Portrait and biographical record of Wyoming and Lackawanna counties, Pennsylvania : containing portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the counties, Part 42

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 42
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 42

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Returning to Scranton in 1863, Mr. Church began the improvement of the Thomas Griffin property, comprising forty acres. Here he erected what has since been known as Bull's Head Hotel, still his property, but now leased to other parties. For some years he gave his atten- tion to developing the land, laying out streets, selling lots and building up the locality, which now contains many substantial residences. How- ever, it is perhaps as a cattle dealer that he has become best known, and in that line he did a business ranging from $100,000 to $200,000 per annum. In order to properly carry on the busi- ness, he was obliged to travel considerably, and made frequent journeys to Buffalo and Chicago, also took two trips to California, has been in the tamarack swamps and cranberry marshes, and in fact throughout the entire country. In addi- tion to other enterprises, hc engaged in mining for domestic uses, and was the first to open what is now known in the valley as the Church vein of coal. The drover's business was rendered un- remunerative when the shipment of beef was in- troduced, but he continued afterward in the coal business for a number of years and then retired.

In this city Mr. Church married Miss Char- lotte, daughter of Josephine Stevens, and grand- daughter of Thomas Griffin, the founder of the family here, and a large land owner. She died in 1880, having been the mother of two children, one of whom survives, Charles Joseph, a resident

of Scranton. Politically a Republican, Mr. Church was elected on that ticket to represent the second ward in the common council and served efficiently for one term. Fraternally a Mason, he holds membership in Hiram Lodge No. 261.

W ILLIAM YEAGER has the distinc- tion of being the oldest surviving set -- tler of Madison Township. He was only twelve years of age when he came to Lack- awanna County, and began to clear land and work at odd jobs. The first winter was spent in Green Ridge, after which he came to Madison Township. About a year later he was joined by his father and the other members of the family, all of whom be- gan to labor industriously and perseveringly in order to develop a farm. The country was then in an incipient stage of cultivation. Improve- ments were meager, comforts were few, and the youthful pioneer received many hard knocks in his struggle with the rude forces of nature. How- ever, he was brave and possessed the true courage that fears no obstacle. As the years passed, he saw the fruit of his labors and rejoiced in the in- creasing prosperity of the people. Though bowed by the burden of more than four score years, he is still active and vigorous, and takes an interest in the affairs of the neighborhood.

For reference to the Yeager family, the reader may turn to the sketch of Peter Yeager, presented upon another page. William was born in Wash- ington County, N. Y., April 3, 1816, and at the age of twelve years came from his native place to Lackawanna County, settling in Green Ridge, where he remained a few months. Coming to Moscow about 1828, there was only one little shanty in what is now a thriving village, and the surroundings gave few indications of the present prosperity of the place. He worked for his father until he was twenty-three, when he purchased a small farm near Moscow, and this he partly im- proved. A few years later he traded the property for a farm about three miles from Moscow, which he improved and has since made his home, with the exception of fifteen years spent in the village of Moscow. To the original acreage lie has added from time to time, and has bought other places

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until he now owns several farms and considerable city property, being one of the largest land own- ers in the township.

October 10, 1835, Mr. Yeager married Miss Susan Biesecker, who was born in Northampton County, Pa., October 1, 1816, and died in this county, May 22, 1894. Five children were born to the union, namely: William Henry, who died young; John Adam, who was born in this town- ship March 17, 1840, and has spent his entire life here; Sarah Ann, born July 2, 1843; Reuben, who was born September 4, 1843, and died in 1893; and William W., born August 20, 1850, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this volume.

In his active years Mr. Yeager took an interest in local politics and served as supervisor of the township and school director, also was overseer of the poor for twenty-five years, when he re- signed, refusing to serve longer. He has always kept himself informed regarding political and other issues, and votes the Democratic ticket. For fifteen years he made his home in Moscow, but after the death of his wife returned to the home of his son, John Adam. The success which he has met is remarkable when we consider that in youth he had no advantages, and that in all his life he never attended school a day, so that he is deserving of especial praise for what he has ac- complished in life.

