Portrait and biographical record of Wyoming and Lackawanna counties, Pennsylvania : containing portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the counties, Part 95

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 95
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 95

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tain and stream, through one of the wildest re- gions of Pennsylvania to New Jersey. On the way a woman fell exhausted, unable to walk fur- ther. Mrs. Atherton, who was sick at the time, was riding an old horse, and the woman was placed behind her, but the burden was too great for the animal and he sank to the ground. The men, already overburdened, made a stretcher of poles and boughs and carried her to New Jersey. They camped at night in the woods and subsisted on berries, with rye flour made into mush and eaten with milk obtained from the cows they were driving. After a heart-broken and tedious journey they arrived at a place of safety in New Jersey.

When peace was declared Cornelius came back with his sons, John and Eleazer, and bought five hundred acres of land, where now stands the bor- ough of Taylor, Lackawanna County. The sons settled upon the land, while the father, who had lost his first wife, went to Bainbridge, Chenango County, N. Y., and married a Miss Johnson in 1786, having seven children by that union. He died there December 4, 1809. His career was a remarkable one, and he was a man of strong traits of character. He was very in- genious, and not only made guns, but also the first pair of clothier's shears ever made in Amer- ica. He discovered the secret of making steel and entered into a contract with Messrs. Reed, iron manufacturers, of New York, to convert a certain amount of iron into steel for them, but their failure in business soon afterward prevented the contract from being carried out. A copy of this contract is on file in the records of the Genea- logical Society of History and Science in the city of Scranton. He was a believer in future punish- ment, but thought it would be of a disciplinary nature and not eternal, and that all would even- tually be brought to a state of happiness in the future. He frequently held meetings where he read sermons and exhorted men to lead a Chris- tian life.

Eleazer A. Atherton, our subject's father, was born in 1764. He commenced to clear his land in Lackawanna County about 1784 and for three years lived alone in the woods. It is said of him that at one time he walked one hundred miles

to see his sweetheart in New Jersey. In 1790 he married Martha Kanaan, who was born in New Jersey in 1773, and with whom he lived on the same farm for sixty years. To this place he brought his wife and all her earthly possessions on the back of one horse, he walking by her side. He opened the first vein of coal along the Lacka- wanna River and drew coal on sleds to Bing- hamton, N. Y., in the winter. Accumulating a valuable property, he built a large mansion, which, though seventy years old (1896), is in good repair. His family consisted of nine children. Two daughters, Martha and Mary, died young. The two eldest, Thomas and Margaret, never married. Elisha married Catharine Delts, but had no children. - Sarah, Mrs. Elisha Blackman, had one son, but he died young. Joseph married Phebe Vosburg for his first wife and later mar- ried Harriet Merchant, having three children by each marriage. John and his wife, Rebecca Skin- ner, had three children, William, Augusta and Margaret, who attained maturity. Eleazer A. chose as his wife Phebe Lewis, daughter of Jo- siah Lewis, government surveyor and descendant of Chief Justice Lewis, who occupied that posi- tion during the administration of George Wash- ington. E. A. Atherton and his wife had six chil- dren who attained mature years: Anna M., Louise E., William L., Thomas E., James May and Ellen May (twins).

Eleazer Atherton was a teetotaler, strongly op- posed to the drink habit and to the use of tobac- co. In early life he was inclined to Universalism, but later experienced a change of heart and unit- ed with the Presbyterian Church. Ever after- ward he was a faithful follower of the Lord Jesus Christ and a great Bible reader. The writer has seen him many times, after he became very deaf. standing in the pulpit, beside the minister, with ear trumpet in hand, listening with great eager- ness to the preached word. He died March 3, 1852, at the age of eighty-seven years, three months, and was buried in Taylor, Lackawanna County. His wife, Martha Kanaan, is said to have been very handsome in her youth, and was greatly beloved by her acquaintances for her sweet and loving disposition. Early in life she gave evidence of having received that spiritual

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change necessary to salvation, and was always faithful in the performance of her Christian du- ties. She taught the first Sunday-school in Lack- awanna County, and always opened the school with prayer. In her connections she was a Bap- tist. She died May 31, 1859, at the age of eighty- seven, and was buried by the side of her husband at Taylor.

