USA > Pennsylvania > Lackawanna County > The Wyoming Valley, upper waters of the Susquehanna, and the Lackawanna coal-region : including views of the natural scenery of northern Pennsylvania : from the Indian occupancy to the year 1875 > Part 33
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Susquehanna > The Wyoming Valley, upper waters of the Susquehanna, and the Lackawanna coal-region : including views of the natural scenery of northern Pennsylvania : from the Indian occupancy to the year 1875 > Part 33
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
latter a profile of himself, both of which were flatteringly received. His grand master-piece thus far is the bust of the late Hon. John N. Conyngham, President Judge for so many years of Luzerne County. This subject has won for him an enviable reputation by every competent critic who has visited Wilkes-Barre since its ex- hibition to the public. Its main feature of recommendation is the soul in the cold marble ; the visible animation and strong vital expression. In this characteristic Starkey excels, for while studying in Europe he could easily discern that ยท the above qualification was well understood by the antique masters, while the moderns sacrifice it to a fancied ideal beauty. He is an apt scholar of character, and with this auxiliary to his pro- fession he produces fine results. At present he is engaged upon a work which will be erected as a monument to the late Miss Gertie Tripp, of this city. When completed it will add fresh laurels to his hard earned victories and art tri- umphs.
ARCHITECTS.
JOEL AMSDEN, the first of his profession in the city of Scranton, deserves a proper appre- ciation on the part of its citizens. He was born in Hartland, Vt., September 5th, 1812. He graduated from Norwich University in the same State, (Captain Partridge, Commandant), a semi- Military Academy, and in those days quite a rival of West Point. He commenced his pro- fessional career as a civil engineer, by engaging in the preliminary surveys on the lower end of what is now the New York and Erie Railroad, and subsequently was employed on the New York State canals, receiving the appointment of resident engineer on the Black River canal, with headquarters at Booneville, Oneida County, (where he married), and subsequently when that end of the canal was completed at Rome, in the same county. In this capacity he was employed from the year 1838 to 1846, designing numbers of buildings during the same time, among others that known at Rome as Stanwix Hall. From Rome he removed to Boston, Mass., where he practiced the mechanical branch of his profes-
sion for about three years, when he removed to Easton, in this State, having been called thither to remodel the motive power of the Glendon Iron Works near that place. In Easton he turned his attention to mining as well as me- chanical engineering, and was also the architect of many buildings in that vicinity. While there he went to New York on business, where he met Colonel Geo. W. Scranton, who induced him to change his residence and make Scrantons his home. Accordingly in 1830 he removed hither, and was engaged at once in engineering connect- ed with the manufactorics then in process of construction, by the firm known as Scranton & Platt, and subsequently as the Lackawanna Iron and Coal Company.
When the northern division of the D. L & W. R. R. was projected, Mr. Amsden acted as resident engineer under the Chief Engineer, Major McNeill, and subsequently after Mr. McNeill's resignation as Chief Engineer, during the completion of the southern division. The plot of the borough of Scranton was laid out by Mr. Amsden, and in a large measure to him is due the credit of the wide and regular streets iuto which the borough was sub-divided. From his earliest residence in Scranton, down almost to the period of his death, which occurred De- cember 18th, 1868, he had been engaged in engineering in the borough and city limits. Many of our first buildings are the result of his skill as an architect, and his ability as a me- chanic. Among these may be mentioned the First Presbyterian Church, the Graded School building, the Adams Avenue M. E. Church, the Wyoming House, and St. Vincent's Cathedral, beside many private buildings and stores. His private life had been above reproach, and as a business man he was noted for his honesty and uprightness in every respcet. Two of his sons follow in the profession, and are now located at Scrauton.
CAPTAIN FRANK POWERS AMSDEN, the eldest son, was boru at Booneville, N. Y., August 25th, 1830, while his father was engaged there. After acquiring the advantage of an carly education, he was sent away to Norwich Military Academy, Vermont, where he fitted himself for the profes-
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THE LACKAWANNA VALLEY.
sion. After leaving this institution he spent two years in study at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute of Troy, N. Y. This school in those days, was second in superior attainments and in- ducements to West Point only. Previous to his going to Troy, however, he had seen practical serviee under the tuition of his father, a point which enabled him to grasp with greater ease the studies which he was to encounter. He left everything behind to serve his country in the hour of her need. Entering the service as first lieutenant of Battery H, 1st Pa. Artillery, he continued in the duty for two years and a half, retiring as captain. Evidences of his skill as an architect, are numerous in several parts of the country where his services have been called into requisition. His soul is in his professiou ; being yet young the city may receive an impress of his thoughts in its future architectural adornments.
