Portrait and biographical record of Wyoming and Lackawanna counties, Pennsylvania : containing portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the counties, Part 28

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 28
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 28

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A LBERT A. LINDABURY, M. D., a phy- sician of Scranton with office at No. 210 South Main Avenue, was born in Clinton, N. J., and is a descendant of German ancestors, who were numbered among the earliest settlers of Hunterdon County. His father, John R., and grandfather, Herbert, were born in New Jersey, and the former was a wagon-maker in Clinton. During the Civil War he enlisted as a member of Company H, Fifteenth New Jersey Infantry, for three years, but was severely wounded three times in a charge at the battle of Gettysburg, and on that account was honorably discharged from the service. He is still living, though now in re- tirenient from business pursuits. For some time he was a justice of the peace, and has always taken an interest in Grand Army affairs. He married Almira Hall, who was born in Stanton, Hunterdon County, N. J., of English descent, and was the daughter of Daniel Hall, a large farmer there.

The subject of this sketch, who is the only child of his parents, received the best educational ad- vantages afforded by the schools of the state. After graduating from Flemington Collegiate In- stitute, he taught school for a number of years, and in that way saved a sufficient amount to ena-

ble him to prosecute his professional studies. From boyhood he had a fondness for medical work, and early determined to enter that profes- sion. While teaching school he carried on his medical studies under a physician of Clinton. In 1884 he entered Baltimore Medical College, and two years later graduated with honors and the degree of M. D. He then opened an office at West Auburn, Susquehanna County, Pa., where he remained a short time only. Wishing to per- fect himself still further in his profession, in the fall of 1889 he entered the Hahnemann Medical College, Philadelphia, from which he graduated in the spring of the next year. Since then he has carried on a general practice in Scranton, mak- ing, however, a specialty of gynecology.

In Scranton Dr. Lindabury married Miss Martha MacPherson, daughter of William Mac- Pherson, a descendant of Scotch ancestry and for- merly a coal operator in this city. They are the parents of two children, May and Edith. Dr. Lindabury is connected with the Northeastern Pennsylvania Medical Society, of which he was at one time president; is identified with the State Homeopathic Medical Society and the Inter-State Homeopathic Medical Society; fraternally be- longs to Franklin Lodge, F. & A. M., at Lacey- ville; Temple Chapter No. 172, at Tunkhannock; and Coeur de Lion Commandery No. 17, K. T .; takes an active interest in the Lackawanna Coun- ty Society of History and Science; and in religious belief is a Presbyterian, holding membership in the Washburn Street Church. He is well informed regarding the problems that are presented for so- lution by the people, is a stanch supporter of all projects for the advancement and interests of the people, and in politics votes the Republican ticket.

C OL. HERMAN OSTHAUS, attorney-at- law and assistant postmaster of Scranton, was born in Overton, Sullivan County, Pa., December 24, 1852, and is a descendant of German ancestry. His grandfather, Henry Ost- haus, was engaged as an agriculturist on the crown estate, "Wöltingerode," in the kingdom of Hanover, from about 1805 until his death, which occurred there. The family of which he was a

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member was one of the oldest and most influ- ential in his locality. The lady whom he married was of a noble family named von Buck. Her two brothers were members of the army under Napo- leon, and participated in the long march to Rus- sia, and in the battle of Borrodino both were killed.

The Colonel's father, Francis Osthaus, was born in the kingdom of Hanover and received an excellent classical education in a college at Magdeburg. After leaving school, he engaged in scientific farming on large estates as superin- tendent. it being necessary in that country to farm scientifically if one would meet with any success. In the spring of 1852 he came to America and purchased a farm in Overton, Sullivan County, Pa., where he has since been an extensive and successful agriculturist. In addition to farming, since 1867 he has been proprietor of a general mercantile establishment at Overton.

The mother of our subject, Minna Hübner, was born in Hanover, where her father was an agriculturist; she died in 1859, after having be- come the mother of four children, of whom our subject and one daughter are living. Herman, who is the eldest of the family, was only seven years of age when he was orphaned by his moth- er's death. With the assistance of his father, he prepared for college, and in 1870 entered Alle- ghany College at Meadville, Pa., from which he graduated in 1874 with the degree of A. B. Three years later, on account of post-graduate work, the degree of A. M. was conferred upon him.

