Portrait and biographical record of Wyoming and Lackawanna counties, Pennsylvania : containing portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the counties, Part 58

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 58
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 58

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The Berry family dates its history in America back to 1630, when the progenitors came from Kent, England, and settled in Connecticut, nam- ing Kent County in that state in honor of their native place. They took an active part in all the stirring. events in the early history of the coun- try and have had representatives in almost every war. Abram Berry, a great-uncle of our subject,

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was a soldier in the French and Indian War in 1756 and was killed in battle near Albany, N. Y. The powder horn that he carried at the time, with his name engraved on it, is among the many relics now in our subject's possession. The grandfather of our subject, Dr. Cyrus Berry, who was born in Kent County, Conn., was a surgeon in the Revolutionary War, and a set of books printed in England and owned by him, having been brought to this country by his ancestors, was by him hidden for seven years during the Revo- lution in a hollow log for safe keeping. They are how the property of our subject, who has refused a large sum for them. A representative of the Columbian Exposition came to him from Chi- cago for the purpose of securing them for exhi- bition there, but he was so attached to them that he refused to allow them to go out of his hands.

Dr. Cyrus Berry was a man of large means and bought large tracts of land in Dutchess County, N. Y., on the Hudson, where he died February 15, 1815. He married Sibyl Mudge, whose mother was a daughter of Ebenezer Dorr, of Revolutionary prominence. The father of our subject was twice married. His first wife, Lydia Beach, died June 29, 1827, leaving three daugh- ters, Susan, Johanna and Louisa. His second wife, Jane Ann Lake, daughter of Thomas Lake, was born in Dutchess County, N. Y., in May, 1808, and died in Carbondale in January, 1868. Her father ran a grist mill at Pleasant Valley, Dutchess County, N. Y., not far from Pough- keepsie, and was a brother of Daniel Lake, a soldier in the War of 1812, who was killed near Plattsburg, N. Y., in that war. Mrs. Jane Ann Berry was the mother of seven children that grew to mature years. Jane is living and is unmarried. Sibyl died unmarried. Lucina, wife of Oliver David, died at Olyphant in September, 1896, and was an active worker in the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which denomination her son, Arthur, is a minister. Phoebe married James V. Irwin, and they reside in Carbondale. Marion, who was a soldier in the Civil War, contracted disease from which he died November 5, 1891. Luman C. served through the entire period of the Civil War in the commissary department and died soon after the close of the war.

Our subject, who was the oldest son and the fourth child in the family, was educated in the schools of Carbondale. At the age of eighteen he was seized with a desire to go to sea and acting upon this impulse, he went to New Bedford and shipped aboard the "Rainbow," a whaler bound for South American waters. During the six years he spent on the high seas he sailed on nearly every ocean on the globe. After spending some time in southern waters, the ship headed for the Arctic Ocean and cast anchor at the Sand- wich Islands. He was so pleased with the islands that he wished to stay, but for various reasons he went on with the ship into the Arctic Ocean and through Behring Strait and the land of the midnight sun. They were nearly wrecked in pass- ing through the strait and had to put back to the Sandwich Islands to make repairs, after which they sailed for the South Sea Islands, visiting New Zealand, Australia, Fiji, Marquise, Friendly and Society Islands, Corea, China, Japan and the coast of Siberia, where he named what is still known as Dead Man's Bay on Big Shantee Islands. After his return from this extended voy- age, he shipped on board another vessel, which he thought was a merchantman, but when he learned it was bound for Africa to engage in the slave trade, he abandoned it in Philadelphia. The ship proceeded to the West Indies and was wrecked on the Florida Keys. He, returning to New York, shipped on board a vessel engaged in the merchant trade. His last voyage was on a New York and Savannah packet. In his various trips he was on the Sandwich Islands five times and took a greater liking to that country than any other he visited. He learned to speak the language of the natives, which he still retains. Since the discussion began in regard to annex- ing the islands to the United States, he has writ- ten some interesting articles for publication con- cerning the customs of the people, etc.

