Portrait and biographical record of Wyoming and Lackawanna counties, Pennsylvania : containing portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the counties, Part 97

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 97
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 97

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In boyhood our subject attended the national schools of Ireland. At the age of twenty-five he went to Lancashire, England, and there learned the trade of a brickmaker. March 31, 1864, he ar- rived in New York City, having made the voyage of nineteen days on the sailing vessel, "Great Western." After remaining in Philadelphia some time, he proceeded to Archbald, Pa., and engaged in mining in the employ of Eaton, Simpson & Jones, being with that firm for thirteen years. In 1877 he came to Scranton as a miner in the em- ploy of Reilly & Johnson. July 3, 1878, he was appointed by the mayor, T. V. Powderly, a mem- ber of the police force of Scranton, and was as- signed to duty in the central part of the city. He served successively under four mayors, T. V. Powderly, Francis A. Beamish, Col. Ezra H. Rip- ple and J. H. Fellows, resigning from the force in 1891. In January of the following year Judge Smith appointed him tipstaff at the court-house, in which capacity he has since served. When he became connected with the police force, there were but fourteen men on it, but the number of officers has since been increased to forty-five, covering the same territory as before.

In January, 1870, Mr. Walsh began the con- struction of the residence which he now occupies at No. 451 Phelps Street. He also built a double house on the corner of Phelps Street and Wash- ington Avenue, and another in Wyoming Ave- nue, his property possessions being quite valua- ble. Politically a Democrat, he has frequently been a delegate to conventions and has served on committees. While in Archbald he was a member of the school board and local superin- tendent of the same, and has also held a collec- tor's position in Scranton. He is a Catholic in

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religious belief and belongs to St. Peter's Ca- thedral.

The marriage of Mr. Walsh, in England, united him with Bridget Trinlin, a native of County Mayo, Ireland, and daughter of Michael Trinlin, a farmer there. She died in 1869, and Mr. Walsh afterward married a second time, in Archbald, his wife being Miss Julia O'Hara, a native of Coun- ty Mayo, and daughter of Richard and Bridget (Carroll) O'Hara, of Raragan. They became the parents of five children, namely: Maria, who died in 1895, at the age of twenty-five; Anthony, Jr., a tinsmith by occupation; Julia and Richard, deceased; and Lizzie, at home. In 1891 our sub- ject went to Europe and enjoyed a two months' trip through England, Wales and Scotland, also visited his old home in Ireland. In 1896 his wife and children visited the old country, spend- ing some time amid the pleasant scenes familiar to Mrs. Walsh in her girlhood.

R EV. BRUNO IWANOWSKI, pastor of St. Mary's Polish Catholic Church in Priceburg, is a native of Rzeszotary, Rus- sian Poland, and a son of Bazeliy and Veronika (Gronczewska) Iwanowski, who were both born in Prussian Poland, but afterward removed to Russian Poland. The father was a real estate dealer in that country, and there departed this life in 1889, at the age of sixty-seven years. His father, Paul Iwanowski, also a native of Prussian Poland, was descended from an old Polish no- ble family, and was an officer under the Prussian government. Our subject is the youngest and only one of a family of nine children that entered the priesthood. Two of his brothers are now resi- dents of Warsaw, Russian Poland.

During his boyhood, Father Iwanowski at- tended the public schools of his native land, and later took a course at Skempe College, where he graduated in 1886. The same year he entered the Seminary Plock, graduating from that institution at the end of four years-two years spent in the study of philosophy and two in theology. In 1890 he came to America, and for one year was a stu- dent in St. Vincent's College, near Pittsburg, after which he was ordained to the priesthood in St. Nicholas German Catholic Church in Wilkes-

barre, on the 7th of June, 1891, by Rt .- Rev. O'Hara, bishop of the Scranton diocese.

For six months, Father Iwanowski then served as assistant to Father Granlewich of St. Stanis- laus Church at Nanticoke, Pa., during which time he held services in Priceburg, first once a month and later twice a month. He organized the con- gregation and on the 4th of January, 1892, be- came the first resident pastor of St. Mary's Church. He finished paying for the little church and in 1892 erected a comfortable parsonage on Carmel Street. In 1893 he was instrumental in building the present house of worship, which is the largest church in Priceburg. An efficient, active and zealous worker for the church, Father Iwanowski has succeeded in building up the congregation until it now numbers three hun- dred families, and conducts a flourishing paroch- ial school in the basement of the church. In con- nection with the church and Sunday-school va- rious benevolent and social organizations have been formed, including the St. Joseph Society, Sons of Poland, St. Michael Archangel, St. Fran- cis Society, Guards of King John Sobieski, Guards of the Holy Cross, Guards of St. Martin, and Society of St. John the Baptist. Father Iwan- owski is held in high esteem not only by the peo- ple of his own congregation, but by the residents of Priceburg generally. His discourses are schol- arly and effective in their appeals to follow the teachings of the Master.

