Portrait and biographical record of Wyoming and Lackawanna counties, Pennsylvania : containing portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the counties, Part 98

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 98
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 98

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In 1877 Colonel Coursen was one of the organ- izers of the four companies of the Scranton City Guard, and was elected captain of Company C and commissioned August 14 of that year. When

the Thirteenth Regiment was formed, October 10, 1878, he continued as captain of Company C until October 4, 1883, when he was commis- sioned major of the Thirteenth National Guard. October 4, 1888, he was made lieutenant-colonel, and April 9, 1895, he was elected and commis- sioned colonel of the Thirteenth, which for sev- eral years has had the highest rating at the an- nual encampment of any regiment in the state. It is composed of eight companies, six from Scran- ton, one from Honesdale, and one from Mont- rose. During the riots of 1892 it was encamped at Homestead for three weeks.

R EV. JOHN LOUGHRAN, rector of St. Joseph's Church in Minooka and one of the well known Catholic priests of the county, was born in Dorsey, County Armagh, Ireland, February 18, 1833. In boyhood he at- tended the national schools and St. Patrick's College in the city of Armagh, where he ob- tained a finished classical education. At the age of twenty-four, in February, 1857, he entered St. Charles Seminary, on Eighteenth and Race Streets, Philadelphia, where he was ordained to the priesthood of the Catholic Church, July 3, 1859, by Bishop Newman.

Beginning his ministerial work, Father Lough- ran for nine months had entire charge at Beaver Meadows, Hazleton and Audenried during the absence of Father Scanlon, after which he was given the pastorate at Friendsville, Susquehanna County. During the four years he remained there, he also attended and had charge of serv- ices in Middletown, Warren and Auburn. This district now requires the services of three priests. His work was quite arduous, involving not only the spiritual interests of the people, but also the remodeling and refitting of the church houses. Auburn was twenty-two miles from Friendsville, where he made his home, and considerable travel was therefore necessarily entailed upon him.

About 1864 Father Loughran accepted a pas- torate at Archbald, Lackawanna County, where he remained for eleven years, meanwhile super- intending the erection of the edifice there and raising $45,000 with which to pay for it. Prior

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to the erection of the church he purchased the old parochial residence and lot with his own funds and upon his removal from Archbald pre- sented it to the congregation. While in Arch- bald he also held services regularly at Olyphant. During his residence there he was instrumental in securing for the congregation a cemetery at a cost of about $2,000. In February, 1875, he came to Minooka and has since had charge of the church at this place, which numbers in its membership about four hundred families. He has also had charge of the congregation at Old- forge, where he succeeded in securing the erec- tion of a church at a cost of about $4,000, but unfortunately this building was recently burned. For some years he has had an assistant, who re- lieves him of much of his detail work, thus en- abling him to concentrate his attention upon the highest interests of his people. He is known as Father John among his parishioners, by whom he is greatly beloved for his many noble traits of character, and he is also popular among members of other denominations.

C APT. HIRAM S. TRAVIS, formerly of Moscow, and a resident of Lackawanna County from 1845 until his death, was born in Fishkill, Dutchess County, N. Y., Octo- ber 25, 1808. When he was quite small his par- ents died and afterward he made his home with an uncle upon a farm. Necessity obliged him to work hard for a livelihood at an age when most boys are in school, but the experience was in some respects helpful to him, for it caused him to lay the foundation of probity and industry upon which his character in manhood was built. Patriotism was one of his prominent traits, and he cherished his country and its interests as dear- er than his own welfare. His first military ex- perience was during the Mexican War, when he enlisted in the service and went to the front. He was quite advanced in years when the Civil War began, but fired by the patriotic spirit that age cannot quench, he gave the government his loyal support, and in April, 1861, raised a company of men for three months' service and of them he

became the captain. Afterward he drilled raw recruits and later organized another company.

Settling in Scranton in 1845, Captain Travis worked at the mason and carpenter's trades for a short time there, but in 1846 came to Moscow and purchased the house where he continued to make his home until the time of his death. The people of this village soon came to regard him highly and he held a prominent place in their esteem and in the affairs of the town. The Re- publican party received his allegiance and its principles his support. For some years he held the office of constable, also served as school director, and in various other local positions proved his fidelity as a citizen and his efficiency as an official. Ever interested in Grand Army affairs, he identified himself with the post at Mos- cow, of which he remained an active member as long as he lived. At the time of his death he was connected with the Methodist Church and to it his widow still belongs. At the close of a useful life, filled with kind acts and helpful deeds, he passed quietly away February 1, 1890.

