Portrait and biographical record of Wyoming and Lackawanna counties, Pennsylvania : containing portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the counties, Part 44

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 44
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 44

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In 1854 William Pearce came to Scranton and opened a meat market in Providence. The fol- lowing year he sank a shaft and assisted in build- ing a breaker. The first car that came out of the slope was hauled by horses and a road was opened to where the von Storch shaft was after- ward sunk. The latter shaft was then sunk and a breaker built in Ferdinand Street. Later, how-

JAMES M. RHODES.

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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

ever, the breaker was removed to the slope in Nay-Aug Avenue, and Mr. Pearce hoisted the first car out of this slope. He dug all the founda- tions for the Marvin breaker and did other im- portant work. On completing the von Storch shaft, he was ordered by the president, Charles Pierson, to take a load of tools to the sand banks; he did so and this was the starting of the Dickson works. For a time he was coal inspector, also held the positions of outside foreman and dock- ing boss at Leggett's Creek. In 1893 he retired front active labors and is now living quietly at his home in Providence. By his marriage he was six children, namely: William H., a contractor and builder in Milford, N. Y .; Capt. E. W .; Jen- nie E., Mrs. Leander Tripp, of Scranton; Rich- ard C., a member of the engineers' corps during the war and now an engineer on the Lehigh Val- ley Railroad; Mamie, Mrs. E. H. White, of New York City; and Emma A., wife of the subject of this sketch.

J AMES MADISON RHODES, one of the most prominent farmers and lumbermen of the county, resides in Roaring Brook Township, in the borough of Elmhurst, where he owns a beautiful home and well improved place. During the days when the lumbering business was at its height, he operated several mills here and employed many men. He now owns an in- terest in lumber lands in the south, and among other enterprises is engaged in that of manufac- turing vitrified brick. An active business man, reliable and honorable in his dealings with all, and possessing financial ability, he has by ju- dicious management acquired a valuable prop- erty and ranks among the wealthy men of the township.

The father of our subject, Adam Rhodes, was born in Bucks County, and in 1840 came from Cherry Valley, Monroe County, to Covington Township, Luzerne County. At that time the only road in the whole vicinity was the old Philadelphia and Great Bend turnpike. An acquaintance had told him of the beauties of this part of the country, and persuaded him to come to the "beech woods." Being very poor and having nothing with which to commence in a new country, he was poorly pre-

pared for such a change, but the story of plenty of land, plenty of wood, etc., enticed him and he came. The hardships of pioneer life he endured in his efforts to establish a home in the wilder- ness. The only way to obtain the necessities of life was to work industriously at his trade-that of a cooper,-making barrels which he carried to Slocum's Hollow and exchanged for flour and other necessities. Later he manufactured nail kegs, for which he found a market. The flour barrels found their way to Carbondale and other distant places where there were mills. He cleared a farm and resided here for some time, but finally removed to Bradford County, where he died at seventy-seven years.

The mother of our subject bore the maiden name of Rebecca Harmon, and was born in Clear- field, Monroe County. She died at seventy-six years. Her six sons and one daughter were named as follows: Stephen and Elizabeth, de- ceased; John C., of Towanda; Harrison W., who was killed in 1894; James M .; Maurice H., of Waverly; and Peter D., who lives in Hyde Park. The subject of this sketch was born in Monroe County on New Year's day of 1831, and was reared to manhood in the midst of primitive sur- roundings. With his father's assistance he learned the cooper's trade, and helped in the manufacture of nail kegs for some years. His education was necessarily limited, as from early boyhood he was obliged to work unceasingly for a livelihood. However, by experience and observation he gained a practical education, that makes him to- day a well informed man.

When twenty years of age Mr. Rhodes began to seriously consider the grave questions relating to the welfare of the family. He found the land they called home had been contracted for by his father, who for years had kept up the interest, but could do no more. The time had arrived when something must be done or the place would be lost. Going to the owner, he made an agreement with him that if paid $100, a new contract would be entered into and another chance given the family. With the characteristic zeal that has so frequently manifested itself since, lie secured a loan of $100 and paid the amount agreed upon, taking a new contract. This point may be said

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to have been the beginning of the young man's career. It is often said of successful men that they began at the bottom of the ladder, but of Mr. Rhodes it may be remarked that he began $100 below the bottom. Undiscouraged by the debt he at once set to work to meet his obliga- tions, getting out timber for the Gravity road and later doing teaming for the railroad. He was always planning and working, and finally success crowned his efforts, for the land was cleared of debt.

