Portrait and biographical record of Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, Volume I, Part 84

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

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A native of England, Father Donlan accom- panied his parents to Pennsylvania in childhood, settling with them in Mt. Carmel, Northumber- land County, where he gained the rudiments of his education in-the public schools. In St. Mary's College, Emmetsburg, Md., he completed the study of the classics, philosophy and theology.

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In 1885 he was appointed master of discipline at St. Thomas College under Archbishop Ireland and while discharging these duties he continued his theological studies. For four years he was first prefect of St. Mary's College. August 22, 1887, he was ordained at St. Peter's, Scranton, by Bishop O'Hara, and was appointed assistant at Dunmore, where he began his work Septem- ber I. On the death of Father McMurray he suc- ceeded to the rectorship.

The church is a commodious building, with a seating capacity of eleven hundred, and contain- ing pipe organ and gallery. It is of Gothic style of architecture and the interior presents an ar- tistic and harmonious appearance. The grounds comprise about five acres. In addition to other buildings, a new schoolhouse is contemplated, with accommodations for eight hundred children, to be presided over by the Sisters of the Immacu- late Heart. There is a cemetery adjoining the church, and another, of ten acres, called Mt. Car- mel, lying one mile distant on the Olyphant road. Among the organizations in the church are the St. Mary's Temperance Cadets, numbering about two hundred and forty, two temperance societies, branch of the Young Men's Institute, four branch- es of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, one branch of the Catholic Mutual Benefit Associa- tion, Ladies' Temperance Society, Ladies' Catho- lic Benefit Association, the Apostleship of Prayer, Altar and Holy Name Societies and the usual Sodalities.

C OMMODORE P. SLACK. Coming to Scranton in 1887, Mr. Slack has since been known as an able business man, with a thorough knowledge of everything in the line of tin and furnace work. In 1890 he started in business for himself in Dickson Avenue, and in April, 1895, opened a shop at his present loca- tion, No. 615 Green Ridge Street, though retain- ing a store room in Dickson Avenue. He makes a specialty of roofing with tin and sheet iron, and has had the contract for the tin work on several important buildings, including the Eureka and Lackawanna laundries, Keystone and Kroemer's buildings and Nay-Aug engine house. He is the

representative of the Carton Furnace Manufac- turing Company of Utica, N. Y., and has intro- duced this furnace in many of the houses of Scranton and vicinity, the result being in every instance satisfactory. Testimonials are frequent- ly given him by purchasers, stating that the fur- nace is an excellent heater, consumes less coal and is easier to regulate than other furnaces.

The father of our subject, John Wesley Slack, was born in Pennsylvania, resided for some years in Snydertown and thence removed to Danville, where he died. For three years during the late war he did service in a Pennsylvania regiment, and while in the line of battle was wounded in both limbs, being badly crippled; he received his honorable discharge at Harrisburg in 1865. He never regained his health, but was obliged to live in retirement until his death, which occurred in 1869. He married Harriet S., daughter of Chris- tian Foulk, a farmer of Northumberland County, Pa., where she was born. Her death occurred in 1881. Of her four children, Addison M. is a mason in Scranton, Alice is married and lives in Danville, and Mrs. Mary Bear resides in River- side, Pa.

The subject of this sketch, who was next to the youngest in his father's family, was born in Dan- ville, Montour County, Pa., November 19, 1859, and in early boyhood attended the public schools of his native town. However, when only twelve years of age he was obliged to begin to work, his first position being in the Danville mills. At the age of seventeen he was apprenticed to the tinner's trade under David Rockafellow, with whom he remained the allotted period, gaining a thorough knowledge of all kinds of tin and sheet iron work. In 1884, going to Milton, he em- barked in business for himself, making a special- ty of tin and furnace work, but also carrying a stock of stoves, tinware and house furnishing goods. From Milton in 1887 he came to Scran- ton and worked at his trade for W. G. Doud, J. J. Hawley and G. B. and A. C. Monies, continu- ing in that manner until he started in business for himself in 1890.

