Portrait and biographical record of Wyoming and Lackawanna counties, Pennsylvania : containing portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the counties, Part 22

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 22
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 22

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In Scranton Mr. Blatter married Miss Rosa Diegelmann, who was born in New York City. Her father, Benjamin Diegelmann, settled in Archbald in 1848 and was a contractor, builder and architect there, but afterward removed to Chillicothe, Mo., and settled on a farm, where he died. Mr. and Mrs. Blatter are the parents of three daughters and one son, namely: John C., who is engaged in the cigar business; Mrs. Eleanor Kehrly, of Scranton; Rosa C. M. and Louisa A., who are at home.

In 1880 Mr. Blatter joined Company A, Thir- teenth Regiment, N. G. P., as a private, and served eight years, being offered promotion in the meantime, but refusing it. For seven years he was coacher of the Pennsylvania state team and from the first year was in the sharpshooters' corps. In every match where he had coached he won with his team and received all the honors of the state, including the first prize from the governor, who pinned the badge of honor on his coat. At the expiration of eight years he was honorably discharged at Creedmoor. He is an honorary member of the Phoenix Fire Company, a charter member of the Gruetli Verein, also of Camp No. 430, P. O. S. of A., Lodge No. 345, F. & A. M., an honorary member of the Scranton

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Turn Verein, and is identified with the Arion So- ciety and the Liederkranz. In addition he be- longs to the Knights of Pythias. His member- ship, in religion, is in St. Luke's Episcopal Church, to which he is a regular contributor.

A F. A. BATTENBERG. The industrious and thrifty habits which are national · characteristics of the Germans have con- tributed to the success of Mr. Battenberg. Through their exercise he has worked his way from a position of poverty to one of prosperity and influence, having gained a place among the representative business men of Jermyn. In the schools of Germany, where he was born January 10, 1856, he remained a student until fourteen years of age, and this constituted almost his en- tire education, though for a short time after com- ing to America he attended the night schools. His father, Henry Battenberg, dying when the son was only nine years of age, the latter was early thrown upon his own resources for a liveli- hood and was obliged when quite young to start out in the world for himself. Following the example of so many of his countrymen, he sought a home in the United States, where he believed industry and perseverance would bring him prosperity.

After his arrival in Lackawanna County, Mr. Battenberg made Scranton his home for six months. He was then apprenticed to the cab- inet-maker's trade in Archbald and served for four years, gaining a thorough knowledge of the occupation, in which he is recognized as an ex- pert. On the completion of his apprenticeship he removed from Archbald to Jermyn, where he followed the business for fifteen years. After- ward he assumed the management of the under- taking establishment owned by his brother. This was established by his brother in 1879 and he succeeded to it, in 1889, upon the latter's death. In embalming he is especially efficient, having studied this department of undertaking at the Oriental School of Embalming and Clark's School of Embalming at Scranton. In addition to this business, he carries a full line of house furnishing goods.

The wife of our subject, known in maidenhood as Elizabeth Jones, was born in Wales, but at the age of two years came to America with her par- ents, who settled in Lackawanna County, where she grew to womanhood. In character she was industrious, self-reliant and capable, and was ten- derly devoted to her family, by whom her death, at the age of thirty-six years, was deeply mourned. She left five children, in whose ad- vancement and education Mr. Battenberg has taken the greatest interest. They are named as follows: Jennie, George Armstrong, Norman G., Fred A. and Florence Phillipene. The latter died in November, 1896. Politically Mr. Bat- tenberg affiliates with the Republican party, to which he has given his vote at all national elec- tions. He is a member of the Methodist Epis- copal Church and fraternally is identified with the encampment of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, being past grand of the home lodge.

A DON L. CRAMER. In the photographic business Mr. Cramer has built up an ex- cellent trade and has gained a reputation as a reliable, efficient artist, thoroughly informed in regard to his chosen occupation, familiar with the most modern methods and possessing the artistic taste that fits him for the successful prose- cution of his work. He is the proprietor of studios at Nos. 309-31I Lackawanna Avenue, Scranton, No. 21 North Main Street, Carbon- dale, and North Main Street, Jermyn, but gives his personal attention to the studio in Carbon- dale and resides in this city, on the corner of Darte Avenue and Laurel Street.

