Portrait and biographical record of Wyoming and Lackawanna counties, Pennsylvania : containing portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the counties, Part 113

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 113
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 113

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W ILLIAM VON STORCH. Born near his present place of residence in Scran- ton, and, with the exception of a few years, a continuous resident of this city, Mr. von Storch has witnessed the steady growth of the commercial, mining and manufacturing interests of the community. In his early boyhood, Scran- ton was passing through its first stages of settle- ment, and was waiting for just such strong hearts and industrious hands as his. He was reared to habits of economy, and the hardships that he met and the obstacles that stared him in the face did not in the least dismay or discourage him. Put- ting his shoulders to the wheel, year after year he pushed ahead steadily, and now can review his labors with a just feeling of pride and satisfac- tion.

Within sixty rods of his present home, William von Storch was born, February 9, 1819. On another page will be found a sketch of his father, Henry Ludvig Christopher von Storch, and of the ancestral history. As schools were conducted only on the subscription plan in his boyhood, he attended these, when possible to be in school at all. The surrounding country was so sparsely settled that he was acquainted with everyone liv- ing between Carbondale and Wilkesbarre. April

15, 1834, in company with his brother Godfrey, he started on foot for Mauch Chunk, the two hav- ing only thirty-one cents in their possession. His first eniployment was as tow-boy on the Lehigh Canal, after which he was bowsman, remaining in that position until he went to New York City in 1835. In the following year he went to White- haven, where he was employed on the work of canal construction. He returned home in 1837 and a few years later, in 1841, began the mining of coal, some of which was shipped by wagon as far north as Syracuse, and exchanged there for salt.

In 1848 in connection with his brother God- frey, our subject started a sash and blind factory, but after three years sold out. Later, with his brother, he built a saw-mill on Leggett's Creek, and for almost fifteen years carried this on, man- ufacturing oak, hemlock and pine lumber. The property, which included five acres, was sold all together, and proved a remunerative venture. For some years, beginning in 1853, he conducted a drug store, which he had been obliged to take, finally selling out to Dr. Bouton.

In 1856 Mr. von Storch purchased one hundred and thirty-two acres, for which he paid $300 an acre, a large price, as the following year he could have bought for $150. Laying out the property, he first sold lots, but later disposed of the entire surface, retaining the coal on lease. Since then the land has been built up, and is now almost en- tirely occupied, within its limits being included the finest part of Greenridge, toward Dunmore borough.

In Waverly borough, Abington Township, Mr. von Storch married Miss Catherine T. LaBar, who was born in Luzerne County, and died in Scranton, January 5, 1889. She was a daughter of William LaBar, who was nunibered among the old settlers of Luzerne. In the borough of Providence Mr. von Storch has held a number of local offices, his most efficient service being done as a member of the board of school directors. During the war he served as assistant revenue assessor for the seventh division of this district. When younger and more active, he identified himself with the Odd Fellows and Masons, but with advancing years he has relinquished work

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in these fraternities. His religious belief brings him into association with the Methodists, and he takes an interest in the work of that denomina- tion. With two other gentlemen, he secured a charter for the first water company in Providence, but after a time the concern sold out to the pres- ent water company. His first vote was cast for Harrison in 1840, and he supported the Whig principles until that party was merged into the Republicans, when he became an advocate of the new organization, and its platform he has since continued to uphold.

N ICHOLAS G. REED, a resident of Mil- waukee and for some years postmaster of the village, was born in old Abington Township, December 15, 1827. Of his parentage and ancestry mention will be found in the sketch of Eugene Reed, presented upon another page. His education was begun in district schools, but was carried on afterward less from text books than from observation and experience in the great school of life. His first venture was the opening of a general store, and after renting for a time he purchased the building in which he had his stock of goods.

In 1858 Mr. Reed married Miss Sarah A. Pet- ty, who was born in Pittston Township, Luzerne County. Their union was blessed by the birth of four children, but one died at the age of two and one-half years. Those living are B. Frank, a farmer, who is married and has five daughters; Willis L., also an agriculturist, and by his mar- riage the father of one daughter; and Mary E., wife of George Hopkins. The children were given excellent advantages in good schools, and are intelligent, respected and well known.