In his native town Mr. Slack married Miss An- na Guiltner, who was born in Montour County. They reside at No. 1615 Penn Avenue and are

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the parents of four children, Charles, Willard, Harvey and Bessie. The oldest son is a tinsmith and assists his father in the business. Fraternally our subject is identified with Green Ridge Lodges of Odd Fellows and Masons, Patriotic Order Sons of America, Rebekah Lodge, I. O. O. F., and is past officer in the Mystic Chain. He is also connected with the General Phinney En- gine Company No. 4. At Danville he enlisted in the Twelfth National Guard of Pennsylvania and on removing to Milton was transferred to the Thirteenth, but after five years severed his con- nection with the company and was honorably dis- charged. He has for years been deeply interested in religious work and is one of the members of Penn Avenue Baptist Church. In promoting its every line of activity he has been an important factor, but has been especially prominent in mis- sionary work. He aided in organizing the Peo- ple's Union Mission at Little England, and was a trustee and the Sunday-school superintendent for a time, the congregation increasing to such an extent that finally a church was organized. Formerly he was superintendent of the Dun- more Baptist Mission Sunday-school, from which a church has been built up. Since the day that he came to Scranton, his influence has been exerted continuously in behalf of morality, intelligence and religion, and his efforts have conduced to the upbuilding of his community.

G ARRETT SMITH, foreman of the mill of the Lackawanna Store Association and a resident of Scranton since 1849, was born near Belvidere, Warren County, N. J., September 17, 1831. The family of which he is a member originated in England. His grand- father, Peter Smith, was born in New Jersey and engaged in farming in Warren County, near Oxford Furnace, where he owned two hundred and six acres of well-cultivated land. On his death the property fell to one of his sons, and when the latter died our subject bought the land from the heirs, and still has it in his possession, with the exception of a few lots that have been platted in the village of Oxford Furnace. Peter Smith died at Belvidere at the age of eighty- five.

The father of our subject, Jacob Smith, was born in Warren County, N. J., and engaged in farming near Belvidere for a time, thence re- moved to the vicinity of Oxford Furnace. In 1855 he went to Michigan and bought a farm near Pontiac, Oakland County, where he re- mained until his death at seventy-five years. He married Caroline Axford, a native of New Jer- sey and a daughter of John Axford, a farmer, who removed from that state to Oakland Coun- ty, Mich., in 1830, when southern Michigan was a vast wilderness. He purchased six hundred and forty acres in the oak openings and erected a log house near the center of the section. Soon he gained many friends among the other pio- neers of the county and was regarded as an effi- cient farmer and a man of keen business fore- sight. His father, a descendant of English an- cestors, was a soldier in the Revolution and a farmer in New Jersey. Mrs. Caroline Smith was born in 1810 and died in 1848. Seven of her children attained maturity and four sons and two daughters are still living, three in Michigan (John A. in Oakland County, engaged in farm- ing); Samuel T., at Rockaway, N. J., and P. J. in Rochelle Park, N. J. Samuel T. and P. J. were soldiers in the Union army, the former in a New Jersey regiment and the latter a lieu- tenant of a Pennsylvania company.

The oldest of the surviving members of the family and the only one of them in Scranton is . Garrett. In boyhood he learned the miller's trade. In 1849 he came to Scranton with Mr. Landis, making the journey by wagon and team. This now prosperous city was then in its embryo, with a very few houses and these small and un- desirable. He well remembers hunting rabbits where the court house now stands. The im- provements that have since been made were un- dreamed of by the few residents of those days, and had any one prophesied that Scranton would now be a city of one hundred thousand inhabi- tants he would have been laughed at as an idle visionary. From spring until fall he worked on a farm where now stand the Delaware, Lacka- wanna & Western depot and shops. He then took a position in the old Slocum mill, run by the Lackawanna Iron & Coal Company. After one

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year, this mill being built, he took charge of it and has since been its foreman, a period of forty-seven years. The mill was built by Thomas P. Harper and for thirty years was run by water power, but finally steam power was introduced from the Lackawanna Iron & Steel Company's rolling mill. The shafting and machinery re- main about the same as when the mill was built and are still in excellent operative condition. For a number of years the mill ground all the flour sold by the company, but by the present process rye, buckwheat and feed are manufactured. The fact that the mill has been in constant use since 1850 shows the substantial manner in which it was built and the durability of its ma- chinery.

