USA > Pennsylvania > Erie County > A twentieth century history of Erie County, Pennsylvania : a narrative account of its historic progress, its people, and its principal interests, Volume II > Part 18
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ardent Whig, and at the time of the abolition movement was very much in sympathy with the famous "underground railway" movement. He was a quiet, thoughtful, religious man, and would prefer to suffer pecuniary loss rather than become involved in a lawsuit. He was a charter member and an earnest worker in the interests of the First Bap- tist church of Erie. Mr. Olds married, April 17, 1821, Lucy Church, who was born at Winstead, Connecticut ; she was the daughter of John Church, who at the age of eighteen years enlisted in the Continental Army at Saybrook, Connecticut, was with General Arnold at the siege of Quebec, in 1776, and at the battle of Saratoga, where General Arnold was wounded, Mr. Olds helped him from his house. Asa Gilbert Olds and his wife were blessed with the following children : Lewis W., Nelson, Erskine, Clarissa, and Emily J.
Lewis W., father of Clark Olds, was born in East Mill Creek town- ship, Erie county, July 21, 1822 ; he received his education in the dis- trict schools and at the Erie Academy, after which he taught school for several years. In 1844 he began the manufacture of pumps at East Mill Creek, removed his factory to Erie in 1853, and continued the enterprise there until about fifteen years ago, when on account of the fact that the so-called "cucumber timber" of this section was exhausted, he found it necessary to abandon the business. He was very successful, and was the first man in the central states, if not in the world, to make the old log pump an article of commerce; previous to the Civil war he shipped a large number of pumps to the south, the first consignment being hauled to Waterford, from which point he sent them by water to shipping points along the Ohio River, as far as Louisville, Kentucky. The Civil war, however, destroyed this trade, leaving him with many bad debts. Later he shipped his pumps in boat loads by water to Chicago and Milwaukee, supplying the states of Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin with pumps.
Lewis W. Olds was one of the most enterprising and progressive citizens in Erie, and appreciated that city's resources and future ; he be- lieved in its future, and helped in its development along many lines. He erected many residence and business buildings, among the latter be- ing the Old Block on State street, which he built in 1869. This block, although one of the first large ones built in Erie, is still one of the city's most up-to-date buildings, owing to the fact that when Mr. Olds erected it he spared no pains to have it meet not only present requirements, but also future needs. In this block is the "Boston Store," the largest de- partment store of Erie, which has a flourishing trade. The building was the first in the city to be built with iron beams over the entrances, iron cornices and fire-proof floors, also the first to be fitted with plate glass windows, which were made in England, to order. At the time of his death Mr. Olds owned a large amount of city real estate, also large portions of land in Iowa and Missouri. He was much interested in public affairs, though he was not desirous of holding public office. He served a period of twelve years or more as a member of the school board, also was for a number of years on the board of directors of the county poor ; the present almshouse was erected under his personal supervision. Though liberal and tolerant in his religious beliefs, he was a supporter of the church. At the time of his death he was the oldest member of the Masons in Erie, having become a member of the order at Westfield, New York, where he and several other residents of Erie attended meetings many years before a lodge was instituted in Erie; they were known as "Westfield Masons." His death occurred June 25, 1908, and his loss was
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mourned by the entire community. Mr. Olds was married, at Erie, Penn- sylvania, May 9, 1848, to Louisa E. Ackerley, born in Middletown, New York, March 11, 1826, and who died in 1901; they had the following children: Inez L., Clark, Nettie M., Phila, William C., Florence, and Charlotta M.
Clark Olds was born in East Mill Creek Township, July 14, 1850, received his carly education in the common schools, prepared for college at Erie Academy, and in 1866 entered Michigan University, where he graduated in the class of 1870, with degree B. S. Two years later he received degree M. S. While attending the University he became con- nected with the United States Lake Survey, and after his graduation was appointed an Assistant Engineer ; he remained in the service until 1875, although he spent the years of 1872-3 on vacation at Leipsic University, in Germany, where he studied law. He continued his legal studies in Erie, and April 26, 1876, was admitted to the bar, and a short time later, to practice in the Federal Courts. Since that time Mr. Olds has been engaged in active practice of his profession, making a specialty of ad- miralty practice, in which line he has met with flattering success.
