Portrait and biographical record of Wyoming and Lackawanna counties, Pennsylvania : containing portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the counties, Part 126

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 126
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 126

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At Oxford, Chenango County, N. Y., January 21, 1875, Judge Archbald married Elizabeth Baldwin Cannon, and they became the parents of four children, three still living: Robert W., Jr., a law student; Anna and Hugh. Mrs. Archbald is a granddaughter of Benjamin Cannon, founder of Cannonsville, N. Y., and some of her ancestors participated in the Revolution. She was the only daughter of Benjamin and Anna (Miller) Can- non, was born in Oxford, N. Y., and at an early age accompanied her parents to Cannonsville.

Her father, who was a graduate of Union Col- lege in 1840, was admitted to the bar in New York City in 1843, served as clerk of Delaware County from 1853 until 1859, and died at Ox- ford December 19, 1877.

As a citizen Judge Archbald favors every en- terprise that will be of assistance to the people and that will promote the progress of the place. His knowledge of men is of a broad character, and he is always charitable in his views. The confidence reposed in him by people has never been betrayed, and throughout his active career he has retained the esteem of all with whom he has been brought in contact. His legal knowl- edge, accompanied by broad experience, is large and comprehensive, and his rulings on the bench have been invariably just and according to the law.

In the compilation of this sketch, the writer acknowledges assistance received from an arti- cle published in the Scranton "Tribune" March 17, 1892.

C HARLES NEULS has been president of both the common and select councils of Scranton and is one of the most promi- nent Republican politicians on the south side, his interest in public affairs, extensive knowledge and acknowledged ability fitting him admirably for leadership in such matters. As indicated by his name, he is of German extraction. He and his father, David, and uncles, John, Peter and Adam, were natives of Boerenbach, Kreisel, the Rhine Province, where the family was prominent, its members being principally cabinet-makers and farmers.

The father of our subject, who was a cabinet- maker, brought his family to America in 1854, setting sail on the ship "Virse Marie," which was wrecked and sunk at sea. The passengers were rescued on an island, and after a few days were picked up by a passing vessel. After many perils and thrilling experiences during his voyage of eighty-five days, he landed in New York City, and November 27, of the same year, settled in Scranton, where he engaged at his trade. For some time he carried on business on the south

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side, but in 1868 entered the car shop of the Dela- ware, Lackawanna & Western Company, with whom he remained some time. He died in this city in March, 1896, at the age of seventy-five, having been born January 27, 1821. In religion he was a Presbyterian. While in Germany he was a soldier in the cavalry and took part in the revolution of 1848. He had several brothers, one of whom died in Germany; Adam resides in Scranton and is eighty years of age; John, who participated in the Civil War, died in Jermyn; Peter died in Scranton; one brother and sister went to Brazil.

Maria Louisa Engers, as our subject's mother was known in maidenhood, was born in Olden- burg, Germany, September 29, 1824, and died in Scranton May 25, 1894, at the age of sixty-nine. Her two sons are still living, and one of her three daughters survives. Charles, who was next to the eldest of the family, was born March 2, 1851, and was three years of age at the time of being brought to Scranton. Here he attended the com- mon schools. At a very early age he began work as a slate picker in the Bellevue mines and later was in other mines. When his father was in business, under him he learned the cabinetmak- er's trade, and afterward worked in the car shops of the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Com- pany. December 8, 1883, he was placed in charge of the speed recorder and has since held this posi- tion, of which he is the first incumbent. In this city he married Miss Catherina Mirtz, who was born in Germany, but was reared here. They became the parents of two children, but their only son, Charles, died at two years; Catherina is the wife of Philip C. Scheuer, of Scranton.

On the Republican ticket, in 1880, Mr. Neuls was elected a member of the common council from the eleventh ward, and two years later was again chosen to the position, serving as presi- dent of the council, and served in that capacity for three years, being president of the body in 1886. In 1887 he was elected poor tax collector for the city of Scranton and borough of Dun- more, and was re-elected the following year. His next position was that of school controller from the eleventh ward, to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of John Charles Miller. Always

active in politics, he has done valuable commit- tee work and is justly held in high esteem by his party here. November 28, 1868, he was made a member of Neptune Engine Company No. I, and is now connected with No. 2, of which he has been president. He is past officer in Nay-Aug Tribe No. 140, I. O. R. M., and is connected with Residenz Lodge No. 513, I. O. O. F., Scranton Saengerbunde and the Athletic Club. In the Hickory Street Presbyterian Church, of which his father was one of the organizers, he holds active membership, taking a deep interest in its work.