P ROF. H. J. HOCKENBERRY, principal of the Carbondale High School, was born in Orrstown, Franklin County, Pa., No- vember 15, 1849, and is a son of James H. and Mary (Burrows) Hockenberry. Both his pater- nal and maternal ancestors have been residents of the Cumberland Valley for six generations, and among them were some who took a promi- nent part in all the stirring events of the valley, participating in the Revolution, the War of 1812 and the Mexican War. They have always been noted for patriotic love of country and loyal de- votion to its welfare.

Now a resident of Indiana, James H. Hocken- berry has for years been a well-known mill- wright, and at one time was an extensive builder

of mills in the west. During the Rebellion he enlisted in the Union army, but meeting with a serious accident saw no active service. His wife was born just across the Cumberland Mountains in Bloomfield, whither her parents had removed from the valley. She died in 1883. The early education of our subject was obtained in the schools of his native place, and he was preparing to enter college when his father met with re- verses that caused the loss of his fortune. In 1866 the family moved to Martinsburg, W. Va., and there the youth began his chosen lifework, that of teacher. At Wellsville he taught the first public school in that locality. He continued for some years, thus earning the money needed to complete his higher education, and when a suf- ficient amount had been saved, he entered the Millersville (Pa.) Normal School, from which he graduated in 1873, carrying off the honors of his class as valedictorian.

After the completion of his professional edu- cation, our subject taught in the high school of Martinsburg for one year, then became a teacher in the Methodist Seminary at Smyrna, Del., and later taught in Berrysburg Seminary in Dauphin County, Pa., where he remained until 1883. Since that year he has filled the position of prin- cipal of the high school of Carbondale. During his fifteen years of administration of this school, it has been brought to a high standard by his un- tiring efforts and indomitable will. As a teacher he commands the respect of pupils and people. While strict in enforcing discipline, he is by no means severe, but aims to encourage the chil- dren in their studies by inculcating a love of knowledge in their minds. During his adminis- tration the old-time buildings have given away to new structures of modern style, and the high school building is a credit to the thriving town in which it is situated.

In addition to his duties in the school room, Professor Hockenberry has taken a warm inter- est in public affairs. He was one of the founders of the "Daily Herald," and is vice-president and a prominent member of the board of trade. In the Methodist Episcopal Church he is an influen- tial worker and liberal giver. He believes that the suppression of the liquor traffic is the object

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most to be desired by Christian people, for its evil results threaten to undermine the perpetuity of the government and the prosperity of the na- tion. He was the candidate of the Prohibition party for congress in 1896, and was frequently called upon to deliver addresses during the cam- paign. Kind, energetic and forcible, he is a pub- lic-spirited man and devotes his best interests to elevate the condition of his fellow-men. In 1875 he married Miss Minnie Hoffman, of Martins- burg, W. Va., and they have two sons, Raymond M. and Myron B.

J OHN W. CURE. How frequently it is the case that ability and energy combined ac- complish truly wonderful results, raising a man from the obscurity of poverty to the promi- nence and influence that success brings. To such men as Mr. Cure this country owes her present stability in commercial, agricultural and indus- trial circles, -- men who, not afraid of personal hardships and the trials that in an active career without financial assistance too often come to each life, are strong and brave enough to carry out Hamlet's advice and "by opposing troubles, end them."

A lifelong resident of Greenfield Township, Mr. Cure was born here April 24, 1846. The family of which he is a member originated in England and Germany and was first represented in this country by three brothers, a doctor lo- cating in Philadelphia, a lawyer in New York City, and his grandfather, John, who became a pioneer of Luzerne County, settling there when it was a dense forest with few habitations. Look- ing at the present advanced condition of that county, it is impossible to realize the struggles through which he, with other pioneers, passed in opening up what is now a wealthy county, capa- ble of supplying the wants of its numerous in- habitants and thousands of dwellers in other parts of the world. The picture presented by our imagination bears but a faint resemblance to the reality, yet even this suffices to thrill our hearts with gratitude to all those who bore a part in work on what was then the frontier. It was the privilege of John Cure to live to see the develop-

ment of the county and to enjoy the comforts for which he had labored in early manhood. He died there at the age of seventy.

