Portrait and biographical record of Wyoming and Lackawanna counties, Pennsylvania : containing portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the counties, Part 9

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 9
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 9

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and pleasure to present to this convention as a candidate for congress the name of a man who is known from one end of this county to the other and far beyond its confines as the friend of the laboring classes. Having begun life at the lowest rung of the ladder, he has, by his industry, ability and sterling integrity, attained the posi- tion which he now occupies, as one of the lead- ing citizens of the great state of Pennsylvania. The wealth he has amassed he has not hoarded up or allowed to lie idle, but has gone into build- ing up of the varied industries of our valley, thus giving employment to the laboring man and his children." The campaign that followed is too fresh in the minds of the people today to need especial mention; suffice it to say that Mr. Con- nell won the election by the largest Republican majority ever given in the county.

It will be seen, from the foregoing, that Mr. Connell is in some respects a remarkable man,- a striking example of what may be accomplished by industry, economy, perseverance and good judgment. Without the aid of factitious helps, by his own unassisted energies, he has secured a reasonable share of fame and fortune. The early part of his biography does not differ ma- terially from that of thousands of young men who started with him upon life's journey. But the sequel of his history is different from that of many. While they, with perhaps equal oppor- tunities, sank to rise no more, he, by the force of his determination, has utilized even his obstacles to subserve his best interests, and has advanced step by step until he has attained to his present honorable position, and can hand down to pos- terity that noblest of legacies,-a successful life.

C ORY MYERS KISHPAUGH. In study- ing the lives and character of prominent men, we are naturally led to inquire into the secret of their success and the motives that have prompted their action. Success is oftener a matter of experience and sound judgment, and thorough preparation for life work than it is of genius, however bright. When we trace the career of those whom the world acknowledges as

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successful and of those who stand highest in pub- lic esteem, we find that in almost every case they are those who have risen gradually by their own efforts, their diligence and perseverance. These qualities are undoubtedly possessed in a large measure by the gentleman whose name intro- duces this sketch, and added to these is a devo- tion to principle that may well be termed the key- note of his character. It is this which commands the confidence and respect so universally given him.

A native of Wyoming County, Mr. Kishpaugh was born in Mehoopany, November 24, 1848, but at an early age he was taken by his parents, Charles and Hannah Kishpaugh, to Tunkhannock, where the mother died December 29, 1859. Two years later the father ceased keeping house, and at the age of thirteen our subject was thrown upon his own resources, being unable to attend school. He engaged in work on a farm until his enlistment. Although only sixteen years of age, he possessed the true spirit of patriotism and bravery which prompted so many youth of our land to offer their services in defense of the old flag and the cause it represented. March 25, 1864, he enlisted in Company A, Fifty-seventh Pennsylvania Infantry, and his first engagement was the battle of the Wilderness May 5, 1864, where on the following morning he was injured by being struck over the head by a clubbed gun in the hands of a rebel soldier. Subsequently he was in the various battles of the campaign of 1864 and 1865, including the siege of Petersburg. While engaged in skirmishing at Farmville, Va., April 7, 1865, he was shot through the left leg by a rebel sharp-shooter, and was then sent to the hospital at City Point, Va., and from there to the naval hospital at Annapolis, Md., whence he was transferred to Jarvis Hospital, Baltimore, Md., later to McClellan Hospital, and from there to Chestnut Hill Hospital, Philadelphia. The war having ended before his recovery, he was hon- orably discharged at Harrisburg July 31, 1865.

After the close of the war for the first time in life the grave problem of his future life confronted Mr. Kishpaugh. He fully realized the necessity of having either an education or a trade, and as the prospects were not favorable for securing the