CAPTAIN FREDERICK JOEL AMSDEN, another sun, was born at Rome, N. Y., June 18th, 1841. After receiving his education in the superior schools of that city, and practical experience under the immediate tutorship of his father, he was sent to Stamford, Conu., to continue his studies, after which he was again under his father's eye and instruction. He, like his elder brother, went to the relief of his country, com- mencing service as second lieutenant of the 136th Regiment of nine months Pennsylvania Volunteers. He participated in the battles of Fredricksburg and Chancellorsville, and the arduous duties of a winter campaign, after which he was mustered out only to return, when he received an appointment in the Signal Corps, in which he served until the close of the war, doing duty in Washington, South Carolina and Vir- ginia. Many of the veterans will recall the high tower on the James River, used for signaling purposes, called by some the Crow's Nest, by others Butler's Dutch Gap Canal Tower, and Amsden Tower. This was constructed partly under the supervision of Captain Amsden, and after its completion was under his charge, it be- ing his duty to keep watch of the enemy at all points which this eminence cunimanded. On one day alone over three hundred shots were fired at this tower from the enemy's guns, and
Coptain Amsden, by his instruments and engi- neering skill, made a complete record of cach shot, and where it came from, a feat not easily accomplished by every soldier. At the close of the war he was sent to Fort Leavenworth, Kan- sas. where he spent five months in an expedition against the Indians. Returning to his home in Seranton, he was Superintendent of the Drawing Department of the D. L. & W. Railroad office, since which time he has been actively engaged in his profession. Since the death of his father he has held the position of City Surveyor. His designs are scattered all over the city, and a. complete list would burden space.
EDWIN L. WALTER, a yeung and promising Architect of Scranton, came from Prompton, Wayne County, in this State. He received the usual common school education, after which he learned the trade of his father, that of a car- penter. His thoughts were too busy with the world before him to be content with the monot- ony and lack of skill of the trade, and in his spare moments he commenced the study of draw- ing and architecture himself. He succeeded admirably, and ranks to-day with the list of his grade in the profession. He has been in the office of the Messrs. Amsden for five years, and served before that two years with the Dickson Manufacturing Company. While self-made, he is still cultured to au eminent degree in the principles and literature of his profession. He, too, gave his services to his country, being a member of the 2d N. Y. Cavalry (Harris Light). His acquaintances bespeak for him a brilliant future.
CORNELIUS BRINKERHOFF, another of Seran- ton's Architects, is a self made member of the profession, having worked his way from the car- penter's bench. At the age of sixteen his father sent him to Portsmouth, Va., where he was ap- prenticed, and in a short time was able to exe- cute drawings for the entire yard, consisting of hundreds of mechanics. He has worked in offices in New York, Philadelphia and other places, and exhibits many fine practical traits.
HI. R. NOLL came to Scranton at the close of the war, and has added to the architecture of Scranton many evidences of his skill. Many of
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S. S. Hull, Photo.
Scranton, Pa.
JOHN JERMYN. FOUNDER OF THE TOWN OF JERMYN
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
the large buildings were designed by him, and being a practical carpenter his advice is often sought on the practical parts of the profession. He is a skilled botanist, and is the author of a work on that science, which pertains exclusively to the Flora of Pennsylvania. He professes a good knowledge of geology, and as an analytical chemist is competent He is learned to some degree in mineralogy.
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F. LEE FARIES, ARTIST AND LANDSCAPE PAINTER.
