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 4
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HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY
the business has so expanded from Erie that it now covers northern Pennsylvania. Personally the senior member of the foundry company is thoroughly esteemed as one of the most skilled iron workers in the state which justly claims the best in the world, and in the broader field of business and manufactures he stands in the van. He is an influential member of the Erie Chamber of Commerce and in his religious faith is a stanch Presbyterian. His wife, formerly Margaret Moran, is a native of Eric, a daughter of William and Bridget Moran, and mother of the following: William J. Urick, secretary of the Urick Foundry Company, who married Miss Marie Diefenbaugh, of Erie; Charles H. Jr., a part- ner in the foundry company, who married Miss Florence Dunn, of that city ; and Earl, also identified with the foundry, whose wife was former- ly Miss Edna Hunt, of Erie.
JOHN FERDINAND DECKER. The Decker family, which has taken so leading a part in the development of the southwestern portion of Eric, is typical of that useful, practical and progressive German-American element which is so largely at the basis of the prosperity of the urban and agricultural committees of the middle west. Children and parents have all contributed to its progress, and especially John F., of this biography, who has resided in the county for fifty-three years and is recognized as the largest property holder in southwestern Erie and one of its most honored citizens. In fact, the entire city sees in him one of its most sturdy builders and most able and upright men. He is the owner of half a dozen business blocks and a score of residences; has behind him many years of successes as a merchant, and has been active and promi- nent in municipal and religious matters. He is, in a word, a rounded, wholesome German-American, proud of the liberal institutions of his adopted country, and contributing in every practical way, consistent with honor. to their advancement.
The Decker family came from State Hesse, Germany, its pioneer member to come to the United States being Mary M., the eldest sister of John F., who became a resident of Erie in 1850. In 1862 she was joined by George, the eldest brother, and two years later came Jacob, another brother. In 1856 the parents, John Phillips and Eliza (Hufe) Decker, with their son, John F., and their daughters, Kate and Margaret, joined themselves to the Erie circle, and the household was then com- pletely transferred to America, the last contingent landing at New York, and coming to Erie on the Erie and Lake Shore roads. The family first settled on the East Buffalo road, on a piece of land then owned by the late Dr. Brandis, near the shops of the Pittsburg & Lake Erie Railroad. About two years later they located on West Mill creek, between. Swantown and Manchester, but a few years thereafter returned to the city, where the father died in 1865 and the mother, in 1889. The parents were both members of the German Evangelical church.
John F. Decker, of this biography, was born in the State Hesse, Germany, on the 13th of August, 1839, received his preliminary schooling in that part of Germany, and was fifteen years of age when he came with his parents and two sisters to the United States. His first work after coming to Erie county was in a paper mill near Swantown, and he had made some progress as a shoemaker's apprentice when he came to reside in the city in 1858 and entered the employ of Neibauer and Gross. Six months later, his health being threatened. he abandoned the trade
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HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY
altogether ; then entered the employ of his brother George in the grocery business, and was thus engaged until he was twenty-one years of age. This proved an epoch in his life in more ways than the attainment of his majority; for he then established a grocery of his own, on Peach street between Fifteenth and Sixteenth streets, asserting his independ- ence in business, as well as in all other affairs. At first he occupied rented quarters, but in a few years erected a brick store at No 1521 Peach street, in which he conducted his business during the period of the Civil war. In 1865 he sold his store and purchased the property at No. 427 West Eighteenth street which now covers the site of his present resi- dence. The building of the car shops in the year mentioned suggested to Mr. Decker's good business sense the establishment of another grocery business at No. 431 West Eighteenth street, for which purpose he erected a store at that location. For nearly thirty years thereafter he continued in business in that locality, engaging in the grocery line for more than ten years, and in a general trade (embracing groceries, shoes and dry goods) during the latter portion of the period, until 1894. His more general store was conducted at Nos. 450 and 452 West Eighteenth street, although quite early he turned the grocery department over to his daugh- ter, Kate M., retaining the dry goods, building a more commodious store and adding notions, wall paper and paint. In 1894 he turned over the latter business to his son, Edward J., who, five years later, erected his own store, the original enterprise being resumed by Mr. Decker and his son, Charles F. In 1905 the latter became its sole proprietor, and the elder man, the founder of so much of the substantial prosperity of south- western Erie, retired from the field as an active merchant. As a property holder, however, he still retains his old-time position, being the owner of six stores (all brick except one), and all located on West Eighteenth street except one (on Walnut and Seventeenth streets), as well as fifteen or more residences in southwest Erie, a fine house on West Eleventh street and a piece of property on the corner of French and Twenty-first street.
