Portrait and biographical record of Wyoming and Lackawanna counties, Pennsylvania : containing portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the counties, Part 27

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 27
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 27

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The family of Mr. and Mrs. Sykes comprised twelve children, of whom, ten are living. They are William J., a stone cutter with his brothers; John Kidd and Harry R., partners in the busi- ness; Frederick E., a bricklayer; Walter W., also a bricklayer with his brothers; Robert B., who is attending Scranton Business College; Mary P., Samuel S., Charlotte J. and Edward D. All the children were born in Scranton except Harry R., and Frederick E., whose birthplace was Danville. John Kidd was born at the family home in Scranton in 1871 and in 1893 became a member of the firm of S. Sykes & Sons. Since the death of his father he and his brother have acted in conjunction with their mother in carry- ing on the business. The family occupy a com- fortable residence at No. 1235 Penn Avenue. In political belief their opinions are similar, all

favoring Republican principles. They attend the Episcopal Church, of which Mrs. Sykes is a member. The sons, who are partners in the busi- ness, are identified with Union Lodge No. 291, F. & A. M., in the work of which they maintain an interest. They have a stone yard on a railroad side track and their office in Larch Street, carry- ing in the former a full line of blue and brown stone, and are at this writing building school No. IO on the south side.

A SA B. STEVENS. As a business man and a public official, the record of Mr. Stevens is creditable to himself and interesting to others. During the long period of his residence in Scranton he has proved the possession of the keen judgment that secures business prosperity and the genial temperament that wins personal friends. The spirit that led him to enlist in the Union army during the Civil War has led him to support all loyal and patriotic movements; yet, though firm in the expression of his opinions on political and other leading questions of the day, he is not intolerant or bigoted. One of the marked traits of his character is his interest in the welfare of others. Sometimes this has in- creased his own responsibility, especially in sea- sons of financial depression, but it has never made him suspicious or cold, nor affected his equable temperament.

The birth of Mr. Stevens occurred in Broome County, near Binghamton, N. Y., September 21, 1834. His grandfather, Rev. Reuben Stevens, was born in Litchfield, Conn., and became a min- ister in the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he preached fifty-two years, first in his native place, then in Broome County, N. Y. He settled in the latter county in 1803 and was given charge of a circuit there, traveling on horseback between his various congregations. He died at seventy- seven years. His father, Capt. Samuel Stevens, who was born in Connecticut in 1731, had com- mand of a company under General Marion in the Revolution. He was a son of Asa Stevens, who came to this country from England at the time of the French and Indian wars and settled in Connecticut.

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The father of our subject, William Stevens, was born in Litchfield, Conn., in 1796, and en- gaged in farming near Binghamton, N. Y., until his death there at the age of fifty-seven. His wife, who died in 1836, bore the maiden name of Marion Piper, and was born in Windsor, Broome County, of German ancestry. Her father, Isaac Piper, was born in Boston, Mass., in 1769, and became an early settler of Broome County, N. Y., where he engaged in agricultural pursuits; he married Jerusha Lyon, who was born in 1767. In the family of William Stevens there were seven children, but only two are living. One of the sons, Abisha C., served for three years in the Eighty-ninth New York Infantry and was wound- ed in the left breast by a shell, after which he was placed in Hancock's Invalid Corps for a year and until the close of the war.

Asa B., who was the youngest of the family, entered Binghamton Academy at the age of thir- teen. His studies were cut short by his father's death four years later, and at the age of eighteen he was apprenticed to the trade of a marble cut- ter, which he followed for three years in Bingham- ton. In September, 1856, he came into what is now Lackawanna County and settled at Dalton (then known as Bailey Hollow), in Abington Township, where he engaged in the marble busi- ness for five years, as a member of the firm of Green & Stevens. On dissolving the partner- ship, in 1863, he came to Scranton and started in the marble business at the head of Penn Avenue on Lackawanna, where the old Second National Bank Building stands. He was a member of the firm of Stevens & May, and continued the busi- ness while in the army, hiring a man in his place.