former, he decided to learn carpentering. This he followed until 1871, when he secured a posi- tion as conductor with the Pennsylvania and New York Canal and Railroad Company, filling the same until the fall of 1874. Together with his associates on the road, he became convinced that the company could not carry on business without their assistance, and a strike for higher wages immediately followed. The result was that those engaged in the strike found themselves without money and employment, and the road, strange to say, still continued to run. In 1875 he was elected constable of Tunkhannock borough, and so ac- ceptably did he fill the position that he was many times re-elected, although the borough was strongly opposed to him in political complexion. During his first year he organized the first police force in the history of the town, of which he was made chief. From 1875 until 1887 he continued to hold the offices of constable, chief of police and county detective, and under his able admin- istration the law-aiding citizens felt secure, but he proved a terror to law breakers, who were promptly arrested and punished for their crimes. August 23, 1875, while arresting two brothers in Tunkhannock, he was so badly stabbed by them, that for many days his life hung in the balance. His assailants soon after broke jail and were never recaptured, thus escaping the penalty of their crime. So well and satisfactorily did he perform the duties of chief of police, that when he resigned the position, the town council, which was composed of gentlemen of a different politi- cal faith, passed resolutions thanking him for his efficient services, and permitted him to name his successor. During the Centennial Exposition at Philadelphia in 1876, he was for a time an officer in the Centennial Guards. He was for many years foreman and is at present a life member of Triton Hose Company of Tunkhannock, one of the best fire companies in the state. Fraternally he is a charter member of J. W. Reynolds Post No. 98, G. A. R., of which he twice served as com- mander, and on retiring from office his friends and comrades presented him with an elegantly engraved solid gold Grand Army badge. For several years he regularly represented his post as a delegate to the department encampment, and

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four times was elected a delegate to the national encampment.

For thirty years Mr. Kishpaugh has been an active participant in the Republican politics of Wyoming County, during which time he has never failed to take a prominent part in every campaign, and has served several times as a dele- gate to the state conventions of his party. In 1885 he was elected to the town council from the strongly Democratic first ward of Tunkhan- nock, a fact which plainly indicates his personal popularity. During his term of service the ques- tion of a franchise of a new water company came before the council, and because he would not vote on the question contrary to the sentiment and wishes of his constituents, a deep and das- tardly plot was hatched by his political enemies for the purpose of humiliating and driving him from the board. The scheme, however, failed of its purpose. and he served until compelled to re- sign by reason of his removal. In May, 1887, he received an appointment as clerk in the depart- ment of internal affairs at Harrisburg, under Hon. Thomas J. Stewart, which position he still retains. For the past six years he has success- fully engaged in the real estate business in that city, and has been four times consecutively and unanimously elected president of the Common- wealth Building and Loan Association of Harris- burg, one of the most successfully conducted in- stitutions of the kind in the city.

April II, 1876, Mr. Kishpaugh was united in marriage with Miss Ruth A. Morse, of Montrose, Pa., and six children were born of their union: Ella J., who died February 26, 1885; Squire Har- ry, who died June 10, 1895, from injuries sus- tained while playing foot ball at the Davis Mili- tary School, Winston, N. C., where he was being educated for West Point; and Florence M., Jessie B., Stewart and William, all at home.

Mr. Kishpaugh is at present serving as teacher in the Sabbath-school, and treasurer and a mem- ber of the board of trustees of the Tabernacle Baptist Church of Harrisburg. His latter course in life has been brought about by the influence of the Christian fortitude shown in the protracted suffering and final death of his lamented son, Squire Harry. A pleasant, affable gentleman,

he has a large circle of warm personal friends, and has won the respect and high regard of all with whom business or social relations have brought him in contact.

P ETER DE LONG KISHPAUGH, son of Charles and Hannah Kishpaugh, was born March 22, 1841, in a house that stood within a few hundred feet of the Wyoming monument, in Luzerne County, Pa. From his early youth up to 1860 he was engaged in farm- ing. In the fall of 1860 he commenced to learn the carpenter's trade in Springville, Pa., and this occupation he followed until the fall of 1861. He ,then enlisted in a company of volunteers raised by Peter Sides, of Philadelphia, and known at that time as the Susquehanna and Wyoming Rifle Company, owing to the fact that all of the members of the company were residents of these counties at the time of their enlistment. Soon afterward they were mustered into the United States service as Company A, Fifty-seventh Penn- sylvania Volunteers. With his command he was engaged in all the battles of Virginia up to and including Fredericksburg, at which battle, De- cember 13, 1862, he was taken prisoner, and afterward confined for two months in Libby prison, Richmond, Va.