Mr. Decker is best known to the people of Erie as an enterprising and successful business man, but there are other decided phases of his character. He is deeply interested in civic progress and, although his actual municipal service is confined to several years in the common council in the seventies, his advice in public matters has always been considered disinterested and valuable. He is a Republican, casting his first presidential vote for Lincoln, and remembers with gratitude that he was privileged to hear the solemn, quaint words of the great and simple man, while he was passing through Erie on his way to Washington and his inaugural. Mr. Decker is devoted to the faith of his forefathers-the Evangelical Lutheran-and has served as president, secretary and treasur- er of St. John's church in Erie. The members of his family are also active in the work of that society. Mr. Decker's wife, to whom he was married August 14, 1860, was Miss Elizabeth Felenbaker, who was born in Bavaria, Germany, and when only three years of age was brought by her parents to this county, first living on a farm and then removing to the city. The four children of this union were as follows: Kate M., who married Henry H. Stricker, a citizen of Erie; Emma, Mrs. Charles R. Aichner, also of that city ; Edward J., who married Emma Aichner, and Charles F., whose wife was Miss Anna Bierbauer, all residents of Frie.
HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY
CHRISTOPHER BLOESER, whose special position in the business com- munity is treasurer of the Erie Wholesale Grocery Company, stands on a broad plane of public enterprise and citizenship. He is otherwise finan- cially interested in various industries of a private and semi-public nature, and is one of the large property owners of the city. In the special field of his greatest prominence he has been an active figure for the past third of a century, the Erie Wholesale Company being virtually his crea- tion. Mr. Bloeser is a native of Erie, the place of his birth being a house on French street, which is second from the corner of Thirteenth street, and his birthday. June 16, 1848. His parents, Christopher and Elizabeth ( Boer ) Bloeser, were both born in Germany, but commenced their resi- dence in Erie when quite young. The father learned the carpenter's trade in that city and there followed it for many years, being one of the builders of the locks on the old Erie canal. Ilis death in 1869 resulted from an accident by which he fell from a railroad bridge. Mr. Bloeser's wife is a daughter of Laurence Boer, who, with his wife, located in Erie after the birth of the daughter mentioned, and died in the city at the age of ninety-three years. Mrs. Elizabeth Bloeser is not only still living at the age of ninety-one years, but remarkable to relate, is in the enjoyment of all her faculties. The six children born to this remarkable mother were as follows : Mary A., who is married ; Charles F .. deceased, formerly of Erie; Helen, also married, who is the wife of C. Kessler, of Erie ; Christopher, Jr .. of this sketch; John S. and William. also both of that city : and Anna, who resides in Erie and is the widow of Bruno Wieland. At the age of eleven years, Christopher Bloeser, who had been reared at Erie, went to work in Brown's Hotel at five dollars per month. His next employment was with Barney McGrapp, the clothier, and immediately after the Civil war, when he was in his eighteenth year, he became con- nected with the grocery business of C. Kessler. He was successively employed in the same line and in the same building with Burton and Griffith. Burton and Wilkins and Mattheas Hartlet, and on April 1. 1876, he began his independent career as a grocer by opening his store on the corner of East Eighteenth and Holland streets. He has occupied the same location continuously ever since, and on June 1, 1906, chiefly through liis exertions, was organized the Erie Wholesale Grocery Company. This was an outgrowth, or an offshoot, of the Erie Grocers' Association, each of which organizations has now its separate field of business. Mr. Bloeser has been treasurer of the later company from the time of its organization. He is also financially interested in the Erie silk mills and the Mutual Telephone Company, and his successful business interests have brought him the abundant means which he has so largely invested in real estate. In his ventures of this character, also, his sound judgment of present conditions and future prospects has brought him into the fore ranks of property owners. Among his valuable pieces of city property are three residences and one business block on Eighteenth street, and one residence on East Nineteenth street. Mr. Bloeser is an active member of the Erie Chamber of Commerce and the Erie Business Men's Ex- change. His political affiliations are with the Democracy, in national affairs, while in local matters he votes according to his independent judg- ment of men and measures. In his religious faith, he is a stanch Lutheran. Mr. Bloeser's wife was formerly Miss Elizabeth Koster, who was born in Erie and is a daughter of Laurence Koster, one of the well known merchants of the city. now deceased. Lillian and Clara, the two children by this marriage, are both at home.
