Portrait and biographical record of Wyoming and Lackawanna counties, Pennsylvania : containing portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the counties, Part 32

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 32
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 32

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In 1892 Miss Barrett began to study under Pro- fessor Kenison, of Broadway, New York, and graduated from his school, receiving a diploma for proficiency as a chiropodist and manicure. In 1895 she located at No. 630 Washington Avenue, where she gives treatment of all kinds in those two branches, her practice being among the best class of people in the city. In religious belief she is a Catholic, worshiping at St. Peter's Cathedral.

C HARLES W. WESTPFAHL. Although scarcely yet in the prime of life, the gen- tleman whose name stands at the head of this sketch has attained a high standing in busi- ness circles, and for a number of years has been recognized as one of the most enterprising men of the south side, Scranton. When only twenty- one years of age he became proprietor of a mer- cantile establishment, and this he has since con- ducted, carrying on a large trade in groceries and dry goods, and using two delivery teams to accommodate his customers. While his business interests occupy much of his time, he gives atten- tion to public affairs, and is a prime mover in every measure for the benefit of the community.

Referring to the family history, John West- pfahl, our subject's father, was born in Mecklen -. burg, Germany, in 1836, and was the son of Fred- erick, a mechanic by trade, but spent his boy- hood years principally on his uncle's farm. In 1859 he came to America and after spending nine months in Canada, proceeded to Scranton, where he took a position with the Delaware, Lacka- wanna & Western Railroad. In 1862 he enlisted in Company K, One Hundred and Thirty-second

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Pennsylvania Infantry, and at the battle of Antie- tam was wounded in the forehead by the burst- ing of a shell, after which he remained for a time in a hospital at Washington, and later was at Chestnut Hill. His disability caused him to be transferred to detached service, where he re- mained until mustered out with his regiment in May, 1863. Returning to Scranton, he worked as a blacksmith in the car shops of the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western.

In 1872 John Westpfahl went to New York and engaged in the restaurant and bakery busi- ness at No. IIO Bleecker Street until 1874, when he came back to Scranton and resumed work with the railroad company. In 1882 he built a store, which he rented for two years, and then embarked in the mercantile business. This he has since conducted, the store being on the cor- ner of Pittston Avenue and Willow Street. He is an enthusiastic Grand Army man, and belongs to Lieut. Ezra S. Griffin Post No. 139. After coming to this city he married Miss Augusta Rabe, who was born in Bojonowo, a town of Prussian Poland, and who died here in 1888. They were the parents of four children: Mrs. Amelia Storr, of Scranton; Charles W .; Albert, clerking for his father; and Wanda, who is with our subject.

In Scranton, where he was born March 16, 1867, the subject of this sketch was reared and educated. At the age of thirteen years he be- came a clerk in the grocery store of H. & E. G. Coursen, and after a year there went to New York, where he held a clerkship several months. Afterward he learned the upholsterer's trade with Hill & Keiser (now Hill & Connell), where he served an apprenticeship of seven and one-half years, leaving the store at the death of his mother in 1888. Since then he has been engaged in busi- ness for himself. He aided in the organization of the Industrial Building & Loan Association, in which he is still active, and is also a member of the Germania Building & Loan Association.

A strong Republican politically, Mr. Westpfahl is influential in local matters. In 1892 he was nominated a member of the select council, from a strong Democratic ward, and was elected by a majority of fifty-nine over the most prominent

Democrat in the ward. He took the oath of office in April, about twenty days after he was twenty- five years old, the latter being the limit before which no one can be elected to the office. During the last year of his service he was president of the council. In April, 1896, he retired from the of- fice, and at the same time was candidate for city comptroller, but was defeated, though making a very creditable campaign race. He has been a member of the city and county committees. In religious belief he is a German Presbyterian. He is a member of the Century Hose Company, Scranton Athletic Club, Harigari Society, Be- nevolent Protective Order of Elks, James Connell Lodge, I. O. O. F., Scranton Lodge No. 263, K. of P., Washington Camp No. 242, P. O. S. of A., in which he was secretary, and the Independent Order of Heptasophs.

