USA > Pennsylvania > The Wyoming Valley in the nineteenth century > Part 8
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CHARLES A. DURANT was born February 14, 1846, in the province of Ontario, Canada ; attended school there; came to this State in 1864, and was employed on the Central R. R. of N. J .; established his present business on South Main street, Wilkes-Barre, 1883 ; mem- ber of Landmark Lodge, No. 442, F. and A. M.
THOMAS ENGLISH was born in Susquehanna county, Pa., January 3, 1846; educated in that county ; conductor for the Pennsylvania Coal Company on the gravity road, for seven- teen years; in 1888, with J. F. Gorman, established their present business on Main street, tinners, plumbers and steam fitters; served in the late war for thirteen months in a Phila- delphia regiment ; was County Commissioner for six years, from 1884 to 1890, and Chair- man of the Democratic County Committee for two years.
S. EDGAR TROUT was born in Lancaster county in 1855, being the eldest son of Franklin Miller Trout, who was foremost in his line of architecture in connection with the Pennsylvania Railroad. His grandfather, Daniel Trout, being many years a retired Lancaster county farmer and his great-grandfather, Adam Trout, was an officer under Stephen Decatur during the war of this country with Tripoli; his family settling in Mary- land about the middle of the seventeenth century, the original name being spelled Troet, of French Huguenot descent. S. Edgar married Frances S. Wendell, of Philadelphia, in 1877, and has three promising children. and his business is now permanently located in the Coal Exchange, corner store, in the wall paper business, having been identified with that business since a boy as designer, decorator, etc., and has been doing business in this valley for a good many years.
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HENRY GERMAN, the present President of the Sangerbund, the leading German singing society in Wilkes-Barre, was born in Hessen Darmstadt, Germany, on the 3d of Septem- ber, 1857. After he left school he acquired the art of cooking, and arrived in this country in November, 1879, having left Germany in 1876, the time from 1876 to 1879 having been spent in an adventursome life through Spain, Cape Colony, Kaffir Land, South Africa, and the South American Republics. He settled in Wilkes-Barre in 1889, in the capacity of chief cook of the Wyoming Valley Hotel, and has lived here ever since. In 1891 he went into the hotel business and started the "Little Delmonico Hotel," corner Hazle and Main streets, where he is doing a good business and prosperity seems to smile upon him. Mr. German takes a great deal of interest in German singing societies and has been President of the Saengerbund two terms.
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
CHARLES BUELL METZGER was born at Lewisburg, Pa., November 29, 1839; edu- cated at Wilkes-Barre and Wyoming Seminary ; moved to Wilkes-Barre in April, 1848; served in the late war, went with the Wyoming Artillery, A. H. Emly, Colonel; served in the 4th N. Y. Artillery from February 22, 1864, until the close of the war ; served twenty- five years continuously in the fire department of Wilkes-Barre and was chief engineer 1881. On February 1. 1868, established his present large wholesale confectionery business, the only exclusive wholesale confectionery house in Wilkes-Barre. Married Miss Annie F. Flack, of Lewisburg, Pa., January 1, 1867.
FRANK A. FARRELL, M. D., son of James J. Farrell, of Plains, one of the leading physicians and surgeons of Luzerne county, was born in Wilkes-Barre 1865. His early education was complete and at the age of sixteen expressed the desire for drugs, which business he entered, and soon became an efficient manager and conductor of same, becoming a registered pharmacist, according to the Act of Congress, in 1887. Is also a member of the Pennsylvania Pharmaceutical Association. Tiring of the drug business he took up the study of medicine under Dr. H. M. Neale, of Upper Lehigh, and entered the Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia for three years, graduating as a physician and surgeon May 2, 1893. Is also a graduate of the Philadelphia Lying-in Charity, an institution embracing practical obstetrics and the treatment of diseases of females. Having finished his studies in Philadelphia he located in Kingston, Pa., where he has built up a lucrative practice. The Doctor is a close observer and an ardent student.
JOHN LOHMANN was born in Germany in 1843 ; went to school in that country ; came to this country 1864; located in Kingston 1865 and established himself in the barbering business ; 1872 moved to where he now resides; Town Councilman for two terms; was the first postmaster of Edwardsville ; postmaster for four years and three months.