The first public school in Lackawanna was kept in 1808 by George Gordon, whose mother was a sister of Eleazer Atherton. It was held in the latter's barn. The teacher, though but four- teen years of age, had a certificate from Judge Garrich Mallory of the Luzerne County courts, which certified that he understood the common English branches and could read Latin. He agreed to take his pay the next fall in grain de- livered at Hollenbach's mill, near Wilkesbarre. The family of Eleazer Atherton were all profes- sors of religion, and it may truly be said that their walk and conversation were consistent with their professions. Thomas, who was born in 1792 and died in 1868, was a great statistician and could give the majorities of the different winning polit- ical parties from his boyhood to his old age. Eli- sha was a deacon in the Presbyterian Church for many years and a director in the First National Bank of Pittston. Joseph, who was born in 1800, was an invalid for some years before his death, in 1845. John M., who was born in 1808 and died in 1878, was converted at the age of eighteen and united with the Presbyterian Church, of which he was an active member until his death; like his father, he was strongly opposed to the use of liquor and tobacco.

E. A. Atherton, the youngest member of the family and its only survivor, was born in 1816. He united with the Baptist Church in early life and has held close to his faith in God for many years. He is perhaps better informed than were his brothers, owing to some extent to the later age in which he lived. A strong man in argu- ment, he is ready at all times to denounce sin and immorality wherever found. His religious experiences have been deep and profound, and have largely guided and shaped his character. He has served two terms of three years each as register of wills in the great and growing county

of Lackawanna, and as such was prominent as being the embodiment of truth and justice in all of his decisions.

Eleazer A. Atherton was married in 1845 to Phebe E. Lewis, daughter of Josiah Lewis, gov- ernment surveyor, and Margaret Lewis, nee De- lany; and granddaughter of William Lewis, of Philadelphia, who was one of the first lawyers of his times. He was admitted to the bar in 1773. In 1787 he was elected a member of the Pennsyl- vania legislature. In 1789 he was re-elected, and the same year was also appointed by George Washington United States attorney for the dis- trict of Pennsylvania. In 1791, he was made United States judge for the same district. This appointment, in George Washington's handwrit- . ing, is in the possession of one of the members of the Lewis family. He was associated with all the interests of the new born republic, and even at that early day, took some steps toward the abolishment of slavery. He was married in early life to Miss Rosanna Lort, by whom he had three children, two daughters and Josiah, the only son. His second wife vas Frances Durden. The "Colonial Dames" records Mr. and Mrs. Lewis as frequent guests at the presidential mansion during the presidency of George Washington, and especially speaks of Mrs. Lewis as an Irish beauty, who from the social life abroad to which she had the entrée as daughter of Sir John Es- mond of Huntingdon Castle, and wife of Richard Durden, brought a charm and grace of manner equal to her beauty into the republican court of Mrs. Washington. The now famous Strawberry Hill mansion, situated in Fairmount Park, Phila- delphia, was the summer home of William Lewis.

T HOMAS H. WATTS. The business of which this gentleman is the head and which has been successfully conducted under his management for many years was, in 1893, incorporated under the firm name of The T. H. Watts Company, Limited. Since 1889 the headquarters of the company have been at Nos. 723-725 West Lackawanna Avenue, removal hav- ing been made to this place on account of rail- road facilities afforded here. A large wholesale

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trade in flour and provisions is carried on, and the market of northeastern Pennsylvania is sup- plied with the products of the best flour mills of the country, among them the Consolidated Mill- ing Company of Minneapolis and R. D. Hub- bard Milling Company of Mankato, Minn. This is the largest flour house in the city and one of the largest in this section of the state.

The Watts family is of Scotch-Irish origin. Henry Watts, our subject's father, when a young man, emigrated to America, settling in Carbon- dale about 1848. From that time he was em- ployed as coal sales agent for the Delaware & Hudson Canal Company until his death in 1888, at the age of sixty-four years. After settling in Carbondale, he married Isabella Miller, whose parents had come to Carbondale in an early day ; she is still living and resides in Scranton. Of seven children, all but one are living, namely: William J., of Scranton, manager for the eastern half of Pennsylvania of the Consolidated Milling Company of Minneapolis; Thomas H .; Frank D., of the firm of Miller & Watts, wholesale meats and provisions, in Scranton; George A., bookkeeper and paymaster for the Lackawanna Coal Company at Olyphant; Mary, Mrs. L. A. Roberts, of Carbondale; and Margaret, who lives in Scranton.

