Portrait and biographical record of Wyoming and Lackawanna counties, Pennsylvania : containing portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the counties, Part 48

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 48
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 48

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home at Elkdale. In February, 1864, he had sufficiently regained his health to enable him to again enter the service and this he did, on the 14th of the month, accompanied by a brother, and joining the company of his older brother. Among the many engagements in which he par- ticipated were those of the Wilderness, Spottsyl- vania, North Ann River, Cold Harbor and Peters- burg (June 18, 1864). He was in the main line formed in front of Petersburg and remained there until the battle of Weldon Railroad.

It was a regulation in the Army of the Potomac that four soldier brothers having a widowed mother were entitled to a fifteen days furlough for one of the number. The captain, brother of Samuel F., secured for the latter a furlough, which he used and then returned for duty. Mean- time great changes had occurred in the war, and his company and regiment had been ordered from one place to another, so that it required consid- erable time for him to find them, but at last he reached them at Hart's Island, where he remained until June 10. Two days later he was honorably discharged at Harrisburg and then went to Wilkesbarre, where the colonel of the regiment resided. . The citizens received the soldiers with the greatest warmth, and tendered them an ele- gant reception with accompanying banquet and other tokens of regard.

June 13, 1866, on the twenty-first anniversary of his birth, the subject of this sketch married Abigail M. Cole, of Susquehanna County. In the fall of the same year he came to Carbondale and secured work in the carshops of the Dela- ware & Hudson Canal Company. Later he was employed as mine carpenter for a year and then removed to Scranton, where he worked as fire- man for the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad Company for eighteen months. Return- ing to this city, he was similarly employed for the Delaware & Hudson until 1877, after which he worked on the home farm for a year, and then went back to the road. In 1878 he went to Kan- sas, where he was employed in building tanks for the Santa Fe road, but after five and one-half years he came back to Carbondale, and resumed work as a fireman with the Delaware & Hudson, continuing in that capacity until 1886, when he

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was given an engine, and has since rendered effi- cient service as an engineer. Politically he is a Republican, and fraternally belongs to the Broth- erhood of Locomotive Engineers, the Independ- ent Order of Odd Fellows and W. H. Davis Post No. 187, G. A. R., and was formerly connected with the encampment of the Odd Fellows, and the Ancient Order of United Workmen of Kansas.

P ROF. MICHAEL J. KETRICK is one of the leaders in the educational field of effort in our enterprising and progressive city of Scranton. To attain success and prominence in one's calling before reaching middle life falls to the lot of comparatively few men. Many things conspire to the much desired end, but in the main they lie along the line of patient, persever- ing and faithful labor. To a student of human nature there is nothing more interesting than to examine the life history of a successful man and to analyze those principles which have made him pass many on the highway of life and reach a position of prominence in the community.

Professor Ketrick is the next to the eldest of the family of Lacky and Mary (Lavelle) Ketrick and has three brothers and three sisters living. The father was born in Ireland and was engaged in farming there until the spring of 1863, when with his wife and children he left the old home to seek a new one in America. Taking up his abode in Scranton, he became an employe of the Lacka- wanna Iron & Coal Company and subsequently went to the Cliff works. He lived a very active and useful life and was called to his final rest when about seventy-two years old. The faithful wife and mother is still living.

The birth of Professor Ketrick took place March 22, 1859, and he was therefore but four years of age when he left his native Ireland. They sailed from Liverpool and were upon the great sea some six weeks, landing at last safely · in New York. When he had reached the proper age he was sent to the public schools on the south side of Scranton, and afterward entered Gardner's Business College, where he completed the commercial course. Thus equipped for the practical business of life he became an employe

of Swan & Price, and was their efficient book- keeper for a period of three years. In 1879 he graduated from the Scranton high school and then entered St. Hyacinth's College, at St. Hyacinth, Canada.

At this time Mr. Ketrick contributed to the magazines some excellent poems, which have since been published in an elegant work en- titled the "Social and National Poets of America." After a year's drill and study in Canada he re- turned to Scranton and began teaching, at the same tinie keeping up his studies in Latin and Greek. Six months passed and he was then made assistant principal of Scranton grammar school No. 2, and was transferred at the close of the year to No. 20 school. Here his services continued for six years and for a similar period he was next principal of school No. 6. In 1894 he was given the principalship of No. 10, where we find him at this writing.

