Portrait and biographical record of Wyoming and Lackawanna counties, Pennsylvania : containing portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the counties, Part 106

Author: Chapman Publishing Company (NY)
Publication date: 1897
Publisher: New York ; Chicago : Chapman Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1068

USA > Pennsylvania > Lackawanna County > Portrait and biographical record of Wyoming and Lackawanna counties, Pennsylvania : containing portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the counties > Part 106
USA > Pennsylvania > Wyoming County > Portrait and biographical record of Wyoming and Lackawanna counties, Pennsylvania : containing portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the counties > Part 106

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The education of our subject was obtained in St. Mary's parochial school in Scranton. . His boyhood days were passed in the home on the south side, where he was born May 7, 1860. At

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the age of twelve he began to work in the cigar factory of Garney, Short & Co., where he re- mained for two years, and then took a position with Richard Hunkey. When fifteen he began an apprenticeship to the blacksmith's trade under Henry Bishop, then foreman of the blacksmith shop of the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western, and has since continued work at the trade. In 1890 he was promoted to the position of foreman on the death of Mr. Bishop and has since had entire supervision of the blacksmith department.

The residence at No. 521 Pittston Avenue, which Mr. Biedlingmaier built for his home, is situated within two blocks of the house where he was born. In this city he married Miss Katie Miller, who was born in Bavaria, Germany, the daughter of Peter Miller, who was with the Dela- ware, Lackawanna & Western Company on first settling in this city, but afterward engaged in the cigar business with his sons. Mr. and Mrs. Biedlingmaier are the parents of nine children, namely: Albert, who is cashboy for Goldsmith Brothers; Charles, Theresa, Joseph, Lucy, An- nie, Ferdinand, Jr., Pauline and Arthur. The family are identified with St. Mary's Catholic Church on the south side. Mr. Biedlingmaier is a member of the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Mutual Aid, and of the Machine and Car Shop Mutual Aid. The position which he holds is a responsible one and the fact that he is filling it successfully proves that he is a man of. ability.

E MANUEL K. CROTHAMEL, one of the veterans of the late war and for many years past a faithful, efficient engineer on the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad, was born in Bucks County, Pa., January 6, 1840. He represents the fourth generation in line of de- scent from the founder of the family in America, a German, who crossed the ocean and settled in Bucks County. There his descendants were born and there some of the family still reside. The father of our subject, James, was the son of John, a farmer by occupation; in youth he learned the shoemaker's trade, which he followed until his death in 1886, at the age of sixty-eight years. His

wife, who was born in the same county as he, bore the maiden name of Catherine Kramer and was a daughter of John Kramer, a successful farmer. She died at the age of forty-eight years. Of her ten children seven are living, of whom Joseph, an engineer on the Delaware, Lacka- wanna & Western Railroad, resides at Clarks Summit, and Allen is a teamster in Scranton.

The next to the oldest of the family was the subject of this sketch. In boyhood he attended the Bucks County public schools and learned the carpenter's trade, after which he went to Philadelphia and secured employment as a team- ster. The day after Ft. Sumter was fired upon, he enlisted in the Union army, determined to give his services, and his life if need be, to protect the old flag that had so long floated over a united country. He became a member of Company I, Twenty-fifth Pennsylvania Infantry, and enlisted at Doylestown for three months, the principal portion of which was passed in the Shenandoah Valley. On being discharged he returned home, where he remained for a year on account of his mother's illness. In July, 1862, he again enlisted, becoming a member of Company K, One Hun- dred and Sixteenth Pennsylvania Infantry, and was mustered in the same day as first sergeant, assigned to the second army corps. In the bat- tle of Fredericksburg he was wounded by a bul- let that passed through his right shoulder and an- other that grazed his knee to the bone. On this account he was obliged to remain in hospital for some time and on recovery, being pronounced unfit for active service, he was detailed on pro- vost guard duty in Philadelphia for five months. From there transferred to the invalid corps, he was made first sergeant of Company F, Twenty- first Retired Veterans' Reserve Corps, and was sent to Scranton for duty. He camped here and at Beaver Meadows, then was ordered back to Virginia, from there to Washington, and finally to Philadelphia, where he was mustered out in June, 1865.

While upon a furlough during the war, Mr. Crothamel was married in Scranton in 1864, to Miss Emma Swartz, who was born in this county, daughter of Elias Swartz, a well-known hotel man here and in Moscow and Pittston. In

JOHN J. SCHNEIDER.

