Portrait and biographical record of Wyoming and Lackawanna counties, Pennsylvania : containing portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the counties, Part 15

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 15
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 15

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

On the Ist of January, 1884, the company sus-

I66

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

pended business owing to the death of John Maxwell, its president, and on the Ist of May, Mr. Semon went to Wilbur, Ulster County, N. Y. Forming the firm of Semon & Booth, he en- gaged in the construction of a stone mill and continued in the manufacture of blue stone of all kinds. On the 12th of May, 1887, he sold his in- terest in the business to James Sweeney, a brother-in-law of Mr. Booth, but remained with the company as their superintendent, and, as such, had charge of the stone work for the great Tiffany jewelry house of New York. The work was successfully accomplished, and the magnifi- cent building stands as a monument to the skill and enterprise of Mr. Semon. On its comple- tion he resigned his position and became super- intendent of the Wyoming Valley Blue Stone Company of Meshoppen, Pa., which company has erected under the supervision of Mr. Semon many buildings, including the Presbyterian Church of Wilkesbarre, Pa., and the depots at Allentown and Easton for the Lehigh Valley Railroad Company, also the Bryn Mawr school and many other important structures.

On the Ioth of January, 1891, Mr. Semon began the erection of his steam stone mill in Meshoppen, on the bank of the Susquehanna River, and commenced to operate the mill on the Ist of May. It is one of the most thor- oughly equipped plants of the kind in the coun- try, being supplied with a fine engine and boiler, rubbing bed saws and planers, steam derricks and hoists, cutting sheds, blacksmith shop and oil warehouse. He also owns several quarries, and for the transportation of the products keeps a number of horses, and wagons with a capacity of twenty tons. From the establishment of this enterprise, he met with success, his business con- stantly growing and bringing in larger returns. On the death of John Brownscomb, manager of the Wyoming Valley Blue Stone Company, Mr. Semon purchased the plant of the administra- tors, the property consisting of a mill and sev- eral quarries. He also bought the realty and per- sonal property belonging to that estate. He now owns the finest and best equipped plant for man- ufacturing blue stone in Pennsylvania; his two mills are heated by steam, so that they can be

operated throughout the year, and his quarries, equipped with steam drills and steam derricks, are unequaled in this section of the country. The enterprise is the most important business con- cern of Meshoppen, and furnishes employment to a large number of men.

Mr. Semon was married November 18, 1863, to Miss Emilie Hetzel, in Emendingen, Baden, Germany. Since coming to America he has stanchly supported the Republican party, but his attention has been chiefly given to his busi- ness interests. He now has a branch office at No. 280 Broadway, New York, and his reputa- tion in the line of his business extends through- out all the eastern cities, where his works are so extensively known. He controls the markets in the manufacture of Wyoming Valley and Penn- sylvania blue stone, and has an extensive patron- age. He not only manufactures the stone, but takes contracts for blue stone masonry work of all kinds. His business has assumed immense proportions, and is the legitimate outcome of honorable and persistent effort.

D ANIEL C. VOSBURG is an enterprising merchant, and owns a general store at Mill City, Wyoming County. Here may be found a very complete line of groceries, hard- ware, boots and shoes, etc., the proprietor al- ways aiming to keep fully abreast of the times in supplying his numerous customers with the best, newest, and most reliable goods, at reason- able prices. In this fact lies the secret of his marked success in the commercial avenues of the busy world, and no one in the community bears a better name for strict honesty in all his dealings than he does.

Mr. Vosburg was born at Russell Hill, Wyom- ing County, September 15, 1854, being a son of Isaac Vosburg, for many years a substantial merchant of that town. The latter was a native of Washington Township, this county, and re- ceived a common school education. When he was twenty-four years old he started in business in what is now known as Vosburg, being the owner of a store there. Later, he operated a general store and meat market in Archbald, re-