E LIEZER D. JENKINS. Both as a pub- lic official and as a business man, E. D. Jenkins, of Scranton, has become fa- vorably known to the people of the county. A strong adherent and stanch advocate of the prin- ciples of the Republican party, he was, in 1882, their candidate for the office of recorder of deeds, at which time the people, remembering his con- scientious and careful work as deputy for Re- corder Lathrope, and respecting his manly char- acter and integrity, elected him to the position, he being one of the two candidates on the Re- publican ticket who were not defeated. In 1885 he was re-elected by a majority of eight hundred and thirty-seven, and again in 1888 by a fair ma- jority, serving until January 1, 1892.

The Jenkins family originated in Wales. The grandfather of our subject, Hopkin Jenkins, was born in Neath, Glamorganshire, removed thence to Monmouthshire, and engaged in the manu- facture of powder. Rev. William Jenkins, our subject's father, was born in Cendl, Monmouth- shire, and became a minister in the Congrega- tional Church. In 1869, three years after his son, E. D., had crossed the ocean, he came to America and at once accepted the pastorate of the Congre- gational Church at Jermyn, where he continued to preach the gospel until his death, in 1884, at the age of eighty-four years and five months. His wife, Ann Miles, was born in Pontypool, Mon- mouthshire, and died in Jermyn in 1880, at the age of seventy-nine years. She was a daughter of Edmund .and Gwenellian (Harris) Miles, the

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former a native of Wales and employed as over- seer of forests.

The family of which our subject is a member consisted of ten children. Margaret died in Wales in 1852. Hopkin, who was a member of Company F, Forty-fifth Pennsylvania Infantry for three years during the war, died at Scranton in 1888. William, who was a justice of the peace in Jermyn, died there in 1895. Rev. David Miles Jenkins is one of the most prominent and gifted members of the family, and is now pastor of a Congregational church in Liverpool, England; he was chosen to deliver the principal address at a meeting of the Congregational Union in Wales, and stands very high in his denomination. Henry lives in Providence, Scranton. Rev. E. H., who is a fine scholar, holds the pastorate of a Congregational church in New Haven, Conn. Rachel, Mrs. James, died in Jermyn in 1876, and Rasalama, Mrs. Davis, is a widow living in Pitts- ton.

The character of Rev. William Jenkins was conspicuous for its fearlessness and determina- tion. A man of strong convictions, his purity of principle and firmness of moral courage exhib- ited themselves in decided opinions on the issues of the day and a readiness to express his views, irrespective of consequences. In Wales he did much toward the elevation of the working classes, where he was often a mediator between capital and labor, and in this capacity he acted more frequently and more successfully than any other man of his day.

In Pont-aber-pen-gam, Monmouthshire, the subject of this sketch was born May 13, 1848. He was educated in what is now called the Gelly- gaer Academy, and being a good student made rapid progress in his studies. When only fifteen he taught in the Pontymoile schools of Ponty- pool, and this occupation he followed for several years. In the spring of 1866 he came to this country and settled in what is now Jermyn, and has since resided in this county, with the excep- tion of a short time in Youngstown, Ohio. Prior to his election as county recorder the mercantile business was his principal occupation. Six months after retiring from office he became con- nected with the Stevens Coal Company, operat-

ing in Pittston, and was immediately chosen a director, and took charge of the general store of Jenkins & Co., at the mines. Later he was made vice-president and is now general manager of the coal company and store. Since 1892 a new shaft has been sunk and a breaker erected, with a capacity of about one thousand tons per day.

In Jermyn Mr. Jenkins married Miss Mary L., daughter of Preserved Taylor, who was born in Scranton, a member of a family that was num- bered among the original owners of this city. She was born in Wyoming, Luzerne County, and received an excellent education there. In relig- ious belief she is a Methodist, while Mr. Jenkins adheres to the faith of his forefathers and allies himself with Congregationalists. Their six chil- dren are Blanche, Grace, Annie, Bertha, Willard Warren and Eliezer D., Jr. The family residence is at No. 1519 Capouse Avenue, where Mr. Jen- kins built in 1886. Fraternally he is a Mason and an Odd Fellow.