The father of our subject, J. P. Cramer, was born in the town of Greenfield, this county, in 1827, and throughout life followed the occupa- tion of a farmer, dying when sixty-two. For his wife he chose Abigail Spencer, who was born in Greenfield Township in 1831, and is now living in Carbondale. They were the parents of five children, namely: Wesley J., a druggist in busi- ness in Florida; Emma H., wife of Xerxes Wil- liams, of Greenfield Township; Adon L .; Wil- liam, deceased; and Herbert S., a photographer ·

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residing in Carbondale and engaged in business in Scranton.

On the family homestead in Greenfield Town- ship the subject of this sketch was born March 15, 1859. He attended the common schools in youth and worked on the farm until twenty-three, meeting with success in agricultural pursuits, of which he is still fond. However, a prolonged at- tack of sciatic rheumatism obliged him to select an occupation that would enable him to avoid exposure. Acting upon medical advice, he gave up farming. A brother urged him to try photog- raphy, and he did so, going to Scranton, where he soon learned the business and found himself adapted to the work. He followed the trade in different places until 1882, when he established a gallery in Carbondale and here he has built up a good business.

By his marriage to Marion Kenyon of Green- field Township, Mr. Cramer has one child, Del- bert. In politics he is a Republican, firm in his allegiance to party principles. Since 1880 he has been connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

S AMUEL E. MOYER, D. V. S. Among the younger business men of Jermyn, who are taking their place in the rank of the industrious, efficient and enterprising citizens of their community, may be mentioned the subject of this article, who during the period of his resi- dence here has built up a good practice as a vet- erinary surgeon. In the occupation which he has chosen as his life work he is well informed and his opinion carries weight in all matters pertain- ing to veterinary surgery.

Born in Easton, Pa., July 28, 1872, our sub- ject is the younger of two children, the older being Katie, a resident of Jermyn. His father, Joseph J., was born in Easton, and throughout his active life was engaged in railroading, but now lives in retirement from active labors, his home being in Northampton County. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Sallie Hartman, died at the age of twenty-four years.

The early educational advantages of our sub- ject were the best afforded by the city of Easton,

and in justice to him it may be said that he im- proved every opportunity to the utmost. At La- fayette he prepared for college, but never com- pleted the regular collegiate course, as he had become interested in veterinary surgery and wished to give it his entire attention. When quite young he began to interest himself in this work, and for four years was with a distinguished sur- geon, a horseman of national renown, under whose efficient instruction he gained the rudi- ments of knowledge in this occupation. Desir- ous, however, of acquiring thorough efficiency, he entered the Ontario Veterinary College and re- mained there until the completion of the regular course, graduating December 20, 1893. His pro- ficiency while in college won for him the appoint- ment as assistant house surgeon in the infirmary and there he extended his fund of professional knowledge by practical experience. With a de- sire to familiarize himself with every phase of the work, he took the course of study in the Toronto Veterinary Dental College, from which he grad- uated.

On returning to the States, Dr. Moyer estab- lished his headquarters in Manton, Mich., from which place he took charge of practice among large stock owners in the state. Since coming to Jermyn he has gained a practice that extends up and down the valley and through the sur- rounding country. The medicines needed he keeps in stock, so that in emergency cases no time is lost in filling prescriptions. It is his in- tention to make Jermyn his permanent home, and he therefore takes a warm interest in every- thing pertaining to the welfare of the place and the prosperity of its citizens.

M ICHAEL CONNOR is acting city treas- urer of Carbondale, to which office his son, P. F., was regularly elected in 1896. While the principal portion of his life has been passed in Carbondale, Ireland is the land of his birth, and in County Sligo his first nine years were passed. He was born March 4, 1838, the son of John and Mary (McDonald) Connor, who came to America when Michael was quite small, leaving him with an uncle in Ireland. They

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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

settled in the state of New York, but later came to Carbondale, where the father died when sixty- five and the mother at seventy-five years. She was his second wife and the mother of two chil- dren, Michael and Alice, Mrs. Patrick Norton, of Archbald, who came from there to Carbondale and died in 1872.

