Portrait and biographical record of Wyoming and Lackawanna counties, Pennsylvania : containing portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the counties, Part 21

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 21
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 21

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sylvania Militia, and history relates how excel- lently he and his troops served at the engage- ments of Brandywine and Germantown. Twice elected to the colonial assembly, he next acted in the capacity of surveyor of the port of Phila- delphia, resigning the position to accept that of treasurer of the United States, being urged to do so by Washington. As the first man to take such a great responsibility upon him under the new government (this also at a time when the resources were exhausted by the long and griev- ous war), his task was assuredly no easy one, yet he gave unparalleled satisfaction. When the treasury was in sore straits for funds, he lent it $140,000, which was never repaid, either to him or to his heirs.

He served under the administrations of Wash- ington, Adams and Jefferson, then resigned on account of poor health. His only son, Major Thomas, was born in Philadelphia in 1779, and from 1821-23 was prothonotary and registrar of wills and deeds for Wayne County, Pa. He rose to the rank of major in the War of 1812, and like his forefathers, was numbered among the friends of the immortal Washington.

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father of our subject, Samuel Hadley by name, was one of the heroes who fought for the freedom of the colonies from the British yoke. John Wall of this sketch is of the third generation who have successively borne the Christian name of John. His grandfather, John Wall, was a native of Rhode Island, and was an early settler of this county. John Wall, father of our subject, was born in Wyoming County, and on arriving at maturity married Priscilla Hadley, also a native of these parts. They had nine children: Char- lotte, Permelia, Dennis, Samuel H., Ruth, Han- nah H., John, Jr., Delilah and Daniel.

Born February 27, 1827, in Exeter Township, Wyoming County, John Wall received only such advantages as fell to the lot of the youth of his day in this region. Though brought up on a farm, he decided to learn a distinct trade, and when seventeen he went to Wilkesbarre, Pa., and remained for nearly a year in the shoe shop of James Butler, becoming thoroughly acquaint- ed with the details of the business. Then going to Bradford County, Pa., he continued for some time working at his trade, with Asa Eastman, father of Judge A. M. Eastman, of Tunkhannock. Until 1855 he was employed at his chosen calling, in connection with farming, and by that date had managed to lay aside sufficient money to make an investment in land. The tract which he purchased is now the site of the village of Noxen, Wyoming County. Then removing to North Moreland, Pa., he carried on a hotel there, but subsequently came to this township and lo- cated on a small farm of thirty acres. Since 1867 he has been in the general merchandising line of business in Beaumont, and has been prospered. Once his store was burned down, but he was plucky, and in sixty days had another building up, and was doing business as though nothing had happened.

August 6, 1862, Mr. Wall enlisted in Com- pany B, One Hundred and Thirty-second Penn- sylvania Infantry, to serve nine months, and among the engagements in which he took part were the celebrated battles of Antietam and Chancellorsville. At the last-mentioned place General Hooker was in command, and would not allow the regiment to which our hero be-

longed to be discharged, though their time was up. He was finally discharged at Harris- burg, Pa., May 28, 1863. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and was the first commander of Corporal Rufus Frear Post No. 323, of Beaumont. Also associated with the Masonic fraternity, he is a member of George M. Dallas Lodge No. 531, F. & A. M. Besides he was a charter member of Sherman Lodge, I. O. O. F. In politics he is an ardent Democrat. During the war more sol- diers enlisted from Monroe Township than there were voters within its boundaries, a record that can hardly be equaled.

October II, 1847, Mr. Wall married Eleanor Newman, a native of Luzerne County, Pa. To this union were born four children, viz .: Charles H., Rosanna O., Henry N. and Martha P. The latter is the wife of A. W. Cook, who is in busi- ness with our subject. Mrs. Wall is a daugh- ter of Henry and Susannah (Harris) Newman, natives of Wyoming County, Pa. The paternal grandfather of the former, Elijah Harris, who was born in Connecticut, was the son of a native of England, who located in the Wyoming Val- ley in the early days, when the Indians were troublesome and fighting with them a frequent occurrence. The father of Susannah Newman, Charles Harris, was only ten years old at the time of the Wyoming massacre, from which he escaped, unhurt, but it naturally made an im- pression upon him from which he never recov- ered. Some of the Harris family were soldiers in the Revolution.