Mr. Smith resides on one of the old Delaware, Lackawanna & Western farms near Bellevue Heights, where he superintends the two hundred acres comprising the place. In the house where he now resides he married Miss Mary H., daugh- ter of John Landis, in whose company Mr. Smith came from New Jersey to Scranton in 1849, and who farmed the land upon which Gar- rett Smith worked. Mrs. Smith was born in Warren County, N. J., and died in Scranton Oc- tober 9, 1891, leaving three children: S. I., a farmer of Lackawanna Township; Lizzie B., wife of Frank Freeman, of the Freeman Manufactur- ing Company, Scranton, and Marvin C., who is in charge of the rail shipping department of the south steel mill of the Lackawanna Iron & Steel Company. Though rocked in the cradle of Democracy, Mr. Smith is a stanch Republican. He is a member of the Washburn Street Presby- terian Church.

A RTHUR C. MONIES. The family repre- sented by this business man of Scranton is one of the most highly respected in the county, where it was established by his father, Col. William N. Monies, a native of New Dailly, Ayrshire, Scotland, born May 10, 1827. When only four years of age he began his school life and when ten he was apprenticed to a baker, be- ginning business upon his own responsibility eight years later. Believing that America offered

better advantages than his native land, he deter- mined to seek a home in this country, and ac- cordingly in 1849 took passage on a sailing ves- sel westward bound. On the same ship was Miss Mary Kirk, also a native of Scotland, and they were united in marriage on their arrival in Car- bondale, Pa. In that place he worked at his trade in the employ of Andrew Law, receiving $6 per week for six months, after which he en- gaged in business for himself.

In 1852, during the excitement caused by the discovery of gold in California, Mr. Monies went thither and while he endured countless hardships, yet in the end gained financial success. Re- turning to Lackawanna County, he became a partner of Joseph Gillespie in the milling busi- ness at Providence and was soon elected burgess of the borough. At the outbreak of the Rebel- lion, he gallantly championed the cause of the government, displaying his feeling of loyalty to- ward the land of his adoption. Hastening to Harrisburg, he offered his services in defense of the country, and was made captain of Company B, One Hundred and Thirty-sixth Pennsylvania Infantry, with which for nine months he partici- pated in the stormy struggles around Antietam, Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville. When the invasion of the state was threatened, he was one of the first to respond to Governor Curtin's proc- lamation, and organized a company of one hun- dred and thirty-six men, who formed the nucleus of "Monies' Tigers." Later he was chosen colo- nel.

Returning to private duties at the close of the war, Colonel Monies soon afterward sold out his interest in the mill to his partner, and with Hon. Lewis Pughe established the "Star" bakery. At different times he invested in coal lands and bought interests in silver mines, through which he accumulated a fortune. In 1869 he was elect- ed mayor of the city of Scranton, and his popu- larity was shown by his election, for he was the Republican candidate and the city usually gave a Democratic majority of over twelve hundred. Always energetic, wise in judgment and aggres- sive in enterprise, he aided in the establishment of a number of industries in the valley, all of which were successful. In setting off Lackawan-

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na from Luzerne County he was actively inter- ested, favoring the plan from the first. He was the first treasurer of the new county, in which office he was recognized as unusually efficient. To this position he was first chosen by appointment and then by election, but the supreme court held that there was not a legal election, so he settled up his books, which were models of accuracy, and retired from the office. During the long years of his absence from Scotland his business interests had been so pressing as to preclude the possi- bility of a visit to the old home, but now he was able to carry out his long cherished plan and again cross the ocean to Scotland. It was the last trip he ever made, for shortly after his re- turn to Scranton, he died January 20, 1881. His wife had passed away June 10, of the preceding year.

The family of Colonel Monies consisted of eight children, of whom all but one attained ma- turity, namely: Mrs. Elizabeth Cannon and Mrs. Maggie Gillespie, formerly of Scranton, now de- ceased; Mrs. Mamie Simmons, who died in Pitts- ton; Martha, wife of George Mitchell, of Scran- ton; William F., of San Francisco, Cal .; G. B., and Arthur C. All of the children were born in Carbondale except our subject, the youngest, whose birth occurred in Scranton, December 3, 1868. He was reared at the homestead where he still resides, No. 625 East Market Street, and attended the city schools. At the age of seven- teen he was apprenticed to the plumber's trade and after two and one-half years went to New York, where he completed the trade in the New York City Trade School. After graduating there, he continued to work in New York for four years, and then returned to Scranton in 1886, en- tering the employ of Battin & Son. One year later he opened a plumbing business at No. 1542 Dickson Avenue and has since added a line of hardware and general house furnishing goods. The building which he occupies is 20x60, with basement for plumbing, first floor for the retail trade, and second floor for the tin shop. The busi- ness was conducted under the name of G. B. & A. C. Monies until 1892, since which time our sub- ject has been the sole proprietor, though his brother is still connected with the concern as a

practical tinsmith. A specialty is made of tin and sheet iron roofing, plumbing, furnace, hot water and steam fitting, and in addition to hav- ing had the contracts for residences in Scranton and Carbondale, the American Hotel, Carbon- dale Hospital and Northwestern National Bank and other buildings have been completed.