F RANK H STAIR, superintendent of the American Safety Lamp & Mine Supply Company at No. 1321 Capouse Avenue, Scranton, was born in Easton, Pa., March 17, 1866, and is a son of George and Henrietta (Steele) Stair, natives of Easton. His paternal grandfather, Michael Stair, was of German de- scent, and his maternal grandfather, John Steele, who was born in Easton, remained there through- out his entire life, engaged as a general con- tractor; he married Miss Henrietta Clendenning, who died in 1890.

Until the panic of 1876 George Stair was en- gaged in general contracting, but since then he has been in the employ of the Jersey Central Railroad Company as baggage master between Easton and Scranton. He and his wife have three children, Frank H., Mrs. McPherson and Mrs. Royce, of Easton. In the public schools of his native city our subject gained a practical education, and at the age of sixteen he began to make his way in the world. His first position was in an agricultural warehouse, after which he spent four years in learning the brass finishing trade. In 1886 he came to Scranton and was employed as foreman for T. P. Hoban for two years, after which he went to Rome, N. Y., and worked at his trade. Returning to Easton in

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1890, he was engaged for two years as foreman in the Easton brass works.

In March, 1892, Mr. Stair again came to Scran- ton to accept the position of superintendent of the newly organized American Safety Lamp & Mine Supply Company, which manufactures safety lamps, mine supplies and general brass work. In 1896 he patented what is known as the Stair Safety Lamp, which is more durable than those previously manufactured. In that year the company was bought out by M. E. McDonald, John J. Fahey and F. H. Stair, and Mr. Fahey is now president, Mr. McDonald secretary and treasurer and Mr. Stair vice-president and su- perintendent. The products are shipped through- out the United States and Canada, and to Aus- tralia, South America and South Africa. At No. 1321 Capouse Avenue they have a building 50x 150 feet, with a wing 120x80, containing all the latest improved machinery, including a boiler and engine of sixty horse power.

In Easton Mr. Stair married Miss Emma M. Garris, who was born there, and they and their daughter, Ethel, reside at No. 536 Wyoming Avenue. They are Presbyterians in religious be- lief, and were identified with that church in Eas- ton. Fraternally our subject is connected with Lehicton Lodge No. 244, I. O. O. F., in Easton.

M ILTON W. LOWRY, A. M. The family of which this influential attorney of Scranton is a member originated in Eng- land, but has been represented in America since an early period in the history of this country, the first of the name settling near Lowell, Mass. His great-grandfather, John Lowry, lived in southern New York, and there Holloway, the next in line of descent, was born and reared. The latter, upon attaining manhood, settled upon an unimproved farm in the wilds of Susquehanna County, Pa., where he made his home until death. Among his children was James W., who was born near McAllas Mills, Clifford Township, Susquehanna County, within a mile of his present place of resi- dence, and who, in addition to following the occu- pation of a farmer, has been justice of the peace at Elkdale for more than twenty-five years. In

the Republican party he has been a prominent local worker, and at one time was a candidate for the assembly. In the work of the Republican county committee he has also been influential. Besides lıis other interests he has engaged exten- sively in the lumbering business.

The marriage of James W. Lowry united him with Alma Taylor, who was born in Lackawanna County, being a daughter of Thomas Taylor, a native of New Hampshire. The family consisted of four sons and two daughters, all of whom are living except one son. Milton W. was born at the family homestead in Susquehanna County in 1859, and there his boyhood years were spent, his primary education being obtained in the pub- lic schools. In 1876 he entered Keystone Acad- emy, and there remained a student for three years, the intervening vacations being devoted to teach- ing. In June, 1879, he graduated from the acad- emy, and the following year secured an appoint- ment, on competitive examination, to a scholar- ship at the Pennsylvania State College from the twenty-sixth senatorial district at the hands of Hon. William N. Nelson. By virtue of this ap- pointment he entered the sophomore class. Dur- ing his collegiate course he won the first prize in the oratorical contest of his class, this being pre- sented him by Governor Beaver, then president of the board of trustees of the college. In 1884 he graduated with honors in the classical course.

Prior to his graduation Mr. Lowry had com- menced the study of law under Hon. W. W. Wat- son, of Scranton, and to this city he returned after graduating. Soon afterward he was ap- pointed to take charge of the prothonotary's of- fice, in which responsible position he won the confidence of the people and proved that he pos- sessed energy and ability. The position was one of especial advantage to him in that it enabled him to become familiar with every form of legal- procedure known to the courts, as all were sub- ject to his supervision and passed through his hands. In April, 1886, he was admitted to prac- tice in the courts of Lackawanna County, and was subsequently admitted to practice before the supreme court of the state.

