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 74
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 74
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The subject of this sketch is the second of three children, his sister being Florence, Mrs. J. M. Atherton, and his brother, Maurice T., head clerk in Carroll's store at Carbondale .. Dwight S. attended the public and high schools of Scran-
JOHN FERN.
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ton, where he obtained an excellent education. In 1893 he entered the Ontario College of Vet- erinary Surgeons at Toronto, Canada, from which he graduated in 1895, with the degree of V. M. D. He is also an honorary member of that college. He is identified with Washington Camp No. 25, P. O. S. of A., at Green Ridge, in which he is conductor. In political views he upholds the Republican platform. In 1895 he enlisted in Company D of the Thirteenth Regiment, Penn- sylvania National Guard, and has since been one of its active members.
J OHN FERN. The general intelligence, high moral character and business ability of the outside superintendent of the Arch- bald mines are such as to entitle him to the re- spect of the entire community and the deeper esteem of those who know him well. A skilled mechanic, he has applied his inventive ability to practical purposes. March 19, 1895, he patented the Fern slate picker, which is already in general use and is conceded to be a very superior device, being a combination of friction and specific grav- ity. In addition to this, he has patents on min- ing lamps, another slate picker and self-adjust- ยท ing belt stretcher and cable stretcher.
The Fern family originated in Germany, where was born Peter, our subject's father, a painter by trade and a man of industrious disposition. In 1842, accompanied by his wife and only child, he left Bremen, his native place, and emigrated to America settling in Carbondale, where our subject was born March 14, 1845. In 1846 he came to Scranton (then Slocum's Hollow) as a miner and railroad contractor for the Lacka- wanna Iron & Coal Company. Three years later, at the beginning of the great gold excitement in California, he went there via Panama and en- gaged in mining for two years. In 1852 the fam- ily started to join him, making the long and te- dious journey to San Francisco, only to find on arriving there that he had died three days after they left New York City on the "Union." He was buried in Sacramento. The widowed moth- er, thus unexpectedly finding herself alone, among strangers, was placed in a position that
would have daunted a woman of less resolute strength. But realizing that her children were dependent upon her, she faced the future bravely, and planned for the comfort of her dear ones. It was six weeks after her arrival in California before she learned the fate of her husband, and afterward she remained for a time in the far west. There was, however, nothing to detain her there long, so with her daughter and two sons she started back to New York, going on the "Ore- gon" to Panama and from there on the "Georgia."
The mother of our subject, to whose noble character he owes so much, was Catherine Schoeffer, whose father spent his entire life in Germany and was superintendent of a colliery in Hesse-Cassel under the government, dying in his native place at ninety-four years of age. In youth he had served in the German army. Mrs. Fern, on her return to the east, settled in Wilkes- barre and bought a business place in South Main Street, where she engaged in the grocery busi- ness. In that place she married Capt. William Gaul and then came to Dunmore, this county, where she carried on a grocery trade. In 1855 she removed to Bellevue, at the time when the original shaft was being sunk, but after five years she went to Jermyn. Her second husband, who was a captain in the German revolution, volun- teered in the Union service as a member of Bat- tery C, First Pennsylvania Light Artillery, and was killed at Fair Oaks, May 30, 1862. His widow now lives in Scranton and enjoys fair health for one of her years (seventy-nine). In religious belief she is identified with the German Presbyterian Church. Of her first marriage two sons were born, the older being Julius, a jeweler in Wilkesbarre. The three children of her sec- ond marriage are William A., a carpenter with the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western; Charles H., who is engaged in the hotel business in Lack- awanna Township; and Lizzie A., Mrs. George Stevens, of Scranton.
Though our subject was quite young when the family went to California, he remembers the trip distinctly and its many perilous adventures made an indelible impression upon his mind. After the age of ten years his education was limited to
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such knowledge as could be acquired by attend- ance at night schools and by self-culture. At that age he became a slate picker in the Belle- vue mines of the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western, and when quite young was the main- stay of the family, as his brother was appren- ticed to a trade and therefore earned nothing. He was the first boy advanced from slate pick- ing to greasing cars, and afterward became driver boy at the Bellevue coal drift, now aban- doned. He was transferred to the old Bellevue shaft as driver boy, later was advanced to assist the stable boss, being the first to hold the posi- tion, and next in the blacksmith's shop learned the trade.