The parents of Mrs. Reed were Peter and Sarah (Nagle) Petty, natives respectively of Monroe and Luzerne Counties, the former of whom died at the age of fifty-eight and the latter when seventy- seven. Their family consisted of eight children, of whom five are living. The paternal grand- parents of Mrs. Reed were William and Lydia (Stroh) Petty, natives of Monroe County; he died at Wilkesbarre when seventy-two, and she in Berwick, aged eighty-six. Mrs. Reed's maternal

grandparents, Christian and Sarah (Stoekel) Nagle, were born in Northampton County, and died at the respective ages of seventy-two and seventy-six, he in Hanover and she in Columbia County. The great-grandfather Stoekel was of German birth and a member of a very wealthy family that was represented among the pioneers. of Pennsylvania.

Continuing the management of his store in Milwaukee, Mr. Reed was meantime appointed the first postmaster of the village by President Buchanan and held the office for twelve years. About 1870 he closed out his store and has since given his attention to the management of his property and to the discharge of his duties as justice of the peace. At the expiration of his present term in this capacity, he will have held the office for forty years. A Democrat in poli- tics, he cast his first ballot for James K. Polk, and has been one of the local leaders of his party. When he came here there was no church of his denomination-Methodist Episcopal-and it was largely due to his efforts that an organiza- tion was effected. In those early days there were few workers, and he was accustomed to build the fires, sweep the church, lead the singing, serve as class leader, and, in fact, aid in every department of the work. He has officiated almost continu- ously as Sunday-school superintendent and his wife is one of the oldest Sunday-school teachers here. Both are highly respected for their many worthy qualities of mind and heart.

D AVID W. POWELL. As a member of the Republican party, Mr. Powell wields an important influence in the public af- fairs of Scranton. However, he owes his success in life not to his capacity as a politician, but to the confidence reposed in him personally by the people and their knowledge of his thorough effi- ciency, which has been proved in every position he has held. Formerly treasurer of Lackawanna County, he is now collector of statistics for the Industrial Bureau at Harrisburg, with headquar- ters in the latter city. He was interested in the organization of the Scranton & Pottsville Coal Land Company, in which he is treasurer and a di-

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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

rector; in the Ronaldson Coal Land Company, in which he serves as director; is also interested in the Scranton Traction Company and the Na- tional Boring & Drilling Company, and at one time was connected with the Economy Light, Heat & Power Company.

Born in St. Clair, Schuylkill County, Pa., Au- gust 18, 1845, the subject of this article is of Welsh descent, his paternal grandfather, an en- gineer, having brought his wife here, but later re- turned to Wales, where he died. Our subject's father, Watkin Powell, was born in Glamorgan- shire, South Wales, and in early manhood went to Halifax on the sailer "Martin Van Buren," spend- ing three months on his voyage. Thence he pro- ceeded to Pottsville, Pa., and engaged in mining coal with Adams, Powell & Company, of St. Clair. In 1858 he came to Scranton, settling on the west side, and working for the Delaware, Lacka- wanna & Western Railroad Company. Later he was in Bellevue, Wilkesbarre and Danville, and for two years carried on a mercantile business in Hyde Park, after which he was engaged in mining in Plymouth. On the evening of October 12, 1882, he returned home from his daily pur- suits, having decided to retire from active work. The next morning he was found dead beside his bed. He was then sixty-five years of age.

The mother of our subject, Elizabeth (Evans) Powell, was born in Wales and was an aunt of Silas Evans, the famous singer. She died and was buried at St. Clair when David W. was only two years of age. Her family consisted of three sons and one daughter, the latter of whom died in childhood. William E., now proprietor of a fruit farm at Santa Clara, Cal., was a member of the Second Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery, Battery M, until sickness obliged him to resign from the army. Watkin W., the other brother, who was formerly with the Delaware, Lacka- wanna & Western Railroad Company, died at Kingston, in May, 1895; he, too, was a soldier, having seen three months' service in Company A, Fifteenth Pennsylvania Infantry, and afterward served in the same regiment with his brother un- til the close of the war.

