Portrait and biographical record of Wyoming and Lackawanna counties, Pennsylvania : containing portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the counties, Part 46

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 46
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 46

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Lorenz Haberstroh is the youngest in a fam- ily comprising seven children, and a brother and sister are now living in Scranton. Until he was fourteen years old he remained in his native town, attending the national schools and then went to Bayreuth, where he was apprenticed to a harness-maker for three years. At the end of that time he concluded to work another year for the same man and had then thoroughly mas- tered the business. When he was seventeen and a half years old he entered the German army, being assigned to Company Twelve, Seventh In- fantry. He served three years and rose to be sergeant, before he was honorably discharged.

After spending another seven months with his former employer, he came to America to seek a home and fortune. In the spring of 1891 he left Hamburg in the steamship "Columbia" and at the close of six days' voyage landed in New York City. From there he came direct to Scran- ton, where he entered into the employ. of Mr. Fritz, and was thus occupied for some four months. Three years he was next a workman for Mr. Detweiler, and after an interval in which he visited his Fatherland he returned to the same place, continuing there until December, 1895. In April, 1896, he opened a harness-shop of his own at No. 422 Cedar Avenue, and suc- ceeded so well that in the following November he removed into larger quarters, at No. 510 Cedar, his residence and shop both being here. He manufactures the very · finest lines of har- ness, at all prices, varying from the ordinary, plain, but durable kind, to the silver, or nickel- trimmed affairs that so proudly bedeck the thor- oughbred pets of wealth and fashion. In addi- tion to harness, saddles, nets, pads, etc., are made here, and a full stock from which to select is constantly on hand.

In 1894 it was the privilege of our subject to

MAJ. JOHN B. FISH.

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make a trip to the continent, through which he traveled considerably, and then gave himself up to special study of the guitar and zither in a music-school in Munich, staying there some five months. In all musical affairs that take place in this community he is greatly interested, and on several occasions he has been called to take a leading part on the program, either in a vocal selection or on the zither. He belongs to the Sangerunde and to the Arion Society, and is considered to have a very strong and good bass voice.

The marriage of Mr. Haberstroh and Emma Forckel was celebrated in this city in 1896. She is a daughter of William Forckel, who is with the Dickson Company. They attend the Evangel- ical Lutheran Church of Peace, of which the young man is an active and earnest member, and at present on the board of trustees. He belongs to James Connell Lodge No. 170, I. O. O. F., and to the Order of Red Men. In national politics he is a Republican.

M AJ. JOHN B. FISH. The founders of the Fish family in America came here from Wales or England in an early day and became identified with the pioneers of Con- necticut. From the Stonington church records the following information is gleaned concerning the genealogy: Page 40, February 2, 1668, cen- sus of inhabitants showed forty-three, one of whom was John Fish. Page 66, Capt. Daniel Fislı, a prominent member of the Union party, joined by some of his friends, drew a memorial to the general assembly, which was read at a society meeting May 12, 1772. Page 86, Capt. Daniel Fish died in 1788. Page 189, December 5, 1680, John Fish was admitted to the church. Page 194, April 18, 1689, Samuel Fish owned the covenant. Page 196, March 13, 1680, Sam- uel, son of John Fish, was baptized. August 26, 1686, Sarah, wife of Samuel Fish, and her two sons, Samuel and John. June 24, 1688, Moses, son of Samuel Fish. July 17, 1692, Abigail, daughter of Samuel Fish. October 29, 1693, Aaron, son of Samuel Fish. April 18, 1695, Da-

vid and Margaret, children of John Fish. No- vember 8, 1698, John, son of John Fish. August 19, 1699, Nathan, son of Samuel Fish. July 12, 1702, Sarah, daughter of Samuel Fish. August 16, 1741, David Fish, Jr., an adult person. No- vember 1, 1741, Grace, daughter of Nathaniel Fish. Page 230, November 18, 1733, Grace Fish. November 17, 1757, married, Titus Fish and Lu- cretia Williams. Page 241, April 22, 1739, Mr. Fish baptized John Darin; October 9, 1743, baptized Thankful Minor; May I, 1748, baptized Abigail Stanton, and in May, 1757, Mary Dem- son. Page 252, February 17, 1743, married, Dan- iel Fish, of Preston, and Rebecca Palmer.

