Portrait and biographical record of Wyoming and Lackawanna counties, Pennsylvania : containing portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the counties, Part 84

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 84
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 84

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J ONATHAN SQUIRE BRINK, an hon- ored old pioneer of Wyoming County, has owned and improved several farms within its boundaries, and has certainly assisted in the advancement of this region. His present home is situated on a fertile and well kept farm lying in one of the best portions of Falls Township. Here he is living retired from the more arduous cares which he cheerfully bore in his early, vigor- ous manhood, and has reason to look back with much satisfaction over his past useful career. Truly, the history of this county's hardy pioneers and substantial business men would be sadly in-

complete should the sketch of this worthy agri- culturist be omitted.

William A. Brink, father of the foregoing gen- tleman, was a native of Deckertown, N. J., and was one of the early settlers of this county, in whose borders he took up his abode about 1822. His first home was in Falls Township, where he became the owner of one hundred and twenty- five acres. Some time afterward he removed to another piece of property, which he purchased, this tract comprising a similar amount of land. Subsequently he bought three hundred acres in Falls Township, improved the same, and this farm was later divided into five homesteads, being now in the possession of Ed and George Der- sheimer, Jesse Hunt, Jacob Richards and A. Be- dell. The wife of William Brink was Miss Ke- ziah Wood in her girlhood, and to them were born fourteen children: John, Bordwine, Charles W., Abraham K., William D., James (who died in childhood), J. S., Peter H. and Fannie M. (twins), James (second of the name), Elizabeth, Catherine, Silas and another who died young. Of this large family only J. S. and Elizabeth sur- vive. Bordwine, Charles, Abraham, Peter and Silas all served three years in the war of the Re- bellion, and then re-enlisted for three years more, or until the war closed. Three sons of Charles, George, Clinton and Amos, were in the service with him; Abraham furnished two sons, Wil- liam and Levi, to defend the old flag; and our subject also had a son fighting for the Union.

J. S. Brink was born in Falls Township, March 25, 1823, and grew to manhood here. When he was a boy his father had to row down the river to Wilkesbarre, over twenty miles, in order to get his grain ground at the mill. As there were so many brothers and sisters in the paternal home, young Brink went to live with an uncle when he was only eight years of age. He did not return home until he was fourteen, and a year later he began working for a neighbor, in whose employ he was some three years. In accordance with local custom, his time belonged to his father until he was of age, and therefore he purchased his liberty for twenty bushels of wheat and twenty bushels of corn, when he had arrived at seventeen years. Then for a year he was employed at the

HON. BENJAMIN HUGHES.

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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

old home place. About this time he concluded to get married, and soon he and his wife set up housekeeping for themselves on a farm of thirty- six acres which our subject had previously pur- chased. Three years or so he industriously cul- tivated the place and made many substantial im- provements thereon. A similar length of time was spent by him in Pittston, Pa., after which he became the possessor of a farm in Falls Town- ship, where he labored about ten years. Settling next in Dalton, in that locality twenty years passed away. He first rented land, but in 1886 purchased a farm. In 1890 he sold his place in Dalton, reinvesting the sum realized four years later in property situated in this township, and finally, in 1896, came to his present home, where he has a desirable farm.

As we have previously stated, Mr. Brink was married in 1844, the lady of his choice being Re- becca Bickum, who had been a school teacher. Their four children were: John, Mary E., Louisa and Phoebe J., deceased. John enlisted in the Civil War, and while engaged in carrying dis- patches from Blackwater to Suffolk for Colonel Spere was wounded in the right arm by a rebel bullet. After the war he was a conductor on the Short Line or Union Railroad, and was acci- dentally killed in 1874. After the death of our subject's first wife, he married Dorinda Venock- en. The present wife of Mr. Brink was Harriet E. Fitch in her maidenhood. Politically our sub- ject is affiliated with the Republican party, and cast his first presidential ballot in 1840 for Har- rison. He has always helped to support the Methodist Episcopal Church and is prompt to re- spond to all calls for aid from the worthy poor and needy.

the West Side Bank. Mr. Hughes was born Oc- tober 25, 1824, near Bryn-Mawr, Breconshire, Wales, and is a member of a family identified for many generations with the history of that local- ity. He is a son of Daniel and Esther Hughes, the latter of whom died at the age of ninety- seven and the former, who was proprietor of a leased iron ore mine, died when sixty-eight. Both were workers in the Baptist Church and were hard-working, kind and pious. They reared the majority of their sixteen children, but only three are now living, two of these being in America. Evan, who was foreman in the mines at Avon- dale, Pa., was killed in a mine disaster there in 1869. Elias, who was foreman at Crystal Springs, West Pittston, Pa., died in September, 1894.