August 14, 1864, Mr. Stevens enlisted in Com- pany C, Two Hundred and Third Pennsylvania Infantry, and was mustered in at Scranton as a private, but September 21 he was made first lieu- tenant at Philadelphia, and served as such until May 20, 1865, when, the war having closed, he was honorably discharged. He was at Peters- burg and took part in the skirmishes from Deep Bottom to Chapin's farm in front of Richmond, the second battle of Fair Oaks and both expedi- tions to Ft. Fisher. At the capture of that fort, January 15, 1865, the captain and half of the

company fell, and Lieutenant Stevens took com- mand of the remaining members. February 22 he was at the siege of Wilmington, N. C., and the next day was in the charge at Northeast Sta- tion, Cape Fear River, at which time he became seriously ill and was sent back to Wilmington, N. C., remaining there until his recovery. At Cape Fear River and Ft. Fisher he received hon- orable mention from the officers of his regiment and complimentary resolutions were passed by members of his company, who declared that they did not desire to follow any better or braver offi- cer than he. During his service he was recom- mended for major of colored troops, but declined to leave the men whom he had induced to enlist.

One year after his return Mr. Stevens dissolved his partnership with Mr. May and opened a yard where the St. James Hotel now stands, opposite the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western depot. Two years later he moved the business to Lacka- wanna Avenue, west of the railroad crossings. Upon his election as marshal of the mayor's court of Scranton, on the Republican ticket, he retired from the marble business, and for the en- suing three years gave his attention to his office, which he filled satisfactorily. He then became manager and treasurer of the Miners and Me- chanics Loan and Banking Association, out of which grew the West Side Bank, but he resigned before the latter organization was formed. For some time he was secretary of the School Fund Coal Association, and for seventeen years he was manager and treasurer of the Bridge Coal Com- pany, until the coal in their mines was exhausted. For several years he engaged in merchandising on the corner of West Lackawanna and North Seventh, the firm title being A. B. Stevens & Co. In 1889 he went to Pittston and built what is known as the Stevens colliery at West Pittston, remaining as manager of the Stevens Coal Com- pany until 1892, when he sold out. For one year he prospected for coal in Schuylkill County, but this not proving satisfactory, he returned to Scranton. In the spring of 1894 he was em- ployed as manager of the Economy Light, Heat & Power Company, of which he became stock- holder and director, managing the building of the main plant on Jefferson Avenue and Ash

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Street. This enterprise has been successful, and the plant furnishes heat and light to many public buildings and residences. June 1, 1896, he re- tired from the active management, but is still a director. He is also a director in the Consum- ers Powder Company.

In Abington Township; in 1858, Mr. Stevens married Miss Elvira A. Colvin, daughter of Jason P. and Osena Colvin, the latter deceased. Mr. Colvin, who was born in Rhode Island and be- longed to an old eastern family, now resides with Mr. Stevens, and retains possession of his faculties to an unusual degree considering his age, eighty-five. Three of his sons served in the Civil War. Norman, a sergeant, was wounded at Chattanooga and fell into the hands of the Confederates, who imprisoned him at Libby, and there he died. Theodore, who was a member of Company K, Eleventh Pennsylvania Cavalry, for three years, and was wounded in service, now lives in Ohio. Melvin R. was a member of the One Hundred and Forty-third Pennsylvania Infantry. Mrs. Stevens was educated in Madison Academy and taught school for several years when a young woman. She has two sons, Julian G., of Scran- ton, and Fred E., a graduate of Wyoming Sem- inary, now treasurer of the Scranton Ice Com- pany, and treasurer and bookkeeper for Ira Ben- nett & Co.

When Scranton was incorporated as a city Mr. Stevens was a member of the first select council and board of commissioners. In 1878 he was appointed sheriff of Lackawanna County by the governor, and the following year was nominated and elected on the Republican ticket, serving four years and five months altogether. Fra- ternally he is a Knight Templar and has attained the thirty-third degree in Masonry. He is past officer in Hyde Park Lodge No. 339, F. & A. M .; past priest of Lackawanna Chapter No. 185; past commander of Coeur de Lion Commandery No. 17; Cerneau Consistory No. 33, of which he has been commander-in-chief; Lu-Lu Temple Shrine in Philadelphia, and Masonic Veterans Associa- tion of Philadelphia, in all of which he is past officer. Formerly he was an Odd Fellow, but during the war dropped out of the organization. He is a Grand Army man, belonging to Lieut.

Ezra S. Griffin Post No. 139, and at this writing commander of said post. His wife is identified with the Green Ridge Baptist Church, which he attends. Since the candidacy of John C. Fre- mont he has been a Republican. For three years he was chairman of the old Luzerne County committee, and for two years held a similar po- sition in Lackawanna; he is now chairman of the city central committee and has been identified with the state central committee. In the organi- zation of this county he was very active, and for twenty years spent a few days every winter in Harrisburg lobbying, until finally the bill was passed.

