Portrait and biographical record of Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, Volume I, Part 62

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

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with which he has since engaged at frequent in- tervals. In addition, he operated a sawmill for ten years.

The marriage of Mr. Randall in 1854 united him with Miss Elizabeth Gress, and they became the parents of seven children, namely: Rosella, Charles W., Ann B., Johnson, Zurey, Warren W., and Christopher B., all of whom are living except Christopher. In politics a Republican, Mr. Randall was township supervisor in 1891-92, and fraternally he is a member of the Masonic order at Taylor. He gives his aid to all public measures having for their object the promotion of the welfare of the people and may be relied upon to give his influence in behalf of all that is true, uplifting and beneficial.

G EORGE B. REYNOLDS, M. D. Among the younger representatives of the medi- cal profession in Scranton may be men- tioned the subject of this article, who, though engaged in practice for a comparatively few years only, has risen to prominent rank as a physician and surgeon, and is popular both in professional and social circles. While conducting a general practice, he has made a specialty of surgery, in which branch of the profession he has been very successful.

The Doctor's father, Benjamin Reynolds, was born in Beaver Meadows, Carbon County, Pa., whence he removed to Susquehanna County and engaged in farming. From there he came to Scranton, where he has since remained, having been occupied during the greater part of his resi- dence here as stationary engineer for the Lacka- wanna Iron & Coal Company. By his marriage to Sarah Jones, daughter of a farmer of Susque- hanna County, he had two sons, of whom the younger, Arthur, is a student of medicine in the University of Pennsylvania.

The elder son, who forms the subject of this sketch, was born in Susquehanna County and when about four years of age was brought to Scranton, where he was reared and educated on the west side. As he grew toward manhood, aroused to the opportunities and responsibilities of life, he determined to fit himself for a position

of usefulness in the world. Realizing the need of a thorough education, he entered Wyoming Sem- inary at Kingston in 1882 and six years later graduated, having completed the classical course. His literary education completed, he began the study of medicine under Dr. M. J. Williams of Scranton, and in the fall of 1888 entered the Uni- versity of Pennsylvania, from which he gradu- ated in 1891, with the degree of Doctor of Medi- cine. As the result of a competitive examination, he received the appointment of house surgeon to St. Mary's Hospital, Philadelphia, but shortly afterward he resigned and went to Harrisburg, where for eighteen months he was house surgeon in the Harrisburg Hospital. In the spring of 1893 he came to Scranton, establishing his office in Hyde Park, where he has since conducted an increasing practice. He is married, his wife, formerly Miss Laura Geiger, having been a resi- dent of Reading, Pa.

Few young men in the profession of medicine have attained the reputation and large practice now enjoyed by Dr. Reynolds. His reputation is in part attributable to his success in the treat- ment of difficult surgical cases, and in part to the close attention he gives to his business. Genuine love for the profession makes him a student, and accuracy in the diagnosis of disease enables him to successfully apply his theoretical knowledge of the science. He is identified with the Lacka- wanna County Medical Society and assisted in organizing the Scranton Anatomical Society, to which he has since belonged.

JOSEPH MERRITT, outside foreman of Jer- myn mine No. 2 in Old Forge Township, was born near Dover, Md., in 1854, but has spent almost his entire life in Lackawanna Coun- ty, for he was taken to Hyde Park in infancy, later lived in Providence, and at the age of twelve years came to Jermyn, where he grew to man- hood. He had been here but a year when his active work commenced. He was then given a position in the mines and gradually worked his way upward from the humblest work to a place of some responsibility, being assistant to his father in the mines at the age of sixteen. In 1884 he be-

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came connected with Jermyn mines, his first work being in the carpenter shops. Since 1890, how- ever, he has held the responsible position of out- side foreman.

The marriage of Mr. Merritt occurred in 1883 and united him with Miss Ann Salsbury, by whom he became the father of three children, Edith, Susie and one that died in infancy. The family are highly esteemed by those with whom they have daily intercourse and number among their friends the best people of the township. Their well spent lives have gained them an en- viable position in the regard of their acquaint- ances.

