Portrait and biographical record of Wyoming and Lackawanna counties, Pennsylvania : containing portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the counties, Part 94

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 94
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 94

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G EORGE F. KELLOW. The position of alderman is one which, to a conscientious man, carries with it many responsibili- ties and important duties. This fact is appreciated by no one more than by Mr. Kellow, who repre- sents the fourteenth ward of Scranton in this office. He is fitted for the position, not only by his long interest in and identification with the progress of the place, but also by reason of his ability, energy and perseverance. It has been his aim, since entering upon the position, to en- courage such measures as will best promote the welfare of his constituents, and in this endeavor he has been quite successful.

Born in Honesdale, Wayne County, Pa., July 16, 1849, Mr. Kellow is of English ancestry. His father, Thomas, who was a son of John Kellow, a farmer, was born in Endellion, England, in 1810, and his wife, Bridget Cox, was a native of the same locality as himself. For a time he fol- lowed the mason's trade in England, but after the birth of two children, he and his wife came to America and in 1832 settled in Honesdale, Pa., where he was employed as a mason and general contractor. He died in that place in 1851, when forty-one years of age. His widow reared their family of nine children and died in 1866, aged fifty-six years. In religious belief she was a Methodist and she carried into her everyday life the principles of her faith, being tenderly devoted to her family and obliging and kind to those in need.

Of the family of nine, five sons now survive, George F. being the youngest of the number.

He has two brothers in Scranton: David, a car- penter, and Richard, roadmaster on the Dela- ware & Hudson road. Another brother, Capt. William Kellow, who was corporal of Company C, Sixth Pennsylvania Infantry, and captain of Company B, Thirteenth Regiment Pennsylvania National Guard, was formerly a well known poli- tician of Scranton and for fifteen years was select councilman from the sixteenth ward. He was foreman in the shops of the Delaware, Lacka- wanna & Western Company for twenty-seven years, until his death in March, 1895. Two brothers, John and Thomas, reside near Hones- dale. John, now a farmer, was captain of a com- pany in the One Hundred and Twelfth Regiment, or Second Heavy Artillery, during the Civil War.

In 1868, about two years after his mother's death, the subject of this record came to Scran- ton and entered the employ of the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Company, under his brother William. When the latter was trans- ferred to the other shop, in 1888, he was pro- moted to the position of foreman, which he con- tinued to hold until he resigned to become alder- man. He understood every department of the work and had under his charge from one hundred to one hundred and sixty-five men. With the exception of another foreman, he was the oldest man in the company's employ, and his long rec- ord of faithful service speaks volumes for his energy, honesty and ability.

Firmly believing in the principles for which the Republican party stands, Mr. Kellow gives it his allegiance and its candidates his vote. In 1896 he was elected alderman of the fourteenth ward on the Republican ticket, receiving a ma- jority of thirty-five in a strong Democratic ward and being the only member of his party who was successful in that ward. He was elected Febru- ary 18 and took the oath of office May 6, being commissioned by Governor Hastings to office for a term of five years. He has been active in city and county conventions, and for three terms of one year each was in the common council from the fourteenth ward.

In Scranton Mr. Kellow married Elizabeth Weinschenk, daughter of Anthony Weinschenk, who was for some years foreman of the Lacka-

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wanna Iron & Steel foundry in this city. They are the parents of six children: Herbert F., a confectioner and cigar dealer here; Jessie May; Harry; Grace, who died at nine years; Maud and Marie. The family attend the Simpson Methodist Episcopal Church, to which they be- long. Fraternally Mr. Kellow is associated with the Patriotic Order Sons of America and Nay- Aug Council No. 344, American Mechanics.

P ATRICK E. SPELLMAN, special officer for the Delaware & Hudson Railroad at their depot in Scranton, was born in Honesdale, Pa., February 12, 1849, and is of Irish parentage and descent. His father, Mich- ael Spellman, son of William, a farmer, was born in County Sligo, where he grew to man- hood, meantime working on the home farm and learning the trade of stone mason. After his marriage to Ellen Helena, a native of the County Mayo, in 1847 he came to America and pro- ceeded at once to Honesdale and Carbondale where he was employed in the construction of the Delaware & Hudson Canal Company, his work being principally on aqueducts. In May, 1854, he came to Scranton with William J. Mor- gan, working under the superintendence of James Archbald, chief engineer, in the employ of the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Rail- road. He retired from active work in 1885 and has since continued to make his home in Scran- ton. Of his children, William H., formerly as- sistant train dispatcher for the Panhandle, was killed in Pittsburg; Michael F. is lieutenant of police in Scranton; Annie, wife of P. F. May, also resides here.