167

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

maining there about two years only, then remov- ing to Pittston and lastly returned to Vosburg. He kept a coal yard, dealt in farm produce, and owned several boats. His death occurred in 1868, at the age of forty-six years. He had mar- ried Eliza Frear and to them were born five chil- dren: Daniel C .; Emma L., wife of O. G. Mahon, of Lake Winola; Isaac Draper, a member of the firm to which our subject belongs; Eva D., a resident of Wilkesbarre, Pa., and Hiram, who died in early childhood. The mother was sum- moned to her final rest in 1895, when in her sixtieth year. The father of Isaac, Sr., who bore the Christian name of Daniel, was a native of Connecticut. He came to Wyoming County about 1827, located on a farm in Washington Township, and gave his entire attention to its cultivation. He died when in the prime of his usefulness, being only thirty-eight years of age. His wife was for over fifty years a practicing physician, and had to go from patient to patient on horseback, often long distances. Her maiden name was Laura Baldwin. She died in 1887, at the good old age of eighty-eight years. In the early days of her husband's residence in the township, he had to go forty miles, to Shoe- maker's Mills, Wyoming Valley, when he wanted to have his grain ground. Their family com- prised five children: Isaac, William C., Almira, Burr B., and Wellington, and of these only the third and fourth survive.

The boyhood of D. C. Vosburg passed un- eventfully on his father's farm, his time being divided between obtaining an education and learning the rudiments of agriculture. From seventeen to twenty-four a large share of the whole responsibility of managing the old home- stead fell upon him, on account of his father's demise. Then he went into business on his own account, tilling a farm, dealing in live-stock, and butchering during a period of eight years, in Falls Township. The succeeding four years he ran a general store and meat market in Ran- som, and then, selling out, he came to his pres- ent location, having bought the interest of W. H. Swartz. Besides he owns some valuable stone- quarries, and is, altogether, in an enviable con- dition financially. He has reason to be proud of

the success which he has achieved, for it is based on his own individual efforts, and men of such strength of character as he, deserve to richly prosper.

In May, 1892, Mr. Vosburg and Alice Mahon were united in marriage. The lady is a daughter of Alfred and Lucinda Mahon, well known and respected citizens of Lake Winola. She was born here in 1861, received the benefits of a good education, and is fitted to shine in the best social circles of any place. With womanly dignity and grace she presides over her pleasant home, and takes special delight in entertaining the hosts of friends and acquaintances which she and her husband possess.

Mr. Vosburg was appointed postmaster under Harrison, and officiated admirably, giving full satisfaction to the general public. As might be supposed from the fact of his receiving honor at the hands of President Harrison, he is a stanch adherent of the Republican party. He is a mem- ber of Factoryville Lodge No. 341, F. & A. M., and is also connected with the Odd Fellows lodge at this place. Religiously, he is in thorough sympathy with the Methodist Episcopal denomi- nation, and is a loyal worker in its various lines of Christian undertaking.

J ACOB M. TRAVER, whose postoffice ad- dress is Beaumont, Monroe Township, Wyoming County, has been closely asso- ciated with the development and prosperity of this section for nearly half a century. From sturdy, industrious, honest Hollander ancestors he inherited many of the traits of character which have made him successful and well-off in this world's goods. Such reliable, honorable men as he, never fail to leave the impress of their in- dividuality upon the generations that come after them, and it is well that such is the case. Their children and children's children are glad, indeed, to perpetuate their memory, and no better way of doing this can be found than to enroll their names among those of the representative men of their time.

A son of Peter and Elizabeth (Eckert) Traver,

I68

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

natives of Dutchess County, N. Y., Jacob Traver was born January 17, 1824. He was one of a family of nine children, who, in order of birth, were as follows: Maria, Catherine, Sarah, Han- nah, Mahala J., Jacob, John, David, and one who died, unnamed, in infancy. They received good training in all the duties of farm life, and early learned lessons of patient, persevering effort and endeavor which stood them in good stead in after years. The parents were people of sterling merit, hardworking and loyal to God and their fellowmen.

Until he was twenty-three years of age Jacob M. Traver gave his time and labor to his father, with whom he resided up to the date of his mar- riage. He became a practical farmer, and has always given his attention to the business. Suc- cess crowned his toil, year by year, and he was frequently enabled to lay aside a fair sum for the support of himself and wife in the evening of their lives. In 1847 he married Sarah M. Bar- ringer, of New York State, a member of a thoroughly respected family. Eleven children blessed their union, as follows: John C., Eliza- beth, Wallace, Lovina, Asa J., William E., Eugene, George B., David H., Thomas B. and an infant. Mrs. Traver lived until she was a young lady with her parents in New York, and there received a good general education. She was a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and was beloved by all with whom she came in contact. Her death occurred August 9, 1874.

