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 75
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 75
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L UKE HARAN, who is numbered among the representative young business men of Green Ridge, Scranton and is recognized as an efficient plumber and gas-fitter, was born here December 18, 1870. He is a son of P. F. and Mary (Lally) Haran, natives of Carbondale, but for some years past residents of Scranton, where the former is foreman with the Delaware & Hudson Railroad Company. In early life he learned the machinist's trade and this he has since followed, his connection with his present
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employers covering a long period of years. He and his wife are the parents of six children and reside at No. 1631 Monsey Avenue, Green Ridge.
The early boyhood years of the subject of this sketch were uneventfully passed in the school- room and at home. When twelve years of age he became an employe of the florist, G. R. Clark, in Providence, remaining in that position for two years, and at the expiration of that time he be- gan an apprenticeship of five years to the plumb- er's trade under Howley Brothers. Through in- dustry and hard work he gained a thorough knowledge of the trade and on completing his apprenticeship was employed as a journeyman. In 1891 he went to Syracuse, N. Y., where he worked at his chosen occupation for a year.
On returning to Scranton, Mr. Haran began in business as a plumber and gas-fitter, to which he has since added steamfitting and furnace work. He has his office and shop at No. 1548 Dickson Avenue, where he keeps in stock a full line of supplies necessary for the successful manage- ment of the business. Among the contracts he has had may be mentioned those for the resi- dences of A. Harvey, Richard Robinson, James Lewsly, S. B. Price, Alexander Dunn, Sr., and Jacob G. Geiser. He is a charter member of the Master Plumbers Association in Scranton, of which he is secretary. In St. Paul's Total Ab- stinence and Benevolent Society, of which he is a charter member, he holds the office of presi- dent and is one of its most active workers.
G EORGE W. HORNBAKER. After hav- ing for some years successfully engaged in the meat business, in the spring of 1896 Mr. Hornbaker embarked in the grocery business and opened the Green Ridge Ready Pay Store. The building, which is 22x90 feet in di- mensions, is filled with a large and complete stock of staple and fancy groceries, the first floor being utilized as a salesroom, while the basement is used for storing goods. Two wagons are kept in constant use in delivering to customers. The en- terprise is established upon a solid financial basis and the store is one of the finest groceries in Scranton,
For several generations the Hornbaker family has been identified with the history of Lacka- wanna County. Joseph, father of George W., was born in Scranton and selecting agriculture as his life vocation, with two brothers settled in Madison Township, where he made his home upon a farm until he died, at the age of forty-five. His wife bore the maiden name of Catherine Hawk and was born in Warren County, N. J., being a member of an old family of that state. Her death occurred in 1870. Five children had been born of this marriage and of these three are living, George W. being the youngest. He was born near Madisonville, this county, in March, 1860, and spent the first eleven years of his life upon a farm, going from there to Kingston, Luzerne County, where he remained until 1876. Afterward he spent two years in Madison Town- ship and attended the public schools of his dis- trict.
The spring of 1879 witnessed the arrival of Mr. Hornbaker in Scranton, where for one year he was employed as helper in the blacksmith shop of the Lackawanna Iron & Coal Company. With the ambitious spirit that characterized him from boyhood, he determined not to work for others, but to engage in business for himself. Accord- ingly in 1880 he opened a meat market in Green Ridge, buying out the first butcher shop on the west side of Dickson Avenue. Four years later he built the market at No. 1538 Dickson Ave- nue, and this he occupied until the spring of 1896, when he sold out. During his first years in the meat business he had slaughter yards near Scran- ton, but the introduction of western beef rendered these unnecessary. One year before selling out, he added a stock of groceries to his supply of meats, poultry and game, and found the new business so profitable that he determined to de- vote to it his entire attention.
The marriage of Mr. Hornbaker in Factory- ville, Wyoming County, united him with Miss Lulu B. Gardner, daughter of Cyrus Gardner, a retired farmer living in that place. They reside at No. 1651 Capouse Avenue and have one child, Eleanor. Mr. Hornbaker holds membership in the Green Ridge Presbyterian Church, and fra- ternally is associated with the Heptasophs and is
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past officer in the Green Ridge Lodge of Odd Fellows. In relation to politics he has always been a pronounced Republican and at this writ- ing is a member of the county committee of his party.