Mr. Olds has long taken an active interest in public affairs, more especially in municipal matters, giving freely his time and attention to- wards improving the city's public institutions, and he has been of great service to the city as member of the City Water Board, to his efforts being due the fact that the city has a generous supply of pure water. He became a member of the Water Board January 1, 1896, and since that time has served with great credit; during this time the system has been practically rebuilt, a large new pump has been installed as well as a new boiler house being erected, and the city belted by water mains. His fight for pure water, which he never abated until it was accomplished, has resulted in the building of an intake three and one half miles long, extending one mile beyond Presque Isle, into Lake Erie, thus insuring a pure supply of water. After serving a year on the water board, Mr. Olds was made president of same, although the junior member, but January 1, 1908, he surrendered this position and was succeeded by Willis B. Durling, the present head of the department. Mr. Olds was originator of the idea of a new dock for the city, and as president of the Chamber of Commerce, had practical charge of the matter, and superintended the completion of the project. He is a member of the Erie Club, and of the Republican party.
Mr. Olds married, December 13, 1876, Livia E., daughter of Chaun- cey Kcator, of Cortland, New York, and they had the following child- ren : Romeyn K., deceased, Irving Sands, graduate of Yale University, now a junior in Harvard University Law School, Marguerite E., deceased.
LOUIE CHARLES SCHAUBLE is not only the leading photographer in the city of Erie, but he is the only one of his guild there who has the facilities to take likenesses according to the most modern requirements of art and science and, if desired, to enlarge the photograph or to frame it with up-to-date taste. The accessories to his regular photographic studio make his establishment somewhat unique and certainly one of the most complete in the state. This feature of his business shows both originality and sound judgment, and Mr. Schauble's numerous patrons have stamped their approval of his forethought in a substantial way-in the gratifying form of substantial dollars and cents.
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
LENOX ELPSA FOUNDATIONS
Chas Hagenlicher!
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Mr. Schauble is a native of the Second ward of Erie, born March 2, 1875, the son of the late William G. Schauble. The father was a native of Germany, born in the year 1834; came to the United States when a young man, locating successively at New York City and at Erie, and dying in the latter city in 1893. Louie C. was reared in Erie and edu- cated in the city schools. In 1890, when in his sixteenth year, he com- menced to learn photography in Fred Pfaff's State street gallery, and in 1892 entered the employ of F. W. Weber, on Ninth street. After re- maining with Mr. Weber for fourteen years he bought the business, and as he had purchased Mr. Pfaff's place in September, 1905, while still conducting the Weber studio, he entered the field as an independent factor under very favorable auspices. Until 1906 he operated the two studios jointly, but in that year he found the State street business grow- ing so rapidly that he decided to dispose of the Ninth street estab- lishment. Since he has carried out that decision he has made his studio at 1011 State street one of the finest in Pennsylvania, if not in the States. He has accomplished this by not only meeting the requirements of a cultured and discerning public, but by the quiet force of his courtesy and through his wide acquaintance in the city of his birth and con- tinuous residence.
Mr. Schauble is a member of the Erie Chamber of Commerce and Business Men's Exchange, and is widely known in the fraternal orders, being especially prominent as an Odd Fellow. In the last named order he has served as district deputy grand master, chief patriot, com- mandant and noble grand. He is also an active Knight of Pythias and a Mason. Mr. Schauble's wife was formerly Miss Pearl Irish, daughter of Frank Irish, of this county, and she is the mother of Frank T. and Kenneth F. Schauble.
CHARLES HAGENLOCHER was born in the Fifth ward of the City of Erie on the fifth day of November, in the year of our Lord, 1878. He was the third child born of Jacob and Hannah (Rose) Hagenlocher, who, in early life, moved to this country from Germany. Tracing Mr. Hagen- locher's genealogy, we discover that a few generations ago, one of his ancestors was of Scotch origin; thus in his lineage is intermingled Scotch and German. During his early youth, Mr. Hagenlocher attended the public schools of this city, mastering with great aptitude the different branches of learning taught therein. Upon leaving school, he entered the coal office of R. J. Saltsman as an assistant. There he received his early business education, which later proved to be such a valuable asset.