J AMES B. GILHOOL was born in Carbon- dale, where since 1874 he has been engaged in the hardware, steam fitting and plumb- ing business. He is recognized as one of the in- dustrious business men of the place, one who has worked his way upward in spite of ad- versity and obstacles. At the early age of nine years, when most boys are in school, he was obliged to begin to support himself and from that day to this he has been indebted to no one for his daily bread.

The father of our subject, James Gilhool, was born in County Sligo, Ireland, but emigrated from there to America and settled in Carbon- dale, where he was killed in the mines in 1854. Our subject was born July 9, 1852, and was only two years of age when his father's accidental death left him an orphan, with few friends and little money. Soon afterward the family went to Scranton, and there, at nine years of age, he be- gan to work in a coal breaker. In the hard and ill-paid work of a slate picker he was employed for six years. Afterward he learned the tinner's trade, working for Captain Fish of Providence. Industrious and persevering, he worked untir- ingly to get a start in life and is deserving of the success he has had. In 1873 he opened a store in Carbondale, to which he has since given his close attention.

In 1874 Mr. Gilhool married Maria Lynch and they became the parents of seven children, of whom Thomas died at seven years. Joseph, the

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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

eldest of the family, is an intelligent, energetic youth, and of great assistance to his father in the store. The others are Hannah, Eddie, James, Mary and Clara. It has been the desire of Mr. Gilhool to give his children advantages of which he was deprived in boyhood, and his ambition to succeed is largely caused by his affection for his family. He is a member of the Catholic Church and attends its services regularly. At this writing he is serving his third term as a member of the select council.

H ON. JOHN H. FELLOWS. Those pub- lic-spirited citizens whose sound judg- ment has promoted the industrial growth of their community and whose energy has brought an enlarged prosperity to every line of human activity, deservedly occupy positions of prominence in local history. A volume wherein reference is made to leading residents of Scranton should not omit mention of the gentleman above named, who has officiated as mayor of the city, and in every relation of life, public and private, has proved his stability of character and energy of disposition. His entire life has been passed on the west side, and he now resides at No. 418 Tenth Street, within a very short distance of the house where he was born, July 23, 1849.

The founder of the Fellows family in America was Joseph, a native of England, born near Shef- field, who brought his family to Scranton about 1790 and served here as a justice of the peace and conveyancer of lands, his home being in what is now Hyde Park. He was an extensive farmer and speculator in lands and patented many tracts. Among his possessions were vast acres of coal lands, which he sold before he knew their value. When about eighty years of age he had a case against a Dr. Malone, in which he was suc- cessful, thereby incurring the bitter enmity of the doctor. In a fit of passion the latter struck him with a club and killed him.

Next in line of descent was Benjamin, our sub- ject's grandfather, who had four sisters, Nancy, Lydia, Catharine T. and Elizabeth, and three brothers, Henry and Sylvanus, farmers; and Joseph Jr., a bachelor, who succeeded his father

in his real estate transactions, founded Hyde Park, and died at ninety-one years. Benjamin, who was born in England, was brought to Scran- ton at the age of two years and grew to manhood upon a farm on the west side. His life occupa- tion was that of an agriculturist, and he served for some time as justice of the peace. His death occurred when he was eighty-five.

John Fellows, father of our subject, was born on the west side and assisted to clear one hun- dred acres in what is now Hyde Park, but during most of his active life he engaged in the manu- facture of brick. Politically he was a Republican. During the late war he gave liberally to the Union cause, with which he was in hearty sympathy. In 1888 he was accidentally killed, being thrown from his carriage and receiving injuries which re- sulted in his death, at the age of seventy-two years and four months. In religious belief he was a Universalist. His wife, Cynthia J. Pierce, was born in Cooperstown, N. Y., a daughter of Levi Pierce, a native of New York state, but for many years a resident of Scranton, where he had a dis- tillery on the west side. He was a descendant of Scotch ancestors who came to America in the "Mayflower," and his wife, a Miss Ingles, was also of Scotch descent and "Mayflower" stock. Mrs. Cynthia J. Fellows died at the age of sev- enty-three, soon after the demise of her husband. She was a woman of noble Christian character and a consistent member of the Methodist Epis- copal Church. In her family there were six sons and three daughters, of whom the eldest boy died at the age of sixteen years and the youngest at six years. The others are John H .; Horatio T., select councilman in Scranton and an employe of the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad Company; George H., with the same company; Charles D., formerly engaged in the insurance business here, now deceased; Mrs. Harriet Wol- cott, of Kingston, Pa .; Mrs. Sarah Carlton and Mrs. Electa E. Oram, of Scranton.