In the fall of 1858 Mr. Berry returned home, expecting to again go to sea, but on the 26th of October he set sail on the sea of matrimony, being then united with Miss Adelia Carpenter, of Uniondale, Pa. Through her influence he was led to abandon the life of a seafaring man and has since engaged in the furniture business. Un-

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der Lincoln's first administration he was post- master of Blakely, now Olyphant. Possessing considerable inventive genius, he has invented a new kind of ship, on which he is about to get a patent, and which he claims will be the fastest sailing vessel ever constructed. He has a large collection of papers relating to his family in colo- nial times and relics of the wars in which his ancestors participated, among them, in addition to those before mentioned, being the medicine case carried by his grandfather in the Revolution and many valuable documents pertaining to the family history.

Mr. and Mrs. Berry are the parents of four sons, namely: Delmore L., who is in the furni- ture business at Olyphant, married Miss Maggie Patten, and has one child, Marion; George W., a graduate of Wood's College and head clerk in a store at Olyphant; Henry, who assists his father in the store; and Fred M., a student in Wood's College.

E MORY STONE. The ownership of a good farm with first-class buildings upon it, is conclusive evidence of the energy and perseverance of any man whose home is within the limits of this county. When we state that Mr. Stone has for years engaged in the dairy and stock business in South Abington Township, where he has a fine place containing a complete set of substantial buildings, it will be understood that he is a good farmer and a man of sound judgment. He was born in North Abington Township, February 17, 1823, the son of James and Polona (Green) Stone, natives of Rhode Island, who came to Pennsylvania about 1815 and died in Lackawanna County.

When about twenty years of age, the subject of this sketch left home and went to Wayne County, Pa., where he was employed on a farm for two summers and worked at railroading about twenty- five years. For some time he also had an interest in a tannery. August 11, 1847, he married Cath- erine S. Hudson, who was born in Orange Coun- ty, N. Y., the daughter of Oscar and Margaret (Jessup) Hudson, also natives of New York. Her father, who settled in Carbondale when it con- tained but three houses, was employed as an en-

gineer on the Delaware & Hudson Railroad, but afterward removed to Waymart, Wayne County, and there died at the age of seventy-six. His wife died at the age of thirty-three; of their seven children, four are yet living. Sylvanus Jessup, Mrs. Stone's maternal grandfather, was one of the first settlers of Carbondale, and carried on a hotel there. He was active in religious work and served as a deacon in the Presbyterian Church. The maternal grandparents of Mrs. Stone were Syl- . vanus and Margaret Jessup, who were born in New York and became pioneers of Carbondale.

There were born to the union of Mr. and Mrs. Stone ten children, of whom eight are living, namely: Frank, who is married and has two children living; Gertrude M .; Eva, wife of Dr. G. Fike, and mother of five children; Arthur, who resides in Scranton, is married and has two children; Charles, of Chattanooga, Tenn .; Oscar, who is engaged in the milk business at Factory- ville; Harry, who is a business man of Scranton; and Bertie, who is married and at home.

In the spring of 1863 Mr. Stone sold his prop- erty in Wayne County and bought his present home in Lackawanna County, where he has since erected all the buildings and has carried on a dairy and stock business. With his family he holds membership in the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he takes an active part. The first ballot he cast was in 1844, when he voted the Whig ticket. On the birth of the Republican party he identified himself with it, but when Gov- ernor St. John was nominated president on the Prohibition ticket, his attention was called to that movement and to the great need of reform in the liquor traffic. He at once identified himself with the party pledged to the prohibition of the sale of intoxicants and has since been an earnest advo- cate of its principles.

J I OSEPH D. LLOYD is one of the well known citizens of Scranton, and holds a re- munerative position with the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Coal Company. He was born in Breconshire, Wales, February 22, 1844, and is a son of Joseph D. and Margaret (Griffith) Lloyd, natives of Pembrokeshire. His father,

GEORGE LORD MORSS.

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who was an engineer, furnace man and coal miner, died in Wales in 1874, and the wife and mother passed away ten years later. In religious belief both were members of the Baptist Church. Their nine children attained years of maturity, and four, two sons and two daughters, came to America, but only two of the family survive, Jo- seph D. and Hannah, in Wales.

The boyhood years of the subject of this sketch were passed at Breconshire, where he received a fair education. When fourteen he began to work at the blacksmith's trade and in the boiler works. In 1863 he came to America, taking passage at Liverpool on the "City of Washington" and reach- ing New York City after two weeks. Thence he proceeded to Scranton, where he became an em- ploye of the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western in the Bellevue mines, and later was a laborer in the Pine Brook mines. In 1863 he enlisted for three months with the state troops to protect the state, but the order came after Lee's defeat at Gettysburg and the troops were not needed. He then went to Broadtop, Huntingdon County, and Johnstown, spending a day in each place, and then returning to Scranton, where he resumed work in the mines.