At once after graduating Mr. Osthaus went to Germany, where he had the advantage of eight- een months' study in the universities of Göttingen and Heidelberg. Of the opportunities offered by these ancient seats of learning he availed himself to the utmost, thus extending the scope of his knowledge. The University of Heidelberg, which was founded in 1386, is the oldest in Germany, and one of the most noted in the world. It has a library of two hundred thousand volumes, many rare manuscripts and other appliances of learn- ing. The University of Göttingen is likewise an ancient one, and has a library of four hundred thousand printed volumes and five thousand

manuscripts, a museum, judicial society, and so- ciety of sciences. To be a student in these institu- tions is, therefore, to place within one's reach the accumulated wisdom of the ages.

In the fall of 1876, shortly after his return to the United States, Mr. Osthaus entered the law department of the University of Michigan, and graduated two years later with the degree of LL.B. In 1879 he located in Scranton, where he has since engaged in general practice, having his office in the Commonwealth Building. In 1893 he was appointed assistant postmaster, which po- sition he has since filled. Politically a Democrat, he has been treasurer of the county committee, and in religious belief is connected with the Sec- ond Presbyterian Church. Fraternally he is a member of Peter Williamson Lodge, F. & A. M. In Oakland County, Mich., he married Miss Alice Cummins, a direct descendant of John Hart, one of the signers of the Declaration of In- dependence for New Jersey. She was born near Hackettstown, N. J., where her father, Opdyke Cummins, was a farmer, and after he removed to Oakland County she attended the high school at Ann Arbor, from which she graduated.

Shortly after his location in Scranton, Mr. Ost- haus became a private in Company A, Thirteenth Pennsylvania National Guard, and six years later was commissioned quartermaster sergeant of the same company. In 1887 he was appointed regi- ment inspector of rifle practice of the Thirteenth Regiment, with the rank of first lieutenant. Four years later he was appointed general inspector of rifle practice for Pennsylvania by Governor Patti- son, with the rank of colonel on the governor's staff, and held that position until the expiration of the gubernatorial term. In 1895 he was com- missioned colonel, on the retired list. When he became general inspector, only about one-half of the men in the state guard were qualified marks- men, but so efficient was he in the work that at the expiration of his term the entire guard were ex- pert marksmen. Two times during his term the Pennsylvania team entered the national military rifle contests, at Sea-Girt, N. J. In 1892 they en- tered in the two great contests, the inter-state and Hilton trophy matches, and won both by very high scores, over a large number of teams

HON. JOHN T. WILLIAMS.

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from other states. In 1894 the team again took part in the same contests, winning the Hilton trophy match by an exceptionally high score, but losing the inter-state by a few points, owing to the unfortunate shooting of one of the members, who, by mistake, made a bull's eye on the wrong target. Colonel Osthaus is a member of the board of trustees who hold and manage the ar- mory property, and for many years has been sec- retary and treasurer of the board.

H ON. JOHN T. WILLIAMS, an influential and respected citizen of Scranton, was born in Carmarthenshire, South Wales, in 1839, and is a son of Thomas and Barbara (Jones) Williams, also natives of that shire. His father, who was a son of Reese Williams, a farm- er, spent his entire life in the south of Wales, engaged as a mason and builder, and died there when sixty-three years of age. The wife and mother, who died in 1887, was a daughter of John Jones, who was a soldier in the British army, but afterwards returned to Carmarthenshire and settled on a farm that is still owned by members of the family.

Eight children were born to the union of Thomas and Barbara Williams, all but one of whom attained maturity, and five are living, three in Wales, one sister in Australia, and our sub- ject, the oldest son, in America. A son who came to the United States died soon after his arrival in this country. John T. was reared in Wales and attended a private school until sixteen years of age, after which he worked in a mine. In April, 1859, he left Swansea, Wales, for Liver- pool, and there took passage on the "Dread Not," which landed him in New York after twenty- eight days. He came to Scranton and secured work as a laborer in the Hampton mines of the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad Company.