In 1888 Professor Ketrick became secretary of the Meadow Brook Building & Loan Associa- tion. January 1, 1895, the South Scranton Building & Loan Association was organized and he was given the secretaryship of this also, both of which positions he still holds. His office is at No. 810 Prospect Avenue. He aims to keep thoroughly up to the times in all matters pertain- ing to education and as a means to this end he belongs to Teachers' Association of this city. Fraternally, he is a member of the Royal Ar- canum and in matters of political moment he is independent. At Providence, Mr. Ketrick and Miss Annie C. Lahey were married in 1888. The lady was born in Pittston and is a daughter of Richard Lahey, a retired merchant of that place. They have four children: Clarence, Alice, Mary and Tessie, and reside in a pleasant home in Pros- pect Avenue.

R OBERT E. WHITE, who has been ticket agent for the Delaware & Hudson Canal Company at Scranton for twenty-five years or more, was born in Prattsville, Greene County, N. Y., in February, 1850. He is a son of James White, whose father was educated in Ireland and became a prominent physician and surgeon of Greene County, N. Y. The former, in youth

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learning the trade of a tanner and currier, fol- lowed that occupation in New York State and in Waymart. Pa., to which place he removed in 1861. His death occurred when he was about sixty-five years of age.

The mother of our subject was Julia L. Van- denburgh, a native of Lexington, N. Y., and daughter of John I. Vandenburgh, a farmer by occupation. The family originated in Holland, and was represented among the old residents of the Hudson Valley. Mrs. Julia L. White died in Adrian, Mich., at an advanced age. Of her three sons, Robert E. was the youngest. He was a boy of eleven years when he accompanied his father to Waymart in 1861 and there he carried on his studies in the public schools. After ten years in that place, in 1871 he came to Scranton and took a position with the Delaware & Hudson Canal Company as ticket agent and operator at the Vine Street station. On the completion of the present building, he was placed in charge, and is now ticket and baggage agent and manag- er of telegraphy here, with thirteen employes under his supervision.

In this city Mr. White was united in marriage with Miss Mary Tally, who was born here. They are the parents of two children, Robert and Blythe. In his political affiliations Mr. White has allied himself with the Republican party and uni- formly gives his allegiance to its measures and principles. The long period of his service with the Delaware & Hudson Canal Company proves his fidelity to every duty, his integrity, sound common sense and business qualifications.

F ERDINAND HAGEN, a veteran of the Franco-Prussian war, is a contractor and builder and owns a planing-mill and box factory at Nos. 526-528 Alder Street, besides a lumber yard at Nos. 642-644 Prospect Avenue, Scranton. His successful business has been built up in less than fourteen years, which speaks well for the diligence and untiring energy he has ever exercised in the management of his affairs.

Our subject's father was John P. and the grandfather bore the Christian name of Blazius. They were natives of Baden, Germany, the form-

er a butcher by trade and the latter a farmer. John P. Hagen participated in the revolution of 1848 and was a valiant soldier. He died in the Fatherland at the good old age of seventy-three years. His wife, Marie, who was born in Gal- mansweil, Baden, was a daughter of Nepeniuk Foster, a very prominent man in his locality, and a magistrate in the town of Galmansweil. Eight children were born to John and Marie Hagen and all but two of these are yet living. Four of the number came to the United States. Their mother departed this life when she had attained the ripe age of eighty-four years.

Ferdinand Hagen was born in the same prov- ince as were his ancestors, his birth occurring in Wornsdorf, October 16, 1846. He was reared and educated in that village until he had reached the age of fourteen years, when he was sent to Worblingen to be apprenticed to a cabinet-mak- er, serving for three years. When he had ac- complished the details of the trade he started on his own account, working as a journeyman in various parts of Switzerland and Wurtemberg. In 1867 he entered the German army and was for three years with the Yaeger's regiment. At the end of this time his services were called into requisition in the great Franco-Prussian war and in the dark days that followed he took part in the battles of Weisenburg, Wert, Strausburg, Eteval and Nombardlis. In the engagement at Strausburg he was wounded three times in forty- two days, and October 6, 1870, he was injured in the left groin and was sent to the hospital at Eteval. Then he returned home, where it took him nearly nine months to recuperate so that he might go back to his command. He was laid up afterwards for three months with typhoid fever and when he reported again for duty he was found unfitted for the hardships of the soldier's life and was honorably discharged.