J OHN HALL. The subject of this sketch is a son of the late Jeremiah Hall, for many years one of the most prominent citizens of North Abington Township. Impressed upon the minds of his children and friends is the example of his noble and honorable life, which, fraught as it was with unremitting toil and patient industry, was a model of the sterling qualities that char- acterized a man who lived nearer to nature in its purity than to the artifices of society. All life is but preparatory to the life to come. So of him it may be said that, while his years were many in the land which the Lord gave him, they were only preparatory to eternity. He toiled, he struggled, he acquired, he died, but his life is continued above.

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The first of this family to settle in Lackawan- na County was Jonathan Hall, a native of Con- necticut, who removed to Pennsylvania and set- tled on the site of the present homestead near Glenburn. Working industriously, he accumu- lated considerable property and was well-to-do for those times. At the age of eighty-six he closed his eyes upon the scenes of earth. His wife, who was Eunice Capwell, was born in Rhode Island and died in Lackawanna County at the age of eighty. Of their eight children, two are still liv- ing, both advanced in years.

Jeremiah, son of Jonathan Hall, was born at the home place near Glenburn in 1810 and in boyhood became familiar with the scenes of pio- neer life in this locality. Like most boys of that day, his education was gained by experience rath- er than from text books. In old age he was ac- customed to narrate his adventures and many in- cidents which the youth of to-day, in the enjoy- ment of the advantages for which the early set- tlers laid the foundation in self-denial and hard- ships, could scarcely realize. Reared on the farm, the duties of agriculture soon became an open book to him, and he was quick to grasp the ad- vantages gained by the invention of agricultural implements and other things that lightened the farmer's burdens.

In September, 1835, Jeremiah Hall was united in marriage with Miss Polly, daughter of Charles and Hannah Shippey, who removed to Lacka- wanna County from the vicinity of Glens Falls, N. Y., about 1816, and settled near Peckville. Mr. Shippey, who had served in the War of 1812, en- gaged in the lumbering business and also worked at the carpenter's trade when opportunity offered. He was a dead shot with the rifle and frequently entertained his grandchildren with stories of en- counters with wild beasts while this country was as yet a wilderness. More than once he shot deer in the pond that covered the site of the pub- lic buildings in Scranton. He died in 1872 in his seventy-ninth year, having survived his wife about twenty years. Jeremiah and Polly Hall had eight children, of whom five are living.

The subject of this sketch was born at the fam- ily homestead, August 20, 1849, and grew to manhood here. In company with his brother

Charles, he manages the Hall estate of about one hundred and thirty acres, and of this property the two brothers have since made a valuable farm. While his attention has been given principally to his personal affairs, he has not neglected the pub- lic interests, but maintains a close connection with matters of general importance. Interested in ed- ucational affairs, he served as school director for twelve years, and in that position assisted large- ly in advancing the interests of the schools of this locality.

October 22, 1874, Mr. Hall married Miss Eliz- abeth Whaling and they are the parents of three sons, Samuel W., Charles S. and Lawrence J. Mrs. Hall was born in North Abington Township, now Waverly borough, and was one of five chil- dren, of whom only two are living. Her father, Samuel Whaling, was born in Wayne County, Pa., in November of 1821, and for fifty years has run a blacksmith shop and wagon factory in Wav- erly borough. He married Lydia Rice, who was born in New York and died here. Mrs. Hall's paternal grandparents were Mark and Elvira (Whitmore) Whaling, natives of Connecticut, but for many years residents of Wayne County, Pa. The maternal grandparents were Earl and Betsey Rice, natives of New England, who died in this county.

C HARLES M. GROSVENOR. The value to any community of a citizen is not marked merely by the success that has at- tended his efforts in business undertakings, but also by his character in public and private life, his honorable adherence to all that is good, his per- sonal integrity and the interest he has taken in the welfare of his section. Judged by these stand- ards, Mr. Grosvenor is a valued and valuable citi- zen, for at all times he has been interested in the welfare of his fellowmen and desirous of setting the example of an honest and upright life. A farmer of Scott Township, he owns and operates fifty-seven acres of land, upon which he is en- gaged in general farming and the dairy business.

