USA > Pennsylvania > The Wyoming Valley in 1892 > Part 4
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THE WYOMING VALLEY.
March, 1892, Mr. Edwards, although in his sixty-sixth year, is general head of the Kingston Coal Company and Edwards & Company, the management of which he controls, leaving only the detail for efficient superintendents. The Kingston Coal Company mine somewhere about a million and a half tons of anthracite coal per year, while Edwards & Company conduct one of the largest mercantile businesses in Eastern Pennsylvania. Mr. Edwards visited his old home in Wales some three years ago, and many of his friends were of the opinion that it portended a removal to end a well-spent life at the place of its beginning; if such a thing was ever thought of by Mr. Edwards, he gave no sign, hence we conclude that the home of his adoption has become his best love.
ANDREW T. MCCLINTOCK, EsQ.,
Was born in Northumberland, of this State, February 2, 1810. Educated in the public schools of that place and Kenyon College, Ohio; began his law studies with James Hefburn and completed them under the Hon. George Wood- ward; was admitted to the Luzerne Bar in 1836, and became a partner of the latter; was appointed District Attorney in 1839. As Director of the Wyoming National Bank and President of Hollenback Cemetery Association, Director of Wilkes-Barre Hospital, President of the Wilkes-Barre Law and Library Asso- ciation, member of the Wyoming Historical and Geological Society, Elder in the Presbyterian Church, he has served his generation. In 1870 Princeton College conferred upon him the degree of LL.D. He was the oldest member of the Luzerne Bar in active practice at the time of his death. His clientage includes many of our large corporations. He died January 1, 1892.
W. S. PARSONS
Was born in Lenox, Massachusetts. In early life removed to Bucks county, Pennsylvania. Graduated at Lafayette College in 1844, at Princeton Seminary in 1850. Spent several years in Western New York. In 1856 settled in Wilkes- Barre, where he engaged in teaching till 1872, when health failed him. Was elected Alderman in the spring of that year, and has continued in that office till the present time.
WILLIAM WALLACE LOOMIS
Was born in Lebanon, Connecticut, July 14, 1815. At an early age he came with his parents to Northmoreland, Wyoming county, and to Wilkes-Barre in the autumn of 1827. With the exception of N. Rutter, who came to Wilkes-
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REPRESENTATIVE MEN.
Barre a year or two before, Mr. Loomis is the oldest resident of Wilkes-Barre. He was Burgess from 1855 to 1863, and Mayor from 1877 to 1881. In 1862 he was appointed by President Lincoln Election Commissioner of Pennsylvania, and visited the Union armies and held elections for President. Mr. Loomis has actively been engaged in the harness and saddlery hardware business for forty years, and when his present brick store on West Market street was erected, it was judged one of the finest and towered highest of any business house in the city. Mr. Loomis is so well known and highly respected that further comment would be superfluous.
BENJAMIN GARDNER CARPENTER
Was born at Plains, July 2, 1827. In 1848 he became a partner of Theron Burnet in a store near where the Osterhout building now stands. The firm moved to North Franklin street, and from there to West Market street, and finally to the opposite side of the street, No. 57. Mr. Carpenter bought out Mr. Burnet and took in Mr. Emery. In 1873 they built the building now occupied by the firm. Mr. Carpenter purchased Mr. Emery's interest and took in A. H. Mulford and Frank Densmore. At Mr. Mulford's death, in 1875, Walter S. Carpenter, the eldest son of Mr. Carpenter, was taken in partnership. Mr .. Carpenter was a Trustee of Wyoming Seminary and President of the Wilkes- Barre Water Company. He died November 11, 1889.
F. V. ROCKAFELLOW
Was born at Somerville, New Jersey. He began life as a clerk, and is now the active head of one of the most prosperous and solid banking institutions in this. section. Has served the city as Treasurer ever since it became a city. He learned banking with C. B. Drake and was employed in Bennett's and Phelps's, banking-house.
ROCKAFELLOW BANKING COMPANY.
