Portrait and biographical record of Wyoming and Lackawanna counties, Pennsylvania : containing portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the counties, Part 33

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 33
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 33

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In the common schools Mr. Kilpatrick ob- tained a practical education that fitted him for active business affairs. The first position he ever held was that of clerk in a confectionery store, where he remained from 1871 to 1873. Later he held a clerical position in the office of the Erie Company for about eighteen months, after which he was weighmaster and bookkeeper for Clark-

son & Brennan Coal Company for two years. Meantime he had become interested in base ball, and for a time after leaving his position with the coal company he gave his attention to matters pertaining to that game. After a time he opened a billiard parlor, but for some time past has been engaged in the manufacture of cigars. Though he had no knowledge of the business on entering it, he was quick to grasp its details, and has estab- lished and put on sale some brands of cigars that have a wide reputation for superior quality. Through energetic efforts he has accumulated property and owns some valuable real estate.

Politically a Democrat, Mr. Kilpatrick has taken a lively interest in local matters. For a number of years he has been a member of the county committee, and has frequently been del- egate to state conventions. While a member of the common council he served on important com- mittees. For a time he held the position of col- lector of school tax. For twenty years he has been a member of Columbia Hose Company No. 5, and is now the president of the board of trus- tees. In 1892 he was delegate to the convention of the Ancient Order of Hibernians at New Or- leans. He married Miss Kate Loftus, who was born in Carbondale, and they have a daughter, Mary. In religious belief he is a Catholic. He is a charter member of the St. Vincent de Paul Society and the Catholic Mutual Benevolent As- sociation, being financial secretary of the latter organization. Fraternally he is a charter mem- ber of the Improved Order of Heptasophs.

J OHN F. CORBY, who has represented the seventh ward upon both the common and select councils of Scranton, was born in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, capital of the county of Northumberland, England, June 23, 1857, and is a son of John and Catherine (Cullen) Corby, na- tives of County Mayo, Ireland. His grandfathers, Thomas .Corby and Francis Cullen, were farmers and life-long residents of Ireland. He was one of four children who attained mature years, name- ly: John F .; Thomas P., who died July 26, 1895; Mrs. Catherine Magee and Ellen, Mrs. James Mayock, both of Scranton.

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The father of our subject, immediately after his marriage, went to Newcastle-upon-Tyne, and there engaged in farming until 1870, when, with his wife and four children, he took passage on the steamer "Calabria" at Liverpool, and after a voy- age of eleven days landed in New York. Pro- ceeding at once to Scranton, he settled in Pine Brook and secured a position in the Dickson iron works. He died May 19, 1874, aged fifty-one years. His widow is still living and makes her home with her son, John F., in the house he erected at No. 933 Capouse Avenue.

The early education of our subject was ob- tained in the pay schools of England, and after accompanying his parents to the United States in 1870, he attended school at intervals when not employed in the Dickson boiler shop. At the age of eighteen he began an apprenticeship to the boilermakers' trade, and upon completing it, he was employed as a journeyman. He is still in the employ of the Dickson Manufacturing Com- pany and the long period of his service proves his faithfulness. He is a stockholder in the Equitable Building & Loan Association.

Politically a Democrat, Mr. Corby has been a member of the city committee. In 1887 he was elected, on that ticket, to represent the seventh ward on the common council, and served for one year. In 1890 he was nominated on an inde- pendent ticket, endorsed by the Republicans, as a member of the select council, and was elected by a majority of sixty. During his three years of service he was chairman of the finance commit- tee and of the committee on law and order, also served as member of committees on street and bridges, light and water, and others. On the ex- piration of his term in 1893 he refused to again become a candidate for the office. He is a mem- ber of St. Peter's Catholic Church, and was for- merly identified with St. John's Total Abstinence Society, of which he was the first secretary.

C HARLES PERRY BALL. In a review of the trade and commerce of Scranton, it must be evident that every branch of industry, every line of trade and every channel of human activity, have their representatives

here. Search the directories of the city from the first ones published to the last one issued, and what a panorama the list will present. New names, new trades, new industries, are added yearly, all contributing to make the Scranton of to-day. Within the past decade a new industry has sprung up in the United States that may be counted as one of the most important in existence, and that is the Keeley Institute.