A LBERT GRAVES has made his home upon a well-improved farm in Scott Town- ship since 1851, and during the interven- ing years has erected necessary buildings, kept the place in good repair and brought its sixty- seven acres under excellent cultivation. To ac- complish this it has been necessary for him to work indefatigably and also to use sound judg- ment in all his enterprises, but while the task has not been an easy one, he has proved himself fully equal to it and through his efforts has been able to surround his family with the comforts of life.
The first member of the Graves family to settle in this county was Richard, our subject's father, and a native of Rhode Island. When about seventeen years of age he located in Abington Township, but later settled in Greenfield Town- ship. Some time after his marriage, which oc- curred early in the '20s, he purchased property in Scott Township and here remained until his death in 1882, at the age of eighty-one. In religious belief he was a Methodist and an earnest worker in that denomination. At different times, in early life, he held township offices, among them those of auditor, assessor and collector. He married Elmira Tompkins, a native of Rhode Island, whose parents came to this county at an early day. They had four sons: Albert; Edwin, who lives in Jermyn; Richard, a resident of Scott Township, and John T., attorney-at-law and for- merly judge of a county court in South Dakota.
Albert Graves was born in Greenfield Town- ship, May 16, 1825. The most of his life has been spent in Scott Township, where his educa- tion was obtained in public and private schools. At the age of nineteen he began to teach school, and this occupation he followed for thirteen win- ter terms in Scott, Greenfield and Benton Town- ships, while the intervening summers were de- voted to farm work. By his marriage to Mar- garet Miller, he has had six children, namely:
A. C., who assists in cultivating the home farm; R. H., deceased; Margaret E., also deceased; Isaac S., M. D., a graduate of the University of New York, and a practicing physician of Jer- myn; Mary L., wife of Charles Harned, and Alice, who resides with her father, cheering and brightening his declining years by her devotion. The wife and mother died in 1890.
The religious principles of Mr. Graves are as fixed as his principles in other lines of thought and belief. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he officiates as class- leader and trustee. He favors the protection of home industries and votes the Republican ticket. While he has never sought prominence in local matters, the wisdom of his judgment has caused his advice to be frequently solicited in matters of public enterprise. For seven years he has been assessor of Scott Township and for fifteen years has held the office of justice of the peace. He favors the public school system, and during his service of nine years as school director has worked for the advancement of the free educa- tional institutions of this district.
J OHN F. TAYLOR. Not only in the vil- lage of Taylor where he now resides, but also in the city of Scranton, where in former years he made his home, Mr. Taylor is known as a skillful, efficient contractor and builder. In early life he became familiar with the carpen- ter's trade and selected it for his life work. As a builder he is painstaking and industrious, ac- curate in every detail, and strictly honest in all transactions. Hence he is esteemed not only as a business man but also as a citizen whose pres- ence is a benefit to the community.
The grandfather of our subject, Amos Taylor, was born in Connecticut and in an early day came to Pennsylvania, settling in Susquehanna County, where he died. He married the daughter of a Mr. Starks, who bore a brave part in defending the settlers during the Wyoming massacre. Our subject's father, William Taylor, was a farmer of Susquehanna County throughout most of his ac- tive life, but died in New York, being then seven- ty-six years of age. His wife, Mary, who is now
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living with a son in Rarden, Ohio, is a daughter of James Kelly, a native of New York, who died in Susquehanna County, Pa.
On the home farm in Susquehanna County the subject of this sketch was born August 22, 1837, and there he was reared to manhood, receiving his education in the district schools and serving an apprenticeship to the carpenter's trade. After learning his trade, he returned home and spent a few years there, but then went to Scranton and at once secured employment. In April, 1885, he came to Taylor, where he has since been engaged as a contractor and builder, also carries a full line of builders' materials. In 1870, while in Scran- ton, he was united in marriage with Miss Rachel Roberts, and they are the parents of a daughter, Rachel, an accomplished and intelligent young lady. The family hold membership in the Epis- copal Church of Scranton and are interested in religious and charitable projects. The first pres- idential vote of Mr. Taylor was cast for J. C. Fremont and he has since been a firm advocate of Republican principles.