Until thirteen years of age Mr. Powell lived in St. Clair, after which he was in different places

with his father. When fourteen he was employed at Bellevue by the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad Company, being then the youngest weighmaster in their employ. He con- tinued with them for three years and then went to Wilkesbarre, later to Danville, where he was employed as clerk. In 1865 he came to Hyde Park, where he first clerked, then bought out his former employers and carried on the business for two years. His next position was that of clerk for H. A. Allen & Co., at the Hyde Park shaft, after which he clerked for J. A. Ladd in the gro- cery business on Penn Avenue, and then eleven years in the freight office of the Delaware, Lacka- wanna & Western Railroad Company. Under Hon. D. M. Jones he was deputy city treasurer for two years, and for ten years served as chief clerk of the board of county commissioners, dur- ing which time the new court house and county jail were erected.

In June, 1891, Mr. Powell became a candidate for the Republican nomination for county treas- urer, and, though there were three other candi- dates at the outstart, he had no opposition in the convention, but was nominated unanimously, and was elected, at the head of the Republican ticket, by a majority of nearly one thousand, though his opponent, George Kinback, had six years before been elected on the Democratic ticket with a ma- jority of fourteen hundred. In 1892 he took the oath of office for three years and served accept- ably during the term, when he retired. Politically he has always adhered to Republican principles. For a time he was secretary of the city commit- tee and was chosen its chairman, but refused to accept, consenting, however, to take the vice- chairmanship. In 1893 he was finally induced to take the chairmanship, having been chosen and urged by each of the candidates to lead the cam- paign. After a close contest, they succeeded in electing every Republican candidate. In Janu- ary, 1895, he retired from the treasurer's office, and on the Ist of March following was appointed by the secretary of internal affairs at Harrisburg as collector of statistics of the Industrial Bureau at Harrisburg. In 1894 he built the residence which he has since occupied, at No. 1034 Linden Street,

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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

In Susquehanna County Mr. Powell married Martha J. Davis, who was born in Rome, N. Y., and accompanied her father, Richard Davis, to Susquehanna County, settling on a farm there. They are the parents of three children: Bertha, who was educated in the Moravian Female Semi- nary at Bethlehem; William E., a student in Wy- oming Seminary, and Helen, who is attending the home schools. Fraternally Mr. Powell is identi- fied with the Hyde Park Lodge of Masonry.

H ON. FREDERICK W. GUNSTER. The career which we now consider may be viewed from three distinct points of ob- servation-as a man, as an attorney and as a citizen-for we find these three sides to the char- acter of Judge Gunster. While it is true that the professional man must ever be loyal to his call- ing, yet the public interests of the community in which he lives and of which he is an integral part cannot be ignored. There are men who possess a versatility of mental constitution that enables them to take part in diverse lines of thought and activity, with equal success in each.

Such a man is the subject of this article, who is associate judge of the courts of Lackawanna County. In addition to this he has made an ex- cellent record as an attorney and has also ren- dered efficient service as a citizen. Though his life has been passed principally in Scranton, he is of foreign birth, born in Lochweiler, Prussia, September 15, 1845, and the son of Peter Gun- ster, also a Prussian by birth. In 1853 he accom- panied his parents to Scranton, where he attend- ed the public school and also the private school of George B. Chase, in the old Odd Fellows' Building. Afterward he completed the high school course, and then taught one year in the public school. His education was completed in Williams College at Williamston, Mass., from which he graduated in 1867 with the degree of A. B. Two years later the degree of A. M. was conferred upon him.

On completing his literary studies, our subject entered the law office of Judge W. G. Ward, where he remained after his admission to the bar in October of 1868 until Judge Ward was elected recorder of the Mayor's Court of Scranton. In

1872 he formed a partnership with Charles H. Wells, and continued in that connection until he was elected to the bench in 1888. He was at- torney for the old fourth school district until 1877, and upon its consolidation and change of limits he was chosen as attorney again, continuing for eleven years, until he became judge. At one time he served as city attorney of Scranton. In 1888 he was nominated on the Democratic ticket for judge, the Republicans making no nomination, while Judge Chase ran on the independent ticket. The Democratic nominee was successful by a large majority. After his election he was ap- pointed by Governor Beaver to fill the unexpired term of Judge Alfred Hand, who had been ap- pointed to the Supreme Court. He took his seat the first Monday of January, 1889, to serve for a term of ten years.