The subject of this sketch, who is manager of the Keeley Institute at Scranton, was born in Montrose, Susquehanna County, Pa, in 1857. The family is an old one in that locality, his great- grandfather, Perry Ball, having been one of the first settlers of the county; prior to locating there, while still in Connecticut, he had taken part in the Revolutionary War. Grandfather George W. Ball, who accompanied his parents from Connecticut, was one of the pioneer farmers of Susquehanna County, and remained at the old homestead near Montrose until his death.

Our subject's father, E. G. Ball, was born in Susquehanna County and followed farm pursuits until 1871, when he was elected county com- missioner. Since the expiration of his term of office he has been clerk for the board of county commissioners, his home being in Montrose. Politically he is a Republican. He married Ruth A. Baldwin, whose maternal ancestors, the San- dersons, were of Scotch origin and who was born in Susquehanna County. Our subject, who is the only child of his parents, was educated in the public and high schools of Montrose, and in youth learned the creamery business. He built the Excelsior creameries at Burchardville, Fair- dale and Middletown, Pa., and shipped the prod- ucts to New York, Philadelphia, Jersey City and Newark.

Selling out the creameries in 1892, Mr. Ball became connected with the Keeley Institute, and is now manager for northeastern Pennsylvania. He established the headquarters in Scranton at Nos. 726-30 Madison Avenue, Nos. 726 and 728 being the hospital and principal institute, and No. 730 the ladies' department. In November, 1895, he took as partner E. J. Goodwin, who is now su- perintendent. In addition to the other rooms, he has fine club apartments, with card, smok-

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ing and billiard rooms. The physician in charge is William D. Bullock, M. D., of Raleigh, N. C., a graduate of Bellevue Hospital Medical Col- lege. The success of the business proves that it is under able management. Patients come here from different parts of the country, many coming from other states. At the time the Institute was started Mr. Ball had sixteen competitors, whose modes of treatment, however, infringed upon the Keeley method, and none of them now remain.

Politically Mr. Ball is a Republican, though not active in public affairs. He is a member of Warren Lodge No. 240, F. & A. M., at Montrose, and is identified with the Managers' National Association Keeley Institutes. In Susquehanna County he married Miss Einma A. Tilden, who was born there, and they have one child, Ma- rietta.

T HOMAS J. MOORE, general manager of the four stores of William Connell & Co., and one of the efficient business men of Scranton, was born in Dublin, Ireland, and is a son of the late Thomas and Hannah (Doyle) Moore, natives of the same place as himself. His father, who spent his entire life in Ireland, was government superintendent of public works and an energetic business man. Thomas J. was reared in Dublin, where he received a common school education. For a time he was employed as cash- ier for a railroad in South Wales.

Coming to America in 1870, through acquaint- ance with William Connell, Mr. Moore was en- gaged to come to Scranton as bookkeeper for the two stores here. On the death of Mr. Connell's brother, Alexander, he was promoted to the po- sition of superintendent of the Meadow Brook and Minooka stores. Since then two stores have been added, there being four at this writing, and employment is furnished to twenty-five hands. In addition to this position, Mr. Moore has also been connected with other business enterprises. He was one of the originators of the Scranton Axle Works, organized March 17, 1892, and in- corporated with a capital stock of $150,000. In 1893 he was chosen president of the company, and has held that position since. In the works,

which are located in the twentieth ward, straight steel axles and the crank axle are manufactured, the capacity being about seven thousand sets per month. Steam power is used, and the plant is supplied with the latest machines for manufac- turing. From its inception the business has pros- pered, and the works now rank among the best in the United States.

At No. 546 Adams Avenue Mr. Moore and his wife, formerly Margaret McIntyre, have estab- lished a pleasant home. Under Mayor John H. Fellows he was appointed a member of the board of park commissioners and is now its secretary. He is also treasurer of the Sheridan Monument Association. In the south side board of trade, which he was active in organizing, he served as the first president and is still prominent. He is also connected with the Scranton board of trade. His political belief brings him into affilia- tion with the Republican party, and he holds membership in the Lackawanna Republican Club. Fraternally he is associated with the Hep- tasophs, and is past officer of the Royal Arcanum. In business transactions he is very shrewd and quick, yet possessing that balance of tempera- ment which enables him to mingle with enthu- siasm sound common sense and wise judgment, thus securing the best financial results in his business enterprises.