After his parole and exchange, he returned to his company, and was promoted to the rank of sergeant. In December, 1863, with many others of his comrades, he re-enlisted and was sent home on a veteran furlough. During the campaign of 1864 he acted much of the time as sergeant-major of the regiment and the remainder of the time he was in command of his company. June 22, 1864, he engaged in a hand-to-hand conflict with a Rebel captain, and succeeded in capturing the officer and his sword. The latter is now in pos- session of his brother, Cory M. Kishpaugh, who was a private soldier in the same company. While the soldiers were laying in the trenches in front of Petersburg, he was elected captain by a vote of his company, but owing to his sick leave was never mustered. He participated in all of the engagements of the campaign of 1864 until November, when he was taken sick and sent to

CAPT. JAMES B. HARDING.

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the hospital at Alexandria, Va., from which place he was furloughed home. He died at the resi- dence of his sister, Mrs. Mary S. Williams, in Springville, November 24, 1864. His remains lie buried in the cemetery at Tunkhannock.

C APT. JAMES BIRD HARDING, an honored veteran of the Civil War, is one of the worthy old pioneers of the Wyoming Valley. He has had a very eventful, busy and useful career, and the histories of the leading men of Wyoming County would be sadly lacking were not his own placed among them. He has been an interested witness of great changes which have taken place in this region, as the wilderness gradually came under the civ- ilizing and refining influences of man. Hamlets have grown into cities, forests have been con- verted into fertile farms, supporting a dense pop- ulation; schools and churches dot the land thick- ly, and much of this transformation has occur- red within the span of his life.

The captain was born in Luzerne County, July 15, 1816, and grew up on the old farm, where he received practical training in agricul- tural affairs. For about fifteen years he en- gaged in lumbering and rafting on the Susque- hanna River, but in 1849 he became a victim of the "gold fever," and, in partnership with five other men, started overland from Independence, Mo., across the plains, with wagon and ox teams. The trip took four months, and was full of in- cident and hardships, and some little Indian fighting. Arriving in California, Mr. Harding mined until he found it best to return home, which he did, by way of the Isthmus of Panama. He was fairly successful in mining. From 1851 to 1854 he served as deputy sheriff in Wyoming County, and was so faithful to the duties resting upon his shoulders that he was then elected sher- iff, and as such served three years. He has filled about all the offices in the township, and has been a Republican since the party was organ- ized. His first vote was cast for General Har- rison in 1840.

In April, 1861, the captain became very active in raising recruits for the Union, and got to-

gether the first company of men in Tunkhannock or in this county, indeed. He was the captain of the company from the start, and it was placed in the Twelfth Pennsylvania Reserve Corps, later becoming a part of the Forty-first Regi- ment Pennsylvania Volunteers. While in the Virginia campaign, Captain Harding had a very severe attack of typhoid fever, and was given up to die. After reading an account of his pre- carious condition, in which was stated that he certainly could not recover, he began to mend, and thus did not justify their predictions. When the war was over, he returned to the old farm, and managed the place until 1875, when he re- moved to Tunkhannock, since his dwelling- place. For over fifty years he has been a Mason, and also belongs to Reynolds Post, G. A. R., in Tunkhannock. His family attend the Presby- terian church.

Captain Harding and Matilda Swetland were married November 24, 1842, and to them were born the following children: Norman, Eliza- beth and Edgar. The elder son is married, and has one son; the daughter, a widow, has two girls. Dr. Edgar, who is married, is the present burgess of Tunkhannock, and is a leading citi- zen in every enterprise calculated to benefit the community. He is a graduate of the Univer- sity of Pennsylvania, and is destined to rise in his profession. Mrs. Matilda Harding was born in Luzerne County, Pa., and is the only child of Urias and Elizabeth (Shales) Swetland. They died in Eaton Township, Wyoming County, aged respectively eighty-eight and seventy-four years. The parents of Urias, Belden and Sarah (Gage) Swetland, were natives of Connecticut, and died in Luzerne County, Pa. Elizabeth Swetland was a daughter of John and Mary (Horton) Shales, both from New England. Jolin Shales lived to attain the extreme old age of ninety-two years.

S OLOMON REYNOLDS. Throughout his entire life this gentleman has resided in Wyoming County, and his name is in- separably connected with the industrial interests of this region. His thoroughily American spirit

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and his great energy have enabled him to mount from a lowly position to one of affluence. One of his leading characteristics in business affairs is his fine sense of order and complete system and the habit of giving careful attention to details, without which any undertaking is never an as- sured fact.

