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 32
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Charles M. Conrad, president of the Erie Brewing Company, was born in the province of Rheinpfalz, Germany, on the 26th of February, 1841. In 1849, his mother came with her two sons, Louis and Charles M., aged respectively ten and eight years, to America, together with her mother, her father, Joseph J. Conrad, having come in the preceding . year, taking up his residence in Erie, which was then a small village. The widowed mother and her two boys landed in New York City, whence they proceeded by boat up the Hudson to Albany, from which point they went on to Buffalo by the newly completed railroad. While in Albany the devoted mother, unfamiliar with the language or customs of the country, was robbed of what little money she had, and when the little party of four reached Erie they were penniless. From Buffalo they came to Erie on the old side-wheel steamer "Diamond." Upon their arrival they found shelter in the modest little home of Henry Hechtman, by whom the grandfather was employed in the capacity of bookkeeper. This worthy pioneer business man granted to the mother and her two boys the use of the upper story of his log house, which stood on the southeast corner of Third and French streets, and directly across the street from which was the old Franklin House, a pioneer tavern. On the top floor of this hotel building was located the first lodge room of the Masonic fraternity in this section of the state. The question in providing for the maintenance of her family was the all important one which confronted Mrs. Conrad, and with all of solicitude and devotion she made recourse to the best expedient that offered. She engaged in gardening on a modest scale, and Charles M., to whom this sketch is
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dedicated, was able to lend his aid in the work and also in placing the products on sale. Equipped with two large baskets, filled with at- tractive vegetables, he stood on the old market place in Central Park and peddled the contents of his hampers to the citizens of the village. A few years after coming to Erie Mrs. Conrad was united in marriage to Jacob Fuess, who owned what was known as the Fuess brewery, and thereafter the burdens resting upon the shoulders of this noble and in- telligent woman were lightened. Soon after the marriage Charles M. Conrad went to work for his step-father, with whom his relations were ever most agreeable, and from that time to the present the National brewery, with its various changes in name and with the improvements made from time to time to keep the plant up to modern standards, has been largely in the hands of Mr. Conrad. Upon the death of Mr. Fuess, in 1863, Mr. Conrad, who was then twenty-two years of age, be- came associated with his mother in continuing the brewery business, of which he assumed entire charge and whose interests he signally ad- vanced by his able and progressive management. As the business ex- panded in scope and importance, the plant was enlarged and otherwise improved, to meet the constantly increasing demands placed upon it, and finally, in 1895, the entire institution was remodeled. All of the frame buildings were replaced by substantial and attractively designed struc- tures of brick, stone and iron, and the latest improved machinery and accessories were installed throughout the entire plant, which is the largest in this section of the state and which constitutes an imporant contribution to the industrial activities of Erie. About the time of this rebuilding of the plant Mr. Conrad also engaged in the manufacturing of malt and brewers' supplies, in which department of his business he built up a successful enterprise, which so continued until the combina- tions effected by the leading interests in this line of industry rendered the competition so great as to make such individual enterprises unprofit- able, and Mr. Conrad accordingly withdrew. Upon the consolidation of all of the brewing plants in Erie under the corporate title of the Erie Brewing Company, April 1, 1899, Mr. Conrad became president of this great local corporation, of which he has since continued the executive head, and to the administration of whose affairs he brings the fine forces. of discrimination, long experience and distinctive business acumen. He is also interested in other local enterprises of important order and is president of two or more industrial concerns outside of his home city. His energy and progressive ideas have led him to make judicious invest- mients of his capital and through his well directed efforts and financial co-operation he has done much to forward the upbuilding and progress of his home city, to which his fealty is unwavering, since he fully ap- preciates the fact that here he has risen from obscurity to a position of independence as a capitalist and representative business man.
In politics Mr. Conrad gives his allegiance to the Republican party, though he has never had aught of ambition for public office. His only official service was as a member of the common council of Erie, a posi- tion of which he was incumbent for one term, but every public enter- prise and worthy measure projected for the general good is certain to receive his co-operation and definite support. He is a member of the Erie Chamber of Commerce and the Erie Board of Trade, has attained to the thirty-second degree in Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite Masonry. besides which he is identified with the local lodge of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of
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the Mystic Shrine, and the Shrine Club, maintained by members of the last mentioned branch of the Masonic fraternity.