The lady who for forty-five years was the faith- ful helpmate of Captain Travis and who now survives him, was Emily Ann Colckglaser, of Moscow, who was born in Luzerne County, Pa., April II, 1826, and was married July 26, 1845. Her parents, Samuel W. and Anna (Biesecker) Colckglaser, were born in this state June 15, 1799, and July 26, 1805, respectively. The former, who was a mason by trade, came to Moscow about 1845 and made his home here until his death, June 27, 1872. In religious belief he was con- nected with the Methodist Episcopal Church. His widow is still living, and though now ninety- two years of age, retains her faculties and is well preserved.

Eleven children were born to the union of Cap- tain and Mrs. Travis, but five are deceased. Charles Henry, born May 4, 1846, is an engineer on the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western road; Susan Ann was born November 24, 1847, and died May 12, 1849; Sarah was born August I. 1849, and died July 17, 1892; Samuel W., born May 8, 1851, is a fireman on the Delaware, Lack- awanna & Western road and makes his home in Moscow; Mary E. was born July 8, 1853, and

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died November 4, 1887; Harriet E. was born May 25, 1856; Esther E., September 25, 1858; Zadie, April 5, 1861; Nellie, February 22, 1865; Ida, born March 31, 1867, died December 7, 1871; and James was born January 9, 1870, and died August 13, 1870. Though some years have passed since Captain Travis departed this life, his name has not been forgotten, but his memory is still green in the hearts of his companions of days gone by, and the recollection of his honor- able life is a heritage of which his children may well be proud.

H ON. GEORGE FARBER. There is no element which has entered into our com- posite national fabric which has been of more practical strength, value and utility than that furnished by the sturdy, persevering and honorable sons of Germany, and in the progress of our Union this element has played an im- portant part. Intensely practical, and ever hav- ing a clear comprehension of the ethics of life, the German contingent has wielded a powerful influence, and this service can not be held in light estimation by those who appreciate true civ- ilization and true advancement.

The subject of this review comes from stanch German stock, and was born in Allebach, Prus- sia, May 28, 1840, a son of Joseph Farber, also a native of the Rhine Province. The grandfather, Joseph Farber, who operated both a grist and saw mill in Germany, came to America in 1843, and here lived retired until his death, which oc- curred after he had passed the one hundredth milestone on life's journey. Joseph Farber, a carpenter by trade, also left the Fatherland in 1843 with his family, and arrived in New York after a long and tedious voyage of eighty-six days. There he remained until 1845, when he came to Scranton, where his brother-in-law, Louis Engle, was living. Here he worked at his trade for the Lackawanna Iron & Coal Com- pany until his enlistment in 1861 in Company C, One Hundred and Seventh Pennsylvania Infan- try, which belonged to the Army of the Virginia. He faithfully served until honorably discharged on account of physical disability. For a time he

conducted a grocery store in Petersburg (now Scranton), and spent his last days here, where he died at the age of sixty-nine years. He had mar- ried Elizabeth Engle, who was born in Allebach, Prussia, May 28, 1812, and died in 1877. Her parents came to America in 1848 and died in the vicinity of Scranton. Our subject is the oldest of seven children, five boys and two girls, the others being Frederick, with the Lackawanna Iron & Coal Company of Scranton; Louis, with the Pennsylvania Coal Company; Charles, who served through the Civil War as a member of the Seventy-seventh Pennsylvania Infantry, and died in Scranton, May 28, 1892; Jacob, who died in the same place in 1849; Mrs. Sophia C. Stark, now a resident of Dunmore; and Louisa, wife of A. Price of Scranton.

On the 12th of March, 1845, the subject of this sketch arrived in Scranton, where he was reared and educated, first attending the school that stood above the old grist mill and later one in Dun- more, then known as Bucktown. In 1848 he went with his parents to Greenville, but returned to Dunmore on the completion of the Gravity road, and in 185I removed to what is now Peters- burg, the tenth ward of Scranton, where he has since resided. He began business life in the em- ploy of the Pennsylvania Coal Company, with whom he remained for two years, was then driver in the old Diamond mine for many years, and later served in the same capacity with the Swartz & Spencer, now the Rooney Brookville Com- pany, after which he was again with the Pennsyl- vania Coal Company until the outbreak of the Civil War.