In February, 1873, young Hagen decided to seek his livelihood in America and sailed from Bremen to New York. He at once proceeded to Scranton, where he found employment with the Lackawanna Iron & Coal Company for a vear. He next went into the woodworking de- partment of the Delaware, Lackawanna & West- ern carshops and was considered one of their

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most reliable employes during the eight years that followed. About 1883 he concluded to em- bark in business for himself and accordingly opened a turning shop on the south side of Maple Street, corner of Crown Avenue. Two years afterwards he had to enlarge the capacity of his shop and removed to his present location, and in 1894 he opened a lumber yard. The same year he took his son into partnership with him and so remarkably has their trade increased that it has been necessary to add more space and em- ploy more men, A specialty is made of fine saloon fixtures, counters, cabinet-work of differ- ent kinds, etc. Several of the nice houses on the south side of the city have been put up by the firm and great attention is devoted to furnishing interior woodwork showing the best of workman- ship. He has steam power to run his machinery, and work is given from twenty to thirty hands.

In his early home town Mr. Hagen was united in marriage with Theodora Hagen, a native of the same place. She is a daughter of Fidel Hagen, a contractor and builder, who, though bearing the same patronymic as our subject, was not related to him. A family of seven children came to grace the happy home of the worthy couple and were named as follows: Charles A. who is a partner in his father's busines's; Katie M., Louisa, Lena, Anna, William and Rosa. Mr. Hagen is affiliated with several fraternal socie- ties and is well known for his public spirit and enterprise throughout the city.

R OSWELL P. PATTERSON, the head of the wholesale grocery house of R. P. Pat- terson & Sons at Carbondale, was born in Hamden, Delaware County, N. Y., April 6, 1822. He is a son of Daniel Patterson, a native of Glas- gow, Scotland, who came to this country in early manhood and engaged in agricultural pursuits until his death in 1837. The family of which he is a member consisted of himself and a brother and sister. The brother, James, who was born in 1819, became a farmer in Susquehanna Coun- ty, Pa., and died there in July, 1895. The sister, Harriet, wife of Henry Williams, died in Col- chester, Delaware County, N. Y.

The only surviving member of the family is the subject of this narrative. He spent his early years on the home farm in Delaware County, and received such advantages as were offered by the neighboring district schools. When a young man, in 1843, he came to Pennsylvania and set- tled in the small village of Prompton, four miles from Honesdale, where he engaged in the hotel business. However, after two years he went to Honesdale and carried on the same business until 1848. During that year he removed to Waymart, and carried on a hotel business in connection with his farming interests in that locality. Later he became connected with a tannery and also engaged in merchandising, meeting with con- tinued success in his enterprises. In 1874 he removed to Herrick Center, where he was in- terested along similar lines as heretofore, and was for several years postmaster of that place. Since 1885 his home has been in Carbondale, and in 1887 he transferred his business interests to this place.

In 1889 Mr. Patterson erected the large build- ing in Dundaff Street, where, in 1890, in company with his sons, he established the wholesale grocery house that has proved to be one of the successful and flourishing concerns of the city. Notwith- standing his great misfortune in having almost lost his eyesight, he spends a portion of each day in the office and gives careful attention to the de- tails of the business. Besides this, he is inter- ested in various other enterprises, being a stock- holder and director in the Miners & Me- chanics Bank, a large stockholder in the Anthracite Hotel and the owner of a val- uable farm. His success is all the more com- mendable when we consider that he started in life without means and has worked his way, un- aided, to a position among the substantial men of his community. In early years he was a Whig, and since the disintegration of that party has af- filiated with the Republicans. He has never de- sired public office and has never held any civic position save that of school director.