During his service as recorder Mr. Jenkins gained a reputation as a systematic, accurate and efficient public official. During office hours he was always to be found at his desk, attending personally to every duty. All records of deeds and mortgages were accurately written and in- dexed, thus preventing the possibility of an er- ror in this very important department. He is an active man, of resolute character and undoubted integrity. Although of foreign birth, the years of his manhood have been passed in the United States, and as an intelligent citizen, familiar with her institutions and laws, he takes a hearty in- terest in her welfare and progress.

A SA EVERETT KIEFER, auditor of Lackawanna County and for some years a resident of Scranton, was born August IO, 1848, at Martins Creek, eight miles above Easton, Northampton County, Pa. The family of which he is a member has been identified with the history of this state for several successive generations, and his paternal great-grandfather, who was a farmer by occupation, took part in the war of the Revolution. His father, Samuel,

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who was born in 1789, was a son of Peter Kiefer, and both were natives of Northampton County. The former, who was a farmer by occupation, enlisted in the War of 1812 as a member of the Northampton Light Guard; he passed away in 1864 and his body was interred at Lower Mt. Bethel.

The mother of our subject bore the maiden name of Sarah Everett and, like her husband, was a descendant of German ancestry. She was born in Upper Mt. Bethel, Northampton County, which was also the native place of her father, William Everett, and for several generations the home of the family. She died at the age of fifty- five years. Of her six children, all but one are living. Asa E., who was the youngest of the family, passed his childhood years on the home farm and received excellent educational advan- tages. On completing the studies of the com- mon schools he entered Freeland's Institute at Collegeville, Pa., where he studied under Profes- sor Feteroff. From there he went to Carvers- ville Institute, in Bucks County, later spent one year as a teacher in New Jersey and then took a course of study in Bryant & Stratton's Commer- cial College, Philadelphia, from which he grad- uated.

On leaving the college Mr. Kiefer took a posi- tion as extra messenger for the Adams Express Company at Easton. Eighteen months later, in 1874, he was appointed messenger between Scran- ton and New York on the New Jersey Central, and served in that capacity on the same route about two years. Later he was transferred to New York and Elmira, then to New York and Scranton, and later Belvidere and Philadelphia. In 1880 he resigned, after years of faithful ser- vice, and came to Scranton, where he secured a clerkship with the hardware house of Bitten- bender & Co., remaining in their employ for eighteen months. Later he was timekeeper, then bookkeeper for the Green Ridge iron works. Resigning in April of 1892, he accepted a posi- tion as timekeeper and general superintendent of supplies for the Scranton Lace Curtain Manu- facturing Company.

During his residence in Easton, Mr. Kiefer was united in marriage with Miss Emma, daugh-

ter of Charles Younkin, a contractor on the New Jersey Central railroad. They are the parents of a daughter, Marilla, who is a member of the class of 1897, Scranton high school. On the Republic- an ticket Mr. Kiefer was twice elected to repre- sent the thirteenth ward in the common council, and during his period of service he was a mem- ber of the building committee at the time of the starting of the municipal building. In the fall of 1896 he was nominated, on the Republican ticket, for the office of county auditor and was elected by a majority of five thousand six hun- dred and ninety-nine. On January 1, 1897, he took the oath of office for a period of three years. He has been a member of city and county com- mittees and has served as delegate to local con- ventions. Fraternally he is a charter member of the Odd Fellows lodge in Green Ridge and be- longs to the Conclave of Heptasophs in Provi- dence.

W ILLIAM S. HOPKINS, register of wills of Lackawanna County, was born in Newton Township, Luzerne (now Lackawanna) County, in July, 1843. He is of English descent, his grandfather, David Hop- kins, having been a native of that country, whence he emigrated to the United States and engaged in farming in New Jersey. The father of our subject, Solomon S., was born in Sussex County, N. J., in 1808, and at the age of twenty-one came to Lackawanna County, settling in Newton Township, where he followed agricultural pur- suits. He purchased land, which he cleared and out of which he made a well-improved farm. Po- litically he was a Republican and in religious be- lief a member of the Christian Church. He died in this county at the age of seventy-five years.