The father of our subject, George Cure, was born in Luzerne County in 1815 and always fol- lowed the occupation of a farmer, spending much of his life in Greenfield Township, where he died in December, 1893. He married Celinda June, a native of Pennsylvania, who died at the age of thirty-two, leaving six children: Mortimer, a farmer of Scott Township; Rachael, wife of A. O. Smith, of Greenfield Township; John W .; Z. T., of Benton Township; George, who gradu- ated from Dickinson College (Pa.), in the class of '80 and is now a Methodist minister holding a pastorate at Athens, this state; and Mary, wife of Frank Carey, of Scott Township.

The fact that he had to begin to work at an early age prevented our subject from gaining a thorough education. He attended the district schools three months in the year, also was a stu- dent in Madison Academy for a short time. At the age of seventeen he commenced to teach school and continued until twenty, when, having saved a small amount of money, he bought his time from his father for $75. During his ex- perience as a teacher he "boarded around." The settlers generally gave teachers the best accomo- dations they had, while' serving their turns in boarding and lodging them. Sometimes they kept an extra bed, which was used only on par- ticular occasions. The presence of the teacher being considered a "particular" occasion, he fre- quently occupied a bed which had not been used for months, an experience which, in winter, one does not care to repeat often, and anyone who has been similarly entertained will give him their sympathy.

Ambitious to make a success of life, Mr. Cure speculated a little, and as he invariably used good judgment, his ventures were successful. Though without capital, at the age of twenty, he pur- chased a farm for which he agreed to pay $4.500. A portion of the property was covered with a good maple forest, which was growing from year to year. As it was necessary for him to get some money, he concluded to cut down the trees and convert them into lumber. Before he did so,

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however, he consulted the advice of older per- sons, but was told it was foolish to think of such a thing and that he should let the timber stand for twenty years. He figured and thought upon the subject and finally decided to follow his own judgment. He hired men to cut down the trees, contracted at a mill to have the timber sawed and contracted the product when in lumber, clear- ing a handsome margin above cost. A few months afterward he sold the farm for $1,700 more than he paid, besides having the profit of the sale of lumber. He then bought a place in Greenfield Township, which he sold in thirty days for $400 advance. Finally he bought his present farm for $60 per acre and has added so many improvements here that he has doubled its actual value. As the farming industry declined he turned his attention to Lackawanna Valley and now has property in Forest City, Blakely and Scranton.

January 12, 1869, Mr. Cure married Miss Emma Worth, daughter of John Worth, of Greenfield Township, but she died fifteen months afterward. Subsequently he married her sister, Agnes, and they are the parents of three daugh- ters, Emma, Anna and Stella, who have been given excellent educations and are accomplished and popular. Fraternally he is connected with the blue lodge of Masons. For thirty years or more he has been connected with the Methodist Church and Sunday-school, much of the time its superintendent, and his life has been that of a Christian gentleman, than which no higher praise could be given any one. Christianity he believes to be the redeeming force of humanity and looks forward to the day when the world shall have accepted the Gospel of Christ and every nation shall be a Christian nation.

The adherence of Mr. Cure to the principles of the Republican party commenced during the campaign of Fremont against Buchanan. His father was always a stanch Democrat and the son was supposed to follow his teachings, but in this, as in everything else, he acted upon his own judgment. About the time of that campaign, he chanced to read "Uncle Tom's Cabin," and it had the effect of setting him to thinking and in- vestigating. Although then only ten years of

age, he made up his mind to be a Republican be- cause it was right. Such confidence had he in the righteousness of the cause that on election morning he asked his father to vote for Fremont, giving his reasons for the request. His father, who was a Democrat of the old school, with opinions bred in the bone, was so astonished at his son's position that his comment was, not an answering argument, but the observation, "Is it possible that I am bringing up a Republican?" Since arriving at mature years Mr. Cure has been one of the local leaders of the party and has filled many positions of trust in town and county, also attended conventions both as delegate and otherwise.