In October, 1885, Mr. Lowry was married in Green Grove, Lackawanna County, to Miss An-

THOMAS H. DALE.

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nie Lowry, who, though bearing the same name, was not related. She was born in England, but came to this country at a very early age with her parents and received an excellent education in Bucknell University at Lewisburg, Pa., from which she graduated. One son, Robert, blesses the union. The family are identified with the Penn Avenue Baptist Church in Scranton.

With the local workings of the Republican party Mr. Lowry is closely identified, and he has been chairman of city conventions and secretary of the county committee. In 1891 he was his party's candidate for the office of district attor- ney, and his manly, energetic canvass won for him the respect of all, irrespective of political ties. In January, 1897, he was elected a trustee of Keystone Academy. Well versed in the law and well informed in outside matters, increasing suc- cess may safely be predicted of his future years.

T HOMAS H. DALE, one of the successful business men of Scranton, was born in Daleville, which lies fourteen miles south- east of Scranton and which was founded by his grandfather, David Dale, a native of England, about 1818. Prior to his emigration he had mar- ried a Miss Tanfield, who accompanied him to this country. At that time the present site of Daleville was a forest farm, for which he paid by working on the Great Bend and Philadelphia turnpike. On the place he built a log house, and laboring industriously, after a time he had the farm cleared of its forest growth. He died there and was buried in the Daleville graveyard.

The father of the subject of this sketch, Wil- liam, was born in Yorkshire, England, and was nine years old when he accompanied his parents to the United States. He grew to manhood on the home farm, a portion of which came into his possession. It was largely through his efforts that a postoffice was established at Daleville, and he was appointed the first postmaster, in ad- dition to which he engaged in general merchan- dising, the lumber and sawmill business and the manufacture of handles. A Republican in pol- itics, he voted for John C. Fremont, the first Re- publican presidential candidate. He held a num-

ber of local offices, all of which he filled credit- ably to himself and acceptably to the people. His death occurred in 1882, when he was seventy- three. His wife, who continues to reside at the Daleville homestead, bore the maiden name of Susan Hodgson, and was born in London, Eng- land. She was a daughter of Matthew Hodgson, a native of England, and a carpenter by trade, who brought his family to America about the time that the Dales settled here, and was thence- forward engaged in farming.

The family of which the subject of this sketch is a member, consisted of eleven children, of whom nine attained maturity and eight are liv- ing, namely: M. H., of Scranton; David W., of Daleville, a member of the Sixty-first Penn- sylvania Infantry during the Civil War and a participant in forty-three battles in the course of his four years' service; Mrs. Mary E. Hanks and Miss Eliza Dale, of Daleville; Thomas H .; Alice L., wife of Myron Kasson, deputy prothonotary of Lackawanna County; Frank, who resides at Grand Junction, Iowa; and Everett E., of Des Moines, Iowa. During 1863 Thomas H. was a student at Eastman's Business College, Pough- keepsie, N. Y. At the time of Lee's invasion of Pennsylvania, and in answer to Governor Cur- tin's call for emergency men, he left school and enlisted in an independent company formed in Lackawanna County and ordered to Harrisburg. At the expiration of three months he was honor- ably discharged.

After completing his education in Wyoming Seminary at Kingston, the subject of this sketch entered the wholesale produce business with his brother, M. H., in 1869, under the firm name of Dale & Co. They had a store in Franklin Ave- nue, and were among the first wholesale mer- chants here. The connection was continued un- til 1892, when Thomas H. retired from the firm. Meantime, in 1882, he was elected prothonotary by a majority of one hundred and forty-nine, and three years later was re-elected by an increased majority, again in 1888 with a majority of twelve hundred, serving until January, 1892, when he refused further nomination. In 1886 he became interested in coal operations with R. G. Brooks, organizing the Greenwood Coal Company, Lim-

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ited, at Greenwood, of which he is secretary and treasurer. At the time of organization they had only one breaker, but in 1890 built another.