ton and went south, accompanying General Sher- man on his march from Tennessee through Georgia to Atlanta and the sea, then returning through the Carolinas to Murfreesboro, Tenn., where supplies were cut off during the engage- ment between Generals Thomas and Hood for three days and the men were held on short ra- tions. He also stood under the memorial apple tree three days after the surrender of General Johnston to General Sherman. He viewed the Anderson (Georgia) prison and Libby prison in Richmond, Va., and witnessed the evacuation of Atlanta, Ga., after the Union troops had fired the city and left it to the mercy of the flames. An im- portant incident of his life at the front happened when he was in the Carolina pinery, nine miles from Raleigh. He viewed the destruction of a gin and rosin pile twenty feet in altitude and cov- ering nearly an acre of land. The rosin had been ignited by a straggling soldier while cooking his noonday meal and he never knew he did it. During this time he saw the rebel generals John- ston, Beauregard, Longstreet, Hood, and others, in Raleigh, N. C., in 1865, after the signing of the declaration of peace. He was also in the bay on the steamship "Baltic" immediately after the surrender of Ft. Fisher and later visited the fort. In June, 1865, at the close of the war, he was honorably discharged from the service and re- turned to his home.

Resuming work in the coal mines, Mr. Spell- man remained in that occupation for some time. For four years from August 2, 1870, he was an all around man for the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Express Company, and for twelve years was their night agent, remaining in that responsi- ble position until the company sold out to the When five years of age the subject of this sketch was brought by his parents to Scranton, where he attended the public and parochial schools, the latter being conducted by Father Whittie and situated on the corner of Franklin Avenue and Spruce Street. At the age of twelve United States Express Company. He continued for two years with the latter concern, making in all eighteen years in the express business, after which, for a short time, he was general foreman in the construction of the street railways. Au- gust 1, 1877, he stood on Lackawanna Avenue, he began to work as a slate picker in the coal . corner of Franklin Avenue, when the striking department of the Delaware, Lackawanna & miners were shot down by the vigilance commit- tee on the corner of Lackawanna and Wyoming Avenues. He saw the dead and wounded lying on the street and Father Dunn administering the Western Company, and later was employed in the mines. In 1864 he joined the government con- struction corps under Captain Buzzard of Scran-

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rites of the church to the dying. April 1, 1890, he entered the employ of the Delaware & Hud- son Railroad Company as special officer at their depot, in which capacity he has since been em- ployed.

By his marriage to Miss Maggie H. Marren, a native of Madison, Ind., Mr. Spellman has one son living, William P., and has lost by death two sons and a daughter. He built the residence which he occupies at No. 942 Monsey Avenue, and has also erected several other residences in the seventh ward. In religion he is connected with the Catholic Church, worshiping at St. Peter's Cathedral, and is a member of the Cath- olic Knights. · His political affiliations are with the Democratic party and upon that ticket he was elected assessor of the seventh ward, serving from 1883 to 1888. In the latter year he was elected a member of the select council for two years, and while filling that position served on the building committee during the erection of the city hall. He has also been connected with the city and county committees, and has rendered his party considerable active service.

W ILLIAM R. WILSON, foreman of No. I shaft and colliery of the Pennsyl- vania Coal Company, of Dunmore, was born at Eckington, Derbyshire, England, November 15, 1865. His grandfather, Richard, was engaged in coal mining at Durham, Eng- land, and died there at forty years of age. His father, John, was born near Durham and was en- gaged in sinking shafts by contract there. In November, 1879, he brought his family to this country and located at Wyoming, Luzerne Coun- ty, Pa. He engaged in the same line of business in this country and was a shaft sinking boss for different companies, not only up and down in this valley, but out in western Pennsylvania as well. He married Anna, daughter of George Harrison, a farmer, and they had five children, all of whom are living, as follows: James R., foreman of No. 2 shaft of the Pennsylvania Coal Company; Esther, residing in Cambridge, Mass .; George H., with the Pennsylvania Coal Com-

pany, in Dunmore; William R .; and Margaret in Pittsburg, Pa.

