Portrait and biographical record of Wyoming and Lackawanna counties, Pennsylvania : containing portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the counties, Part 54

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 54
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 54

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public. Of this element Mr. Taylor is a repre- sentative. In 1863 he enlisted as a private in Company B, Thirtieth Pennsylvania Infantry, and was mistered into service at Harrisburg, proceed- ing from there to the front, participating in the battle of Carlisle and in numerous minor engage- ments, and serving faithfully until the expiration of his term, in October, 1864.

A life-long resident of Scott Township, Mr. Taylor was born here September 14, 1822. The first of the family to settle in this county was his grandfather, Reuben Taylor, who was born in Norwich, Fairfield County, Conn., November 28, 1759, and at the age of seventeen years became a sailor, following a seafaring life for seven years. During the entire period of the Revolution he was a private in the navy, and at one time in the conflict his ship was captured by the British and he was taken prisoner to England. On being liberated he returned to America, and shortly afterward came to this county, where he pur- chased three hundred acres and assisted in build- ing a gristmill at Scranton. About 1816 he moved to Scott Township, and purchased a farm of six hundred acres, where he remained until his death in 1849. During his residence here he held many of the township offices. By his mar- riage to Celenda Abbott he had six children, John A., Henry, Polly B., Cynthia, Reuben and Benira, all deceased.

The father of our subject, John A. Taylor, was born in Providence, removed to a farm in Scott Township in 1816 and there remained until his death September 21, 1867, at the age of seventy-six. His wife died June 3, 1867, aged seventy-six. She was in maidenhood Gertrude Ackley, and became the mother of twelve chil- dren: Stephen, Truman, Charlotte, Silas A., Cynthia, John M., Celenda, Charles C., Henry, Draper, Helen and Benira.

When our subject was a boy educational ad- vantages were not so good as they are now, but through his own efforts he has gained a large fund of valuable information. On attaining his majority he began to work on a farm and con- tinued in the employ of others for some years, saving his earnings until he was able to purchase a place of his own. At different times he pur-

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chased and resided upon seven farms in Scott Township. At this writing his possessions com- prise one hundred and ninety acres of well-tilled land, devoted to general farming.

A man of Mr. Taylor's intelligence, firmness of character and high principle necessarily exerts a good influence in his community, and is potent in its public life. He has been called upon to fill the offices of assessor, collector and supervisor, each of which he has held a year. Politically the Republican party receives his support. As a Grand Army man, his membership is in the George Fell Post of Waverly. In him the town- ship and county have a valuable addition to their citizenship, as he is in all respects a conscientious, business-like man, and a fine representative of the farming community.

J OHN ROGER DAVIS. Not without jus- tice Mr. Davis is conceded to hold an en- viable position among the prominent coal operators of Scranton. With but limited means when a young man and with no influence to aid him except his own and his father's good name, he has, by intelligent management, steadily risen until he now occupies a place of marked consid- eration in the business affairs of the city. After years of close connection with various mining in- terests, in July, 1891, he organized the Enter- prise Coal Company, which owns and operates a colliery at Excelsior, Northumberland County, and of which he has since been president. The success of this concern is due almost wholly to his ability and energy, and from a financial point of view is proving very remunerative.

The record of the Davis family in America shows that its male members have been patriotic men and public-spirited citizens. Of Welsh ex- traction, it has long been identified with the his- tory of this country. The grandfather of the sub- ject of this sketch, Hon. Roger Davis, M. D., was born in Chester County, Pa., where he studied and practiced medicine, and from which he en- tered the Revolution as an army surgeon. From 1812 to 1816 he represented his district in con- gress, taking his seat immediately before the de- claration of war against England in the session

of 1812. The fact that he was re-elected proves that his services were satisfactory to his constitu- ents.