B ERTON E. DAVIS is one of the well known young business men of Scranton. In the fall of 1886 he began for himself as a contractor and builder, locating in Nay-Aug Avenue, corner of Green Ridge Street, where he gradually built up a retail lumber business. His yard extends from Nay-Aug to Ross Avenue, and of the entire space 80x200 feet is devoted to the lumber business, in addition to which he has an office, piling room, and sheds running the whole length, two hundred feet. To facilitate the work, a siding runs to the yards from the Dela- ware & Hudson Railroad. All kinds of lumber and building material are kept on hand, and es- timates and plans are furnished for buildings of every description.
The Davis family was represented in New Eng- land during an early period of its settlement and many of its members still remain there. Theo- dore Davis, our subject's father, was born in New Haven, Conn., and was orphaned at the age of seven years. Three years later he removed to Gun Hill, Susquehanna County, Pa., where he
learned the carpenter's trade, and this occupation he afterward followed in South Gibson until his death in 1890, at the age of sixty-five. During the war he responded to the draft, but was not accepted. He married Julia, daughter of Aaron Resseguie, a farmer living in South Gibson, where she was born and where she died in 1872. Of her five children, three are living, all sons.
The youngest member of the family, Berton E., was born in South Gibson, Pa., in 1865, and there attended the public schools. From the age of thirteen he began to work at the carpenter's trade and soon acquired a thorough knowledge of it. In 1884 he came to Scranton and for two years was in charge of the contracting work for J. L. Chapman's lumber yard, after which he started in business for himself in the fall of 1886. He has had the contract for many scores of pub- lic and private buildings, in addition to which he has built several residences for himself in Provi- dence, some of these being afterward sold. He is a member of the Builders Exchange and takes an active interest in everything pertaining to the line of business in which he is engaged. Per- sonal affairs have engrossed his attention to such an extent that he has never entered the political arena or aspired to prominence in the municipal- ity, but he is known as a stanch Republican, who never fails to support his party in great national issues.
RA C. ATHERTON. Prominent among the citizens of Taylor who have materially con- tributed to its prosperity is the subject of this sketch. Throughout life this village has been his home and consequently he is deeply inter- ested in its welfare and gives liberally of his time and influence to all measures that promise to pro- mote its prosperity. While he has not gained wealth, he is comfortably situated, and in the twilight of his life is surrounded by all the nec- essities and many of the luxuries of existence.
The son of John and Catherine (Ward) Ather- ton, natives of Pennsylvania, the subject of this sketch was born in Taylor May 17, 1819, and was one of six children, the others being Phoebe, Boyd, Caroline, Sarah and James, all of whom
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are living except James and Boyd. The district schools in those days were of an inferior order and the grade of instruction furnished was on a par with the buildings themselves, nevertheless Mr. Atherton was able to gain a sufficient amount of knowledge in the schools to assist him in his business transactions. When twenty-one years of age he began to work at the carpenter's trade, and this he followed for several years, also en- gaging in teaming and farming. He has led a busy life and as a result of his self-denying ef- forts has given his children good advantages, surrounded his family with many comforts, and become the owner of real estate in the village.
November 28, 1846, Mr. Atherton was united in marriage with Mary J. Pulver, and seven chil- dren were born to bless their union. They are George C., Edith, Kate, Nellie, Georgiana, John and Willard. His own lack of opportunities when he was young has made Mr. Atherton anx- ious that his children and the children of the dis- trict should have better advantages, and as school director he has endeavored to promote the inter- ests of the schools of this section. He has also rendered efficient service as poor director. He is one of those industrious men who give char- acter to a community and promote the best in- terests of the people. As a citizen he has always upheld such measures as tend to promote the wel- fare of others and he gives of his time and means to progressive measures. Politically he is a stal- wart Republican. He attends the Presbyterian Church.
P ATRICK F. HARAN, foreman of the roundhouse of the Delaware & Hudson Railroad and Canal at Scranton, and the inventor and patentee of the Haran street car fender, was born in Carbondale, Pa., in 1845, and is of Irish parentage and descent. His father, Luke, who was born in County Sligo, came to America at the age of eighteen years and settled in Carbondale when that city was but an insig- nificant hamlet. He took a position as miner with the Delaware & Hudson Company, and proved so steady and faithful that he was retained in their employ for more than forty years. His
death occurred in Carbondale when he was ad- vanced in years.