Mr. Traver enlisted in the Civil War, Decem- ber 9, 1864, in Company I, Forty-fifth Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers, for a service of a year, if required, but was honorably discharged July 9, 1865, at Sickel's General Army Hospital, in Maryland. He participated in the memorable siege of Petersburg, and while it was in pro- gress he met with an accident in embarking upon a boat and was sent to the hospital. Since his return from southern battlefields, he has man- aged his homestead, and has done very well, financially. He is independent of party in questions of political bearing, as he prefers to give his ballot to the support of men whom he considers best qualified for a given position, re-

gardless of the claims of rival candidates. Fra- ternally, he is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic.

J UDGE LEDYARD W. AVERY. Promi- nent among the representative men of Wy- oming County is the subject of this sketch, who, throughout his entire life, has been closely identified with its business and political history. His name is a synonym for honorable business dealing; he is always mentioned as one of the invaluable citizens of the county, and whether in public or private life, he is always a courteous, genial gentleman, well deserving the high re- gard in which he is held. He now makes his home in North Moreland Township, in the vil- lage of Center Moreland.

Mr. Avery was born in Wyoming County, March 20, 1828, a son of Lyman and Laura M. (Edwards) Avery, the former a native of Saratoga County, N. Y., and the latter of Claremont, N. H. He is descended from good old Revolution- ary stock, his maternal grandfather, Jonathan Edwards, having fought for the freedom of the colonies from British oppression, and after the close of that struggle he received a pension for his services. The boyhood of our subject was passed upon a farm, and his education was re- ceived in the public schools. He taught for a time, and afterward learned the trades of wagon and carriage maker and carpenter and mill- wright. In 1847 he married Miss Eliza Marcy, a native of Wyoming County, and to them were born five children, Florence, Alice, Lyman, Mel- issa and Lewis. The wife and mother, who was a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church, died at the early age of twenty-nine years. Subsequently Mr. Avery was again married, his second union being with Miss Abigail Carey, who was also born in Wyoming County, and four children blessed their union: Dr. Lorenzo B., a physician and druggist in Center Moreland; Mark N., Jennie E. and Clyde W.

When the south attempted to secede, Mr. Avery laid aside all personal considerations and enlisted October 18, 1861, at Tunkhannock, in Company A, Fifty-seventh Pennsylvania In-

169

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

fantry, serving under Capt. Peter Sides as princi- pal musician. Among the important battles in which he participated were Yorktown, Williams- burg, Fair Oaks, Glendale, Malvern Hill, Grove- ton, Gaines' Mill, second battle of Bull Run, Chantilly and Fredericksburg. He had enlisted for three years, but after the battle of Fredericks- burg he was honorably discharged January 13, 1863, on account of disability.

.On his return to Center Moreland, Wyoming County, Mr. Avery engaged in the wagon and undertaking business for a time, and later con- ducted a drug store at this place. For over twen- ty years he has served as justice of the peace and has filled many other local offices with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of his constitu- ents. On political questions he votes independ- ent of party ties, and is in favor of any or every- thing calculated to elevate the community in which lie lives. As a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, he takes great interest in the meetings of the boys in blue, and has served as commander of his post. He also affiliates with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and re- ligiously holds membership in the Methodist Episcopal Church. His public and private life . are alike above reproach; he is sympathetic and generous, extending a helping hand to the poor and needy and always ready to aid those less fortunate than himself.

R OBERT C. HETFIELD, an honored resi- dent of Center Moreland, is now living retired after a long and useful business career, mostly devoted to agricultural pursuits in Wyoming County. He was born in New Jersey, March 25, 1823, a son of Adonijah and Mary (Carr) Hetfield, natives of the Empire State, in whose family were ten children, but only four are now living, R. C., John, Kate and Julia. The grandfather, Gen. Abner Hetfield, was a native of England and crossed the Atlan- tic at an early day, settling in Goshen, Orange County, N. Y. When the colonists took up arms against the mother country he joined their ranks and served as general in the Continental armny during the Revolution. The father of our sub-

ject was also a patriotic and loyal citizen of the country for whose independence his father fought, and during the War of 1812 he entered the service and afterward drew a pension from the government. He died on a farm in Lee County, near Dixon, Ill., about twenty years ago, at the advanced age of ninety-four. He became quite wealthy, owning considerable property at the time of his death. The members of the Het- field family have principally followed the occu- pation of farming and have met with excellent success in their undertakings.