More than one hundred men are employed in the outside work of the Jermyn mines and the daily output is about one thousand tons of coal. From this it will be seen that Mr. Merritt's posi- tion is one involving great responsibilities and requiring the closest attention on his part. He has proved himself fully equal to the demands upon him and has discharged every duty in an efficient manner. All the great issues of the pres- ent age have received thoughtful consideration from him, and in politics he advocates Republi- can principles. While he takes an interest in public affairs, as every true American citizen should do, he has never sought nor desired public office for himself, preferring to devote his entire time and attention to his business interests, in which he has met with success. Fraternally he is identified with the lodge of Odd Fellows at Jer- myn.

B ENJAMIN F. DUNN, member of the Scranton Opal Glass Decorating Com- pany, also a contractor and builder, with office at No. 1702 Wyoming Avenue, Scranton, was born in Texas Township, Wayne County, Pa., two miles from Honesdale, February 21, 1850. He is of English descent, his father, T. H., and Grandfather, Nathaniel Dunn, having been born in Cambridgeshire. The latter, who was a brewer in his native land, joined his children in Wayne County, where he engaged in the hotel business until his death at Honesdale.

It was in 1837 that T. H. Dunn, then young

and unmarried, came to America. After a short sojourn in New York City, about 1839 he came to Pennsylvania, settling in Wayne County. At that time Honesdale contained only two buildings and gave no indication of its present prosperity. Purchasing a farm on the Dyberry River, he con- tinued to make his home there until he was nearly seventy-five years old. He then retired from act- ive labors and came to Scranton, where he died two or three months afterward, in 1894. For many years he served as justice of the peace. In religious belief he was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. His wife, who now resides with Benjamin F., bore the maiden name of Eli- zabeth Doney and was born in Cornwall, Eng- land. Her father, Samuel Doney, who was a farmer, brought his family to America and set- tled in Wayne County, of which he was a pioneer. In time he became the owner of valuable farm- ing property in Dyberry and Texas Townships.

The parental family consisted of twelve chil- dren, but only four are living, two of these in Scranton, Benjamin F. and Frederick H., the latter engaged in the grocery business. The first fifteen years of our subject's life were passed on a farm, after which he was apprenticed to the carpenter's trade in Dyberry. Two years later he bought a wagon shop and for eight years en- gaged in repairing and manufacturing wagons. He then located on a farm in Dyberry Township, and was occupied in farming and building until May, 1888, when he located in Scranton. After following his trade for one year in the employ of others, he began for himself, and was so successful that at times he has given employ- ment to twenty or thirty hands. Among other contracts, he had those for Calvary Reformed Church and the residences of F. E. Nettleton, John Taylor, James Midway, P. P. Smith, Alex- ander Dunn, Jr., and Messrs. Van Buskirk and Casey. In 1896, with H. B. Reury, he organized the Scranton Opal Glass Decorating Company, a new enterprise and the only business of the kind in the city. In this he has already met with suc- cess, and has gained an enviable reputation for beautiful decoration of souvenir plates, banquet globes, salts, peppers, cracker jars and jardinieres. In addition to this, he is a charter member and

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director of the Mutual Guarantee and Washing- ton National Building & Loan Associations.

In Wayne County Mr. Dunn married Miss Eva L., daughter of Marquis de Lafayette and Louisa Keene, all natives of Wayne County, where Mr. Keene was at one time engaged as a contractor and builder, but is now living retired at Elmhurst. During the Civil War he was fore- man of a construction corps. It was under him that our subject learned his trade. Six chil- dren comprise the family of Mr. and Mrs. Dunn, namely: Lillian A., who took a commercial course in Wood's Business College and is now general manager of J. D. Evans' insurance busi- ness; Hattie A., who is talented in art, and does beautiful decorating work and hand painting; William N., who is very handy with tools and as- sists his father in the business; Jennie, Edith and Ralph.

While residing in Dyberry Mr. Dunn was school director and justice of the peace. In the Asbury Methodist Episcopal Church he holds the office of trustee. For years he was Sunday- school superintendent in Wayne County and serves as assistant here. Politically he advocates Republican tenets. In his fraternal relations he is connected with Green Ridge Lodge, F. & A. M .; Green Ridge Lodge, I. O. O. F., in which he has served as past officer and has been an Odd Fellow since 1873; Senior Order of Ameri- can Mechanics, Heptasophs and Patriotic Order Sons of America.