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March, 1866, Mr. Crothamel became a fireman on the main line of the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad. In October, 1868, he was promoted to be engineer on the main line and since 1884 has been in the passenger service. He runs engine No. 180, which goes out only upon special occasions. He and his wife reside in the house he erected at No. 321 Franklin Ave- nue. They have one child, Charles, a graduate of the high school, and employed in this city. Fraternally Mr. Crothamel is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows in Philadel- phia and was treasurer of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers until the organization disbanded. He is a Republican in politics, be- longs to Lieut. Ezra S. Griffin Post No. 139, G. A. R., and with his wife and son is connected with Penn Avenue Baptist Church.

J OHN J. SCHNEIDER, of the firm of Schneider Brothers, who have the finest and largest plumbing establishment on the south side of Scranton, their location being Nos. 601-603 Cedar Avenue, is one of our self-made men and progressive merchants. He has made good use of his opportunities, has prospered from year to year, conducting all business matters carefully and successfully, and in his transactions displays an aptitude for finance and skillful man- agement.

Peter Schneider, father of the gentleman whose name stands at the head of this sketch, was born in Bust, Canton Drulling, Alsace, Germany, and followed agriculture in that country. While still unmarried he came to America and made a good- ly sum of money each year by driving cattle from points in Ohio to the Buffalo markets. Twice he returned on visits to the home and friends of his youth, but finally settled permanently in Pennsyl- vania. For some years he made his home in Honesdale, and was captain of two boats on the Delaware & Hudson Canal. In 1855 he gave up this employment and coming to Scranton, bought the property on which his son's plumbing shop is now situated. Building a structure here, he started into the manufacture of pure cider vine- gar and received steadily orders from towns from

Wilkesbarre to Carbondale. When fifty-one years old, in 1866, he was called upon to cease his earthly labors. The mother of our subject was Miss Emma Grundler before her marriage to Peter Schneider. She was born January 2, 1823, in Schwebeshall, Wurtemberg, Germany, and is still living, her home being in Petersburg. Her son, August F., is in business with John J., and the daughters are Mrs. Louisa Claus and Emma, Mrs. W. H. Hoffman, both of Scranton.

Born in Honesdale, Wayne County, Pa., Sep- tember 6, 1854, John J. Schneider is, neverthe- less, practically a son of Scranton, for he was only eight months old when he was brought here and from that time onward he has been identified with the development of the city. He received his education at No. 3 school and when he was sixteen he was apprenticed to Connell & Bat- tin to learn the plumbing trade and remained with them five years. At the expiration of that time he went to St. Louis and became an em- ploye of Warner Brothers, staying with that firm about five years. Then after a short period spent in Kansas, he returned to Scranton and worked for his old employers, Connell & Battin. In 1886 he opened his present business at the old location of his father's factory, this building hav- ing been occupied as a store since the latter's death. The firm, as it now stands, is composed of himself, his brother August and his brother-in- law, Mr. Hoffman. They have fitted the store with hardware, general house furnishing supplies, plumbing outfits, steam and gas fitting and tin- ning departments. The warehouse in the rear of main building is 40x40 feet, and four stories high, and has a freight elevator. There is also a repair and tinning shop back of store, the four men here employed being able to attend to putting in furnaces. In the regular plumbing department there are always six or more men. Many of our fine buildings erected in late years have been fitted with gas and heating appliances by this well known and reliable firm. Among these is the home of W. F. Borchers, in Madison Avenue; Casmer Hartman's house in Pittston Avenue; the new building of F. L. Terppe, and Richard Zul- eger's hotel.

The wedding of Mr. Schneider and Wilhel-

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mina Borchers took place in 1879. She is a na- tive of this city and by her marriage has become the mother of six children, viz .: John F., Charles A., Anna, Emma, Peter and Gustav. The fam- ily attend the First German Presbyterian Church, Mr. Schneider being one of the present board of elders. Many years ago our subject volun- teered his services as a member of the old Nep- tune Fire Company, and rose to be first assist- ant foreman of the same. A member of the Master Plumbers' Association, he is now its sec- ond vice-president. He is associated with the Masons and Odd Fellows, belonging to Schiller Lodge, No. 345, F. & A. M., and to Robert Burns Lodge No. 859, I. O. O. F. For two years he was president of the Scranton Saengerbunde. In political affairs he travels under the banner of the Republican party.

F RANK P. CONNOLLY, a prominent con- tractor and builder of Dunmore, was born in Buckingham Township, Wayne County, Pa., in 1851, a son of Andrew Connolly, who was reared in the same county, and his grandfather, William, was engaged in farming there. Andrew engaged in the lumber and mer- cantile business in Buckingham Township, later carried on a mercantile business at Honesdale. About 1894 he came to Dunmore, where he passed the remainder of his days and was called from this earth when about seventy-six years of age. He married Ella, a daughter of John Kerr. She was reared in Ulster County, N. Y., and her death occurred in Wayne County, Pa. Of their eleven children eight are still living, and of these our subject is the fourth in order of birth.