Assisting in the organization of the Third Na- tional Bank, Judge Gunster served as one of its directors until he was elected judge, when he re- signed. He is a life member and has been secre- tary of the board of trustees of Lackawanna Hos- pital. Since the organization of the oral school, in which he took an active part, he has served as director and has also been trustee of the Al- bright Library since its foundation. At one time he filled the position of city clerk. Fraternally he is connected with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, and in religious belief is a Cath- olic, attending services at St. Peter's Cathedral. In addition to his residence at No. 809 Jefferson Avenue, he owns a summer home at Lake Ariel. In Wilkesbarre, in 1873, he married Miss Maggie Brehl, daughter of Christ Brehl, a merchant of that city. They are the parents of six living chil- dren: John, who is attending college in Buffalo; Louise and Marguerite, students in St. Cecelia's Academy; Lillie, Marie and Joseph.

In the Democratic party Judge Gunster has been active on different committees, city and county. In the fall of 1874, on the Democratic ticket, he was elected to the Pennsylvania Assem- bly, and served in 1875-76. He was active in se- curing the passage of the new county bill, separ- ating Lackawanna from Luzerne, which twice passed the house, but both times was defeated in the senate. After retiring from the assembly,

JOSEPH CURTIS PLATT.

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he returned the following year and organized a new movement as a lobbyist, by which means he was successful in getting the bill through the legislature. When the new county was organized he was appointed by Governor Hartranft the first district attorney of the county and served one year and three months. His influence as a citi- zen has been felt in all measures having for their object the welfare of the people and the promo- tion of the interests of the community, and his fidelity to duty, both as private citizen and offi- cial, entitles him to the commendation of all citi- zens.

J OSEPH CURTIS PLATT. The city of Scranton owes its present proud position among its sister cities of the Keystone State to the indomitable will, perseverance, energy, far- sightedness and public spirit of its founders. There are evidences enough that they meant to make it a great city, and if in the following sketch much of the history of Scranton should appear it must be remembered that the subject of it could truly have said, "All of which I saw and part of which I was," for, standing on the roof of one of our modern sky scrapers and viewing the fair city lying at his feet, surrounded on all sides by the wild mountains of the Moosic and Lacka- wanna ranges, one familiar with its growth recog- nizes the fact that it owes much of its present beauty and plan to the keen foresight and faith of the man whose life sketch it is the purpose of these pages to record.

Joseph Curtis Platt was born in Saybrook, Conn., September 17, 1816, just after the close of the second war with Great Britain. His an- cestors were New England people, full of the traditional aims and impulses that have made their descendants the active leaven that has per- meated the whole commercial, political and re- ligious life of this country. His grandfather es- poused the cause of the colonies in the struggle with England and took part in the war for in- dependence. His father followed the more peace- ful pursuit of the law, but died in 1826, when Curtis was ten years of age. With the self-re- liance and intentness of purpose characteristic

of New England's sons, the boy, young as he was, determined to be self-supporting and ac- cordingly, in 1827, when eleven years of age, he became clerk in a general country store. Evi- dently he was not given to either idleness or care- lessness; on the contrary, he must have shown those qualities that won for him the respect and esteem of all with whom he came in contact. He must also thus early in life have contracted hab- its of prudence and economy and studied his business carefully, for in 1836, when but twenty years of age, he went into business on his own ac- count, opening a general country store in Fair Haven (now New Haven), Conn. He carried on this store for about eight years as an unmar- ried man, but the women of New England have ever been worthy mates for her sons and there were frequent visits to Madison, Conn., in those days. In 1844, before he was twenty-eight years old, he married Catherine S. Scranton, of Madi- son. The courtship thus commenced continued without break or interruption until Mrs. Platt's death in 1887 broke the tie that had united them for so many years.