On December 5th, 1902, Mr. Hagenlocher purchased the real estate and insurance business belonging to Frank Sawdey at 922 State street, where he has ever since remained. This business, when first purchased was in an embryo state, yet through the untiring efforts, the judicious management, the shrewd business ability and the keen insight of Mr. Hagenlocher it has assumed gigantic proportions. Year by year it has grown, year by year it has sent out its tiny tentacles, until, at the pres- ent time it is confined to a territory no less than that covered by the City of New York.
In 1905, Mr. Hagenlocher was elected a member of the school board of the City of Erie. Retaining that position for three years, and serving during that time on numerous committees, he was enabled to accomplish much in behalf of public education. He is actively connected with the Young Men's Christian Association and the Royal Arcanum. The
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Board of Trade, the Business Men's Exchange and the Chamber of Commerce number him among their most active and energetic members.
Mr. Hagenlocher is conceded one of the best judges of real estate possibilities and insurance hazards in Northwestern Pennsylvania. He has negotiated many of the largest realty transactions in the history of Erie county.
DR. JOHN WILLIAM WRIGHT is a leading physician of Erie, who has enjoyed an especially prominent connection with the National Guard of Pennsylvania. He is a native of Richmond township, Crawford coun- ty, that state, born September 24, 1868, and is a son of Delos A. and Vir- ginia (White) Wright. His father was born in Busti, Chautauqua county, New York, on the 13th of May, 1840, being a son of William and Elizabeth (Kelso) Wright, natives of Massachusetts and Connecti- cut respectively. The father engaged in farming until 1873 and then embarked in the manufacture of butter and cheese, at one time operating three factories in Crawford county. In 1876 he disposed of these inter- ests and engaged in the same industrial line at Saegerstown, Pennsyl- vania, moving to Union City, Erie county, in 1882, where he established himself as a produce dealer and also became identified with other large business interests at different points in Pennsylvania. In April, 1865, Delos Wright married Miss Virginia White, daughter of David and Pol- ly (Lyon) White, natives of Crawford county, Pennsylvania. Mrs. Wright died November 11, 1871, and in 1873 Mr. Wright married Mary daughter of George and Sarah (McCullough) Charmer, her parents both being natives of England.
John William Wright, of this biography, was left a half-orphan by the death of his mother when he was three years of age, and for some years thereafter resided with his paternal aunt. He received a public school education during this period and in 1883 when fifteen years of age, moved to Union City, where he continued his studies in the local high school. In the autumn of 1887 he entered the Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia, graduated therefrom in 1890, and after pursuing a course in the Philadelphia Polyclinic, in the winter of 1890-1, began practice at Wattsburg, Erie county. Three years of professional work followed at that place, and before the doctor resumed practice he took a thorough course at the New York Post Graduate School. In June, 1895, he located at Erie and in May of the following' year assumed the duties of city health officer, a position which he still holds. During the year 1896 Dr. Wright was also appointed deputy county inspector for the State Board of Health, being an efficient incumbent of that posi- tion until 1903, when he was chosen county inspector and county quaran- tine officer of that body. In 1905 the State Department of Health super- ceded the State Board, and Dr. Wright was reappointed to the office mentioned, as well as chosen local registrar of vital statistics. Upon the establishment of a tuberculosis dispensary at Erie he was named as the physician in charge.
Dr. Wright has become an authority on the treatment of all forms of pulmonary diseases, or he would not be at the head of the Erie dis- pensary. He is an active member of the Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Tuberculosis and of the National Association for the Study and Prevention of Tuberculosis, and in his relations to profes- sional organizations of a more general nature is identified with the Erie County Medical Society, State Medical Society of Pennsylvania and the
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American Medical Association. He also belongs to the American Public Health Association, the Association of Military Surgeons of the United States and the American Association of Medical Examiners.