While it has always been a matter of regret with Mr. Cure that he did not in youth secure a better education, yet he is better informed in matters of general importance than most men of fine classical attainments. His education is practical, his mind methodical, his conclusions sincere, and while he does not believe that con- science is an infallible guide, yet he believes that the conscience, when educated, should be fol- lowed. A close student of political economy and kindred subjects, he is warmly interested in every enterprise or movement calculated to advance the intellectual, social or moral well-being of the community.

A XEL J. NORRMAN. The biography of Mr. Norrman furnishes a record of energy and perseverance in the face of difficulties. Through the fifty years of his useful life, some of it in shadow, some of it in sunshine, he retained his simplicity of habits, his cheerfulness of dis- position and his belief in human nature. Like the majority of Swedes, he was energetic, honest and persevering. In business circles of Scranton he stood high, and was regarded as a man of ex- cellent judgment and ability. His personal ap- pearance was prepossessing, for he was a broad- shouldered, fine-looking man, and his mental en- dowments were not inferior to his physical.

In his native country, Sweden, Mr. Norrman spent his boyhood years, and while the death of his father deprived him of many advantages he

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might otherwise have enjoyed, nevertheless he was the recipient of a college education and studied music, for which he had considerable talent. Soon after the war he came to America and in New York City acquired a better knowl- edge of our language than he had gained in the schools at home. Prior to crossing the ocean he had been civil engineer and bookkeeper for iron works and shortly after reaching the United States he became mining and civil engineer at Dunmore in the employ of the Pennsylvania Coal Company. He finally left that position, later taking up the lumber trade, and finally starting an insurance business in Wyoming Ave- nue. He died in June, 1889, in the fiftieth year of his age. Though reared in the Lutheran faith, he usually attended the Presbyterian Church in Scranton. Politically he was a Republican, fra- ternally identified with Peter Williamson Lodge, F. & A. M., and was a member of the board of trade, also of Company A, Thirteenth Regiment, N. G. P.

In 1868 Mr. Norrman married a daughter of Samuel and Hannah (Gardner) Saylor, the latter a sister of a long-time resident of Carbondale, whose wife, Anna, was a sister of Samuel Saylor. After the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Norrman, they resided nearly six years in Dunmore and then moved to Scranton, where the widow still lives. She is a member of the Second Presby- terian Church of this city.

M ISS BLANCHE ARNOLD resides in Main Street, Carbondale, where she has a paying property, and her attention is given to the collection of rents and other details connected with the management of her business affairs. She is the daughter of William N. Ar- nold, a native of North Kingston, R. I., who was brought to Pennsylvania by his parents at the age of seven years, settling in Susquehanna Coun- ty, but in 1840 removing to Carbondale. Here he made judicious real estate investments and was among the active business men of the place, owning the property and conducting a store on the site now occupied by the Israel Crane Com- pany. In later years he bought a farm in Wayne

County, four and one-half miles from Carbon- dale, and on that place his widow is now resid- ing. He passed away in 1891 at the age of seventy-five. 5

Joseph, father of William N. Arnold, was a pioneer of Pennsylvania and died at the age of eighty-two; his wife, who came to this state from Rhode Island in 1823 and was of English extraction, died at the same age. He was a son of John Arnold, a well-to-do farmer of Rhode Island and the owner of twelve hndred acres of land there. The father of John was Edmund, a native of England and the founder of the family in America. The mother of our subject was in maidenhood Juliet Palmer and was born in Northampton County, Pa., of English ancestry : she was a daughter of Thomas Palmer and grand- daughter of George Palmer, who died March 6, 1831, in the eighty-third year of his age, at his home called "Federal Seat," Moore Township. near the present village of Beeraville, Northamp- ton County. He was a great friend of David Rittenhouse, the celebrated astronomer, and a nephew of John Lukens, Esq., who from 1761 to 1789 was surveyor-general of Pennyslvania. Upon the death of James Scull, deputy-surveyor of Northampton County, in 1773, George Palmer was appointed his successor by a commission bearing date August 4, 1773, and he filled the office for fifty-one years in succession.