This farm is the birthplace of Mr. Grosvenor, and April 30, 1852, the date of his birth. His father, Jerome, a son of Joseph Grosvenor, came to Lackawanna County, and after a short sojourn

HEATCHCOTT C. HINMAN.

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in North Abington Township, removed to Scott Township. He was a man of local prominence, interested in public affairs, and served creditably as tax collector and school director. By his mar- riage to Loretta Gritman, he had eight children: Phoebe, Charles . M., Clark, Clara, Emma (de- ceased), Ruth, Lillie (deceased), and Julia. Late in life the father removed to North Abington Township and there he died August 3, 1885, at the age of sixty-two. His wife passed away in 1870.

Educated in the common schools, Mr. Grosve- nor gained a fair knowledge of the common branches of study, and has since extended his knowledge by reading. At the age of twenty-two years he began for himself, purchasing a portion of the old homestead and turning his attention to its cultivation. Agriculture has been his life work and as he is energetic and economical, he has become well-to-do. The principles of the Republican party receive his support both in lo- cal and national elections. He is an advocate of the public school system and has officiated as school director for three years. Fraternally he is connected with the Odd Fellows Lodge at Peck- ville.

The marriage of Mr. Grosvenor took place No- vember 30, 1873, at which time Miss Arabella Cordner, an estimable young lady of this town- ship, became his wife. They are devoted mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church and reg- ular attendants at its various services. Their fam- ily consists of five children: Leslie, Stella, Dora, Maud and Nina.

H EATCHCOTT C. HINMAN. Nearly a quarter of a century has elapsed since this worthy citizen cast in his lot with the inhabitants of the thrifty city of Scranton and during all these years. his name has been a synonym for the most exemplary integrity, straightforwardness of conduct and reliability in every particular. He is one of the men who maintain an interest in the welfare of his fellows to such an extent that he considers his own in- terests as but secondary to the general good. The

financial success which he so richly deserves is now his portion, and his multitude of well-wishers rejoice in his prosperity.

Born in Honesdale, Wayne County, Pa., Feb- ruary 12, 1847, our subject is a son of A. L. and Catherine (Keene) Hinman. His paternal grand- father was a farmer in Connecticut. The father set forth in early manhood to seek his fortune and for some time taught school in Wayne Coun- ty. Afterward he settled permanently on a farm at Aldenville seven miles from Honesdale. The rest of his days were spent in honest, industrious toil and in all his ways he ever sought to do his duty toward God and man. His upright and useful life reached the three-score and ten years allotted to man, when he died as he had lived, strong in the faith of the Christian religion, he having been identified with the Baptist Church many years. His faithful wife survived him, her death occurring at the ripe old age of eighty- two years, in January, 1896, on the old home- stead. She was born in Canaan, Wayne County, being a daughter of Captain Keene whose title was won in the War of 1812. The Keenes were originally from Sweden, and at an early day in our country's history became residents of the United States.

H. C. Hinman was reared to the arduous duties of farm life with his two brothers and sister. He attended the common schools, managing to obtain a good general education. In 1867 he was apprenticed to a sash and blind maker at Pittston and served as such for three years. Then, to more thoroughly learn the trade, he worked for some two years longer at small wages. Thus fully equipped for practical business he came to Scranton in 1872, taking charge of the factory of Joseph Ansley. When nearly thirteen years had elapsed, he remaining in the same respon- sible position, the factory was destroyed by fire. Mr. Hinman then rented a new building, put in machinery and continued manufacturing as be- fore.

In 1887 our subject purchased the interest of Mr. Kaufhold of the firm of Kaufhold & Co., furniture manufacturing establishment, convert- ing it into a sash and blind factory. At the same time he incorporated the business as the Scran-

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ton Woodworking Company, with a capital stock of $20,000 all paid in. He is the president and manager while Charles Henwood is the secretary and treasurer. The plant, located at No. 510- 516 Penn Avenue, is complete in every respect and facilities for all kinds of fine work, veneer- ing, turning, carving and general cabinet-making are here to be found in addition to doors, sashes and blinds. Two boilers of one hundred horse- power each and an engine of one hundred and twenty horse-power are required to run the ma- chinery. The building is three stories and base- ment in height and the depth of the mill is about two hundred feet. From thirty to forty hands are given steady employment and more will be added as business increases.