The mother of our subject bore the maiden name of Bridget Cawley and was reared and mar- ried in. Carbondale, where she continued to re- side until her death. She was of Irish descent, and a daughter of Michael Cawley, a machinist and blacksmith by trade. There were ten chil- dren in the parental family, of whom eight at- tained years of maturity and six are now living, Patrick F. being the eldest. He was reared in Carbondale and his education, which was limited, was secured in the common schools. At an early age he was obliged to begin to earn his livelihood, and took a position as slate picker with the Dela- ware & Hudson Company.
Coming to Scranton in 1863, Mr. Haran served an apprenticeship of three years to the machinist's trade in the shops of the Dickson Manufacturing Company, after which he spent one year at Tobyhanna Mills and a similar period in Oxford, N. J. He returned to Scranton in 1867 and worked in the locomotive department of the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western shops for about three years, after which he was em- ployed as a machinist in the Delaware & Hud- son shops. When the shops were removed to Carbondale, he put in the shafting there. In 1888 he was made foreman of the roundhouse at Green Ridge, and has since had entire charge of the men here, being, in point of years of ser- vice, the oldest machinist in the railroad depart- ment.
The residence owned and occupied by Mr. Haran stands at No. 1631 Monsey Avenue. He was married in this city to Miss Mary A. Lally, a native of Carbondale, and daughter of Bartley Lally, who was an old settler of Carbondale, later resided in Olyphant, then for a time lived on a farm, and finally went back to Olyphant. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Haran consists of four daughters and two sons, all residents of Scranton, and one of whom, Luke, a well known young business man, is represented upon another page of this volume.
As previously stated, our subject is the in- ventor and patentee of a street car fender, that can be run within four inches of the track and
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has been tried successfully. Had it not been for political influence brought to bear, it would have been adopted for general use in the city. He was one of the organizers of Germania No. I Build- ing & Loan Association and is now interested in the Home Building & Loan Association. In his political opinions he has not allied himself with any party, exercising a freedom of thought that finds expression in a ballot cast for the best man, irrespective of party. For four years he was president of the Emerald Beneficial Association, Branch No. 110, and at this writing he holds the office of president of the Catholic Mutual Benefit Association, Branch No. 35.
E DWARD SIMPSON. In noting the pres- ent prosperity of Madison Township, it is well to remember that it was once a tract of undeveloped land and that those who brought it to its present condition underwent hardships and suffered privations unknown to the present generation. The subject of this sketch, although not a pioneer in the strict sense of that word, yet assisted in making this part of the county what it now is and was one of its energetic farmers from the date of his settlement in 1845 to the time of his death.
The birth of Mr. Simpson occurred in Stod- dardsville, Pa., October 21, 1822. He grew to manhood upon the home farm, from which, in 1845, he removed with his parents to Turnersville, Madison Township, Lackawanna County; Sep- tember II, of the same year, he married Miss Anna Maria, daughter of Rev. John and Mary A. (Speeden) Smith. When he settled here there was but one building, other than a blacksmith's shop, where Moscow now stands. He became interested in lumbering and farming and did much toward the upbuilding of the country. In church work he was deeply interested and aided in the organization of the Methodist Church, of which he and his wife were charter members. After a busy and useful life he passed away Jan- uary 18, 1895, mourned by the many friends whom his worthy deeds had won. Farming was his life work and not only was he a good farmer, making the most out of his land, but in addition
he proved himself an exceptionally capable busi- ness man.
There were two children born to the union of Mr. and Mrs. Simpson. Joseph William, born February 16, 1847, is now in the office of the auditor of the Lehigh Valley Coal Company at Philadelphia. Sarah Louise, born October 26, 1851, is the wife of James W. Barber, an insur- ance broker of New York City. The father of Mrs. Simpson was a native of Milford, Del., and at the early age of twenty years entered the min- istry of the Methodist Church, his first pastorate being at his native place. His life was devoted to gospel work, and he was a faithful laborer in the vineyard of the Lord, continuing his ministra- tions until his demise at the age of sixty-seven. The Smith family came to America in an early day, emigrating from England. The mother of Mrs. Simpson was a native of Dorchester County, Md., and died at the age of eighty-four. The comfortable home which Mrs. Simpson owns is the one upon which she and her husband passed the days of their married life, and she graces it with all the courtesy that is inherent in the good old southern families. In church work she was her husband's efficient helpmate, as she was in every enterprise in which he engaged. With the exception of the deafness that has come with increasing age, she is in possession of her physical faculties, and is as cheerful and bright as in earlier days.