The experiences of our subject in this locality during his early years were not pleasant, and his lot seemed one of constant toil and hardship. When twelve years of age he was accustomed to carry flour on his back from Scranton, following the blazed trees that marked the way. These and similar experiences did not have a tendency to make the boy. enthusiastic about this county, but from the time he was twenty and took charge of things himself, he was courageous and confident of ultimate success. His mother, too, was a hard worker, and patiently toiled from day to day, spinning flax and wool, making clothes, and per- forming the many duties that fell to a woman's lot in pioneer times.

Adding to the land from time to time and build- ing mills, Mr. Rhodes became the largest lumber dealer in the vicinity, employed many men and built up a comfortable home. His subsequent career, while successful, has not been without its discouragements. Always ready to help those in need, he signed notes for a large amount for others; hard times came on and the bankrupt act was taken advantage of by almost everyone. He was advised to do it, and not to pay other men's debts. His high sense of honor would not permit this, and he made a peculiar endeavor to pull through. He borrowed $15,000 and paid up everything. Lumber was selling for $6 per thou- sand and was a source of some profit. He pushed the business. The next year it was worth $14 per thousand. He continued to push the enter- prise. Later disaster came by fire that destroyed thousands upon thousands of dollars' worth of his property. In spite of reverses, he continued steadfastly onward, and is now in the enjoyment of a competence honestly gained.

In 1855 Mr. Rhodes married Mary Ann Swarts, whose father and mother settled near Providence and died at the ages of seventy-two and sixty-five. She was one of seven children, the others being Halsey, of Scranton; Susanna, whose home is in Madison Township; Martha Jane, also of that township; Merritt E. and Harriet E. (twins), the latter deceased; and Elwood P., of Chicopee, Mass. Of the children of Mr. and Mrs. Rhodes we note the following: Milton, who lives near his par- ents and married Ella Conklin, is superintendent of the turnpike, and owns a number of teams and takes contracts for hauling; Chauncey W., manager of the vitrified brick works, married Myra J. Clark and has three children, Ralplı Ray, Edna M., and Clark I .; Rose E. is the wife of Frank Hardenberg, a merchant near here, and mother of one child, Jessie M .; Hattie M., Mrs. Fred J. Peck, of Scranton, has three chil- dren, Orrin C., Willard R., and Mildred; Mary M .; Blanche M., deceased; Friend F. and Percy W., at home. Parents and children are identified with the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Politically Mr. Rhodes is a Republican, and fraternally is connected with the Masons. In the spring of 1894 he leased land of John B. Smith and engaged in the manufacture of vitri- fied brick, organizing and obtaining a charter for a company called the Scranton Brick & Tile Company, with plant at Nay-Aug. In this en- terprise he was 'the prime mover and was made president of the company. He also organized and is president of the Scranton Land & Lumber Company, owning lands in North Carolina. With local enterprises his name is indissolubly associated. He is president of the Roaring Brook Turnpike Company, that built a road to Dunmore. Noting the need of a permanent cem- etery, he bought a farm to secure a proper loca- tion and platted twelve acres into "Fairview Cem- etery," of which he is the sole owner. One hun- dred acres lying near his home he sold to the Scranton Water Company, who built a fine dam, impounding a large amount of water and mak- ing a beautiful lake. He sold the water privilege. of Maple Lake to the Spring Brook Water Con- pany; also sold Scranton the headwaters of Meadow Brook.

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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

The record of the life of Mr. Rhodes may be read with profit, for it illustrates the power of self-help and untiring perseverance. Hampered in youth by debt and without the aid of influ- ential friends at the beginning of his career, meet- ing with his share of reverses in business, he has yet worked his way to a position of promi- nence in his locality, and his residence and farm mark the prosperous man.