The eldest son of Dr. Roger Davis and his wife, Sarah Jones, was, after the Welsh custom, named Jones Davis. He was born in Charles- town, March 7, 1788, and with his brothers, Rog- er and Thomas, studied medicine. Soon after his graduation, the War of 1812 began, and he was appointed surgeon's mate by President Madison, his commission, signed by the president, bearing date of July 6, 1812, which shows that he entered

service within a month after the declaration of war. He was attached to the Sixteenth Regi- ment of Infantry, and marched by land to the Canadian border, participating in the battle at Lundy's Lane and the engagement at Ft. Erie under General Scott, and aided to dress the wounds the latter received there. When the brigade marched to Lake Champlain he accom- panied it. After a service of two years he retired from the army and returned home. At Pugh- town, Chester County, he opened an office and there, in March, 1814, he married Charlotte, daughter of Jesse Bean, of Norriton Township. In 1821 he removed to the vicinity of Norristown, Montgomery County. Like many of the family, he was a firm Democrat in politics. In 1828 he was elected county sheriff and commissioned by Governor Shulze for three years, which he served. During a part of this time he ran the Pawling gristmill in Norristown. In 1832 he purchased the farm that became the old homestead, on which stood a colonial house erected by a French colonist one hundred years before, within sight of Valley Forge. In connection with his brother, Thomas, he carried on an extensive professional practice, his farm being superintended by his son, Jesse B. In 1842 he was elected prothonotary, and served for three years. A genial, whole- souled man, companionable and fond of wit and. repartee, he had a host of warm friends, who were attracted to him by his engaging and friendly dis- position. He died September 18, 1860, at the age of seventy-two, and was buried in the cemetery of St. James Episcopal Church, Evansburg, of which he and his wife had been members for some years. The latter died October 20, 1845, aged

SILAS A. MCMULLEN.

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fifty-one. Their four sons were Jesse Bean, de- ceased, a captain in the Civil War; Samuel, who died in Montgomery County; John Roger, our subject, and Charles, who occupies the old home- stead.

On the home farm near Norristown the subject of this sketch was born March 27, 1822, and his boyhood days were passed upon that place. At the age of eighteen he began for himself, and for two winters taught school. He then went to Phil- adelphia and secured a clerkship in a wholesale and retail grocery in Market Street, owned by David Walker, father-in-law of Dr. David Jayne, the celebrated patent medicine man. From there going to Pottsville, he clerked for a dry-goods merchant and coal operator. While in that posi- tion he received his first insight into the coal business, of which by observation and experience he gained a thorough knowledge. He next en- gaged as general manager of the coal department of the Ashland iron works at Wrightsville, York County, Pa., but after a time a change in the management caused him to resign. Removing to Baltimore, Md., he embarked in the retail coal trade with R. W. Cliff. In 1851 he went to Wilkesbarre and was interested in coal opera- tions as manager of the Black Diamond colliery, which he rebuilt for Roberts, Walton & Co., of Philadelphia. In November, 1855, he came to Scranton, and built and opened Stafford Meadow Brook colliery, now known as Davis Patch, these mines being owned by William Connell. In 1861 he built the Jersey mine in Plymouth, Luzerne County, and two years later began the Roaring Brook mine in Dunmore. While operating it he built the Mineral Spring colliery in this county in 1868, and these two he continued to superintend until 1881, when he sold them. His next enter- prise was the building of Clear Spring colliery at West Pittston, Pa., which he sold in 1885, and built the Moosic Mountain mine, operating the latter until he sold it in 1888. His connection with the Enterprise Coal Company of Excelsior dates from 1891.

Unlike his father and grandfather, Mr. Davis has never identified himself actively with politics and public affairs. Attention to his private busi- ness has engrossed his time, and is more con-

genial than participation in municipal matters. However, he is well informed regarding all mat- ters of general interest, and gives his support to measures having for their aim the benefit of the people. His business life has been marked by the exercise of strictest regard for right and jus- tice, and in his dealings with all he is conscien- tious and upright.

S ILAS A. McMULLEN, assistant superin- tendent of the Pennsylvania Division of the Delaware & Hudson Railroad and a well known citizen of Carbondale, was born in Clinton Township, Wayne County, Pa., October 9, 1836. His father, Silas K., who was born in 1809 in Mt. Pleasant Township of the same coun- ty, followed the trade of a carpenter and as early as 1827 was in the employ of the Delaware & Hudson Canal Company in the construction of the original Gravity Railroad from Carbondale to Honesdale. Later he was engaged in the lum- ber business. From 1849 until the time of his death he was employed in various capacities with the Delaware & Hudson, but in 1860 was acci- dentally killed while running a stationary engine on the Gravity road. He possessed a quiet and retiring disposition, and those who knew him best found him to be a man of true sterling worth. He had several brothers, all of whom served in the Civil War.