At the age of nine years our subject came to America with his uncle and aunt, and arrived in Carbondale in June, 1847. At the age of four- teen he began to work in the mines, where he continued from the fall of 1851 until 1896, a pe- riod of nearly forty-five years. He was a faithful, diligent workman, and fortunately possessed a rugged constitution that enabled him to endure hard manual labor without detriment. He has always been frugal, industrious and temperate, and these qualities enabled him to secure com- forts for his family as the years went by. He left the mines in order to begin work in the of- fice of the city treasurer and in this capacity has rendered efficient service. Notwithstanding his lack of preparation and experience, he has taken hold of affairs in a business-like manner, and the multifarious duties of the office receive capable attention. To carry on the work he has twenty- four different accounts with the banks.

In political belief Mr. Connor adheres to Dem- ocratic principles. He is a Catholic in his relig- ious views. In 1859 he was united in marriage with Bridget Flannelly, of County Mayo, Ire- land. They became the parents of thirteen chil- dren, of whom nine are living, all in this vicinity.

H. CROSS, a thrifty farmer of Greenfield Township, owns and occupies one of the

J. . best improved and most attractive farms in this section. A visitor to his place is impressed with the fact that it contains all the modern im- provements and is maintained in a most sys- tematic manner. He bought the property in 1880 and has resided here since December of that year. Though engaged in general farming, he makes a specialty of the dairy business, keep- ing about thirty cows and selling large quan- tities of milk. During 1893 he erected a large, substantial barn, through which the water runs

from a spring. Everything on the farm speaks of intelligent supervision on the part of the owner.

The subject of this sketch was born in Otego, Otsego County, N. Y., February 19, 1845, and is the eldest of seven children, the others being Isaac, a resident of Nebraska; Charity, deceased; Alva W., of Clifford, Susquehanna County; Lil- ian K .; Ellen, of Nebraska; and Charles, who cultivates a portion of our subject's farm. The parents, John and Abigail M. (Newton) Cross, were natives respectively of Otsego and Broome Counties, N. Y., and removed from the former place to Susquehanna County, Pa., where the mother died in 1893 and the father in 1895, at the age of seventy-eight. Throughout his entire life he was engaged in agricultural pursuits.

When but an infant, our subject was taken by his parents to their new home in Susquehanna County and his boyhood years were passed upon a farm in Gibson Township, where he became familiar with the scenes of pioneer life. During the day he assisted in clearing the land and at night retired to rest in the little log cabin that served as the family home. Under such condi- tions, he had little, if any, opportunity for secur- ing an education, but is nevertheless well in- formed, having gained a practical education by observation, reading and travel. While in youth he gave his attention principally to farm work, yet the fact that he had great ability as a me- chanic led him to do considerable work in that line, and now he can turn his hand to almost any work, setting a tire, shoeing a horse, putting up a building or doing work as a stone mason.

A short time after his marriage, in 1880, Mr. Cross came to Greenfield Township, where he has since resided. Usually he votes for Prohi- bition principles, but the importance of the cur- rency issues before the people in 1896 led him . to vote the Republican ticket at that election. In religious belief a devoted Methodist, he is willing to do anything that will advance the cause, whether it be building a fire or preaching a ser- mon, but has never accepted official position in the church. His wife, who was Miss Nettie E. Baker of Fell Township, is a daughter of Jackson and Sarah A. (Montgomery) Baker, and has an only sister, Mrs. John Colwell. The family is

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of Scotch-Irish extraction. Her father, who was an early settler of Susquehanna County, after- ward removed to Fell Township, this county, where he still owns a farm. Some years ago he removed to Oregon and recently Mr. and Mrs. Cross, with their only child, Arthur J., visited him there, also traveled extensively along the Pa- cific Coast and through the west.

J OSEPH O'BRIEN, senior member of the firm of O'Brien & Kelly, attorneys of Scran- ton, and one of the leading criminal law- yers of the county, was born in Winton, Pa., April 16, 1861, and is a son of Michael and Ann (Burke) O'Brien. His father, who settled in Win- ton about 1850, was an employe of the Delaware & Hudson Railroad Company until 1863, when he was accidentally killed by the falling of a roof in Olyphant. The children, of whom there were nine, were small at the time of his death, and the labor of rearing them and preparing them for positions of usefulness in the world devolved upon the widow, who nobly discharged the trust. She is still living and makes her home in Oly- phant. Of her family of seven sons and two daughters, all are living except one son.

