Portrait and biographical record of Wyoming and Lackawanna counties, Pennsylvania : containing portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the counties, Part 76

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 76
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 76

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WILLIAM S. LANGSTAFF.

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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

The political belief of Mr. Martin has brought him into affiliation with the Republican party, for whose candidates he casts his ballot. He is identified with the Sons of St. George and the Knights of Honor, and in religious connections is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In Cornwall, England, he was united in marriage with Miss Mary A. Prater, a native of that county. Their children are John, a stationary engineer with the Lehigh Valley Coal Company at Wilkes- barre; Arthur, a plumber and gas-fitter at Wilkes- barre; George, a stationary engineer with the West Ridge Coal Company; and Edith, who is with her parents.

W ILLIAM S. LANGSTAFF, president of the Scranton poor board and out- side foreman of the Diamond colliery, was born in Hyde Park, September 12, 1851. He is of English descent, his grandfather, Daniel Langstaff, having emigrated from England to America shortly after his marriage and settled in Brooklyn, Susquehanna County, Pa., where he was an early settler and pioneer farmer. He continued to make his home in that locality un- til his death, which occurred at the age of about seventy-eight.

Daniel Langstaff, Jr., father of our subject, was born in Brooklyn, Pa., and grew to man- hood upon the home farm, learning the carpen- ter's trade, which he made his life work. He was the first man in charge of the repair yard of the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad and afterward was made foreman of their coal de- partment at Bellevue. On the 9th of April, 1865, a day memorable in the history of the nation as that on which President Lincoln was assassinated, he became foreman of the Diamond mine, and remained in that position until he retired from active labors. For one term of four years he was a member of the school board. His marriage united him with Sarah Shipman, who was born in Montrose, Susquehanna County, and is now living in Scranton, at the age of sixty-seven. Her father, William, who was born near Hartford, Conn., was a farmer of Susquehanna County, whither he removed with his father, Henry Ship- man.

The subject of this sketch is the oldest of a family of three children, the others being Edward S., who resides in Brooklyn, N. Y., and is an engineer on the Kings County elevated road; and Mrs. Cornelia Schreifer, of Scranton. Will- iam S. was reared in Scranton and received a public school education. In 1861, at the age of ten years, he became a slate picker in the Hamp- ton mines of the Delaware, Lackawanna & West- ern, and after a short time was made a driver. Later he was engineer in the Hyde Park mines, and in the spring of 1885 became outside fore- man of the Oxford mines, where he remained until March, 1887. Since that time he has been outside foreman of the Diamond mines, which cover three hundred and thirty-six acres and fur- nish employment to six hundred and seventy hands.

In Scranton Mr. Langstaff married Miss Mary Perry, who was born in this city, the daughter of Richard Perry, a soldier in the Civil War and for some years a well known stair builder here, engaging in business until his death in 1892. Mr. and Mrs. Langstaff are the parents of two children, William S., Jr., a member of the high school graduating class of 1897, and Joanna. The family attend the Baptist Church, to which Mrs. Langstaff belongs.

In February, 1883, our subject was elected to the board of school control, representing the twenty-first ward, and has since been re-elected at each succeeding election. His present term will expire in February, 1898. For one term, in 1893, he was honored with the position of president of the board, and during the same year served as president of the poor board. At this writing he is chairman of the text book committee, and member of the teachers, finance, high school and high and training school committees. From the beginning of the erection of the new high school building, one of the finest in the county, he was a member of the high school committee, and in order to inspect other similar buildings visited Washington, D. C., Philadelphia, Brooklyn, New York, Boston, Springfield, Worcester, Mass., Buffalo, N. Y., and Erie, Pa. The committee combined what was considered the best points in each of the buildings, and with Little & O'Con-

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nor, of New York, as architects, erected a sub- stantial three-story and basement building. The committee appointed to wait upon President Harrison and ask his opinion, consisted of him- self with C. von Storch, William J. O'Malley, Thomas Jennings, F. L. Wormser, George Thompson and City Superintendent Phillips.

March 10, 1890, Judge Archbald appointed Mr. Langstaff a member of the poor board, and of it he has been president since 1891. From year to year, he has enlarged and improved the Hillside home as opportunity has offered, and there is no finer county institution in the state. Besides the accommodations for the poor, there is also an asylum for the insane, which receives an apportionment from the state. In political belief he is a Republican, always true to party principles. For fifteen years or more he has been a member of the city and county commit- tees, in which capacity he has rendered his party efficient service.