J OHN CHURCH HUTCHINS. From the age of nineteen until his death when sev- enty, the subject of this article was a resi- dent of Carbondale, of which for some time he was an influential business man. His entire life was passed in Lackawanna County, his youthful years having been spent in the village of Provi- dence (now a part of Scranton), where he was born December 17, 1816. His education was such as the common schools afforded and was added to in subsequent life by observation and business experience. The death of his father when he was a child of only six years deprived him of that parent's wise counsel and help, and obliged him at an early age to become self-sup- porting.

The youthful years of Mr. Hutchins were

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passed on the home farm in Providence, but after coming to Carbondale he secured work as clerk in a store. Agriculture, however, was a more congenial occupation than the confining work of a clerk, and as soon as his means permitted he bought a farm one and a quarter miles from Carbondale. Here he resided for a time, but the manual labor incident to the cultivation of his place finally obliged him to abandon the occupa- tion. Returning to Carbondale, in the hope of regaining his health, he became interested in the grocery business and met with success. In 1876 poor health forced his final retirement from active business. Ten years later, August 30, 1886, he passed away, at his home in this city.

In his political belief Mr. Hutchins was a Re- publican, but displayed no partisanship in his ac- tions. He was deeply interested in everything for the promotion of the welfare of the people, and contributed of his time and means to philan- thropic projects. February 16, 1843, he married Sarah A. Burlingame, a native of Norwich, Conn., now residing in Washington Street, Car- bondale. Of the children born to their union we note the following: Susan Ann, Henry and Nor- man died at the ages of eight, twenty-two years and fourteen months respectively; Homer is an engineer on the Delaware & Hudson Railroad; Annie resides with her mother; John is employed as a dispatcher; Harriet is a successful teacher in the high school here; and Frank is express agent at Norwich, N. Y.

P ETER ROSAR. What honesty, hard work and steadfast determination may accom- plish cannot better be illustrated than by giving a brief sketch of the life of Mr. Rosar, one of the substantial business men of Scranton. He is the proprietor of a grocery at Nos. 724-726 Cedar Avenue, where he carries a full line of staple and fancy groceries, and also has a large trade in coal, wood, hay, straw and feed. In addi- tion to this store he is also the owner of Wash- ington Hotel, in Cedar Avenue.

Of German birth and parentage, Mr. Rosar was born in Trannenweir, Prussia, October 5, 1835, and is a son of George and Elizabeth (Hart-

mann) Rosar, natives of the same place as him- self. His father, who was a son of George, Sr., a farmer, came to America one year after his son, Peter, crossed the Atlantic; he settled in Scran- ton, where he remained until his death. The wife and mother also died here. They were the parents of four sons and four daughters, all of whom re- side in Scranton, except a sister in Elmira, N. Y. Peter, who was the eldest of the family, attended the public schools of Germany in boyhood. In 1852, when about seventeen years of age, he went to London, where he took passage on a sailing vessel for America. The voyage lasted sixty-eight days, and was one of indescribable suffering, for food and water both gave out, and the passengers almost starved to death.

When Mr. Rosar reached his uncle's home in Scranton he was not expected to live, and it was due to his vigorous constitution that he finally recovered, after an illness of two months. As soon as able, he began to work in the mines of the Lackawanna Iron & Coal Company, where he remained for three years. For ten years follow- ing he was employed in the boiler shops of the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad, after which he worked in the yards of the Lacka- wanna Iron & Coal Company for a year, and was then foreman of the outside works for ten years, finally resigning to engage in business. In 1866 he started a grocery store, which his wife carried on for some time. As the venture proved suc- cessful, he decided to devote his entire time to the business. He began with a small stock, and as he always bought for cash, he was enabled, little by little, to build the business up to its pres- ent substantial proportions.

In national politics Mr. Rosar votes the Dem- ocratic ticket, but in local elections he supports the man whom he deems best qualified to repre- sent the people. For one year he represented the eleventh ward in the common council, but after- ward refused renomination. He belongs to St. Mary's Catholic Church, and is identified with St. Joseph's Society in that church. Fraternally he is associated with the Deutches Selskof. In Scranton he married Miss Caroline Zang, who was born in the same locality as her husband. They are the parents of six children: Charles,

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deputy city controller; Joseph, who is engaged in the milk business; William, who is with his father in the grocery; Peter, Jr., clerk for the Delaware & Hudson Railroad Company; Lena and Lizzie.