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HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY
DANIEL MITCHELL MEDANNEL, one of the best known citizens and business men of Erie, and vice president of the Erie Wholesale Grocery Company, is a native of that city, born in a house which stood on the site of his present home and grocery store at Nos. 906 and 908 East Sixth street, on the 4th of October, 1861. He is the son of O. Il. P. McDannel, who was born in East Mill Creek township, this county, about 1832, and the grandson of Daniel McDannel, one of the pioneers of the township named. The mother of Daniel M. was Mary Ann Nel- son, a native of New York City born in 1842, whose father emigrated from Scotland and her mother, from Ireland-the former dying in the summer of 1903 and the latter still surviving.
Daniel M. MeDannel was reared in East Mill Creek township (now the city ) until he was about five years old, the parents then locating on a farm on the Buffalo road and still later founding the homestead on the East Lake road. The boy received his education in the public schools; worked on the home farm until he was twenty years old. and then went to work in the shops of the Lovell Manufacturing Company, M. N. Lovell, its proprietor, being his uncle by marriage to his mother's sister. After remaining about four years in the shops, the youth rented a farm in Harbor Creek township and operated it for three years, re- turning then to his home farm on the Lake road in East Mill Creek township, where he spent six years in agriculture connected both with general farming and gardening. He next farmed in Summit township for a time, and on January 16, 1896, located in Erie, purchased ground on East Sixth street, built a stone warehouse and engaged in the retail grocery business, which he has continued to successfully prosecute ever since. In August, 1906, he erected a large and handsome brick resi- dence adjacent to his store, which is considered one of the most con- venient and modern homes on East Sixth street.
Speaking more in detail regarding his business, it may be stated that Mr. McDannel has made a decided success of it, and now has the leading store of its kind in this section of the city, it having outlived several other groceries which were in the field long before his. He now employs three clerks and runs two delivery wagons. Mr. McDannel and Christopher Bloeser were the prime organizers of the Erie Wholesale Grocery Company. They had firm faith in the enterprise, and worked steadily for it until now it is a complete success in every respect and is still growing in volume of business and importance. Mr. McDannel was the second secretary of the company, succeeding William Heiss who had served six months. After holding that office for two years he was chosen to his present position, that of vice president of the company. His more extended commercial relations are as a leading member of the Business Men's Exchange and of the Erie Grocerymen's Association. and he has held the treasurership of the latter for the past nine years. He belongs to the Woodmen of the World and his politics may be classed as liberal Republican.
On December 3. 1891, Mr. McDannel married Miss Kate A. Root. who was born in Summit township. Erie county, June 30, 1870, daughter of Sidney and Rebecca ( Eckert) Root, both citizens of Summit county. Her father came with his parents from Connecticut, the family making the overland journey in an old ox wagon. Mr. and Mrs. Daniel M. McDannel have become the parents of the following children: Ruth, born October 10, 1896, and Ethel, born March 29, 1901. The parents are active members of the Methodist church.
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HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY
HENRY L. BREVILLIER, prothonotary of Erie county, well known in the city of Erie as a representative resident, was here born and reared, his father being Gustav F. Brevillier, one of the leading German citizens of this portion of the state. While spending his youthful days in his parents' home Henry L. Brevillier attended the public and high schools of Erie and also pursued a thorough commercial course in Germany while on a visit in that country with his parents, who were spending some time amid the scenes of their youth. Indeed the visit covered a period of several years, so that Mr. Brevillier became well acquainted with the land of his forefathers. For twenty-six years his connection with business interests was that of shipping clerk with the old firm of Johnston & Brevillier, of Erie, and in July, 1900, he became deputy prothonotary under the late Theodore F. Noble. The ability which he displayed in discharging his duties led to his election in November, 1905, to the office which he is now filling and to which he was re-elected in November, 1908, as the Republican candidate. His official record has at all times been characterized by the utmost loyalty and devotion to duty and he is well known as a public-spirited and progressive man.