ELMER E. BUCKMAN was born in Taylorsville, Bucks county, Pa., August 11, 1861. He spent his boyhood and early youth on the farm with his father. His education was received in the public schools and the old Capital City Commercial College of Trenton, N. J. After completing his commercial course he entered the employ of a business firm in Trenton, and remained with them four years. In March of 1886 he came to Wilkes-Barre as bookkeeper for the Miners' Savings Bank, and in February, 1888, he was elected teller of the Wyoming National Bank, which position he still holds.
JOHN D. BACHMAN was born January 28, 1854, at Milford, N. J .; educated in the public schools ; came to Wilkes-Barre about twenty-seven years ago ; clerk for C. Morgan's Sons, hardware, twenty-three years ; married, April 5, 1883, to Sarah Hawrecht; P. G. of Centennial Lodge, 927, 1. (). O. F .; Secretary for eight years; P. C. Patriarch of Outtil- lissa Encampment, No. 39; Secretary of Sarah Bennett Rebekah Lodge, No. 2, 1. (). O. F .; Past Regent of Royal Arcanum, No. 396.
SEBASTIAN C. MECKEL was born February 7, 1826, in Cobleny on the Rhine, in the Kingdom of Prussia; received an educational training in Europe, and completed the English branches in America, whither he came in the year 1851; was ordained in the year 1856, and served regular charges as pastor until the war broke out, when he enlisted, in 1864, in Company H, gist New York Veteran Volunteers ; he served as a non-commissioned Chaplain ; his last charge was Plymouth, Pa., where he has served for fourteen years, and is now located at No. 51 Hollenback avenue, Wilkes-Barre.
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THE WYOMING VALLEY.
WILL S. WILCOX was born at Plains, Pa., October 17, 1866. He commenced the study of music at the age of twelve years, his instructor being Mr. M. B. Austin. One year later he entered the Wilkes-Barre Academy, of which Mr. J. C. Mackenzie was principal, taking a scientific course. In 1882 the instructor of music at the Academy, Mr. Derman, awarded Mr. Wilcox first prize for the best paper on "Theory of Music." He continued his studies until June, 1884, after which time he devoted himself solely to the study of piano and harmony, under Mr. Theodore G. Boettger, for two years. In 1884 his first composition was published, a ballad, "Florence," which is popular at the present time. September 1, 1886, he entered the New England Conservatory of Music, Boston, Mass., completing his course in June, 1888, and at once entered the employ of the Hallet & Davis Piano Company, as ware-room tuner, which position he was obliged to resign one year later on account of poor health, and returned to Wilkes-Barre. While in Boston Mr. Wilcox was employed by the new Old South Church as organist of Hope Chapel, and April 23, 1887, played two numbers at a public Conservatory recital, receiving an enthusiastic recall for his rendition of Mozskowski's "Serenata." Conservatory pupils are seldom allowed to play in public during their first year, so Mr. Wilcox was considered highly honored. May 7, 1888, he was married to Miss Clara L. Becker, of Boston, and after returning to Wilkes- Barre, 1889, was engaged as organist and director of music at Sacred Heart Church, Plains, which position he filled until September, 1890, when it became necessary to put himself under treatment for an eye trouble. After a few months rest he devoted himself assiduously to composition, eighteen of his works being now published, the best known of which are "Silvery Moonlight" Reverie, " Patriots' March," and the National Anthem, "Hail ! Ban- ner of the Free." Mr. Wilcox has received flattering offers to locate elsewhere, the most recent of which is from Dickinson Seminary, Williamsport, which institution desired his services as piano teacher, but he prefers his native town, and is at present organist at St. St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, Wilkes-Barre.