This Bank was organized and the building built by A. H. Emley. In 1886 Mr. Rockafellow became a partner, and at Mr. Emley's death became the firm. This is the only private banking-house in the city.
WILLIAM ROSS MAFFET
Was born in Wilkes-Barre Pennsylvania, March 29, 1817, and at the time of his death was supposed to have been the oldest native of that city. Mr. Maffet's
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THE WYOMING VALLEY.
father, Samuel, was a prominent citizen of Wilkes-Barre. His mother was a daughter of General William Ross, of the Continental army. Mr. Maffet's life- time is identified with the progress and development of the city, and as a Civil Engineer he was connected with the improvements in this section. He was the originator of the Coalville Street Railway. He was also a successful coal opera- tor. Died January 14, 1890.
CHARLES FARMER INGHAM
Was born of English parents in Dublin, 1810, and came to the valley in 1823. He began life as a clerk; later taught school in the old Wilkes-Barre Academy, on the public square of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania; attended lectures at the University of Pennsylvania; became a Civil Engineer; helped construct the North Branch Canal; surveyed for the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company the famous Switchback at Mauch Chunk, and was employed by most of the large corporations in this part of the State. He assisted in the erection of Fort Sumter. The sewer system of this city was directed by him. The Geological and Historical Societies owe as much of their prosperity to him as any other man. Died January 18, 1890.
EDWARD P. DARLING, EsQ.,
Born in Berks county, November 10, 1831. Educated at the New London Cross Roads Academy, and graduated from Amherst College in 1851; admitted to the Reading Bar in 1853 and to the Luzerne Bar in 1855. Died 1889. Mr. Darling was one of the foremost lawyers in Northeastern Pennsylvania. He was a partner with F. V. Rockafellow in banking, and Vice-President of the Wyoming National Bank, Miners' Savings Bank, and many other important offices.
WILLIAM PENN MINER
Was for many years the leading journalist in Wilkes-Barre and was the founder of the Record of the Times. He retired from active newspaper pursuits in 1876, since which time he has lived in quiet retirement on the ancestral farm at. Miner's Mills, engaged in pastoral and literary pursuits. Mr. Miner is the son of the late Charles Miner, distinguished as a statesman, journalist and historian. Charles Miner was a pioneer in Wyoming, having come here in 1799 from Con- necticut. He was associated here with his brother, Asher, in publishing the Federalist. In 1816 he sold out and went to West Chester, where he founded the Village Record. He served in the Legislature and in Congress. William P.
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REPRESENTATIVE MEN.
Miner was educated for the law, and was admitted to the Luzerne Bar in 1841, he afterwards being elected Prothonotary and Clerk of the Courts on the Whig ticket. In 1853 he founded the Record of the Times, which he successfully con- ducted for more than a score of years. In 1873 he launched the daily edition of the Record and conducted it in person until its sale to a local syndicate, which in 1883 sold to the present proprietors, Messrs. Johnson & Powell. Mr. Miner has been a life-long protectionist and his terse utterances on that subject grace the columns of the Record from time to time. He is also fond of historical research. His son, William B. Miner, conducts a newspaper in Wisconsin.
REV. H. H. WELLES,
Born at Wyalusing, September 15, 1824. Son of Charles F. and Ellen Hollen- back Welles. Graduated at the College of New Jersey at Princeton, class of 1844. Two years' study in Princeton Theological Seminary; licensed to preach by Presbytery of Susquehanna August 29, 1850; began supplying Kingston Presbyterian Church December 1, 1850, and was ordained and installed its pastor June 12, 1851; resigned from the pastorate in April, 1871. Has since acted as stated supply for various churches in the Presbytery of Lackawanna, of which he was the first Stated Clerk. Married, October 12, 1849, Ellen S., daughter of General Samuel G. Ladd, of Hallowell, Maine. Has been Presi- dent of the Alumni Association of Princeton Theological Seminary, and is Trustee of Lincoln University. Resides at Forty Fort.
