Portrait and biographical record of Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, Volume I, Part 80

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

USA > Pennsylvania > Lackawanna County > Portrait and biographical record of Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, Volume I > Part 80

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Among the church societies are the Sodality of the Blessed Virgin, Angels Sodality for Children, Apostleship of Prayer, League of the Sacred Heart, Christian Doctrine Association, the Third Order of St. Francis and the usual literary, tem- perance and benevolent societies. Father Mc- Manus is a member of the Bishop's Council.

While his work has engrossed his attention, he has yet kept pace with the developments in the world of thought, and by travel has enlarged his mental vision. In 1884 he spent three months in Europe, visiting the British Isles, Germany and France. Again, in 1896 he took a trip to Europe as a member of the national pilgrimage to Rome, in company with fifty-two Americans, who were received in Rome with special honors and were given the papal benediction. Among his valued possessions is a souvenir presented him by the Pope. After a week in Rome he visited other parts of the Continent and after a four months' trip returned home October 3, 1896.

F RANK P. McDONALD is the genial and popular young postmaster at Dunmore, having been honored by being appointed to this position by President Cleveland, in March, 1894. He is quite a politician in the ranks of the local Democracy and was a member of the borough council of Dunmore for three years, receiving the highest number of votes at the election of 1887 for that office. In 1896 he started in business for himself at Scranton, where he has a well equipped foundry. He is a brother of Hon. M. E. McDonald, formerly sen- ator from Pennsylvania, and of James W. Mc- Donald, deputy internal revenue collector here.

Frank P. McDonald was born in Dunmore, October 17, 1865, and is a son of Thomas and Bridget (Hughes) McDonald, old and favorably known citizens of this place. He was the fifth in the family of brothers and sisters and like them received good training in right principles of conduct in life. His education, however, was not gained in the school to any extent, for he had to begin making his own living when a mere child of nine years. Being naturally bright and ambitious to learn, he has made up for this de- ficiency by study and observation and is now as well qualified to participate in the battle of life as any of his fellows. Going into the foundry of the Pennsylvania Coal Company in 1874, he re- mained for six years, during which time he thor- oughly mastered the moulder's trade, under the instruction of Thomas Winterfield. Then for a '

C. W. THOMPSON.

675

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

while he worked as a journeyman in Scranton, but as he wished to see something of the country in which he lives he traveled in Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio, Indiana and Illinois. As pre- viously stated, he opened a foundry in June, 1896, and here he is succeeding beyond his expecta- tions. All kinds of iron and brass castings are manufactured to order in large or small quanti- ties to suit the trade.

Mr. McDonald possesses good judgment, sound sense and the indefatigable energy in everything that he undertakes that is bound to bring success. He also has the quality of making friends readily and is ever glad to lend a helping hand to those less fortunate than himself. He is a member of the Improved Order of Heptasophs, and is also identified with the Young Men's In- stitute of Scranton.

C RANDALL W. THOMPSON, residing at No. 1635 Sanderson Avenue, Scran- ton, was born in Pittston, Pa., May 2, 1824, and is of Scotch-Irish descent. His great- grandfather brought the family to this country from the north of Ireland when the grandfather, James Thompson, was a child of two years, and the latter was reared in Philadelphia and Doyles- town. In 1776 he settled in Pittston and en- gaged in farming until his death at eighty-six years. In religious belief he was a Presbyterian.

Our subject's father, Isaac Thompson, was born in Pittston, where for some time he engaged in farming, his property being located in what is now Jenkins Township, Luzerne County. He had a brother, James, who owned one of the first coal mines there. About 1868 he removed to Lee County, Ill., and settled on a farm, where he still resides. November 18, 1896, he cele -. brated the one hundredth anniversary of his birth, and in spite of his advanced years he is hale and hearty. He and his brother, John, were soldiers in the War of 1812. Maria, our subject's mother, was born in Dutchess County, N. Y., and died in Illinois in 1886, aged eighty-six. Her father, Isaac Wilcox, was born in Connecticut, and be- came a pioneer farmer of Dutchess County; a man of powerful physique, six feet and six inches

in height and well proportioned, he was consid- ered the strongest man in New York State, but was peaceful and quiet in disposition, a peace- maker in all neighborhood quarrels. He was murdered in cold blood one night when on his way home from the village of Fishkill. His wife, Nancy Newcomb, was born in Connecticut, ac- companied her parents to Pennsylvania and at the time of the Wyoming massacre escaped in the night, sailing on a raft down the Susquehanna to Berwick, then crossing the mountains to East- on and going from there to Connecticut. Thirty years afterward she came back to that locality, where she died at ninety-three years.