M ARION W. FINN. In the list of old and established business houses of Scranton belongs the firm of Ezra Finn & Sons, of which the subject of this review is the senior member. Organized by the gentleman whose name it bears and by him carried on for years, since his death it has been in charge of his sons, Marion W., Sidney H., and George W. They own about one-half block in Ash, corner of Penn Avenue, where they have office, shop and lumber yard. Besides carrying on a large trade in the sale of lumber, they take contracts for the erec- tion of houses and public buildings and have built some of the finest residences in the city.

The founder of this business was born in Clif- ford, Susquehanna County, Pa., November 20, 1826, and was the son of James Finn, a farmer of that place. Forty years of his life were spent there, but in 1866 he came to Scranton and with a brother engaged in the meat business for a year, after which he was employed in the carpenter de- partment of the Lackawanna Iron & Coal Com- pany, and then worked for Woolsey two years. It was after this that he began contracting with his sons, thus establishing the firm of Ezra Finn & Sons, with which he was connected until May 10, 1888, when he was accidentally killed by being run over at the Delaware & Hudson de- pot, Scranton. His wife, Elizabeth Coleman, was born in Clifford Township, Susquehanna County, and died in Scranton in 1890, aged six- ty-four. Their five children are Marion W., Jane C., Sidney H., George W., and Hannah E., wife of O. B. Partridge, attorney, of this city.

The youthful years of our subject were passed in Susquehanna County, where he was born De- cember 7, 1847. He accompanied the family to

Scranton in 1866, and after a commercial course in Gardner's Business College, began to learn the carpenter's trade under his father's supervis- ion. In this way he soon gained a thorough knowledge of the occupation and was fitted to engage in it successfully. In 1885 he became a member of the firm, and three years later suc- ceeded his father as the head of the business. When Caponse Avenue was still in grass, he bought property here and in 1876 built a number of residences in this locality, making his home at No. 1634. At that time there were few residents in this part of the city, and the surrounding coun- try was almost entirely in commons, but as the years went by people were attracted hither, houses were built, streets opened, lands platted and improvements introduced. In this growth he has been an active factor, contributing of his time, means, ability and influence to the develop- ment of local resources. In addition to his many other interests, he is financially connected with the Lackawanna Hardware Company.

In this city, in February, 1871, occurred the marriage of Mr. Finn to Miss Jennie R. Burdick, who was born in Woonsocket, R. I., but was reared principally in Susquehanna County, Pa., receiving a thorough education in public schools and Harford Academy. For thirteen terms she engaged in teaching in what is now Lackawanna County, remaining in one place for four years, and meeting with the greatest success in her work. In those days it was customary for the teacher to "board around" and also to teach one- half day on Saturday. In one place she was suc- cessful in controlling the children and instructing them, when others had failed completely, so that for five years no school had been held. She is a lady of intelligence and keen mental faculties, with a taste for the beautiful and for the social amenities of life. Her only daughter, Clara, is gifted as an artist, and many of her works adorn the walls of the home.

Elias Burdick, Mrs. Finn's father, was born in Woonsocket, R. I., a son of Kendall Burdick, who was a pioneer of Clifford, Susquehanna County, and died there at ninety-three years. The former was engaged as a locksmith in Woon- socket, and died in middle life; his wife, Eliza

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Wilcox, was a daughter of Gideon Wilcox; she was born in Rhode Island, and died in Pennsyl- vania at fifty-four years, having removed to Sus- quehanna County, this state, shortly after her husband's death, and thence a year later came to Scranton. Of her six children all but one are living, and three make their home in this city.

J AMES MERRILL came to Scranton in Oc- tober of 1851, and entered the employ of the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad Company as fireman, but in March of the following year he was made locomotive en- gineer between Scranton and Great Bend, and fifteen months later was transferred to the pas- senger train between the same points. In 1859 he was appointed engine dispatcher and has since held the position, being, in point of years of serv- ice, the oldest engineer on the road. That he is faithful, efficient and capable, his long years of service with the same, company abundantly proves.

