Columbia-Lycoming County PA Archives Biographies.....STAVER, James M. 1855 - living in 1899
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  File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
  Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com July 8, 2005, 7:37 pm
  
  Author: Biographical Publishing Co.
  
  JAMES M. STAVER, who owns a half interest in the establishment of E. C. Caswell
  & Company, one of Bloomsburg's most prominent industries, and a highly respected
  citizen of that town, was born in Pine Creek township, Lycoming County, Pa.,
  February 21, 1855, and is a son of John and Mary (Nicely) Staver.
  
    The father of our subject was also born in Pine Creek township, Lycoming
  County, Pa., and upon growing to manhood moved to Jersey Shore, Pa., where he
  embarked in the lumber business and became one of the valued members of the
  community. He was united in marriage with Mary Nicely, and they were the parents
  of four children, named as follows: Lizzie, deceased; Carrie, widow of A. J.
  Sypher; Martin Luther, a prominent real estate and insurance man residing in
  Jersey Shore, Pa.; and James M., the subject of this sketch. John Staver, who
  still resides at his home in Jersey Shore, is now eighty-two years old. In
  politics is a Prohibitionist, being greatly opposed to the use of intoxicating
  liquors.
  
    James M. Staver was reared and educated in Jersey Shore, Pa., his father
  having moved there while James was a mere lad; during his early manhood he
  worked on his father's farm and at the age of seventeen engaged as a clerk in
  the store owned by Howard & Staver, remaining there until 1876, when he engaged
  in business with his father, under the firm name John Staver & Sons. In 1882 he
  removed to Bloomsburg and accepted a position as bookkeeper and cashier for
  Caswell Brothers & Company. In 1888 he purchased a one-third interest in the
  business and later increased his share in the business to one-half interest. The
  Bloomsburg Woolen Manufacturing Company was established in 1882 by E. C. Caswell
  and S. A. Caswell; they erected a three-story building, 54x124 ft., with a
  boiler and engine room 26x36 ft., at a cost of $15,000; fitted the plant with 14
  looms and the latest improved machinery to manufacture fancy dress goods, the
  factory and machinery costing in the neighborhood of $30,000; they use only XX
  fine merino wool, and employ some 40 hands. Upon the death of S. A. Caswell, E.
  C. Caswell bought out his heirs, and the business was conducted under the name
  of E. C. Caswell & Company. In 1888 our subject was taken in as partner, and a
  dye house, 30x36 ft., added to the plant. The building is heated throughout by
  steam supplied by a 50 horse-power engine; they have three sets of cards and
  1,260 spindles. At 1 o'clock, September 30, 1896, a tornado passed over the town
  of Bloomsburg, completely destroying the upper floor of the mills, by which the
  firm sustained a loss of $8,000. Ten days previously a hail-storm had demolished
  over 1,000 windows. The building was immediately rebuilt and in two months
  business was again in full sway. The goods manufactured by this firm are of the
  finest quality and are shipped directly to New York City, where they own a large
  wholesale warehouse, and from there they are shipped throughout the United
  States. Mr. Staver is a stockholder in many other enterprises of Bloomsburg, and
  is regarded as one of the most progressive business men of his community.
  
    Mr. Staver is a member of La Belle Valley Lodge, No. 232, F. & A. M., Jersey
  Shore, Pa.; past high priest and treasurer of Bloomsburg Chapter, No. 218, R. A.
  M.; past grand master and treasurer of Mt. Moriah Council, No. 10; past E. M.
  commander and treasurer of Crusade Commandery, No. 12, K. T.; V. J. G. W. of the
  Ancient and Accepted Order of Scottish Rite; member of Enoch Grand Lodge of
  Perfection; past E. S. P. G. master of Zerrubabel Council, P. of J., i6th
  degree; G. O. of Evergreen Chapter of Rose Croix, 18th degree; second Lt. Com.
  of Caldwell Consistory, S. P. R. S., 32nd degree; past junior general of Orient
  Conclave, No. 2; and member of Lu Lu Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S. of Philadelphia,
  Pa. Mr. Staver's portrait is shown on a preceding page.
  
  
  Additional Comments:
  Extracted from:
    
    Book of Biographies of the Seventeenth Congressional District
    Published by 
    Biographical Publishing Company of Chicago, Ill. and Buffalo, NY (1899)
  
  
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