Until seventeen years of age, Robert C. Het- field remained under the parental roof, assisting in the labors of the farm and attending school when his services were not needed at home. He then began learning the clothier's trade with a brother, and was employed at that vocation for nine years, after which he turned his attention to farming, becoming one of the most substantial and prosperous agriculturists of Wyoming Coun- ty, but for the last ten years he has lived retired in the village of Center Moreland, enjoying a well earned rest.

On attaining his majority, Mr. Hetfield was united in marriage with Miss Prudence J. Reeves, who was born on a farm in New York, and re- ceived her education there. Five children blessed their union: George, of California; Mary Armin- da, also a resident of California; Henry, who resides in Dallas, Luzerne County; and Thomas, in Scranton. The wife and mother, who was a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, was called to her final rest March 2. 1886. The following year, Mr. Hetfield was again married, his second union being with Mrs. Lucy (Reynolds) Eggleston, a native of Pennsyl- vania, whose ancestors were natives of New York. She too is a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and a most estima- ble lady.

As one of the representative and prominent citizens of his community, Mr. Hetfield has been called upon to fill many local offices of honor and trust within the gift of his fellow citizens, and is now efficiently serving as postmaster of Center Moreland. His political support is given the men and measures of the Democratic party, and being

I70

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

public-spirited and enterprising, he has done much to advance the welfare of his town and county. He is held in the highest respect and esteem in the community where his long and useful life has been passed, and has made a host of warm friends who recognize his sterling worth and many excellent traits of character.

W ALTER NELSON MANCHESTER, of Factoryville, was born in Benton, Lackawanna (then Luzerne) County, Pa., August 30, 1856, being the only surviving son of Samuel Gorton and Fidelia Patience (Rey- nolds) Manchester. His father, who was born in Coventry, R. I., August 4, 1813, was engaged in business as a wood-worker and manufacturer early in life, residing for a time at Cherry Ridge, and later at Prompton, Pa., but afterward he carried on a farm in Benton Township, Lacka- wanna County. From there he removed to Fac- toryville, Wyoming County, in April, 1874, and continued to reside in this place until his death, June 5, 1895, which resulted from a paralytic stroke five days previous. He was then eighty- one years of age. His first votes were cast in favor of Democratic principles, and later he identified himself with the Whigs, becoming a Republican upon the organization of the party, and during the war was strongly an anti-slavery man. Late in life he voted in local matters with the Prohibition party, but in national affairs maintained his allegiance to the party with which he was closely identified during the most of his life, the Republican. Though never an aspirant for political honors, he held many offices of trust to which he was elected by his fellow-citizens.

July 26, 1838, occurred the marriage of Samuel G. Manchester and Fidelia Patience Reynolds, and they became the parents of two sons, the elder of whom died the day of its birth, January 29, 1840; and the younger, Walter N., was born August 30, 1856. Mrs. Manchester was born in what was then Abington, Luzerne County, later called Benton, Lackawanna County, July 31, 1820, and died August 30, 1892, of phthisis, after years of patient suffering. She was one of five hildren and the eldest of the four children that

attained maturity, none of whom, however, are now living. Her father, Ezra Reynolds, was born February 17, 1789, and died May 21, 1858. January 1, 1815, he married Chloe Gorman, who was born June 25, 1793, and died February 5, 1846. Ezra Reynolds was a son of George Rey- nolds; the latter and his brothers, Solomon and Phineas, were the sons of Robert Reynolds, a Revolutionary soldier, who was the pioneer in the settlement of what is now the borough. of Factoryville. Our subject's great-grandfather, Matthew Manchester, lived in Coventry, R. I., about 1806-08, and died in 1818. His wife was a daughter of Jabez Stone. The paternal grand- father of our subject, Earl Manchester, was born November 7, 1791, and on the 10th of May, 1812, married Lucy Stone, who was born August 31, 1793; he died November 4, 1847, and she survived him many years, passing away August 31, 1874. They had a family of six children, of whom Samuel G. was the eldest, and of that number three are yet living. Lucy Stone was the daughter of William Stone, who was a son of William Stone and grandson of William Stone, the latter a son of Jabez Stone, before mentioned. The ancestry uniting in this man, goes back in direct descent through Wil- liam Stone and John Stone, to Hugh Stone, the first of the name in this country, who probably came in the ship "Deborah" to Providence · plantations in 1657, as his name appears in the history of Rhode Island about that time. He died at the age of ninety and is buried at Crans- ton, R. I. His wife was Abigail Busecot, whose father, Peter Busecot, we find in Warwick, R. I., in 1643.

