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 108
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 108
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The eldest of the family, John B. Gillespie was reared in Carbondale and received his education principally in the public schools of that city. Afterward he took a commercial course in East- man's Business College at Poughkeepsie. In 1860 he came to Scranton and remained here continuously until 1883, when he went to Wash- ington, D. C., having received the appointment, through the influence of Don Cameron in Presi- dent Arthur's administration, of second clerk in the United States treasury department. Six years were spent in this place, when changes in the administration and heads of the departments caused his resignation, and he then returned to Providence. In partnership with his brother, he carried on a general mercantile business in the square, building up a large trade and a high place in the confidence of the people. Dissolving the partnership in 1894, he opened the business which he has since carried on. He carries a general line of stock including everything but
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dry goods, and keeps in constant use two de- livery wagons for the convenience of his cus- tomers.
As a Republican, Mr. Gillespie has been active in county and city work, and is well known in political circles. He held the position of mem- ber of the common council for one term, has also been assessor, and for twelve years was a member of the Scranton poor board. Frater- nally he is connected with Hiram Lodge, F. & A. M., in which he is past officer; and is also identified with Lackawanna Chapter, R. A. M., and Coeur de Lion Commandery No. 17, K. T. In 1871 he married Margaret, daughter of Col. William N. Monies. She died in 1879. They had two children, now living, Anna R., and Nel- son W. In 1896 he married Mrs. M. P. Thomas, of Scranton.
H ARVEY R. LONG is the popular and genial young manager of the Academy of Music in Scranton. This well known re- sort for amusement seekers is the oldest theater in the city and enjoys the reputation of furnish- ing the best productions to be seen on the stages of the locality. Since becoming its manager Mr. Long has neglected no means of affording the public the finest attractions to be obtained.
Born in Scranton in 1867, Mr. Long was from his earliest recollection interested in everything ·pertaining to this city. He grew up here, at- tended our excellent public schools, and laid the foundations of his future success in business by thorough attention to his studies and by the cul- tivation of manly traits of character. When he had finished his general schooling, he entered Gardner's Business College, and there received commercial training. Upon leaving that insti- tution, he engaged as a clerk for a short time, and in 1889 became advertising agent of the Academy of Music, then the only theater here. In this capacity he continued until 1892, when he formed the Scranton Bill Posting Company, which he managed two years or more. His firm was consolidated with that of Mr. Reese, under the style of Reese & Long, in March, 1894, and has done a good business with that concern, of
which he is still the junior partner. In the spring of 1896 he became the manager of the Academy, assuming full charge. The house has the largest seating capacity of any theater in Scranton, and is well arranged for the comfort of its patrons.
' Fraternally Mr. Long is a member of Ezra Griffin Camp No. 8, Sons of Veterans, Benevo- lent and Protective Order of Elks, and Union Lodge No. 291, F. & A. M. In 1884 he joined Crystal Hose Company, and was foreman seven years until he resigned in 1897; is now vice-pres- ident of the same, and connected with the Penn- sylvania State Firemen's Association. He is pres- ident of the Theatrical Mechanics' Association. In political matters he is a loyal Republican.
The parents of our subject were J. F. and Cath- erine Elizabeth (Hauser) Long, natives of Schuyl- kill and Monroe Counties, Pa., respectively. The father was of German descent and was a cabinet- maker by occupation. During the war he en- listed in the Twenty-second Pennsylvania In- fantry, from Pittston, Luzerne County, and went to the front under Captain Schooley. After serving his term of three years he veteranized, and was in the service until the cessation of hos- tilities. Then he came to Scranton, and re- sumed his former calling of manufacturing für- niture. Later he moved to Linden Street, cor- ner of Oakwood, and was similarly employed at the time of his demise. His wife had died many years before, when only a young woman, leaving five children.
F RANK E. EVERETT, who is engaged in the livery business in Scranton, was born in New Milford, Susquehanna County, Pa., in 1860, and is a son of Lemuel S. and Helen (Willmarth) Everett, natives respectively of New- burgh, Orange County, N. Y., and Harford Township, Susquehanna County, Pa. His pater- nal grandfather, Gabriel Everett, a native of Orange County, and a member of an old family of that locality, resided for some years on the Newburgh turnpike, where he engaged in dairy farming. In early days, prior to the advent of the railroad, it was his custom to cart his cheese and butter to the Newburgh market. When his
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son, L. S., was five years old, he moved to Sus- quehanna County, Pa., and settled in Harford Township, where he died at eighty-four years.