M ORRIS E. BACON, who, with his moth- er, occupies a very pleasant residence on State Street, Nicholson, belongs to one of the well known and representative pioneer families of Wyoming County. His father, Par- ley S. Bacon, who is well remembered by the early settlers, was a native of Chenango County, N. Y., and a son of Norman Bacon, who was born in Connecticut, but spent most of his life in New York, where his death occurred. When eight years old, Parley S. Bacon was brought to this section of Pennsylvania by his uncle, Nathan

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Bacon, who here conducted a store and hotel, but his nephew did not assist him much in that work. Being an ambitious youth, he labored early and late during his boyhood, and therefore had little opportunity to secure an education. The schools of that early day were not very pro- ficient. But little improvement had been made in this region, the country being still in its primi- tive condition. Few roads had been laid out or bridges built, and the early settlers had to blaze their way through the dense forests, where wild animals of all kinds still roamed.

During early life Parley S. Bacon was em- ployed in logging, lumbering, teaming, etc., and would often take poultry and other products of the country to market in Philadelphia and New York, bringing back dry goods and other articles needed by the settlers. These trips would usual- ly occupy about eighteen days, but in this way he gained a good insight into business affairs, which was of inestimable value to him in later years. Idleness was utterly foreign to his nature, and summer and winter he was always employed, among his other occupations being farming and clearing land. He became one of the active and prominent citizens of the community, a leader in public life, and his advice was often sought on va- rious subjects. In the development of Nicholson Township he bore an important part, and justly deserves to be ranked among its most progressive pioneers.

Parley S. Bacon was twice married, his first union being with Mary B. Stephens, of Wy- oming County, the daughter of Jesse and Annie (Billings) Stephens, the former of whom died at the age of ninety-two and the latter at thirty years. Two children were born of this union: Laura A., the wife of P. H. Bell, whose sketch appears on another page of this work, and Minor L., who died at the age of seven years. After the death of his first wife, Mr. Bacon married Ursula M. Cannon, a native of Nicholson Town- ship, who is still living at the age of seventy-five years. To them were born three children, but Mary Adelaide and Lester M. are deceased, leav- ing our subject the only one now living.

Mrs. Ursula M. Bacon is the daughter of An- son and Martha Mary Cannon, who lived up the

Delaware River, where her father followed the occupation of farming. He died at the age of fifty-eight, and his wife at the age of sixty. Of their ten children only two now survive, Mrs. Bacon and Mrs. Sarah Walters, of Mill City, Pa. Mrs. Bacon faithfully shared with her husband all the trials and hardships of pioneer life, and proved a most worthy helpmate. She has wit- nessed the entire development of Nicholson, well remembering the place when it contained but two houses. In early life she was rather delicate, but later became stronger, and has accomplished a great deal of work, spinning and knitting being her chief occupations during girlhood. She is still well preserved, and enjoys excellent health for one of her years.

Morris E. Bacon was born March 9, 1863, in Nicholson Township, and was reared upon the home farm, early becoming familiar with the work incident to that occupation, but has not been sufficiently strong to do much of it. He obtained a good practical education, and for the past eight years has successfully engaged in clerking in a general store in Nicholson. Po- litically he is identified with the Democratic party. which his father also supported, taking quite an active part in the councils of his party and in all local political affairs.

F RANK MAJOR is one of the most enter- prising young men of Noxen, Wyoming County, where he has been engaged in the lumber business several years with marked success. He possesses just those qualities which rarely fail of bringing men to the front, perse- verance, well applied energy and correct com- mercial methods. From his English ancestors, perhaps, he inherited that firm determination of character which never acknowledges itself de- feated, but steadily pushes forward to whatever goal is in view. Sooner or later, prosperity and the high esteem of one's fellows come to crow11 such a career.

A native of Luzerne County, Pa., Frank Major was born April 16, 1864, being a son of Sydney F. Major. Young Major remained under the parental roof until he was twenty-five years old,

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and received his education in Tunkhannock, Pa., whither the family had removed when he was in his seventh year. Following his father's exam- ple, he embarked in the lumber trade as soon as he had completed his schooling, and has since given his sole attention to that important branch of business. From the first he manifested un- usual aptitude as a financier, and his genial man- ner, added to his rectitude in all his dealings with his customers, readily win for him friends. He is a strong Republican, and has acted with credit to himself both as school director and as auditor of this township. A member of the Order of Odd Fellows, he is connected with Ahiman Lodge No. 760, of Beaumont.