Prompted by a spirit of patriotism, Mr. Far- ber enlisted in August, 1861, in Company B, Ninth Pennsylvania Cavalry, and was mustered in at Harrisburg, October 7, 1861. With his command he participated in the following en- gagements: Tompkinsville and Paris, Ky .; Rich- mond; Perryville; Carter's raid in East Tennes- see, Franklin, Thompson Station, Spring Hill, Brentwood, Franklin, Harpeth Creek, Triune, Rover, Middletown and Shelbyville, Tenn .; La Fayette, Ga .; Chickamauga, September 19, 20 and 21, 1863; Newmarket, Ala .; Danbridge, Mos- sy Creek, second engagement at Danbridge, Sev-

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iersville, Fair Garden and Reedyville, Tenn .; Lovejoy Station, Macon, Guswall, Buckhead County, Waynesboro and Savannah, Ga .; John- son Station and Columbia, S. C .; Averysboro, Bentonville, Raleigh and Morrisville, N. C. He was present at the surrender of Johnston's army at Benton House, N. C., April 26, 1865. He vet- eranized January 1, 1864, and after a thirty days' furlough rejoined the army and served until the close of the war, being honorably discharged in July, 1865, after four years of most arduous and faithful service.

Returning to his home in Scranton, Mr. Far- ber was captain of a boat on the Pennsylvania Canal for one season, and then operated in coal on a small scale for about a year. He then en- gaged in mining for Hunt & Davis and the Lack- awanna Iron & Coal Company for some years, and subsequently conducted the Fairview Hotel at No. 1315 Ash Street in the tenth ward for eighteen years, retiring from business in 1889. He is still the owner of a large store building on the corner of Ash and Irving Streets, and has a fine residence and other property in the city, all of which has been accumulated through his own in- dustrious and well directed efforts. He was mar- ried in Scranton to Miss Carolina Gorletz, a na- tive of Germany, and a daughter of Philip Gor- letz, who died in Scranton.

Mr. Farber has ever taken an active part in public affairs, was a commissioner and mem- ber of the select council of the city of Scranton from 1872 until 1878, representing the tenth ward, and in 1879 was first elected register of wills for Lackawanna County, but the supreme court de- cided against him as an illegal election. The fol- lowing year, however, he was again elected to that position for three years, and at the same time was also a member of the select council, but re- signed in December, 1884, to take his seat in the assembly, being elected in 1884 on the Repub- lican ticket by a majority of nine hundred votes. While a member of the legislature he introduced a bill for the appropriation of $25,000 to the Lack- awanna Hospital, and the bill was passed and signed for $15,000. In 1886 he was again the nominee of his party for state representative, but this time was defeated. In 1890 he was elected

a member of the select council, in which he served for four years, and was an important factor in securing many useful and valuable improvements. He is also county tax collector for the tenth ward, and is one of its most public-spirited and pro- gressive citizens. For eighteen years he has been an influential member of the county Republican committee, and at the same time has been a mem- ber of the city committee, of which he has served as chairman. Fraternally he affiliated with Union Lodge, F. & A. M .; the Knights of Pythias so- ciety, of which he is a past officer; and Colonel Monies Post, No. 319, G. A. R., of which he is a charter member, and was also a charter mem- ber of the old post, No. 101. He is a consistent member of the Presbyterian Church of Peters- burg, and as a distinguished citizen, upright, hon- orable man and honored veteran of the late war, he is assuredly worthy of representation in a work of this character. In 1894 he made a trip to Eu- rope and spent three delightful months in visiting his old home, and different parts of Germany, Italy and France. He also attended the Colum- bian Exposition at Chicago, Ill.

C HARLES D. MACKEY, M. D. The philosophy of success in life is an inter- esting study and affords a lesson from which all may profit. In choosing an occupation in life, taste, mental gifts, opportunity and dis- position to labor should be considered, for with- out these important qualifications success is im- possible. Of Dr. Mackey it may be said that na- ture fitted him for the profession he has chosen, and the gifts of nature have been supplemented by careful and painstaking study of the medical science. While his residence in Dalton has been comparatively brief he has already gained a good practice and a name among the professional men of the locality.

