Portrait and biographical record of Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, Volume I, Part 18

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

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J OSEPH R. McLEAN, M. D. The medical profession in Scranton is represented by a number of skillful practitioners, who have an extended knowledge of therapeutics and are recognized by the people as physicians of ability. This noble profession affords to the student a never ending source of investigation and experi- ment. New remedies are constantly being dis- covered, steady progress is being made in sur- gery, and new diseases are presenting themselves under varying forms of civilization. Whatever may be said of discoveries in other fields of knowledge -- and certainly they are astonishing

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-it can be truthfully said of this science that not one can equal it in the great strides it is making toward a comprehensive grasp of the whole sub- ject of man in relation to health and disease, the prevention and the cure of ills to which flesh is heir.

In the list of physicians of the city may be mentioned Dr. McLean, who has an office at No. 305 West Market Street, and is engaged in the practice of medicine and surgery here. He is a native of Pennsylvania, born in Waymart, Wayne County, in 1870, and is a member of a family consisting of ten children, of whom nine are living, he being next to the youngest. His father, Patrick McLean, was for some time a res- ident of Providence, where he was employed in the railroad company's mines, but removed to Waymart, Wayne County, where he has since re- sided on a farm, engaging in agricultural pur- suits. He married Miss Mary Walsh, an estima- ble lady, who died in Wayne County.

The boyhood years of the subject of this article were passed on the home farm and in attendance at the Waymart schools. In 1891 he graduated from the high school of that place, after which he entered the medical department of the Uni- versity of Pennsylvania and took the regular four years' course, graduating in June, 1895, with the degree of M. D. Immediately afterward he came to Scranton and opened an office at his present location, where he has since given his attention to professional work.

W ILLIAM W. JENKINS, M. D. No country has afforded greater opportu- nities to the poor boy than our own. Here one who is frugal and industrious has a chance to work his way upward, and while some fail to do so, the energetic and persevering in most cases secure success. In youth the subject of this sketch was poor, obliged to work when most boys were gaining an education. His first money was earned as slate picker in the breaker, and from that humble beginning he worked his way to his present position as a physician of Scranton.

In the city of Merthyr-Tydvil, Wales, Dr.

Jenkins was born May 24, 1859, a son of Williamn and Eleanor (Evans) Jenkins, also natives of that place. His grandfather, William Jenkins, who engaged in farming there until his death, had two sons in the English army, the older of whom was killed in the Crimean War. The maternal grandfather, Morgan Evans, was an iron ore miner and spent his entire life in Wales. Our subject's father, who was a coal miner in Wales, brought his family to America in 1869 and set- tled in Hazleton, Pa., but shortly afterward re- moved to Mahanoy City, thence to Ashton (now Lansford), Carbon County, and from there to Plymouth, Luzerne County, where he died in 1886 at the age of fifty years. His wife, who is still living, resides in Taylorville, Lackawanna County. Of their children two sons are living, Dr. William W., and Morgan E., a business man of New York, who makes his home in Palisades Park, N. J.

At the time the family came to the United States, our subject was a boy of ten years, and afterward he accompanied his parents on their various removals. At the age of fourteen he was promoted from the position of slate picker and made door-boy inside the mines. From Lans- ford he moved to Mauch Chunk, where he worked in the mines for eight months. In 1877 he went to Plymouth, Luzerne County, where he continued to work as a miner for two years. It had, however, for years been his hope to gain a good education, and with that object in view he saved his earnings from month to month. In 1879 he entered Wyoming Seminary and for three terms conducted his studies in that insti- tution, after which he began to read medicine under Dr. D. E. Evans of Plymouth. In the fall. of 1881 he entered the Eclectic Medical College of New York City, and there took the regular course of studies, graduating in 1884, with the degree of M. D. Returning to Plymouth, he remained there until January, 1885, when he came to Scranton, and here for a few years he carried on a drug business, first in Hyde Park, then in Providence. His increasing medical practice, however, caused him at last to retire from the drug trade and he therefore closed out his store, since which time he has devoted him-

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self entirely to his practice, at No. 1824 Wayne Avenue.

In this city Dr. Jenkins married Miss Hannah, daughter of Lewis Harris, both natives of Wales, but for years residents of Scranton, where Mr. Harris was formerly engaged in the mercantile business. Three children bless the union, Lil- lian, Willie and Lewis. In his political opinions Dr. Jenkins is independent, voting in local elec- tions for the men whom he deems best qualified to represent the people, but in national elections usually votes the Republican ticket, his prefer- ence being in that direction. Possessing a cul- tured, refined taste, with the soul of a true poet, he has written for his own pleasure, rather than for publication, a number of poems that evince a high grade of scholarship and possess genu- ine merit.