October 22, 1871, Mr. Hinman and Miss Amelia S. Henry, a native of Susquehanna Coun- ty, were united in marriage in Pittston. Four children have been born to them, Grace and Jud- son living, Charles and Henry both deceased. The pleasant family residence is at No. 424 Tenth Street.

One of the charter members of the Hampton Street Methodist Episcopal Church, Mr. Hin- man has always been greatly concerned in its growth and general success. He has spared him- self no labor to effect this end and from its organ- ization has been president of the board of trus- tees. Ten years he served as superintendent of the Sunday-school and aided materially in building up that important branch of church work. From the organization of the church about fifteen years ago he has served and still continues in that capacity, as chorister. He is a steward and class-leader and was honored by being made local preacher in 1886. In politics he is identified with the Prohibition party and socially he is one of the members of the Patriotic Order Sons of America.

T HOMAS R. YOUNG, mine foreman in the employ of the Pennsylvania Coal Company and a resident of Dunmore, was born here December 5, 1860, and is the son of William and Elizabeth (Bryden) Young, natives

of Scotland. His father, who was born and reared upon a farm in Ayrshire, came to America in 1844 and settled in Carbondale, where he en- gaged in teaming. Afterward he removed to Dunmore and took a position with the Pennsyl- vania Coal Company, but later engaged in min- ing for the same company nearly forty years. He died in 1891, aged seventy-one. In religious belief he was a Presbyterian. His wife, who re- sides on Cherry and Elm Streets, Dunmore, was a daughter of James Bryden, who brought his family to Carbondale from Scotland and was em- ployed there as a mine superintendent until his death. At the time the mine caved in there, in 1846, he was one of the hunting party.

The family of William Young consisted of fourteen children, all but one of whom attained mature years, namely: James, now assistant mine superintendent of the Pennsylvania Coal Com- pany; Maggie, who lives in Carbondale, Ill .; Mary, of Hyde Park; Andrew, who died in Dun- more; Alexander, of Kent, Portage County, Ohio; William, deceased; David, who lives in Cleveland, Ohio; Thomas R .; Robert, fireman on the Erie & Western road and a resident of Dunmore; Kate, Belle, Jennie and Lizzie, who reside in Dunmore. Thomas R. Young was reared in Dunmore and attended the public schools in early boyhood. At the age of eleven he secured work as gate boy in the mines at the Gypsy Grove colliery of the Pennsylvania Coal Company, and after a few years was made driver, later engaged in track laying and wall building. February 1, 1887, he was made mine foreman for the Pennsylvania Coal Company at shaft No. I, and remained there until November, 1896, when he was transferred to his present position, at shaft No. 5. The place is a responsible one and the fact that he is filling it very satisfactorily shows that he is a man of energy, ability and faithfulness.

Politically Mr. Young is a pronounced Repub- lican, never varying from the party principles. He is identified with the Junior Order of Ameri- can Mechanics and the Knights of Pythias and was formerly a member of the I. O. O. F. In Dunmore he married Miss Elizabeth Mock, daughter of John Mock, who was born in Eng-

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land and came to Scranton at the time the Grav- ity road was building. Mrs. Young was born in Scranton and by her marriage had a daughter, Lucretia, who died at eight years.

C OL. HENRY A. COURSEN, who is in command of the Thirteenth Regiment of the Pennsylvania National Guard, is a descendant of one of three brothers who emi- grated to America and settled, one in the south, another in New England and the third on Long Island. By the English ancestors the name was spelled Corson. The Colonel's father, Isaac V., was born in Sussex County, N. J., and for many years was postmaster and a merchant of Fredon. One of his sons is now in charge of the post- office, which has been in the family for seventy- five years. He died in 1855, at the age of sixty- five."

The mother of our subject, Phoebe Hurd, was born in Sparta, N. J., where her father, Daniel Hurd, was a farmer and hotelkeeper, until his death. She departed this life in 1885, aged eighty-five. Of her fourteen children, eleven were living in 1885 and eight still survive. Hamp- ton A. is a wholesale grocer at No. 307 Green- wich Street, New York; Gersham A. is a broker in San Francisco, Cal .; Joseph H. is a retired merchant of Stillwater, N. J .; Dr. W. S. is a phy- sician in Oakridge, Passaic County, N. J .; Hon. William P., who occupies the old homestead, was the only Republican ever sent to the state legis- lature from Sussex County and served in that body for three successive years; Isaac O. also re- sides at the old home.