REV. HUGH C. MCDERMOTT was born in Dublin, Maryland, September IS, 1852. Educated at Fawn Grove Academy and Stewartstown Classical Institute. Prepared for college but was prevented by circumstances from taking a college course except as a non- resident student. Entered the ministry of the Methodist Episcopal Church April, 1875. 'Has served pastorates in Willett and Apalachin, N. Y., and Auburn, Factoryville, Mon- trose and Honesdale, Pa. Has been Treasurer of the Wyoming Conference for the past five years. Appointed pastor of the Kingston M. E. Church April 6, 1892. Married Miss Estella L. Gillette, daughter of J. B. Gillette, of Sheshequin, Bradford county, Pa., April 2Ist, 1874. Mrs. McDermott is a model home-maker and a most efficient help as a pastor's wife. They have four children-the Misses Ethel L. and Ada A., and Hugh La Monte and Robert Bruce.
JOSEPH C. MEINELL was born in Saylorsburg, Monroe county, Pa., October 10, 1860; educated in the public schools of Luzerne county; moved to the valley when he was six . years of age ; associated with his father in contracting and building and in the mercantile business; in 1889 went in with the Edison General Electric Company, and later with the Wilkes-Barre and West Side Electric Street Railway, for one year on the road and for three years had charge of the station ; when the present company assumed control of the west side lines he became superintendent of that division under the Wilkes-Barre and Wyoming Valley Traction Company.
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
D. J. M. Loop was born at Elmira, N. Y., February 11, 1823. Educated at the old Wilkes-Barre Academy, from which he in September, 1841, entered the sophomore class at Dickinson College, where he graduated in July, 1844. Began studying law at Elmira, N. Y., in the fall of 1845, in the office of Hon. E. P. Brooks; emigrated to Belvidere, Ill., in June, 1847 ; admitted to the Supreme Court of Iilinois in June, 1847 ; located at Fort Win- nebago, now known as Portage City, Wisconsin, in April, 1848; elected District Attorney of Columbia county, Wis., in November, 1848; practiced at Portage City from April, 1848, to August, 1864; admitted to Wisconsin Supreme Court in January, 1849; in August, 1864, located at Columbia, and admitted to Lancaster Bar at that time; located at Hazleton in October, 1866, and admitted to the Luzerne Bar in the fall of 1866; removed to Wilkes- Barre in June, 1868, where he practiced until April, 1870, removing thence to Neosho, Mo .; from thence to Joplin, Mo., in 1874, where he practiced and became Judge of the City Court in 1875 ; practiced in Kansas from 1877 to 1880; removed from Neosho, Mo., to Waverly, N. Y., in July, 1880, and to Nanticoke in June, 1882, where his office is located. Mr. Loop is well known as a member of the Bar wherever he has practiced, and is to-day the oldest lawyer in active practice at the Wilkes-Barre Bar.
GEORGE R. ANDREAS, M. D., was born at Cherryville, Northampton county. Pa. After receiving a common school education at home he was sent for one year to the Key- stone State Normal School, Kutztown, Pa .; he afterwards taught school in his native township; in 1889 he entered the spring course of supplementary lectures in Jefferson Medical College, and matriculated in same college the following fall ; after a three years' course of study he graduated from said college; is located at No. 153 Park avenue, Wilkes- Barre, Pa.
ROBERT S. MEINELL. D. D. S., was born April 27, 1854, in Carbon county, Pa .; edu- . cated in the New Columbus Academy; taught in the public schools of this county eight years ; graduated from the Philadelphia Dental College in February, 1885 ; located at No. 20 South Main street, Wilkes-Barre, where he is at the present time; active in the Central M. E. Church, class leader and teacher of Bible class.
C. FRANK WHITE was born in Wilkes-Barre January 8, 1865; attended the public schools until his sixteenth year ; entered the Leader office 1881, remaining seven years; graduated from the Wilkes-Barre College 1888; established his present business of job printing, on Public Square in 1888.
WESLEY ELWELL LAKE was born at Vincentown, N. J., August 7, 1870; graduated at Pennington Seminary, Pennington, N. J., 1887; 1887-'89 taught public school ; 1893 graduated at Wesleyan University, Middletown, Conn. Teaching Latin and Greek at Wyoming Seminary, Kingston, Pa.