H ON. JOHN FULTON REYNOLDS, one of the foremost of the young attorneys at the Lackawanna County bar, and a prominent citizen of Carbon- dale, was born at Beaver Meadow, Car- bon County, Pa., February 5, 1863. He is a son of Jenkin Reynolds, who in young manhood came to America from Wales, his native land, and, settling in Carbon County, assisted in open- ing some of the most important mines there and in Schuylkill County. Continuing in that busi- ness, as mine superintendent, until 1868, he then, having accumulated a competency, retired to a farm in Gibson Township, Susquehanna County, and proceeded to improve and beautify one of the finest homesteads in the locality. There he re- mained until his death, in 1880. In the Presby- terian Church he was an exemplary member and active worker. He was one of three brothers who married sisters, but aside from this fact, little is known of their history. Thomas and John, the brothers, were for many years prosperous farm- ers of Susquehanna County. In regard to wealth and social standing, the family belonged to the middle classes of Wales, and thus escaped the temptations by which the wealthy often fall and the suffering's into which the poor are frequently thrown.

The mother of our subject was Elizabeth, daughter of Benjamin Daniels, and at the age of eight years accompanied her parents from Wales to this country, settling with them in Clifford, Susquehanna County. For many years her father held responsible political positions in his native land, and after coming to the United States was engaged in various positions, his last years being spent on a farm. A member of the Con- gregational Church, he was an elder of his con- gregation for many years. He was a man of peaceable disposition, kind and forgiving in his intercourse with all, and devoted much of his time to the settlement of neighborhood disputes, thus gaining the name of a peacemaker. His advice was always timely, and invariably resulted in a satisfactory settlement without resorting to the courts. His neighbors had unbounded faith in his ability and integrity, and frequently entrust- ed to him the settlement of their estates.

The family of which Mrs. Elizabeth Reynolds was a member consisted of herself, four sisters, and an only brother, who died in young man- hood, leaving four sons, Benjamin, John, Mor- gan and William Daniels, who have since be- come prominent in the business and political cir- cles of Lackawanna County. Mrs. Reynolds was a lady of noble Christian character, a firm be- liever in the doctrines of the Presbyterian Church. Her death occurred on the home farm in 1880. Of her eleven children, our subject was the youngest who grew to mature years. Edward J., who entered the Union army at the age of only nineteen, served as sergeant of Company H, Eighty-first Pennsylvania Infantry, was wounded at Gettysburg and killed at Cold Harbor, and lies buried at Arlington Heights, Washington, D. C. While in the army, he heard of the birth of his brother, our subject, whom he never saw. Immediately he wrote to his parents, requesting that they name him John Fulton, after the daring general, John Fulton Reynolds, who lost his life on the battlefield of Gettysburg. Another broth- er, Benjamin D., a life-long merchant, is now en- gaged in that business at Soutlı Gibson, Pa., where he has been very prosperous; he has been prominent in public life, serving as postmaster and filling other local offices. His wife was

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Emily Carpenter, a descendant of one of the old- est families in Susquehanna County. Elizabeth, eldest sister of the subject of our sketch, married Edwin J. Evans, and they moved to Hastings, Neb., where she died. Jennie, another sister, be- came the wife of William X. Reese, and they re- sided in Nebraska for a time, but now make their home at Forest City, Pa. Mary A., the youngest living sister, married T. J. Reese, brother of her sister's husband, and they live at Forest City. Thomas G., a brother, married Anna Evans, and was engaged in farming in Gibson Township, Susquehanna County, until his death, January II, 1889; he was well known in his community, and held several township offices. William E., youngest living brother, a carriage manufacturer, spent some time in Montana, but now lives in Deposit, N. Y .; his wife was in maidenhood Lillie Hines. The other children died when young.