H ARRY E. DAWSON, M. D., is numbered among the successful young physicians of Scranton. A close student, it has been his ambition to succeed in his profession, and toward the realization of this desire every effort has been bent, the result being that he has become well known among the professional men of the city. He first familiarized himself with the allo- pathic system of treatment, but on completing the course, he realized that there was more to the medical science than he had grasped, and therefore took up the study of homeopathy, of which he soon gained a thorough and accurate knowledge. Since then he has combined the two

in his practice, with a leaning, however, in the direction of homeopathy. He has his office at No. 1917 North Main Avenue and makes a spe- cialty of gynecology and the diseases of children, in which he has met with encouraging success.

The Dawson family originated in England, whence the Doctor's grandfather, Edward, came to America and engaged in farming in South Auburn, Susquehanna County, remaining there until his death at eighty-three years. By his mar- riage to a Miss Bowen, of a New England fam- ily, he had eleven daughters and three sons, among the latter being Thomas, our subject's father, who was born in South Auburn, Susque- hanna County. He grew to manhood in that locality and married there, but soon after removed to Black Walnut, Wyoming County, where he held a number of township offices and took an active part in the work of the Methodist Epis- copal Church. His death occurred when he was sixty-five. He married Rowena Foreman, who was born in Susquehanna and reared in Wyo- ming County, being a daughter of David Fore- man. The latter, who was a native of Connecti- cut, was employed as a wool carder in Brooklyn, . Susquehanna County, but died at an early age.

The family of Thomas and Rowena Dawson consisted of two sons and three daughters who grew to mature years, Harry E. being next to the eldest. The other son, Charles W., is an attorney- at-law in Scranton. The mother, two sons and two daughters, live at No. 1759 Sanderson Ave- nue, Green Ridge, where they own a beautiful. home. Dr. H. E. Dawson was born at Black Walnut, Wyoming County, January 5, 1865, and in boyhood attended the common schools, after which, at the age of about twenty, he began to teach in his native county. In 1886 he began the study of medicine under Dr. E. H. Wells, of Meshoppen, and two years later entered the Col- lege of Physicians & Surgeons in Baltimore, where he took the regular course of lectures and a special course in gynecology, graduating in 1892, with the degree of M. D. After practicing for a time in Meshoppen, in June, 1892, he came to Scranton to take charge of Dr. Sullivan's practice during the latter's absence in Europe, and was so pleased with the city and the possi-

MILO D. OSTERHOUT.

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bilities it offered a physician that he decided to locate here permanently. July 12, 1892, he opened an office at No. 1917 North Main Avenue and has since had charge of an increasing prac- tice.

Fraternally Dr. Dawson is connected with La- ceyville Lodge No. 439, I. O. O. F., and Green Ridge Castle, Knights of the Mystic Chain. While he does not take an active part in politics, he is a stanch Republican and may always be relied upon to support party principles. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church in Provi- dence. Everything pertaining to professional matters awakens his interest and he keeps in touch with the developments of the science by the perusal of medical journals and by an active membership in the State Medical Society and the Northeastern Pennsylvania Homeopathic Medi- cal Society.

M ILO D. OSTERHOUT. In the business circles of Scranton the late M. D. Oster- hout was, by universal consent, accorded a high place. Successful in a financial sense, throughout his entire career, he exhibited clear- ness of perception and soundness of judgment, and enjoyed an enviable reputation for moral worth and integrity of character. He possessed true public spirit and used his influence to en- hance the best interests of the city, supporting all worthy enterprises. It is the testimony of the people that his life was such as to reflect credit upon the citizenship of Scranton.

The Osterhout family originated in Holland. The father of our subject, Webster, was a farmer of Wyoming County, Pa., where he died. His wife, Sarah (Jayne) Osterhout, was born in Whitehaven, Pa., and died in Providence in 1872. Of their family of four sons and six daughters, all the daughters are living, but only one son, he being a resident of the western part of the state. Milo D., who was fourth in order of birth, was born in Nicholson, Wyoming County, July 6, 1841, and was educated in the public schools and East- man's Business College in Poughkeepsie. About 1862 he came to Providence, where he was em- ployed as a clerk, but in 1865 started in the gen- eral mercantile business with his brother, Silas,

as Osterhout Brothers. The original location of the store was in West Market Street, opposite the present place of business. About 1874 they built at Nos. 110-112 West Market Street, where our subject continued alone, after dissolving the partnership with his brother about 1883, until his death, May 7, 1890. Politically he was a Republican and fraternally was identified with Hiram Lodge, F. & A. M.

