Portrait and biographical record of Wyoming and Lackawanna counties, Pennsylvania : containing portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the counties, Part 99

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 99
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 99

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

means and one of his warmest personal friends.

Purchasing on time payments his old plant, Mr. Robinson again started out in business. Since then he has been very successful and has accumulated a large amount of property, employ- ing many men and building up, on the ruins of 1878, an important industry. In after years he was able to return the kindness of his benefactor, Judge Morss, by watching over him and looking after his interests during the long illness that preceded his death; upon his demise he settled up the estate and on Christmas, 1894, was sur- prised by receiving a letter with a check for $500 from the widow.

Of late years Mr. Robinson's time has not been entirely given to his business, for he has taken an active part in municipal affairs, and every good enterprise has had his support. He did much toward raising the money with which to start the silk mill in Carbondale and was largely responsible for the paving of Belmont Street, working for the improvement of the town. Through his business career he has erected three hundred and fifty buildings in the place, among them the new Methodist Church, in which he is an active member and worker, also Odd Fellows' hall, St. Rose convent and the new D. & H. passenger depot. His plant and home are sit- uated on Robinson Avenue, named in his honor. He is connected with the board of trade. A tem- perance worker and identified with the Prohibi- tion party, a few years ago he was nomi- nated on that ticket for mayor and lacked only a few votes of being elected; in fact, if he had made a vigorous campaign or an effort to secure the office, he might easily have won success. He was nominated for councilman on the temper- ance ticket. He hesitated to let his name be put on any ticket when he was first approached. After giving him some days to consider the mat- ter, he allowed the Prohibition party to put him on their ticket for common-councilman. . To his surprise he was elected by a large majority with- out any special effort on his part. He has the sat- isfaction of knowing that he never asked a man to vote for him, but merely says that if he is elected he will accept the honor of the office and do the best in his power for the interests of the

815

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

city. For thirty years he has been asso- ciated with the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows. His family consists of his wife and three daughters, the latter being named as follows: Mary, wife of Charles F. Baker, who is a mem- ber of the firm of C. D. Winters & Co., of Jermyn; Minnie, wife of William Rowe Moon, a mer- chant of Belmont Street, Carbondale; and Lil- lian, who is with her parents.

T HOMAS WALTERS came to Madison Township about 1858 and for ten years afterward was employed in a sawmill, after which he turned his attention to the car- penter's trade. As the years passed he saved his earnings economically and these he invested in the purchase of a farm of nine acres. Not many years afterward he bought an adjoining place of thirty-six acres, and to the cultivation of his property his attention is principally given, though he still continues work at carpentering to some extent. He is numbered among the influential farmers of the township and is highly regarded by his neighbors and associates.

Born in St. Clair, Schuylkill County, Pa., Oc- tober 2, 1835, the subject of this sketch is a son of Philip and Mary (Jones) Walters, natives of Wales. His parents came to America about 1833 and settled in Schuylkill County, where the father worked in coal mines for a number of years. Turning his attention to agriculture, he operated a farm in Bradford County, Pa., for a time. Re- moving thence to Carbon County, this state, he returned to his former work as a miner, but sub- sequently went back to his Bradford County farm and there died at fifty-two years of age. His widow, who is now ninety-three years of age, makes her home with a daughter in Washington.

Until the age of twenty years our subject re- mained at home with his parents. He then be- gan mining in Janesville and Plymouth, Pa., but spent only a few years in this occupation. About 1858 he came to Madison Township, Lackawan- na County, and here was employed in a sawmill for ten years, then purchased his present farm. April 23, 1857, he married Miss Jemima Daven- port, of Plymouth, Pa., and they have two chil-

dren: William T., born January 18, 1858, now a farmer of this township; and John L., born March 5, 1861, a merchant at Madisonville, this township.

Believing that no question before the country today is more vital than the extinction of the liquor traffic, Mr. Walters gives his support to Prohibition principles and is an active worker in the temperance cause. He is interested in edu- cational matters and for ten years has rendered acceptable service as school director. Fratern- ally he is connected with the Patriotic Order Sons of America. In the Christian Church, of which he is a faithful member, he held the posi- tion of deacon about thirty years and was then made an elder and as such has since served. As a citizen he is interested in every measure for the advancement of the township; as a friend, he is helpful and accommodating; and as a man, he is generous to the needy, sympathetic with those who suffer and kind in his intercourse with all.