Born in Carbondale in 1855, the subject of this article in 1872 came to Scranton as an employe in the freight office of the Delaware & Hudson Canal Company. Three years later he took a position with Forrester Brothers, wholesale flour dealers, and while there gained a thorough knowl- edge of that line of business. In 1880 he began business at No. 22 Lackawanna Avenue and five years later removed to his present location. Since the incorporation of the company, he has held the position of manager. He is a member of the Scranton Board of Trade and maintains an interest in all enterprises for the benefit of the city.

With his wife and son, Henry, Mr. Watts makes his home in Glenburn, on the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad. Mrs. Watts was formerly Miss Annie Carling, a daughter of John and Louise Carling, early settlers of Scran- ton. In 1886 our subject was elected, on the Re-

publican ticket, a member of the common council from the ninth ward and served for three terms, during one of which he was president of the council. Many improvements were effected dur- ing his connection with the council, among them the introduction of electric lights, asphalt pav- ing and city sewerage.

C OL. PHILIP J. VETTER, owner and proprietor of the drug store at No. 415 Penn Avenue, Scranton, and well known as lieutenant-colonel of Patriarchs Militant, De- partment of Pennsylvania, I. O. O. F., was born in Sixth Avenue, New York City, December 27, 1854, the son of George and Barbara (Kandel) Vetter, natives respectively of Neustadt, Bavaria, and Emskirchen, Bavaria, Germany. His father, who was a cabinet maker by trade, emigrated to America in young manhood, and worked at his trade in New York City, being for a time in the employ of Steinway. Soon, however, he started in business for himself as a manu- facturer of fine furniture in Melrose, and there continued until his death in 1880, at the age of fifty-nine. Fraternally he was con- nected with the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows and various German societies. His wife, whom he married in New York City, still resides there. They were the parents of nine children, of whom four attained years of maturity and two are living.

In 1861 our subject accompanied his parents in their removal from Houston Street, where they resided at that time, to Melrose, New York City, and there he was the recipient of public school advantages. At the age of thirteen he began the study of pharmacy under John B. Eckl, with whom he thoroughly learned the busi- ness. Coming to Scranton in 1869, he, however, found no opening as a pharmacist, so returned to New York, resuming work with Eckl and also studying medicine with Dr. Zeuchner. In 1872 he entered the College of Pharmacy, where he took two courses of lectures, and in 1875 again came to Scranton, this time meeting with more success than before. He engaged as pharmacist for Dr. Ladd in the Star Pharmacy and when it

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was sold the following year he secured employ- ment in the car shops of the Delaware, Lacka- wanna & Western Company. In 1877 he opened a pharmacy at No. 417 Penn Avenue, later removed his store to No. 407 in this square, and after two years, having purchased and re- modeled the building at No. 415, came here, and has since carried on a large retail drug business. He is registered as a pharmacist and physician in this state, but confines his attention to the former, never having entered the medical prac- tice.

In the organization of the Perseverance Club Colonel Vetter took an active part, and for the fourth time has been re-elected its president. This is the home office and he is therefore at the head of the club, which has a membership of about two thousand. He is treasurer of Branch No. I of the Cosmopolitan Building Association of Syracuse, N. Y. Interested in everything per- taining to the advancement of Scranton and the welfare of its enterprises, he is personally con- nected with the Scranton Axle Works and the Scranton Lace Curtain Manufacturing Company. In this city he married Miss Mary Ellen Nolan, who was born in Hastings, England, and they are the parents of three children: Philip J., Jr., member of the class of 1897, Scranton high school; William, and Catherine. He filled the unexpired term of Mr. Chamberlain as member of the board of school control from the six- teenth ward.