The education of Benjamin Hughes was limit- ed to the knowledge acquired during a brief at- tendance at the pay schools of his native land. When ten years old he began to assist his father in the mine, and later was employed in coal mines, but afterward returned to assist in the management of his father's business. In the fall of 1848, when twenty-four years of age, he left Liverpool on the sailer "Mary Pleasant," and after a voyage of thirty-six days arrived at Phil- adelphia, whence he went to Pottsville. There he was employed in mining for the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad Company until January of 1850, when he came to Slocum's Hollow and en- tered the employ of the Scranton Iron & Coal Company. That position he resigned in July, 1853, in order to accept a position with the Dela- ware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad Com- pany in the Diamond mine. After two years he became foreman of the mine, and in 1865 was promoted to be general mine superintendent, in which capacity he has since been retained. At the time he became connected with the company there were only five shafts here, but this number one breakers. Six thousand nine hundred and forty-seven men are employed inside and three thousand three hundred and ninety outside, mak- ing the total number of men ten thousand three hundred and thirty-seven. The work at the mines is superintended by wire from his office in the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western depot.

H ON. BENJAMIN HUGHES. The rec- ognized leader among the Welsh people . has since been increased to thirty, with twenty- of his county, and one, too, who enjoys the esteem and confidence of people of all na- tionalities in the community, is Benjamin Hughes of Scranton, who, since 1865, has held the re- sponsible position of general mine superintend- ent for the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad Company and is also the president of

29'

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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

In 1895 one hundred and seven thousand, four hundred and forty and one-half kegs of pow- der were used in the mines. Of these mines all but six are in Lackawanna County, the remain- der being in Luzerne.

In 1853 Mr. Hughes established his home on the west side, and since 1870 has resided at No. I201 Washburn Street. He has built other houses in the neighborhood, having for years been interested in real estate operations. When the West Side Bank was organized in the early '70s, he was vice president and assisted in its es- tablishment, but for a number of years he has been its president. He was one of the organizers of the Cambrian Mutual Fire Insurance Com- pany on the west side and has been its president from the first.

Before leaving Wales Mr. Hughes married Miss Mary Davis, who accompanied him to this country and remained here until her death. They were the parents of five daughters and one son. Those living are: Esther, wife of Rev. John Evans, of Westerly, R. I .; Elizabeth, Mrs. Lu- ther Jones, of Hyde Park; Annie, wife of A. B. Eynon, cashier of the West Side Bank of Scran- ton; Norma, the wife of Jenkin T. Reese, a min- ing engineer with the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western road. In November, 1881, Mr. Hughes married Mrs. Ann Rosser, of Shamokin, North- umberland County, Pa., a native of the same town as her husband.

In 1859 Mr. Hughes was elected a member of the council of the borough of Hyde Park and served until 1862. In 1861 he was school di- rector. For three years he was a member of the select council of Scranton, being president of the board for one year. Fraternally he is con- nected with the Masonic Order. In the Baptist Church he holds the office of president of the board of trustees, served on the building com- mittee and has been superintendent of the Sun- day-school for years. He assisted in organizing the Ivorites Society at Scranton, and was the first grand president, which office he held for about nine years; he is still actively associated with the society. He has never wavered in his political affiliations, having always been a cham- pion of Republican principles. In 1892 he was

a delegate to the convention at Minneapolis that nominated Benjamin Harrison for the presiden- cy, and he had the honor of casting one of the original eleven votes from Pennsylvania for Har- rison. He also attended the national convention of 1896 at St. Louis. Personally, he is liberal and enterprising, and merits the success he has attained. In spite of advancing years, his body retains much of the vigor of his prime, while his mental faculties are as keen as in early life. His has been a busy and useful career, and not only has he succeeded in raising himself from poverty to a position of influence, but he has also helped many another who was struggling against ad- verse fortune, and by his kindly nature and gen- erosity has gained the respect of all with whom he has business or social relations.