In 1889 Mr. Major married L. Nellie Moore, a native of this county. A son and two daugh- ters grace their home, and are respectively named Howard D., Theressa A., and Ethel R. Mrs. Major passed her girlhood on the farm of her parents, F. B. and Sarah (Winters) Moore, both natives of Wyoming County. Her grandfather, William Moore, was born in England, and was one of the first settlers of this region. He was quite wealthy at the time of his death, and en- joyed the friendship of all with whom he came in contact.

G J EORGE B. CARSON. The family rep- resented by this well known business man of Scranton traces its ancestry to Scotland, where his great-grandfather, Thomas Carson, was a shepherd. John, next in line of descent, was born in the highlands of Scotland, but in early manhood went to Wales, and in Bre- conshire married Miss Ann Powell. Later he made his home in Glamorganshire until quite ad- vanced in years, when, about 1859, he joined his son, Thomas, in Scranton. He was born in 1806, and was over seventy when he passed away. In religious belief he was identified with the Con- gregational Church. His wife, who was born in Breconshire, was a daughter of Reese Powell, a cooper by trade, and a life-long resident of that shire.

In the family of John and Ann Carson there were four children, all of whom came to America,

and two, Thomas and a sister, are living. The former was born near Brecon, Wales, June II, 1827, and at the age of two years was taken to Neath, Glamorganshire, where for a short time he attended the pay schools. At the age of nine, he commenced to work in the mines, where he remained until thirteen, and afterward was simi- larly engaged in another part of the same shire. March 22, 1848, he left Liverpool on the sailer "Henry Clay," and after a voyage of twenty-eight days landed in New York City, whence he went to Tamaqua, Schuylkill County, Pa., and secured employment in the collieries for the Pennsylvania & Reading Railroad Company. In the summer of 1850 he went to Carbondale and prospected for coal, being employed by the Delaware & Hudson Company.

Coming to Hyde Park in 1855, Thomas Car- son assisted in sinking the Hampton shaft, and on its completion he became the inside foreman. He remained in that mine until 1890, when he was transferred to the Taylor mine, but after three months he went to the Storrs mine at Dick- son City, and has since been inside foreman there, having one hundred and twenty miners under him. Politically, he upholds Republican doctrines. For three years he represented the fifth ward in the common council, serving on different committees. Fraternally he is connected with the Masons, Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias and Ivorites. For years he has been a trustee of the First Welsh Presbyterian Church, and has been the Sunday-school superintendent. In 1895, ac- companied by his son and granddaughter, he took a trip to Wales, where he spent two months in renewing the associations dear to him in youth. In Tamaqua Mr. Carson married Miss Cath- erine Eynon, who was born in Carmarthenshire, Wales, and was a sister of Thomas Eynon. Eight children were born of this union, one of whom died unnamed in infancy. The others were Mar- garet A., Mrs. W. T. Davis, who died in Wales; John, who passed away at the age of thirty-eight; George B., the subject of this sketch; Edward and William, deceased; Albert, a bookkeeper re- siding in Scranton; and Deborah, deceased. After the death of his first wife Mr. Carson was united in marriage with Mrs. Jane Davis,

COL. EZRA H. RIPPLE.

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whose former husband, Daniel Davis, was a mer- chant in Hyde Park.

Born in Scranton, February 12, 1856, the sub- ject of this article was reared and educated here. When he was about thirteen he began as a clerk, and a few years later started out for himself, about 1870 opening a small grocery, which he enlarged from time to time. In 1878 he took his brother- in-law into partnership, the firm becoming Car- son & Davis. Later he built a double store at Nos. 1309-1I Washburn Street, and has since car- ried on a large general mercantile business, em- ploying several assistants and using three delivery wagons for the accommodation of his customers. In this city he married Miss Louise Hagen, whose father, Henry Hagen, was a blacksmith with the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western. Three chil- dren comprise the family, Robert, Bertha and Ruth, who reside with their parents at No. 1221 Washburn Street.