The McMullen family is of sturdy Scotch an- cestry and its members have borne an honorable part in their respective generations, their prin- cipal occupation being agriculture, especially dur- ing the early history of this country. The great- great-grandfather of our subject was one of the pioneer settlers in the now famous Wyoming Valley. Our subject's grandfather, James, was born in Luzerne County, Pa., and was the son of a Revolutionary soldier, who was in active ser- vice at the time of the Wyoming massacre. The mother of our subject was in maidenhood Lydia Conklin and was born in Wayne County, Pa., the daughter of Jacob Conklin. His ancestors came from Germany to the United States not long after the advent of the Puritans and in later years were prominent in the Baptist Church. She

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was eighty-four years of age September 1, 1896, and is wonderfully well preserved, with a bright- ness of intellect and energy of disposition not al- ways possessed by women many years her junior. She makes her home with a daughter in Minne- sota, but at this writing is visiting her sons in Carbondale.

The subject of this sketch was the eldest of six children, all of whom are living except a sister who died at ten years. The others are Mrs. El- mira Thompson, who resides in Tacoma, Wash .; Angeline, wife of George Berry, a farmer living in Lanesboro, Minn .; William J.,· superintendent of the Gravity Railroad; and Charles, a member of the Lackawanna Hardware Company of Scran- ton and a very successful business man. Our subject had the advantage of a high school edu- cation and carried on his studies until he was fif- teen years of age, when his health broke down. After regaining his strength, he became con- nected with the Delaware & Hudson Railroad under his father and, with the exception of the four years from 1865 to 1869 when he was en- gaged in the mercantile business, he has since been in the employ of this company. Since 1869 he has filled his present position and under his supervision the locomotive road from Scranton to Carbondale was built. He has guarded well the interests of the company, has been a faithful man in his responsible position, and has the con- fidence of his superior officers as well as of the men under his direction.

In addition to his connection with the railroad, Mr. McMullen is interested in various other en- terprises. He is a director in the Miners & Me- chanics Bank, since 1876 has been vice-president of the Crystal Lake Water Company and is in- terested in the Carbondale Water Company, with which he has been connected since its organiza- tion. He also has large interests in West Vir- ginia. In the upbuilding of Carbondale he has always manifested a deep concern. His connec- tion with the Carbondale board of education cov- ers a period of eighteen years, during a large part of which time he was its president. He de- voted his time and energy to securing for the city a first-class school system, and to him, more than to any other man in the place, Carbondale

is indebted for its excellent schools and the many fine school buildings that now adorn it. While he met with much opposition in this work, he persisted in his progressive plans and did not re- tire from the board until he had accomplished what he started out to do. Though quiet and un- assuming, he has the indomitable will character- istic of his race and to this trait his success is largely due.

Fraternally for many years Mr. McMullen has been a member of the Masonic order and has filled the leading offices, having been master of the blue lodge, high priest of the chapter and commander of the Knights Templar. His first marriage took place in 1860, when Miss Sarah P. Miller became his wife. She died four years later and her only child passed away when young. In 1866 he married Miss Louisa A. Hubbard, of Wayne County. Three children were born of this union, but two died in childhood. The only surviving member of the family is Silas A., Jr., a bright boy of thirteen years. Mr. and Mrs. Mc- Mullen are members of the Episcopal Church and are interested in the work of that denomina- tion, by the members of which they are held in high regard. They own and occupy a comfort- able residence in Garfield Avenue.

J OHN MULLEN, a prosperous farmer of Roaring Brook Township, and the owner of a farm comprising two hundred and twenty acres, is a native of County Sligo, Ireland, born April 13, 1819. In his native land he had few advantages, for he was obliged to work from the time he was large enough to do anything. With a natural desire to better his condition and improve his prospects for the future, he deter- mined to seek a home in America, and as soon as he had saved a sufficient amount he took pas- sage on a sailing vessel for the United States. After a number of weeks upon the ocean he ar- rived at his destination. He was then a young man of thirty years, active, energetic and robust in health. With these qualities it was not diffi- cult for him to secure employment, and he worked at various occupations, but most of his time was spent in work upon a canal.