Joseph, who was next to the youngest of the family, was reared in Olyphant, and at a very early age was obliged to assist in the maintenance of the family. When only seven years old he began to work in the breakers of the Delaware & Hudson road, after which he was employed as a helper in the mines until sixteen years of age. Though forced to work all day, he did not, like many of his playmates, idle away his evenings, but attended night school and by careful applica- tion gained a good education.

In 1877 Mr. O'Brien passed the teachers' ex- amination in Olyphant, this county, where he taught one term and then taught in Winton for five years. While teaching, his leisure hours were employed in the study of law under Judge Connolly, then district attorney, and in 1883 re- tired from the teacher's profession, in order to give his entire time to legal work. Two years later he was admitted to the bar here and prac- ticed alone until 1888, when the firm of O'Brien

& Kelly was established. In 1892 Mr. Kelly was made district attorney, but at the expiration of his term in 1895, the partnership was resumed, the office of the firm being in the Mears Building. They make a specialty of criminal law and have also been very successful in damage suits against corporations.

In Scranton Mr. O'Brien married Miss Kate Crossen, a noted singer, who possesses a remark- ably pure and sweet voice. She received excel- lent advantages, having studied music in Albany, New York City and the Conservatory of Music in Boston. Culture, added to natural sweetness of voice, brought her considerable fame as a singer, and she has appeared in concerts not only in this state, but in New York and Massachusetts, everywhere winning the greatest praise by the excellence of her renditions. She is a daughter of the late James Crossen, formerly general yard master for the Delaware, Lackawanna & West- ern road. With a number of leading choral so- cieties she is identified as a prominent member, and all her time, aside from that required for the oversight of her home and the training of her two sons, Robert and Joseph, is given to music.

Politically a Democrat, Mr. O'Brien has been chairman of the county Democratic conventions several times, and in 1896 was national delegate to the Chicago convention. For three years he has been a member of the examining board of law students for Lackawanna County, of which he is now president. In 1893 he took a trip to the Pacific Coast, visiting all points of interest in the far west, but, aside from that, he has de- voted himself closely to professional work, tak- ing few vacations from his office.

J OHN BUTLER GROVER, M. D., a resi- dent physician of Peckville, with office in Main Street opposite the postoffice, was born on a farm in Luzerne County, Pa., August 16, 1868. He is a son of Butler Grover, who for some time carried on mercantile pursuits, but is now engaged in farming in Luzerne County. The latter, by his marriage to Mary A. Briggs, had a family of four sons and four daughters, named as follows: Millard, who lives in North-

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umberland County and is a fireman on the Dela- ware, Lackawanna & Western road; Martha, wife of D. F. Hollopeter, of Shickshinny, Lu- zerne County; Hannah, also of that town; Mere- dith, who is engaged in the drug business in Freeland; Warren, the proprietor of a drug store in Luzerne Borough; Laura, who is a successful music teacher; Mrs. Letta Shobert, wife of a real estate dealer in Wilkesbarre; and John Butler.

The early years of the life of Dr. Grover were passed in close study. He was fond of books and learned rapidly. When but sixteen he began to teach, in which occupation he continued for four years, and meantime during the vacation seasons he attended normal school. It had been his mother's ambition to have him enter the minis- try, but he preferred the medical profession, and after spending one year in Wyoming Seminary he began his preparation for his life work by entering the Albany Medical College. Three years later he graduated, on completing the course of study there. Afterward he took a post- graduate course in the New York Polyclinic and passed a rigid examination in Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia. Having gained a thor- ough knowledge of the profession, he opened an office in Peckville in 1893 and established a practice that has grown to considerable propor- tions.

Politically Dr. Grover is a Republican, and in fraternal associations is identified with the Masons and the Improved Order of Heptasophs. He is medical examiner for various orders and holds membership in the State and American Medical Associations. He chose as his wife Miss Phoebe A. Croop, who was born in Columbia County, graduated from the Bloomsburg State Normal School and engaged in teaching prior to her marriage. They have established a pleas- ant home in Peckville and have gained many friends in this locality.

J ACOB THEODORE NYHANT is one of the experienced and successful merchant millers of the Lackawanna Valley. From early childhood he has been identified with the milling business and by experience has gained a

thorough knowledge of all its details, which en- ables him to conduct affairs in a practical and efficient manner. After some time spent in the employ of others, in 1873 he began milling on his own account and for eighteen years carried on business in Providence, but in 1891 transferred his business interests to Peckville, where he has become known as a capable and energetic man. He still, however, retains his residence in Provi- dence.