Within the years of his residence in Erie Mr. Conrad has witnessed the rise of the city from the status of a village to that of a fine industrial community of seventy thousand population. When he came here as a boy from the German fatherland Erie was an obscure lake port, and to-day it is one of the busy and important ports on the great inland seas, to whose commerce it contributes much, the while it holds pre- cedence as one of the most important manufacturing cities of the fine old Keystone state. It can not but be a matter of pride to Mr. Con- rad to realize that he has contributed his quota to the development of his home city, where he is known as a man of genuine public spirit and as one of those ever to be depended upon for influence and tangible aid in the support of all that tends to advance the general welfare. He has guided his life upon the strictest principles of integrity and honor and the indubitable evidence of this is that offered by the confidence and regard in which he is held in the community which has represented his home from his boyhood days.
On the 26th of June, 1867, Mr. Conrad was united in marriage to Dorothy Diefenbach, who was born and reared in Erie and who was a daughter of the late Charles Diefenbach, an honored pioneer of this county. Mrs. Conrad was summoned to the life eternal on the 22d of January. 1882, and is survived by five children, namely: Catherine, who is the wife of Frederick A. Brevillier, secretary of the Erie Brewing Company ; Ida, who is the wife of Arthur Brevillier, secretary and treas- urer of the Morse Iron Works, of Erie; and Dora, Flora and Clara, who remain at the parental home. On the 9th of March, 1886, Mr. Conrad married Sophia Siegel, daughter of the late Cassimer Siegel, a pioneer business man and representative citizen of Erie. Mrs. Conrad presides with gracious dignity over the beautiful family home and is most popular in the social circles of the community in which she has lived from the time of her nativity.
JAMES NELSON THAYER, proprietor of the extensive business of O. C. Thayer & Son, is one of the well-known citizens of Erie, Pennsyl- vania. Mr. Thayer was born in this city, September 15, 1864, son of the late Oscar Cornelius Thayer, for many years one of Erie's most successful business men. Oscar Cornelius Thayer was born at Benning- ton, Vermont, September 3, 1827, of English descent, the Thayer family having been established in America during Colonial days by two brothers who came from England and settled in Vermont. Members of the fam- ily participated in the Revolutionary war and otherwise demonstrated their worth as citizens and pioneers. The great-grandfather of James N. was Simeon Thayer. He was a native of Vermont, as also was his wife, who before her marriage was Miss Experience Nelson. Their son Nel- son, born at Bennington, Vermont, married Lucretia Elwell, a native of the "Green Mountain State" and a daughter of Chauncy Elwell, of English descent. The children of Nelson Thayer were: Mary Jane, who married Lafayette Hamlen of Bennington, where they now reside ; Oscar C., father of James N .; Martha, deceased, was the wife of J. H. Cushman ; Caroline, widow of W. C. Riddell, Buffalo, New York; a son who died in childhood ; Edward, who served in the 14th Vermont Regi- ment of Infantry, as First Lieutenant, during the Civil war, died a few years thereafter; a son who died in childhood; Harvey H., a resident of
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Buffalo, New York; Ellen E., widow of Robert K. Hughes; Corinna, widow of James Meacham, resides at Bennington, Vermont ; Emily widow of Enos Gould, lives at Buffalo, New York; and Dexter, of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania.
Oscar C. Thayer had the advantage of a good education in his native town, Bennington, where he remained until about twenty-one years of age, when he left the old home and sought his fortune in the lumber regions of Michigan. In the spring of 1853 he came to Erie, Pennsyl- vania, and on settling in this city he engaged in the manufacture of what is known as stoneware, having a factory on the old canal at Third street. Later, he engaged in the oil business at Sixteenth and French streets, where he manufactured refined and lubricating oils. Subse- quently, he sold this business to the Standard Oil Company, after which he established large plants in the same line of business at Utica and Rome, New York, and conducted operations at both places until 1902. when he again sold out to the Standard Oil Company. During the above period he maintained his residence at Erie, and here he passed the last three years of his life in retirement. He died January 31, 1905. His whole business career was marked by signal success, and he left a large estate.