William R. remained in England until the fam- ily moved to this country in 1879 and attended the public school until, when but nine years of age, he began working in the mines as driver boy and worked there until coming to this country, landing in New York on his fourteenth birthday. He immediately came to this valley and began working in the Lehigh Valley mines as a driver boy inside the mine, then was engaged in loading coal at the Spring Brook, after which with his father and brother he was engaged in sinking and opening mines for different companies. Among others may be mentioned the Schooly mines, where at eighteen years of age he had charge of a shift; the Clear Spring mine at Pitt- ston, and the Stermerville mine for the Lehigh Valley Coal Company. He then went to Pitts- burg and was a member of a mine engineers corps for a year, then returned and was again en- gaged in sinking and opening mines for Hartley & Marshall at Banksville, then for John R. Davis at Moosic Mountain, next at Gypsy Grove, then for a time was mining at No. I, after which he ac- cepted a position as foreman for B. F. Fillmore in building the Scranton Electric Street Railroad. He then again went back to sinking shafts for Robbins & Co., at Glenshaw, Pa., little thinking that he would one day be boss. Later he had charge of sinking a shaft for Calumet Coal Coke Company, then at Beaver Falls, Pa., he was fore- man in charge of digging a railroad tunnel, which occupied nine months, after which he went to Mc- Donnall Station, Pa., and was engaged sinking a shaft for Sortis & Pattison, then was em- ployed at Grindstone, Pa., and at Bishop, fifteen miles from Pittsburg, at the same occupation, after which he went to New York and was fore- man in an iron ore mine. He then returned to Dunmore and after working awhile at No. 5, helped open two drifts at the Bunker Hill mine and was then foreman for nearly a year. On being transferred to another mine, he was fore- man about two years and eight months. No- vember 1, 1896, he was made mine foreman at No. I shaft and colliery, and since that date has looked after the interests of the company to their

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entire satisfaction, and being one of the best in- formed men in mining is well fitted for the po- sition.

In Green Ridge Mr. Wilson married Miss Edith S. Matthews, who was born in Providence. Her father, Sidney Matthews, is a native of Eng- land, and since coming to this country has been a locomotive engineer of the Delaware & Hud- son Canal Company. To Mr. and Mrs. Wilson have been born three children. In the spring of 1896 Mr. Wilson was nominated by the Repub- licans as a candidate for school director of Dun- more, and in the election was given the largest majority ever obtained by a Republican in the borough of Dunmore. He is a member of St. Mark's Episcopal Church, and fraternally is a member of King Solomon Lodge No. 584, F. & A. M., and the Dunmore branch of the Sons of St. George.

C HARLES WATRES, a well known citi- zen of Scranton, and an engineer on the Delaware & Lackawanna Railroad, is a native of Lackawanna County, his birth having occurred in Mt. Vernon, Blakely Township, De- cember 27, 1848. His father, Lewis S. Watres, was for many years one of the influential and prominent citizens of Scranton, while his mother was a poetess of much ability, known as "Stella of the Lackawanna," and was also noted for her kindness and liberality. She was a sister of Dr. Horace Hollister and Herschel Hollister, repre- sentative citizens of Lackawanna County, who are mentioned elsewhere in this work. Our sub- ject is next to the oldest in a family of four chil- dren, the others being Mrs. John L. Hull; Hon. Louis A. Watres, ex-lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania; and Carrie W., wife of Judge Ed- ward C. Lovell, of Elgin, Ill. A more extended mention of the family is given in the sketch of Hon. Louis A. Watres on another page of this volume.

Until 1861 Charles Watres remained in Mt. Vernon, where he attended the district schools, and later pursued his studies in Archbald and Scranton, removing to the last named place in 1865. Two years later he became fireman on the

road with which he is still connected, and in April, 1869, was promoted to be engineer, now serving as extra passenger engineer with head- quarters at Scranton, his residence being at No. 916 Mulberry Street. Always careful and watch- ful, he has proved one of the most trusted em- ployes of the road and has the high regard of the officials, as well as the respect and esteem of all who know him.