The subject of this sketch is next to the young- est of five children, the others being Thomas. who died at eighteen months: Mortimer, of Car- bondale: Adelaide, who lives with her mother in Wayne County; and Frank P., of whom men- tion is elsewhere made. In April, 1864, the family moved from Carbondale to the farm in Wayne County, where the widowed mother is now living, but Miss Blanche returned to this city in 1881 and took up her residence here, with her great-aunt and uncle, in Main Street. With them she remained until their death, the aunt dying in February, 1886, and the uncle in April. 1888, each at the age of about eighty-eight. The valuable property now owned by Miss Arnokl in Main Street, Carbondale, was willed to her by her aunt prior to her death.

Miss Arnold was reared in a home where

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honesty, truthfulness and industry were thor- oughly instilled into her nature. Her family be- ing of that substantial class which is equally re- moved from the rich and the poor, she has been happy in comparative exemption from the hard- ships incident to poverty and the alluring vani- ties that too often tempt the wealthy. Under the careful instruction of her parents, she grew to womanhood in the possession of most desirable qualities of character. Although reared in the faith of the Baptist Church, to which her mother belongs, she finds her religious homme in the Episcopal Church and is in sympathy with the doctrines taught by that denomination. Her fath- er, who was a Democrat, took a lively interest in political affairs and was a man of prominence in his community. For forty years he held mem- bership in the Masonic fraternity and the lofty tenets of that order expressed his views of life, duty and destiny, and these he made his religion. In early life he was identified with the Independ- ent Order of Odd Fellows, but did not retain his membership in the society. He was a prosperous man, and was well liked for his sterling worth and integrity of character.

H ERBERT B. COX, master mechanic with the Lackawanna Iron & Steel Company at Scranton, was born in Pittston, Ken- nebec County, Me., August 10, 1860. The family of which he is a member has been identified with American history from an early period. His pa- ternal great-grandfather, who was a pioneer farmer at Hallowell, Me., was the son of Capt. James Cox, who lived in Boston at the outbreak of the Revolution and according to tradition was a member of the famous Boston tea party, after which he was captain of a company of militia; he was the father of Rev. Melville B. Cox, who was the first American missionary to Liberia, Africa.

Capt. Smith Cox, our subject's grandfather, was born in Kennebec County and was one of five brothers, all commanders of whaling ves- sels in the early days when that business was at the height of its prosperity. They, having met with success, retired from the business. Capt.

Smith Cox entered the merchant marine service and at various times commanded thirteen differ- ent vessels, crossing the Atlantic and visiting India and all the ports of the world. Retiring in old age, he returned to Hallowell, Me., and there died at the age of seventy-six.

The father of our subject, Capt. Barrett A. Cox, was born at Hallowell, Me., and in early manhood was captain in the merchant marine service, visiting all the ports of the world. When about thirty-five he retired and engaged in the mercantile business at Pittston, where he served as justice of the peace for some time. In 1896, on the Republican ticket, he was elected to repre- sent his district in the state legislature, and is now filling that responsible position satisfactori- ly. Two children, Herbert B., and Mrs. Nellie Laird of Montpelier, Vt., were born of his mar- riage to Victoria L. Bailey, a native of Pittston, and daughter of Capt. Joseph C. Bailey, for years a captain in the coasting trade.

Reared in Pittston and Hallowell, Me., Herbert B. Cox received his education in Hallowell Classical and Scientific Academy when James G. Blaine was its president, and the diploma given him at graduation, in 1879, bears the name of that illustrious statesman. On the completion of his education he took up the study of engineer- ing, beginning his trade at the Charles River iron works in Cambridge, Mass., and making a specialty of steam engineering. While living in Cambridge he took a course of lectures in the Institute of Technology under Professor Whit- taker. After completing his trade he went to Philadelphia and for two years was with the D. P. Morris Company, celebrated throughout the country as expert engine builders. While living at Philadelphia he enjoyed a course in steam engineering at the Spring Garden Institute.

Coming to Scranton in 1885, Mr. Cox was with the Dickson Manufacturing Company, first in their shops, then as superintendent of the gas engine department. About 1889 he accepted a position with the Scranton Passenger Railway Company as superintendent and manager, ex- Governor Watres being the president. When the company was merged into a syndicate, he took a position as master mechanic with the Lacka-

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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 42

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