Oscar C. Thayer's wife was before her marriage Miss Anna Hughes. She was born in Erie, daughter of James Hughes, late of Erie. Thomas Hughes, her grandfather, was a pioneer of Erie and was closely iden- tified with the early history of the city. He was born in Ireland in 1766 : emigrated to this country in 1787, and located at Pittsburg, where he followed his trade of brick layer and stone mason. In 1795 he came to Erie with the troops to assist in erecting the garrison and fort at this point, and built a chimney at the fort, which chimney, being a smoky one .. was the source of much annoyance to Gen. Anthony Wayne, when that distinguished general was languishing in his bed of fatal sickness. The General, upon learning the identity of the builder of the smoky chimney, ordered him under arrest, saying, "I will have you shot, sir." Officers interceded for Mr. Hughes, and he lived to help dig General Wayne's grave. Thomas Hughes built the first brick house in Erie, and helped to build Erie county's first court house. In 1810 he erected a carding and fulling mill on the west bank of Mill Creek, close to the lake shore, which he operated until it was destroyed by fire in 1824. During that period he also manufactured brick and lime. After 1824 he removed to his farm in McKean township, Erie county, where he lived until 1833, that year returning to Erie, and there spending the closing years of his life in retirement from active duties. He died March 14, 1837. In January 1804, he married Martha Richards, who was born in Lancaster county. Pennsylvania, in 1786, but at the time of marriage was living in Union township, Erie county. She bore him nine sons and a daughter: John, James, Jane, Alexander, Thomas, Robert, William, George W., Perry and David R. Both Thomas Hughes and his wife were members of the Associ- ate Reformed Presbyterian church, of which he was an elder from the time of its organization until his death. His widow died August 18, 1847. James Hughes, son of Thomas, was born in Erie, December 3, 1806. Soon after he attained his majority he was appointed postmaster of Erie. Later he engaged successfully in merchandising in this city, which busi- ness he carried on until 1859, when he retired. January 31, 1833, he married Emily Carmack, daughter of Jacob and Ann (Cummings) Car- mack. Jacob Carmack was a captain in the war of 1812, while John
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Cummings, father of Mrs. Jacob Carmack, served as a captain in the Revolutionary war. Following are the children of James Hughes and wife: Anna, mother of James N. Thayer ; Martha J., deceased ; Emily. wife of R. H. Thayer of Buffalo; and Robert K., James C., William and Thomas, all deceased; and they had two other children that died in infancy.
James Nelson Thayer was educated in the Erie schools, and is a graduate of the high school with the class of 1885. After his graduation, he took charge of the stoneware business, which his father has estab- lished and carried on all the time he was engaged in other lines of indus- try. This stoneware business was closed out in 1894, at which time the business of manufacturing wall plaster and the dealing in general build- ers' supplies, such as lime, cement, fire brick, etc., was established at Chestnut street and the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad, under the firm name of O. C. Thayer, of which James N. is now the sole proprietor. Mr. Thayer is also interested in other manufacturing plants, three of which are among the important ones of Erie. He is a prominent member of the National Builders Supply Association, of which he served several years as treasurer, and at one time as an execu- tive officer.
Mr. Thayer married Rebecca Sarah Warner, who was born in Erie, daughter of the late W. S. Warner, a leading dry goods merchant of Erie, for many years, and one of the founders of the well-known firm of Warner Bros. of to-day. Mr. and Mrs. Thayer have one son, Oscar Cornelius. Mr. Thayer is a member of the Royal Arcanum.
