In 1884 he returned to Scranton, intending to

ROBERT T. BLACK.

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engage in business with his father, but first learned the brick mason's trade. In 1888 he en- gaged in business for himself, and is now located at No. 421 Lackawanna Avenue.

In Baldwinsville, N. Y., Mr. Kierstead married Miss Emma E. Barnes, daughter of Friend Barnes, a farmer and member of an old family of Onondaga County. They are the parents of three children, Friend, Edra and Irene. In ad- dition to his work here, Mr. Kierstead has had important contracts in other places, including New York City. He was one of the original members of the Builders Exchange of Scranton. Prior to going west, he was a member of the Scranton City Guard, comprising Company C of the Thirteenth Regiment. Fraternally he be- longs to Union Lodge No. 291, F. & A. M., and in politics is a stanch Republican.

R OBERT T. BLACK. During the period of his residence in Scranton, Mr. Black has been identified with many of the lead- ing enterprises for the advancement of city and country, and has given his support to all plans for the promotion of the welfare of the people. He assisted in the organization of the Second National Bank of Wilkesbarre and served as one of its directors for more than twenty years. In the Vulcan Iron Works he holds an interest, and at different times served as vice-president and president of the Lackawanna Valley Bank; he was filling the latter position at the time of its reorganization as the Lackawanna Trust & Safe Deposit Company, and is still a director in the concern. While he has been liberal and gener- ous, prompt in contributing to charity, he has retained a sufficient amount of property to pro- vide his declining years with every comfort. His home contains many luxuries, not the least of which is his carefully selected library, and many of his own and his wife's happiest hours are spent in the perusal of the best literature of this and other ages.

The Black family originated in Scotland, whence Gen. James Black went to Ireland in the time of Oliver Cromwell and became the pro- prietor of two townships there. Our subject's

father, Joseph, was a son of Peter Black, a native of County Donegal, and a farmer by occupation. The former was engaged in the manufacture of linen, which he sold to the wholesale trade. He died at the age of fifty-six. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Jean M. Spencer, was a daughter of John Spencer and a descendant of Scotch forefathers. Late in life she came to America, and died in Springfield, Ohio, at an advanced age.

The family of Joseph and Jean M. Black con- sisted of ten sons and two daughters, namely: John, a wholesale merchant, who died in Phila- delphia; Peter, a merchant of Zanesville, Ohio, where he died; Robert T .; Joseph, a merchant and banker, who died in Detroit; Alexander, who died while on a prospecting tour in South America; Andrew, William and Samuel, all mer- chants, who died in Springfield, Ohio; Moses, a merchant and manufacturer of Mansfield, Ohio; Mrs. Anna Jean Grant, of Zanesville, Ohio; Thomas, who was a captain in the Twenty-third Ohio Infantry during the Civil War and was wounded in service, now a wholesale merchant of Zanesville; Bella, whose home is in Zanes- ville.

The subject of this sketch was born October I, 1821, at Rath Melton, six miles from London- derry, in County Donegal, Ireland. In boyhood he attended the school in which Robert Bonner was also a pupil, the two living in the same square. In 1842 he took passage on the sailer "Lafayette," from Londonderry, and after a voy- age of six weeks arrived in Philadelphia, from which city he proceeded to Ohio. After clerking for a time in the store owned by his brothers, John and Peter, in Zanesville, he took charge of a store in McConnellsville, Ohio, and a few years later went to Springfield, the same state, where he began in the retail mercantile trade. During the eight years he remained there he met with excellent success, that encouraged him to seek a larger field for work. Going to Philadel- phia, he embarked in the wholesale dry-goods business, purchasing an interest in the firm of Eschrick, Penn & Co., that had been in existence since 1811. He became the active manager of the concern, and its prosperity was largely en-

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hanced by his sound judgment. In 1861 he sold his interest in the business to his brother, and five years later changed his residence to Wilkes- barre. There, for a year, he was interested in the Vulcan Iron Works and later in the coal busi- ness.

About 1867 Mr. Black came to Scranton, where he has resided continuously since. For some time he was connected with two brothers-in-law in coal operations at Minooka and was treasurer and general manager of the Pennsylvania & Sus- quehanna Coal Company. At first there was but one colliery, but he built another and operated the two for a number of years,making shipments by the Delaware & Hudson and the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western. About 1878 he sold his interest in the company. For six years he represented the eighth ward upon the board of school control, and also held the position of member of the poor board, but resigned it after a time. While he is an ardent Republican in polit- ical views, he has steadily refused nomination for local offices and has never consented to the use of his name in connection with public posi- tions. He is a Presbyterian and holds member- ship in the First Church of Scranton.

In Wyoming, Luzerne County, occurred the marriage of Mr. Black to Miss C. A. Perkins, who is an accomplished lady of refined tastes and culture, and conceded to be the finest musical critic in Scranton. She was the youngest of a family that comprised six daughters and one son, and by her marriage has three children: Thomas A .; Robert T., Jr., who is engaged in the mer- cantile business in Scranton; and Mrs. Mary J. Judson, of New York City. The Perkins family is one of the oldest in the state, and some of its members were present at the massacre in the Wyoming Valley. The first of the name to settle here was the great-grandfather of Mrs. Black, who came from Massachusetts, and was num- bered among the pioneers of the Wyoming Val- ley ; he was killed in the massacre there. He had a son, Aaron, who took part in the Revolution- ary War. Another son, David, was the father of John Perkins, a large land owner and prominent citizen of Wyoming, where he died. The latter married Eunice, daughter of John and Sarah

(Patterson) Miller, who came to Pennsylvania from New England and settled in Wyoming. John and Eunice Perkins were highly respected residents of Wyoming, their many noble traits of character winning them the esteem of all with whom they came in contact. Their children, of whom Mrs. Black was the youngest, were care- fully reared and trained for honorable positions in society and in the business world.