The father of our subject was reared in Sus- quehanna County and on reaching manhood engaged in farming in New Milford Township, making a specialty of the dairy business, in which he was successful. During the Civil War he took part as a member of a Pennsylvania regi- ment, and is now actively connected with the Grand Army. Politically he is a Republican, and in religion is of the Universalist faith. His wife was a daughter of Daniel Willmarth, who added the cooper's trade to the cultivation of his farm in Harford Township.
Of the family of four children, F. E. Everett is next to the eldest and is the only one residing in Lackawanna County. He passed his child- hood years on the home farm and attended the common schools of the district. At the age of twenty-one he started out for himself, and for five years was engaged in the carting and transfer business at New Milford, after which he gave his attention to a livery business he had previously started in partnership with A. C. Moxley, under the firm name of Moxley & Everett. While thus engaged he became interested in the stone busi- ness, and after selling the livery at the expiration of five years, he began as a dealer in free and blue stone, still retaining his headquarters at New Milford and opening three quarries near that place. The business increased and in addition to the retail trade, he shipped to Newark, Long Branch and Ocean Grove, supplying the whole- sale market. In 1895 he sold out and in the fall of that year came to Scranton, where he bought the livery business of C. A. Summers, in Dix Court, off Washington Avenue. Here he has three floors in all, with about fifty stalls. Besides renting vehicles of every description, he has a boarding stable, where he accommodates horses for private parties.
In New Milford Mr. Everett married Miss Nellie G. Moxley, who was born there, and they have one child, Helen. While the close atten- tion that he gives to his business prevents him from taking an active part in public affairs, he nevertheless keeps well posted concerning cur-
rent events, and in national issues favors the Re- publican platform. During the period of his resi- dence in New Milford, he was a member of the fire company there. While he has not resided in Scranton long, he has already gained a wide acquaintance and is known as an honest and progressive business man.
H ENRY W. MONTGOMERY. The nine- teenth century is remarkable, among other things, for the wonderful develop- ment in the insurance business. Its rapid growth is due to the fact that it meets a long-felt want. By it the widow and orphan are spared the pangs of poverty and financial distress, and the last days of the husband and father are not harassed by the thought that he will leave his family pen- niless. The progress of the business and the large number of people who have become finan- cially interested therein have caused the organi- zation of many companies for the purpose of in- surance, and among these none is better known in the east than the New York Life Insurance Company, of which Mr. Montgomery is district manager for the Scranton district.
Mr. Montgomery is a young man, his birth having occurred March 18, 1871. He was born and reared in Bristol, Pa., and in boyhood attend- ed the public schools of that place, afterward be- coming a student in the Model State School at Trenton, N. J., and remaining there until his graduation. On the conclusion of his education he at once began for himself. His first position, which he held about five years, was that of book- keeper in the home office of the American Fire Insurance Company, of Philadelphia, and while there he gained a thorough knowledge of the in- surance business in all its details. In 1895 he came to Scranton and for a short time solicited for the Mutual Life Insurance Company of New York, but was soon given the city agency for the Mutual Benefit Life, of Newark, N. J., and re- mained in that capacity until he accepted his present position of district manager for the New York Life. This is a responsible position, as he is now manager for the city of Scranton and six counties, with several local offices under his charge.
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By his marriage to Miss Ella Enna McCand- less, of Philadelphia, Mr. Montgomery had one son, Henry W., Jr. Keen and energetic, his time and attention are closely given to his business matters, and he has not identified himself actively with local affairs, though well informed regard- ing current events and interested in such enter- prises as will advance the prosperity of the city.
C HARLES GRAHAM, for years master mechanic of the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western, in Scranton, was always con- sidered one of their most trusty, honorable and thorough-going workmen. He held his su- periors' interests ever paramount to his own per- sonal advancement, and in such a measure had they come to depend upon him, that they have felt it a great loss since he has been unable to occupy his old post, on account of an accident that he was unfortunate enough to receive, ren- dering him physically unfit to grapple with the difficulties which he formerly met with in his every-day employment.