The parents of our subject were Simon and Elizabeth (Ruth) Nyhant, who were born in Monroe County, Pa., and the father, a tailor by trade, died there at the age of forty-six. In the family there were seven children, of whom five are living: Catherine, who lives near Taylorville, this county; Lana, whose home is in Nazareth, Northampton County; Mary, living in Provi- dence; Lydia and Jacob Theodore. The last- named was born in Hamilton, Monroe County, Pa., April 21, 1842, and was a boy of eight years when his father died. Not only was he deprived of a father's counsel and affectionate care, but of his support as well, and he was therefore obliged to begin earning his own livelihood at a time when niost lads are in school. Consequently his education was limited, yet by reading and in the school of experience he has gained much val- uable information of a general nature.

After two years in Providence, one year in Sus- quehanna County and a number of years in Wy- oming County, Mr. Nyhant returned to Provi- dence in 1873 and has since made this place his home. When but eight years of age he had be- gun to work in a mill with his brother and suc- ceeding years of experience in the same line made him familiar with the business which he has carried on for himself since 1873. His mar- riage united him with Sarah A. Shook, of Wy- oming County, and they have two children, Stan- ley W. and Magdalene. The son was born in Wyoming County April 1I, 1866, received his education in the public schools, Wyoming Sem- inary and Eastman's Business College in Pough- keepsie, and is now his father's bookkeeper and assistant, being of the greatest assistance in the management of the business and by his industry and energy gaining a place among the rising

HON. EDWARD MERRIFIELD.

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young business men of the place. He married Blanche Brown and has two children, Hilda and Mae.

Before studying the political question thor- oughly Mr. Nyhant voted the Democratic ticket, but in maturer years he gave thoughtful study to the national issues and decided that protection of home industries was needed for the benefit of the working people of the country. Since that time he has been an ardent supporter of the Re- publican party. In former years he was active in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and an official in his lodge, but has not retained his membership. In the Masonic fraternity he has received the seventh degree. For more than a quarter of a century he has been active in the Methodist Church, during which time he has been a class leader for some years and a trustee for twenty-two years. His son is also interested in and identified with the work of the same church.

H ON. EDWARD MERRIFIELD. The family of which this influential attorney of Scranton is an honored representative, originated in England, whence one Robert Mer- rifield, who was born in that country in 1703, emigrated with a brother to America, settling in Rhode Island. His son, William, who was born in that state in 1752, removed to Dutchess Coun- ty, N. Y., with other members of the family, and was employed as a school teacher there and in Columbia County, his death occurring in that county. Robert, next in line of descent, was born in Columbia County, N. Y., in 1778, and in 1819 came to Pennsylvania, settling in what was then the township of Providence, subsequently Hyde Park. There, with the assistance of his son William, he cleared a tract of land and with his axe felled the trees that formed a thick forest growth. Upon that place he died at the age of eighty-seven.

William, son of Robert and father of the sub- ject of this sketch, was born at Pine Plains, Dutchess County, N. Y., April 22, 1806, and after completing his education, engaged in teaching for five consecutive winters. While thus em-

ployed in Wyoming, he married Almira, sister of the late William Swetland and a native of Kingston Township, Luzerne County. Her fath- er, Belding Swetland, was born in Connecticut, and thence removed with his father, Luke, to the Wyoming Valley, settling about a mile from the site of the present Wyoming monument. The great-grandfather of our subject, Luke Swet- land, was a soldier in the Revolution, and took part in the Jersey campaign under General Wash- ington. At the time of the Wyoming massacre, he and his family were at Fortyfort, but after- ward he was captured by the Seneca Indians, and in 1778 was taken up to the lakes in York State and there kept a prisoner for thirteen months. Wlien General Sullivan's army passed near by, he made his escape and joined them; at first they thought he was a spy, but soon he was recog- nized, and he then accompanied the army to Wyoming. Reaching there, he learned that his family, having decided that he had been killed, had returned to Connecticut, and so he borrowed a horse and went there, bringing them back to Wyoming with him. There he died at the age of ninety-four. Mrs. Merrifield was reared in Wy- oming, and died in Scranton in 1880.

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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 22

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