Daniel Fish, our subject's father, was born in Connecticut, but was reared near Bennington, Vt. From there he removed in early manhood to New York, journeying through the woods of Ulster County with no guide but blazed trees, and encountering many wild animals, one of which, a panther, fell a victim to his unerring shot. He settled in Liberty, Sullivan County, of which he was one of the earliest residents, and there had a blacksmith's shop. During the War of 1812 he went to the front and was stationed at Brooklyn Heights, receiving an honorable dis- charge at the close of the war. After many years of close application to the blacksmith's trade, failing health induced him to retire from business labors. In old age he removed to Damascus, Wayne County, Pa., and there died at ninety-two years. In politics he was a Whig and an earnest advo- cate of the abolition movement. His father, Ed- mund, was a member of a Connecticut regiment during the Revolution, after which he settled in Vermont and engaged in farming; at an ad- vanced age he joined his children in Sullivan County and there life for him was ended. While living in New London, Conn., he married an English lady there named Billings.

The first wife of Daniel Fish was Margaret Harmes, who was born on the Hudson, of Hol- land-Dutch descent, and died in Sullivan County in 1831. Four children were born of this mar- riage, of whom John B. is the only survivor. A brother, William Penn, was a non-commissioned officer in the One Hundred and Forty-fourthi New York Regiment during the Civil War and

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was killed on Morris Island. Of the second mar- riage of Daniel Fish was born a son, Edmund, who was a member of a New York regiment in the war and is now a resident of . Livingston Manor.

The first twenty years of the life of our sub- ject were passed in Liberty, N. Y., where he was born in 1829. At the age of fifteen he was ap- prenticed there to the tin sheet and iron business, serving five years. His former boss sold out to a man who wished the youthful apprentice to become his partner and this he reluctantly con- sented to do, but in a few months the Erie Rail- road came through and killed the trade. In the fall of 1849 he removed to Hancock and began in business with his former boss, under the firm name of Jones & Fish. One year later he sold out and went to Bainbridge, Chenango County, N. Y., where he worked at his trade for two years. One year was then spent at Deposit, N. Y., where he received $1.50 per day. The offer of $1.75 from a man in Pittston, Pa., induced him in 1854 to remove to that growing town. The following year he removed to Scranton, but after a short time returned to Pittston, and became a member of the firm of Ensign & Fish. He volunteered on the police force and for two years was chief of police, rendering the most efficient service in that capacity. He was also chief burgess of Pittston for one year immediately prior to the war.

At the first call for volunteers in 1861, our sub- ject went to Pittston and soon began to assist in raising Company C, of the Eleventh Pennsylvania Infantry, which was to serve for three months from April 20. While he held the rank of first lieu- tenant, he was acting captain, and was honorably discharged after a service of four months. Of all the Pennsylvania regiments his was the first to engage in active service and to suffer wound's and death. The enemy was first met under "Stonewall" Jackson at Falling Waters, Va., July 2, when two men of the company were shot, one of whom died. On being mustered out at Harris- burg in August, 1861, he returned home and be- gan to raise another company in Pittston and vicinity, with which, as Company H, Fifty-second Pennsylvania Infantry, he was mustered in at

Harrisburg October 4, 1861, as first lieutenant. At Hilton Head in April, 1863, he was commis- sioned captain by Governor Curtin. Among the battles in which he bore a valiant part were those at Williamsburg, Seven Pines, Fair Oaks, the seven days' fight, Botton Bridge, White Oak Swamp, Malvern Hill and Yorktown. By order of the war department he was sent to South Car- olina and after the Beaufort expedition began the siege of Charleston from Morris Island. During the two years that followed the regiment was un- der constant fire and the cessation of cannonad- ing for an hour would have been a surprise. For- tunately he was not seriously wounded at any time, though often in great peril. He was given a major's command and had command of three companies on Block Island until mustered out, after three and one-half years of active service, in March, 1865. When the troops were landed on James Island, the intense heat caused him to suffer from sunstroke, the effects of which he still feels.

April 1, 1865, Major Fish came to Scranton and for nearly two years worked at his trade, after which he opened a tin and stove establish- ment in Market Street, Providence, as a member of the firm of Lewis & Fish. Eighteen months later he was tendered the position of superintend- ent of the Providence Gas & Water Company, which he accepted and has since held. At the time he became connected therewith, the organi- zation was in its infancy and had a capital stock of only $28,000. This has since been increased to $300,000, and under his capable supervision the concern has been placed upon a sound finan- cial basis. Altogether there are sixty miles of piping and the amount is being constantly in- creased. Usually fifty men are employed, but there have been times when as high as four hun- dred were given work for a short time. From the reservoirs, located beyond West Mountain, Prov- idence and Green Ridge are supplied with water in quantities fully equal to the demand. In addi- tion to this work Major Fish is a director in the Paragon Plaster Works and was one of its origi- nal stockholders.