The marriage of Solomon S. Hopkins united him with Maria Sturr, who was born in Paterson, N. J., and died in Lackawanna County in 1874, aged sixty-four. Her father, Isaac Sturr, who was a farmer near Paterson, was a son of a Revo- lutionary patriot, who enlisted as a drummer and endured all the vicissitudes of that long war, in- cluding the terrible winter at Valley Forge. In the family of Solomon and Maria Hopkins there

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were seven sons and two daughters, all of whom attained years of maturity, and three sons served in the Civil War. George W., who was an orderly sergeant in the One Hundred and Forty-third Pennsylvania Infantry, was killed in the battle of Cold Harbor June 2, 1864. William S. was a member of the Fifty-second Pennsylvania, and Judson D., now a resident of Newton Township, was for three years a member of the One Hun- dred and Fourth Pennsylvania Infantry. Of the other sons, James H. is deputy register of wills; Alva died in Colorado; Peter resides in Newton Township; and John died after the close of the war. One of the sisters is living, the other de- ceased.

After completing the studies taught in the dis- trict school, the subject of this sketch attended Madison Academy at Waverly and Wyoming Seminary at Kingston. In 1861, when little more than eighteen years of age, he enlisted in Com- pany H, Fifty-second Pennsylvania Infantry, and was mustered in at Harrisburg, sent from there to Washington, and in the fall of 1864 returned to Pennsylvania. After taking part in numerous engagements, he was transferred to Morris Is- land, Charleston, S. C., and took part in a num- ber of battles, fourteen in all. In December, 1864, he was honorably discharged from the ser- vice, having been in the army for three years and three months. In recognition of his gallant and meritorious conduct at Ft. Sumter in Au- gust, 1863, when twenty years of age, he was awarded a medal of honor by Major-General Q. A. Gilmore. During one year of his service he was under fire day and night, and at one time was struck and knocked down by a shell. In his com- pany he held the rank of corporal and did duty as a sergeant.

Upon his return home Mr. Hopkins embarked in the lumber business in Newton Township with his brothers, but later turned his attention to the slate business in Bangor, Pa., being for three years superintendent of a slate quarry at West Bangor. His next enterprise was that of a con- tractor in the roofing business at Scranton, tak- ing orders for slate roofing through different parts of this state and of New York. He continued successful until he met with a serious accident.

While working on the Scranton Insane Asylum he fell forty feet from the roof of the building to the ground, receiving injuries in the back that confined him to the house for a year, and pre- vented permanently his return to the work. After his recovery he took a position as bookkeeper, which he held until he was elected register of wills in 1888. For this position he was nominated on the Republican ticket against six other candi- dates, and was elected by a majority of six hun- dred and sixty-six. He began his official duties in January, 1889, and at the close of the term re- tired to private life, but in 1894 was re-elected, beginning his term in January, 1895, to hold until 1898. He has his office in the court house and devotes his entire time to the work, having his brother as deputy. Politically he is a Republican, in religious belief holds membership in the Meth- odist Episcopal Church, and fraternally is identi- fied with Lieut. Ezra S. Griffin Post No. 139, G. A. R., and Union Veterans' Union No. 25.

E DWIN H. EVANS, superintendent of the Brisbin mines of the Delaware, Lacka- wanna & Western Company and a resi- dent of Scranton since 1863, was born in Salem Corners, Wayne County, Pa., in 1849, the son of Richard and Maria (Hazleton) Evans. His father, who was born in England, was employed as ship carpenter and builder at Liverpool, and after his marriage emigrated to the United States, settling on a farm at Salem Corners, and combining agri- cultural pursuits with work as a carpenter and builder. Retiring from active labors when ad- vanced in years, he came to Scranton and died here at the age of seventy-six. His wife, who was of Scotch descent, died here in 1888. Of their children five are living, namely: Richard, now residing in Hawley, a member of a Pennsylvania regiment during the Civil War; Walter, of Scran- ton, a member of the One Hundred and Fifty- second Heavy Artillery in the Union Army; Mrs. Emma Fritz, of Trinidad, Col .; Mrs. Anna Nash, of Hyde Park; and Edwin H.

The subject of this sketch attended the pub- lic school at Salem Corners and from boyhood assisted his father in the carpenter's business,

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working at the trade with him for a time and then spending one year as clerk in a store in Stroudsburg. Afterward, however, he returned to his work as a carpenter. In 1863 he came to Scranton and worked at his trade for Benore a number of years. About 1870 he became a car- penter for the Delaware, Lackawanna & West- ern Company in Hyde Park, and in 1882 was made outside foreman of the Brisbin mines, with one breaker and two shafts. These mines were opened about 1874 and now have a capacity of one thousand tons per day, giving employment to four or five hundred hands.