T HOMAS L. ALEXANDER, M. D. The Scranton Medical and Surgical Institute, of which Dr. Alexander is the proprietor, was established in 1891 and is situated on the corner of Penn Avenue and Spruce Street. The entire first floor is occupied with reception, con- sultation, examining, and operating rooms and laboratory, and a specialty is made of chronic diseases. The patients come not alone from Scranton and the adjoining villages, but from other counties and some from New York State.

Of southern birth and parentage, Dr. Alexan- der was born in Chester, S. C., in 1866, and is a son of Sample and Lucie (Clawson) Alexander, natives respectively of Mecklenburg, N. C., and South Carolina. His maternal grandfather, Wil- liam Clawson, was an attorney-at-law in South Carolina, and his paternal grandfather, a native of Scotland, emigrated to North Carolina, where he became a prominent planter. Sample Alex- ander spent his active life in Chester, S. C., where he was engaged in the wholesale and retail dry- goods business and was also a successful cotton merchant. He continued in the business until his death, which occurred in 1877. Twice mar- ried, by his second union he had two children,. Rev. William Alexander, pastor of the Presby- terian Church in Concord, N. C., and Dr. Thomas L., of this sketch.

Reared in Chester, our subject attended the public and high schools, and on completing his literary education began the study of medicine under Dr. Babcock of Chester. In 1886 he en- tered the University of the City of New York and three years later graduated from the medical department with the degree of M. D. During the time he was in college he took a special course

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in surgery, physical diagnosis and chemistry, also in diseases of the eye, ear and throat. After graduating he continued his special studies of the eye, ear and throat for one year as a post- graduate, having access to all the hospitals. In 1890 he began to practice in Chester, but after a year came to Scranton, where he opened a med- ical and surgical institute.

In South Carolina Dr. Alexander married Miss Mary D. Cannon, who was born there, and they have one child, a daughter, Lucie. Mrs. Alexander is a daughter of Dr. W. S. Cannon, a graduate of the University of Georgia and a practicing physician of Ellenton, S. C. While in Chester Dr. Alexander united with Chester Lodge No. 18, F. & A. M. In religious belief he is a member of the First Presbyterian Church.

J AMES P. LOFTUS, superintendent of mines of the Delaware & Hudson Canal Company, was born January 4, 1861, in the city of Carbondale, where he has since resided. His father, Patrick Loftus, who was born in County Mayo, Ireland, in 1820, came to America in young manhood and was one of the first coal miners in the Carbondale fields for the Delaware & Hudson Canal Company. Shortly afterward his parents and brothers and sisters joined him. In 1847 he was one of the miners who experi- enced the horrors of America's first great mine disaster, when such great loss of life took place. After having been confined for several days he was finally rescued. He lived many years after- ward, dying in 1890, having been connected with the mines throughout his entire active life. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Ellen Sweeney, was born in Ireland and died in Car- bondale in 1892.

The brothers of Patrick Loftus were named as follows: Michael, a merchant in Carbondale and one of the present aldermen; Thomas W., a school teacher residing in Olyphant and for- merly a member of the Pennsylvania legislature; Owen, who is a wealthy ranch owner of Califor- nia; Anthony, a farmer in Kansas; Daniel, a resi- dent of Carbondale and connected with the mines here; and James, who is employed in the mines

at Olyphant. The family were from the sturdy people of Ireland as to education and social standing. In the family of Patrick Loftus there are three sons: John T., a clerk for the Hillside Coal Mining Company; Anthony, who is clerk- ing for the New York, Lake Erie & Western Railroad in Carbondale; and James P., of this sketch.

Educated in the schools of Carbondale, our subject stood at the head of his classes and was known as an apt pupil. At the age of fifteen he be- came a driver for the Delaware & Hudson Canal Company and remaining with that firm steadily advanced from one position to another until 1883, since which time he has efficiently and faith- fully filled the position of superintendent of mines. At the age of twenty-one he was a can- didate for the office of city auditor and, while he received a majority of the votes, through the incompetency or malicious acts of the election board in making no returns in a certain precinct he was counted out. This part of the city has since been known as "Louisiana." While by taking the matter into the courts he could have established his right to the counting of those votes, he became so disgusted with the whole proceeding that he refused to do anything fur- ther, declaring he would not soon again have anything to do with local politics. This resolve he has since steadfastly adhered to, though he has frequently been solicited to accept city offices. In politics he is independent, but in the campaign of 1896 stood on the side of the sound money Democrats. He is a man of broad views and stands high in the community.

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Portrait and biographical record of Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, Volume I, Part 13

Author: Publication date: 1897 Publisher: New York : Chapman Publishing co. Number of Pages: 1068

Author:
Publication date: 1897
Publisher: New York : Chapman Publishing co.
Number of Pages: 1068