Though born in Scotland, Mr. Graham has lived in America until he is a strong patriot and adherent of his adopted country. His birth oc- curred January 15, 1834, in Dunfermline, Fife- shire, and when he was of a suitable age, he en- tered the public and pay schools of his native village, receiving a fair education. The Gra- hams are from a very old and respected family in Scotland, and can trace their line back to 1493 with certainty. Grandfather Nicol Graham was a forester in Fife and his son Charles, our sub- ject's father, followed the same vocation in the highlands of that shire. On one occasion he visited America, staying here about two years, but becoming homesick for his native heaths, he returned home and there died when nearly sixty-five years old. Margaret, his wife, was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, being a daughter of Andrew Douglass, a business man of that city. She died in 1849, and rests by the side of her husband, in the same cemetery where Robert Bruce lies buried. Their children were seven in number, three sons and four daughters. Nicol was with the Rodgers locomotive works many
years ago, but is now retired, and a resident of Paterson, N. J. Douglass is also living in that city. One sister is now in Hannibal, Mo.
When he was about fifteen Charles Graham be- gan learning the machinist's trade in his home village, and stuck to his task manfully until he had mastered the business. In 1853 he deter- mined to come to America, and accordingly left Glasgow in the sailer "Cuthbert," which took seven weeks to cross the Atlantic. Going at once to Paterson, N. J., he entered the Rodgers locomotive works, thence went to the Erie Rail- way shops at Piermont, and then by way of the Susquehanna River came to Scranton. The date of his arrival here is January 3, 1855, and the very next day he went into the machine shops of the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western. At the expiration of a year he was made foreman and in- side of two years was promoted to be general foreman. He had to run special trains to do the wrecking necessary on the road. In 1864, when the Bloomsburg division changed into the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western control, and James Archbald was made president of the whole, our subject was made master mechanic and sent to Kingston, where he superintended the building of the new locomotive shops, saw the machinery all placed and then attended to the manufacture of the new engines built for the road. When the extension of the road was made from Binghamton to Buffalo, he was put in charge of the construction of the shops. In 1886 he was the master mechanic at Scranton, while at the same time his son, Charles, Jr., was mas- ter mechanic at Kingston. Much to his regret, he was forced to give up his position in 1890, as previously stated, on account of physical dis- ability.
The marriage of Mr. Graham and Jane Bryden took place in Carbondale, February 13, 1857. She was born in Dumfries, Scotland, and was the daughter of William' Bryden, a business man of the village of Dumfries. His wife, Janet Craik Bryden, died in Kingston, Pa., but he lived and died in his native land. The three children of our subject are: Charles, Jr., master mechanic at Kingston, with the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western; George, with the same company, and
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Robena, who is at home. Mrs. Graham is con- nected with the Second Presbyterian Church.
In 1859 Mr. Graham joined Union Lodge, F. & A. M., of Scranton, and when Kingston Lodge No. 395 was organized, August 8, 1867, he was a charter member and the first W. M., and was once its representative to the grand lodge. He is an honorary member of the Railway Master Mechanics' Association of the United States. He is one of the oldest members of the organization, as he entered its ranks in Pittsburg, Pa., at the second meeting, which took place in 1869. He also belongs to the Caledonian Club. In po- litical matters, he is an ardent Republican. Per- sonally, he is popular. His home is a very sub- stantial and tastefully furnished residence at No. 401 Madison Avenue.
H ERSHEL H. HOLLISTER, of Scranton, is a member of the Connecticut family of Hollisters represented in Pennsylvania since the earliest settlement of the state, though his parents themselves were later emigrants from the Nutmeg State. The founder of the family in America was John Hollister, who emigrated to Wethersfield, Conn., about 1642. Seventh in line of descent from him was Alanson Hollister, a native of Warsaw, Conn., whence he came to Wayne County, Pa., at the age of about twenty. His father, Amasa, settled in that county in 1799 and in the same year built a log house, but this was replaced the following year by a frame house which still stands, in excellent condition. The latter's health being poor, the son took charge of the property, brought the land under cultivation, erected necessary buildings, and in Salem Town- ship put up a saw, carding and grist mill, the last- named still standing and in good condition. In order to earn money with which to make pay- ments on the land, he secured work in Provi- dence at twenty-five cents per day. He was the founder of Hollisterville, in Salem Township, which was named in his honor. Possessing an iron constitution, on which the hardships of his life apparently made few inroads, he attained the age of seventy-eight and was then accidentally killed by falling from the loft of his barn. He died twenty-two days after the accident occurred.
