The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-02-03
LIVE NEWS OF
WEST SCRANTON
Death Of Two Men Prominently ldenti.
fled with History OF the City.
RESIDED HERE FOR MANY YEARS
One OF Them Was Ex- Alderman
william e.. Dram and Addison
sweetser--Botho ofThem Were Wen
Advanced in Years--I -IIoodIums Are
Causing Much Annoyance at Eynou
Street and South Main Avenue.
Personal and Otherwise.

Two more OF west ScrantonS pio-
neer residents have passed away. Tues
day evening at o'clock ex-Alderman
William G.. Dram died at his residence
in Clifford, where he has been residing
for two years. Yesterday morning at
1.2O o'clock Addison Sweetser died at
the residence of his daughter, Mrs.
George Watkins, at 1916 Washburn
street. The deceased were probably
as closely identified with the earlier
progress of the city as any two could
be. Coming here when the two bor-
oughs of Providence and Hyde Park
formed what was then practically the
city of Scranton, they witnessed and
materially assisted in the growth of
what is now Scranton.
William G.. Dram was n years old
Dec. 4. 1897, having been born in Cliff
ford. Susquehanna county, in 1920. He
taced his ancestry back to the time of
Cromwell He was one of a family of
seven sons, who all became prominent
and of whom but one remains, each
having reached q ripe old age. The
other brothers were Sidney, John,
George and Henry. late of this city;
Edward late of Hawley, and Thomas,
now member of the faculty of Haver-
"a
peculiar coincidence of the deaths of
each brother is that they died in the
order of birth, Thomas, the only one
living, being the youngest.
Mr.. Oram's death was due in a large
measure to advanced years. Friday of
last week he was quite i'll, but got out
Sunday. Monday he went to bed and
Tuesday morning it was seen that he
was sinking rapidly and at o'clock
that evening he succumbed. Word was
brought to his near relatives in this
city yesterday morning by William
Green, a neighbor.
WALKED NINE MILES.
Mr.. Green walked the nine miles from
Clifford to Carbondale to take a train
mere, over roads that were utterly i'm
passabe for horse and vehicle of any
KIND. Mr.. Oram's wife, by a second
marriage, alone survives him in direct
line. A grandson, William Smith, of
Elmira, N. Y; nephew, f. w. Dram,
OF this city, and two nieces, Mrs. A. A.
Peckens and Mrs. II. S. Dram, of Phila-
delphia, also survive. The funeral SER
vices will be held Friday morning at
the residence at Clifford The remains
Will be brought to Carbondale and then
TO Green Ridge. The train leaves Car
bondale at LAO o'clock p. m. and reaches
Green Ridge at 210 o'clock D. m, In
terment will be made at Forest Hill
cemetery, where the remains can be
viewed by friends previous to inter-
ment.
Mr.. Dram, while still lad left home
ana went to Philadelphia where he
learned the trade of moulder under a
brother who was foreman in a foundry
winch stood upon the site of the pres
ent Baldwin Locomotive works. In 1857
ne returned to Scranton and together
with Sidney, his oldest brother, farmed
the Tripp estate, which became famil-
larly known as the "Oram Plantation, ,"
the Grams and Trips owning it joint
ly. The old Dram homestead, occupied
by Sidney, still stands on North Main
avenue. William resided at the corner
OF jackson street and Sumner avenue.
Later Sidney retired from active
labor and William took charge of that
part of the farm from which the
Fourth ward was made. He held this
position for about three years, when
the tract was divided into building lots.
He then worked for some years both
at Finch's foundry and the Delaware,
Lackawanna and Western car shops.
In 1882 he was made alderman of the
Fourth ward Snd served for ten con-
secutive years. He was succeeded by
William Morris, who died after holding
the office little over a year.
Mr. Dram was appointed by Cover
nor Pattison to fill the unexpired term
ana was defeated for reelection by
Alderman Owen d. John, the present
incumbent. He was a charter member
of Franklin Engine company. No. 1,
Globe lodge, No 95S; Independent Or
der of Odd Fellows. He is an Odd
Fellow of fifty years standing. About
two years ago he and his wife went to
clifford on account of his poor health,
but he very frequently came here to
visit