- SAAC BIESECKER has for some years been the proprietor of a grocery and meat mar- ket in Moscow and prior to his connection with this business was actively engaged in farm- ing in Madison Township. A native of this county, he was born in Dunmore, and is a son of Michael and Catherine (Clase) Biesecker, na- tives of Bethlehem, Pa. His father, who came to this county in an early day, settled in Provi- dence, but after a time bought a farm in Madi- son Township. In youth he learned the tailor's trade, but in maturer years turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, in which he was engaged until his death at fifty-six years of age. During the progress of the Mexican War he enlisted in the service and went to the front, where he par- ticipated in a number of engagements. He ad- hered to the religious faith of his German fore- fathers and was a great admirer of that famous reformer, Martin Luther.

Born June 6, 1830, Isaac Biesecker was quite small when his parents brought him to Madison Township. His early years were spent in assist- ing his father on the home farm and in attend- ance at the common schools. After his marriage

he and his brother, Abraham, bought the old homestead, which they divided and engaged in cultivating. In 1867 our subject sold his interest in the place and purchased another farm in this township, removing there and tilling its soil for twenty-three years. In 1890 he came to Moscow and embarked in the grocery and meat business, which he has since conducted. For several years before leaving the farm he carried on a butcher- ing business.

November II, 1855, Mr. Biesecker married Miss Mary S. Potter, who was born in Gibson, Susquehanna County, Pa., June 14, 1837. They became the parents of five children: Leroy J., a farmer who resides in Adams County, Neb .; Clar- ence M., a resident of Dunmore, this county; Charles I., who died May 23, 1872; Ira W. and Bertie J., both of whom assist their father. Mr. Biesecker's views on the liquor traffic have led him to affiliate with the Prohibition party, in which he is an earnest worker. By his fellow- citizens he has been honored with election to vari- ous local offices. For three years he was super- visor of this township, but refused re-election. He is interested in educational matters and was school director for several years. As overseer of the poor he rendered effective work for one year. With his wife he holds membership in the Chris- tian Church and takes an active interest in its wel- fare. In 1865 he was elected an elder of the congregation and has served in that capacity ever since. He is intensely patriotic and a thor- ough believer in the A. P. A., to which he be- longs. His efforts have been deservedly crowned with success, and through the exercise of good judgment and industry he has gained a promi- nent position among his fellowmen.

W ILLIAM E. CLARK, foreman of the boiler shops of the Dickson Manufac- turing Company at Scranton, suc- ceeded to the position which had been previously filled by his father, and from which the latter resigned in December, 1895. He is one of the oldest men in the employ of the company, in point of years of service, having nearly completed the quarter of a century with them.

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John, great-grandfather of William E., and a native of Connecticut, owned a farm near Port Chester, N. Y., and here his son William was born. This son married Ann Eliza Coe, of the same locality, and their son Robert C. was born in 1826 on the old family. homestead. When the war came on he enlisted as a private in Company G, One Hundred and Forty-first Pennsylvania Infantry, and was soon promoted to be corporal. He participated in the battles of Chancellorsville, Hatchie's Run and Fredericksburg, in the first- named receiving a wound in the right leg. In June, 1865, he was mustered out of the service. He learned the boiler-maker's trade with the At- lantic Iron Works and rose to the place of fore- man in different shops of New York City. In February, 1872, he was induced to take a similar position in the Dickson boiler shops in Scran- ton, and held the same until he had finished the twenty-third year with the firm. Now he is liv- ing retired in his pleasant home in Adams Ave- nue. He is past commander of Ezra Griffin Post No. 139, G. A. R., and also belongs to the Ma- sonic order. His devoted wife, who bore the maiden name of Mary Hunt, died in 1855, leaving a son and two daughters.

William E. Clark was born in Cherry Street, New York City, June 23, 1852, and spent his childhood in Brooklyn, where he attended the public schools. When fifteen he was apprenticed to learn the boiler-maker's trade with the firm of William D. Andrews & Co., of Water Street, New York, and remained there for three years. In February, 1872, he came to this city and at once found a position with the Dickson Com- pany. When the cliff works were burned down he went to California, traveling in the west and enjoying his vacation of four months. In 1882 he was promoted to be assistant foreman and so efficiently did he discharge his duties that it was a matter of course when he was called to step into the higher place made vacant by his father's resignation. Under him there are now about one hundred men and the business is constantly in- creasing.