The record of the Mackey family will be found in the sketch of the Doctor's brother, N. C. Mackey, M. D., of Waverly. Charles D. was born in New Milford, Susquehanna County, Pa., June 7, 1854, and was reared on the home farm, receiving such educational advantages as the schools of the neighborhood afforded. At the

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age of fourteen he left home and began in the world for himself, being for some years variously occupied, but all the time saving his earnings with a view to further study. For four years he read medicine under his brother's supervision and afterward had the advantage of a course of lectures in the University of New York. In 1882 he graduated from the Baltimore Medical College and immediately opened an office in Lynn, but after two years sold his practice there and removed to Montrose. Ten years later he again sold, and in April, 1895, came to Dalton, where he has erected a number of buildings and engaged actively in practice.

Since casting his first presidential ballot for R. B. Hayes, Dr. Mackey has never failed to sup- port Republican principles and candidates, and at various times he has been elected to office by this party. With his family he is interested in religious enterprises and contributes to their ad- vancement ; he is a member of the Baptist Church. June 7, 1884, he married Miss Mary R. Lyman, and three children have blessed their union, but one is deceased, the others being Helen M. and Hugh S. Mrs. Mackey was born in Susquehanna County, this state, and is a daughter of Elisha B. and Sarah (McCain) Lyman. Her father, a native of the same county as herself, went to Colorado in 1883 and died at Golden at the age of fifty-four. His entire active life had been de- voted to farm work, in which he was successful. Mrs. Lyman was born in New Jersey and died in Susquehanna County when forty-three, having been the mother of eight children, all but one of whom are still living.

W ILLIAM WARD. One of the early residents of Spring Brook Township, who has been associated with its his- tory since the early days of its settlement, when forests were dense, blazed trees served as guide- posts and roads were conspicuous by their ab- sence, is the subject of this sketch. His connec- tion with the township has not been merely that of a farmer anxious to clear and improve a home- stead; it has also been that of a public-spirited citizen who seeks the good of the people. As

an instance of the latter, it may be stated that when he accepted the position of supervisor of the town he found it indebted to the extent of $3,000; at once taking hold of the matter, by diligent effort and an economical administration he succeeded in paying off one-half of the debt. After three years in the position, he refused to serve longer and retired with the grateful appre- ciation of his fellow-townsmen.

The parents of our subject, Frank and Mary (Robinson) Ward, were lifelong residents of Eng- land, where the former died at forty and the latter when seventy years of age. They had five chil- dren, of whom three are living, one being in Australia. William was born in England April IO, 1824, and was reared on a farm. He had little chance for securing an education and, like many boys, did not care to improve the oppor- tunities he did have. The death of his father obliged him, when he was only twelve years of age, to begin to provide for his mother. April 15, 1851, he set sail for America on the brig, "Thomas," of Gould, and arrived in New York May 31, following. He at once proceeded to Philadelphia and after three days there came to Lackawanna County, settling near his present location. His first work was the making of shingles for a barn built near here and afterward he worked at anything he could find to do. Be- ing industrious, handy with tools and a natural mechanic, he was seldom out of work. His earn- ings were economically saved until he had suf- ficient to enable him to purchase his present prop- erty. Clearing the land, he literally hewed out a farm from the wilderness and finally made a home of which he may well be proud. He has worked in nearly all of the sawmills in the town- ship and has helped to clear the larger part of the land.

August 16, 1864, Mr. Ward enlisted in. the Union army as a member of Company A, Fifty- second Pennsylvania Infantry, and for some time was engaged in duty near Ft. Sumter, being honorably discharged at the close of the war. For a time after coming to this country he voted the Democratic ticket, but since the war he has always adhered to Republican principles. Since the organization of the Grange, he has served as

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its treasurer. April 3, 1854, he married Emily Phillips, member of a pioneer family of the Lack- awanna Valley, and her death, February 15, 1892, was a heavy bereavement to the family. Five children were born of their union, of whom these survive: Francis Edward, who is with his father; Mrs. Mary Caroline Steen, of Pittston; and Mrs. Hannah Martin, of Duryea.

T YLMAN C. ROBINSON, the extensive lumber dealer and contractor of Carbon- dale, was born in Greenfield Township, Luzerne (now Lackawanna) County, about nine miles from the present city of Carbondale, the date of his birth being September 7, 1843. His father, Joseph, was born on Long Island, Feb- ruary 12, 1813, the son of a poor man, who suc- ceeded only in making a bare living for his fam- ily. Ambitious to make his way in life, at the age of sixteen he started out on foot, with all of his carthly possessions done up in a small bundle. He made his way into the wilderness of beech woods in Luzerne County, now known as Green- field Township, Lackawanna County, and in 1809 he purchased a tract of land for which he promised to pay about $110 in installments of $5. Though he did not have enough to make even the first payment, he was ambitious and determined to succeed. Working at any honest occupation that offered itself, he managed to make the payments as they fell due.