When the subject of this sketch was a boy of five years his parents went to live upon a farm, and there his youthful days were happily passed. Attending the district schools, he made such rapid advance that at the age of sixteen he taught a country school. Afterward he clerked in his brother's store at South Gibson for two years, and then took the commercial course in Wyo- ming Seminary at Kingston, Pa. Later, being put in charge of the banking department of that institution, he carried on his studies in the liter- ary and scientific department during the four years he held the position, and graduated in 1887. From youth it was his fixed resolve to enter the legal profession, and with this object in view he became a law student in the office of A. H. Mc- Collum, of Montrose, Pa., brother of J. Brewster McCollum, of the supreme court of Pennsyl- vania. In August, 1889, he was admitted to the bar, and in December of the same year came to Carbondale, where he has since practiced his profession with marked success. A close student, hard worker, safe adviser and energetic man, he has gained a large practice and enjoys the confi- dence of the whole community.

Firm in his allegiance to Republican principles during the exciting campaign of 1896, Mr. Rey- nolds was brought forward by the advocates of

sound money as their candidate for the legisla- ture in the fourth legislative district of Lacka- wanna County. The district, while normally Democratic, gave Mr. Reynolds a plurality of one thousand three hundred and twelve, the larg- est plurality ever obtained by any legislative can- didate in the district.

In October, 1891, he married Miss Bessie Tyler, who was his schoolmate in Wyoming Seminary, and was the daughter of a prominent retired farmer of Oneonta, N. Y. They are the parents of one daughter, Mildred Alice, born January 24, 1894. Their home is a comfortable dwelling on Park Street, which in its interior re- flects the refined tastes of the inmates. In their religious affiliations they are identified with the Presbyterian Church, the work of which they generously aid in forwarding. They have the culture and refinement which high aspirations bring, and are fitted to adorn any position in social life.

C APT. EDWIN W. PEARCE. There are few families that have so brilliant a record for valor and patriotism as the one of which Captain Pearce is a representative. It was founded in Cornwall, England, by his great- grandfather, a colonel in the British army, who was stationed there and continued to make that shire his home until death, marrying and rearing his children there. The Captain's mother had two brothers who were lieutenants in the British army, one of whom was killed at the storming of Sebastopol and the other, being fatally wound- ed during the same siege, died on the Island of Malta while en route home.

At the opening of the Rebellion, when the per- petuity of the Union was threatened, the subject of this sketch, then a youth in his teens, became so aroused that, with his father and brothers, he enlisted in the army. His record as a soldier is one of the highest honor, while his sufferings on the tented field and in the rebel prison pens were so terrible that they should bring him the grati- tude of every loyal patriot. The patriotic spirit which led him to bear all the hardships of war was amply evidenced at the first signal of conflict,

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Ft. Sumter was fired on Friday and reduced on Saturday, and Sunday night a rebel flag (the only one ever displayed in Scranton) was placed on the schoolhouse. Early Monday morning Judge Archbald told a group of boys, of whom he was one, that the flag was on top of the schoolhouse, and on it was painted the palmetto tree, with a star, and a rattlesnake crawling up. At first it seemed a difficult problem as to how the flag was to be gotten down, there being no ladder, but he was soon master of the situation; climbing up over doors and windows until able to catch hold of the cornice, and finally reaching the roof, he. tore down the flag, upon which he stamped as soon as he was again on the ground.

The Pearce family, as before stated, originated in England. Our subject's father, William, was born in Liskeard, Cornwall, January 21, 1818, the son of an agriculturist and butcher. After his marriage he came to America in 1840 and set- tled in Bethany, Wayne County, Pa., where his son, Edwin W., was born January 7, 1844. There he continued as a farmer until 1854, when he came to Scranton and opened a meat market in North Main Avenue, Providence. Later he was employed in the construction of the old Luzerne works in the Hollow or Notch, and afterward as- sisted in sinking the von Storch shaft. This work completed, he resumed the butcher's business as a member of the firm of Pearce & Kennedy. When his sons went into the army, he also en- listed, becoming a member of Company F, Fif- tieth New York Engineers, in which he served until the close of the war. His last active work was as engineer and general coal inspector with the Delaware & Hudson. Notwithstanding his seventy-eight years he is hale and robust, and enjoys life in his quiet home in North Main Avenue.

The marriage of William Pearce united him with Martha Clathworthy, the daughter of a large shipyard owner in Davenport, England, where she was born. Of the family she is the only one who ever came to the United States. She is still living and is now seventy-six years of age. Her six children are named as follows: William H., member of Company B, One Hun- dred and Thirty-sixth Pennsylvania Infantry dur-

ing the war, and now a carpenter and builder re- siding in Milford, N. Y .; Edwin W .; Jennie A., widow of L. S. Tripp, of Scranton; Richard C., who was a member of a construction corps in the Union army and is now an engineer on the Le- high Valley Railroad, with residence in Sayre, Pa .; Minnie E., Mrs. E. H. White, of New York City; and Emma A., wife of Jacob K. Smith, a grocer in West Market Street.