Frank P. Connolly obtained his early educa- tion in the Buckingham public schools and when but fifteen years of age began to learn the car- penter's trade under John P. Reiley of Preston. He spent three years in his apprenticeship there, when he immediately began to work at the trade and has followed it ever since. He afterwards bought a tract of timber land in Buckingham Township and sold the lumber and bark, clear- ing up ninety of his one hundred and six acres, and erecting his own buildings. When he

came to Dunmore in 1888 he sold out there and located here permanently. He bought a lot and built a residence on Electric Avenue, where he has since resided and for four years he found work at his trade. In 1892 he began contract- ing and building on his own account and for the time he has been in business has done more building than any one else here. Among the principal buildings which he has erected are the following: The residence of Martin Quinn on Monroe Avenue, John Edwards also on Mon- roe Avenue, John Dempsey on Quincy Avenue, Mrs. Hawley on Dudley Street, David Miller, and William Powell on Riggs Street, Peter Reilly and John Powell on Throop Street, and the hotel and store of M. J. O'Boyle. He gives employ- ment to eight men during the entire winter sea- son and when busy employs ten or twelve men.

Mr. Connolly married Miss Sarah McGivern in Pleasant Mount, Wayne County, Pa., May II, 1873. She was born in New York City, a daughter of Marcus McGivern, who was engaged in farming in Wayne County. They have six children as follows: Marcus F., chief of the blacksmith and woodworking department of the Murray Coal Company; William A., a carpen- ter, working with his father; and four at home, John P., Francis J., Ellen and Mary. While liv- ing in Wayne County, Mr. Connolly served as overseer of the poor in Buckingham Township for three years. In political matters he does not feel himself bound to adhere strictly to party lines, but uses his judgment in voting for the man best fitted for the position. He is a member of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church, and socially is a member of Dunmore Conclave No. 1235, Improved Order of Heptasophs.

I SAAC. B. FELTS. The agriculturists of Lackawanna County as a rule possess gen- eral intelligence, thorough understanding of their calling and great energy, and they there- fore rank well among the farmers of the state. Among those who for years have engaged in farming may be mentioned Mr. Felts, the owner of a well improved place in Lackawanna Town- ship. The interest he has shown in the advance-

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ment of measures for the good of the township where his entire life has been passed and the zeal he has displayed in all projects worthy of sup- port, caused him long since to be classed as one of the leading citizens of this part of the county.

Upon the farm where he now lives our subject was born August 21, 1820, the son of Albert and Mindwell (Schultz) Felts. His father was born in Columbia County, N. Y., and came to Penn- sylvania in 1817, settling upon this place, the clearing of which he immediately commenced. The following year his family joined him here. As the years went by he brought the land under cultivation and upon it his remaining years were passed. His family consisted of twelve children, namely: Margaret, Christine, Aaron, Rebecca and Christopher (twins), Charlotte, Irene, El- mira, Mary, Isaac B., Albert and Diana.

The boyhood years of our subject were passed upon the home farm and his education was ob- tained in neighboring schools. In 1844 he com- menced to cultivate a portion of the old home- stead and here he has since resided, devoting his life to agricultural pursuits. He is the owner of one hundred and twenty acres, upon which lie the Holden mines, and is also interested in the Cres- cent Coal Company's mine in Jenkins Township, near Yatesville, and owns an interest in the Had- ley mines in Luzerne County, being president of the company that operates them. Though not identified with any church or fraternity, he is not reserved and selfish, but broud-souled and gen- erous, willing to aid in any measures for the benefit of others.

H T ORATIO N. PATRICK, one of the most prominent real estate business men of Scranton, has been very much interested in the development of the city and neighboring suburbs and has been a recognized factor in our commercial prosperity. He comes of a family long identified with the upbuilding and advance- ment of this section of the state and from both lines of his ancestors inherits the sound business judgment, tact and great ability which have won them fame and fortune. His father, Hon. David L. Patrick, was born near White Plains, N. Y.,

from whence his father, Caleb, removed to Ab- ington, Lackawanna County, about 1830, and improved a farm in the wilderness. It was in 1632 that two Patrick brothers, captains in. the British army, came to America with Governor Winthrop. They were of the old Scotch-Irish Puritan stock and from them have descended the Patricks in this country. Hon. D. L. Patrick was pre-eminently a self-made man, for in boyhood he chopped wood in winter that he might go to school and acquire an education, and through his own efforts and study he was finally admitted to the bar in Wilkesbarre when twenty-six years of age. From that time until just before his death, April 16, 1895, he practiced in his chosen profession, ris- ing to an enviable place in the esteem of his fel- low-barristers, and being honored time and again with positions of-trust and responsibility. For two terms he was burgess and later was mayor of Wilkesbarre, served as clerk of the courts of Luzerne County and was elected prothonotary, when he was the only Democrat elected on the ticket, and that by a majority of six hundred votes. He responded to the emergency call for troops in 1863, serving for three months.