Mr. Reynolds began his earthly career De- cember 15, 1844, in Factoryville, and is a son of Beriah and Laura (Baker) Reynolds, natives of Wyoming and Susquehanna Counties respective- ly. The father died at the age of fifty-three years, but the mother still lives at the old home in Factoryville. The paternal grandparents of our subject, Solomon and Frances Reynolds, were born in Rhode Island, but as early as 1800 emigrated to this section of Pennsylvania, to- gether with two of the grandfather's brothers, and they were afterward joined by their father, Robert Reynolds, who was a Revolutionary sol- dier, having aided the colonists in throwing off the yoke of British oppression.

Upon the home farm our subject was reared, learning lessons of thrift and industry, and he re- mained under the parental roof until after the tocsin of war sounded, enlisting in 1863. On the expiration of his first term of service, he re-en- listed in March, 1864, becoming a member of the Second Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery, and he remained at the front until hostilities had ceased and his services were no longer needed. He is one of a family of six children, of whom three sons and one daughter are still living. His brothers, Martin N. and Mason P., also wore the blue during the Rebellion, faithfully aiding in the defense of the Union for three years, and he also had three cousins who made for themselves bril- liant war records in the same struggle.

At the age of twenty-five, Mr. Reynolds mar- ried Miss Emeline A. Tingley, a native of Sus- quehanna County, Pa., and they became the par- ents of five children, of whom Nellie L. died at the age of eighteen years. Those living are Herbert E., Halleck S., Kate E. and Robert Tingley. After his marriage, Mr. Reynolds lo- cated in Factoryville, where he successfully fol- lowed the carpenter's trade for about twenty-five years, and then purchased his present planing

mill, which he has entirely refitted, so that it is practically a new plant. For the first year he had a partner, but since that time has been alone in business, and has met with a well deserved success in this undertaking. Besides his valua- ble mill property he owns a fine home in Fac- toryville, where the family delight to entertain their many friends. Since casting his first presi- dential vote for General Grant in 1868, he has been an ardent Republican in politics, and his fellow-citizens, recognizing his worth and abil- ity, have called upon him to fill several local po- sitions of honor and trust. He affiliates with the Grand Army of the Republic, and religiously he and his wife are consistent members of the Bap- tist Church.

F RANCIS D. PRATT, now living retired in Nicholson, needs no special introduction to the readers of this volume, but the work would be incomplete without the record of his life. No man in Wyoming County has been more prominently identified with the commer- cial history of the community or has taken a more active part in its upbuilding and progress. He has ever cheerfully given his support to those enterprises that tend to public development, and, with hardly an exception, he has been connected with every interest that has promoted general welfare. His name is a synonym for honorable business dealing, he is always mentioned as one of the invaluable citizens of Nicholson, and on the rolls of Wyoming County's representative business men, his name should be found among the foremost.

William Pratt, the progenitor of this branch of the Pratt family in America, with his brother John, left Holland, their native country, on ac- count of religious persecution, and sailed for the New World on the ship "Griffin," a vessel of three hundred tons burden, arriving in Boston on the 4th of September, 1633. Later they re- moved to Hartford, Conn., being numbered among the first settlers of that place. Ezra Pratt, the father of our subject, was born in Scho- harie County, N. Y., and later made his home for many years in Greene County, that state, where

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he successfully conducted a large tannery. The business there gradually died out, and in seeking new fields of operation he came to New Milford, Susquehanna County, Pa., where he followed the same trade until called to his final rest at the ripe old age of eighty-eight. He married Miss Hannah Dickerman, of New Haven, Conn., who died at the age of fifty-six.