Mr. Brevillier belongs to the Chamber of Commerce and to the Board of Trade and is interested in all the movements of those organiza- tions for general progress and improvement. Fraternally he is connected with the Royal Arcanum, the Knights of Honor, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and in his life displays the beneficent spirit which underlies these or- ganizations.
Mr. Brevillier was married in 1879 to Miss Elise Eichhorn, of Erie, and unto them have been born three children: Johanna Catherine, who was born July 28, 1880, and died October 23d of the same year : Gustav H., born September 9, 1882 ; and Alexander F., who was born February 24, 1885, and on the 26th of October, 1908, wedded Mary Emeline Foster. The Brevillier family has long been a prominent one in this city and Henry L. Brevillier is widely and prominently known in social as well as business and official circles of the city.
REV. JOHN J. F. DONNELLAN, Rector of St. Peter's Cathedral, Erie, and Chancellor of the Diocese of Erie, is a native of Jersey City, New Jersey, born on May 18, 1822, and is a son of the late Hon. John F. Donnellan of that city. He received his early education at St. Mary's Academy, Jersey City, after which he entered St. Mary's Catholic In- stitute, conducted by the Christian Brothers. He was next a student for three years at the De La Salle Institute, New York City, whence he graduated with high honors, and upon the completion of his collegiate course at Seton Hall College, South Orange, New Jersey, in 1892, he received the Degrees of A. B. and A. M. Father Donnellan's theological studies were continued at Seton Hall Seminary and completed at St. Bonaventure's Seminary, Allegany, New York, where he was ordained to the Holy Priesthood on June 24, 1897, by the Rt. Rev. James E. Quigley, D. D., now His Grace, the Archbishop of Chicago. He cele- brated his First Solemn Iligh Mass at St. Mary's Church, Jersey City. on Sunday, June 22. 1897.
On July 9, 189%. Father Donnellan reached Erie to assume the sacred and responsible duties of his present offices as Chancellor of the Diocese and Rector of St. Peter's Cathedral. Under his conscientious, thorough and able administration of material and spiritual affairs, the
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membership of his Parish has greatly increased ; its schools have advanced in efficiency and attendance; financial conditions have been bettered ; poverty and distress of body and mind have been relieved, and the gen- eral community centering in the Cathedral and its broad work has been blessed and uplifted.
HENRY SHENK. A man of versatile talents, possessing great me- chanical, artistic and business ability, Henry Shenk, of Erie, is widely known as one of the leading contractors and builders of Erie county, his work being in evidence in the more important cities of Western Pennsylvania. Putting forth his best endeavors in the fulfillment of his many and large contracts, he has invariably met with success. Ever true to his convictions, honor and integrity are synonomous with his name, and he enjoys to a marked degree the respect of his fellow-men. He is a native-born son of Erie county, his birth having occurred, July 31, 1836, in Mill Creek township. He comes of Pioneer stock, his paternal grand- parents having migrated to this county from Lancaster county at an early day, making the journey through the almost pathless woods with teams. John Shenk, Mr. Shenk's father, was then a lad of nine years. He grew up with the county, and after his marriage with Nancy Miller began the improvement of the homestead on which he and his faithful helpmate spent the remainder of their lives.