When the gold excitement was at its height, Mr. Williams went to California in 1861, making the voyage by steamer from New York by way of Aspinwall and Panama to San Francisco. Soon after his arrival he began mining at San Juan, where he remained for five years. Return-

ing to Scranton in 1866 by the same route over which he had traveled in going west, he resumed work with the Delaware, Lackawanna & West- ern Company. In 1872 he was made inside fore- man of the Sloan mines and this position he held many years. In 1884 he returned to Wales to visit his mother and friends there, and also spent a short time in other parts of the British Isles. About one week after his return to Scranton, he was nominated by the Republican party as their candidate for the legislature, and in the fall was elected by thirteen hundred majority, his colleague being George Ferber. In the session of 1885 he served on various committees. The following year he was re-elected by a good ma- jority, but his colleague was defeated, Martin Jordan, Democrat, securing the election. In the session of 1887 he was chairman of the iron and coal committee and a member of other commit- tees. During his first term he introduced an appropriation bill for the oral school. It passed both houses, but was vetoed by Governor Patti- son. During his second term, however, it again passed and was signed by Governor Beaver. By means of this appropriation the present building was erected and is maintained. He also intro- duced the free prop amendment to the mine law, which proved of benefit to mine owners; and an amendment providing for the appointment of board of mine inspecting examiners by the Lack- awanna County judges, a bill vetoed at that time, but since made a law. At the close of his second term of office, he did not seek renomination, but turned his attention to business affairs.

Until March 1, 1886, Mr. Williams retained his position as foreman with the Delaware, Lacka- wanna & Western Railroad Company, but at that time he resigned and embarked in the general mercantile business under the firm name of Wil- liams & Co., his partner being John H. Williams. His business has since been conducted on the corner of South Main Avenue and Eynon Street, and is one of the flourishing enterprises of the city. In addition to this, Mr. Williams was one of the original stockholders in the West Side Bank and is now a director. He is interested in and a director of the Scranton Packing Com- pany, and has large interests in coal lands of

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Schuylkill County. He is a director and treas- urer of the Cambrian Mutual Fire Insurance Company. In 1896 he was a delegate to the Republican national convention at St. Louis. He has been a member of the state committee and is now identified with the county committee.

In this city in 1867 Mr. Williams married Miss Mary Lewis, a native of Aberdare, Glamorgan- shire, Wales, and daughter of George Lewis, a shoemaker, who died there at the age of forty- three. Her grandfather, George Lewis, Sr., was a farmer of Glamorganshire. Her mother, Mary, was a daughter of Noah Williams, and was reared on his farm in Glamorganshire. After the death of her husband she brought her six daughters to America, arriving at Neath, Bradford County, Pa., in November, 1858. There she died three years later. Of her daughters, four are living. Mrs. Williams, who was next to the youngest, attended the public schools in girlhood, and in 1866 came to Scranton. She became the mother of four children, namely: Alnia, who died at four years; Elmer, a graduate of the Bloomsburg State Normal School in 1892, afterward in busi- ness with his father until his death in 1895, at the age of twenty-four; Palmer, a member of the class of 1897, Bucknell University; and Reba, at home. Fraternally Mr. Williams is a member of Hyde Park Lodge No. 339, F. & A. M., and Silurian Lodge No. 763, I. O. O. F. In the Welsh Baptist Church he is a deacon and secre- tary of the board of trustees.

S AMUEL SHELDON JONES was born in the village (now city) of Carbondale, June 21, 1850. His father, Samuel Jones, was among the first comers who made the little coal mining village of the upper Lackawanna Valley their home. He was a native of South Wales, born near the town of Brecon, February 28, 1806. The death of his mother, which occurred when he was but three months old, left him to the care of relatives, with whom he lived until he reached the age of twelve years, when he was obliged to shift for himself. He secured employment with a farmer in the neighborhood of his early home and served as a farm laborer for a number of years.

A longing to see something of the world led him to the conclusion that life on the ocean would afford him the opportunity he coveted, and one day while strolling about the wharf in the city of Bristol, a ship's surgeon offered him a berth as servant, and the offer was promptly accepted. During one of the voyages across the Atlantic the ship's crew mutinied, but the plot was dis- covered; the ringleaders were placed in irons and upon the arrival of the vessel at New York they were handed over to the authorities, tried, and sentenced to long terms of imprisonment.