JOHN SCARLETT. For more than a quarter of a century the late John Scarlett was one of Erie's leading citizens, from a business stand- point, in view of his public enterprise and in the light of his activities in religious and charitable movements. He was an Englishman, born at Liverpool in 1848, son of John Scarlett. The grandfather was a man of considerable scientific attainments and unbounded enthusiasm, being so much a pioneer in his studies and investigations that some time in the for- ties he sunk his fortune in electrical experiments. Afterward he migrat- ed with his family to Hamilton, Canada, where he died in 1857 and his widow four years later. As the son John Scarlett was but nine years of age at the time of his father's death, but the oldest of the children, he became a bread-winner at that early age, and, with the mastery of the carpenter's trade, his road to independence was assured. As quite a young man he became a resident of New York City, where he followed that avocation and married Miss Anna Bell, a native of county Tyrone, Ireland, but a resident of the United States since early girlhood. The young couple commenced housekeeping on the heights of Jersey City, New Jersey, and while the husband was busily at work in New York City as a carpenter, the wife conducted the small store which was opened in front of their living rooms. Such thrift resulted in the accumulation of a little capital, so that when Mr. Scarlett located at Erie in 1876 he opened the "New York Tea Store," at No. 2 Noble (now Penn) block. In 1885 he removed to even more pretentious quarters at No. 5, same block, occupying them until the destruction of the building by fire in 1890. In that year he erected the fine brick block at Nos. 909-11 State street, which is still occupied by the Scarlett store. The gradual and remarkable growth of the business founded by John Scarlett and devel- oped by him and his sons, William J., Robert H., David, Joseph and
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Theodore, are indicated by the following facts. The first branch store was established, in 1886, at No. 1718 Peach street, and the second at No. 1002 Parade street, in 1889. In 1892 the elder Mr. Scarlett erected the Scarlett block at 1004 Parade street, and established the store there which was the beginning of the wholesale part of the business. In 1895 another branch was opened at No. 402 West Eighteenth street, this store being closed out in 1908. In 1896 the founder of the business retired from the active management of the retail stores, giving most of his attention to the wholesale branch.
Outside of his business relations, John Scarlett was a man of wide, strong and good influence. He was a Mason in fine standing, being a member of Perry Lodge, and was actively identified with other organi- zations. But outside the interests of his business and his beloved family, his deepest concern was for the welfare and growth of the United Pres- byterian church, in which, for many years, he was a trustee and the treasurer, holding both at the time of his death July 2, 1902. The deceased left a widow and seven children, sketches of the latter follow- ing in the order of their birth.
William J. Scarlett, president of the John Scarlett Company, was born in Jersey City, New Jersey, on the 17th of February, 1874. Edu- cated in the Erie public schools, while still in the early period of his youth he entered his father's business, and upon its incorporation in Feb- ruary, 1907, he was elected president. Theodore L. is first vice president, David D. second vice president, Joseph E. secretary and Robert H. treas- urer, these officers also forming the board of directors. In 1904 the sons of Mr. Scarlett purchased the old established business of John Schultz, and opened another branch at that location. In the spring of 1905 they bought the grocery and meat privileges at Exposition Park, Conneaut Lake. The wholesale business is now conducted at Nos. 909-11 State street. In 1909 they bought the grocery and meat conces- sion at Chautauqua Assembly grounds, New York. It will thus be seen that the presidency of the John Scarlett Company is weighted with heavy responsibilities, only to be carried by a man of thorough experience and pronounced business abilities, such as its present head. Mr. Scarlett is also an active director of the People's Bank and the Erie Chamber of Commerce, having served as second vice president of the latter in 1908. He is a married man, his wife being in her maiden days Miss Margaret Mehaffey, daughter of Robert Mehaffey, a resident of Erie.
Robert H. Scarlett, treasurer of the John Scarlett Company, is a native of Jersey City, New Jersey, born June 7, 1875. He received his education in the Erie schools and obtained his business training in his father's stores. His wife was Miss Sarah, daughter of John Schabacker, of Eric.
David, the second vice president, was born in Erie March 18, 1872. and obtained his education in the public schools of the city, while Rufus B., the fourth son, is a graduate of the Erie high school and of the medical department of the U. of P., and is practicing his profession in Philadel- phia. Joseph, secretary of the John Scarlett Company, is a native of Eric, born December 20, 1874, and Theodore L., first vice president, was born in that city June 11, 1882, is a high school graduate and is married to Miss Edith, daughter of John Burton, of Erie. Hunter W., the youngest, is also designed for the medical profession. He is a native of Erie; a graduate from the regular literary course of the University of
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Pennsylvania in the class of 1907, and now a sophomore in the medical department of that institution.