Politically, like his father, Mr. Monies is a stanch advocate of Republican principles, believ- ing in honest money and protection. He affiliates with the Green Ridge Presbyterian Church and contributes to religious and charitable objects. Fraternally he is connected with the Heptasophs, Independent Order of Odd Fellows and Patriotic Order Sons of America.

T HEODORE M. MILLER. Germany has contributed her full portion toward the population of Pennsylvania and her sons have been found almost uniformly industrious, and especially is this true in the case of Mr. Mil- ler. Coming from Leipsic, he is a member of a family long identified with the history of that prominent seat of commerce, where his father and grandfather were successful and extensive manufacturers, the former making shipments to both North and South America. The revolution of 1848 was the cause of the removal of the fam- ily from Saxony and their emigration to the United States.

Now a successful business man of Scranton, the subject of this sketch was born in Leipsic January 9, 1844, the son of Carl August, and grandson of August Miller, also natives of that Saxon city. The former, when deciding to come to America, set sail from Bremen in the summer of 1848 and after a voyage of twelve weeks landed in New York City, whence he proceeded to Arch- bald in October. He became a builder and un- dertaker and continued to reside in that place until his death in 1878, at the age of sixty-nine. His widow, who bore the maiden name of Caro- line C. Maurer, was born in Jara, Germany, and now resides in Archbald, at the age of eighty- two years.

The ten children comprising the family of Carl August Miller attained years of maturity and all

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but one are still living. They are named as fol- lows: Mrs. Pauline Gerbig, of Archbald; H. C., of Kingston, sergeant throughout the entire war and member of Company H, Fifty-second Penn- sylvania Infantry; Elizabeth, who married J. C. Ulmer and died in Carbondale in July, 1896; Al- vina, wife of J. H. Niemyer, of Scranton; Otto P., of Providence; Emma, Mrs. Mihlhaus, of Arch- bald; Emelia, wife of Capt. C. Battenberg, coal inspector, of Archbald; Mrs. Carrie Callaway, of Archbald; and August, who is engaged in the cigar business in Stroudsburg. When a child of four years, Theodore M. Miller was brought by his parents to America and has since made his home in this country. From an early age he dis- played the possession of musical talent and was given excellent opportunities for the develop- ment of this talent, studying for some time in Scranton under Professor Beouchner, formerly of Leipsic. Afterward he taught music and for two seasons traveled in the United States and Canada as a member of the Millie Zoe Dramatic Company. On his return to Scranton, he be- came an instructor on the violin and a mem- ber of Diller's band. While of late years increase of business responsibilities has prevented him from devoting as much attention to music as in the past, he still maintains a warm interest in everything pertaining to that profession and keeps himself well informed regarding all ad- vances in the science.

The foundation of the business in which Mr. Miller now engages was laid in 1873, when he built a factory in Jermyn and began the manu- facture of undertaking supplies, as the senior member of Miller Brothers & Co. In 1884 he removed to Scranton and located the business at Nos. 2 to 6 Lackawanna Avenue, where he has since carried on a large trade as a manu- facturer and jobber of coffins, caskets and under- takers' supplies. The firm title is T. M. Miller & Co., his partner being Jason H. Welles. He sus- tains an enviable reputation for strict integrity and firmness of purpose, and in following his chosen occupation has not only gained a sub- stantial income, but the good will of the commun- ity as well.

In this city Mr. Miller married Miss Sarah

Foster, who was born in Manchester, England, and came to America in company with her father, John Foster. Mrs. Miller presides with dignity and grace over the family residence in Wash- ington Street, the tasteful elegance of which is indicative of the refinement of the occupants. Like her husband, she is highly regarded by all who know her. The sons and daughters com- prising the family are Alice O., wife of J. Frank Williams, of Williamsport, Pa .; Maurice T., fore- man in the factory of T. M. Miller & Co .; Ger- tie S., Harry and Robert Bauer.