In Bainbridge, N. Y., Major Fish married Miss .

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Sarah A. Turner, who was born in Deposit, that state. Her great-grandfather, a native of England, had an interest in thousands of acres of land there, and her grandfather was the only heir. There was a rupture between them, however, and the latter left home and did not assert his claim to the property. It was done by his heirs, but too late to secure what was rightfully theirs. Major and Mrs. Fish had two children who attained ma- turity, but Laura alone survives. James, who was in the employ of the Delaware & Hudson Canal Company, died in 1886, leaving a wife and son, Robert M. The family residence is in North Main Avenue. They attend the Presbyterian Church of Providence, in which Major Fish is a ruling elder. Since the organization of the Re- publican party he has been one of its stanch members and voted in. 1856 for Fremont. He has served on county and state committees and was a member of the board of school control a part of one term. A Grand Army man, he is identi- fied with Lieut. Ezra S. Griffin Post, No. 139, and was commander of the first post. He is also con- nected with the Loyal Legion of the United States, Society of the Army of the Potomac, and the Survivors of the Fifty-second Pennsylvania Infantry. In 1880 he was unanimously elected captain of Company H, Thirteenth Regiment, N. G. P., and after eight years in that capacity he was commissioned major by Governor Beaver. With his regiment he was present at the scene of the Homestead riot in order to secure peace and restore order. Soon afterward he resigned and retired. In Liberty Hose Company, of which he was formerly a member, he has been president, treasurer, foreman and assistant chief. As a citi- zen he favors all enterprises for the advancement of the city and is justly numbered among its most public-spirited citizens.

J AMES R. BELL, 'a member of the police force of Carbondale, has resided in this city since 1890, having come here from Clifford Township, Susquehanna County. Of Scotch and Welsh parentage, he combines the sturdy perse- verance of one nation with the thrift character- istic of the other, and to these qualities he has

added the American trait of "push." Deprived in boyhood of advantages that fall to the lot of most boys, and forced to begin the battle for ex- istence at an early age, his schooling was lim- ited and his opportunities few, but of these he has made the most possible, and the consequence is that he has gained the respect of the people with whom he associates.

The father of our subject, Richard Bell, was born in Scotland, and there in early manhood was employed as a shepherd and farmer. At the age of thirty years he came to America. A man of considerable executive ability, he was here in charge of various farm enterprises. After a time he bought a farm in Susquehanna County, but soon removed to the vicinity of Dunmore, where he worked in the employ of the Delaware & Hudson Canal Company. He died at the age of forty-two, when his son, James R., was a child of only six months. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Sarah Davis, was born in Wales and attained the age of sixty-seven. They had four children and all but one are living, namely: Mary, wife of John Watkins, of Clifford Town- ship; Jane, of Carbondale; and James R., who ' was born near Dunmore, March 21, 1852.

In the common schools of this county our sub- ject laid the foundation of his education. Sub- sequently he attended one year in Wyoming and one term in Harford, Susquehanna County. His mother had meantime married again, and he as- sisted his step-father in farming and carpenter work. In 1884 he was elected constable at Clif- ford, and afterward did all the work of the sheriff in that part of the county, demonstrating his abil- ity in tliat line. For one summer he had charge of construction on the Ontario Railroad. Soon after moving to Carbondale, he was appointed on the police force, and has discharged the du- ties of the position so efficiently as to suggest his merited promotion to more remunerative work.

March 25, 1879, Mr. Bell was united in mar- riage with Miss Sarah Hughes, a daughter of Reese Hughes, whose biography appears else- where in this work. They are the parents of three daughters, Mary, Ruth, and Gertrude, who died at the age of four years. The two liv- ing daughters are being given all the advan-

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tages of school and society, and attend the Pres- byterian Sunday-school. Like so many Scotch- men, Mr. Bell's father was a consistent member of the Presbyterian Church, strict in his adher- ence to all of its doctrines. While our subject is not actively identified with this denomination, he is interested in its work and contributes to its maintenance. Fraternally he is identified with the Heptasophs, and in political belief is a pronounced Republican.