The doctor's boy was among the witnesses for the prosecution, and the usual delay in the courts gave him an opportunity to see something of life in the American metropolis. An incident which occurred in the court room made such an im- pression upon him that he resolved to give up the seafaring life and make America his future home. The incident referred to occurred one morning before the formal opening of the session, when the young Welshman on entering the chamber re- moved his cap. A man standing in the aisle said to him: "Put your cap on, youngster; court ain't sitting, and mind you are in a free country now." This was the turning point, and when the trial was over he took passage on a North River boat for Albany, and soon found employment on a farm in the neighborhood of that city. In the spring of 1830 he learned that a party of men from Wales were employed in the Pennsylvania coal mines, and at once concluded to join them. Going down the Hudson River to Rondout, he worked his way on the canal to Honesdale, and July 10, 1830, arrived in Carbondale. The next day he commenced work in the mines of the Del- aware & Hudson Canal Company. December 28, 1830, he married Eleanor Pritchard, and the young couple began life in part of a small frame structure owned by Stephen Rogers, erected near what is now the corner of Sixth Avenue and Main Street. In the winter of 1833 they removed to Wilkesbarre, where Mr. Jones engaged in coal mining upon his own account, on lands owned by Colonel Bowman. In the summer of 1835 he shipped the product of this enterprise by canal, and in the fall of that year navigation closed while two boat loads of his coal were in the neighbor-

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hood of Berwick. The following spring when he made ready to continue this trip to tidewater, he found the boats empty. This loss discouraged him completely, and on reaching Wilkesbarre he decided to return to Carbondale. In the fall of 1836 he purchased a farm on Round Hill, Clif- ford Township, Susquehanna County, but con- tinued work in the mines at Carbondale, although part of his time was devoted to work on the farm. He was a practical, industrious man; quite satis- fied with his lot in life; active in religious work; a regular attendant and officer of the Welsh Con- gregational Church. He was always interested in public affairs; in politics a pronounced Free Soiler, Whig and Abolitionist, and in the Fre- mont and Dayton campaigns in 1856 naturally affiliated with the Republican party. His death occurred April 14, 1875.

Eleanor Pritchard, mother of the subject of this sketch, was born at Holyhead, Anglesea, North Wales, November 14, 1813, and was edu- cated at the Harry Owen preparatory school in her native town. Her people were seafaring folk, and two of her brothers were masters of sailing vessels plying between Liverpool and New York. She came to this country as com- panion. to Miss Elizabeth Bulkley, in the spring of 1830. Miss Bulkley was married to Edward Owen upon her arrival in New York, and Miss Pritchard was induced to accompany them to the coal regions of Pennsylvania, where Mr. Owen was assured steady employment in the black- smith shop of the Delaware & Hudson Canal Company. They arrived in Carbondale in June, 1830, and six months later Miss Pritchard was the bride at one of the earliest weddings cele- brated in the little mining village. Fourteen chil- dren were born to this couple, six of whom, five daughters and one son, are now living, Samuel S. Jones, the subject of our sketch, being the young- est member of this large family, and, like his father and grandfather, an only son. He was educated in the public schools, receiving instruc- tion from such teachers as Paulinas Lewis, A. Richardson, Daniel Davis, Moses Caldwell, Ben- jamin Watrous, L. E. Judd and Prof. A. J. Welles, who was the first principal of graded school No. I. On the 13th day of May, 1863, he entered the

employ of Jacob Cohen and underwent training in the clothing and merchant tailoring business for three years. He was next employed by Joseph Alexander, remaining with him until Feb- ruary, 1867, when he formed a partnership with William Campman and engaged in the clothing and merchant tailoring business under the firm name of Jones & Campman.

The partnership continued until 1875, when Mr. Campman retired, and the business was con- tinued by the firm of Jones & Russell. Very early in life Mr. Jones manifested an interest in public affairs, and took an active part in local po- litical matters. In 1871 he was elected a member of the city council, and re-elected three years in succession. During the four years he served as clerk of the common council. In November, 1876, he was the candidate of the Republican party for assemblyman of the eighth district of Luzerne County and was elected, although the district at that time was overwhelmingly Demo- cratic, serving in the house of representatives during the sessions of 1877 and 1878, and was the youngest member of that body during those years. He received the party nomination again in 1878, but was defeated by the fusion of the Greenback-Labor and Democratic parties.