The importance of the coal region to the world of art, is one of more than trivial significance, and its advantages are daily becoming more ap- preciated. The illustrated periodicals of the age have already sent their best talent through these romantic valleys to pencil the striking scenes which here present themselves, and now comes the professional artist as a resident of Scranton, through whom its notoriety in the world of picture will be made known. Of the .latter class is the name above, Mr. F. Lee Faries. He was born in Williamsport, Pa., in 1837. His father, Robert Faries, was one of the noted men of the State, and one of the old civil engi- neers who, fifty years ago, commenced and car- ried to completion the great works that connect the Metropolis of the State with the West. From that time until his death, which occurred in the fall of 1864, he was connected with all the improvements of any note, including both canal and railroads, in the 'middle and western portions of Pennsylvania, holding the several positions of Chief Engineer of both State and private corporations, Superintendent and Presi- dent of Railroads. His last great work was the completion of the Philadelphia and Erie Rail- road, which he finished, after thirteen years of hard labor, three weeks before his death. The early education of the son of such a man, had
many rare advantages Following his father was his best school for studying nature, and in no State in the Union could he have found bet- ter discipline for studying nature than was given him in the Keystone State. He spent thirteen years in the Alleghanies, and it was with this contact of nature that he first became fond of studying her various moods; noticing the wild mountain scenery ; the deep gorges; the rush- ing, tossing waterfalls, etc. His sojourn among the great fresh water lakes, was enlivened by . natural sketches of fierce storms and beau- tiful sunsets. His ticket of admission to study in the Academy of Fine Arts in Philadel- phia, is dated January 28th, 1861. Previ- ous to that time he had studied with Sand- ford W. Mason, now deceased, who was the old- est student of Peter F. Rothermel, justly cele- brated as the finest figure painter in America. Messrs. Mason & Rothermel were the means of procuring our subject admittance into the acade- my. He was engaged subsequently by Mr. Cresson, Chief Engineer of the Fairmount Park, to make oil sketches of the Schuylkill and the county around Wissahickon, for the purpose of beautifying the same and locating different build- ings. During the year 1863, T. Moran, the celebrated landscape painter, came to Williams- port for the purpose of furnishing illustrations for Harper's Magazine, of scenery along the Catawissa Railroad. Mr. Faries had a studio ir the place, and this was thrown open to the artist, with whom Mr. Faries studied during his so- journ there. Ile came to Scranton at the call of Mr. E. W. Weston, of the D. & H. Canal Company, to take a position under that corpora- tion, his father's teachings having made him a Civil Engineer, but the general depression of business, since the failure of Jay Cooke & Co .. has so shaped his ends that he fails back on art. His sketching around Scranton will be valuable to the city, as he is engaged in restoring many old landmarks on canvass.
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CHAPTER XXXVIII.
THE JUDICIARY AND BAR OF SCRANTON.
Before the Borough of Scranton had been chartered as a city, its legal functions were per- formed at Wilkes Barre, the county seat of Lu- zerne County. The first Mayor's Court, in and and for the city of Scranton, met October 1st, 1866, Hon. John N. Conyngham, Recorder, and E. S. M. Hill, Mayor. The court directed that Lewis Jones, esq., the senior member of the bar, be admitted to practice as an Attorney, and after being sworn, upon his motion others were ad- mitted. The Mayor's Court was presided over by Judges Conyngham and Dana, until Septem- ber Term, 1870, when, according to the decision of the Supreme Court of the State, Hon. Lewis Jones was appointed by the Governor until an election could be had, which, when accomplish- ed, gave to the bench Hon. W. G. Ward.
We give herewith sketches of the Recorders, and in treating of the bar, present only resident (Scranton) Attorneys in the order in which they were admitted :
HON. LEWIS JONES
Was born in Exeter, Luzerne County, in the year 1807. After receiving his education he pursued the study of the law in the office of the Hon. Chester Butler, in Wilkes Barre. He was admitted to the Bar of Luzerne County, August 5th, 1834, and immediately commenced an active practice. He resided successively at Carbondale and Wilkes-Barre, until the ycar 1855, when he took up his residence in Scranton.
Upon the resignation of the late Hon John N. Conyngham, Mr. Jones was appointed, by Governor Geary, Recorder of the Mayor's Court
of the city of Scranton. This office he filled acceptably for a short time, and declining a nom- ination retired as well from general practice as from official position. His charge to the Grand Jury in 1870 was a powerful and exhaustive effort, and administered a scathing rebuke to wrong.docrs.
Taking an early advantage of the opportunity offered in the city of Scranton as well as the Lackawanna Valley for speculation, he acquired a large property. The IIon. D. N. Lathrope, late Recorder of the Mayor's Court of the city of Carbondale, and Judge Jones were partners in the practice of the law during nearly all of their professional career. Retiring from active prac- tice at the same time in 1870, they each received their appointments as Recorder nearly simul- taneously.
His interests calling him to New York city during his latter years, the vast estate known as the Fairlawn tract has not developed to the credit of the city in proportion to other additions in the hands of men who devote time and means solely to home matters.
HON. WALSINGHAM G. WARD.
The first Recorder elected by the suffrages of the people, to the position of Judge, was Hon. W. G. Ward. He was born October 7th, 1823, at Doon Plains, Dutchess County, Y Y. He had but limited educational advantages during his youth, his ability and acquirements having been obtained during man's estate.