E ARL M. PECK, superintendent of the lumber department of the Delaware & Hudson Railroad at Carbondale, was born in Aldenville, Clinton Township, Wayne County, Pa., June 24, 1838, and is a son of Reuben and Sallie Ann (King) Peck, natives of Mount Pleas- ant, that county. The Peck family was repre- sented among the early settlers of Connecticut, whence our subject's grandfather, Rev. Elijah Peck, a native of Litchfield County, removed to Pennsylvania and became a pioneer preacher of the Baptist Church in Wayne County and vicin- ity. The maternal grandfather of our subject was Benjamin King, a man of prominence in his day, and the incumbent of a number of local of- fices, among them that of justice of the peace.

Born in 1799, Reuben Peck grew to manhood in Wayne County, where he gave his attention to farming throughout his entire active life. Like his father, he was a believer in Baptist doctrines and an earnest worker in that denomination. For many years he served his church as deacon and took the lead in religious work. After a long and useful life, he died at the home farm in 1870. From that time his widow made her home in Carbondale, until her demise in 1875. Like him, she was an exemplary member of the Baptist Church. Of their four children, one died in in- fancy and another at the age of fourteen years; Albert R. is a farmer residing at Aldenville.

The early years of our subject's life were passed on the home farm, and his education was such as the common schools afforded. At different times while a boy he was employed in various positions on the Delaware & Hudson Railroad. In 1865 he came to Carbondale to accept the po-

sition of assistant to Emons Eaton, who was then in charge of the lumber department, and a few years later was promoted to be superintendent of that department, a position he has filled ever since with marked ability. He is a careful, conserv- ative business man, and guards well the inter- ests of the company.

In 1867 Mr. Peck married Miss Emeline M. Ledyard, of Mount Pleasant, Pa. They are the parents of an only son, Emons L., who is pre- paring for the medical profession in Bucknell University, at Lewisburg, Pa. Mrs. Peck is a daughter of Hiram Ledyard, who was born in 1802 and is still living. In spite of his advanced age he retains the use of all his faculties except his eyesight, and can relate many interesting in- cidents dating back to the War of 1812. For years he was a prominent farmer and stockman of Mount Pleasant and held a number of local of- fices there. Both Mr. and Mrs. Peck are mem- bers of the Baptist Church, in which he has been an active worker and a deacon for many years. In politics he has always been a Democrat and is a firm believer in sound money. Outside of his connection with the railroad he has been suc- cessful in business affairs and is the owner of much valuable property, including one of the finest homes in the city.

G EORGE B. BEACH, M. D., physician, at No. 232 South Main Avenue, Scran- ton, is a member of a family that has furnished a number of physicians to the state, and the undoubted talent which he possesses is his by inheritance. His father, Dr. W. T. Beach, was formerly a practicing physician of Scranton, and is still engaged in professional duties at Min- ersville, Pa. His maternal grandfather, Dr. G. W. Brown, was also a physician of superior abil- ity and skill, and had an office for many years in Port Carbon, this state. As one family will fur- nish generations of iron-workers, another of business men, so the Brown and Beach fainilies have been known for professional ability, and na- ture has given their members a predilection for the medical science. The boyhood years of George B. Beach were spent in Port Carbon, Schuylkill

PLUMMER S. PAGE.

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County, Pa., where he was born April 7, 1865. The foundation of his education was laid in the common schools, and afterward he was a student in Pottsville high school. When about eighteen years of age he entered the office of his grand- father in Port Carbon and under his careful su- pervision gained a thorough knowledge of the basis of medical work. Later he carried on his readings in Jefferson Medical College, from which he graduated April 5, 1886. Some years later, wishing to perfect himself in the profession, he took a post-graduate course of lectures in the Philadelphia School of Medicine.

For two years Dr. Beach held the position of assistant surgeon in the state hospital at Ashland, Pa., after which he opened an office at Gordon and remained there until 1893. He then came to Scranton and has since engaged in profession- al work in this city. In 1889, while in Gordon, he married Miss Carolyn V. Uhler; and they have two children, Marie K .. and William B. He became a Mason while in Ashland, joining Ash- land Lodge No. 294, F. & A. M. All matters pertaining to his profession receive earnest con- sideration and careful thought. His period of service as member of the board of health in Gor- don was instrumental in advancing the interests of that place. He is identified with the Schuyl- kill County and Pennsylvania Medical Associa- tions, and by the perusal of medical literature keeps abreast with all the developments in the science.