The family of Isaac and Maria Thompson con- sisted of fifteen children, of whom all but two attained mature years, and seven are living, the oldest daughter being now seventy-seven years of age. The oldest son, Alva, served in the Mex- ican War and died in Kansas. William H., who was captain in an Illinois regiment during the Civil War, was wounded at Murfreesboro and died three years afterward. The surviving sons, except our subject, reside in Illinois, and the three daughters live in Pennsylvania. Our sub- ject, who was fifth in order of birth, was reared in Pittston and received a district school educa- tion. At the age of eighteen he began an ap- prenticeship to the blacksmith's trade, and after- ward started a shop in Pittston, owning the first building erected in that village. Later he became the first butcher there, but afterward returned to the blacksmith's trade, and in 1851 began to deal in coal lands. He owned a portion of the old homestead until 1896, when he sold it. He has dealt in lands throughout the entire valley, and in 1870 sold four thousand acres in what is now Lackawanna County. For his first pur- chase he paid only $8 an acre, but the price of the property gradually increased, so that in the end it proved a profitable investment. At the same time he also engaged in the manufacture of lumber from logs and had several planing mills.

In 1860 Mr. Thompson came to Scranton and nine years later built the third house in Green Ridge. He still owns property in Pittston, where he married Miss Mary H. Carkhuff, a native of

676

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Kingston, born in 1829, deceased in 1882. Or- phaned at the age of eight years, four years after- ward she went to Norwalk, Ohio, and made her home with an uncle, who gave her good educa- tional advantages. One of her brothers, William, was a soldier in the Mexican War. Her parents were Thomas and Julia A. (Pease) Carkhuff, the former a native of Kingston, and sheriff of Luzerne County in the early days when it em- braced a much larger scope of territory than at present. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson had six chil- dren, namely: Emma A .; Winfield Frank and Fennimore C., the latter of whom died at two years; Jessie Fremont, at home; Crandall W., Jr., a civil engineer living at Moosic; and Will- iam C., also a civil engineer employed near Moosic. 14

While a resident of Pittston, Mr. Thompson served as school director for twelve years, school treasurer eleven years, also as overseer of the poor and supervisor. For three years he was select councilman from the thirteenth ward of Scranton, during which time he served as a member of various committees. For one term he represented the thirteenth ward in the com- mon council, but refused nomination for a sec- ond term. For one year he was a member of the board of school control, and for two terms served on the board of revision of taxes for the city of Scranton. In early life a Whig, he is now a Republican, and has served his party as dele- gate to county conventions twenty-three times, besides which he has frequently been a member of county and city committees. While in Pittston he was actively connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. In religious belief he is a Presbyterian and holds membership in the Green Ridge Church.

W ALTER LINCOLN HENWOOD is one of the most liberal and enterpris- ing young men of Scranton. The business interests of the city are well represented by him, and whether in public or private life, he is always a courteous, genial gentleman, well de- serving the high regard in which he is held. He was born November 8, 1864, in Honesdale, Pa.,

a son of Richard Henwood, who was born in Lis- keard, Cornwall, England, August 6, 1815, and when nineteen years of age crossed the Atlantic to America, being the first of the family to come to the New World, and locating in Honesdale in 1834, before the canal was completed. For forty years he was one of the prominent business men of that place, being one of the organizers and directors of the Wayne County Savings Bank, but since 1874 he has lived retired in Scranton, now making his home with our subject. Here he owns the Henwood Block on Lackawanna Avenue. In religious belief he is a Methodist. Politically he is a Republican, and on that ticket was elected county commissioner of Wayne County for one term during the Civil War.