In Providence, May 7, 1872, Mr. Osterhout married Miss Nettie P. Gillespie, who was born in Carbondale, and was the third of six children, the others being John B., who is represented in this volume: Jaines W., of Elmira, N. Y .; Thomas, a farmer near Brattleboro, Vt .; Mrs. Margaret Shotton, of Scranton; and C. Joseph, who is engaged in the insurance business in this city. Joseph Gillespie, father of this family, was born in Dumfries-shire, Scotland, in 1814, and came to America in 1832 at the age of eighteen, settling in Great Bend, Pa., but in 1835 removing to Carbondale. At first he was employed as clerk with the Delaware & Hudson, but afterward en- gaged in merchandising with Robert Love, and for many years was postmaster there. About 1854 he went to Illinois and located in Sheffield, Bureau County, where for three years he was interested in coal operations. Returning to Car- bondale, after a short time he settled on a farm at Crystal Lake, Susquehanna County, where he made his home for three years. In 1860 he came to Providence and engaged in the milling business with Col. William N. Monies until his retirement from active labors. He died at his home in Oak Street May 5, 1873. In his political affiliations he adhered to the policy adopted by the Republican party and always took an interest in public affairs. In 1871 he was elected to the city council and was serving in that office at the time of his death. In religious belief he was a Presbyterian. The family of which he was a member originated in Scotland and was first rep- resented in this country by himself, two brothers and three sisters. One of the brothers, Thomas, was engaged in the banking business with H. S. Pierce in Carbondale under the firm name of Gillespie & Pierce, and for one term represented his district in the lower house of the senate.

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The mother of Mrs. Osterhout was Margaret Johnston, who was born of Scotch descent in Virginia, being a daughter of James and Marga- ret Johnston. Her father emigrated from Scot- land to the Old Dominion, where he died; after- ward the widow brought her children to Pennsyl- vania and settled in Dundaff, Susquehanna County, removing thence to Carbondale, where Mrs. Gillespie was educated. She now resides in Scranton, making her home with her daughter. Mrs. Osterhout was educated in the Providence public schools and Ontario Female Seminary at Canandaigua, N. Y. Of her marriage five chil- dren were born, namely: Joseph G., manager of the store; Guy W., a student in the department of architecture, University of Pennsylvania, class of 1898; Meta R., Alice and Burton M. The family residence is a commodious house, pleas- antly situated on the corner of Oak Street and Summit Avenue, and surrounded by a well-kept lawn. Mrs. Osterhout continues the general mercantile business established by her husband, and her wise judgment, careful discrimination and keen perception have aided in retaining for the enterprise its former high standing. In re- ligious connections she is identified with the Presbyterian Church and takes an interest in the various societies of that denomination.

S IMEON HARRISON ADAMS, who has been a resident of Scranton since 1889, was born in Potter County, Pa., in 1855, and is the son of John and Nancy (Peck) Adams, natives of Ashburnham, Mass., and Hartford, Conn., respectively. His paternal great-grand- father, John Adams, was a fifer in the Revolu- tionary War and for some years made his home in the old Bay State, but in an early day removed with other members of his family to Pennsyl- vania, and died in Susquehanna County at the age of one hundred and four years. James, next in line of descent, was born in Massachusetts, re- moved thence to Susquehanna County, Pa., served in the War of 1812, and passed from earth when over eighty years of age.

In early life the father of our subject followed

the occupation of a shoemaker, but after a time he engaged in farming in Hartford, Conn., and later lived for a year in Potter County, Pa., after which he spent three years in New York State. From there he returned to Susquehanna County, Pa., where he still resides, robust and hale, not- withstanding his seventy-four active years. He married a daughter of Freeman Peck, who re- moved to Connecticut to Susquehanna County, Pa., and worked as a blacksmith and farmer. His mother was a Miss Harrison, a cousin of William Henry Harrison.