In May, 1865, Mr. Lloyd enlisted as a member of Company G, Seventy-seventh Pennsylvania Infantry, and was mustered into the service at Strawberry Plains, Tenn., where he joined his company, proceeding thence to Bullsgap, that state. After three weeks he returned to Nash- ville and took part in the grand review of the Army of the Cumberland. Then going to John- sonville, he took the boat for New Orleans, and four months later went to Savannah, Ga., thence to New York City, and was paid off and hon- orably discharged in Bleeker Street in October, 1865.

Returning home, Mr. Lloyd worked in the Dia- mond mines until 1867, and then, desiring a bet- ter education, he entered Gardner's Business Col- lege, where he carried on his studies for two years. In 1869 he married Miss Anna Jones, who was born in Merthyr-Tydvil, Glamorganshire, Wales. After his marriage he worked for a short time in the Bellevue mines, then went to New York City and engaged in the hotel business in Green-

wich Street. Returning to Scranton in March, 1870, in August of the same year he resumed work in the Bellevue mines. In 1875 he went to the far west and for seven months was employed in the silver mines of Utah, also spent some time in Colorado, returning from there to resume work in the Bellevue mines. In 1878 he was made fore- man, serving for five years, after which he was given a similar position with the Delaware, Lack- awanna & Western in sinking the Kingston shaft, and was then inside foreman of the Tripp shaft which he opened. In 1888 he was made inside foreman of the Archbald mines, which position he has since filled, having three hundred and sixty hands under him.

In 1890 Mr. Lloyd built the residence at No. 556 North Main Avenue which he now occu- pies. He and his wife have five children: Jose- phine, Mrs. William R. Lewis, of Scranton; Frank, who is with the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Company; John, mining engineer with the same firm; Fred and Gertrude. For two terms of three years each Mr. Lloyd was select councilman from the fifteenth ward, having been elected on the Republican ticket. In 1896 he was a delegate to the state convention at Harrisburg that selected representatives to the St. Louis na- tional convention. He is a member of the county Republican central committee and has served on its executive committee. Fraternally he is a Ma- son, past officer in the Order of Odd Fellows, a member of the encampment, and Robert Morris Lodge No. 58, Ivorites. In religious belief a Baptist, he has served as secretary of the board of elders and is a leading Sunday-school worker.

G EORGE LORD MORSS was born in Windham, Greene County, N. Y., May 26, 1816, a son of Foster Morss. He at- tended the common schools, also the Delhi and Kinderhook academies, after which he taught school for a number of terms. His first business interests were in partnership with his brothers, near Carbondale, in the tanning and lumber trade, but later he decided to sell out to them and go west. A preliminary trip for the purpose of looking up a location, however, led him to de-

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cide that no place offered better advantages than Lackawanna County, then a part of Luzerne. Accordingly he returned here and purchased the interests owned by his brothers. On a slight eminence he erected, in 1853, a commodious resi- dence, and here his remaining years were spent. A man of good judgment and executive ability, he gained prominent recognition, and his death, which occurred July 31, 1882, was counted a pub- lic loss.

The lady who for more than forty years was the faithful helpmate of Mr. Morss was in maiden- hood Lois Austin Tuttle, a daughter of Gen. Jehiel Tuttle, who settled in Greene County, N. Y., during the pioneer days of its history. Mrs. Morss was born in Greene County, September 17, 1818, and died at the family residence in Car- bondale October 9, 1896. The four children who blessed this union are named as follows: Merilla E., wife of L. W. Morss, of Scranton; Isabella, deceased, wife of J. Aitken; Amanda L. and Lois R., who occupy the old homestead.

A NDREW LEIGHTON. In visiting jew- elry stores one is often impressed with the different styles of silverware, made for use- ful and ornamental purposes. Some pieces are beautiful, but without solidity; some are fan- tastic, but evidently not durable; and then there are some pieces of sterling value and full weight, not, perhaps, so full of embellishment as others, but more useful and lasting. So with men; some are handsome, but useless; some gifted by na- ture, but lacking the power to turn their gifts to practical uses; and then again there are those honest, large-souled men whom it is always a pleasure to meet and an honor to know.