The mother of our subject, who bore the maid- en name of Catherine Bushnell, was born near Honesdale and died in that city in 1868. Her father, Pope Bushnell, was born in Salisbury, Conn., February II, 1789, and came to this state in 1817. He was a major of the First Battalion, Seventieth Pennsylvania Militia, and was twice a member of the state legislature, representing Wayne and Pike Counties. For two years he aided Maurice Wurtz in securing the right of way for the Delaware & Hudson Canal, and was mobbed for advocating the right of the Erie Rail- road to construct their road through Wayne County. His death occurred January 19, 1881. He married Sally Hulbert, who was born in Goshen, Conn., March 26, 1788, and died Jan- uary II, 1882, aged ninety-four years. She was one of celebrated triplets, the others being Sybil, who died June 27, 1875, aged eighty-seven, and Susan, who died October 6, 1876, aged eighty- eight years, their combined ages being two hun- dred and seventy years. The Bushnell family is of good old English Puritan stock, and the great-grandfather of our subject, Gideon Bush- nell, valiantly aided the colonies in their struggle for independence. The old homestead farm in Connecticut comprises three hundred acres, and the brick house which was erected thereon in 1773 is now occupied by George Bushnell.

Mr. Henwood of this review is the youngest of four sons, the others being William B., a dentist of Scranton; Charles H., deceased, and Sydney

677

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

R., of the drug firm of Henwood & Co. In 1874 our subject first came to Scranton, and here he pursued his studies in the public and high schools and also Merrill's Academy, where he completed a business course. For two years he was then in the store department of the Lackawanna Iron & Coal Company, but in 1884 went to Crown Point, N. Y., where he took a special course in chemistry under Prof. A. S. Bertolet, after which he went to Burden, Columbia County, N. Y. There he served as chemist for the Hudson River Ore & Iron Company until June, 1886, when he went to the Black Hills, Dakota, in the employ of the Stevens Tin Mining Company, serving as their superintendent until they closed their mines for an indefinite period. Going to Beatrice, Neb., he entered the employ of the great railroad con- struction firm of Killpatrick Brothers & Collins, whose headquarters were in that city, and who sent him to Fort Fred Steele, Wyo., where in due time he became superintendent of con- struction of thirty miles of road on the head waters of the Platte. Still in their em- ploy, he was given charge of the track laying of the Burlington Railroad extension front Curtis, Neb., to Cheyenne, Wyo., this being through what is known as the Great Amer- ican Desert, a most desolate tract.

On the completion of that line, Mr. Henwood severed his connection with that company, and returned to the Black Hills, where he again served as superintendent for the Stevens Tin Mining Company, remaining with them until they closed down in June, 1889, when he went to Virginia. In partnership with A. S. Smith, of Pennsylvania, he then engaged in railroad con- tracting on his own account, at Boydton, Va., building thirteen miles of the Atlantic & Dan- ville road through rough country, and at the same time eight miles of the Winston branch of the Richmond & Danville, our subject having personal supervision of the former and Mr. Smith of the latter. In 1890 he built seven miles of the Lackawanna & Montrose Railroad, a branch of the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad, and was then employed for six months on a large contract in Maine. On the Ist of January, 1892, he returned to Scranton to accept the position

of secretary and treasurer of the Clark & Snover Company, one of the largest manufacturers of smoking and chewing tobacco in the state, and that responsible position he has since acceptably filled. He is also interested in the Scranton Iron Fence Company, of which he is secretary and treasurer, and is a director in the National Bor- ing & Drilling Company. A man of good ex- ecutive ability, he has met with excellent success in his undertakings, and being still young in years undoubtedly a brilliant future lies before him.

At St. Paul, Minn., was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Henwood and Miss Lena L. Pittee, who was born in California, but her parents were from Maine. Fraternally, our subject is a prominent member of Peter Williamson Lodge No. 323, F. & A. M .; Lackawanna Chapter No. 185, R. A. M .; and Coeur de Lion Commandery No. 17, K. T .; and politically is a stanch supporter of Republican principles.

P ATRICK BLEWITT, of Scranton, is mine inspector for the second anthracite district, extending from Providence to the Luzerne County line. A native of Ireland, he is a member of a family that for several preceding generations has furnished to that country men who were capable and prominent surveyors. His father, Edward, was a graduate of a college in Dublin, an able mathematician, and the author of many works on surveying, civil engineering and calcu- lation, the MSS. of which our subject has in his possession. For many years he served on the general valuation and ordinance survey in Ire- land. Upon coming to America, in 1850, he be- came one of the early Irish settlers of Lackawan- na County, and assisted Joel Amsden in laying out and surveying Scranton, after which he en- gaged in civil engineering and railroad survey- ing. He died in this city in 1871, at the age of seventy-six.