In August, 1862, Mr. Fern became a member of Company I, One Hundred and Thirty-second Pennsylvania Infantry, and was mustered in for nine months at Harrisburg as a private, afterward taking part in the battles of South Mountain, Antietam, Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville. The latter engagement was fought three days after the expiration of the company's period of service, but they volunteered by request of the general in command. At Antietam Mr. Fern was slightly wounded by a ball in the left forearm, but with that exception went through the war unharmed. On his return home, he refused to again take his former position, because the one who filled it during his absence had a wife and three children and to throw him out of work might cause his family to suffer. Instead, he began to work as a blacksmith at the Cliff plant, but after three months took a position under J. P. Acker, foreman, with the Delaware, Lacka- wanna & Western Company, at the Continental mines. At the end of two months the man who held his former position at Bellevue was drafted, creating a vacancy, and he went there, wishing to be with his mother.
As a member of the construction corps, de- partment of Tennessee, in 1864 Mr. Fern went from Nashville to Atlanta, then returned toward Nashville under Slocum and joined Thomas at Franklin. He was present at Altoona, Marietta and Big Shanty, and returning to Franklin, was in the third train of the army of the Cumberland and assisted in the construction of a bridge across
Green River. On his return in January, 1865, to Bellevue, there was no vacancy here, but he was given work as a blacksmith at Plymouth, and remained there two years and ten months. In 1860 he came to Scranton as blacksmith in the sinking of the Dodge shaft and was retained as expert mechanic until May 10, 1872, since which time he has been superintendent of the Archbald mines of the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Company. He was the first regular foreman of the shaft, which was sunk in 1870 and operated for the first time in the fall of 1871.
The marriage of Mr. Fern, in Scranton, united him with Miss Euphemia B. Hall, who was born in Tunkhannock, and they reside at No. 115 North Sumner Avenue. Their six children are named as follows: Nellie, wife of G. L. B. Skill- horne, of Philadelphia; John R., electrician with the Brooklyn & Long Island Traction Company, of Brooklyn; William H., who is his father's as- sistant; B. F., a contractor in Lackawanna Township; Nettie C., wife of Charles E. Olver, an attorney of Scranton; and Bertram C., a stu- dent in the Philadelphia Dental College. Mrs. Fern is a daughter of Jackson Hall, a railroad man residing for some years in Tunkhannock, but subsequently removing to the vicinity of Kal- amazoo, Mich., where he was employed as a contractor until his death. Afterward his widow, Margaret (Reiley) Hall, returned to Tunkhan- nock, and spent two years with her brother there, but then removed to Scranton, where she still resides.
September 10, 1888, Mr. Fern met with a seri- ous accident at his mines while unloading a car of lumber. For some unforeseen cause, about two thousand feet fell from the car and struck his head, knocking him down, fracturing his hip and breaking three ribs. He was carried home at once, and no one thought there was a' pos- sibility of his recovery, but a strong constitu- tion saved him, though he still suffers from the effects of the injury. In 1890 he was obliged to undergo an operation in a Philadelphia hospital, and has since been better.
Fraternally Mr. Fern is past officer of Globe Lodge, chief patriarch of Hyde Park Encamp- ment, member of Scranton Canton No. 4, Wa-
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netta Lodge No. 23, D. R., I. O. O. F .; Hyde Park Lodge, Knights of Honor; Lieut. Ezra S. Griffin Post No. 139, G. A. R .; and West Side Club. He is president of the Taylorville Build- ing & Loan Association; president of the Trad- ers Building & Loan Association of Hyde Park; was appointed member of the school board of Lackawanna Township and one year later was elected to the position, serving four years alto- gether, the first year as president and the second year as treasurer. Politically a Republican, he has been on the county committee for three terms. For twelve years he was secretary of the old fifth district legislative committee, and when the district was changed by the formation of the new county and the third district was organized, he was made the first secretary of the committee, became its first chairman, and served as chair- man of the committee on resolutions. He was the first Sunday-school superintendent of the Methodist Protestant Church, now the Hamp- ton Street Methodist Episcopal Church; his membership now is in the Simpson Church, which he serves as trustee. For some time he made his home in Lackawanna Township, but since 1894 has resided at his present place in Scranton.