In 1897 Dr. Wright received an appointment as first lieutenant and assistant surgeon in the Fifteenth Regiment, N. G. P., his commission being dated May 1st of that year. On April 27, 1898, he responded to the presidential call for troops, and was enrolled in the service of the United States for the Spanish-American war, arriving on the following day at Mount Gretna, Pennsylvania, which was later christened Camp Hastings. There, on May 5th, he was formally mustered into service in the position to which he had been commissioned, and on the 11th of June the command was ordered to Sheridan Point Post, Virginia, where it arrived on the next day. On September 9th the regiment was trans- ferred to Camp Meade, Pennsylvania, performing general provost duty from the 10th of that month to October 2nd; was attached to the first brigade, second division, second army corps, from that date until October 29th, and was then transferred to the first brigade, third division, second army corps, remaining thus assigned until its final muster-out. On November 11th the regiment left Camp Meade for Camp Haskell, Georgia, where it arrived on the 14th and remained until it was mustered out of the service January 31, 1899. On December 9, 1898, Dr. Wright had been promoted and re-commissioned as major and surgeon, and three days afterward was re-mustered into the service in his new position and re-assigned to the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Regiment. Upon the muster- out of the command he returned to Erie and resumed private practice, but on July 11, 1900, was again commissioned first lieutenant and assist- ant surgeon of the National Guard of Pennsylvania, being assigned to the Sixteenth Regiment and serving with it until his resignation from the state military service July 29, 1901. He is an active member of the Spanishı War Veterans and the Military Order of the Serpent. As a fraternalist connected with the secret and benevolent orders he is widely known, especially in the work of Masonry. In this order he is a member of the Tyrian Lodge, A. F. & A. M .; Jerusalem Council, R. & S. M .; Mount Olivet Commandery, K. T .; Presque Isle Lodge of Perfection, A. A. S. R., and Zem Zem Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S. He also belongs to the Elks and Knights of Pythias. What is more to the point, he also carried the spirit of fraternalism and good will which is inculcated by such orders into the individual and private relations of his life.
On October 15, 1900, Dr. Wright was united in marriage to Miss Clara Katharine Keller, daughter of Edward Keller, and of their union are two children-Edward K., who was born October 8, 1902, and died a week later, and Elizabeth K., born October 31, 1904.
HENRY C. MISSIMER. In the various professions and pursuits to which men devote their time and energies, not one is of more import- ance and value to the general public than that of the educator, whose task it is to develop the latent faculties and talents of the child, bring- ing into prominence those most beneficial to the individual and to the world, and to so train our boys and girls that they may become race benefactors in the broadest sense implied by the term. The life of Henry C. Missimer, for the past eighteen years superintendent of the Erie schools, has been cast along these lines, and the fruit of his pro- fessional labors may be seen by the high standing of the schools under his charge as compared with those in cities of like size. A native of
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Pennsylvania, he was born in Montgomery county, near Pottstown, a section of the state in which his immediate ancestors were pioneer set- tlers. The emigrant ancestor of the Missimer family came from the border country between France and Germany to the United States nearly two centuries ago, locating first in Maryland, and subsequently removing to the Keystone state, where he purchased a thousand acres of land along Spragel's Run a tributary of the Schuylkill River below Pottstown.
Receiving his rudimentary education in the common schools, Mr. Missimer subsequently attended the High School, in Pottstown, and at the age of fourteen years had read the usual requirements for college preparation. Entering then Yale University, he was there graduated with the class of 1869, being one of the honor men, and receiving the degree of A. B. Three years later his alma mater conferred upon him the degree of A. M., an honor of which he was eminently worthy. For a short time in his earlier life, he was engaged in general business, but in 1822 embarked upon his professional career, becoming a teacher at New Brighton, near Pittsburg. Putting forth his best energies, he or- ganized the schools of that vicinity, placed them upon a permanent working basis, while there establishing for himself an excellent reputa- tion as an instructor, and as a disciplinarian. Coming from there to Erie, Mr. Missimer was for nearly eighteen years principal of the Erie High School, filling the position with great acceptance, winning the approval of its friends and patrons, and the high regard and esteem of its pupils. Under his regime, the schools flourished from year to year, the enrollment, which was but one hundred pupils when he assumed its charge, being greatly increased, while each year a much larger number received diplomas. In 1890 Mr. Missimer was chosen superintendent of the city schools, and has served most ably and satisfactorily since, his long record of service in this capacity bearing speaking evidence of his marked success. Talented, scholarly, thoroughly conversant with the more modern methods of teaching, and possessing great executive ability, he has raised the standard of the schools under his management to a high plane of efficiency, bringing them up-to-date in every respect, mak- ing them equal to those of any similar city, and the superior of very many. Mr. Missimer is known to some extent in the lecture field, and through his various written works, the productions of his pen being received as authority in educational circles, many of his articles having been incorporated in the reports of the National Commission of Edu- cation.