A pronounced Republican in his political opin- ions, Mr. Miller, however, has never been an as- pirant for political honors, but has been content to act the part of a private citizen, and as such has faithfully discharged his duties. He is iden- tified with the National Burial Case Manufac- turers' Association, and fraternally holds mem- bership in the Turn Verein, Alliance Lodge of Odd Fellows and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. Personally he is a man of clear un- derstanding and sound judgment, industrious and prudent, and well endowed with energy. The able manner with which he has managed his af- fairs shows that he possesses business talent and at the same time the interest he maintains in all matters calculated to promote the welfare of the people proves his loyal devotion to the city in which he makes his home.

W ILLIAM H. GORDON came to Scranton in the days when this now prosperous city was an insignificant village and even the most sanguine never dreamed of its present size and importance. He has been engaged in the manufacture of buggies and wagons, and while he has conducted business on a small scale, he has been quite successful. By trade a blacksmith, as soon as he settled here, he opened a shop where the opera house stands and is now the oldest horseshoer in the city. Hard- working and economical, he has become the pos- sessor of a competency.

Of Irish birth and Scotch-Irish parentage, the subject of this sketch was born March 23, 1838, the son of Thomas and Margaret (Hunter) Gor- .

FREDERICK PETERS.

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don. His father, a native of Scotland, went to Ireland in young manhood and there spent the remainder of his life, following the trade of a blacksmith. When our subject was about twelve years of age he ran away from home and went on board a merchant vessel in which he sailed the high seas for seven years. He was a youth of fourteen years when he arrived in New York, gaining his first glimpse of the United States. For five years afterward he followed a seafaring life, making his home in Newton, N. J. How- ever, he did not wish to spend his life as a sailor, so he learned the blacksmith's trade and worked at it in Newton, with the exception of six months in Port Jervis, N. Y. November 16, 1864, he arrived in Scranton, where he worked in the em- ploy of others for a year and then opened a shop of his own. Since then he has engaged in busi- ness here and at Taylorville.

January 22, 1862, Mr. Gordon married Miss Cordelia Jane Tuthill, of Port Jervis, N. Y. Their twelve children are named as follows: George, James, William H., John R., Clara J., Annie, Samuel, Sarah A., Robert, Charles, and Rosilla and Joseph, both of whom died in early child- hood. While not identified with any denomina- tion, Mr. Gordon attends services at the Presby- terian Church. Fraternally he is a member of Glenwood Lodge No. 349, K. of P., in Old Forge Township. Himself a strict temperance man and an advocate of prohibition, he is yet liberal in his political views, and votes for the man rath- er than the party.

P REDERICK PETERS, outside superin- tendent of the Sloan and Central mines at Scranton, was born at Port Talbot, Gla- morganshire, South Wales, October 30, 1838, and is a son of John F. and Catherine (Lewis) Peters, natives of the same shire as himself. His grandfather, Frederick Peters, devoted his ac- tive life to farming in South Wales and there died at the age of almost eighty. John F. Peters was for some time employed as tracklayer in the mines of Vivian & Son, but in 1862 came to America and settled in Hyde Park, where he held the position of sexton of the Washburn

Street cemetery until his death, in August, 1888, at the age of seventy-six years. His wife, who died at middle age, was twice married, and by her first husband had a son, David P., who fought in India as a member of the British army, and while there walked three hundred miles with his regiment ; after coming to America he served in both the navy and the army during the Civil War.

Frederick, of this sketch, was next to the eld- est of six children, of whom four are living, all in this country. His childhood years were spent in his native shire, but, with a desire for adven- ture as well as a natural wish to gain a good liveli- hood, he secured work as cook on a vessel engag- ed in the coasting trade and visited Germany, Russia, France, Portugal and Spain. By industry and good conduct he won his way to the positions of able seaman and first mate, and for a time was in command of the ship. He was with Capt. James Hambley, captain and owner of three ships, and later shipped with Captain Reese. While with the latter the ship was wrecked in the North Sea, with thirteen other vessels, but was pulled ashore with a rope.

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Portrait and biographical record of Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, Volume I, Part 84

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