The subject of this sketch, who is the young- est of the family, was born in Stillwater Town- ship, Sussex County, N. J., in March, 1841, and received his education in the public schools and Blairstown Academy, later taking a commercial course in Newton, N. J. From that place he went to Milford, Pa., but six months later enlisted in the Union service for war. Reference to his army career is made later. He returned to his old home in Newton, the latter part of June, 1863, and Sep- tember 24, 1864, he came to Scranton and se- cured work in the office of the provost marshal,

with whom he remained until January, 1865. On leaving there he began in the dry-goods business, having three partners at different times, but final- ly sold out and bought an interest in a whole- sale and retail crockery store in Lackawanna Avenue, the firm name being Hitchcock & Coursen, until 1876, when the senior member re- tired, and the business was conducted under the name of H. A. Coursen, but in 1881 a re-organi- zation was effected under the title of Coursen, Clemons & Co., Limited. In March, 1895, Colo- nel Coursen sold his interest in the concern and retired from active business.

March 25, 1865, in Scranton, our subject was united in marriage with Miss Lauretta A. Blair, daughter of James Blair. Of their seven chil- dren, the following survive: Mrs. Anna B. Saw- yer, of Boston, Mass .; Harry M., a graduate of Blairstown Academy, now a contractor in Scran- ton, and sergeant of the Thirteenth Regiment, P. N. G .; Charles E., a graduate of Wyoming Semi- nary at Kingston, Pa., and now connected with the chemical laboratory of the Lackawanna Iron & Steel Company; and Walter H., at home. The family have a summer residence at Cottage City, Mass., on Martha's Vineyard. For years Colonel Coursen was a member of the board of trade. He is identified with Lieut. Ezra S. Griffin Post No. 139, G. A. R., and the Society of the Army of the Potomac. In politics he is a Republican, and in religious connection a member of the First Pres- byterian Church.

At the time the war broke out our subject was residing in Milford, Pike County, Pa. He went to Port Jervis, N. Y., and enlisted in a company of light artillery that expected to enter service. Their plans not maturing, he returned to Milford with a gentleman who tried unsuccessfully to raise a company. Later a friend from Branch- ville, N. J., where he had formerly lived, asked him to return there and assist in raising a com- pany. This he did efficiently, though only eigh- teen years of age. He raised about one-half the company when the other man, James H. Wil- liamson, backed out. About this time L. D. Simms came from Newark and represented him- self as having been in the regular army for eight years. He urged our subject to renew his efforts,

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and he did so, securing about seventy volunteers, while Simms had only one and Daniel Burrell eight. While our subject went home to raise more men, Simms went to the governor, stating he had twenty-five men, and asking for a second lieutenant's commission. He was about to get it when the secretary of state, W. S. Johnson, glancing at the paper, saw it was Company I from Newton, his old home. As he did not know the man, he investigated matters and two men from Newton gave away the plan devised by Simms. In addition to this, Williamson wrote the governor, requesting that his brother-in-law be commissioned second lieutenant, but was re- fused.

Finally, with his men, our subject marched to Washington and in that city, October 3, 1861, was commissioned second lieutenant of Com- pany I, Seventh New Jersey Infantry. In the battles of the Army of the Potomac he took part, being at the siege of Yorktown, and at Wil- liamsburg, where he was wounded in the lower left arm; Fair Oaks or Seven Pines; Oak Grove; the seven days' battle before Richmond, when he had command of two companies; Savage Sta- tion, Malvern Hill, Bristow Station, Graveton, second Bull Run, after which he was commis- sioned first lieutenant of Company A, Seventh Regiment, September 5, 1862, in recognition of his bravery in that engagement; Chantilly, Cen- terville, the operations on the Orange & Alex- andria Railroad and Fredericksburg, Va., when he was with Burnside's Second Corps. March 28, 1863, he was made captain of Company E, Twenty-third New Jersey Infantry, and trans- ferred to the First Brigade, First Division, Sixth Corps. Later he was at Chancellorsville, Fred- ericksburg Heights and Salem Church, and was on duty at Harrisburg, during the Gettysburg campaign. Although having been previously mustered out about three-fourths of the regiment volunteered to serve during the emergency. He was mustered out at Beverly, N. J., June 27, 1863, at the expiration of his term of service.

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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 97

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