T. F. LAWLESS was born December 4, 1859, in Tobyhanna, Monroe county, Pa .; educa- ted in Philadelphia; moved to Philadelphia in his sixteenth year and clerked; in his eighteenth year went to White Haven and entered the office of Albert Lewis, where he remained for five years, and then went to Bear Creek and had charge of Mr. Lewis' books, remaining there for five years; came to Kingston in 1880 and with three others formed the Kingston Lumber Company: in April, 1893, established his present furniture and under- taking business on Wyoming avenue, Kingston; January 23, 1889, married Mary E. Caffrey, of White Haven, Pa.
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THE WYOMING VALLEY.
WILLIAM EDWARD HOWLAND was born in 1855 at Fairmount, Pa .; educated at the New Columbus Academy; taught school for several years ; clerked for A. F. Levi, of Ply- mouth, for nearly four years, and in 1885 established his present business of books and stationery, No. 51 Main street, Plymouth. Member of No. 1, Plymouth Fire Department.
SAMUEL K. PANNEBECKER was born at New Hanover, Montgomery county, Pa., 1843; learned photography at Baumstown, Berks county, where he conducted a gallery for ten years; moved to Wilkes-Barre in 1874; opened his gallery in Nanticoke in 1881, where he still resides.
W. A. FENSTERMACHER was born at Wapwallopen, Luzerne county, Pa., September 24, 1869; a Republican ; early life on his father's farm ; prepared for college at Bloomsburg State Normal School ; taught several years ; graduated as a prize and honor man at Lafay- ette College 1893 ; principal of the public schools of Kingston 1893-'94; at college was a famous half-back, and still ranks among the foremost foot-ball players; is a candidate for the degree leading up to LL. D.
AMON D. TUCK was born in Wilkes-Barre, February 6, 1866; educated in the public schools and Harry Hillman Academy; son of William Tuck; established in 1885 a livery and boarding stable at 183 North Franklin street, Wilkes-Barre, where he is now located ; member of Centennial Lodge of Odd Fellows, and is Past Grand.
MICHAEL PETZ was born September 25, 1864, in Bavaria; educated in Germany; graduated at the University of Ingolstadt ; came to the United States in ISS1; graduated from the St. Vincent College, Westmoreland county, Pa .; has been in the insurance business for eight years, and at the present time has his office in the Hollenback Building, and is superintendent of the People's, of Washington county ; a member of the Sangerbund.
AUGUSTUS C. LANING was born in Owego, N. Y., in 1808; had an academic education ; came to Wilkes-Barre in his fourteenth year; clerked for his uncle, George M. Hollenback, in the old Hollenback store ; opened a store in Kingston; conducted a foundry on Bowman's Hill, and later a foundry on Public Square ; then he built the large foundry on North Canal street, which he finally sold to the Dickson Manufacturing Company in 1866 ; died in 1875; Mrs. George C. Smith, Mrs. William J. Harvey and John were the children.
REV. THOMAS CYNONFARDD EDWARDS, D. D., pastor of the Welsh Congregational Church, Edwardsdale, Pa., since January 1, 1878, was born at Landore. Swansea, Wales, December 6, 1848; ordained at Mineral Ridge, Ohio, January 1, 1871 ; had charge of the First Welsh Congregational Church, of Wilkes-Barre, from 1872 to 1878. Was Professor of Elocution at Wyoming Seminary for ten years; received his D. D. in IS91 from Marietta College, Ohio. Among his own nationality Dr. Edwards has filled the foremost positions in Wales and America, in the colleges, the eisteddfods and the church. He has published a volume of his poetical works and two volumes on "Elocution and Oratory"-one in Welsh and one in English. His church at Edwardsdale is ranked among the foremost in the State among Congregationalists.
THOMAS SOMERS came to Kingston in 1856, and established himself in the merchant tailoring business, and is the oldest man in that business on the west side; one of the original signers of the borough charter ; introduced the first sewing machine in this section.
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
JOSEPH SWEITZER was born in Wurtemburg, Germany, February 29, 1828; educated in his native city; came to the United States in 1847; was a millwright in his youth ; learned the cabinet-making trade in Wilkes-Barre; located in business in Huntsville, Pa .; came to Plymouth in 1864 and established the business now conducted by his son; died in 1886.