I SAAC L. WILLIAMS. The business inter- ests of Scranton have an efficient representa- tive in this gentleman, who is known as one of the most stirring and energetic citizens of the place. It may truthfully be said of him that, in striving to advance his own interests, he has not overlooked the welfare of others or achieved per- sonal success at the expense of his fellowmen, but in his intercourse with all, whether in busi- ness or society, has proved himself an honorable man.

Referring to the family history of our subject, we find that his father, Jonathan M., was born in Sussex County, N. J., followed the occupation of a carpenter and builder, and about 1850 began work in Pittston, Wilkesbarre and Scranton, where he was one of the original breaker contrac- tors. His business has carried him to different parts of the valley, though for the past few years he has resided in Scranton. By his marriage to Margaret Michaels, who was born in Monroe County, Pa., he had seven children, of whom three are living, one, Henry M., a contractor in Scranton. Our subject, who was the youngest of the family, was born in Ransom, Lackawanna County, Pa., in 1859, and was educated in the public and high schools of Scranton. When elev- en years of age he began to work at the carpen- ter's trade, which he continued for some years. In 1880 he began the study of architecture under W. P. Cutting, of Worcester, Mass., where he re- mained for one year. Afterward he worked for a year as a carpenter in Babylon, L. I., devoting his spare time to architecture. Returning to Scranton, he became superintendent for John Benore, meantime continuing his studies.

In 1888 Mr. Williams secured some contracts by competition and opened an office, which he has since conducted, his present location being in the Mears Building. He had the contracts for public schools Nos. 14, 18, 22, 32, 35, 36 and 37, in

Scranton, the public school at Dalton, remodel- ing the Wyoming County jail at Tunkhannock, building the business houses of Carter & Ken- nedy, Golden & Welsh, Roche & Fadden, and the Jones Block, also two residences for A. H. Coursen, the homes of George Benore, F. E. Net- tleton and Dr. Roberts, a hotel building for Charles Kirst, a residence for Bishop Hobon at Ashland, and the remodeling of the Elk Building at Franklin. His most important contract was that for the Mears Building, the finest business block in the city, and two stories higher than any other building here, being ten stories in height.

In national politics Mr. Williams is a Repub- lican, and fraternally he belongs to the Benevo- lent Protective Order of Elks. With his wife and children, Myrtle and George, he has a pleasant home at No. 413 Spruce Street. He was married in Hawley to Miss Lizzie Vandermark, a native of Wayne County, and a daughter of John Van- dermark, who owned a farm and quarry there.

W ILLIAM B. FOSTER. The present age has witnessed many improvements in commerce, arts and sciences, but it is doubtful if any line shows greater advance- ment than has been made in the art of photog- raphy. Go into a modern studio and examine with the eye of a connoisseur the pictures upon exhibition, and you will come away with an en- hanced admiration for the men who have brought the art up from a crude stage to its present con- dition of perfection. Of Mr. Foster it may be said that he has made a careful study of the work and has introduced all modern improvements into his studio at Carbondale.

The father of our subject, James Fletcher Fos- ter, was born in Manchester, England, in 1835. He obtained his education in the schools and in- stitute of that city, and was engaged in a printing office when a lad, but was afterward apprenticed to learn the trade of a machinist. After serving his time he was examined as to his proficiency for the British Merchant service. Passing satis- factorily, he was ordered out on the East India service, and at once proceeded on a man-of-war to the Orient, serving a period of four years. He

HON. D. M. JONES.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

returned to England and shortly afterwards came to America, proceeding directly to Scranton, where he had a sister living. In 1865 he mar- ried Alice Lindsay, daughter of William Lind- say, of Carbondale. Three children were born of this union, Maggie May, William B., and Bertie, who died in infancy. The wife and mother died July 4, 1871. Some three years afterward he again married, his second wife being Mrs. Will- iam Ousey, of Danbury, Conn. She is now liv- ing with our subject. J. F. Foster followed the trade of a machinist in various parts of the states until his death, which occurred at Carbondale January 26, 1893. The paternal grandfather and grandmother of our subject were William and Sarah (Fletcher) Foster, the latter belonging to the Society of Quakers.

William B. Foster was born in Carbondale De- cember 12, 1868, and was early thrown upon his own resources, making his own way in the world from boyhood. He was engaged in various oc- cupations until fifteen years of age. It then be- came his desire to learn the photographic busi- ness, and as soon as the way was opened he did so. In spite of obstacles, in spite of limited means, he became successful, and deserves men- tion among the hard-working, intelligent busi- ness men of the city. He started in business for himself, and opened a well equipped studio at the corner of Sixth Avenue and Main Street in 1893, and has built up a good trade, having among his patrons many of the best families of Carbondale.