The home where James Merrill was born stood nine miles from the head of Cayuga Lake, in Car- oline, Tompkins County, N. Y., and there his birth occurred in September, 1828. The fam- ily was founded in this country by his great- grandfather, who came from France and settled in Connecticut. The grandfather removed from there to New York and established his home near Oxford, where he died. Martin, father of James, was born in New Haven, Conn., and in an early day settled upon an unimproved farm in Tomp- kins County, N. Y., where his first home was a log cabin. Through his labors the place was cultivated and improved, and there he remained until his death at eighty-eight years. His wife, Eunice Stevens, was born and married in Stam- ford, Conn., and died at her home near Ithaca, when seventy-three years of age. They had five children, namely: Alvin, of Ithaca; James; Ira, also a resident of Ithaca; Nelson, deceased, and Mrs. Maria Bogardus, who died in Ithaca

Until fifteen years of age Mr. Merrill lived on the home farm, but at that age he began to work on the Cayuga & Ithaca Railroad, the first in the United States, and remained with it in the

shop until steam was introduced. Later he was baggage master and express agent for three years. In 1851 he came to Scranton, and has since been an honored resident of this city. His marriage in Bedford, N. Y., united him with Miss Anna Augusta Miller, who was born at Sing Sing, N. Y., the daughter of John Miller, a business man of that city. They reside at No. I27 Adams Avenue, and have one son, James A., a graduate of Wyoming Seminary.

Shortly after settling in Scranton, Mr. Merrill was one of ten who applied for a charter and opened Union Lodge, F. & A. M. Eight years later, the society having become very large, he and nine others withdrew and applied for char- ter and started Peter Williamson Lodge, of which he has since been a member, he and George Kingsbury being the only survivors of the charter members. He has the honor of being the oldest Mason connected with any lodge in the city, and he is also a member of the Masonic Veteran Association. He is identified with the First Presbyterian Church, the services of which he has attended since coming to the city. In 1856 he voted for John C. Fremont for president, and has since been strictly Republican in his views, and he has done effective work on county and city committees.

F RANK P. ARNOLD, one of the enter- prising young business men of Carbon- dale, and proprietor of a grocery in Bel- mont Street, is a member of one of the pioneer families of this section of the state. His grand- father, Joseph Arnold, a native of Rhode Island, migrated to this state and settled in Dundaff when that place was the trading point for this whole vicinity. The long journey was made with ox teams, along a route that was marked by blazed trees, and through a trackless forest that bore no indications of its present highly cul- tivated condition.

The experience of a pioneer in a new country is fraught with many hardships and privations. To see on every side a long, unbroken stretch of land covered with heavy. timber, is not a charm- ing sight when one must perforce dwell in the

JAMES JORDAN.

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midst of such a wilderness. However, such a condition of things develops all ones energies, in order that the land may be cleared and cultivated. Such was the experience of Joseph Arnold, whose early life of hardship was rewarded by the suc- cess of later years. Engaging in the mercantile business at Dundaff, he assisted in the develop- ment of that place, but later came to Carbondale, the discovery of coal convincing him that this would become an important business center-an opinion the truth of which was proved by the progress of later years. For a time he and a son, Solomon, were in partnership, and our sub- ject's father, William N., was a clerk, but after- ward the latter carried on the business, first with his brother Solomon, and then alone.

Until 1860 William N. Arnold engaged in merchandising. In 1864 he moved to Wayne County and settled on a farm he had purchased. There was a log house on the farm into which he moved, while the timber was still standing close to the walls on three sides of the building. To the clearing and cultivation of the land he devoted the remaining years of his life. He died in Carbondale at the age of seventy-six. By his first marriage, which was to Charlotte Joslin, he had no children. His second wife bore the maiden name of Juliet Palmer, and was born in Northampton County of Dutch ancestry. She is still living on the old homestead in Wayne Coun- ty. That place has recently been brought into prominence, owing to the discovery of gold on it, and a company is now investigating and bor- ing, with prospects of success. Five children were born of the second marriage of William N. Arnold, the others beside our subject being: Thomas, deceased; Mortimer, who lives in Car- bondale; Adelaide, who is with her mother on the farm; and Blanche, who resides in Carbon- dale.