On the 16th of May, 1871, in Corbettsville, Broome County, N. Y., Mr. Watres was united in marriage with Miss Rebie E. Soules, who was born near Brantford, Ontario, Canada. Her father, John Soules, a native of Nova Scotia, set- tled near Brantford, where he engaged in cabinet making until called from this life at the age of seventy-eight years. He was of English origin. His wife, Eliza (Sturges) Soules, was born in Brantford, Ontario, and was a daughter of Will- iam Sturges, a native of Philadelphia, Pa., whose father, Captain Sturges, served in the Revolu- tionary War under Washington. The Captain with his family emigrated to Canada at an early day, and he and his children located on farms near Brantford in the midst of the forest. Three years later William Sturges with his wife and baby returned to Philadelphia on horseback to see her mother, of whom they had heard nothing for a year, and whom they found dead. In the same manner they returned to their Canadian home.

Mrs. Watres is the youngest of eleven children who reached maturity, namely: Rachel, who died in the west; William, who died in Canada; Simon, a resident of Michigan, who was in the Union army during the Civil War; Jane, who died in Canada; Mary, who still makes her home in that country; James, a resident of Illinois; Maria, who died in Texas; Wilson, a locomotive engineer living in Galesburg, Ill .; Peter, who was a member of a Michigan regiment during the Rebellion, and died in Kansas; and Silas, now a physician of Hudson, Mass., who was also a member of a Michigan regiment in the same struggle. Our subject and his wife have one son, Lewis S., an electrician, who is now super- intendent of the Brookside Coal Company at Moosic, Lackawanna County.

WILLIAM H. SEAMANS.

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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Mr. Watres is a member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, belonging to Samuel Sloan Division No. 276, of Scranton. The Re- publican party finds in him an earnest supporter, and he does all in his power to advance its in- terests. Mrs. Watres was one of the organizers of the First Church of Christian Scientists of Scranton, and for a time was a member of its board of directors.

W ILLIAM H. SEAMANS. No name is more familiarly known in the north- western part of Lackawanna County than that of Seamans, and it is so thoroughly in- terwoven with the history of this section that ref- erence to it in this volume is very appropriate. Brought to Abington Township by his parents in early childhood, the subject of this sketch wit- nessed the development of a farm from the un- cleared wilderness and the gradual increase in the population of the surrounding country. Now, when near the sunset of his life, his mind reverts with pleasure to the scenes of early days and the many transformations wrought by Father Time, with the aid of the pioneer's good right arm.

The Seamans family originated in England. A legend of the family told to Horace Seamans by George B. Seamans, of East Pembroke, Gene- see County, N. Y., is as follows: King James VI of Scotland became James I of England, the family name being Stuart. The family were ar- dent Catholics, but one renounced the faith and was banished to Virginia, but was allowed to take his money and other treasure, a large amount of silver. The king gave him a grant of land in the new country, on part of which now stands Charleston. This man had a wife and three sons. Some disease incident to the climate killed him. In course of time the mother again married, and at her death her second husband became guardian of the three boys. He married again and had a family, the mother of which was very anxious to get rid of the Stuart boys. The stepfather would not kill them, but took them to the sea and bribed a captain to take them to the Plymouth Rock country under the name of Sea- mans and get them a good home and they would

be provided for. The oldest boy knew why he had been sent away and when he became of age he told his brothers of their property in Virginia and said he was going back to claim it. He went on a vessel that was never heard from and that is supposed to have sunk. Two years later the second boy made a similar attempt, but the ves- sel was wrecked and only two were saved to tell the sad tale of disaster. The third boy decided. that, as both of his brothers had lost their lives in the attempt to claim their property, he would remain in the Plymouth Rock country, and re- tain the name of Seamans.

John, our subject's father, was a son of John, Sr., and was born in Massachusetts. Afterward he removed to Rhode Island and there married Lovina Potter, a native of Rhode Island, of Scotch descent, and the daughter of Nathan Pot- ter, a Revolutionary soldier. Two years after the birth of their son, William H., which occurred November 14, 1815, they removed to Pennsyl- vania and settled in Abington Township, this county, upon an unimproved farm. Here the father died at the age of seventy-three and she one month after his demise, at the age of seventy- one. All but one of their eleven children attained mature years and four are now living, three sis- ters and one brother.