In 1854 the subject of this sketch accompanied his father to Providence, where he attended the public and high schools. October 23, 1861, he enlisted at Harrisburg as a private in Company A, One Hundred and Seventh Pennsylvania In- fantry, and went with his regiment to Washing- ton, D. C. He took part in every engagement of the Army of the Potomac from that time until his capture by the Confederates, among these engagements being Cedar Mountain, Rappahan- nock Station, second battle of Bull Run, Chan- tilly, South Mountain, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, the three days' battle at Gettys- burg, Mine Run, Mead's retreat from Rapidan, where there was continuous skirmishing, and Spottsylvania. While fighting in a cornfield at Antietam, he was wounded by a minie-ball, which knocked him down, but he got up at once and seizing another gun (his own ammunition having been exhausted) he continued at the front until his regiment was relieved by the Seventh Wis- consin. In February, 1864, at the expiration of his time, he again enlisted, and afterward fought at Bethesda Church, Cold Harbor, the investment of Petersburg, and Weldon Railroad.

In the last-named battle, August 19, 1864, Cap- tain Pearce was captured together with other comrades and was taken to Petersburg, thence to Libby, Castle Thunder, Pemberton Building, Belle Island, Danville and Salisbury, N. C., re- maining in the latter place for five and one-half months. When the prison was broken up, he was sent to Greensboro, thence to Raleigli and Goldsboro, where he was paroled in March, 1865, and sent to Wilmington, coming into Union lines on Cape Fear River. The sufferings of his prison life are indescribable. In Libby he was forced to disrobe and the rebels took his good clothing, leaving him rags in their stead. The only blouse

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he had was worn out at the elbows and shoulders, while over it he threw an old piece of carpet, with holes for the arms to slip through. At Salisbury the prisoners had no tents or shelter, and were not even given blankets, so dug holes in the ground, into which they crawled and which fur- nished them a partial protection from the cold. When he reached the Union lines, he was almost starved, having for seventy-two hours had noth- ing to eat except a pint of corn meal, which was composed of the corn and cob ground together.

Out of sixteen thousand prisoners at Salisbury, twelve thousand one hundred and twenty-six died and of the balance less than four thousand lived to come into the Union lines; of those who reached the Federal lines, many died before they could get to their homes. Of the large number who died, twelve thousand and thirty-two are sleeping in graves that are simply marked "un- known," as no record was kept of the prisoners. Captain Pearce was one of a committee who asked permission of the general to keep a record, but they were refused. There was no running water, and wells were dug in order to secure water for drinking purposes.

On Thanksgiving Day, November 25, 1864, Captain Pearce and others made a break for lib- erty. They had their guns loaded with boiler scrap and he was wounded two times, once under the left knee cap, the marks of which he still bears, and the other time in the right hip, which was very slow in healing. At the time of cap- ture he weighed one hundred and sixty-seven pounds, but on his return to Scranton his weight was reduced to sixty-two and one-half pounds. Soon after he reached home he was taken ill with typhoid, bilious and intermittent fever, all at once, and lay for weeks unconscious. At times he was thought to be dead. His mother, who watched over him ceaselessly, even losing her eyesight in her anxiety, was told by the physi- cian that he was dead, but she refused to believe it. Gradually he gained strength, but it was not until after many weary months that he was able to leave his room, and the marks of his suffering he will bear to the grave. He was honorably dis- charged from the service June 12, 1865, at Camp Powell, Md.

After clerking for a time, Captain Pearce learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed in the employ of another for two and one-half years, and then engaged with his brother in con- tracting and building. In 1870 failing health obliged him to leave the work. He then took a commercial course in Wyoming Seminary, Kingston, and afterward had charge of the boot and shoe and gents' furnishing goods department for Ambrose Mulley. In 1884 he went to Milford, Otsego County, N. Y., where he engaged at the carpenter's trade with his brother, but three years later, February 22, 1887, his brother, through an accident in the mill, lost his hand, after which our subject could not bear the thought of return- ing to work there, but gave to his brother his in- terest in the mill, amounting to $3,000.