The mother of our subject was born, Sally Goodrich, in Connecticut, three miles east of Portland, and thence accompanied her father, Seth Goodrich, to Wayne County, Pa., in 1803. She continued to reside in Salem Township until her death, which occurred in Hollisterville. She was one of eight children, of whom one son, Phineas Grow Goodrich, was a historian and writer, and wrote a very interesting and valuable history of Wayne County. Her father, who was born in South Glastonbury, Conn., September 24, 1799, settled upon a place in Wayne County, the first owner of which was a Mr. Stanton, known in history as the only white man who escaped in the Indian massacre at Little Mea- dows. A few months afterward he returned to the place and gathered up the bones of the mas- sacred settlers, burying them in the same grave, that is now marked by a mound.
The subject of this sketch was one of eight children, namely: Harriet G., Mrs. L. S. Watres, " Stella of Lackawanna"; Horace, M. D .; Sarah Ann, Mrs. Stevens, who died in Dunmore; Eras- tus B., at Hollisterville; Hershel H .; Mrs. Arian Hall, of Rochelle, Ill .; Mrs. Angeline Whitney, also of Rochelle; and Mrs. Emeline Hamlin, of Philadelphia. Our subject was born in Hollisterville, Wayne County, July 10, 1830, and was reared on the home farm, assisting his father in the lumber business and in the building of the mills, After the death of his father he built a third sawmill, on the same stream with the others, where he had fine water power. In 1882 he sold his property in Wayne County and came to Scranton, where he bought out John L. Hall, whose slating and roofing business he continued. Politically a Republican, Mr. Hol- lister held township offices while in Wayne County. In 1863 he volunteered in the Union service and was assigned to provost duty, taking troops to the front, with his headquarters in New York City. He continued in the discharge of official duties until the close of the war, and was honorably discharged in June, 1865. On the second day of his connection with the army, while on fatigue duty at Hart's Island in New York, he was injured in the pupil of the right eye by a stick, that permanently destroyed the sight.
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The first marriage of Mr. Hollister, in Clinton, Wayne County, united him with Miss Maria Norton, who was born there, daughter of Alva Norton, a native of Connecticut and a farmer of Wayne County. She died at Salem in 1860. He was afterward united in marriage with Miss Susan Ayers, who was born in New Jersey, the daughter of Mark Ayers, a farmer of Salem, Wayne County. They are the parents of one daughter, Florence H., Mrs. T. H. Hull, of Scran- ton. Mr. Hollister is a man of inventive genius, and among other things has invented a new pat- ent iron harrow, called "The Winner," which farmers of long experience say has many ad- vantages over all other iron harrows. The frame is made of tubular iron, thus making it strong and light. The teeth are firmly held in position by a steel rod, thus preventing lateral motion. It can be changed at pleasure from high frame to low, and from two-horse harrow to one. Ob- jectionable points noticeable in other harrows are remedied in this, and the results are correspond- ingly satisfactory.
H UGH M. HANNAH. The gentleman whose life is briefly sketched herein is one of the successful attorneys of Scranton, and has proved the possession on his part of a broad knowledge of legal lore, as well as the un- derlying principles of justice and equity. His skill in the management of cases submitted to him has won for him an enviable reputation, which is not limited to this city, nor indeed to the county. One of his most prominent char- acteristics is great accuracy; every detail is care- fully investigated, and he thoroughly informs himself regarding his case in all its bearings, by which means he is able to handle it in a success- ful manner. He has his office at No. 117 Penn Avenue.
Born in Harford, Susquehanna County, this state, September . 13, 1842, the subject of this sketch is of Scotch-Irish parentage. His grand- father, Walter Hannah, was born in Scotland, but removed from there to Ireland and settled upon a farm in County Antrim, near Ballymoney. He had a brother, Daniel, who served in the English
army and was for many years stationed at Gibral- tar. Archibald Hannah, our subject's father, was born in County Antrim and grew to man- hood upon the home farm there. In 1836 he crossed the Atlantic, and after a short sojourn in Newburgh, N. Y., the same year removed to Har- ford, Susquehanna County, where he bought a tract of land. For a number of years afterward he gave his attention to improving and cultivat- ing a farm. In 1849 he removed to a farm at New Milford, and there continued to reside until his death in 1872, at the age of seventy-eight.