Until fifteen years of age the subject of this sketch attended the district schools in the winter season, but afterward he learned the painter's trade, which he followed until twenty. At that time he took a scholarship in Gardner's Business College. For two weeks he was with the Dela-

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ware, Lackawanna & Western, after which he began in the fire insurance business, representing the German Fire Company of Erie and working up the largest agency in Scranton. In 1882 he sold to Norman & Moore, who still continue the business. The estate of Joseph Fellows having been in litigation for many years, he became in- terested in it and succeeded in effecting a, settle- ment, saving what was left of the property. He continues to act as agent for the estate, in addi- tion to which he has had large real estate inter- ests. At this writing he is president of the J. W. Browning Land Company, proprietors of land at Arlington Heights beyond North Park; the Shawnee Land Company, incorporated in 1894, by whom the Boulevard, South Wilkesbarre, was platted; and the Ontario Land Company, found- ed with a capital of $50,000, now increased to $450,000, and operating in Duluth, Minn., and vicinity ; also proprietors of land in Spokane and Tacoma, Wash., and Atlanta, Ga. The scheme was originated by Mr. Fellows and Harry C. Heermans, of Corning, N. Y., and the office of the company is at Duluth.

On the People's ticket, in 1886, Mr. Fellows was elected a member of the board of school con- trol, but was legislated out of office. Later he was elected on the Republican ticket, indorsed by the Democrats, and served until February, 1890, when he was elected mayor upon the Re- publican ticket. He took the oath of office the first Monday in April, and served for three years, discharging the responsible duties of his position with efficiency. In 1894 he was a candidate for congress and had one hundred and thirty dele- gates instructed for him, but they were bought, bribery securing his defeat. In the Republican party he has been active on county and city com- mittees, and has been a capable worker for his political organization.

At Meshoppen Mr. Fellows married Genevieve Overfield, who was born there, being a daughter of Benjamin Overfield, a farmer, and a descend- ant of German ancestry. At her death she left seven children, Winfield H., a student in South Fayette College at Easton; Raymond A., Nellie I., Lois J., Louisa A., Emma V., and Alwilda G. The second marriage of Mr. Fellows took place

in Bradford County, his wife being Miss Laura L., daughter of A. W. Gray, a farmer and dairy- man of Bradford County, and granddaughter of Elder Gray, a Baptist preacher at Laceyville. One child, a son, blesses this union.

Personally Mr. Fellows is genial and affable in temperament, conservative in judgment, and sound in business policy. He is a member of Union Lodge No. 291, F. & A. M., in which he has served as past master; belongs to Lacka- wanna Chapter No. 185, R. A. M .; has been past officer in the Odd Fellows lodge and a member of the encampment; is identified with Le-ha- hanna Tribe of Red Men, the Elks, and Hyde Park Lodge No. 301, Sons of St. George, and is treasurer of Washington Camp No. 572, P. O. S. of A.

J OHN H. WILLIAMS, a successful business man of Scranton and a member of the board of school control from the fifteenth ward, was born in Jackson Valley, Susquehanna County, this state, April 3, 1859, and is a son of Samuel M. and Mary (Howell) Williams, natives of Glamorganshire, Wales. His paternal grand- father, Rev. Samuel A. Williams, emigrated to the United States and for many years was promi- nent in the ministry of the Congregational Church, holding pastorates in Deerfield, N. Y., and Neath, Pa. He continued to fill the pulpit until within two years of his death, which oc- curred at the age of eighty-seven.

At the time of coming to America Samuel M. Williams was twenty years of age. For some time he was foreman in a glazing factory in Cin- cinnati, Ohio, and later was employed in the same capacity in Chicago. Returning to Neath, he worked at the painter's trade until his death, Oc- tober 8, 1892, at the age of seventy-five. The maternal grandfather of our subject, Evan Howell, brought his family from Glamorgant- shire to Neath, Bradford County, Pa., where he settled on a farm about 1833. There he died when seventy-two. His daughter, Mary, still makes her home in Neath.