In addition to his store and residence, Mr. Carson has other real estate interests here. For two years he had a branch store in Peckville, but disposed of it. In 1889 he was appointed on the board of school control to fill a vacancy caused by the resignation of the member from the fifth ward. In February, 1890, he was nominated and elected, on the Republican ticket, for a term of four years, and at its expiration was re-elected. In 1895 he was president of the board, and at different times has done efficient committee work. He is a member of Hyde Park Lodge No. 339, F. & A. M., and the Ivorites. While not identified with any denomination, he has contributed to the Simpson Methodist Episcopal Church, with which his wife is identified. He has done active work in the ranks of the Republican party, and has been a member of the city and county com- mittees, at all times doing what he can to promote the party welfare.

C OL. EZRA H. RIPPLE. In presenting to the readers of this volume the biog- raphy of Colonel Ripple, we are perpet- uating the life work of one of the most honored residents of Scranton. Throughout a long, in- fluential and honorable career, both as a soldier

during the Rebellion and as a private citizen since that time, he has maintained the energy and integrity that characterized him in youth. Nor has his success been merely in accumulating wealth, but in the better sense of the word, he has been successful in doing good and in win- ning the esteem of a very large circle of ac- quaintances.

It being generally believed that heredity has much to do with the formation of character and that our lives are stimulated by the influence of our ancesters, a short resume of the ancestral history of Colonel Ripple may serve as an in- dex to the liberal and humane impulses which mark his daily life, and which have won for him the regard of all. Of remote German descent, the family of which he is a member has been repre- sented in Pennsylvania for several successive generations. His father, Silas, was born in Han- over, Luzerne County, the son of Peter Ripple, who engaged in lumbering along the Susque- hanna. The former, in 1857, came to Hyde Park, and engaged in hotel business on the cor- ner of Main and Jackson, where now stands Morgan's drug store. Of this place, which was known as the White Hotel, he continued to be proprietor for a few years, until his death, De- cember 4, 1861. In early life he identified him- self with the Whigs, and upon the disintegration of that party became a Republican. He married Elizabeth Harris, who was born in Mauchchunk, Pa., was throughout life a consistent Christian and a member of the Free Methodist Church, and died in Allentown in October, 1894. Her father, Abraham Harris, a native of England, came to this country in boyhood and settled in the Lehigh Valley, where he afterward had a meat market and also engaged in the hotel busi- ness.

In the family of Silas Ripple there were three children, but only two attained mature years, Ezra H. and Mrs. Mary M. Doster, of Scranton. The subject of this sketch was born in Mauch- chunk, Pa., February 14, 1842, and was a youth of fifteen when the family came to this city. He attended the common schools and Wyoming Seminary until 1858, and after the death of his father engaged in the drug business until his

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enlistment in the army. The outbreak of the war, with its threatened peril to the old flag, aroused within him the hitherto lambent flame of patriotism and caused him to resolve to offer his services, and his life if need be, for the pre- servation of the Union. Then a young man of twenty years, he had all the ardor and enthusi- asm of youth, the courage that never wavered and the zeal that never flagged. Early in the war he assisted in raising Company H of the Thirteenth Pennsylvania Militia, which did good service in the Antietam campaign. In 1863, in response to the emergency call, he enlisted in Company I, Thirteenth Pennsylvania Militia. In March, 1864, his name was enrolled as a member of Company K, Fifty-second Pennsylvania In- fantry, and he served on Morris Island, in the Department of the South.

During a night assault on Ft. Johnson, July 3, 1864, our subject was captured by the Confeder- ates and by them taken to Charleston, thence to Andersonville prison, where he was confined two and one-half months. He was then taken back to Charleston and from there sent to Florence, S. C., where, in March, 1865, he was paroled, after having suffered all the horrors of southern prisons for eight months. At Florence he was successful in making his escape, but was de- tected and tracked by bloodhounds that attacked him in a swamp three or four miles from the prison. By them he was badly bitten, as they pierced their teeth deep into his body. On be- ing taken back, he was seized with prison fever, and would undoubtedly have perished had it not been that his constitution was naturally rugged and strong.

On being paroled, Colonel Ripple went to the camp at Annapolis, where he was honorably dis- charged June 30, 1865. He returned home and, with a desire to improve his education, became a student in Eastman's Business College at Poughkeepsie, N. Y. On leaving there he ob- tained a position with William Connell, with whom, since 1872, he has been associated in coal operations. Upon the organization of the Scran- ton City Guard in 1877, he was elected captain of Company D, and was chosen major on the formation of the Thirteenth Regiment the fol-

lowing year. After five years of service in that capacity, he was elected lieutenant-colonel of the same regiment, in 1888 was chosen colonel, re- elected in 1893, and in April, 1895, was appoint- ed by Governor Hastings on his staff as commis- sary general, with the rank of colonel, which he now holds.