Besides his other interests Mr. Dale is a stock- holder and treasurer of the Langcliffe Coal Com- pany, Limited, operating at Avoca; a stockhold- er and treasurer of the Laflin Coal Company, op- erating at Laflin, Pa .; also secretary of the Thouron Coal Land Company. His marriage, which took place at San Francisco, Cal., in 1870, united him with Miss Grace R. Rounds, who was born in New York State, and is a graduate of Wyoming Seminary. They are the parents of three children, Ruth E., Luise F., and Everett T., of whom the daughters are graduates of Wyo- ming Seminary. Mrs. Dale is a daughter of Rev. Nelson Rounds, D. D., a Methodist minister, who was formerly presiding elder in New York and editor of the "Northern Christian Advocate," but afterward held the position of president of Willamette University at Salem, Ore., until his death.

From 1871 until 1895 Mr. Dale belonged to the Sinipson Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he was president of the board of trustees the most of the time and Sunday-school super- intendent for eleven years. At this writing he is identified with the Elm Park Church. In 1892 he was chosen one of the two lay delegates by the Wyoming conference to attend the general conference at Omaha. A Republican politically, he has been a member of the county central com- mittee for several years, served as its secretary and treasurer, also as chairman. He is connect- ed with the city committee and was its secretary for a number of years. In 1895 he erected the comfortable home on Linden Street, where he and his family now reside.

M ICHAEL MILLER. Biographies of suc- cessful men furnish interesting and in- structive reading, and especially is this the case when, as in the career of Mr. Miller, the one whose history is narrated has early in life been thrown upon his own resources, among strangers and in a strange land. The struggles which they have successfully encountered, the

hardships which they have battled undismayed and the victories which they have enjoyed, ren- der their examples worthy of emulation.

Now one of the oldest residents of the south side, Scranton, Mr. Miller was born in Lautzen- hausen, Rhine Province, Germany, March 17, 1831, and is the older and only survivor of the two children of Col. Michael and Margareta Mil- ler, natives of the same place as himself, the for- mer being a hotel keeper and holding the rank of colonel in the German army. Michael, of this sketch, attended the public schools and gym- nasium of his native place, graduating at the age of seventeen. It was his desire to enter the army as a member of the Sharpshooters, but while his education entitled him to admission, various excuses were given to delay his acceptance, in- stead of which he was employed as a clerk in a judge's office for three years. Growing impa- tient at his treatment, at the age of twenty he de- cided to come to America, and accordingly took passage July 28, 1851, on the sailer "Emma," which sank in the ocean the next year. It is a somewhat strange fact that the steamer "Elba," on which Mr. Miller returned to Germany in 1889, also sank the following year.

After a voyage of forty-nine days, Mr. Miller reached New York and thence came to Scranton. Times were hard and work scarce, but he finally secured employment chopping wood, where the court house now stands, at forty cents per day. Afterward, for thirteen years, he was employed in the old rolling mill of the Lackawanna Iron & Coal Company, becoming a practical iron roller. In 1863 he began in the grocery business in the twelfth ward, continuing for twelve years. Mean- time, in 1874, he bought his present place and started in the grocery business; also carried on a livery trade. In 1885 he began in the undertak- ing business, which was carried on by his son, G. A., for six years. On retiring from business. he turned his different enterprises over to his son and daughters, but still owns five residences and a business block.

In Dunmore in 1852 Mr. Miller married Miss Maria M. Fickinger, a native of Rhine Province, Germany. They are the parents of three living children: Mary; Gustav Adolphus, who is in

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business in Scranton; and Louisa, Mrs. Stephen Spruks, of this city. Like his ancestors for many generations, Mr. Miller is a member of the Ger- man Presbyterian Church, but unlike them, he is not identified with the Masonic fraternity. His political affiliations are strongly in favor of the Republican party, and he is a firm supporter of all its principles.

C HARLES P. JADWIN. The life of no man can be counted as having been in vain who has established a business upon a firin basis and contributed to the advancement of a city in a practical way. The business in Scranton to which Mr. Jadwin devotes his atten- tion is the purchasing, improvement and sale of realty. Not only was he the first in this city to regularly embark in the real estate business, but he has also been one of the most successful, hav- ing effected the largest transfers of property here and frequently handled valuable tracts in the business center.