The earliest home which our subject remem- bers is the one made by his parents in this coun- ty. His father, hoping to better his condition, had made frequent removals, having come from Connecticut to this county, returned to the Nut- meg State two years later, afterward spent one year in New York State, next going back to his first home, and later again removed to Pennsyl- vania. On coming here with his wife and six children, he had a yoke of oxen, horse and wagon, and six cents in cash, but while he was very poor, he was industrious and made a living for his fam- ily at the shoemaker's trade and upon his farm. Learning the carpenter's trade in youth, at the age of nineteen our subject procured lumber and framed a barn, after which he followed the oc- cupation of carpenter for a time. October 8, 1843, he married Miss Junia E. Townsend, who was born in Pittston, Pa .; March 8, 1823, and died at the family home in Benton Township

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December 3, 1892, mourned as a noble Christian woman, a true wife and devoted mother. She was a daughter of Peter and Polly (Osterhout) Townsend, who were, it is thought, born in New Jersey, and both died here in advanced years.

The only child of Mr. and Mrs. Seamans was John, born July 20, 1844, who was killed by the cars February 4, 1891, being at the time a county officer. He was united in marriage, in 1867, with Martha J. Green, daughter of Lyman Green, and a refined and cultured lady. One son was born of this union, Harry W., July 13, 1874, a young man of great promise and intelligence, and a graduate of Keystone Academy in June, 1895. After his marriage our subject settled in Benton Township, purchasing eighty-seven and one-half acres, to which he added by subsequent purchase until his landed possessions aggregated several hundred acres. A portion of his property is val- uable coal land. In former years he had con- tracts for getting out railroad timber for the Dela- ware, Lackawanna & Western Company. His first presidential ballot was cast for General Har- rison and in 1856 he assisted in the organization of the Republican party, with which he has since affiliated. In religious belief he holds to the Uni- versalist faith. At his pleasant home, with his daughter-in-law and grandson, the evening of his days is being happily passed in the enjoyment of a rest earned by years of devotion to his busi- ness affairs.

E. A. ATHERTON. The first of the Ath- erton family who settled in America was Col. Humphrey Atherton, a native of Dorchester, England, who early in the seven- teenth century was made a member of artillery and afterward became its captain. At the break- ing out of the Indian War, about 1637, he came to America, where he was colonial representative for nine years and major-general in charge of colonial forces. He died in 1661. His family consisted of ten children, who scattered and be- came the founders of numerous branches.

Cornelius, the second lineal descendant of Humphrey, was born in Massachusetts in 1736 and resided near Boston, where he worked in an

armory belonging to Samuel Adams and made guns for the Revolution. During the war for in- dependence the armory was burned by the Brit- ish. While residing there his son went to school with John Quincy Adams. Afterward he moved to West Point, and while there the "Vulture," a British man-of-war, anchored near by for the purpose of receiving the American garrison which Arnold, the traitor, had designed to deliver to Major Andre for the sum of ten thousand pounds and a general's commission. While the "Vulture" lay in wait for the return of Major Andre, Cornelius Atherton, knowing it to be the enemy's fleet procured an old cannon, drew it upon a height overlooking the river and fired upon the vessel. The second shot took effect and compelled the ship to weigh anchor and proceed down the river. Arnold's plot failing, Major An- dre made haste to reach the vessel and escape. Not finding the ship he procured a horse and rode down the river, but coming in contact with Washington's pickets was captured and suffered death as a spy. Had it not been for Mr. Ather- ton's efforts his treason would never have been known. E. A. Atherton, of Glenburn, who fur- nished the data for this sketch, has a sworn state- ment of these facts.

In 1761 Cornelius Atherton married Mary Delano, who died in 1774, having had nine children. From West Point he moved to New Jersey, thence to Shawnee, Wyoming County, Pa., and was living there at the time of the mas- sacre in 1778. As the time for the battle ap- proached his eldest son, Jabez, eighteen years of age, begged his father to let him go in his place, as the father's death would leave the family des- titute. The son went, was killed, and his name now heads the list on the Wyoming monument. When the news of defeat reached the settlement Cornelius tore up the floors in his log house and made a raft, upon which he placed the women and children and a few necessities. They floated down the Susquehanna River to Nanticoke, while the two remaining boys, John and Eleazer, drove the horses and cattle to a place of safety. At Nanticoke they were met by other refugees. A company was organized and all that remained of a once prosperous settlement fled over moun-

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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 94

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