At the time that his father made settlement in this county, our subject accompanied him hither. Previous to this, in his native land he had gained a comprehensive knowledge of civil engineering and surveying, and afterward, in 1848, crossed the Atlantic and traveled extensive-

678

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

ly in the Gulf states, later, as stated, settling in this county. A few years were spent in Scran- ton, where he was employed in surveying lots, and from here he went to New Orleans, soon, however, returning to this city. For three years he was surveyor of old Luzerne County, also served as city engineer of Scranton, and in addi- tion has had a large private business as a civil and mining engineer. In 1871 he was appointed mine inspector of the district extending from above Carbondale to Wilkesbarre, then called the eastern anthracite district, now known as the second anthracite. From that year to the present time he has been reappointed every succeeding five years, except one term, and has done effi- cient work in the inspection of the forty-six or more mines in his district.

By his marriage to Catherine Scanlon, Mr. Blewitt has nine children living, seven daughters and two sons. Mrs. Blewitt is the daughter of Anthony and Honora (Heffron) Scanlon, the lat- ter belonging to a wealthy family of the west of Ireland, the former for many years a member of the coast guard in the British service, stationed at Killala Bay, County Mayo, Ireland. In 1848 he brought his family to Carbondale, where his remaining years were spent in the enjoyment of the comforts which his ample means rendered possible.

A NDREW NICOL has seen the longest ser- vice with the Delaware & Hudson Coal Company of any man in their employ, hav- ing held one position for the past forty-five years. His business record is one of which he may well be proud and few old citizens of Scranton are more highly esteemed. As the trade of his firm has increased his duties have likewise multiplied, but he has proved equal to any emergency and deserves the commendation which he receives.

Born in the lowlands of Scotland, in the parish of New Daily, Ayr, August 20, 1817, Mr. Nicol is a son of John, of the same locality, and grand- son of David Nicol, who was a shepherd. The family originated in the highlands and spelled their name McNicol. John Nicol was a carpen- ter and millwright, being employed in the former

capacity by Hon. Thomas F. Kennedy, a noble- man who owned two collieries which had been in operation for over two centuries. He came to America with his son in 1851 and settled in Car- bondale, where his demise took place at the age of seventy-six years. His wife, formerly Janet Gray, was the daughter of Andrew Gray, a farm- er who lived to be nearly a hundred years old. The Gray family were also natives of Ayr, Scot- land, and were of the old Covenanter Presbyter- ian faith. Mrs. Nicol died when about seventy years old in Carbondale. Of her seven children three are living: Andrew; John, a mechanic in Carbondale, and James, inside foreman at the White Oak mine, Archbald. William, a me- chanic in Carbondale, is deceased, and a sister, Mrs. Bryden, who died in Carbondale, Ill., was buried in Carbondale, Pa.

When thirteen years old our subject started to learn the carpenter's trade in his father's shop. Four years later he went to Glasgow to work on buildings and put in all his spare time, evenings included, in studying draughting and pattern- making. Not satisfied with this he went into the machine shops of an iron company in that city and then was for four years in a foundry in Courtbridge, Lanarkshire, becoming a thorough machinist. He was appointed foreman, but only held the place six months, when he resigned, in order to take up mining and civil engineering, as he believed there was a wider future before him in that field of labor. In two years he became familiar with underground workings and was ap- pointed assistant superintendent, visiting all parts of the mines every day and making reports to his superiors.

In 1851 Mr. Nicol resigned his position and set sail for America on the "Mary Morris," the voy- age lasting six weeks. Going direct to Albany, where his brother William was foreman in a ma- chine shop, he next proceeded to Carbondale, where he knew a mine foreman, a Mr. Bryden. This gentleman introduced him to the superin- tendent and Mr. Nicol was given a position as a surveyor in the Delaware & Hudson mines, continuing there twenty years. In December, 1870, he came to Scranton, though still with the old company, which by this time owned mines

679

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

from Carbondale to Wilkesbarre, and he served them in the various capacities of mining engineer and inside superintendent. Once they sent him to Sheffield, Ill., where he opened a mine and did other surveying for them. In 1870 a law provid- ing for the inspection of the anthracite fields was passed and to the surprise of our subject he was appointed inspector of mines by Gov. John W. Geary. The company who had so long depend- ed upon his services did not want to let him go, but finally gave him leave of absence for six months, at the end of which time he returned to his old work.