February 1, 1894, Mr. Foster married Jennie Bernd, of Danbury, Conn. In local politics he is prominent as a worker in the Republican party, and a member of the county committee.

H ON. D. M. JONES, deceased. The cosmo- politan character of the population of the United States is indicated by the fact that every country of the world is represented among its citizens. While many of these nations have sent hither men and women of energy, thrifty habits and honest hearts, yet it may be said, with- out injustice to the others, that no land has con- tributed to the citizenship of our country a higher

class of people, men of intelligence, industry and perseverance, men of brain and brawn, than has Wales.

The subject of this sketch was of Welsh birth and ancestry, a member of a family that was long identified with the agricultural interests of the shire of Brecon, lying inland among the moun- tains of Wales. His father, David A., was born in the town of Brecon and was a son of David, Sr. In early life he engaged in farming, but after his marriage he settled at Rhymney, where he engaged as a contractor in the ore mines. His wife, Jane, who was a native of Brecon and a daughter of William Jones, a horseman of that shire, died in Wales in 1848, and three years later he came to America, accompanied by his children, David, Margaret and William. He reached Pittston, Pa., in May, 1851, but three months later went to Hyde Park, where he was connected with mining interests until his retire- ment from business. In October, 1856, he went to California via the Nicaragua route and during the journey Walker's gang of filibusters made an attack upon the party. With others he was held and promised land if he would guide their expe- dition, but rejected the proposal and later was allowed to depart. In due time he arrived safely at his destination. For a year he remained at the Monte Cristo gold mines, returning via Pana- ma in 1857 and continuing to reside in Hyde Park until his death at the age of seventy-three. He was a man of sincere religious belief and served as a deacon in the Congregational Church.

Three children comprised the family, but none now survives. Our subject's sister, Mrs. D. H. Davis, who resided in Indiana, died in Scranton. His brother, William, who enlisted at the age of sixteen in May, 1861, as a member of Company K, Ninth Pennsylvania Cavalry, served as an orderly on Stanley's staff until he fell at the battle of Bull's Gap, Tenn., April 13, 1865. Near the village of Rhymney, Breconshire, D. M. Jones was born June 26, 1839. He was a boy of eleven when, with his father, brother and sister, he took passage at Cardiff on a merchant sailing vessel, which anchored at New York after a voyage of five weeks and four days. Coming to Pennsyl-

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vania, he soon began to work in the old Diamond mine, and later was apprenticed to the moulder's trade in the foundry of the Delaware, Lacka- wanna & Western Railroad. In 1858 he went to California, making the journey by steamer from New York to Panama, and from Aspinwall to San Francisco. From the latter city he went to Folsom, Cal., where he engaged in prospecting and mining. His next move was to British Co- lumbia and from there he went to Russian America (now Alaska), where he remained until 1860, prospecting and mining. In the fall of 1860 he returned to Folsom in time to cast his first vote for Lincoln, after which he started for Ari- zona with a pack, traveling horseback. The party being driven back by the Apache Indians, he began mining in Calaveras County, where he was successful. While in California he was cor- poral in a company of rifles under Captain Hop- kins, formerly of Scranton.

Meantime the nation was plunged in the peril of a great civil strife, and even in far distant California the highest excitement prevailed. The condition of the Union was such as to appeal to the patriotic spirit of every true citizen. Desiring to take an active stand for the government, Mr. Jones determined to return east, and in 1864 made the long journey by the Isthmus of Pana- ma. On his arrival at Scranton, he was mus- tered into Company I, One Hundred and Ninety- ninth Pennsylvania Infantry, September 17, 1864, and was sent to Camp Cadwallader, Phila- delphia, and from there to Richmond. April 2, 1865, the day on which Richmond and Peters- burg fell, he was serving as first corporal in the charge on Ft. Gregg, and was shot in the right thigh, receiving an injury so severe as to neces- sitate the amputation of the limb, which was done on the field. He was then taken to the hospital at Hampton, Va., and in July to Central Park, New York City, thence to David's Island, East River. October 1, 1865, he was honorably dis- charged from the service.

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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 33

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