In Scranton the marriage of William Clark and Miss Annie M. Clark was celebrated in 1875. She was born in Dunmore, Pa., being a daughter

of Thomas and Sarah (Bullock) Clark, natives of England, who were married in this country. In 1847 her father became an employe of the Pennsylvania Coal Company in Dunmore, and was assistant paymaster until the war. Enlist- ing in the One Hundred and Fifty-second Penn- sylvania Infantry he served until honorably dis- charged on account of physical disability. From that time until his death, which occurred in 1872, he was weighmaster for the Mount Pleasant Coal Company. His family comprised four girls, all of whom are yet living. Their mother departed this life in 1889.

Mr. and Mrs. Clark have had eight children, but four of the number are dead. Mary E. is Mrs. Perry, of this place; Charles is working for the same company as is his father; Alexander P., a graduate of the high school, is in the in- surance business with G. H. Birdsall; and Will- iam E., Jr., is learning the carpenter's trade. The family are members of the Penn Avenue Baptist Church. In politics Mr. Clark is a Republican. He helped organize Cadet Corps, Camp No. 2, and was captain three times. Later the corps was merged in the Sons of Veterans, becoming Camp No. 8.

B ENJAMIN F. COURTRIGHT. Per- haps nowhere in South Abington Town- ship are stronger evidences of good taste to be seen than on Willow Brook Stock and Dairy Farm, of which Mr. Courtright is the owner. The dwelling is a roomy structure, pre- senting an appearance of home cheer and unpre- tentious prosperity, and contains the modern im- provements, including steam heat. The various outbuildings are conveniently arranged, and ade- quate for their respective purposes, while fields and gardens are neatly kept and thoroughly cul- tivated. In the embellishment of the place, the owner has spent about $10,000.

A native of Wilkesbarre, born May 24, 1824, the subject of this sketch is the son of Benjamin and Clara R. (Williams) Courtright. He was reared upon a farm near the city of his birth and received such education as was offered by the neighboring district schools. On arriving at

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man's estate, he selected for his life work the occupation of farming, with which he was thor- oughly familiar, and to this he has since devoted his attention. Remaining on the old homestead, he purchased a portion of the same in 1863, but four years later he moved to York State. He re- mained there four years, then returned to the old neighborhood near Wilkesbarre, where he resided until 1878, and then purchased one hundred and thirty acres, comprising his present property. The splendid condition of this place indicates his perseverance and industry.

In 1861 Mr. Courtright was united in mar- riage with Miss Anna L. Mitchell, who was born in Nova Scotia, the daughter of John and Isabella (Smith) Mitchell. They are the parents of eight children, namely: Isabella, Clara R., John M., Murray B., Jennie N., May A., Archie O., and William W., all of whom were given excellent educational advantages and are well situated in life. Two of the daughters are married, and there are five grandchildren to claim the love of our subject and his estimable wife.

Not only has Mr. Courtright pursued his cho- sen calling with energy and brought to bear upon it a high degree of intelligence, but he has also manifested an equal degree of interest in the pub- lic welfare. He may be counted upon to bear a part in every worthy enterprise which is promul- gated in the neighborhood, being particularly in- terested in the advancement of the cause of edu- cation. He believes that the principles laid down in the Republican platform are the best adapted to the needs of the nation and he therefore votes a straight Republican ticket. With his family he attends the Presbyterian Church.

E DWARD F. BLEWITT. The life of this gentleman furnishes an example of what a man with brains and business ability can accomplish by persistence, sagacity and industry. In its practical results, his career is an encour- agement to every struggling young man who has ambition, resolution and a genius for hard work. For ten years he held the position of city engineer of Scranton, this being a longer period than any one had ever served in that capacity,

and the importance of the office was enhanced by his intelligent and able administration. Since his retirement from the position in 1893, he has en- gaged in the private practice of civil and mining engineering.