CHARLES MORGAN
Was born near Philadelphia in 1814, and came to Wilkes-Barre in 1839. In 1843 he entered into business with Elijah Kline, under the name of Kline & Morgan. They ran very successfully one of the numerous large shops of this locality engaged in the manufacture of boots and shoes. This was before machinery was introduced in the business, and all goods were made to the measure of the wearer. After the death of Mr. Kline, the business was con- ducted by Mr. Morgan, he having introduced the first machine-made goods ever brought to Wilkes-Barre. Since then the business has been radically changed, and now the shops so famous in the manufacture of hand-made boots and shoes are no more, but in their places are the modern shoe stores with plate-glass fronts with large stocks of machine and hand-made goods, brought by railroad from the manufacturing centers. Mr. Morgan brought his first ready-made
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THE WYOMING VALLEY.
boots and shoes from New Jersey by team, afterwards by canal, and later by railroad. Mr. Morgan's sons; J. T. and W. P., succeeded him in the year 1876. +
REUBEN JAY FLICK.
Mr. Flick was born at Flicksville, Pennsylvania, July 10, 1816. He came to Wilkes-Barre in 1838, and engaged in mercantile trade. In 1870 he organized the People's Bank and was its active President until 1871, when the increasing cares of his many other interests compelled his resignation. Mr. Flick's ability, energy and integrity brought him success in all his undertakings and made him one of the most eminent and respected citizens of Wilkes-Barre. He was an in- corporator of many of her leading industries and charitable institutions and their prominence and present success are largely due to his personal interest and business ability. At the time of his death, which occurred December 18, 1890, Mr. Flick was a Director of the Wilkes-Barre Lace Company, Vulcan Iron Works, Electric Light Company, Wilkes-Barre Street Car and Iron Bridge Companies, Wyoming Valley Ice Company and others, and was a Trustee of the Home for Friendless, the City Hospital, the Female Institute of Wilkes-Barre, and of Lincoln University of Oxford, Pennsylvania.
JOHN C. PHELPS,
Born in Granby, Connecticut, April 20, 1825. Emigrated with parents to Pennsylvania in 1827. Educated at the public schools of Dundaff, Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, and at Harford Academy. Emigrated to New York at nineteen years of age, where he served as clerk in a wholesale grocery store for four years, afterwards becoming a partner. Having been engaged in the whole- sale grocery and hardware business, as a banker, and connected with several corporations as president, vice-president, secretary and treasurer, with many others as director-notably as Vice-President Lackawanna and Bloomsburg, President Dickson Manufacturing Company and Nanticoke Coal and Iron Com- pany, Steuben Coal Company, Granby Coal Company, Wilkes-Barre Gas Com- pany; Director of the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad Company, Parrish Coal Company, Armora Coal Company, as well as other corporations of this and other States.
REV. DAVID COPELAND, D. D.,
Principal of Wyoming Seminary, Kingston, Pennsylvania, from 1872 to 1882, was born in Braintree, Vermont, December 21, 1832, and was graduated from
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REPRESENTATIVE MEN.
the Wesleyan University in 1855. In the same year he was engaged as Princi- pal of the Monroe Academy, Henrietta, New York, and in 1866 as teacher of natural science and mathematics in Falley Seminary, Fulton, New York. He joined the Genesee Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1858, and was in the same year appointed Principal of the Springfield Academy, now Griffith Institute, New York. In 1865 he was transferred to the Cincinnati Conference, and was appointed President of the Hillsborough Female College, Ohio. In 1872 was appointed Principal of Wyoming Seminary, Kingston. Died, 1882, in Vermont.
REV. REUBEN NELSON, D. D.,
Was born at Andes, New York, December 13, 1818. Studied at Hartwick Seminary. Received the Degree of Master of Arts at Union College, and that of Doctor of Divinity at Dickinson College. Entered the Oneida Annual Con- ference in 1838; later Principal of Otsego Academy at Cooperstown, New York. In 1844 founded the Wyoming Conference Seminary at Kingston, Pennsylvania, and was its Principal for twenty-eight years. In 1872 was elected Book Agent of New York for the Methodist Book Concern. Dr. Nelson was twice elected Presiding Elder, and served as Treasurer of the Missionary Society of the Meth- odist Church. Delegate several times to the General Conference of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church. Died in 1879.