C HRISTOPHER F. WARD. There is no class of business men who more surely rear up visible monuments to their in- dustry and their enterprise than the contractors and builders of the sightly structures that have become landmarks both locally and in a historical sense. Among those who for years have devoted their attention to this line of work is C. F. Ward of Taylor. In addition to and in connection with this industry, since 1884 he has engaged in the lumber business, having his yards in Taylor. During the late war he was a member of the con- struction corps and assisted in keeping in repair the railroads between Chattanooga and Cleve- land and between Chattanooga and Atlanta.

In what is now the village of Taylor the sub- ject of this sketch was born August 22, 1835, a son of Daniel and Rebecca (Phelps) Ward. At the age of nine years he removed to Scranton with his parents and obtained his education prin- cipally in the schools of that city. At the age of thirteen years he began to learn the carpenter's trade and at it he continued until he was twenty- three, when he commenced his present work as a contractor and builder. About 1876 he came

816

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

to Taylor and here has since made his home and engaged in his chosen occupation. He is accu- rate in design, honest in every transaction, and faithful in the execution of his contracts, and these qualities being recognized bring him much of the work in his special line in this locality.

While he is not a member of any denomina- tion, Mr. Ward is in sympathy with the work accomplished by the churches and contributes to religious enterprises. In 1861 he was united in marriage with Miss Phoebe, daughter of Joseph Atherton; they became the parents of two chil- dren: H. A., deceased; and Blanche, wife of John Atherton, of Taylor. Despite the fact that he began for himself a poor boy, with only a meager education, Mr. Ward has become well- to-do, which fact proves that he is a man of good judgment and business ability.

W ILLIAM M. SILKMAN has been a resident of Scranton for many years and formerly engaged in the hardware business here, but is now living practically re- tired. The family of which he is a member was first represented in this country by two brothers from Germany, who located in Westchester Coun- ty, N. Y. One of these, John, had a son, Daniel, and the latter in turn had a son, John, a native of Westchester County and a farmer by occupation. William, a son of John and father of our subject, was born in Katonah, Westchester County, April 14, 1807, engaged in business in New York City as a furrier for a time, then returned to Katonah, and in 1838 settled in Providence Township, near Hyde Park, now in the city of Scranton, purchas- ing a farm in the limits of what is now Dunmore. Upon the place there were two giant pine trees, which furnished the lumber for the house. Sub- sequently he moved near Carbondale, where Jer- myn now stands, afterward going from there to Providence, where he bought a place of his cous- in, Aaron Silkman. There he resided until his death, August 23, 1874.

In the buying and sale of coal lands and real estate, William Silkman did an important busi- ness, and for some years he was agent for the Pennsylvania Coal Company and the Delaware

& Hudson Canal Company. Selling his Dun- more farm to this company, he purchased a place where Jermyn now stands, but afterward sold it and moved to Providence, Scranton, where he had an office across the street from his residence, at No. 2006 North Main Avenue. For years he was president of the borough council and its meetings were frequently held in his office. The old borough charter is still in the possession of the family, and is kept by his daughter, among other borough papers. It was one of his chief ambitions to secure the separation of Lackawanna County from Luzerne, and to this end he spared neither time nor money, for years spending his winters in Harrisburg working in the interests of the new county and fighting the Luzerne forces. However, he never lived to see the reali- zation of his hopes, but died a few years before the erection of the new county. Politically he was a Republican, and in religious belief a Meth- odist, serving for years as trustee of the Provi- dence Methodist Episcopal Church.

In Westchester County, N. Y., William Silk- man married Miss Mary Bailey, who was born in Somersville, N. Y. She was of French descent, and died in Scranton in 1891, aged eighty-two. Like him, she was a faithful member of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church. Her father, Jacob Bai- ley, was born in Somersville, a son of Thomas Bailey, who married the widow of Samuel Jones, a British officer. Our subject was third among eight children, of whom the others were named as follows: John B., who was general manager of the freight department of the Erie Railroad at Long Docks, N. J., and died in New York in 1875; Henry O., who resides at Lake Henry, Wayne County, Pa .; Francis B., of Scranton; Mary, who died at twelve years; Carrie and Au- gusta, who reside at the old homestead, and Theo- dore, who was engaged in business in New York city and died at the homestead at Providence Oc- tober 30, 1896.