J OHN NELSON GRAVES. The prosperity of Scott Township is due in no small meas- ure to its active and intelligent agricultur- ists, who have brought its farming interests to a point where profits are much larger than in the early days. Mr. Graves is the owner of two hundred and fifty acres, of which one hundred and ninety acres lie in his home farm in Scott Township. He may well take pride in the fact that the development of this place is due to his unremitting and well-directed labors. The fields return good harvests in exchange for the constant care he expends upon them, and the buildings are neat and substantial. Besides general farm- ing a dairy business is carried on successfully.
In an early day Constant Graves, our subject's grandfather, and a native of Rhode Island, made what was then a long journey to this county, set- tling in Greenfield Township. He it was who
established the family here. The father of our subject, George Graves, was born January 7, 1794, and in the '40s settled in Greenfield Town- ship, where he followed the shoemaker's trade, cultivated a farm and officiated as a local preach- er in the Methodist Episcopal Church. By his first marriage he had a daughter, Susan, the wid- ow of George Brown. His second wife, Mary Tompkins, was born in 1811, and died October 3, 1884. He passed away January 17, 1876, and his remains lie in the Tompkinsville cemetery. The four children of his second marriage were Wes- ley, who died in infancy ; Emma, who died young; George P., and John N.
The subject of this sketch was born in Green- field Township near Tompkinsville, November 23, 1857, and grew to manhood upon the home farm, receiving a common-school education. At the age of nineteen he began to teach school, and he followed this occupation for three years. After his marriage he settled upon the farm where he has since resided. In 1888 he became interested in the market business at Scranton, but gave it up after eighteen months. Politically he sup- ports Democratic principles, and upon that ticket was elected tax collector. He is interested in ed- ucational matters and served as school director for three years. Fraternally he is identified with Aurora Lodge No. 523, F. & A. M., at Jermyn.
November 14, 1878, Mr. Graves was united in marriage with Miss Emma Hubbard, daughter of Sumner and Harriet Hubbard. The seven children born of their union are named as fol- lows: George S., deceased; Minnie B .; Earl H., deceased; Harry N .; Harold J .; Hattie E., and Gladys M. Mr. and Mrs. Graves are known for their warm hearts and generous natures, and are regarded with feelings of esteem by the entire community.
E LIAS A. SMITH. A perusal of this vol- ume will reveal many sketches of honored and influential citizens who have resided in this part of Pennsylvania for many years, but among them none is more worthy of mention than Mr. Smith, who is a type of the successful farmer. Many of the most enterprising residents
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of Lackawanna County have spent their entire lives here. In them we find men of loyalty to the interests of the community, who understand the social and industrial needs of this vicinity and have a thorough knowledge of its resources. They are, therefore, better adapted to succeed here than a stranger, and probably without ex- ception are warmly devoted to the prosperity of the county.
Such a man we find in Mr. Smith, who resides in Newton Township, and is the largest land owner and capitalist in this section of the county. He was born here March 27, 1827, the son of Elias and Catharine (Adams) Smith, natives of Sussex County, N. J. His father, who was a son of George Smith of New Jersey, removed to Lackawanna County in 1816 and settled near the present site of our subject's home, engaging in the lumber business and in farming here. His death occurred when he was seventy-seven and his wife passed away at the age of sixty-three. Of their four children, our subject is the only survivor.
October 31, 1855, Mr. Smith married Miss Ann McGeever, who was born in Liverpool in 1840 and died at the home farm in the fall of 1895, aged fifty-five years. In the hardships of her hus- band's earlier years she shared, as also in the successes of his later life. She assisted heartily in carrying out the plans to better their financial condition and co-operated fully in all his efforts. The support of a devoted wife, man's greatest earthly stay, he never lacked as long as she was spared to him, and her death was a heavy be- reavement. Over the spot where her remains lie he causcd to be erected a beautiful monument, the finest in this locality.
