The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-05-30

John Jermyn, one of Scranton's old
est wealthiest and most thoroughly
representative citizens. died yesterday
morning at Gas O'Clock, at the family
residence, corner of Jefferson avenue
and Vine street, after an illness eN-
tending over period of about six
months.
Mr.. Jermyn had suffered from kid
ney trouble for several years, but his
illness did not take Il serious turn un-
til early in the year, when he began
to lose some of the vigor and vitality
that had so marked his closing years.
Toward the end of February on the ad-
vice of his physician, DR.. A. j. Con-
nell, he went to Pasadena, California
in the hope that the Pickering flame of
life might be replenished.
Mr.. Jermyn was accompanied to the
Pacific coast by his wife, his daugh-
ter, Emma, and his son, Rollo. He
seemed to improve for a. time, but
finally grew seriously ill and was
obliged to take to his bed. Grave fears
of his death We're entertained and it
was finally decided that he should be
brought home. as he seemed to be es-
pecially fearful that he might die away
from the city which had been his abid-
ing place for so many years.
Joseph j. Jermyn, who went on to
California when the first news of his
fathers serious illness reached here,
arranged for special car on which
Mr.. Jermyn was brought home, reach
ing here on April %. He seemed to be
much improved for few days after
his arrival here, but his condition be-
~ r1ln II hi nj,
ician told him that his illness was fatal
and that it was only a question of days
before he would pass away.
Everything that medical science
could produce to prolong his life was
resorted to- but on Wednesday night,
when he had sinking spell, it was
realized by all in attendance at his
bedside that it was but the beginning
of the end. His life slowly ebbed away
until just before Z o'clock yesterday
morning he had passed peacefully into
that sleep which knows no ending.
The funeral will be held tomorrow
afternoon at 2.3O o'clock from the FAM
lily residence. Services will be con-
Quoted by Rev. DR.. Rogers Israel, rec
tor of st. Luke's church, of which the
dead man was for many years a men,
Der. Interment will be made in the
DunmOre cemetery.
John Jermyn's life was striking ex-
ample OF the possibilities of America.
Half a century ago he came to this
country and began working as a labor
er for - cents a day. He died one OF
the most prominent and most respected
nf in,,
aire and one who had contributed as
much, probably, as any other man in
placing his home city in the forefront
OF the thriving municipalities of the
country.
He was born in Suffolk. England, Oct.
81. 1925. Early in life he was thrown
on his own resources for livelihood,
and as a consequence had but linn
tied opportunity for securing an edu-
cation. This, however, he would not
permit to become II handicap, for If
there ever came an instance when this
want threatened to be an obstacle to
his progress he summoned his natural
talent and energy to his aid and there
was no obstacle to surmount.
In 1Si7 he came to the United States
and located at Scranton, then known as
Slocum Hollow He engaged with
Scranton K Plat ut the old furnace and
was put to work unloading coal.
Ills ability and faithfulness to duty
was early noticed by his employers,
and they advanced him step by step un-
til after II very few years his industry
coupled with his thrift put him in a
position to go into business for himself.
He sought and secured the contract
for opening the Diamond mine of the
D., l.. & w. company and had the dis
tlnction OF being the first man to break
ground for the opening of this old COLI
lery. This work was completed in
1854. Soon afterwards he was engaged
to open and develop the coal tract of
the New York and Pennsylvania Coal
company, known as the Rockwell tract
In North Scranton. He was engaged in
this undertaking nearly five years and
was highly successful.
In 1859 he entered into Il contract
with Judson Clark to open his coal
lands near the Rockwell tract. On the
death of Mr.. Clark, Mr., Jermyn with a
Mr.. Wells and Mr., Clark of Carbon-
dale, leased the tract and operated it
under the firm name of Jermyn, Wells
& Co.
The lease continued three years, At
it's expiration, Mr.. Jermyn engaged
himself to work mine at Archibald
which had been badly managed and
was a losing venture In three years
time, under Mr.. Jermyn's supervision,
the property was put on such paying
basis that its proprietor was able to
sell it at n large profit,
1t was in 1862, however, that he en-
tered upon the thus far most success
ful project of his life. At the town of
Gibsonburg-afterwa named Jermyn
In his honor-was "A colliery which had
been idle for long time. He exam
ined 1t, became satisfied that It could
be made TO pay and securing control Of
it proceeded TO equip 1t with the best
facilities for mining and preparing