M ICAH VAIL. Scott Township contains no better example of the quiet, efficient discharge of the duties of a farmer than that afforded by Mr. Vail. Reared upon the place where he now resides, early in life he gave all his strength toward becoming proficient in his chosen work and has succeeded so well that he is now the owner of two hundred and sixty acres of land. His home place, containing seventy-two acres, produces abundantly of the various crops in their season, and is furnished with such im- provements as make it a neat and comfortable abode.
The first member of the Vail family who set- tled in Scott Township was Micah, our subject's
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grandfather, who came here in 1804 and pur- chased the farm that has since remained in pos- session of the family. His children were Wilmot, Samuel, Harvey, Daniel, Joshua, Moberly, Phoebe and Mary. Of these Harvey, our sub- ject's father, was born in Orange County, N. Y., in 1800, and grew to manhood in this township, which he represented as a member of the county board of supervisors. At different times he held other offices. He died upon the old homestead at the age of eighty-five years. A consistent Christian in every act, he held membership in the Baptist Church, and was one of its faithful workers. By his first wife he had one child. His second wife, who was Miss Abigail Farnham, bore him nine children, of whom one died in in- fancy, and the others are Hannah, Phoebe, Har- vey, Martin V., Micah, Beliab, Arminda, Juliesta, Abigail and Gilbert V.
Born at the old homestead October 15, 1832, Mr. Vail there spent his youthful years. When twenty years of age he began to work out by the month, and after his marriage he tilled a rented farm for four years, then returned to the old homestead, purchased the property and has since devoted himself to its improvement. In 1857 he was united in marriage with Miss Caro- line Augusta Hubbard, and they have two chil- dren: Alberta A., wife of W. S. Gardner, of Scott Township, and Sumner, also a resident of this township. Mr. Vail is sufficiently interested in politics to keep himself well posted upon the issues of the day, and votes the Democratic ticket whenever election day comes around. His char- acter is upright and he is highly regarded by those who know him.
R ICHARD MARTIN. From colonial days until now, the fondest dream indulged in by thousands of dwellers in the mother country has been that of crossing the ocean to America, where moderate resources would se- cure more of the comforts of life and better op- portunities for educational and social progress than in their native land. This dream has been realized by many. One, now a resident of Scran- ton, often in boyhood expressed a desire to come
to the United States, and now that years of pros- perity have rewarded his efforts here, he has every reason to be thankful that he carried out the de- termination of youth.
Now the general inside foreman of the West Ridge Coal Company at Scranton, with his resi- dence at No. 1520 North Main Avenue, the sub- ject of this sketch was born near Lands End, Cornwall, England, September 3, 1844, and is a son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Johns) Martin, also natives of that shire, where the father was a miner. The family consisted of seven sons and four daughters, of whom five boys and two girls are still living, Richard being one of a pair of twins that were next to the youngest among the children. His childhood years were spent in Cornwall, where he began to work in the copper mines at the age of nine years. The family be- ing poor, he was obliged to support himself from boyhood and never attended school even a day.
In August, 1865, Mr. Martin crossed the ocean in the steamer, "City of Limerick," reaching New York after a voyage of seventeen days, and pro- ceeding at once to Carbondale, Pa., where he secured work in the coal mines. In the fall of 1870 he went to Pittston as an employe of the Lehigh Valley Coal Company, and later took charge of the Greenland Company's shaft. In 1874 he held the same position in Wilkesbarre, where he sank a shaft. The following year he went to Pleasant Valley (now Avoca) as mine foreman at the Ontario Colliery, but after a few months went back to Wilkesbarre as foreman with the same company and continued steadily as mine foreman within two hundred yards of the same place until 1888, when he took charge of the Wyoming Valley Coal Company's colliery near Kingston. With them he remained as gen- eral inside superintendent until December, 1894. Four months later, in May, 1895, he assumed charge of the Keystone Coal Company's mines at Plainsville, Luzerne County, where he re- mained until September of the same year, and then came to Scranton as general inside foreman of the West Ridge Coal Company's shaft. In this position he has charge of over three hundred hands and under his superintendence the work moves forward steadily and successfully.
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