From Westchester County, N. Y., where he was born in October, 1834, William M. Silk- man was brought by his parents to Scranton at so early an age that his first recollections are of sights and scenes here. In 1854 he graduated from Wyoming Seminary, after which he assisted

THOMAS BROWN.

819

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

his father for two years, and then took a position with the Pennsylvanina Coal Company, being first in charge of their weighing department and later paymaster at Hawley. In 1863 he returned to Scranton and became a member of the hardware firm of Connell & Silkman, in Penn Avenue, near Lackawanna. This business, in which he success- fully engaged, he sold out in 1875, and afterward bought the livery business of Daniel Roberts, corner of Spruce Street and Wyoming Avenue, the present location of the Dime Bank. In 1884 he sold out and has since given his attention to his personal interests. He is vice-president of the Scranton Savings Bank & Trust Company. He owns the building corner of Spruce Street and Penn Avenue, which he built, contracting to complete it in one hundred and twenty days, and carrying out his agreement to the letter; for ten years it was occupied by the postoffice. Political- ly he is a Republican.

In Kingston, N. Y., Mr. Silkman married Miss Frances E. Eltinge, who was born there, the daughter of Richard Eltinge, M. D., a native of Newpaltz, Ulster County, N. Y., and a successful medical practitioner; both her father and her mother, who bore the maiden name of Eliza Has- brouck, were of Holland-Dutch descent. Mr. and Mrs. Silkman, are the parents of a daughter, Helen M., the wife of L. G. LaBar, a broker of this city.

T HOMAS BROWN, deceased. In giving a record of the life of our subject we are enabled to show to the young men of this country what may be accomplished by strict at- tention to business and a steadfast determination to succeed even without the assistance of finan- cial backing. Mr. Brown was born in County Westmeath, Ireland, in 1850, and there his father still resides on a farm. His mother, who before her marriage was Jane Burke, died in 1895, a month after hearing of her son's death. Of the six children our subject was the third in order of birth, the others being John, who resides on the old homestead, and four sisters who are mar- ried.

Thomas Brown was reared on a farm and edu-

cated in the national schools in Ireland. When about twenty years of age he removed to this. country and settled in Connecticut, where he re- mained a few years, then came to Scranton, and though an entire stranger here, having no rela- tives or friends, soon obtained employment with the Pennsylvania Coal Company and became a practical miner. After having learned the busi- ness thoroughly, he saw the advantages to be ob- tained by operating a mine, so he determined to begin for himself. He formed a partnership with some other parties and they sunk a shaft. The work was slow, hard and tedious, but as they all worked together and had a common interest in the success of the undertaking, they eventually succeeded in reaching the Clark drift and then built a small breaker. This answered their pur- pose for some time, but the business increasing they were obliged to build a new one, which was completed in 1892, and is still in successful ope- ration. In the same year he made a four months' trip back to his old home, visiting his father and taking a tour through Ireland.

When looking after the operation of the mine, in October, 1895, by the falling in of the roof Mr. Brown was killed, thus being cut off from the enjoyment of his well earned competency while yet in the prime of his life, as he was but forty-five years of age. In January, 1881, in Dun- more, he married Miss Margaret Curry, who was a native of Ulster County, N. Y. Her fath- er, James Curry, was an early settler there, having come from Ireland when a young man. In 1871 he came to Dunmore and secured work with the Pennsylvania Coal Company, continu- ing in their employment until his death, in 1885. He married Catherine Brennen, and of their eight children only three daughters are living, the eld- est of whom became the wife of Mr. Brown. Dur- ing his entire life Mr. Brown was a firm adherent to the principles of the Democratic party, and in religious belief held membership with the Roman Catholic Church, giving his support to the church of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel. He was one of the original parties who succeeded in starting the Dunmore Electric Light, Heat & Power Com- pany, of which Mrs. Brown is a stockholder and director. To Mr. and Mrs. Brown were born four

820

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

children: John, Kate, Nellie and Agnes. Mr. Brown built a comfortable home on the corner of Center and Wood Streets, where his widow still resides. Since her husband's death she has con- tinued the coal operations undertaken by him, and as her representative at the mine employs Thom- as Mullen, her sister's husband, as superintend- ent to look after her interests.