The mother of H. N. Patrick bore the maiden name of Polly A. Griffin. Her parents were Elias and Esther (Clark) Griffin, who died at the ages of eighty and seventy-eight years respectively. The former's father, James Griffin, was a man of gigantic stature and was a Quaker. He went to Providence from Connecticut in 1805 and lived where the Winton home now stands, being the owner thereof as well as of several hundred acres in that vicinity. William Clark, great-great- grandfather of our subject, settled in 1803 in Ab- ington at what is now Clarks Green, and built a log cabin. His son William, next in line, was a farmer and merchant and the old home erected by him at Clarks Green, is still well preserved. The senior William Clark owned about three thousand acres where Highland and Lorraine Parks are now located, and was the first merchant in this section. Hon. D. L. Patrick and wife, Polly, had eight children, one of whom, Henry R., has been in the United States weather-bureau service for about thirteen years and is now at Marquette, Mich.

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Horatio N. Patrick was born in Wilkesbarre, September 26, 1853, and spent his entire youth in that place, with the exception of the time between 1863 and 1867 when he lived at Clarks Green. He was a student at the high school at Wilkes- barre and later continued his studies by himself, as he was not in robust health. Determining to follow his father in the legal profession, he took up the study of law with him and afterward with Hon. E. P. Kisner, of Wilkesbarre, and was ad- mitted to the bar in September, 1878. In Oc- tober, 1878, he became a member of the Lacka- wanna County bar and at once began practicing here. His success as an attorney was marked and he was rapidly nearing the high position held by his honored father, but he became much in- terested in some of his real estate transactions, and seeing that he could not do both callings jus- tice reluctantly dropped the law. His first venture in the new field was to develop the Patrick & Powell plat at Clarks Summit, this having pre- viously been started by his father. It comprised a tract of fifty-four acres on the western side of Clarks Summit and now many desirable resi- dences and business blocks have been erected. Next, in company with C. du Pont Breck, E. C. Dimmick and C. P. Jadwin, he bought sixty-six acres lying between Clarks Green and Clarks Summit. Individually he purchased one hundred and seventy-three acres, calling it Woodlawn Park and another portion of land, Lackawanna Park, opposite the Driving Park and situated be- tween Deacon Street and the river, thirty-two lots in all, and only a block from the street car line. Each year he has built from twelve to twen- ty houses on his various tracts, thus giving to people of small means a chance to become the owners of their little homes. Associated with Edward and George Carpenter and J. W. Miller he has improved Fairfield Park in Green Ridge. This pretty suburb, in the extreme northern part of the city, has built up faster than any other sec- tion in that vicinity. Organizing a company he purchased the Gravel Pond property, some two hundred and fifty acres, including the original ninety-five acres which belonged to the old Patrick farm. His business office is at No. 331 Washington Street.

December 29, 1885, Mr. Patrick was married in Tioga County, this state, to Miss Ella Lathrop, a native of Lawrenceville, that county. She is a sister of Gen. Austin Lathrop, of Corning, N. Y. Three children bless the home of Mr. and Mrs. Patrick: Grace K., Austin and David L. In 1893 the family removed to their pleasant home at Clarks Summit.

Fraternally Mr. Patrick belongs to the Knights of the Maccabees, the Odd Fellows lodge at Clarks Green and the Order of Heptasophs. In politics, he espouses the principles of the Demo- cratic party. Formerly he was a member of the Wilkesbarre Presbyterian Church.

W ILLIAM DICK: One of the recent developments, especially suited to modern times and customs, is the co- operative store, with its possibilities and oppor- tunities. The one established by Mr. Dick at Moosic was started at his suggestion and in ac- cordance with his ideas, and he has since been its manager. That it has proved a success may be inferred from the statement that the original capi- tal of $1,300 has been invested so judiciously that the actual value of the stock is now $8,731.36, and besides this the seventy-five members have received thousands of dollars in profits. The store is controlled by an executive board of di- rectors, who meet every two weeks and also hold a general meeting every three months.