In 1848 Mr. Patterson married Miss Angeline, daughter of Leonard Starkweather, who was one of the pioneers of Waymart, coming there from Connecticut. They are the parents of four sons

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and four daughters, namely: Matilda, wife of Charles Schlager, a real estate man in Scranton; Isabel and Augustus L. (twins); George M., member of the firm of R. P. Patterson & Sons; Harriet E., wife of C. E. Spencer, cashier of the Miners & Mechanics Bank, they being the par- ents of three living children, Malory, Russell and Margery; Roswell H., a graduate of the Philadelphia Law School and Cornell Col- lege, and now a member of the firm of Patterson & Wilcox, attorneys at Scranton; Nettie E., who married Charles F. Walter, of the firm of Fow- ler, Dick & Walter, at Wilkesbarre, and they have three children, Gladys, Grace and Karl; and Levi A., the youngest of the family, now a member of the firm of R. P. Patterson & Sons. Isabel, one of the twins, married Charles McMul- len, of Scranton, brother of S. A. and W. J. Mc- Mullen, who hold responsible positions with the Delaware & Hudson at Carbondale. Augustus L., the other twin, and a member of the firm of R. P. Patterson & Sons, married Laura Chum- ard, of Narrowsburg, Wayne County, Pa., and they have a daughter, Mildred. George M. mar- ried Emma L. Babcock, of Illinois, and they have had five children, but two are deceased, the others being Helen, Sardis L. and Chester A.

M ICHAEL HAND, president of the Lack- awanna Brewing Company and one of the most successful business men of Scranton, was born in Ireland, the son of Owen and Rose (Dempsey) Hand, natives of County Monaghan. His father, who was a capable farm- er, was a man of vigorous constitution and great energy, and though he was permitted to attain an advanced age did not lose his physical strength or mental vigor, continuing in the discharge of his daily duties until the last. He passed away in 1884, when eighty-four years of age. His wife, who died in middle age, was the daughter of a farmer, and had numerous relatives that were officers in the English army. In the family there were twelve children, of whom three remain in Ireland, three came to Scranton, a sister died in Missouri, and a brother, John, is a farmer near McGregor, Iowa.

The childhood years of our subject were passed on the home farm where he was born, in County Monaghan, near the Cavan County line. His schooling was exceedingly limited, and at the age of twelve he began to "paddle his own canoe." Going to Scotland, he secured work as errand boy under a railroad contractor near Glasgow, and continued with the same man for five years. In 1849 he took passage at Liverpool on the sail- er, "Star of the West," and after a voyage of three weeks and three days, during which time a severe storm was encountered, he landed in New York. From there he proceeded to Utica, N. Y., and secured work on a farm for $5 per month. In the fall be began an apprenticeship to the mason and plasterer's trade, and later was appointed on the police force of Utica, also became private watchman, remaining nineteen years in the same block. During this time, one night he saw a burglar escaping from Mr. Tallman's residence and proceeded to arrest him, but this was not ac- complished without trouble, for the robber tripped hin and knocked him down, but after a severe tussle the officer gained the advantage and was able to arrest his man, who was afterwards con- victed and sentenced to the penitentiary.

Prior to his resignation from the police force in 1874, Mr. Hand became connected with a brewery business and was afterward made man- ager of the Utica Brewing Company, with which he was financially connected until 1889. The year 1883 witnessed his removal to Scranton, where, with Walter Van Dyke, he built a brew- ery on the corner of Cedar Avenue and Brooks Street. This has a capacity of about fifty thou- sand barrels, and is devoted exclusively to the manufacture of ale and porter. In 1893 the firm of Hand & Van Dyke dissolved partnership, and Mr. Hand became sole proprietor of the brewery. In 1890 he built the Meadow Brook silk mill on Brooks and Cedar, and with this he was connected until 1893, when he sold out. In 1896 he organized the Lackawanna Brewing Company, of which he is the president and prin- cipal stockholder. This is a large brewery, with modern improvements, commodious cellar, ice machines, etc., and has a capacity of one hun- dred thousand barrels per year. In addition to

THEODORE G. WOLF.

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the brewery, he owns real estate in Scranton and Utica.