The subject of this sketch was born in Carbon- dale, January 8, 1858, and there spent the first six years of his life, but in the spring of 1864 ac- companied his parents to South Canaan, settling upon a farm. His schooling was obtained during the three winter months when it was impossible to do anything on the farm, and in order to reach the school he was obliged to walk onc and one-

half milcs, often through deep snows, and in the face of heavy storms. He subsequently attended Eastman's College at Poughkeepsie, N. Y., where he graduated in 1888. Remaining at home until twenty-eight years of age, he then came back to Carbondale, and shortly afterward em- barked in the grocery business in Main Street, later moving to Belmont Street. His home is at No. 30 1-2 Belmont Street. He has always been in sympathy with the Prohibition movement, and has usually voted the ticket of that party, but in the campaign of 1896, the gravity of the issues at stake, in the contest between free coinage and "sound" money, led him to vote the Republican ticket. In 1890 he married Isabella, daughter of Andrew Wyllie, whose sketch is presented else- where. They are the parents of two children.

J AMES JORDAN was born in County Mayo, Ireland, January 1, 1835. His pa- rents, Patrick and Elizabeth (Dempsey) Jor- dan, emigrated to the United States in 1838 and settled in Pennsylvania, where he died at the age of fifty. Afterward his wife made her home with our subject until her death, which occurred when she was seventy-four. James spent the first six- teen years of his life as a farmer's boy. He then took his pick and shovel and began to work on a railroad. Later he drove a team on the con- struction of the North Branch Canal. In the fall of 1856 he secured a railroad contract orig- inally given to his uncle, but the death of the lat- ter caused its transfer to him.

The establishment of himself in business marks an era in Mr. Jordan's life, as from that time on- ward his success was rapid. The self-reliance he was called upon to exercise in his new capacity developed his character and put him on his met- tle. May 8, 1859, he opened a store in Olyphant, in which he invested $1,000 he had saved while railroading. The building was 20x30 feet, but after two years, feeling the need of enlarged quar- ters, he built an addition that almost doubled its capacity. In 1868 he rented that building and moved to his present location, where he has since increased the size of the store from 30x72 to 48x 72. In 1895 he built a residence that is con-

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nected with the store. The stock which he car- ries and buildings are valued at $50,000, and he has a large trade among the people of Olyphant and the surrounding country.

During the more than forty years of his resi- dence in America, Mr. Jordan has worked his way to a position of prominence, and is now num- bered among the wealthy men of Olyphant and the county. It was in 1852 that he left his na- tive land, taking passage on a sailing vessel that landed him in New York in August of that year. He was young and inexperienced, but energetic and industrious, determined to make a success of life. Fidelity to little duties brought him in- creased responsibilities and opportunities, and to these he was equally faithful. He was reared in the Catholic faith and is connected with that church in Olyphant.

August 28, 1859, Mr. Jordan married Miss Ann Monahan, a native of County Mayo, Ireland. Their family consists of five children: Patrick M., manager and general buyer of his father's store; Thomas F., who is employed as book- keeper; James F., a clerk in the store, and Anna and Elizabeth, who are at home. Wishing that his children might have better advantages than had been his privilege, Mr. Jordan sent his sons and daughters to school and gave them every op- portunity to fit themselves for useful and honora- ble positions in the world. The sons are now re- lieving him of much of the detail work connected with the management of the store, while the daughters are brightening the home by their presence and taking a prominent place in the so- cial circles of Olyphant.

M ILTON MCFARLAND, general fore- man of the carpenter department of the Lackawanna Iron & Steel Company, Scranton, is one of their most trusted employes, and has served them faithfully many long years. During the Civil War he was one of the first to enlist in the defense of the grand old stars and stripes. All honor to those who suffered un- told hardships of famine, sickness, exposure and worst of all that can be imagined or described, imprisonment in the rebel "ante-rooms of hell,"

as they were justly termed, to save our united nation.

Our subject was born March 12, 1837, in Heni- lock Hollow, Wayne County, Pa., and is of sturdy old Scotch ancestry. His paternal grand- father came from the land of heather to make his future abode in Maine, and in that state our subject's father, Daniel, was born and grew to manhood on the banks of the Penobscot River. He operated sawmills in his native state and also after he came to Pennsylvania, owning several plants in Pike and Wayne Counties. For some years his home was in Hawley, Wayne County, at which period he worked for the Delaware & Hudson Canal Company. He died in the faith of the Universalist Church, when in his seventy- ' second year. His wife was formerly Catherine Amerman, and was a descendant of an old Stroudsburg (Pa.) family; she died when in her seventy-seventh year.

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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 44

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