To this worthy couple were born eleven chil- dren, as follows: Hannah L., born September 19, 1813, married Benjamin C. Miles, and lived in Jewett, Greene County, N. Y., whence they later removed to Deposit, Delaware County, N. Y .; she died January 12, 1886. Ann Eliza, born January 2, 1815, married Levi Bailey, and died at Great Barrington, Mass., May 16, 1879. Cy- rus W., born March 1, 1818, first married Emily F. Alger, and for his second wife chose Harriet Coffey. He was a tanner at Gregg, N. Y., and died at Jersey City about 1867, leaving two chil- dren, Sarah Emily and Charles Walter. Ezra A., born September 20, 1819, married Mary Fink, and, after her death, Harriet Fink. He is a tanner living in New Milford, Pa., and has one child living, Charles C. Adeline, born August 23, 1821, married Eli D. Pond, a commission merchant of New York City, having a residence in Bergen, N. J., and she died April 24, 1893. Ogden P. married Sarah E. Hull, and died Feb- ruary 6, 1859. He was a partner of his brother Ezra in business at New Milford. Theodore died in 1871. George P., born August 23, 1827, married Catherine Griffin, and was for a number of years with our subject in business in Nicholson, the firm being Pratt Brothers. He is now living in New Milford. Martha D., born March 22, 1829, married Rev. Charles D. Buck, and both are now deceased. Their son, Charles P. Buck, is now engaged in general merchandising in Nicholson; Francis D., of this sketch, is next in order of birth; Mariette P., born January 7, 1834, married Rev. Thomas S. Ward, of Carbondale, Pa., who dicd February 13, 1864, and she passed away on the 17th of December of the same year.

Mr. Pratt, whose name introduces this sketch, was born May 23, 1831, in Jewett, Greene Coun- ty, N. Y., where he remained until twenty-two

years of age. His educational privileges were good, supplementing the knowledge acquired in the common schools by a course in a select acad- emy at Franklin, N. Y. The principal part of his boyhood and youth was spent upon a farm, but he early became familiar with the tanning busi- ness in all its details. In September, 1854, was commenced the erection of a tannery in Nichol- son, Pa., and on our subject's removal here May 10, 1855, he became interested in the business, his partners being his brothers, E. A., Ogden, and George. After continuing operations for a time under the firm name of E. A. Pratt & Co., his brother George and himself bought the in- terests of the others and the name was changed to Pratt Brothers. The tannery being destroyed by fire in 1867, they rebuilt the following year, but in 1869 sold out to Childs & Bloomer. The plant was again burned in 1878, and the follow- ing year rebuilt by W. T. Childs, the citizens of Nicholson forming a syndicate and loaning him $5,000 for the purpose. Later it was sold to George Childs and while in his possession was burned and rebuilt. He sold it to N. T. Tubby & Co., of New York, who transferred it to the New York Syndicate or Company. They con- tinued its operation until the fall of 1896. Since the establishment of the business it has been one of the important industries of Nicholson. On selling out his interest in the tannery, Mr. Pratt embarked in the hardware business with N. P. Wilcox, and from the public they received a lib- eral patronage until selling out March 15, 1886, to Titus & Osterhout. Subsequently the latter disposed of his interest to F. C. Driggs and the firm is now Titus & Driggs. Our subject has now retired from active business, but still owns his interest in the building, though Mr. Wilcox has sold his share to M. L. McMillan.

Mr. Pratt married Eliza A. Bristol, a native of North Blenham, Schoharic County, N. Y., and they have become the parents of three children: Lillic Adclle, at home; Ogden Dwight, now in the drug business in Nicholson; and Francis Everett, a civil engineer in the employ of Scran- ton Water & Supply Company. In politics Mr. Pratt is a Republican, a strong believer in the progressive principles of that party, and has

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taken an active part in local political affairs, often serving as a member of the county committee. He is a prominent and influential member of the Presbyterian Church of Nicholson, and has served as elder since its organization. He is one of the most reliable and esteemed citizens of the community. His adherence to the dictates of honor in all business transactions, his spotless private life and his public spiritedness in all mat- ters for the benefit of the community, have ele- vated him to a high pinnacle in the minds of his fellow citizens.

A LEXANDER PRESTON. The fine farm owned by Mr. Preston in North Moreland Township, Wyoming County, invariably attracts the eye of the passing traveler as being under the supervision of a thorough and skillful agriculturist and a man of good business quali- fications. He is a native of England, born near Fleetwood, Lancashire, July 4, 1841, and a son of John and Ellen (Fisher) Preston, in whose family were six children: Henry, Mary, Thomas, William, Alexander and George. None of them became residents of the United States, with the exception of Alexander.

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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 9

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