During the year 1881 and for four years there- after, Mr. Jones was employed in the county court house at Scranton in the offices of the county commissioners, recorder and clerk of courts. In 1883 he removed to Dunmore and was resident of that town until August, 1887, . when he returned to his native town and con- nected himself with the "Carbondale Leader," be- ginning active work on this newspaper with the issue of the first daily published in the "Anthra- cite City." He remained upon the editorial staff until May, 1893, when he retired from newspaper work, to take up the duties of alderman of the second :vard, to which office he had been elected for the term of five years.

Mr. Jones was always ready to assist in any movement that had for its object the betterment of his native city; prominently identified with every public improvement; an advocate of every feasible and practicable effort calculated to place the home town on the highest plane possible.

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Firmly believing that the safety of the people could only be secured by perfect sanitation, he urged the enforcement of sanitary law as found upon the statute books; assisted in the organiza- tion of the board of health, and for more than five years was secretary of the board. He lost no op- portunity to point out the necessity of a com- plete system of sewers, the construction of paved roadways, grading of the hill street, the erection of sightly buildings, and all matters tending to make the people proud of the city in which they dwelt. He was one of the organizers of the Car- bondale Hospital Association and a member of the board of directors; an active worker in the first board of trade of Carbondale, serving as sec- retary of the organization for five years. He was associated with the promoters of the street railway system, Sperl Heating Company, Klotz Bros.' Silk Mill, Anthracite Land & Improve- ment Company (owners of the Hotel Anthracite), and secretary of the last-named corporation.

January 16, 1877, Mr. Jones was united in mar- riage with Margaret Gillespie, eldest daughter of James and Margaret Russell, of Fell Township, and two children, James Russell, born October II, 1877, and Eleanor Pritchard, born March 4, 1883, are the result of this union. Mr. Jones is a member of the First Presbyterian Church and Sabbath-school and has always been interested in the work of the nursery of the church.

C HARLES DU PONT BRECK. The lin- eage of the Breck family is traced back to a remote period in English history. The first of the name of whom there is authentic rec- ord is William de Breck, whose castle and estate stood in Hampshire, England, and who was one of the barons that tried the noted Adam Gurdon in 1274. One of his descendants, Edward Breck, emigrated from Ashton, Lancaster, to Dorches- ter, near Boston, about 1633, and became the father of John Breck, an influential citizen and prominent man. Next in line of descent was John, Jr., the father of three sons and three daughters, of whom the second son, Samuel, was born April II, 1747, and died May 7, 1809. A man of prominence, he represented Boston in the

lower house for seven years, and held high rank among the public men of the state. During the Revolution many French ships came to Boston, either for repairs or to escape the enemy, and it was necessary to secure an agent of supplies there. Accordingly Samuel Breck was appoint- ed to the position, which he filled satisfactorily until the expiration of the conflict. In 1792 he moved with his family to Philadelphia and there died.

George, son of Samuel Breck, was born in Boston in 1785, removed thence to Bristol, Bucks County, Pa., and married Catharine Israell. Their son, William, father of our subject, was born at Bustleton (now in the city of Philadelphia), May 29, 1813, and in early life located on the Brandy- wine near Wilmington, Del., where he married Gabriella Josephine, daughter of Victor du Pont, a prominent powder manufacturer of that city. About 1859 he came to Scranton, where he rep- resented the du Pont Powder Company until his death, April 26, 1870. For years he served as vestryman in St. Luke's Episcopal Church, and throughout his entire life here had many warm friends among his fellow-citizens. His wife, who was born at the du Pont home on the Brandy- wine and was a niece of Admiral Samuel F. du Pont, died in Scranton in May, 1890. The fam- ily consisted of three children: George L., a busi- ness man of this city; Charles du Pont; and Ga- briella, Mrs. John Swift, of Scranton.

In Wilmington, Del., where he was born May 18, 1840, the subject of this sketch laid the foun- dation of his education. In 1859 he graduated from Union College, Schenectady, N. Y., with the degree of A. B. Shortly afterward he began to read law in Wilmington with Victor du Pont, but soon came to Scranton, where he completed his studies with Judge Willard, and was admitted to the bar at Wilkesbarre, August 18, 1861. Forming a partnership with George Sanderson, Sr., the firm of Sanderson & Breck continued until the death of the senior member, since which time Mr. Breck has been alone. While he is well informed in all branches of the law, his specialty has been office practice and the work of counsellor.

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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 28

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