His early life was one of toil upon the farm, and in the lumbering branch of business. He
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THE JUDICIARY AND BAR OF SCRANTON.
came to Scranton in March, 1843, where he has remained until the present time. In the latter part of the year 1846, Le volunteered as a pri- vate in Co. "I," 1st Reg't. Pa. Vols., for ser- vice in the Mexican war, and was honorably discharged at Vera Cruz, April 3d, 1847, in consequence of illness that incapacitated him for service.
He read law with J. M. Alexander, esq. ; was admitted to the bar November 10th, 1851. He opened an office in Scranton, and practiced law thereat until December 1st, 1870, when he was commissioned Recorder of the Mayor's Court for the city of Scranton, having been elected to that office at the previous October election. Judge Ward has always been held in high estimation as a great criminal lawyer, and his efforts before juries have been wonderfully successful. As a citizen he is upright and just, not given to amas- sing wealth, and in many cases displaying excel- Jent philanthropic qualities. Judge Ward would do as much for his fellow-man, to save him from a fallen estate, as any man in northern Pennsyl- vania, who has ever occupied a public position. He is a strong advocate of temperance and mo- rality, and is often called upon to address public assemblies in the interest of such reforms.
THE BAR OF SCRANTON.
As before stated the several members will be taken into consideration in the order in which they appear upon the Court records. At the first term of court before mentioned, there were admitted Messrs. Silkman, Hill, Ward, Canavan, Jessup, Willard, Hand, Hitchcock, W. Gibson Jones, Winton, Handley, Post, Loomis, Chase, Burns, Mahon, and Corydon H. Wells.
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CHARLES H. SILKMAN, esq., ranks as one of the oldest prac- ticing lawyers in the Lackawanna Valley. During late years his attention has been directed from the profession, and his health has caused him to abandon it forever.
E. S. M. HILL, esq., came to the coal region in its infancy, and locating at Providence soon won his way into a fair prac- tice. His tastes were literary, and he abandoned Blackstone for the printing press. He was an editor of more than ordi- nary accuracy, and of the several papers which he started into existence, the Legal Observer was perhaps the most noted. He was the first Mayor ever elected in Scranton. He died of consumption in 1871.
MARTIN CANAVAN, eso , is an Irishman of considerable cul-
ture, an apt scholar in the requisites which pertain to the gen- tlemen of the old school, but now declining in years does not follow practice in courts.
EDWARD N. WILLARD, esq., one of the prominent lawyers of the northern Anthracite region, was born at Madison, New Haven County, Conn., in 1836, the same town from which emanated the illustrious Scranton family. Like them, too; who have hcen noticed in prior pages, he was educated at Lee's Academy, and afterwards attended the Yale Law School. Following this he studied eighteen months in the office of Ralph D. Smith, esq., and was admitted to the bar in the couoty of New Haven, in 1856. Admitted in Luzerne County, at Wilkes-Barre, November 13th, 1857. He has been Register in Bankruptcy since 1857. . He served in the army eighteen months as captain of colored troops, 127th Reg't. U. S. Inf'try. He also served on the staff of General Richard E. Jackson as Judge Advocate, until he was mustered out of the service after Lee's surrender.
ALFRED HAND, esq, was born at Honesdale, Pa., 1835. Read law with Hon. W'm. Jessup, of Montrose, Pa. Admit- ted to the bar in 1859. Hlas resided in Scranton since 1860. Is a graduate from Yale College, class of 1857, and now Presi- dent of the Third National Bank of Scranton.
F. L. HITCHCOCK, esq , has entered merchandising, and is conducting one of the largest importing crockery and china establishments In the country.
W. GIBSON JONES, esq , is a son of lion. Lewis Jones, whose biography has been given above.
A. H. WINTON, esq,, Is the son of W. W. Winton, whose life has heen noticed at large in this work. He has bullt a large clientage and lucrative, and carries the reputation of being a shrewd lawyer.
ISAAC G. Post, esq., was born at Montrose, in 1837. Grad- uated from Yale College, class 1860, and thereafter commenced the study of the law with Hon. W'm. Jessup, of Montrose, and was admitted to the har in 1862. He has resided in Scran - ton since 1866. Mr. Post is a lawyer of marked professional features ; thorough, liberal and self-possessed in weighty mat- ters, he takes front rank in the profession. Confining himself strictly to study, and avoiding outside speculation, he is what might be denominated a thorough-bred law-lawyer.