The mother of our subject bore the maiden name of Mary Leslie, and was born near Cole- rain, County Antrim, where her father, John Les- lie, was a farmer. Her grandfather, Malcolm Leslie, was a Highlander of Scotland. She died in 1877 at the age of seventy-six. Of her ten children we note the following: William J., died at Plymouth in 1872; Margaret, Mrs. William Ross, died at Newburgh; Alexander is a farmer at New Milford; Daniel, a retired attorney liv- ing in New Milford, was engaged in practice in Scranton from 1867 to 1884; Leslie died in 1863; Hugh M. is next in order of birth; Fannie, Mary A. and James died at the respective ages of eighteen, fourteen and fifteen years; and Eliza- beth, Mrs. David McConnell, resides in New Mil- ford.
After completing the studies of the common school, our subject, in 1863, entered the Millers- ville State Normal School, where he was a stu- dent a portion of each of the three ensuing years. Meantime he taught in New Milford and Leba- non, Pa., and afterward was principal of the school at Schuylkill Haven for five years. It being his desire to study law, in 1869 he came to Scranton and entered the office of Loomis & Hannah, the latter being his brother. In 1870 he was admitted to the bar at Wilkesbarre and at once formed a partnership with his brother as D. & H. M. Hannah, with office at No. 222 Lacka- wanna Avenue. They practiced together until his brother retired in 1884, since which time he has continued alone. One of his important pub- lic enterprises was to assist in promoting the lay- ing out of twenty acres in Washington Avenue, to be devoted to park and residence purposes,
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and known as Richmond Park. For three years he was city attorney of Scranton. He is con- nected with the Lackawanna County Law and Library Association, in politics is a Democrat, and in religious connections belongs to the First Presbyterian Church, of which he was a trustee for some years. In Philadelphia, he married Miss Elizabeth Hindman, who was born near Oxford, Chester County; her father, David Hindman, a farmer, was a member of an old Quaker family of English and Scotch descent. Two children bless the union: Fannie, a student in Wilson College at Chambersburg; and Fred, a pupil in the Scranton public schools.
J AMES HUGHES, who for forty years has been a faithful, industrious and thoroughly reliable employe of the Delaware, Lacka- wanna & Western Railroad, is a man of great natural genius as a mechanic, and has from time to time patented inventions of more than ordin- ary merit. In September, 1856, he was placed in charge of the company's boiler shops, and never since, with the exception of two weeks, has he been absent from his post of duty, a very re- markable record, which has been rarely eclipsed.
The parents of our subject, Hugh and Hester (Wilson) Hughes, were natives of Liverpool, England, the former being of Welsh descent. He was a boiler maker by trade, and rose to be a foreman in the boiler works of a great ship yard there. He died while yet in the prime of life and activity, being forty-five years of age. His wife also departed this life, when a young woman, in England. Of their four children, only one sur- vives. David was for some time in the vicinity of Philadelphia, Pa.
James Hughes was born in Liverpool in 1829, and went to school until he was twelve years old, when, his father having died, he was obliged to begin making his own living. He took a place as errand boy in a store, and a little later he com- menced to follow in his father's footsteps, by learning the boiler maker's trade in his native city. After he had worked at this calling four and a half years, he went into the blacksmith's department and was there for two years. In
185I he left the home of his boyhood and sailed for America in the "Tileman," which arrived in New York City at the expiration of twenty-five days. The cause of his coming at this time was on account of a very peculiar combination of cir- cumstances. He had been making some needed repairs in his line on the aforesaid ship, to which he and a fellow-workman were conveyed by a tug each day. One day they came on deck, after finishing their work, and found that the tug had returned to land without them, and the ship was well under way. The captain had forgotten all about them, and as a favorable wind had risen, he had been anxious to avail himself of it, and now, as he did not wish to waste eight or ten hours of this invaluable wind by hailing and transferring the unwilling passengers to a ship returning to London, he took them to New York.
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