The record of the Blewitt family is found upon another page, in the sketch of Patrick Blewitt, father of Edward F. The latter was born in New Orleans, La., January 2, 1859, and was six months old when brought to Scranton by his parents. His education, commenced in the pub- lic schools, was continued in Merrill's Academy. In 1875 he entered the class of 1879 in the civil engineering course at Lafayette College, Easton, Pa., and four years later graduated with the de- gree of C. E., being the youngest member of his class. On his return to Scranton he was em- ployed as principal of ward schools for three years and then began work as a civil engineer under Capt. Frank P. Amsden, remaining with that gentleman until his resignation as city en- gineer in 1883, when he was elected to fili the unexpired term. Later he succeeded himself until 1893, filling the office for ten years. The majority of the engineering contracts in the city were filled under his supervision and the value of the improvements introduced amounted to $1,000,000, including the building of bridges over creeks and river, grading the streets and building sewers. It will thus be seen that he has been intimately connected with the progress of the city and the development of its resources.

The first wife of Mr. Blewitt, Miss Mary E. Stanton, was born in Scranton, to which place her father, James, came from Ireland, securing employment here as a stationary engineer. Mrs. Blewitt died in 1887, having been the mother of four children, Gertrude, Patrick, Arthur and Ger- aldine. The present wife of Mr. Blewitt was Anna Blackwell, a native of Hazleton, this state, and daughter of Lewis G. Blackwell, who for many years was an engineer on the Lehigh Val- ley Railroad, but is now living retired in Hazle- ton. Her great-grandfather, Capt. Elisha Black- well, gained his title through service in the Revolution, where he fought at Bunker Hill and in other important engagements, afterward set- tling in New Jersey.

HON. FRANK J. GROVER.

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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Active in politics, Mr. Blewitt has frequently served his party, the Democratic, as delegate to local and state conventions, as member of county committees and chairman of the legislative dis- trict convention. His recent service as chair- man of the city convention gave him an oppor- tunity to advance the interests of the party and proved his ability in the conduct of important issues. He has represented the fourteenth ward upon the board of school control and in other positions has been instrumental in advancing the best interests of the city.

H ON. FRANK J. GROVER. From the time when, a youth of seventeen, he en- listed in the defense of his country and served valiantly on many a closely-contested field, to the present time, when he is known as a business man of Moosic and representative of his district in the legislature 1895-96, Mr. Grover has borne an honorable part in civic affairs and has shown himself to be a progressive citizen. His work as a legislator was satisfactory to his constituents and in the house he rendered effi- cient service on the military, iron and coal, leg- islative and apportionment committees.

The parents of our subject, Jacob and Mary C. (Fenner) Grover, were natives respectively of Lehigh and Monroe Counties, Pa., and had two

children, but Frank J. alone survives. The mother passed away at the old homestead in Northampton County, when eighty-two years of age. The father, who was a railroad contractor in early manhood and later an agriculturist, died in 1882. Our subject was born in Northampton County June 20, 1845, and received a district- school education. When the war broke out he was in his sixteenth year, but in spite of his youth was at once anxious to enter the service and re- spond to the call for seventy-five thousand troops for three months. However, his parents refused to permit him to enlist. It was natural that he should feel a patriotic devotion to country, for it was his by inheritance, his grandfather having served in the War of 1812, and his great-grand- father in the Revolution.

When the One Hundred and Fifty-third Penn- sylvania Infantry was recruited in Northampton County, a friend and neighbor of the family was chosen captain of Company D, and as the boy still insisted upon enlisting, his parents placed him under the care of the captain. It was then July of 1862 and the country was in the midst of its great civil strife. With his regiment he was assigned to the Eleventh Corps and participated in the battles of Dumries, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. At Chancellorsville the regiment was on the extreme right where Stonewall Jack- son attacked, taking many prisoners. On the first day at Gettysburg they occupied the same position, the extreme right, and lost two hun- dred and eleven men out of five hundred and forty-five. When Lee retreated, Mr. Grover and seventy-five others were on the skirmish line and advanced, being the first to search the houses. He entered a house and found a rebel sharp- shooter, whom he took prisoner and marched to headquarters on the square. For meritorious conduct in this engagement, he was promoted to be sergeant.

