Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1900-11-23
PROMINENT
MAN is DEAD
Joseph Birkbeck Succlmbs
at Wilkesbarre.
One of Luzerne County's
Most Respected Citizens
Has Passed Away--Sketch
of His Busy Life.

The death of Joseph Birk beck, promi-
nently identified with the business in
terests of Luzerne county for the past
thirty years, and a citizen of high re-
pute, took place at his home, corner of
Dana and Grove streets, Wilkesbarre,
Pa, at 4.40 o'clock, Wednesday morn
ing, November IA, 1900. The cause of
death was general debility. He had
been gradually failing for the past year
and few months ago it became evident
that death was not far off.
The deceased was native of Glen
more, Westmoreland county, England,
where he was born December 27, 1880.
which would leave him 20 years of age,
lacking six weeks. He was the son of
Joseph and Elizabeth Johnstone Blrk-
beck, who emigrated to America in
1884, landing in New York city and i'm
mediately proceeding to Minersvlle,
Schuylkill county, Pa, where the fa-
ther procured work in the mines. A
few years later the family removed to
iioE'Nbohi "hti Z III 1000 MT. k,
the elder, sank the first slope for Ario
Pardee.
In 1910 he purchased 400 acres of land
in Denson township, Luzerne county,
which later became Foster township
and is now included in the site of Free
land borough 1t was a vast, unculti-
waited wilderness, and after constructing
rude log house he removed his family
to it. This turned out to be profitable
investment and is yet source of income
to the Birkbe estate.
The Birkbeck home was the only
house within a radius of five miles, and
here the father and his sons, one of
whom is the subject of this sketch, work
ed hard for many years clearing the
land and gradually increasing the patch
es under cultivation. The coal fields
were soon developed and the influx of
population greatly increased the value
of land. Mr.. Birkbeck surveyed large
portion of his real estate into town lots
and sold them to the newcomers. This
constituted the first move in the laying
out OF South Heberton and Freeland.
There were twelve children in the
Birkbeck family, all OF whom are now
dead except Thomas and Mrs. Margaret
johnson, of Frceland.
Joseph Birkbeck, the subject of this
sketch, left the family home at Free
land at the age Of 16 and for the next
twenty years of his life he did consider
able travelling. At l6 he was appren-
ticed to his uncle, who was a machinist
in Brooklyn, n. Y This occupation
was not to bis tastes and few days
after his arrival in Brooklyn he left for
England, whence he went to Australia.
While in Australia he spent fourteen
months on sheep farm, In 1s49 he
caught the gold fever and started for
California. He spent seven years in the
diggings, but met with poor luck.
He then returned in the ffties to his
old home in Freeand, but his spirit was
restless and at the end of year he re-
turned again to the gold fields, going by
way of the lsthmus of Panama. He re-
mained this time about five years, and
while he did not strike prospectors' luck
he managed to save a few hundred dol
lars. This he invested In the butcher
business at Eckley, Luzerne county, and
here began the business career which
was destined to turn out so successful.
He was fortunate in an investment in
Coplay (Lehigh county Iron Works
stock and it brought him large returns.
In 1870 the deceased went to Wilkes
barre, believing in broader field for
his enterprise. He engaged with Mai.
E. A. Hancock, now of Philadelphia, in
the grain business and later invested
in other enterprises, all of which proved
profitable.
At the time OF his death he was presi-
dent of the Freeland Water Co., the
Freeand Citizens Bank, president of
the Wilkesbarre Heat, Light & Motor
Co., secretary of the board of directors
of the Wilkesbarre Deposit and Saw
ings Bank and treasurer of the firm of
Paine 81 Co.
Mr.. Birkbeck is survived by his wife
and one brother, Thomas, leading cti-