Six children were born to the union of Mr. and Mrs. Smith, and five are living, namely: George, Curtis and Bertha W., all of whom are married; Willie, who lives at home and assists in the man- agement of the home place, and Elias J., who re- sides at the home farm and is married. After his marriage our subject rented the property he now owns and built a sawmill, the first in the neigh- borhood and still one of the largest here. He cared for his father in his old days, and on the latter's death assumed the active management of
the estate. At this writing his landed posses- sions aggregate five hundred acres and he also owns the sawmill, being one of the wealthiest men in his locality and employing ten or twelve men. Always a hard working man, industriously win- ning his way upward, he has displayed broad in- telligence and liberal spirit, which have endeared him to many friends and gained him universal esteem.
P RESTON ROBINSON. Since 1893 Mr. Robinson has been superintendent of the Green Ridge Slate Picker Works at Scran- ton, which under his oversight has become one of the important industries of the city. The pat- ent coal separators manufactured here are the oldest and certainly among the very best mnade, and through his personal efforts in traveling from place to place, he has been successful in intro- ducing them in the Lackawanna, Wyoming and Schuylkill valleys, where in some breakers from ten to twenty are used. The principle employed in the operation of the slate picker is the separa- tion of slate from coal by means of friction and specific gravity, with or without the use of water. The machine will handle two hundred and fifty tons of coal in ten hours, doing the work of six- teen or twenty boys, and paying for itself in less than three months.
Near Pottsville in Schuylkill County Mr. Rob- inson was born in 1841, being the son of Henry G. and Sarah (Davis) Robinson, natives of Ches- ter, Delaware County, Pa. The first of the family in America was Abraham Robinson, who came from England and settled on a farm in Delaware County. He was interested in an entailed estate in Ireland, being the son of Sir Thomas Robin- son, a nobleman who held the office of lord mayor of Dublin. His son, Capt. Thomas, our subject's grandfather, was born in Delaware County and became a very prominent sea cap- tain. For a time he was in the merchant service for the Thomas P. Coke Company of Philadel- phia. In the War of 1812 he was in the American navy and also took part in the war with Tripoli. In old age he retired from the sea and died at the home of his son, Henry G., when eighty-two years of age.
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During the War of 1812 Henry G. Robinson was in the navy in the American service. His seafaring life began as cabin boy in the mer- chant service with China and for twenty-eight years he followed the sea, being first mate when he retired. Afterward he engaged in business in Philadelphia until 1830, when he went to Schuyl- kill County and for many years was collector and weighmaster for the Schuylkill Navigation Com- pany. His death occurred in 1864 at the age of seventy, he having been born in 1794. Politic- ally he advocated Whig doctrines. His wife, who was a member of a Quaker family, was the daugh- ter of a farmer near Chester, and died at the age of eighty-seven. Of their thirteen children all but one attained years of maturity and nine are now living. One son took part in the Civil War, responding to the emergency call.
Preston, who was seventh in order of birth among the children of the family, attended the public school at Schuylkill Haven and for three years assisted his father in the collector's office. At the age of seventeen he was apprenticed to the machinist's trade under George W. Snyder, of Pottsville, and four years later went to Tama- qua, where he secured work as draughtsman and clerk for the Little Schuylkill Railroad Company. During the seven years of his service with the company, he was gradually promoted and finally became the superintendent's right hand man. His next venture was to embark in the foundry busi- ness for himself and for eighteen years he was proprietor of the Tamaqua foundry, where lie manufactured stoves of original patents and de- signs. When the Philadelphia & Reading Rail- road "swallowed" everything, he closed out the business and in the fall of 1884 removed to Scran- ton, becoming mechanical engineer for the Scran- ton Steel Company. Later he was with the Lacka- wanna Iron & Coal Company for fifteen months and then became chief engineer in the enlarge- ment of the Boies steel wheel works, superin- tending the construction of machinery for the manufacture of wrought iron car wheels. The plant is the only one of the kind in America and the work which he had in charge was one of great responsibility. On leaving that position, he as- sumed the management of the Green Ridge Slate
Picker Works and has since made a number of improvements on the lines of the old patent.
Politically a Republican, Mr. Robinson is in- terested in matters relating to the public wel- fare. While in Tamaqua he was a school director for eleven years and during four years of that time filled the position of president of the board. In that city he was also past officer in the Lodge No. 228, Chapter No. 177, Council No. 17, and Commandery No. 31 of the Masonic fraternity, and is still a member of each body there. He is connected with the Scranton Engineers Club and is alive to every new phase of development in his chosen line of work. In religious belief an Epis- copalian, he holds membership in the Church of the Good Shepherd. He was united in marriage, in Philadelphia, with Miss Emily, daughter of Charles M. Payne, both natives of England, but for some time residents of Philadelphia. With his wife and daughter, Annie B., Mr. Robinson resides at No. 1556 Capouse Avenue.