The first work of the young farmer was to clear the land by cutting down the trees, in order to make room for the putting up of a log house, one-half mile from where his wife is now buried. When the land was cleared, he began to till the soil and little by little placed the property under good cultivation. As time passed by, he became well-to-do, as the result of sacrifices and economy. In his community, too, he attained prominence and was frequently called upon to serve in local offices. In the Baptist Church, of which he was a devoted member, he served as deacon for thir- ty-five years. He is now about eighty-four years of age, and his feeble health prevents him from taking an active part in the work that formerly

engaged his attention. He lives on a portion of the old farm, making his home with a daughter.

November 14, 1833, Joseph Robinson married Electa Carpenter, who was born in Hartford Pa., August 27, 1809, a daughter of Cyril Car- penter and in her girlhood a fine horseback rider. Many times before her father built a mill, she started off on horseback with a bag of corn and made her way through the woods to Wilkes- barre, the nearest milling town, and about forty- five miles by the road she had to travel. Often, when returning home in the night, the wolves, at that time very troublesome, would follow her for miles and she would have to light a torch to drive them away. In these days when every comfort is to be had, it is difficult to compre- hend the hardships which pioneer women met with the utmost bravery. She was a woman of great courage and in the most trying times kept her presence of mind, which carried her through dangers that would have cost a less determined woman her life. She attained an advanced age, dying August 30, 1883, and her body lies in the old Carpenter graveyard, on the site of the log house in which she was reared, close beside the Sickler's pond. Like her father and husband, she was a consistent member of the Baptist Church.

Cyril Carpenter, Mrs. Robinson's father, a pio- neer of Lackawanna County, a man of enterprise and ability and a leader in his community, was born September 14, 1766, and died October 19, 1854. He was an expert in the use of tools and worked at the carpenter's trade as well as farming. He built and operated the first saw and grist mill in this section of the country. His family consisted of four sons and three daughters. Of his sons we note the following: Tylman, a farmer and mill owner, was born June 15, 1798, and died at the age of cighty-two years; Tyler, born July 9, 1797, a farmer by occupation, was a foreman on the Delaware & Hudson Gravity road from Car- bondale to Honesdale when it was first started; Cyril, a carpenter by trade, born February 12, 1806, removed to Ottawa, LaSalle County, Ill., where he died May 4, 1889, and where his family still reside; Daniel, born March 24, 1807, was a natural mechanic and a farmer in Greenfield,

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where his whole life was spent, and died October 10, 1880.

The subject of this sketch was one of a family of seven children, having three brothers and three sisters. Mary A., born October 28, 1835, married William Rankin, a farmer, January I, 1851, and they reside on a portion of the old homestead, her father being with them. Lucinda, born November 14, 1838, married M. R. Mal- lory June 23, 1855, and died October 15, 1864, leaving one child and having lost two. Joseph Tyler, born May 13, 1841, is a teaming and job- bing contractor in Scranton. Julia, born June 19, 1846, was married January 1, 1872, to I. B. Scull. Daniel Cyril, born September 16, 1848, and Charles M., born March 18, 1851, died of the black fever within nine days of each other, in 1864, at the time when that disease scourged the entire country around Sickler's pond.

Growing to manhood upon the home farm, with few school advantages, our subject at the age of seventeen began to learn the carpenter's trade under his uncle, Daniel Carpenter, who was a framer as well as a farmer. After helping to build two barns, he was able to plan and build the third without assistance, which he did with- out making a mistake. When but nineteen years of age he married Lois Britton, of Falls Town- ship, Wyoming County, June 29, 1862, after which he worked at the carpenter's trade for one year, then bought a farm and engaged in till- ing the soil. Later he contracted to furnish large quantities of lumber for the Delaware & Hudson Railroad, in which he was engaged for two years, and then began a contracting busi- ness in Carbondale, building up a large lumber and mill business. He was the possessor of con- siderable wealth, but the depression from 1873 until 1878 left him financially ruined. His prop- erty was sold and he gave up even what the law allowed him to keep, offering also the furniture in his house, but this the creditors would not ac- cept. After his affairs were straightened out and his property sacrificed, he was still in debt $3,000, but he had hosts of friends who encouraged him to make another start. Some of those he was owing offered to furnish material assistance, among them Judge D. K. Morss, a man of large

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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 98

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