WILLIAM ALBERT JONES was born in South Wales October 15, 1857; came to this country 1869 and located in Kingston, Pa .; educated in the Scranton Business College and Oberlin College, Ohio; entered the employment of the Kingston Coal Company, and has been with that company for twenty years ; is at the present time mine foreman. Mr. Jones is a fine Shakespearean scholar, and gives some attention to the study of oratory; active in church work and in literary societies.
J. C. BRADER was born February 12, 1856, in Beach Haven, Luzerne county, Pa .; educated at Wyoming Seminary ; clerk and telegraph operator ; Assistant Superintendent of the Susquehanna Coal Company for five years; in the real estate, insurance, steamship and foreign exchange business for seven years; President of the Nanticoke Light Company; Director and Secretary of the First National Bank; Treasurer and Trustee of the M. E. Church.
REV. WILLIAM R. NETHERTON was born in Cornwall, England, April 28, 1854; came to America in early boyhood and located at Rushdale (now Jermyn). In 1873-'74 clerked for John Jermyn ; attended Wyoming Seminary 1875; taught school two terms; entered the Wyoming Conference in 1876, and has served the following charges: 1876-77, Lacka- waxen ; 1878-'So, Beach Pond; 1881-'83, Orwell; 1884-'86, Camptown; 1887-'88, Scran- ton, Hampton street; 1889-'93, Forty Fort.
ADOLPH HANSEN was born December 10, 1859, at Schwerin; educated in the gymna- sium of his native place ; sang alto five years in the choir of the Court Chapel, from the age of ten to fifteen; studied instrumental and harmony with Constantine Sternberg; studied vocal with Kucken, the famous composer of songs, and with Karl Hill, singer of the Court Opera at Schwerin. Mr. Hansen became the leader of several singing societies. In 1882 he came to America and after living one year in Philadelphia came to Wilkes-Barre; became the leader of the Concordia Society, and Bellman's Breeter, Swedish singing society ; organ- ist and choirmaster at the Jewish Temple; plays the viola in the Raff String Quartette, and a member of the Grand Opera House Orchestra.
ISAAC ROSENHEIM was born in Russia in 1858; educated in his native city and gradu- ated in New York city in book-keeping; came to this country when he was six years of age : began book-keeping in Henrietta, Texas; came to Kingston in 1884 and purchased the old Payne homestead and built a business block and established his present mercantile business.
GEORGE H. LAZARUS was born at Wilkes-Barre in 1850; his grandfather was John and father Daniel, an old family at Buttonwood and Wilkes-Barre ; went to school in that city; has been in business in Wilkes-Barre and is now in Kingston.
REV. WILLIAM SMITH was born in Durham, England, 1861; studied in England, and in Wyoming Seminary four years ; came to the United States 1886; ordained a Congrega- tional minister 1892, and located at Nanticoke.
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THE WYOMING VALLEY.
GEORGE GALLAND was born in the city of Posen, Germany, December 25, 1854; came to America at an early age and settled at Scranton, Pa., about 1858; was educated at the public school in Scranton ; from 1873 to 1877 resided in New York city, returning in the latter year to Scranton, being in the employ of B. & A. Galland, manufacturers of ladies' under-garments. In December, 1881, the firm of Galland Bros. & Co. was formed, locating in Wilkes-Barre, on Market street, removing to their present location, South Washington street, in 1884. Married Miss Minnie Strauss, of Wilkes-Barre, January 24. 1893.
RILEY L. IMBODEN was born at Annville, Lebanon county, Pa., October 3, 1852; went to school in that place; learned the trade of batcher at Pittston in 1864; drove the 'bus at the Luzerne House and the Wyoming Valley Hotel, and was fireman on the L. V. R. R .; in 1877 went in the livery business in Kingston and Wilkes-Barre with Townend brothers ; Member of Paxinosa Tribe, No. 163, 1. O. R. M, Wilkes-Barre ; admitted to the Great Council of Pennsylvania ; Past Sachem ; also First Lieutenant of Susquehanna Chieftains' League, No. 12, and a member of other societies.