The seven children comprising the parental family are all living, Simeon H., of this sketch, being next to the eldest. He was reared princi- pally in Susquehanna County, where he attended the public schools. At the age of twenty he taught one term of school, after which he spent eighteen months in the state normal school at Mansfield, Pa., and then engaged in teaching in Tioga and Susquehanna Counties, returning from the latter county to teach in Tioga a second time. Next he took a course in a business college and afterward was employed as bookkeeper for a firm in Elmira, N. Y. In 1885 he went to Pitts- ton, Pa., and worked at the carpenter's trade, later being similarly employed in New York City. In 1889 he came to Scranton, where he has since become known as an efficient carpenter and builder. Besides erecting residences on con- tracts, he has been foreman for the Green Ridge Lumber Company.

In Electric Avenue Mr. Adams erected the house occupied by his family until August, 1895. In Susquehanna County, December 24, 1879, he married Miss Nina Payne, daughter of Charles M. Payne, both born in Lenox Township, that county. Her father, who was a blacksmith by trade, served during the Civil War as a member of a Pennsylvania infantry and died when com- paratively young. His wife, Samantha Whitney, who was born in Lenox Township and still lives there, was a daughter of David Whitney, of Mas- sachusetts, a pioneer farmer of Susquehanna County, where he died at the age of eighty-nine. Mrs. Adams was reared in Lenox Township and there resided until her marriage. She is the mother of the following named children: Lynn

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G .; Leo Whitney, and Elma, who died at the age of one year. Politically Mr. Adams favors the protection of home industries and the mainte- nance of sound money, and uniformly supports Republican candidates.

J I OHN WESLEY LANNING. The career of him whose name heads this review illus- trates forcibly the possibilities that are open to a young man who possesses sterling business qualifications. It proves that neither wealth nor social position at the outset of his career is nec- essary to place him on the road to success, but that ambition, perseverance, industry and sound business principles will be rewarded by prosper- ity and happiness that comes from a sense of duty well performed. Since 1857 Mr. Lanning has been employed by the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Company and has always endeavored to fully meet every requirement of the corporation by strict attention to the details of his business and efficient service. He is one of the old and respected early settlers of Scranton, and has been a witness of great changes in this region.

John Lanning, father of our subject, was born in Warren, N. J., and pursued his trade of shoe- making in Blairstown and Hope, N. J., until 1847, when he brought his family to Scranton. Settling in Hyde Park, he began to work at his chosen occupation, when only one other mer- chant, Jonathan Atherton, had as yet located in that section of the city. Later he went to Dalton, where he lived for four years, and then going to Factoryville, he spent his last years there, his death occurring when he was in his seventieth year. His wife, whose maiden name was Mary Snyder, was born in Warren, N. J., and was a daughter of Peter Snyder, of the same state. She died in Dalton, when in her fifties. Her eldest son, William, in the railroad employ, died in this city; Susanna is the wife of L. S. Barber; Abbie E., Mrs. George Orr, resides in Bridgeport, Conn .; and George C., who was in Captain Arch- bald's Company, One Hundred and Thirty-second Pennsylvania Infantry, is now in charge of the heating apparatus in the capitol building at Co- lumbus, Ohio.

John Wesley Lanning was born in Warren, N. J., August 26, 1835, and obtained a good gen- eral education, as he attended school after com- ing to Scranton in 1847, about six years. In 1853 he began serving a three years' apprentice- ship to the carpenter's trade under Aaron Silk- man. In the fall of 1857 he obtained a position with the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western as a carpenter in the shops and has worked in one department or another with this company ever since. He has been general foreman of bridges and buildings here for some time and gives sat- isfaction in this important branch of railroad ser- vice.

The home of Mr. Lanning and wife is situated at No. 1206 Washburn Street. They were mar- ried in Scranton in 1857. Her maiden name was Sarah Little, her father being James Little, of New Jersey, a tanner by trade, who followed his occupation in Hawley, Pa., until his death. Charles E., eldest son of our subject, is a book- keeper in the railroad car shops; the second son, L. W., is an engineer on the same railroad; F. B., who was a fireman, died with typhoid fever in August, 1883, being in his twentieth year; and H. A. died when but ten years old. In questions of political bearing Mr. Lanning is entirely inde- pendent, preferring to use his franchise in favor of whichever man or principle he considers best suited to the issue at hand. Fraternally he is a member of Lackawanna Lodge No. 291, I. O. O. F.

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Portrait and biographical record of Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, Volume I, Part 62

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