R. D. LACOE
Is a resident of Pittston, and has been engaged in the coal business for many years. He is a scientific man and one of the leading authorities on fossil plants and insects, and has one of the finest and largest collections of fossil plants, &c., in the United States. This collection has been donated by Mr. Lacoe to the Smithsonian Institute.
HON. GEORGE WASHINGTON WOODWARD,
Born March 26, 1809, in Bethany, Pennsylvania. Was educated at Geneva Seminary and Hobart College, Geneva, New York, and at the Wilkes-Barre Academy. Studied law with Hon. Garrick Mallery at Wilkes-Barre. He was admitted to the Bar August 3, 1830. Married Sarah Elizabeth Trott. In 1836 was a delegate to reform the Constitution of the State. In 1841 he was ap- pointed President Judge of the Fourth Judicial District. Was a candidate for the United States Senate in 1844. In 1852 was appointed Judge of the Supreme
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THE WYOMING VALLEY.
Court of Pennsylvania; the same year he was elected for a term of fifteen years. In 1863 was candidate for Governor of Pennsylvania, but was defeated. In 1867 and 1868 he was elected to represent the Twelfth District in the Fortieth and Forty-First Congress. In 1873 he was elected Delegate-at-Large to the last Constitutional Convention on the Democratic ticket. He died at Rome, Italy, May 10, 1876.
HON. LAZARUS D. SHOEMAKER
Was born in Kingston, Pennsylvania, November 5, 1819. His father was Elijah Shoemaker. Educated at the Moravian School, Nazareth Hall, Bethlehem; at- tended Kenyon College, Ohio; graduated from Yale College with honors, 1840. Studied law with General E. W. Sturdevant, and was admitted to the Luzerne Bar in 1842. Elected State Senator in 1866, and Representative in the Twelfth Congressional District in 1870, and served two terms. Director of the Wyoming Insurance Company; President of the Wyoming Valley Manufacturing Com- pany; President of the Board of Trustees of the Franklin Street Methodist Epis- copal Church; Director of the Crystal Spring Water Company, and member of the School Board and Town Council at various times. . Mr. Shoemaker is a representative member of a representative family of our valley.
ABRAM H. REYNOLDS,
Was born in Plymouth, July 14, 1819. He was a son of Benjamin Reynolds. Was married to Miss Elizabeth Hoyt, daughter of Ziba Hoyt, in 1862. Re- ceived his education at the public schools of Plymouth and Dickinson College. He early in life engaged in the mercantile business in Plymouth and Kingston. He became identified with his brother, William C. Reynolds, in the construction of the Lackawanna and Bloomsburg Railroad. He held the office of Secretary and Treasurer of the road until it passed into the hands of the Delaware, Lacka- wanna and Western Railroad; subsequently he was principally engaged in the coal business up to the time of his death, which occurred December 4, 1890. He is survived by his wife, his two sons and one daughter. He was a man of genial and happy disposition, and was honored and respected by all who knew him.
DR. EDWARD R. MAVOR
Was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, July 18, 1823. He graduated from the classical department of the University of Pennsylvania at the age of
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REPRESENTATIVE MEN.
eighteen, and three years later took the degree of Doctor of Medicine in the same institution. Practiced medicine in Philadelphia. He came to Wilkes- Barre, Pennsylvania, in 1856. During the War he raised a company of soldiers and went to the front. He went to Europe in 1882. One of the founders of the Wilkes-Barre Hospital and of the Training School for Nurses. Was one of the leading physicians of the State. He had fine literary taste and was a fluent writer. He died August 17, 1891.
RICHARD SHARP,
An old and influential resident of the Valley. Director of the First National Bank, President of the Alden Coal Company, President of the Wyoming Manu- facturing Company.