The first marriage of Mr. Hand, which took place in Utica, united him with Bridget, daughter of Stephen Connolly, a farmer in Ireland. She died in Scranton, leaving four children: Mrs. Elizabeth Croghan, whose husband is a stock- holder in the Lackawanna Brewing Company; Mrs. Rose Glennan, of Pittston, Pa .; Mrs. Mary Ruthridge, of Scranton; and Michael, Jr., who is associated in business with his father. In 1896 Mr. Hand was united in marriage with Mrs. Bridget McCue, who was born in Ireland, daugh- ter of John and Bridget (McNemara) Moyles, who resided upon a farm in County Mayo until death, the former passing away at eighty and the latter when sixty-five. Their six children are still living, Michael in St. Louis, Mo., three daughters in Scranton, a daughter and son in Ireland. In 1873 Mrs. Hand came to Scranton, and here was married to Richard McCue, a con- tractor and builder, who died here in March, 1891, leaving her a valuable estate. Their four chil- dren are deceased, Richard, Mary, Andrew and John J. Mr. and Mrs. Hand attend St. Paul's Catholic Church, and are generous contributors to its benevolences.

T HEODORE G. WOLF,. superintendent of north mills of the Lackawanna Iron & Steel Company, and a resident of Scran- ton since 1861, was born in Easton, Pa., May 26, 1844, and is a member of one of the old and honored families of the state. His grandfather, George Wolf, seventh governor of Pennsylvania, was born in Allen Township, Northampton County, August 12, 1777, and grew to manhood upon the farm of his father, who had come to Pennsylvania from Germany. His education, which was broad and liberal for those days, was principally obtained in the classical school taught in Northampton County by a graduate of Trin- ity College, Dublin. On completing his studies, he was employed as a clerk in the prothonotary's office, and meantime devoted his leisure hours to the study of law under Hon. John Ross. When Thomas Jefferson became president of the

United States, he was commissioned postmaster at Easton, and later was clerk of the orphans' court of Northampton County. In 1814 he was elected to the lower house of the legislature and ten years later became a member of the house of representatives of the United States, to which responsible position he was twice re-elected.

In every position to which he was elected Mr. Wolf rendered able and distinguished service, and his admirable fitness for the office of gov- ernor led to his nomination by his party in 1829. This honor was bestowed upon him without any solicitation on his part, in fact without his knowl- edge, but when he found he was the choice of the people, he gave up his lucrative law practice and took his seat as chief executive of the state. The situation was such as to daunt a man of less energy. The finances of the state were in a des- perate condition and credit at its lowest ebb. Large public works had been inaugurated which, if abandoned, would result in permanent injury to the state, yet it seemed impossible to go for- ward with them when the treasury was empty. Here his admirable executive ability displayed itself. Through his shrewdness and business management, credit was established and the financial condition put on a solid basis.

The inost enduring merit of Governor Wolf was evinced in his advocacy of the free school system. Former governors had called the atten- tion of the legislature to the measure, but had failed to secure its passage. It remained for hin to secure its adoption, and with Thaddeus Ste- vens and other prominent educators he labored unweariedly until success was won. The strug- gle was a severe one, and while present and fu- ture generations will bless the name of Governor Wolf for his labors in this connection, it brought him at that time the enmity of many persons and defeated him for re-election. He was again a candidate, but division having arisen in the party, the vote was divided and he was defeated. In 1826 General Jackson appointed him comptroller of the United States treasury, which office he held for two years. Under President Van Buren he received the appointment of collector for the port of Philadelphia, and this position he was fill- ing at the time of his death, March II, 1840.

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His remains were taken from Philadelphia to Harrisburg, where he resided, and there interred. He married the daughter of Lawrence Erb, a patriot of the Revolutionary War.

The father of our subject, Edward L. Wolf, was born in Easton, Pa., November 9, 1819, and in youth learned the printer's trade in Harris- burg, after which he published the "Easton Sen- tinel," a paper that still exists. Later he was at Honesdale, Wayne County, where he was con- nected with the "Herald" and "Democrat," and then was editor of the "Democrat" and "Jeffer- sonian" at Stroudsburg. In 1871 he came to Scranton as editor of the "Republican," remain- ing in that capacity until ill health caused his retirement. His death occurred in this city in 1881, at the age of sixty-two: During the Rebel- lion he was a war Democrat, but afterward affili- ated with the Republicans. Naturally of a retir- ing disposition, yet when interested and enthused he was a brilliant talker, drawing at will upon the stores of his remarkable memory. As a jour- nalist and editorial writer, he was polished, eru- dite and pointed, with graceful style and ready wvit.

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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 48

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