WILLIAM SCRIVEN, a prosperous merchant and well-known business man of Erie, was born in 1872, at Niles, Ohio, and is the son of Joseph and Helen Scriven, both natives of England. They were the parents of a large family, and being in only moderate circumstances, were unable to provide for them as they wished, in the matter of education and start in life. William Scriven had an ambitious nature, and resolved to make for himself a recognized place among his fellow men, and to that end took advantage of every opportunity offered him for his mental and financial improvement. Being possessed of a strong determination, he has succeeded very well in accomplishing his undertakings, but he has the hope of continuing to improve his condition in life, from time to time, as he is able to do, and keeps before him the thought of progress and improvement, knowing there is always a chance for those to advance who have the required zeal and courage. He has been a citizen of Erie since 1889, engaging in the meat business, in which he has enjoyed a large patronage, and has been for five years at his present location. He is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. Mr. Scriven married, in 1888, Louise Knaf.
JULIUS C. KNOLL. For nearly eighty years three generations of the Knoll family have been strong assistants in the progress of the industries of the city of Erie, and have well sustained the industrious and honorable character of their German countrymen. Julius C. Knoll, of this biog- raphy, is a native of the Third ward of the city of Erie, born March 7, 1858, and is a son of Frank and Eva Marie (Emling) Knoll. The family was transplanted from Germany about 1830 by Irvin, grandfather of Julius C., who came to Erie and became one of its leading citizens. He was both an able mechanic and business man, being a pioneer both as a distiller and a manufacturer of oil cloths. Later, he became interested in one of the early breweries, and was also successful in that enterprise. His son, Frank, for several years had charge of the Lake Shore Railroad freight depot, and his life was bright with promise when it was cut short by death when it had only covered twenty-nine years. He died in 1862, his widow (a native of Germany) residing in Erie until her decease in 1899, at the age of fifty-eight years. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Frank Knoll were: Anna, who married Philip Kessel and resides in Buf- falo, New York; Frank and Jacob, both deceased; Julius C., of this sketch ; and Barbara, who married John Winston, a resident of Erie.
Julius C. Knoll has spent his life as a resident of Erie, and began to be a useful force in it at a very early age. After a few years of school- ing in the city institutions, at the age of twelve he commenced work in the old Erie Car Works while they were being operated by the Daven- ports. He was apt, industrous and faithful, rising finally to the super- intendency of the bolt department. In December, 1894, he associated himself with William Hamilton, an expert iron worker and an able busi- ness man, who five years before succeeded his father as superin- tendent of the plant. When Messrs. Knoll and Hamilton came into pos- session the works had just been destroyed by fire, but they were soon rebuilt on a larger and more modern scale. The business was incorpor- ated under the former name of Erie Car Works in 1898, with Mr. Ham- ilton as president and Mr. Knoll as vice president. The latter is also interested in the Lippold Valve Company, and is an active member of
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the Erie Chamber of Commerce. In his religious faith he is a loyal Roman Catholic and identified with the Knights of Columbus. His wife was formerly Miss Mary Louise Straub, daughter of Captain Andrew Straub, and, like Mr. Knoll, is a native of Erie. Their children are as follows: Lillie, who married Charles Burk, of Erie, and Elmer, employed in the Erie Car Works.
H. H. FORINGER, M. D. A well-known member of the medical fra- ternity once said: "It is the actual force of character that makes suc- cess, rather than an adaptation. There is a certain inherent force in every one that can make some success in anything he undertakes to fol- low. There are men with heads large enough to make doctors, but com- paratively few with hearts large enough to make great doctors. There is one qualification necessary for a doctor. That is a large, warm, unsel- fish and loving heart. The man who goes into a sick room with a gentle step and a tender expression, not only in word, but in tone, with a heart filled with loving emotion, has the inborn qualities of a successful phy- sician." These needed qualities are indeed a part of the make-up of Dr. H. H. Foringer, one of the most prominent and popular physicians and surgeons of Erie. A native of this state, he was born, March 24, 1854, at Brady's Bend, Armstrong county, a son of Joseph and Hannah (Barnhart) Forringer, natives of the same county, and descendants of pioneer American families.
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