HON. HUBBARD B. PAYNE,
Born at Kingston, Pennsylvania, July 28, 1839. Bester Payne, his father, dead; Polly Payne, his mother, living. Prepared for College at Wyoming Seminary, at Kingston. At eighteen years of age entered Wesleyan University, Middle- town, Connecticut. In college four years, taking full classical course, and in 1861 he graduated. In college took an active part in Society work. He was a member of the Philoshetorian, a public society, and of Psi Upsilon, a secret society, being sent by the latter as delegate to the Annual Convention, which met at Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, in August, 1860. He was, upon graduation, chosen a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Society. In August, 1861, he entered the office of Hon. Charles Denison (afterward member of Congress for three terms) as a student of law. Was admitted to the Bar from the same office, August 20, 1863. Has been practicing law ever since. Has always been in politics an active and decided Republican. In 1874 he was elected, and afterwards served two years, State Senator. In 1876 he was can- didate for Congress, and in 1880 was also candidate for Additional Law Judge, but was defeated. Each time he was a candidate he was nominated without opposition, but by acclamation. When defeated it was when his party was also defeated. He was from 1867 to 1880 active as a Free Mason, being District Deputy Grand Master, 1876 to 1880. He belongs to Lodge No. 61, Master Masons' Lodge at Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, and is a Knight Templar in degree. He took an active part in Church work, being elected Superintendent of the Sunday School of the Presbyterian Church at Kingston, September, 1861, and continued such more than twenty-one years. He was, in same Church, Trustee more than fifteen years, and Ruling Elder more than thirteen years.
Jeseph A. Murphy.
Prin S. Ostorne.
Charlas . ....
Charles Par
Andrew Hunlock.
LYTT 1 !. Bernett.
Garric !; M. Harding.
Willic S. NoLoan.
Andrew ". "-Clintonk.
Fobert C. Shogunler.
Stanley Toohard.
M. rler ". Rice.
J. V. Darling.
John Lynch.
Poury W. Palmer.
Allen Dickson:"
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THE WYOMING VALLEY.
At present he is President of Trustees of Osterhout Free Library. He has had four children-one daughter and three boys. His wife, formerly Miss Libbie Lee Smith, and three children are now living. His oldest son, Charles B., was accidentally killed in October, 1876.
HON. CHARLES A. MINER
Was born in Plains township, Pennsylvania, in 1830. Son of Robert Miner; educated in Wilkes-Barre and West Chester. Mr. Miner is widely known in the business and political interests of this section. He served three terms in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives; represented the State as Honorary Commissioner at the World's Exhibition at Vienna, Austria; President of the Street Railway Company, Director of the Wyoming National Bank and People's Bank, member of the City Council, owner of Miner's Mills.
HON. C. D. FOSTER
Was born in Dallas, Pennsylvania, November 25, 1836. Son of Phineas Nash Foster, a prominent Justice of the Peace. After attending Wyoming Seminary for three years and a school in Illinois, he studied law with Lyman Hakes, Esq., and was admitted to the Luzerne Bar in April 23, 1861. Mr. Foster was a member of the Legislature in 1884 and 1885; Delegate of the National Repub- lican Convention at New York in 1888; Delegate to State Convention in 1889 and 1890. Was beaten by General Osborne for nomination to Congress by twenty votes in 1887.