To this latter class belongs Mr. Leighton, who has combined, happily, in his disposition, the thrift of his Scotch progenitors with the progress- ive spirit of Americans. During the long period of his residence in Glenburn, he has gained the esteem of his fellow-citizens, and has also made a wide acquaintance among the people of this part of the county. He has inherited in a large degree the characteristics that make the sturdy, honest Scotch such desirable citizens, as well as the patri-

otic spirit which led his grandfather to fight bravely for independence from British domina- tion.

Born in Susquehanna County, Pa., April 4, 1822, the subject of this sketch is a son of Andrew and Mary (Buell) Leighton. His father, a native of Scotland, emigrated to the United States at the age of twenty-one and settled in New York, where he was engaged in the mercantile business until forty-one years of age. From there he re- moved to Susquehanna County, Pa., where he remained until his death, at the age of eighty-five. His wife, who was born in Connecticut, died at the age of sixty-five.

Our subject received a fair common school and academic education. From seventeen until twen- ty years he taught school, after which for a num- ber of years he was engaged in book selling, mainly supplying school libraries, and having a corps of subordinate agents under him. Later he was connected with the "Country Gentleman." In Albany, at the age of twenty-six, he married Frances M., daughter of Rodman Sisson, and for two years they resided in that city. On coming to Lackawanna County in 1851, he purchased and settled upon a farm one mile east of Waverly. After having greatly improved the same he sold it for more than double the purchase price, and in 1866 bought the Clover Hills farm in Glenburn, where he has since resided. His first presidential ballot was cast for the gifted Henry Clay, and while his candidate did not win, yet since then he has almost invariably voted for the winning man, as he is a stanch Republican and votes that ticket. In religious views he is connected with the Baptist Church.

The family of Andrew Leighton consisted of eleven children, and of these eight are still liv- ing. Edward F., the eldest, who is married and has four children, is one of the largest and oldest wholesale grocers in Binghamton, N. Y. John N. is at home. Jessie is married and has two chil- dren. Arthur, who is in the wood acid business in Delaware County, N. Y., owns eight thousand acres of land and employs one hundred men; he has a family of five children. George and James were twins, the latter of whom died while attend- ing Yale College. Mary, the widow of a banker

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of Dewitt, Neb., has two sons. Elizabeth, the mother of two daughters, lives in Montreal, where her husband is general manager for the Mutual Life Insurance Company of New York for Canada. Robert died at twelve years of age. Ruth, the youngest of the family, is at Prince- ton.

George Leighton was educated in Lehigh Uni- versity, graduating with the class of 1883 in the civil engineering department. His business has taken him throughout every part of the country, but in 1895 he ceased to travel, and came to Glen- burn, where he erected a commodious residence adjoining that occupied by his parents. He re- tains a general office in Scranton. Two children (now living) were born of his union with Miss Theodora Ross, a descendant of Lieutenant Ross, who was a soldier in the Revolutionary army and was killed in the Wyoming massacre; her mater- nal grandfather, Captain Fellows, was also a par- ticipant in the war with England.

Personally the subject of this sketch is a man of unusual intelligence. He commands senti- ments of the highest respect, both on account of his interest in the advancement and progress of the community, and the high character sustained in all the relations of life. His home is bright- ened by the amenities of existence and his family intelligent and respected. In such homes our country has its strongest bulwarks and from such family circles draws its noblest citizens-those who have grown up in the atmosphere of Chris- tian manhood and womanhood, fitted for the di- verse opportunities and the heavy responsibilities of life.

R ONDINO P. PARKER: The home sur- roundings and daily life of the subject of this biography illustrate the prominent features of a career which has been prosperous. He has been a lifelong resident of South Abing- ton Township and is now engaged in cultivating the farm first settled upon by his father many years ago. Among the fortunate circumstances of his life, he was especially happy in the selec- tion of a wife, the lady who bears his name hav- ing been his efficient helpmate in all undertak-

ings, besides looking well to the ways of her household and adding to the home the little com- forts which have so much to dowith the happiness of the family. Both are genial, hospitable and warm-hearted, and take an interest in whatever is calculated to advance the welfare of the com- munity.