RICHARD DENINS was born july 26, 1850, in Plymouth, Pa ; educated in that place ; went in the employment of the Nottingham Coal Company in 1364 as fireman ; in 1867 was employed at the lower breaker ; 1870 went to the Washington breaker as engineer ; 1873 went with the D., L. & W., where he is still employed ; 1882 went to the Woodward breaker, near Kingston ; moved from Plymouth to Dorranceton 1890; member of the Odd Fellows and of the Plymouth Masonic Lodge.
W. H. TERRY was born in Franklin township, Luzerne county, Pa., in 1847 ; educated in the public schools; from IS84 conductor on the Wilkes-Barre street cars and on the electric cars; 1893 became toll collector at the Wilkes-Barre bridge; member of the Odd Fellows.
ERNEST S. MILLARD was born in 1866 at Willow Springs. Columbia county, Pa .: edu- cated at the Bloomsburg Normal School ; clerked in the general store at Orangeville, Col- umbia county ; with J. C. Brader for six years.
CORNELIUS ROBBINS was born in Hanover January 21, ISIo; went to school in Hanover; followed blacksmithing; went in the army in 1861; mustered out in 1864; member of the Grand Army.
F. M. NEWELL, a member of one of the oldest families in the State, was born near Canton, Pennsylvania. In 1883 established the Waverly Manufacturing Company, which became the Newell Clothing Company, Waverly, New York. In 1890 the Newell Clotli- ing Company of Wilkes-Barre absorbed the two first corporations, with a capital stock of $20,000. T. L. Newell, of Kingston, was its first President, and Lyddon Flick its first Vice- President. The capital stock has been increased to $40,000, with Colonel G. Murray Reynolds as President.
DR. A. P. O'MALLEY was born in Ireland, August 22, 1853. Son of James O'Malley. of New Haven, Connecticut. Was educated at Seton Hall College, New Jersey, and graduated in medicine at the University Medical College of New York, March, 1875. He is second to none in the county among his brethren in the medical profession. He has been in this county since 1875, and is one of the most successful in his line. He is a member of the Luzerne County Medical Society, and resides at Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
DR. JOHN BARCLAY CRAWFORD was born in the town of Crawford, Orange county, New York, in 1827. His ancestors were among the pioneers of that region. His great- grandfather, James Crawford, was an officer in the Continental forces in the English and French War, and was with General Wolfe at the capture of Quebec. His grandfather, John Crawford, was a soldier in the War of the Revolution and served through the entire period of the War. His father, John Barclay Crawford, was a soldier in the War of 1812. The subject of this sketch passed the early years of his life in the usual uneventful way of a farmer's boy. When about eight years of age, his father removed to Moreland, Tioga (now Schuyler) county, New York, a short distance from the present town of Watkins. For several years he attended the common school of the district in which he resided. He subsequently was placed under the care of a private tutor, and afterward entered the Academy at Havana, where he remained until he began the study of medicine. He studied medicine with Dr. Wilcox, of Elmira, and at the Medical Department of Columbia College, New York, and began the practice of medicine in 1850. In 1852 he married Sarah Ham- mond, of Big Flats, New York, a descendant of one of the early settlers of Wyoming Valley. He resided at Wyoming until 1870, when he removed to Wilkes-Barre. Dr. Crawford entered the army in 1861. He was Medical Director at Camp Curtin ; was Sur- geon in charge of the Military Department of St. Joseph's Hospital in Philadelphia, and was subsequently appointed Surgeon of the Fifty-Second or Old Luzerne Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers, then commanded by ex-Governor Henry M. Hoyt. He served in the field through the Chickahominy campaign and the siege of Charleston. In 1864 he resigned on account of sickness contracted in the military service. Dr. Crawford was one of the original members of the Luzerne County Medical Society. He is one of the oldest members of the Medical Society of the State of Pennsylvania and of the American Medical Association. He served as one of the attending physicians of the Wilkes-Barre City Hos- pital from the time of its organization until 1890, when he resigned. He was then elected Consulting Physician of the Hospital, and still retains that position. In 1872 he was appointed Coroner of Luzerne county by Governor Geary. He has occupied the office of President of the Board of Examining Surgeons for Pensions of the Twelfth Congressional District of Pennsylvania.
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