Returning to Providence in 1887, Captain Pearce helped to erect the buildings of the Scran- ton Forging Company and put in the machinery, which he has since kept in good running order. His first marriage, June 24, 1869, united him with Mary C. Calloway, who was born in Honesdale, Pa., a daughter of Thomas Calloway, who came to this country from Cornwall. She died ten months after her marriage. At Kingston, October 24, 1872, Cap- tain Pearce married Miss Etta L. Robbins, daughter of Cornelius Robbins, a veteran of the Fifty-eighth Pennsylvania Infantry. Mrs. Pearce was born in Owego, N. Y., and graduated from the schools of Kingston. Two sons bless the union, Warren Robbins, who is assistant ship- ping clerk for the Scranton Forging Company, and Roy E. W. The family residence is at No. 613 East Market Street.

A Republican in politics, Captain Pearce has been active in committee work. For three years he represented the first ward in the select coun- cil, and was chairman of the police committee which drew up the present police ordinances. Fraternally he is associated with Celestial Lodge No. 833, I. O. O. F., Veteran Soldiers Associa- tion, and Lieut. Ezra S. Griffin Post No. 139, G. A. R., which he had the honor of naming. At three different times he has been commissioned an aide on Gen. E. S. Osborne's staff. In 1870 he raised the company known as Scranton Zou-

REESE G. BROOKS.

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aves, and July 19 of that year he was commis- sioned the first captain by Governor Geary, con- tinuing in that capacity until he was transferred to Company B, Ninth Regiment, National Guard of Pennsylvania. In 1876 he was elected major of the Ninth Regiment, commissioned by Gov. J. F. Hartranft, and held that rank until the re- organization of the guard two years later. Just one month before this, he was elected lieutenant- colonel by the officers of the Ninth at Wilkes- barre, but the reorganization changed other plans. He then raised Company H, Thirteenth National Guard of Pennsylvania, and was con- missioned captain by Governor Hartranft, re- maining in service until 1880, when he resigned from the guard. In religious belief he is con- nected with Asbury Methodist Episcopal Church.

R EESE G. BROOKS. With a number of important enterprises in Scranton Mr. Brooks is closely identified, having assist- ed in establishing and carrying forward various business concerns. At this writing he is presi- dent of three coal companies, the Greenwood, Langcliffe and Laflin, vice-president and a di- rector of the Dime and the West Side Banks, a director in the Consumers' Ice Company, and is also a member of the firm of McClave, Brooks & Co., manufacturers of patent grates and blowers. His unostentatious, yet useful and successful life, bears an important lesson to the growing genera- tion. In life's severest struggles he has never faltered. He has reared a family to whom he gave the best of all heritages, a name that was never tarnished. As a public official he attended to the duties of his office with due diligence and at all times conserved the public welfare.

Reviewing the history of the Brooks family, we find that they are of English origin. William, father of Reese G., was born in Monmouthshire, England, the son of an agriculturist there, and in 1842 came to America, settling in Scranton. After working for a time with the Lackawanna Iron & Coal Company, and the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad Company, he later resided on a farm in Spring Brook Town- ship until he retired from active labors. His death occurred in Scranton in 1888. He mar-

ried Sarah Powell, who was born in Devonock, Wales, near the castle occupied by Patti, and who now resides in West Scranton. Of her six sons and one daughter, the latter and two of the boys are living. H. J., our subject's brother, is fore- man of the Laflin Coal Company.

On Christmas Day of 1846 Reese G. Brooks was born in Scranton and here he was reared, at- tending the schools of Hyde Park. In 1863, when Lee invaded Pennsylvania, he joined an emer- gency company raised in this locality, and went to Harrisburg, where he was detailed in hospital ser- vice. On his return home he took a position as brakeman on the Delaware, Lackawanna & West- ern Railroad, where he remained until the fall of 1864. Again entering the army, lie was as- signed to a corps in East Tennessee and was present at Chattanooga and Missionary Ridge. From the former place he went to Cleveland, Tenn., and Dalton and Athens, Ga. In the spring of 1865, at the close of the Rebellion, he was hon- orably discharged and returned home. Later in the same year he became connected with the Mt. Pleasant Coal Company and for three years after- ward was employed in their mines, after which he had charge of a shaft for the Lackawanna Iron & Steel Company. He held the position of general inside foreman, and then for almost twen- ty-six years was general superintendent of the coal department.

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Portrait and biographical record of Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, Volume I, Part 18

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