A record of the life of Colonel Vetter would be incomplete were no mention made of his con- nection with the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows. April 10, 1882, he joined Globe Lodge No. 958, and in July, 1882 entered Scrantonia En- campment No. 81. He was one of the organizers and a charter member of the Uniform Degree Camp No. 4 in 1883 and became its captain. Later it was merged into the Patriarchs Militant as Canton Scranton No. 4, and he was transferred from captain to assistant surgeon of the second regiment, and from that was promoted to chief of staff of Brigadier-General Deans, with the rank of lieutenant-colonel, which he has since held. He is past officer of Globe Lodge, treasurer and trustee of the lodge, representative to the grand

lodge, past officer in the encampment and one of its trustees, and representative to the grand en- campment of Pennsylvania, and district deputy grand patriarch of Lackawanna County. In ad- dition to his connection with this society, he is a member of the Royal Arcanum, Union Lodge of Masons and the Maccabees. In the English Lutheran Church in Adams Avenue he is a charter member and has been a deacon; before the congregation had effected its organization, the members met in his store, and in the work of building a church and arousing interest in the cause he was the prime mover. Since 1879 he has been a member of the State Pharmaceutical Association and has taken an active part in its meetings. A true blue Republican in politics, he has been active in the city and county commit- tees and was chairman of the latter at the time J. H. Scranton received the nomination in 1894. When the plan of separating Lackawanna from Luzerne County was proposed, he was active in its favor and his enthusiasm in the movement never faltered, in spite of obstacles and discour- agements, and at last he was rewarded in seeing the formation of the new county.

E DWARD FARR, who has been a resident of Scranton since the fall of 1856, was born in Monmouthshire, South Wales, April 8, 1827, and is a member of an old English family. His father, Edward, and grandfather, who bore the same name, were born in Here- ford, an inland county in the west of England, and by occupation the latter was a farmer, the former a miner and a dealer in produce. The mother of our subject was Mary, daughter of James Williams, both natives of Monmouthshire; Mr. Williams, who owned a water mill in his na- tive place, emigrated to America in middle life and died in Elyria, Ohio, at the age of ninety- two. Our subject's father joined his children in America and died at Mineral Ridge, Ohio, at the age of seventy-eight; the wife and mother died in Ohio at the same age as her husband, and her funeral was attended by seventy-four de- scendants. Nine of her children are still living, of whom the eldest is seventy-five and the youngest over fifty.

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The subject of this sketch, who was third in order of birth among the children of the family, grew to manhood in Monmouthshire, and as there were no free schools at that time and place he was prevented from enjoying educational priv- ileges. When only eight years of age he began to work in the iron ore mines, his work being to push ore cars from the dump to the opening of the drift or the foot of the shaft. After some years of hard labor he acquired a thorough knowledge of ore mining and later became a coal miner. In April, 1848, he went from Swansea to Liverpool and there took passage on the sailer, "Stephen Baldwin," which landed in Philadel- phia, Pa., after a voyage of five weeks and three days. While sailing on the broad Atlantic he celebrated the twenty-first anniversary of his birth.

Reaching the United States, the young man at once sought employment in the occupation with which he was most familiar. For a time he worked as a miner at Minersville, Pa., then at Bloomsburg and Summit Hill, Carbon County. In the fall of 1856 he came to Scranton and for a number of years engaged in teaming, after which he started a brickyard on what is known as Kel- ley's patch. Two years later he sold out, ex- changing the property for a hotel in North Main and opening what was known as the Fourth Ward Hotel, which he carried on for eight years. Removing to No. 1024 West Lackawanna Ave- nue, he conducted Farr's House at that number for twenty years. In 1891 he sold out and, in partnership with his son, Hon. John R. Farr, built a store at No. 1026 West Lackawanna Ave- nue, 25x200 feet in dimensions, where he keeps a stock of furniture and household goods and also manufactures mattresses of the best grades. On the first floor he has stoves and other house fur- nishing goods, on the second, carpets, cloaks, suitings and clothing.

While living in Summit Hill Mr. Farr married Elizabeth Dobbs, who was born in Monmouth- shire and died in Scranton. Her father, Richard Dobbs, was a business man and successful con- tractor of Wales. She was the mother of four children, namely: Hon. John R., publisher of the "Courier Progress" of Scranton, a successful

newspaper man and prominent Republican poli- tician, who in the fall of 1896 was elected for his fourth term as representative of the first legisla- tive district of this county in the state legislature; Catherine, wife of Dr. Fenton, of Wilkesbarre; Mary, Mrs. Benjamin Jones, of Scranton; and William, who is in the employ of the Scranton Gas & Water Company. The second marriage of Mr. Farr united him with Mary Ann Griffiths, who was born in Glamorganshire, Wales, and they are the parents of two children, Edward and Gomar.