Shortly after the erection of Lackawanna Coun- ty, Colonel Ripple was elected, on the Republi- can ticket, the first treasurer of Lackawanna County (by election), and served for three years. His efficiency in that position being recognized by his fellow-citizens, he was by them elected mayor of Scranton in 1886 for a term of four years, this being the only time in the history of the city that the term has been so long. In 1896 he was again a candidate for the mayoralty, but a dissension in the Republican party at that time led to his defeat by a few votes. During his ser- vice as the city's chief executive, he received $6,000 in salary, but the receipts of his office turned over were $9,000, an amount far larger than received in any previous administration. The most important official acts of his term were the lighting of the city by electricity, the electric car system and the commencement of asphalt street paving. In 1878 he was chosen to serve on the select council, but resigned after a service of eight months, as the demands of his business did not permit him to give the necessary atten- tion to the position.

In this city, in 1874, occurred the marriage of Colonel Ripple and Miss Sarah H. Hackett, who was born in Carbon County, Pa., the daughter of Richard Hackett, mine foreman for the Dela- ware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad. They are the parents of four children, Hannah, Jessie, Susan and Ezra H., Jr.

Colonel Ripple is a charter member of Lieut. Ezra S. Griffin Post No. 139, G. A. R .; is iden- tified with the blue lodge, F. & A. M., Lacka- Wanna Chapter, R. A. M., Coeur de Lion Com- mandery No. 17, K. T., and received the thirty- third degree in Masonry at Cerneau Consistory No. 33, Scranton. In the Reformed Episcopal Church he holds the office of vestryman, and is an influential member. For some years he was a member of the board of health, and is. now

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president of the Associated Charities of Scran- ton, member of the advisory committee of the Home for the Friendless, member of the board of park commissioners, and member of the board of commissioners of soldiers' orphans schools for Pennsylvania.

As has already been intimated, Colonel Rip- ple is prominent as a local leader of the Repub- lican party. He is president of the Central Re- publican Club, and served as chairman of the county committee in 1894. In1 1888 he had the honor of being state elector, receiving the high- est vote of any elector in the state, and casting his ballot for Harrison and Morton in Harris- burg, at the meeting of the electoral college of that year.

Such is a sketch of the life of one of Scranton's most influential men, one who has at all times assisted in promoting, the prosperity of the city by his progressive spirit and large enterprise.

J OHN BLATTER, proprietor of the Blatter Hotel at Scranton and a resident of this city since 1861, was born in Sullivan County, N. Y., August 15, 1844. His father, John, a na- tive of Canton Berne, Switzerland, and a shoe- maker by trade, was married in his native place to Margaret Grossman. Coming immediately afterward to America, he settled in Sullivan County and bought a farm on Lake Kanosa, but later sold out there. About 1863 he came to Scranton and here his death occurred when he was quite advanced in years. His wife, who was born in Canton Berne, was a daughter of Franz Grossman, who came to America with Mr. Blat- ter in 1840 and settled in Sullivan County near his son-in-law. He died in that county at seven- ty-seven years. His daughter passed away in Scranton.

The parental family consisted of six sons and five daughters, of whom John was next to the eldest. Only two are now living, our subject and Mrs. Henry Frey, of Scranton. One brother, Henry, who came here before the other members of the family, was employed as clerk in a cigar and restaurant business, but later became a hotel man and a manufacturer of cigars, continuing

thus engaged until his death. In 1858 our sub- ject accompanied the other members of the fam- ily to Napoleon, Ind., where he resided one year and then returned to Sullivan County. In 1861 he came to Scranton and was apprenticed as a horse-shoer with the Lackawanna Iron & Coal Company. After completing his trade, he was made head shoer in charge of the horseshoe shop, and worked in that capacity for fourteen years. His brother's ill health caused him to become an assistant in the hotel business, in 1876, and upon the death of Henry, he succeeded to the management of the business. Since 1888 he has been proprietor of the Blatter House. He built, in 1896, a hall in the rear of the hotel, and this is used as a lodge-room by the Scranton Gruetli Verein, Mannerchor, and Arion and other sing- ing societies. The cigar business which was started by his brother in 1871, he carried on until January, 1896, when he sold out to his son, John.

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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 21

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