Mr. Dick is one of the many good citizens whom Scotland has given to the United States. He was born in Ayrshire, December 17, 1843, the son of James and Margaret (Heron) Dick, also natives of that shire. His father, who was a miner, died there at the age of sixty-three, and afterward his widow came to the United States with a son and died in this county, aged seventy- three. She was the mother of eight children, and four of these still survive, one being still in Scot- land. When nine years of age our subject began to work in a mine and, as might be supposed, his educational advantages were exceedingly limited. September 5, 1869, he took passage at Glasgow for New York, and arriving in this country he, and a brother-in-law who accompanied him, came

DAVID B. HAND, M. D.

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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

to Moosic, where he worked in a mine for some years. May 15, 1887, he opened the co-operative store, of which he has since been the manager.

The first vote of Mr. Dick was cast for R. B. Hayes and afterward he adhered to Republican principles for some time, but the enormity of the liquor evil finally led him to ally himself with the Prohibitionists. In the Presbyterian Church he has officiated as elder and is also interested in Sunday-school work. June 29, 1877, he married Mrs. Jane (Caldwell) White, and they are the parents of two children: Jennie, who graduated from Stroudsburg Normal and is a successful teacher in the public schools; and David, who is a student in the home schools.

ready to aid with counsel and means, and alert in his devotion to their best interests. Singularly unostentatious, his private munificence would be quite a surprise to those outside the charmed circle of his intimates.

As a physician he takes front rank in his pro- fession. His lifelong study of the science of materia medica (for he has always been a stu- dent), his extensive practice that has brought him into contact with all forms of disease, and his acknowledged skill in the treatment of intricate cases, place him in the front rank of professional men. Nor is his reputation limited to Scranton; for through the wide sale of his proprietary med- icines, remedies for children, his name has be- came well known all over the United States.

Of his ancestors, his maternal great-grand- D AVID B. HAND, M. D. Of the several phases Dr. D. B. Hand presents to pub- lic view, that of the physician, prompt, with quick perception, capable, tender and sym- pathetic, whose visits to the sickroom are like rays of sunshine, is the one in which he is most widely known, and in which he stands out most prominently in the confidence and grateful es- teem of the patients in his extensive practice. father was the largest landowner and wealthiest man of Valley Forge, where he had come from England prior to the Revolution, and where he spent almost his entire fortune furnishing food and clothing for the suffering soldiers in that historic encampment. In later years, when in- dependence had been secured, and the new gov- ernment offered him remuneration for his ser- vices, he proudly exclaimed, "My country's free- dom is my all-sufficient reward." He married a Though always pleasant and courteous, Dr. Hand, in the multitude of his business interests, is keen, thorough, conservative, and independent, daughter of that Stephen Roy who fled from Scotland in a time of great persecution and set- tled in America. Their son, Nathan Goble, was and his high sense of honor will brook no sug -. born in Sussex County, and was there engaged gestion of sharp practice; so that the competency he now enjoys has been fairly won in honorable competition in his chosen profession and those departments of the business world into which he has from time to time ventured. Steadfast in purpose, he has frittered away no time; persistent by nature, he never became discouraged; patient and deliberate, he made no rash moves. Ever ready to answer the call of duty, it seemed impos- sible to tire him with work; economical and thrifty, he never squandered his substance, and the palm of success the world awards him today he can therefore exhibit with pardonable pride. as a farmer and drover. Susan, daughter of Nathan, and mother of Dr. Hand, was a grand- daughter of Francis Price, who for thirty-two years was judge of Sussex County, and a niece of the illustrious Governor Price of New Jersey. The records show that all of her male relatives who were old enough to carry a gun fought in defense of the colonies during the Revolution; four of her great-uncles bearing the family name of Dunn, were killed in the Wyoming massacre; two of her sons and two sons-in-law enlisted in the Union army during the Rebellion, and one of each sacrificed his life for his country; at least To the limited number of friends he has fa- vored with admission to the inner precincts of his friendship, he stands revealed in the full meas- ure of his manly character, true as steel, ever thirteen of Dr. Hand's cousins also served in the Union army. From this it will be seen that patriotism is one of the principal characteristics of the family, and their love of country has led

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Portrait and biographical record of Wyoming and Lackawanna counties, Pennsylvania : containing portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the counties, Part 106

Author: Chapman Publishing Company (NY) Publication date: 1897 Publisher: New York ; Chicago : Chapman Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1068

Author: Chapman Publishing Company (NY)
Publication date: 1897
Publisher: New York ; Chicago : Chapman Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1068