A native of this county, Mr. Jadwin was born in Carbondale September 13, 1840. He is a son of Henry B. Jadwin, who was born in Maryland, grew to manhood on a farm, in youth served in the War of 1812, later learned the shoemaker's trade, which he followed in Wayne County, Pa., for a short time, and then removed to Carbondale about 1830. He was similarly engaged here un- til old age, when he retired from active business. His death occurred in 1876, when he was more . County, to take charge of a drug business in than seventy-six. In religious affiliations he was associated with the Methodist Episcopal Church. The lady whom he married was Alice Plumb, a native of Litchfield County, Conn., and daughter of Ezra Plumb, who removed from Connecticut to Wayne County, Pa., and later settled in Lack- awanna County. Mrs. Alice Jadwin was an ear- nest believer in the doctrines of the Presbyterian Church, in which faith she died in 1880.

There were eight sons in the parental family, namely: Orlando H., a wholesale druggist of New York City; Cornelius C., a former member of congress and for some years a prosperous manufacturer; Henry B., a retired merchant and formerly mayor of Carbondale; Charles P .;

James S., who died here in boyhood; Ezra W., who passed away in 1864; Thomas S., a drug- gist, who died in this city in 1894; and John S., also a druggist, who died in 1895. Lieut. Edgar Jadwin, a son of Cornelius C., received the highest average of any one who ever graduated from West Point.

At the age of twelve the subject of this sketch became an employe in a drug store in Carbon- dale, where he remained until the outbreak of the Rebellion. September 4, 1861, he married Miss Augusta Hampton, and on the same day enlisted in the Union army, becoming a private in Com- pany C, Sixth Pennsylvania Cavalry, and being mustered in at Philadelphia. In the spring of the following year, while drilling at Dranesville, a horse fell on him and disabled him permanently. On this account he was honorably discharged in February, 1862, with the rank of color sergeant. It was a great disappointment to him that he was unable to continue with his regiment and share in the final triumph of the Union.

Returning home, in 1864, with his brother, Henry B., our subject bought out the drug busi- ness of his brother, Orlando H., and continued thus engaged until 1872, when he went to New York, forming a partnership with his brother Orlando, under the firm name of Jadwin Broth- ers, and embarking in the wholesale drug busi- ness at No. 63 Courtland Street. In addition to the sale of drugs, he also engaged in their manu- facture. In 1875 he returned to Lackawanna Scranton that had come into the possession of the firm. Of this he remained in charge until 1879, when he sold out, but having meantime become interested in other enterprises, he decided to remain here, and accordingly disposed of the New York business.

In 1883 Mr. Jadwin opened a real estate busi- ness in the old postoffice building, where he en- gaged in the sale of city tracts, and also platted Clark's Summit, a ride of fifteen minutes from the heart of the city. In addition, he developed Pros- pect Park and the Silkman plat in Green Ridge. For some years he has had the heaviest real estate business in the city, and his deals are large and important. A number of lots he has sold as many

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as six times, these being located principally in the business center. He is a member of the board of trade, in former years was identified with the Masons and Odd Fellows, belongs to Lieut. Ezra S. Griffin Post No. 139, G. A. R., is identified with the Elm Park Methodist Episcopal Church, and for five years was chairman of the Republican county committee.

To the request of his townsmen to become an office-holder Mr. Jadwin has turned a deaf ear, believing that in aiding by his active co-operation those projects set on foot for the welfare of his community, he can be of more real service. He is not one of those impulsive, vacillating charac- ters, to be governed by the opinions of others, driven by adversity or led away by prosperity, but, like every consistent, honest man, he holds firmly to his principles under all circumstances. His wife, who was born in Susquehanna County, is a daughter of Dr. R. Hampton, formerly of New Jersey, now residing with his son-in-law. Two children comprise the family, Orlando H., who is in business with his father; and Reuel H., who is with the Scranton Forging Company.

J' OHN W. KILPATRICK, manufacturer of cigars for the wholesale and retail trade, with factory in Main Street, Carbondale. was born in this city January 21, 1854, the young- est child of Joseph and Ann (Dougherty) Kilpat- rick, natives of County Sligo, Ireland. His fath- er, who came to this country soon after his mar- riage, settled in Carbondale and continued to follow mining pursuits until his death, at the age of about seventy-one years. Of his four children, three are living, those besides our subject being Elizabeth, who resides in Carbondale; and James, whose home is in the state of Washing- ton.

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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 32

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