H ON. LOUIS ARTHUR WATRES. Whatever may be said of the legal fra- ternity, it cannot be denied that members of the bar have been more important actors in public affairs than any other class of the com- munity. This is but the natural result of causes which are manifest and require no explanation. The ability and training which qualify one to practice law, also qualify him in many respects for duties which lie outside the strict path of his profession and which touch the general interests of society. Holding precedence among the mem- bers of the bar of Lackawanna County is Mr. Watres of Scranton, who is also one of the lead- ing business men of the city, and has been prom- inently identified with state politics.

His father, Lewis S. Watres, was born in Phoenixville, Pa., in 1808, and when twenty-seven years of age came to Lackawanna Valley, locat- ing at what is now Winton, where he purchased four hundred acres of land, and began developing his timber interests. In 1837 he erected the first church in the valley, at Pecktown-a Presbyterian Church-and he bore the entire expense, with the exception of $12 contributed by others. To him also belongs the credit of opening up one of the first coal mines in the valley below Car- bondale. At the outbreak of the Rebellion he recruited a company, which was mustered in at Harrisburg and assigned to the Fifty-second Pennsylvania Infantry, but on account of asthma he was prevented from going to the front. Later he formed another company which became a part of the Fifty-sixth Regiment. He served as jus- tice of the peace in Blakely Township, and the following year after his removal to Scranton in 1865 was elected alderman of the ninth ward, which office he creditably filled up to the time

of his death in 1882. No man, perhaps, ever lived in the valley who had more friends and few- er enemies than Alderman Watres. In every re- lation of life he was tender, sympathetic and loyal, and he possessed a strength of character which served him well and made him conspicuous among his fellows. His wife, a talented poetess, under the pen name of "Stella of the Lackawan- na," wrote many popular poems, some of which, since her decease, have been published in book form. In the family are four children: Mrs. John L. Hull; Charles; Louis Arthur; and Car- rie, who became the wife of Judge Edward C. Lovell of Elgin, Ill., and died in the winter of 1896.

Our subject was born at what is now Winton, Lackawanna County, April 21, 1851, and is a descendant of the renowned James Otis of Mas- sachusetts. At an early age Mr. Watres was obliged to leave school and seek employment, and for several years was employed at various occupations. He finally became connected with the Scranton Savings Bank & Trust Company, serving as clerk, teller and later as cashier. Re- solved to enter the legal profession, he began the study of law, was admitted to the Lackawanna bar in 1878, and has since been actively engaged in practice, retaining a clientele of so representative a character as to alone stand as evidence of his professional ability and personal popularity. For twenty-four years he has now been an officer and director in the bank which he first entered as clerk, and is now serving as president of the com- pany, as well as the Spring Brook Water Supply Company, the Mansfield Water Company, Brook- side Coal Company, and the Scranton & Pittston Traction Company. In addition he is a stock- holder and director in numerous other enter- prises in Scranton and the Lackawanna Valley, and was president of the Scranton Passenger Railway Company, which he assisted in organiz- ing.

Public affairs have also claimed the attention of Mr. Watres, and from 1882 until 1890 he was a prominent member of the state senate. He was lieutenant-governor from 1891 to 1895, being elected to the latter position by a majority of 22,365, while the Democratic governor, Patti-

821

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

so11, at the same time was elected by a majority of 17,000. He was ex-officio president of the Pennsylvania senate and ex-officio president of the board of pardons, and by act of the general assembly was made a commissioner from Penn- sylvania to the World's Columbian Exposition and subsequently elected vice-president of the board. In August, 1891, he was elected chairman of the Republican state committee. In religion he entertains strong but liberal views, and is a consistent member of the Presbyterian Church. He was married in 1874 to Miss Effie Hawley, by whom he has three sons living: Harold, Laurence and Reyburn.

W ILLIAM R. CASTNER, who is efficiently serving the Delaware, Lack- awanna & Western Railroad Company as assistant yardmaster at Scranton, was born at Changewater, Hunterdon County, N. J., Septem- ber 25, 1866, and is a member of a patriotic fami- ly long resident in that locality. His paternal great-grandfather was a soldier in the Revolution, and his grandmother, when a girl, assisted her mother and sister in caring for sick and wounded patriots. The grandfather, Adam Castner, was a farmer by occupation and died in New Jersey at the age of seventy.