DR. D. J. J. MASON
Was born in Monmouthshire, Wales, in 1855. His musical instruction began when he was quite young, under his father. When he was ten he spent a great deal of his time under Gwilym Gwent. In 1869 he came to this country and went to Ashland, Schuylkill county, where he remained six months, singing in his father's choir at an eisteddfod which was held there during Christmas. Afterward he came with his parents to Parsons, where they made their home. In 1872 he went to Mount Pleasant Seminary, Boyerstown, Berks county, where he studied and afterwards taught vocal and instrumental music. From there he went to Danville and studied under Dr. Joseph Parry, subsequently becoming his assistant, and when Dr. Parry went to Wales to accept the professorship in the University of Music young Mason took his position in Danville, when he
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REPRESENTATIVE MEN.
also became organist of the Grove Street Presbyterian Church. During his stay in Danville he took a prize for a composition at Cincinnati. In 1875, in Scran- ton, he defeated Gwilym Gwent and some of the composers of Wales. This composition was published. In 1876 he came to Wilkes-Barre, and in the early part of 1877 the Mendelssohn Society was organized and he became its leader. The Society produced some of the Oratorios; was in existence until he went to Europe, in: 1882, previous to which he was organist of the Memorial Church and subsequently of the First Presbyterian Church. In Europe he went to the Royal Academy of Music for four years and was a pupil of Duvivies, Holland, Fitten, Wood, Davenport and McFannen, taking music, classics and the sciences. He took his degree of Mus. Bach. in Trinity Callege, Dublin, and returned to this country in July, 1886. Two years later he was granted the Degree of Doctor of Music in Toronto, Canada, on the strength of his compositions. In the fall of 1886 the Oratorio Society was organized, and he was made Director. Under his direction about forty oratoric performances have been given, most of them with full orchestra and excellent soloists. Until recently he was Director of the famous Welsh Baptist Choir of Scranton, two hundred voices. At present he is Director of the Oratorio and Clara Schumann Societies, Director and Organist of the Franklin Street Methodist Episcopal Church choir, and Director of St. Dominic's choir, Parsons. He has composed a great deal of music, much of which is still in manuscript. . Two elaborate choruses of an Oratorio of his were publishad three years ago, and competed for in the one thousand dollar prize at the Armory. The Sacred Cantata "O Be Joyful in God" was pub- lished about a year ago. His quintet, one of the numbers of this work, was in competition in Scranton last year. He is at present working on a Grand Opera, "The Maid of Cefnydva," which is expected to be brought out at the World's Fair Exposition in Chicago. Professor Daniel Protheroe was a pupil of his from the fall of 1888 to September, 1889, during which time he passed his first and second examination of Mus. Bach. and prepared the Cantata for the same. Other pupils of his were Thomas J. Davis, Miss Lizzie Parry James, Professor David Miles and Professor D. W. Herbert.
GEORGE S. BENNETT
Was born in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, August 17, 1842. Graduated from Wesleyan University in 1864. In 1864 went into the banking business with his father, Ziba Bennett, in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. Has been Director of the Wyoming National Bank and Secretary of the Board of Directors, member of the banking firm of Bennett, Phelps & Co., member of Town Council, Manager
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THE WYOMING VALLEY.
of the Wilkes-Barre Bridge Company, Manager of Wilkes-Barre Hospital, Presi- dent of the Young Men's Christian Association, 'Trustee of Wyoming Seminary, Superintendent of the Sunday School of the First Methodist Episcopal Church and a member of that Church, Manager of the Hollenback Cemetery Association, member of the School Board and Secretary of the Luzerne County Bible Society, President of the Lace Works, Treasurer of the Sheldon Axle Company, Trustee of Wesleyan University, Middleton Connecticut, ard of Drew Theological Semi- nary, Madison, New Jersey; President of the Board of Trustees of Wyoming Seminary. After his education was completed, Mr. Bennett traveled in Europe. Married Ellen W. Nelson, daughter of Rev. Reuben Nelson, D. D., of Kingston, Pennsylvania.
HENRY A. FULLER, EsQ.,
Born at Wilkes-Barre, January 15, 1855. Educated in public school of that place; entered Princeton College, 1871; graduated 1874; read law in the office of Hon. H. W. Palmer, and admitted to the Bar of Luzerne county, January, 1877, where he has since been in active practice. Married November, 1879, to Miss Ruth H. Parrish. Was Assistant District Attorney nine years; Trustee of Osterhout Free Library; Director of Anthracite Savings Bank; Superintendent of St. Stephen's Episcopal Sunday School.
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