Meantime events were occurring among the mountains of Pennsylvania that were destined to have an important bearing on his life. Some gen- tlemen became interested in coal and iron lands in the Lackawanna Valley. They had started works there and a store, and had secured the co- operation of the Scrantons. More money, great- er activity was to be put into the new concern. The interest of one of the partners, Mr. Grant, had been purchased, but with the promise that he should continue his services in the store until April 1, 1846. This made a successor necessary, and on one of his trips east, Joseph H. Scranton persuaded his brother-in-law to visit Lackawanna in November, 1845. This visit is thus described by Rev. N. G. Parke in his "Personal Reminis- cences of Scranton as it was in 1844:" "J. Curtis Platt, a merchant from Fair Haven, Conn., visit- ed Scranton and spent some time in looking around and, in Yankee style, asking some ques- tions. What he saw here at that time that was especially encouraging to a young man with a family we do not know, but the result of his visit was the dawn of a new day on Scranton. He

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knew the men in charge of the enterprise were true men. He had some money and he had friends who had more than he had. They were willing to risk their money in Slocum Hollow." This was high praise for a young man not yet thirty years of age. He decided to come to Scranton and cast in his lot with the new enterprise. His own account of the trip is an interesting one and is worth quoting: "In order to show the saving in time and travel during the last forty years, I propose to give an account of our trip in March, 1846, when I brought my small family here to reside. There being no railroad we came by the night steamer from New Haven, and arriving in New York the next morning found the streets so full of snow that our carriage could hardly get to the Franklin House, on Broadway, corner of Dey Street. After breakfast it was found im- possible to get a carriage to take us to the ferry, at the foot of Cortlandt Street, on account of the depth of the snow, consequently we had to walk, and a hand cart took our baggage. At that time the Morris & Essex Railroad only ran between Newark and Morristown. Our car was hauled by the Camden and Amboy Company over its road to Newark, where it was disconnected and drawn by four horses up the same heavy grade that is now operated by steam. From this point we were taken by a locomotive with one pair of driving wheels to Morristown. At Summit Sta- tion we found a novel plan for supplying the en- gine with water. A pair of wheels on a line of shafting were placed beneath the track, the upper side of them being in line and level with its top. The locomotive was chained with its drivers rest- ing on the wheels beneath the track, when the en- gineer put on steam and pumped what water he needed. At Morristown we took a stage and arrived at Oxford about dark. There we spent about a week, owing partly to a heavy rain which had so raised the Delaware River that we had to cross it by the bridge at Belvidere, and struck the river again at what is now Portland. We were delayed in the Water Gap by ice and logs in the road. After covering small bridges with slabs of wood hauled out of the river, we finally reached Tannersville and spent the night. The next morn- ing, finding good sleighing at Forks, we changed

our vehicle to runners and again for wheels at Greenville (now Nay-Aug), and arrived at Sel- den T. Scranton's house about dark, March 17, 1846, the traveling time being one day from New York to Oxford and two more to reach here. At present the trip is made over substantially the same route in four and one-half hours, and from New Haven in eight hours. This route gener- ally took two and one-half days to or from New York and was the usual one followed. The only way to shorten the time was to take the stage at Hyde Park at noon and riding through the night reach Middletown, N. Y., in the afternoon, then taking the Erie Railroad to Piermont and steam- er down the Hudson, arriving in New York about 6 p. m. the next day after leaving home."

April 1, 1846, Sandford Grant retired from the firm and Mr. Platt assumed charge of the gen- eral store kept for the accommodation of the rap- idly increasing business of the concern. In No- vember of the same year the firm was reorganized and became known as Scrantons & Platt. The capital was then $250,000. Mr. Platt's first home stood where the blast furnace and engine now stand; in front of it was a handsome grove of trees and east of it stood the hotel known as Kressler's. The contract with the Erie Railroad Company to supply it with rails demanded more improvements and Mr. Platt moved into the house which stands at the foot of the hill in front of his recent residence on Ridge Row. In 1846 Mr. Platt and Joseph H. Scranton purchased the interest of E. C. Scranton.

The young settlement was expanding rapidly, but the old New England training showed through it all. Religious privileges were needed and in the summer of 1848 a movement was start- ed that resulted in the formation of the First Presbyterian Church, and of this first meeting Mr. Platt was secretary. When the church was built the total cost was $15,000, of which amount he and the Scrantons, in the way of general and special contributions, personally, from non-resi- dent friends and as a firm, contributed over $8,000. In November, 1848, the firm was reor- ganized. As Mr. Platt said: "It appears to be inherent to all manufacturing business in this country that every concern must be constantly

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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 113

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