In Glasgow Mr. Nicol married Helen Brown, who was born in Maybole, County Ayr, Scot- land. Her grandfather was John Brown and her father was David Brown, a merchant and manu- facturer. His wife, Agnes, was a daughter of William Haswell, a farmer and miller. Their family comprised eleven children, of whom Mrs. Nicol is the third. A brother, William Brown, resides in Green Ridge, and a sister, Mrs. Mar- garet Bryden, lives in Murfreesboro, Ill. The marriage of our subject and wife has been blessed by five children: Janet, Andrew, Agnes, Mar- garet and Mary. Janet and Agnes died in early childhood and Andrew, the only son, lost his life through his heroism. He was about forty years of age at the time of his death and was his fath- er's assistant as mining engineer in the Olyphant mine. In September, 1889, a fire occurred in the mine and in his efforts to extinguish the flames and save the other men he was himself overcome and so badly burned that he lived but three weeks. He carried two men half a mile to the shaft and they were rescued, while he, being the last one to leave, had to face death. He left a wife and three children to mourn his loss.

Mr. Nicol required four assistants to carry out his plans in the mines. He continued his general supervision of details until January 1, 1897; on that date, in consideration of his long and valu- able services with the company, he was placed by them upon the retired list with a pension. He owns property on Delaware Street, between San- derson and Dickson Avenues, and elsewhere, seven residences in all. He has never lived in a rented house in this country, as he bought one

the first week that he was in Carbondale. He is a member of Green Ridge Presbyterian Church, having been one of its founders and organizers. Never desirous of public office, he has steadily refused to allow his name to be used as a can- didate, though often urged to do so. His friends have requested him frequently to be a candidate for the mayoralty or even for assemblyman, but he keeps firmly to his resolution to adhere to the humbler walks of life.

C HARLES P. JONES, who in point of years of active business life is the oldest pharmacist in Green Ridge, was born in Carbondale, this county, May II, 1854, and is a son of George K. and Harriet E. (Fordham) Jones, natives of Wales and Montrose, Pa., re- spectively. His father was reared principally in England, whence at the age of nineteen he came to America in company with an uncle and aunt. Locating in Carbondale, he clerked for a time, then embarked in the mercantile business, but while in partnership with John R. Fordham he failed. In 1859, while in the employ of the Dela- ware & Hudson Railroad Company as section foreman, lie was killed by falling through the floor of the old pump house, a rotten board breaking. Of his family he was the only one that came to America, so far as any information has been obtained by our subject.

The mother of our subject was a sister of E. C. Fordham, ex-postmaster of Montrose, and of Gilbert Fordham, of Montrose, whose mother made the journey from Long Island to Pennsyl- vania on horseback. Mrs. Harriet E. Jones died in 1892 in Pittston, at her daughter's home. Of her five children four attained to years of matur- ity, as follows: George, who was in the insur- ance business in Scranton and died here; Sarah, Mrs. C. F. Wilcox, of Scranton; Hattie, Mrs. J. D. Green, of Kalamazoo, Mich; and Charles P. The last named came from Carbondale to Scranton at eleven years of age, in 1865, and at once began to work in the coal department of the Delaware & Hudson Company. Shortly afterward he learned telegraphy under his broth- er and when thirteen became the operator at the

680

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

foot of Plane G, Olyphant, where he remained for five and one-half years. The locomotive road was then put through to Carbondale and for six months he had charge of Olyphant station, after which he became operator in the superin- tendent's office at Providence. Later he was a clerk and had charge of the rental of houses at different collieries.

Resigning in November, 1882, Mr. Jones formed a partnership with Dr. Rea, under the firm name of Rea & Jones, and their connection continued until March 1, 1896, when it was dis- solved by mutual consent, he continuing the busi- ness. In 1881 he took up the study of pharmacy and in 1887 was registered as a pharmacist. From the inception of the business he engaged in the manufacture of flavoring extracts of all kinds and also manufactured a general line of druggists' sundries sold by all grocery stores, which he still continues. At different times he has traveled on the road, introducing and selling his specialties to the trade. To assist in the store he has a registered and efficient pharmacist. The laboratory is in the rear of the main building at No. 1557 Dickson Avenue. Since 1891 he has been mill agent for Cargill & Fall flour, manu- factured in Houston, Minn., which he sells in carload lots. For the past twenty years he has been correspondent for the "Scranton Republic- an" beginning when he was an operator and con- tinuing through the years that have since inter- vened. Recently he purchased the property op- posite his old stand on Dickson Avenue and built one of the most modern drug stores in the city, into which he moved in March, 1897.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Portrait and biographical record of Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, Volume I, Part 80

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