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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

As the years passed by, Mr. Mullen saved his earnings and finally had enough to warrant him in the purchase of a farm. From Dunmore he came to Roaring Brook Township in 1876, and here he has since engaged in general agricultural pursuits. The farm which he owns has been brought under excellent tillage through his en- ergetic and untiring efforts, and its neat appear- ance proves his industry and perseverance. In addition to the raising of various cereals to which the soil is adapted, he keeps some stock on the place, and is making a success of this department of agriculture.

In all his enterprises Mr. Mullen has been as- sisted by his wife, who has been his helpmate in the building up of their place and the gaining of a competency. She bore the maiden name of Mary Gilgan, and was born and reared in Coun- ty Sligo, Ireland. Side by side they worked in- dustriously until they had enough to purchase a home of their own, and their present prosperity they justly merit by their painstaking efforts in past years. They are the parents of four chil- dren living, and have lost one, John, by death. The others are: Thomas, James, Mary and Margaret.

H ENRY H. YEAGER. The life which this narrative portrays began near Troy, N. Y., August II, 1818, and closed upon earth at Moscow, Pa., August 10, 1896. The Yeager family was represented among the pioneer settlers of this part of Lackawanna Coun- ty, to the growth and development of which its members so largely contributed. In 1832, when Henry H. was a youth of fourteen years, the fam- ily settled near what is now the thriving village of Moscow, and here the remainder of his life was passed, in the varied occupations of farmer, mer- chant and lumberman.

Reference to the parents of our subject will be found in the sketch of his brother, Peter, upon another page. He assisted in the cultivation of the homestead, which he inherited on the death of his father, and he afterward resided there, over- seeing its improvements and keeping it in good condition. For a number of years he carried on

a mercantile business in Moscow, then just springing into existence. He also cut down tim- ber, manufactured it into lumber, and sold it in large quantities to parties in Scranton and Phil- adelphia and towns in New Jersey, where it was hauled by wagon. When the railroad was built to Moscow, he was appointed the first station agent and held the position for several years. His business ventures were almost invariably success- ful, and had it not been for his generous nature and liberality in giving, he would have been a very wealthy man at the time of his death. As it was, however, he still had an ample competence, and left his family in good circumstances.

July 4, 1843, Mr. Yeager married Miss Mary Ann, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Weldy) Biesecker, and a native of Providence, this coun- ty, born November 7, 1821. Her father, who was born in Northampton County, Pa., accompanied his parents to Lackawanna County in boyhood, and settled with them on their land, occupying a portion of the present site of Providence. He followed farm pursuits until his death, February 21, 1862, at the age of sixty years and six months. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Yeager consisted of seven children: Angelichor, Jerome B., William, John B., Seldon D., Martha M. and Emma E. The oldest daughter is the wife of W. F. Clem- ents, of Moscow; William resides in Scranton, John B. in Wilkesbarre, and Seldon S. in Mos- cow, where he is in the general mercantile busi- ness; Martha M. is the wife of Dr. S. W. L'Amor- eaux, of Scranton; and Emma E. married Wil- liam L. Carr, manager of the Stergess store at Peckville.

The eldest son of Mr. Yeager is Jerome B., who resides upon and manages the old home- stead. For four years he clerked in a general store in Moscow, for two years was in Bingham- ton, later engaged in the boot and shoe business in Phillipsburg, N. J., after which he returned to Moscow and became interested in merchandis- ing. His store, unfortunately, was burned down, and afterward for four years he traveled for Wan- amaker & Brown, of Philadelphia. June 6, 1888, he was united in marriage with Miss Jennie Frey, of Wilkesbarre, who unites with him in making happy the declining years of the widowed mother.

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Throughout the community they are highly es- teemed for their many worthy qualities, and have hosts of warm friends among the best people of Madison Township.

W ILLIAM DANIELS may justly be called a pioneer of Spring Brook Township, for he has resided here since 1834, when for miles in every direction stretched the wilderness and dense forests un- broken by roads. Wild animals were still occa- sionally to be seen, and the pioneers, being expert shots, often provided the family larder with game. With all the hardships of those days he was fa- miliar, and his early years were filled with pri- vations, toil and unceasing labor. Now, still a resident npon the farm where his childhood was passed, he is sufficiently. well-to-do to enable him to take life easier and enjoy the comforts accu- mulated in years of effort.