At his present place of residence our subject was born August 2, 1830, to the union of Sheldon and Sarah (Phillips) Parker. The first of the family to come here was his grandfather, Stephen Parker, a native of Rhode Island, who removed to this locality about 1800. Sheldon Parker was born here and spent his entire life as an agricul- turist on the home farm, dying at the age of fifty- three. The widowed mother has since made her home with a daughter in Clarks Green. Of their seven children, all but one are still living.

In the district schools and the academy at Wa- verly our subject obtained a fair education. De- cember 7, 1854, at Greens Grove, he was married by Squire Simrell to Mary Diana Slocum. This lady was born in Scott Township, but in infancy was taken to Slocum's Hollow (Scranton) by her parents, Ebenezer and Sallie (Mills) Slocum, and at the age of six years returned with them to Scott Township. She was one of eight children, of whom six are living; one of her brothers, Stephen Y., died near Nashville while serving in the Union army. Ebenezer Slocum died at the home of our subject, aged eighty-eight; his wife, who bore the maiden name of Sallie Mills, was born in New York and died here when eighty- eight.

The family of Mr. and Mrs. Parker consists of five living children and one deceased. The eldest, Jennie, is the wife of J. L. Stone, repre- sented upon another page. Thurston S., who op- erates the old homestead in connection with his father, is a prominent leader among the young politicians of the township and is very popular in social circles. Sterling D. is general manager of a large store in Pittston. Ward B. is a mer- chant at Clarks Summit, and his brother, Har- old R., is in his employ as a clerk. Ella May died at the age of seven months.

After his marriage Mr. Parker resided on the old homestead. With his wife he holds mem-

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bership in the Free Methodist Church at Wa- verly. While in earlier life he supported Repub- lican principles, he was led to see the importance of prohibitory laws regarding the liquor traffic and hence allied himself with the Prohibition par- ty, casting the first vote in its favor and the only one cast in the township at that time. At differ- ent times he has filled a number of local offices and at present is serving as auditor.

T HOMAS DICKSON. During the tempo- rary sojourn of James and Elizabeth (Lin- en) Dickson in Leeds, England, their first child, Thomas, was born March 26, 1824. As they were from the burgh of Lauder, county of Berwick, Scotland, their son always claimed to be a Scotchman and was justly proud of his ances- tors, who laid the foundation of Scottish civili- zation and greatness. His grandfather, Thomas Dickson, served for twenty years as a member of the Ninety-second Regiment of Highlanders. At fifteen he married, and when sixteen was a father. Soon afterward he entered the army and served his country through the Napoleonic wars, taking part in the Peninsular campaign, when the French, under Jerome Bonaparte, were driv- en from Spain. During the famous battle of Waterloo, he was one of the immovable soldiers and when the day was won he and two others of his company were found standing full armed. Medals and other decorations which he received from the British government contained the names of fifty-two battles in which he took a brave part, and these are still in the possession of the family, souvenirs of which they are justly proud.

In 1832 James Dickson, with his wife and a brother-in-law, John Linen, sailed from Glasgow for the new world of America. For nine weeks they were upon the ocean, driven hither and thither by severe storms, but at last anchored in the mouth of the St. Lawrence River. With other passengers they were transferred to boats and towed up current by oxen walking along the bank. For a time the family stopped in Toronto, but, finding no work there, they left in 1834, migrating to the foot of Elk Mountain in north- ern Pennsylvania. Here the family was left in

charge of our subject, while the father went to New York to see if he could get work at his trade, that of a millwright. The result being sat- isfactory, he spent two winters and one summer there in profitable employment, and then returned to Dundaff, where he had left the family.

It was Mr. Dickson's intention to return to New York, but the Delaware & Hudson Canal Company, learning that he was a skilled me- chanic, offered him a position which he accepted. In the spring of 1836 he came to Carbondale, ac- companied by his wife and six children. Soon afterward he was made master mechanic, a posi- tion which he held until his death in 1880. Much of his success was due to his wife, who was a woman of more than ordinary energy and capa- bility, possessing dauntless courage that never wavered in the midst of poverty, suffering and hardships. It is said of her that often at night, holding an umbrella over her so as to screen the light from her sleeping husband and children, she cut and sewed garments for them, laboring inces- santly for their happiness and comfort.

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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 58

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