H ENRY C. BUNNELL was born in the township of Meshoppen, Wyoming Coun- ty, May 20, 1843, and here the principal part of his life has been passed. His father, John Bunnell, likewise a native of this township and a farmer by occupation, was a man of decided ability, and from a position of poverty worked his way to the ownership of four hundred acres of land. Personal matters, however, did not engage his attention to the neglect of civic affairs. He was always stanch in his adherence to Republi- can principles, and filled the principal township offices. Interested in educational affairs, he held the office of school director for twenty-one con- secutive years. In religious belief he was con- nected with the Methodist Episcopal Church. His death occurred on the old homestead when he was seventy-one years of age.

The grandfather of our subject, Solomon Bun- nell, was a native of Monroe County, Pa., whence coming to Wyoming County, about 1812, he pur- chased the farm now owned by Henry C., and upon it he settled in 1814. Here the remainder of his life was spent in agricultural pursuits, until his death at eighty-two years. Our subject's mother, Laura M. (Whitcomb) Bunnell, was born in Meshoppen Township, Wyoming County, March 6, 1819, and died June 4, 1888. Of her seven children two died in early life. Ahira L.,

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the eldest of the surviving sons, served in the late war as a member of Company H, One Hundred and Forty-first Pennsylvania Infantry, and is now an oil dealer in the oil regions of Bradford, Mc- Kean County, Pa., and assistant superintendent of the pipe line through this state. Wesley, who enlisted in September, 1862, as a member of Company K, One Hundred and Forty-third Pennsylvania Infantry, served for eighteen months, when he was discharged on account of disability; he is now a resident of Pasadena, Cal. Albert, the youngest son, is the owner of a portion of the old homestead in Meshoppen Township; and Emma D. is the wife of H. W. Bacon, their home being on a part of the old Bunnell farm.

Until about twenty years of age our subject re- mained with his parents. He then went to Illi- nois and spent a year, after which he returned to Meshoppen Township. However, he soon took a position with the Albany & Susquehanna Rail- road Company, remaining in their employ one year. He then married and returned to the home farm, settling upon that portion which his father gave him, and here he has since resided. In po- litical belief he has always been a Republican, believing firmly in the platform adopted by that party. For eighteen years he was a member of the election board, but afterward refused to serve in the position longer. In November, 1893, he was elected county commissioner, and served for three years. For one term he held the office of school director. Fraternally he is identified with Franklin Lodge No. 263, F. & A. M., at Lacey- ville, and is also connected with the Grange. His wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, to which he contributes.

February 6, 1866, Mr. Bunnell was united in marriage with Miss L. Martha, daughter of Wil- liam and Ann (Bunnell) Overfield, natives re- spectively of Meshoppen and Washington Town- ships, Wyoming County. The family of which she is a member consisted of six children, one of whom is John Overfield, represented else- where in this volume. Seven children were born to the union of Mr. and Mrs. Bunnell, but five of the number died young. The only surviving son, Dr. William Overfield Bunnell, graduated from

the Cincinnati Eclectic Medical College of Cin- cinnati, Ohio, and is now a physician of Me- shoppen. The only daughter, Mary O., is with her parents.

J OSEPH M. CARPENTER, a leading fur- niture dealer and undertaker of Nicholson, is one of the prominent and successful young business men of that place, to which he removed from Factoryville in 1891. The spirit of self-help is the source of all genuine worth in the individual and is the means of bringing to man success when he has no advantages of wealth or influence to aid him. It illustrates in no uncer- tain manner what it is possible to accomplish when perseverance and determination form the keynote of a man's character. Our subject is numbered among that class of citizens who through their own efforts have steadily worked their way upward to an important position in the business world.

In Susquehanna County, Pa., Mr. Carpenter was born, April 3, 1866, a son of Merritt and Al- vina (Wheeler) Carpenter, the latter a native of Rhode Island and the former of Susquehanna County, where they made their home until our subject was about six years of age, when they removed to New Milford, and afterward to Clarks Green, Lackawanna County. The moth- er died at the age of forty years. The father, who was a farmer in early life, after the death of his wife, was for a time in Philadelphia, but died in Scranton at the age of forty-eight. In the family were eight children, of whom one pair of twins died in infancy and five are still living, namely: Ida, wife of W. Farnum, of Mill City, Pa .; Helen, wife of Thomas Bastain, of Wadsworth, Nev .; Joseph M., of this review; Ethel, wife of M. Mat- thews, of Scranton, and Jennie, wife of Newton Smith, of Dalton, Pa.