As the son of a farmer, the subject of this sketch in youth followed the life of a farmer's boy. Until thirteen years of age he attended the district school and then left home to begin a course of study in Keystone. Academy, which had just closed its first year of existence. He remained there until September, 1872, when he went to Providence, R. I., to study photography with his uncles, Edwin H. and Henry N. Man- chester, the leading photographers in that city at the time, doing business at No. 73 Westminster Street, under the name of Manchester Bros. In

17I

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

the summer of the following year he returned to Pennsylvania and in the fall again entered Key- stone Academy, graduating in June, 1874, with the honor of salutatorian. In September of the same year he went back to Providence, where he continued until the summer of 1879 with occasional visits to Pennsylvania, the home of his parents. Certain happenings on his last visit, however, made it seem desirable to him to live nearer home, and after a hurried trip to the land of Roger Williams, for the purpose of settling his business affairs there, he found himself es- tablished with L. R. Evans, photographer, in Scranton. This engagement did not prove of long duration, and the beginning of 1880 found him with the then leading photographer of Scran- ton, Frank Jewell, whose studio occupied the upper floors of the Throop Block, at the corner of Spruce and Wyoming Avenue, where now stands the Traders National Bank. In August of that year he married and while continuing work in Scranton, his home was in Factoryville. In May, 1882, he established a business of his own in Factoryville, where he has since lived and labored.

At Clarks Green, Lackawanna County, Pa., August 24, 1880, occurred the marriage of Mr. Manchester to Louisa Angeline Northup, daugh- ter of Stephen Arnold and Ruth Cornelia (Lilli- bridge) Northup, the former born November 25,. 1825, the latter May 31, 1830. Mr. and Mrs. Manchester are the parents of four children, namely: Earl Northup, born July 12, 1881; Royal Nelson, August 21, 1883; Edwin Rey- nolds, September 19, 1885; and Dorothy Fidelia, January 17, 1897.

One of Mr. Manchester's principal charac- teristics is his love for music, concerning which, and also other facts of his history, we can do no better than to quote his own words: "While photography has been my business, music has been the 'hobby' of my life. The remembrance of my first public appearance is indelibly stamped upon my mind, when, as a boy of seven or eight years, I was announced to sing in the even- ing entertainment at the close of the district school the then just published song of Dr. George F. Root, 'Babylon is Fallen.' The fact that the

music had been forgotten was discovered just about the time for my appearance in the pro- gram and I ran to bring it. On my return a misstep in the darkness threw me heavily and it was a sadly mud and tear stained boy that was finally persuaded to sing, in spite of the misstep, the now old and almost forgotten song.

"A poor apprentice has little time or money in and with which to indulge his musical incli- nations, but on reaching the city of Providence I gained admission to the boy choir of All Saints Protestant Episcopal Church, which was then under the direction of William H. Daniel, choir- master, and Robert Bonner, organist. To the influence of those years of singing and the teach- ing which I received from Mr. Daniel in pay- ment for my services in the choir, I owe much. After leaving Providence these pleasant and pro- fitable associations were renewed in a course of lessons in harmony and form in music which I pursued by correspondence with Mr. Bonner. Later teachers in voice were Edmund J. Myer and Madam Clara Brinkerhoff, of New York. Soon after my location in Factoryville in busi- ness, I accepted the leadership of the music in the Baptist Church, of which both my wife and I are members, and I now look back over about fifteen. years of continuous service in the same office; having seen the little squeaking cabinet organ of that earlier day give place, first to the Estey cabinet organ, and later, through the benefi- cence of Archibald A. Nichols and his wife, Amy S. Nichols (my father's sister), that superseded by the large two-manual and pedal vocalion that now graces the main audience room of the church; through the same instrumentality, too, in large measure, was placed the parlor grand piano in the Sunday- school room. In June, 1888, with Prof. A. L. Thayer, of Nicholson, I signed the call for the organization of the Lackawanna and Wyoming Musical Alliance. At its formation I was elected secretary and have held the office to the present time, with the exception of two years.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Portrait and biographical record of Wyoming and Lackawanna counties, Pennsylvania : containing portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the counties, Part 15

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