While not identified with politics in a per- sonal manner, Mr. Evans is pronounced in his allegiance to the Republican party and never fails to vote that ticket when opportunity is of- fered. Fraternally he is associated with the Knights of Pythias. He was united in marriage in this city with Miss Alice Fairchild, who was born in London, the daughter of George E. Fair- child. They and their two children, George and Harold, reside at No. 34 Brisbin Street.

J I OHN B. AMMANN, M. D., who is en- gaged in the general practice of medicine and surgery at Scranton, with office and res- idence at No. 424 Cedar Avenue, is of Swiss birth and parentage, a native of St. Gall, in the canton of the same name. He was born May 9, 1842, to Franz Joseph and Marie A. (Bauman) Am- mann, natives of the same place as himself, the former being engaged in farm pursuits and in the lumber business. Both were Catholics in re- ligious belief. The paternal grandfather, Franz Joseph, Sr., was for many years engaged in teaching school, but in later life retired and set- tled upon a farm.

The family of which Dr. Ammann is a mem- ber consisted of six sons and six daughters, he being the fourth in order of birth and one of the two survivors. None except himself ever came to America, the others being content to re- main in the old country. His education was ob- tained in the public schools and gymnasium of St. Gall, and was of so solid a nature that he passed a creditable examination in classics when

applying for admission into the medical depart- ment of the University of Berne. February 21, 1867, he passed the examination before the state board, standing the second highest in his class. For a time he was assistant to Professor Goll in Zurich and during the war of 1866 was with Dr. Nägeli in Volketschedel, afterward returning to Zurich, where he was with Dr. Hauser.

In May, 1867, Dr. Ammann took passage at Havre on the steamship "Guiding Star," and after an uneventful voyage of eighteen days reached New York City. Through chance he made the acquaintance of some Swiss farmers from Rome, Oneida County, N. Y., and in that way he was led to locate in Rome, where he studied English and practiced medicine. Not meeting with the success desired, he removed to Syracuse, where he formed the acquaintance of Dr. Gehlehardt, formerly of Scranton, and being advised by him to locate in this city, he came here September 13, 1868, and opened an office on the south side. In 1872 he went to Arch- bald, his special object in the removal being that he might have better advantages for the study of English. In 1876 he came back to Scranton, but the strike of the following year caused him to go to Utica, N. Y., where he carried on pro- fessional work for two years, and for a similar period resided at Pamelia Four Corners, Jeffer- son County. He then came again to Scranton, where he has his office in Cedar Avenue and has built up a good practice among the people of this locality.

In Rome, N. Y., Dr. Ammann married Miss Eliza Regetz, who was born in Switzerland and came to the United States with her parents. She died, leaving two children: Johanna E., Mrs. John Schoppaul; and John O., who lives in New York City. The Doctor's second marriage unit- ed him with Miss Sophia Boog, who was born in Germany and died in Scranton. His present wife was Mrs. Hermina (Steinhof) Ernst, a na- tive of Vienna, Austria, and the mother of two sons by her first marriage: Lionel C. Ernst, a clerk in the city treasurer's office; and Herman J. Ernst, who is engaged in the fire insurance business.

In national politics Dr. Ammann is a Demo-

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crat. He is loyal to his adopted country and in- terested in all progressive measures. While re- siding in Oneida and Jefferson Counties, N. Y., he was identified with the medical societies there, and is now a member of the Lackawanna Coun- ty Medical Society, in which he has been vice- president. He was the founder and the first pres- ident of the Gruetli Verein in Scranton, a Swiss society, in which he is still an active worker.

P ROF. R. J. BAUER is well known as the leader of Bauer's band in Scranton, which he organized in 1876 and which is one of the best drilled in this section of country. He is a native-born son of Pennsylvania, born in Naz- areth, Northampton County, April 17, 1857. The first of the name in America was his great-grand- father, who was born in Germany and settled in Northampton County. Grandfather Charles Bauer, though a farmer by occupation, devoted much of his time to music, for which he had considerable talent; he was a successful teacher and a proficient performer. His death occurred in Wind Gap.

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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 126

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