On being honorably discharged, Mr. Grover returned home and entered the Allentown Semi- nary, later graduated from Eastman's Business College at Poughkeepsie. On the completion of his studies he became time keeper and paymaster for his father, who was a railroad builder and contractor. September 10, 1867, he married Miss Jennie E. Worden, of Poughkeepsie, N. Y. When his father purchased a farm and retired from railroading, Frank J. took up the business of contracting and lumbering. In 1881 he came to this county and settled in Moosic, where he has since had charge of a large lumber business. Like all old soldiers he is interested in the Grand Army; he held the position of past commander of his post and has represented Post No. 450 in the department encampment every year since it was organized. Since 1870 he has been a member of Porter Lodge No. 284, F. & A. M., and in 1877 was elected worshipful master of the lodge, also was chosen representative to the grand lodge. He is a member of Allen Commandery No. 20, K. T., Keystone Consistory of Scranton, and Irem Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine of

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Wilkesbarre. The Patriotic Order Sons of in Wyoming and was his Sunday-school teacher America and Society of the Army of the Potomac number him among their members. While in the field he cast his first vote for Abraham Lin- coln and has since always voted the Republican ticket.

S TERLING BARDELL TRIPP, one of the well known coal men of Scranton, was born in Wyoming, Luzerne County, Pa., Feb- ruary 16, 1848. His father, Thomas Bardell, who was born in Luzerne County, of German descent, died when the son was only six months old, and the widowed mother afterward becoming the wife of Holden Tripp, by an act of the Pennsylvania legislature the name of the child was changed to that of his adopted father. Holden Tripp, brother of Col. Ira Tripp, was born on the family home- stead in Scranton and there engaged in farming during his earlier life, but in 1853 sold his prop- erty and purchased that owned by Jacob Shoe- maker on the back road. After fifteen years there, he became interested in a milling project. He built the first brick house on the road and this, with the property adjoining, is now owned by his heirs. He died December 30, 1870, at the age of forty-six.

The mother of our subject was Sallie, daugh- ter of Jacob Shoemaker and sister of Mrs. Ira Tripp. She died in Pittston May II, 1878, aged fifty-three. The only child of her first marriage was Sterling Bardell, adopted son of Holden Tripp. To her second marriage were born six children, namely: Oscar, who died in Provi- dence in childhood; Mrs. Marcia Morgan, of Wyoming; William S., who died in Wyoming. Pa .; Mrs. Lizzie Gregory, also of that city; Charles C., who resides in Scranton; and Ira H., who died in this city.

When the family went from Providence to Wyoming in 1853, our subject was taken with them to that city, where he attended the common schools and seminary. He assisted his father in the hotel, later upon the farm. A rather unusual incident served to affect his after life and changed the even tenor of his way. From all the boys in the village, he was selected by Payne Pettibone, a wealthy man, who built the Methodist Church

there. This gentleman taking a fancy to him, took him south, starting January 19, 1870, going from Cincinnati to Louisville, then to Memphis, where they arrived January 22. At Memphis they met Rev. Mr. Pern, under whom Mr. Petti- bone had experienced religion, while he was a minister at Wyoming. There they took the train to New Orleans, arriving at the famous old St. Charles Hotel January 26. They proceeded to New Iberia by railroad and boat, reaching their destination January 30. He was given a position as assistant foreman of a sugar plantation com- prising three thousand acres, and there he spent three years and three months, meantime having many interesting experiences. In June, 1871, he returned home, and after a visit of six weeks re- turned to resume his work. April 19, 1873, he re- turned permanently to the north.

After a short time on the farm, Mr. Tripp rented the place and took a position as second clerk with J. D. Green of Wyoming. An illness of six weeks was followed by his acceptance, upon recovery, of the position of contractor for the shovel works, and when the building was com- pleted he was employed there as shipping clerk until December 2, 1875: The illness of his brother, Williamn, who was superintendent of the Tripp mine, caused him to come to Scranton, and as his brother's health was too poor to per- mit him to continue the work, he succeeded to the position of superintendent, which he held until the mine was exhausted. The mine was operated by Tripp & Co., the firm consisting of the Ira Tripp heirs and Daniel Langstaff. The name of the mine, "Black Leg," was given to it during the big strike, when it was the only one that continued to run uninterrupted. August 31, 1895, the coal being exhausted, the mine was closed. Soon afterward our subject formed a partnership with J. E. Johnson as S. B. Tripp & Co., and engaged in the retail coal business in Providence Road. In October, 1896, the part- nership was dissolved, Mr. Johnson continuing the business. In the meantime Mr. Tripp had located at No. 1133 Providence Road, corner of Court Street, where in 1895 he built a double brick store, and this he has since rented.

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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 76

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