After the removal to Clarks Green the family became scattered and our subject came to Fac- toryville. His early education was obtained in the district schools, and this was supplemented by a two years' course in the Keystone Academy. At the age of twenty-one he learned the trade of a wagonmaker, at which he worked in con-

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nection with other occupations for five years. In the meantime he had become familiar with the undertaking and furniture business, and resolved to embark in business on his own account. Ac- cordingly he came to Nicholson and purchased the stock of S. B. Corwin, bringing to the busi- ness tact, sound judgment and a familiarity with the trade in all its details, so that his success was almost an assured fact. Under his efficient man- agement the business has steadily increased, and he now carries a full and complete line of all kinds of furniture, carpets, matting, lamps, shades, chenille curtains, fixtures, etc., to meet the demands of his extensive trade. His store is conveniently located on Main Street. The un- dertaking department is under the supervision of G. W. Stanton, of Factoryville, an expert em- balmer. On the Ist of April, 1897, Mr. Carpen- ter associated with himself in business M. Shields, under the firm name of J. M. Carpenter & Co. They have added to the furniture business that of dry goods, groceries, gents' furnishing goods, boots and shoes, etc., and have rearranged and refitted the former place of business on Main Street. They may be considered to have the leading store of the town, carrying a full line of goods in their various departments.

Mr. Carpenter was united in marriage Janu- ary 6, 1897, with Miss Carrie Spencer, a native of Nicholson Township, Wyoming County, and they hold a leading place in the social circles of the community. For nine years he has held membership in Red Jacket Lodge No. 524, I. O. O. F., of which he is now past grand, and he also belongs to the Patriotic Order Sons of Amer- ica and Knights of the Mystic Circle, while re- ligiously he is a member of the Baptist Church of Factoryville. He has made a host of warm per- sonal friends since coming to Nicholson and justly deserves the high regard in which he is universally held.

A NDREW S. COLLUM is one of the prominent citizens of Overfield Town- ship, Wyoming County, and has the re- spect of his fellow-townsmen and the esteem of many friends. He is a leader in fraternity circles

and has been an important factor in the com- mercial and agricultural interests of the county. The elements of his character are such as to com- mand uniform respect and in the history of his adopted county he well deserves mention.

Mr. Collum was born in Newton Township, Lackawanna County, July 24, 1843. His father, Henry R. Collum, a native of Sussex County, N. J., was a carpenter by trade and a man of much genius along that line. He invented the square rule now in use by all contractors and builders throughout the land, but never applied for a pat- ent on the same. Removing to Newton Town- ship, Lackawanna County, he there engaged in carpentering for a time, and later followed farm- ing until his death. In Sussex County, N. J., January 24, 1835, he married Hettie Skellenger, and they became parents of five children: Phoebe, born July 6, 1836, is the wife of Lewis B. Ayres, of Newton Township; William H., born Sep- tember 8, 1837, was killed in Newton Township, September 20, 1895; A. S., our subject, is next in order of birth; Sarah E., who was born in 1846, died in 1870, and Amos, born July 27, 1854, died in 1857.

The gentleman whose name introduces this sketch spent his boyhood days in his native county and under the direction of his father learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed until his enlistment in the Union army, Septem- ber I, 1864. He had just attained his majority and he felt that his duty to his country called him to the field of battle. He was mustered in at Scranton, Pa., as a member of Company H, Fifty-second Pennsylvania Infantry, went to Mor- ris Island and participated in his first engage- ment in the rear of Charleston. For some time he was engaged on detached duty and was one of the first eight men to enter Fort Sumter after the surrender of Charleston. At Mt. Pleasant, . S. C., he was accidentally wounded by the burst- ing of a Requa battery, narrowly escaping fatal injuries, and for a time was under surgical treat- ment. At the time of the surrender of General Lee he was stationed at Raleigh, N. C., and on the 25th of June, 1865, he was honorably dis- charged at Harrisburg, Pa.