P LUMMER S. PAGE, a public-spirited citi- zen of Scranton, has made his mark as a railroad contractor, and of late years has given his attention to bettering the systems of street-car lines. The architect of his own for- tunes, he has also found time to lend a helping hand to many of his fellowmen, and from all who know him he ever receives the highest testimo- nials of esteem and wishes for his success.

Our subject's father, Augustus Page, was born in England, and when a young man he emigrated to Orange County, Vt., where his son was born on the old farm, near Fairlie. When a lad of only ten years, Plummer Page went to St. Lawrence County, N. Y., and worked at farming until he

was seven years older, at the same time attend- ing the district schools. In the winter of 1859- 60 he took a commercial course in Eastman's Business College on the Hudson. Afterwards he went to Alexandria, Va., and from there to the oil regions in this state. In 1865 he obtained a position as general manager for the contractor in the construction of the Delaware & Hudson Railroad, then building a line from Scranton to Wilkesbarre. With that company he stayed for more than a year, then going into business for himself as a contractor of grading and paving and turnpike work. About 1869 he took a con- tract on the Boonton branch of the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western, and when that was com- pleted went to various points as his work re- quired. The elevated roads in New York City next claimed his attention. Next he built the road connecting the elevated road with the New York City & Northern at High Bridge; then the Binghamton extension from that city to Buffalo; and the Erie and Wyoming branch between Pitts- ton and Hawley.

With his wide experience Mr. Page now sought to interest capital in the Wilkesbarre & Western road. In company with R. T. McCabe he bought the People's Street Railroad of Luzerne County, and afterwards absorbed the Scranton passenger railway and the suburban street railway, putting in the latest system of electricity. After about thirty miles of track had been laid and everything was in fine order, they sold out to the Scranton Traction Company. At Cortland, N. Y., Mr. Page built, in connection with C. D. Simpson, the Cortland and Homer Traction Company's line, of which he is the vice-president. He was president of the Lackawanna Valley Traction Company, whose tracks extend from Winton to Dunmore, and held a like position in the Scran- ton Suburban Company, which was merged in the Scranton Traction lines under the name of the Scranton Railway Company. Besides these he assisted in building the Scranton and Pittston Traction, which is nearing completion.

In this city, in 1867, Mr. Page married Miss Louise A. Whitaker, formerly of Waverly, N. Y. They have two sons, William A. and James W., both residents of Scranton. Mrs. Page is the

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daughter of James and Lucinda Whitaker, who were natives of New York. Mr. Page is a member of the Scranton board of trade, and has his busi- ness office in the Mears building. He may well be congratulated for the grand success he has made of his great scheme for the improvement of our city railways, which were far behind those of progressive towns until he became interested in them. He is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. Politically he has al- ways been a Republican.

J OSIAH D. CARYL, proprietor of a res- taurant at No. 505 Linden Street, Scranton, and superintendent of the Nay-Aug Coal Company at Dunmore, was born in Lewisville, St. Lawrence County, N. Y., June 6, 1843. The family was first represented in St. Lawrence County by his grandfather, Amos Caryl, a na- tive of Vermont, whence he removed to New York and engaged in farming pursuits. In his removal he was accompanied by his son, Jona- than D., a native of Rutland County, Vt., and a farmer by occupation, who spent his entire active life in St. Lawrence County, dying there at fifty years of age. His wife, Emily Clark, who was born in Rutland County, Vt., the daughter of a farmer there, died in Pennsylvania at the age of seventy-five. Of their family four sons and two daughters attained mature years, and all are still living except one daughter.

The subject of this sketch, who was the young- est member of the family, was reared in St. Law- rence County, but at the age of eighteen, in 1861, he came to. Scranton and secured work as fore- man in the track department of the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western road. Shortly after- ward, responding to a call for men in the con- struction corps, he volunteered under Col. E. N. Wentz, and was sent with others to Alexandria, thence to Loudon, Tenn., where he remained for four months. On account of a severe illness he was brought home, where he was obliged to re- main for a year, unable to work. On his recov- ery he went back to New York and stayed a short time, then returning to Scranton he began work in the construction of what is now the Del- aware & Hudson Railroad. On the completion

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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 46

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