F. E. Loomis, esq., comes from Susquehanna County, and has figured largely as a real estate agent. In this branch of business, happening here when the city was being pushed with a feverish impulse, he amassed some property. He ex- cels as a writer for the journals of the day, and has produced one fine novel, founded on the history of Louis Kossuth, which was flatteringly received by the readers of hoth west- ern and eastern provincial journals, which carried it as a serial.
AARON A. CHASE, esq., hails from Benton township, and derived his start in the professional world as a claim agent, collecting bounties and pensions for the soldiers of the late war. He is at present editor-in-chief of the Daily Times.
IRA H. BURNS, esq., is a Susquehanna County lawyer, and having received a common school education, and acted the pedagogue, is quite familiar with the English language. As a political writer he possesses clear ideas of party lines, and can wield a caustic pen in this branch of modern accom- plishments.
JAMES MAHON, esq., is of Irish descent, and was bort In Car- bondale. Studied law with D. Rankin, esq., formerly of Provi- dence. Ile was the first District Attorney of the Mayor's Court of Scranton.
CORYDON H. WELLS, esq., a lawyer on the Hyde Park side of the river, has, hy a modest and honorable practice, accu- mulated considerable property ; is esteemed by the commnu- nity, and hears the flattering title bestowed by his nelgbbors of being an honest, upright man.
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THE LACKAWANNA VALLEY.
GEORGE SANDERSON, SR , is noticed elsewhere in a more comprehensive sketeh.
At Deeember Term, 1866, the following mem- bers of the Bar were sworn in as Attorneys of the Court : Messrs Collins, Du Pont Breck, and D. Hannah.
FRANCIS D. COLLINS, esq., was born in Saugerties, Ulster County, N. Y., in 1844. Removed to Scranton when quite young, whence he was sent to St. Joseph's College, Susque- hanna County, and Wyoming Seminary, Kingston, Pa., to be educated. In 1869 was elected on the Democratic ticket, District Attorney of the Mayor's Court. Was nominated and elected State Senator for the Thirteenth Senatorial District, and served with credit to himself and constituents Was elected to Congress, to represent the Eleventh District, in 1874, receiving 7,190 majority, a district composed of the counties of Monroe, Columbia, Pike, Montrose, Carbon, and part of Luzerne. Mr. Collins is a young man of great energy, keen perceptions, and vigorous understanding. Few men of his age, in the nation's history, have been so successful in public life.
CHARLES DU PONT BRECK, esq., was born on the Brandy- wine, near Wilmington, Del., May 18th, 1840. He was grad- uated from Union College, in the class '59, and thereafter entered the law office of Victor Du Pont, in Wilmington. Before completing his studies he removed to Scranton, where he continued his studies in the office of Sanderson & Willard. since which time he has been actively engaged in the practice of his profession. Mr. Breck, while a polished scholar, ex- hibits the deportment of a true gentleman, and lives on a plane far above the petty tricks of too many of the profession.
DANIEL HANNAH, esq., is from Susquehanna County, where he was born and educated. Following teaching, intermitting with his studies, he commenced the study of the law. For a time he was in the office of the late Hon. Daniel S. Dickinson, at Binghamton.
February Term, 1867. The only resident Attorney sworn in at this session, was Charles H. Welles, esq.
CHARLES H. WELLES, esq., was born in Dundaff, Susque- hanna County, and studied law with Sherred & Hand and Hand & Post. He was elected Clerk of the Mayor's Court by the Republican party, and served one term.
December Term, 1867. Admitted this ses- sion, were Messrs. Campbell, Fuller, and Mer- rifield.
JAMES H. CAMPBELL, esq., came to Scranton from Danville, Montour County, and since his location in this city has man- aged to accumulate considerable property.
FREDERICK FULLER, esq., is a son of Hon. George Fuller, one of the old and respected citizens of this city. He was born at Montrose, Susquehanna County, and received an Aca- demical education there. He came to Scranton in 1838. He first studied law in the office of Hon. F. B. Streeter, since elected Judge, then entered the office of Messrs. Sanderson & Willard, and during the last six months of study remained in the office of Earl Wheeler, esq., of Honesdale, Pa. He en- listed during the war, in the 32d Pa. Vols., for three years, and was commissioned as lieutenant. Served his full time in the army of the Potomac. Returning home he pursued his pro- fession, when he was elected Alderman of the Eigth Ward in October, 1871. Mr. Fuller is regarded by all who know him,
as a young man of fixed principles, with clear convictions of `right, and a steadfast practitioner in daily life [of what he professes.
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