Mr. Collum at once returned to his home in

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Newton Township, Lackawanna County, where he followed both carpentering and farming until his marriage. He then removed to Falls, where he engaged in merchandising for a year and a half, after which he resumed carpentering. At length he purchased a farm and in connection with agricultural pursuits operated a planing, cider and shingle mill for seven years. In the fall of 1881 he became a resident of Factoryville, where he successfully carried on general mer- chandising until 1887. In 1890 he located at his present home in Overfield Township, where he successfully engages in general farming on a valuable tract of land of seventy acres. He also has other real estate interests. He is a man of resourceful ability and his great energy com- bined with consecutive endeavor has brought to him a well merited competence.

March 3, 1866, Mr. Collum married Miss Eliza Follett, an adopted daughter of Matthew Sher- wood. They lost their two children, Martha H. and Amanda, in infancy. Mr. Collum has fre- quently been called from home and business life to administer the affairs of public office. He served as justice of the peace for two terms in Clinton and Overfield Townships, was school di- rector in Overfield for three years, also town clerk, supervisor for one year, was elected town auditor for three years, and has been re-elected for a similar period. He was also clerk of elec- tion for nine years. In national elections he votes the straight Republican ticket and he fearlessly advocates the principles in which he believes. He is prominent in society circles, being a thirty- second degree Mason, holding membership in the blue .lodge of Factoryville, of which he was secretary three years. He belongs to both the subordinate lodge and encampment of the Odd Fellows order, in which he has passed all the chairs, and also holds membership in the Grand Army of the Republic in Factoryville.

W ALTER M. CRESS, M. D., is a ris- ing young medical practitioner of Mill City, Wyoming County. He belongs to the class of men commonly termed self-made, a class whom every one in this democratic coun-

try particularly delights to honor. Indeed, it has come to mean so much in America that it would seem to be one of the chief requisites of a popular candidate for any public office, that he had strug- gled against all odds in the battle of life, and had won a victory over most adverse circum- stances. We have come to recognize the fact that true nobility is not a question of birth or being reared in luxury, but consists in grandeur of character, indomitable pluck and perseverance in any line of right living.

The Doctor was born in White Haven, Lu- zerne County, Pa., July 12, 1860, and is a son of Samuel Cress, a native of Monroe County. The latter settled in White Haven in 1842, and car- ried on a mercantile establishment there until 1861, when he removed to Wilkesbarre. Two years later he went to Plains and took a position as outside foreman at the Henry colliery, remain- ing in that place for seven years. Since 1876 he has given his entire attention to agricultural mat- ters, having settled down upon a good farm in Lemon Township. When he was a youth he learned the carpenter's trade, but never followed it to any extent after reaching man's estate. He was born in 1822, and married Henrietta Meeker, who is now in her sixty-seventh year.

Dr. Cress is of German extraction, and is de- scended on the paternal side from Henry De Witt Clinton, of Revolutionary fame. Our sub- ject passed the first sixteen years of his career under his father's roof, and being an only child, received more care and training than could have fallen to him otherwise. His elementary edu- cation was such as could be obtained in the pub- lic schools, and not satisfied with this, he com- menced teaching school in order to have sufficient money to further pursue his studies. He taught for two years, and was then enrolled as a student in the Northwestern Ohio University, at Ada, Ohio. From this thorough institution he gradu- ated in 1888, and thence returned home and re- sumed teaching, being thus employed about two years in this county. The same year that he ar- ·rived at his majority he made up his mind to be- come a physician, and to that end devoted all his spare time to reading medical works. In 1889 he entered the office of Dr. C. L. Boston, of

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Center Moreland, and systematically studied about two years, also attending lectures in the medical department of the University of New York City. From that well known college he graduated in 1893, and May 18 of the same year established himself in Mill City.

Though comparatively a newcomer here, he has been accorded a warm and cordial entrance into business and social circles, and is succeed- ing even beyond his expectations. His genuine learning, experience and intuitive grasp of diffi- culties presenting themselves in the course of his practice, are apparent to all, and his kindly man- ner and sympathizing heart win him friends very readily. It is safe to prophesy for him a very promising future, for he is one who will not be discouraged by adversity, and one who rises to greater heights from every battle with danger. He is well read, and keeps posted on all recent discoveries in the field of medicine. Fraternally, he belongs to Factoryville Lodge No. 341, F. & A. M .; Mill City Lodge No. 890, I. O. O. F .; the Patriotic Order Sons of America, and the Order of Red Men. He votes for the nominees of the Democratic party, and in 1897 was a candidate for the office of coroner.

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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 84

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