During the Civil War Mr. Farr enlisted as a private in Company G, Fifty-first Pennsylvania Infantry, and served for one year, taking part in many important engagements up to and includ- ing the siege of Petersburg. Through meritori- ous service he won the commendation of his of- ficers. At the close of the war he was honorably discharged from the service. At one time he was actively connected with several army organiza- tions, but has withdrawn from all but the Union Veteran Soldiers' Association. In politics he has always been a stanch upholder of the principles advocated by the Republican party.

J. L. ATHERTON. The historical record of a county as well as that of a nation is chiefly the chronicle of the lives and deeds of those who have conferred honor and dignity upon society. The world judges the character of a community by that of its representative citizens, and yields its tribute of admiration and respect for the genius, learning or virtues of those whose works and actions constitute the record of a county's prosperity and pride; and it is their character as exemplified by probity and benev- olence, kindly virtues and integrity in the affairs of life, that ever affords worthy examples for emulation and valuable lessons of incentive. Among the representative citizens of Scranton is the gentleman whose name introduces this sketch.

Mr. Atherton was born in 1836, in what is now Wyoming, Luzerne County, Pa., a son of Jona- than A. Atherton, whose sketch is given in con- nection with that of his son, H. F., on another

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page of this work. Our subject was brought to Hyde Park in 1838, and at that place pursued his studies in the little red school house. In 1855 he removed to Susquehanna County, where for two years he carried on the manufacture of car- riages, hiring expert carriage makers, and for the following eight years he made his home in Mont- rose, residing there during the dark days of the Rebellion. He became a member of Company B, Twenty-eighth Regiment Pennsylvania Vol- unteer Militia, and on the second emergency call served from June 16 until July 27, 1863.

The same year Mr. Atherton sold out his busi- ness at Montrose on account of the war, and in November, 1864, came to Scranton to enter the service of the Delaware & Hudson Canal Com-' pany, by which he has since been employed. For some time he served as general coal inspect- or; in 1866 was promoted to be superintendent of the Grassy Island mines at Olyphant, which he opened and operated for two or three years; was then made superintendent in charge of the Olyphant and Grassy Island mines; in 1872 be- came superintendent of the Leggetts Creek mines, which position he held until made super- intendent of the Marvine mines. In 1882 he took charge of the Manville mines under the Del- aware & Hudson and Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Companies, and there remained until 1892, when he was given the position of assistant outside superintendent of the Delaware & Hud- son Canal Company, serving under A. H. Vand- ling, superintendent, until January 1, 1897, when upon the resignation of that gentleman, C. C. Rose was appointed. He is prompt and re- liable in the discharge of every duty, and enjoys the confidence and esteem of the company, as well as the respect of those under him.

On the 22d of February, 1857, in Montrose, Susquehanna County, Mr. Atherton married Miss Clara L. Bullard, a native of that county, and a daughter of Hezekiah Bullard, who was born in West Northampton, Mass., was a soldier in the War of 1812, and became a pioneer settler of Susquehanna County, where he died at the age of eighty years. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Matilda Dean, was also a repre- sentative of a worthy New England family. Mrs.

Atherton died on the 12th of August, 1871, leav- ing one son, Dolph B., who was educated in Wy- oming Seminary, and is now the efficient secre- tary of the board of trade of Scranton. He is very popular and a most promising young man, and the success that he is achieving is due to his own energy and good management. In Scran- ton, Mr. Atherton was again married, the lady of his choice being Mrs. Nellie M. (Frost) Blair, a native of Boston, Mass. Her father, Samuel Frost, was born in Charlestown the same state, and was a carriage manufacturer by occupation, carrying on that business for many years in Springfield, Mass., where his death occurred. He married Miss Dolly Green, a native of Pepperell, Mass. Mrs. Atherton, a most estimable lady, was reared and educated in Boston and Spring- field.

Religiously, Mr. Atherton is a faithful member of the Presbyterian Church; socially is connected with Hiram Lodge No. 261, F. & A. M., of Provi- dence; and politically is a pronounced Repub- lican. He holds membership in the New Eng- land Society. Pleasant and genial in manner, and a pleasing conversationalist, he makes many friends, although he is rather retiring in dis- position. He is very liberal and public-spirited, and of unquestioned integrity and honor, always gaining the confidence and high regard of all with whom he comes in contact either in busi- ness or social life.

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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 95

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