Acquiring such knowledge of books as could be obtained in the rural schools of his youthful days, Henry Shenk began working at the car- penters trade in the spring of 1853, finding plenty of employment in the vicinity of his home. In the fall of that year, desirous of broadening his field of action, he came to the city of Erie, entered the employment of John Hill, and for several months worked on what is known as the Paragon and Austin building, in North Park Row. Going to Girard, Pennsylvania, the following spring, he worked there, and in the near-by country for two years. In the spring of 1857 Mr. Shenk returned to his home to build a house for his father on the old homestead, completing. it in the very early part of 1859. Coming then to Erie, he was for a short time in the employ of Messrs. Crook & Lytle, after which he worked three years for Messrs. Jones and White, and two years for Mr. Hill. Forming a partnership, in the spring of 1863, with I. P. Kinsey, he carried on business for a number of seasons as junior member of the firm of Kinsey & Shenk, his first work of importance being the erection of a house in Mill street, near State street, for Henry Jarecki. A few years later this firm admitted into patrnership Peter Brubaker, and in connection with other business operated the planing mill located at the corner of Eleventh and French streets. The partnership, however, did not long continue. Mr. Kinsey selling out his interest to L. F. White, and the nrm name being changed to L. F. White & Co. Dissatisfaction among the members of this new firm soon became apparent, finally reach- ing such a stage that the troubles were taken to court, and before a settlement was reached the mill was destroyed by fire. Mr. Shenk then, by agreement of the partners, took charge of the company's affairs, turned all that was left into money, and with the proceeds paid as far as possible the debts of the firm. Creditors still having claims against the firm gave him ample time, and he finally succeeded in paying every debt in full, an achievement bespeaking in no unmeasured terms of his business sagacity and judgment.
HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY
After the burning of the mill Mr. Shenk continued business as a builder and contractor in Erie, doing the best he could without capital, remaining here until the spring of 1828, when he concluded to take contracts outside of the city. Accordingly, that very spring, he took the contract to build the Oil Exchange in Bradford, Pennsylvania, and the ensuing spring erected the Oil Exchange at Titusville. Pennsylvania. His work proving most satisfactory in each case, he was given the con- tract in the summer of 1829, to build the Court House in Cambria county, Pennsylvania, which was completed the next. year, and proved a credit to his good taste and skilful workmanship. The same year Mr. Shenk erected a part of the Huntingdon Industrial Reformatory, afterwards taking a contract to complete the same, the contract covering a period of nearly six years, the cost being about $900,000.
In 1882 Mr. Shenk began business operations in Pittsburg, his first contract being the erection of the Y. M. C. A. building. His ability and integrity meeting with a ready recognition, he subsequently continued business in that thriving city, opening an office, and has since filled many contracts of importance, having erected some of the finest public struc- tures, business blocks, private buildings, and palatial residences of recent years, among others worthy of note being the Christ Methodist Episcopal church, a magnificent piece of architecture, costing nearly $300,000; and the famous Carnegie Library Building, which alone would establish the fame of any builder. This building, which was dedicated November 5, 1895, cost over $:00,000. Mr. Shenk's operations in Erie have also been large and important, including the erection of the Central High School Building ; the Downing Block ; the Park Opera House ; the Hamot Hos- pital ; and other notable buildings. His business establishment in Erie, situated at the corner of Twelfth and Sassafras streets, is one of the largest and best-equipped manufacturing plants in the city, and is operated by the Henry Shenk Company, which consists of himself and his two sons, Mr. Shenk being president, his son Charles E., vice-president, and his son Wilbur is secretary and treasurer.
About seventeen years ago Mr. Shenk was stricken with paralysis. since which time he has taken little active part in the business, it being carried on by the above mentioned firm, and has been constantly in- creasing and now it is one of the large contracting firms of the country. While not taking any active part in affairs, Mr. Shenk has kept himself thoroughly posted through all his years of sickenss to just what the firm has been doing, and how the work has been conducted, and in giving his valuable advice from time to time, which has been thoroughly apprec- iated by the members of the firm.
WILLIAM P. HAYES, one of Erie's oldest active business men, one of its most highly respected citizens, is a native son of Erie county, and was born at Waterford. December 3, 1829. He is descended on both sides of his family, from Pennsylvania pioneers, and is the son of James and Polly ( Boyd) Hayes. The Hayes family of which he is a descendant was founded in America by John Hays, a native of Donegal, Ireland, who came to America in 1130, settling first in Chester county, Pennsylvania, and removing a few years later to Northumberland county, where he made permanent settlement and spent the remainder of his life. He was the father of a large family, and five of his sons served in the Revolu- tion and were with General Washington at the historic Crossing of the Delaware. One son, Captain John Hays, raised and commanded a com-
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