Mr. Missimer married, in 1875, Emma, daughter of Hugh P. Me- haffey, of Erie, and to them six children have been born.
CHARLES MONROE WHEELER. The name Wheeler is so well known in the industrial circles of old Erie county as to need no introduction to the readers of The Twentieth Century History of Erie County. C. M. Wheeler comes from good old Hampshire stock being born in New Ips- wich, New Hampshire, January 29, 1826. He was a son of Stephen and Hannah (Stratton) Wheeler, both natives of New Hampshire, but of Scotch descent. Stephen Wheeler was a character of progress and marked ability. He served his people as an official in his county and was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention and was a member a number of terms of the state legislature. He died in 1860.
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Charles M. Wheeler received a good practical education both in the public schools and the Academy of his native town. He spent his life till 1852 in his native county as an agriculturist and in that year located in Erie county in the Township of Le Boeuf and this township was his home till his death. Besides being a successful farmer, he was proprietor of a cheese factory and a saw mill in Le Boeuf township and had large lumber interests in Forest county, Pennsylvania, besides large land holdings in Minnesota. He represented his people in the state legislature in 1891 and 1893.
He wedded Miss Sarah J. Clark, daughter of Eben Clark, Decem- ber 6, 1854, and five children blessed this marriage: Edward E., fully represented elsewhere in this work; Orton H., a manufacturer in Erie ; Fred C .; Walker S., one of the leading agriculturists and stock raisers of North East township, also mentioned in another part of this work, and Dr. Arthur C. Wheeler. Charles M. Wheeler indelibly stamped his great business personality upon the pages of Erie county's history. He was a man of strict integrity of character and he was possessed of those sterling attributes which give prestige to the thorough busi- ness man. He set an example in the business affairs of life which has been followed by his worthy sons.
ISAAC BAKER is one of the leading wholesale and retail clothing merchants of Erie, being senior member of the well known firm of Isaac Baker and Son. His many years' residence in this city has been spent not only in establishing this extensive business but in promot- ing the public interests of Erie in many directions. For twenty-one years he has been a member of the local board of education; has long been deeply interested in the welfare and progress of the city library and also identified with hopsital and charitable work. He is a native of Germany, born in the province of Rhine, August 22, 1847, being a son of Bernard and Barbara Baker, both natives of the fatherland. When the family came to the United States in 1849, they located at once in Erie but after remaining there for about two months removed to Girard, same county, which remained the family home for some eight or nine years, during which time the father was engaged in general merchandising. Mr. Baker then returned to Erie with his family where he established a clothing and dry goods business and was thus engaged until the time of his death, his wife having passed away several years previous.
Isaac Baker, of this sketch, was reared in Girard and Erie, received a good common school education in these two places and at the age of fourteen became his father's regular assistant in the conduct of his business, subsequently becoming a member of the firm. Upon the retire- ment of the senior member of the firm from active business, Isaac Baker and his brother-in-law succeeded to the business, their store then being located in the Brown Block, No. 10 State street, in about 1869 they purchased what was then known as the Caldwell Block (subsequently the Empire Block) on the southeast corner of Fourth and State streets, which they remodeled into what became the leading wholesale and retail clothing store, as well as merchant tailoring house in Erie or this portion of the state. The original style of the firm was B. Baker but upon his son's association with his brother-in-law, Jacob Ostheimer, it became Baker and Ostheimer. Upon the retirement of the latter,
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