The father of our subject, John P. Castner, was born in Hunterdon County and until twenty years of age remained on the home farm, but at that time became connected with the Delaware, Lack- awanna & Western Railroad as brakeman, later was made fireman and then engineer on the main line. About 1883 he was transferred to Elmira on the Buffalo division, where he has since remained. During his thirty years of connection with railroading he has been fortunate in escaping ac- cidents and in every instance has proved himself capable, efficient and faithful. He is of remote German descent and his wife of Scotch extrac- tion. The latter bore the maiden name of Anna Reed, and was born in Hunterdon County, the daughter of William Reed, who was engaged in the meat business at Califon. Their children are named as follows: William Richard; Jennie, who is married and lives in Waverly, Pa .; Mrs. Min-

nie Rounds, of Elmira, N. Y .; Grace and Keziah, who died at the same time in childhood; George, who died one year before his sisters; Laura, Grace, Fannie, Hattie and John, who are with their parents.

When in 1873 his parents came to Scranton, our subject accompanied them to this city and here attended the public schools. At the age of eleven he was put to work in the boiler shop of the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western, where he remained two years. He then became fireman on a "bobtail" engine in the mine runs. When fifteen he began as a brakeman on the main line and continued in that capacity for five years, after which he was promoted to be conductor. In Feb- ruary, 1887, he accepted the position of assistant yardmaster, which he has since held. At times he has had some narrow escapes, but has fortun- ately never been injured. He is very energetic and industrious, intolerant of shiftlessness and laziness, and personally possesses a stalwart phy- sique and a rugged constitution, fitted to do and endure.

In this city Mr. Castner married Miss May Shiffer, who was born and grew to womanhood in Scranton. They and their daughter, Lulu M., reside at No. 541 North Lincoln Avenue. In the Knights of Pythias Mr. Castner is past chancellor, and he is also connected with the Knights of Malta and the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen. His political opinions bring him into affiliation with the Republican party and this ticket he votes at all elections. He and his wife are members of Simpson Methodist Episcopal Church of Hyde Park.

J OHN J. WALSH, M. D., of Scranton, de- serves credit for the position he has won. Though yet only young in years, he has a large and increasing patronage and has met with success in his professional career. As a physician, he is patient, constant and sympa- thetic, yet, in the hour of extremity, cool, calm and courageous, thus inspiring the sick and dis- tressed with feelings of confidence. Amid all his toil he still finds time for the study of his pro- fession, keeping himself abreast with all the prac-

822

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

tical details and important discoveries in the healing art. Such a mind as his, stored with the fruits of close study and experience, and the genial temperament which it is his fortune to possess, can yield only the results which legiti- mately flow from such qualities.

The Walsh family originated in Ireland, from which country the Doctor's father, Patrick, a na- tive of County Mayo, emigrated to America, set- tling in Scranton in 1846. For fourteen years he was employed by the Lackawanna Iron & Coal Company, after which, removing to Way- mart, he bought a farm and has since made it his home. In November, 1896, he attained the age of seventy-seven, at which time he was still robust and hearty. In agricultural work he has been prospered and his farm, which he has in- creased from an acreage of fifty to more than two hundred, is one of the best in his locality. His wife, in maidenhood Bridget Loftus, came from County Mayo to Pennsylvania at seventeen years of age, and is still living. Of their seven sons and four daughters, five sons and three daughters are living, the Doctor being the fifth in order of birth.

From Scranton, where he was born May 30, 1861, John J. Walsh was taken by his parents to Waymart, Wayne County, when only one month old. In boyhood he varied farm labor with study, and at the age of seventeen, having resolved to become a physician, he entered the Honesdale Academy, where he remained for a time. Later, for two years, he studied at the Waymart Normal School. His medical studies were commenced under Dr. Niles, then of Way- mart, later of Carbondale, and after eighteen months with that gentleman, he entered the Jef- ferson Medical College of Philadelphia. From that institution, recognized as one of the best in the United States, he graduated in the spring of 1886, and at once opened an office in the bor- ough of Olyphant, where he remained five years. His success was such as to warrant him in seek- ing a larger field for his growing practice. In 1891 he returned to Scranton, the place of his birth, and settled on the south side, where he has his office and residence at No. 1117 Pitts- ton Avenue. He was married in Scranton, Jan-

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Portrait and biographical record of Wyoming and Lackawanna counties, Pennsylvania : containing portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the counties, Part 99

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