The parents of our subject, Morgan and Mary (Gibbs) Daniels, were born, reared and married in Wales, and when the former was fifty-seven years of age they came to this country, spending two years in Carbondale and then coming to the farnı now owned by William. This the father endeavored to clear, but he was past the prime of life, and could not work as energetically as in former years. However, with the assistance of his children, the timber was cut down and the land placed under cultivation. Here he remained until his death, which occurred at seventy-one years. His wife passed away at the age of eighty- one. Of their ten children the only survivors are William and Mrs. Jane Morgan, widow of the late Edward Morgan, of Pittston.

Born in Wales September 6, 1830, the subject of this sketch was a child of two years when the family left their native land and took passage on the sailing ship, "Arabian Castle," of five hun- dred tons burden. This was a good boat, but small, and in a storm was driven upon the rocks and had to put into the nearest harbor, Nova Scotia. There the thirty-six passengers spent five weeks, while the ship was being repaired. Finally they took ship again, and at last, after fifteen weeks from the time of starting, they land-

ed in New York. Thence the Daniels family pro- ceeded to Carbondale, and from there in 1834 came to Spring Brook Township.

The wife of our subject was Jane Nichols, a native of Wales, born in 1844, and a resident of Lackawanna County from the age of nine years. Ten children were born of their union. The eld- est, Mary, became the wife of William E. Griffith, and has two children, Katie and Edwin. The other members of the family are Rachel; Mor- gan, who married Annie Richards; David, who is employed at Wilkesbarre; William B., who has been teaching school but is now at home and is an excellent, energetic young man, the stay of his parents in their declining years; Katie; Ed- win, who died at thirteen years; Mabel; Jennie and Albert.

Shortly after attaining his majority Mr. Daniels cast his ballot for Franklin Pierce, and at the next election voted for John C. Fremont for president. Since the organization of the Repub- lican party he has been a firm adherent to its principles. In the Methodist Church, of which he and his wife are members, he has been a class- leader, and has also served as superintendent of the Sunday-school. He has led a busy life, and as the result of his labors is now the owner of a valuable farm, improved with good buildings, and containing all the conveniences of a modern estate.

H ENRY L. GAIGE, senior member of the firm of Gaige & Clements, and one of the leading merchants of Moscow, was born in Albany County, N. Y., April 19, 1833, and is the son of Spencer and Margaret (Yeager) Gaige, natives of the same place as himself. His father grew to manhood there, and when in middle age removed to Broome County, N. Y., purchasing a farm where he continued to make his home un- til his death at about sixty years of age. The wife and mother passed away when fifty-six years old.

The first eighteen years of the life of our sub- ject were spent in work upon the home farm and attendance at the neighboring schools. His first business position was that of clerk in a general wholesale and retail grocery house in Bingham-

S. W. L'AMOREAUX, M. D.

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ton, N. Y., where he remained about six years, thus gaining a thorough practical business educa- tion. From there he went west to Wisconsin and located in Belleville, where he operated a grist mill for two years. Returning east in 1857, he came to Moscow and established a mercantile store. Since that time he has been in continuous active business, and has the distinction of being the oldest merchant in this village.

In 1861 Mr. Gaige married Miss Mary E. Dal- rymple, of Wisconsin. They have three children : Oren J., who is engaged in the glass business in Philadelphia; Ida May, wife of S. B. Whitlock, of Baltimore, Md .; and Nina Myrtle, wife of G. Stewart Simons, of San Antonio, Tex. Mr. Gaige is one of those stanch Democrats, who have the greatest faith in their party and the firmest belief in its principles. On the erection of Lackawanna County, he was chosen one of the first commis- sioners and served in that capacity for one termi. For a number of years he has been treasurer of Madison Township. Fraternally he is connected with Moscow Lodge No. 504, F. & A. M., in which he is a charter member. In addition to the mercantile business, for many years he has been an extensive lumber dealer, and in it, as in mer- chandising, has met with uniform success.

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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 54

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