E LIJAH A. GLOVER, M. D., one of the leading physicians of Moscow, was born in New York City, September 19, 1843, and is the son of Thomas and Harriet (Archer) Glover. His father, who was born in New York in 1803 and spent his entire life in that city, was engaged in the meat business about forty-five years. At an advanced age he retired from busi- ness to pass his remaining years in the enjoy- ment of the comforts his industry had rendered possible. For fourteen years he was a member of the Washington Mounted Cavalry Gray Troop. Upon the organization of the Republican party he became identified with it and continued to support its principles until his death, which occurred when he was ninety years of age. His wife was born in a Hudson River village and died in 1866.
In boyhood Dr. Glover attended ward school No. 7 in New York City, from which he grad- uated. Afterward he entered the New York Free Academy, now known as the New York City College, where he remained until gradua- tion. He then secured employment as a clerk in a drug store, and during the three years he
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remained in that position he gained a thorough knowledge of the compounding of medicines. With the intention of becoming a physician, he entered Bellevue Medical College, where he took a course of lectures, and later took a full course in the College of Physicians & Surgeons of New York City, graduating from that institution in the spring of 1869. At once after graduating he came to Moscow, where he has been in continu- ous practice ever since.
December 23, 1869, Dr. Glover married Miss Lora E., daughter of Squire Hiram Green, of Bailey Hollow, Lackawanna County, and a re- fined lady, whose death, October 19, 1896, was a deep bereavement to the family. She left an only son, Thomas L., who is bookkeeper for the Blue Ridge Coal Company. Dr. Glover was made a Mason in New York City in 1870 and in 1872, upon the organization of Moscow Lodge No. 504, F. & A. M., became one of its charter members and afterward served as its master. His practice is large, demanding his entire attention, hence he is not identified with politics nor promi- nent in public enterprises, but gives his attention entirely to his chosen life work, in which he has gained success.
C HARLES W. FRASIER owns and oper- ates a farm in Madison Township and is also proprietor of the mercantile store at Jubilee, a small postoffice that adjoins his home- stead. He has been a life-long resident of this county and was born May 30, 1833, in what is now the city of Scranton, being the son of Ben- jamin F. and Letitia (States) Frasier, natives re- spectively of Rhode Island and New Jersey. About 1817 his father came to what is now Scran- ton and there worked at his trades of gunsmith and cooper for many years, meantime witnessing the gradual settlement and rapid progress of the city. About 1853 he removed to Madison Town- ship and opened a shop which he carried on until his death at seventy-six years of age. Politically he advocated Democratic principles and upon that ticket was three times elected collector for the township. His wife died in this township when eighty-six years of age.
The early years of the subject of this sketch were spent in Scranton. He recalls the prim- itive appearance of this place, its few residents, small houses and general air of rustic simplicity. The most of the men then living have passed from the scenes of time, but could they return to these once familiar haunts they would find scarce- ly a trace of those old days yet remaining and would exclaim in amazement at the wonderful transformation the century has wrought. While he accompanied his father to Madison Township at the age of seventeen, yet the most of his life has been spent in Scranton, for he returned here a few years afterward and until 1889 worked at the car- penter's trade in sash, door and blind factories. Finally he came to the farm which he had pur- chased in 1869 and built the store that he now carries on; since 1893 he has been postmaster here, having the office in his store. Among his neighbors he is highly respected as a good man and loyal citizen.
September 25, 1853, Mr. Frasier married Miss Rosetta, daughter of Samuel Swarts, and they. have one son, Frank, who operates a cider and grist mill on this place. In national affairs Mr. Frasier is a Democrat, but in local matters is liberal, voting for the man he believes will best represent the interests of the people. For seven years he has served as school director and he has also filled the position of township assessor. Fraternally he is identified with Scranton Lodge No. 263, K. of P. His farm and store represent the result of his savings through years of activity and prove that he is a persevering, economical and industrious man.
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