There were eight children in the parental fani- ily and all but one arc living, namely: Samuel D.,

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a painter in Le Raysville, Bradford County; James D., a farmer in Brookfield, Linn County, Mo .; Jane, who resides with her mother in Neath; Maggie, wife of Rev. E. J. Morris, of Wilkes- barre; John H .; Martha, Mrs. Samuel Davis, of Le Raysville and Mrs. Minnie Harris, of Scran- ton. After ten years of age our subject lived in Neath, remaining with his father on the farm until twenty-two. In the fall of 1881 he entered Wyoming Seminary, and graduated later from the commercial course. For about one year he was deputy to the city treasurer, D. M. Jones, after which he was bookkeeper for Carson & Davis until 1885. He then formed a partnership with Hon. John T. Williams, as Williams & Co., and has since continued in the mercantile busi- ness, occupying three floors at No. 702 South Main Avenue.

In addition to his work as managing partner of the firm, Mr. Williams is a director of the Wil- liams Coal Company of Pottsville, of which his father-in-law, Morgan B. Williams, of Wilkes- barre, is the president. He is interested in the Thuron Coal & Land Company, operated by the Williams Coal Company; the Navigation Land Company of Pottsville; Fairview Land Com- pany; the Scranton Packing Company, and the West Side Bank; and is connected with the Clark & Snover Company, manufacturers of stripped and fine Kentucky smoking and chewing to- bacco.

The home of Mr. Williams at No. 614 South Main Avenue is presided over by his wife, Rachel, daughter of Hon. Morgan B. Williams, a prom- inent coal operator and member of congress from Wilkesbarre, Pa. Mrs. Williams received an ex- cellent education in Wyoming and Summerville female seminaries. She is the mother of two sons, Roy and Ralph. In the spring of 1890 Mr. Williams was nominated on the Republican ticket for the position of member of the board of school control from the fifteenth ward and was elected without opposition. At the close of his term, in 1894, he was again elected without opposition. Fraternally he is connected with Robert Morris Lodge No. 58, Order of Ivorites, and Hyde Park Lodge No. 339, F. & A. M. He has served on the county and city Republican committees and

is an active worker in behalf of his party. While he is not identified with any denomination, he frequently attends the Plymouth Congregational Church, of which his wife is a member, and con- tributes to religious and charitable enterprises.

A NTHONY M. BANKS. Among the trust- ed employes of the Delaware & Hudson Canal Company are not a few who have been connected with the road since boyhood, and one of these is Mr. Banks, of Carbondale, who for some years has been filling the responsible position of engineer. A lifelong resident of this city, he owns and occupies a comfortable home at No. 128 Terrace Street and there, when off duty, his time is happily passed in the society of his wife and two daughters, Marie and Evelyn.

The father of our subject, Patrick Banks, was born in Ireland and there spent the years of youth. On emigrating to this country in 1847, he settled in Hawley, Pa., but shortly afterward re- moved to Dunmore, and worked on the old Pennsylvania Gravity road, first as a common laborer. Later, as his ability was proved, he was given positions of trust and responsibility. Some years ago he retired from railroading and has since lived quietly at his home in Carbondale. By his marriage to Susan Bergen, who died in 1888, he had a family of nine children, and of these five are now living: Maggie, wife of James J. Loftus; Anthony M., who was born in Car- bondale, November 10, 1863; Kieran, a student for the priesthood at Baltimore, now in his seventh year of study; James, a locomotive fire- man, and Susie, who resides with her father.

From an early age Mr. Banks' life has been one of hard work. When only twelve he secured em- ployment as a slate picker at a coal breaker and there continued for three years, learning in the meantime many lessons of patience and persever- ance that have been of assistance to him in his subsequent labors. His first work with the Dela- ware & Hudson Company was that of wiper at the engine house and he has since continued with them in different capacities. For seven years he was fireman, and thus gained a thorough and practical understanding of the locomotive, so

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was prepared to render efficient service as engin- eer, to which position he was promoted in July, I891.

In his religious belief Mr. Banks was reared in the faith of the Catholic Church and to this he has since adhered, supporting its many inter- ests and co-operating in its work. For many years he has been connected with Father Mat- thew's Society at this place, and he is also a member of the Catholic Mutual Benevolent As- sociation. Any measures that may be for the ad- vancement of the welfare of the people or the city receive his sympathetic support. The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers numbers him among its active members, and he is also associated with the Crescent Social Club. He and his wife, who was formerly Ann McDonald, are well known in Carbondale and have the respect of the people of the city.

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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 27

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