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 42
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In the village of Coulmain, county Wexford. Ireland, John Leary was born in the year 1830, and there he received such educational advantages as were afforded in the common schools of the period. In 1844, when but fourteen years of age, he bravely faced the battle of life for himself. He came to America on a sailing vessel, and after the long and weary voyage was ended he landed in the port of New York City, whence he forthwith came to Erie, which city ever since represented his home and the center of his interests until his death, May 4, 1909. He had no influential friends and no financial resources when he arrived as a stranger in a strange land, but his courage and ambition proved ample equipment, as combined with native ability and sterling integrity of purpose. His first employment after locating in Erie county was as tender for the plasterer who was finishing the Matthew Barr brick house in the southeastern part of the city of Erie, which was then known as Weigeltown. This building is still standing and has long figured as a landmark in that section. Thereafter the lad found employment at various lines of occupation, always working by the day and for small pay. Finally he shipped aboard the United States revenue cutter, "Erie," for the princely "salary" of ten dollars a month, and in the fall of the
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTON, LENOX TILDEN FOUNDATIONS
Front of Leary
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same year the vessel was wrecked, by being driven ashore at Ashtabula, Ohio. Young Leary had forined a liking for the lake-marine service. however, and thereafter he continued to sail the great inland seas until 1850, serving in various capacities and winning promotion through his fidelity and ability. For much of the time he held the position of wheel- man, and as such was employed on some of the largest and best boats of the fleets then plying the Great Lakes.
In 1850, after having severed his connection with marine interests, Mr. Leary initiated an independent career which has been one of constant progress and of distinctive success. He began contracting on railroad work, and his first important contract was in connection with the con- struction of the Philadelphia & Erie Railroad, of which he built many miles, and in this line of work he gained a high reputation as a reliable business man and able executive. Eventually he became the owner of a fine stone quarry at Garland, Pennsylvania, on the Philadelphia & Erie Railroad, and to the operation of the same he gave the major portion of his time and attention. He developed a splendid industrial enterprise in this connection and through the same gained a comfortable fortune,- a just recompense for his many years of earnest endeavor as one of the world's noble army of workers. As a citizen he was ever loyal and public- spirited, and in politics he gave his uncompromising allegiance to the Democratic party. He was a communicant of the Catholic church, as was also his devoted wife, and he was liberal in the support of the various departments of parish work.
On the 14th of May, 1818, Mr. Leary was united in marriage to Miss Mary Dunbar, daughter of the late James and Mary Dunbar, of Erie, and she was summoned to the life eternal in 1884. Of this marriage were born nine children, of whom three are living.
FRANK J. LEARY. son of the honored citizen whose sketch precedes this article, is recognized as one of the representative citizens of his native city, of whose board of education he is the able and popular president, and as a business man he has achieved prominence and definite prestige. He is now living virtually retired, though he gives his personal supervision to his various capitalistic interests.
Frank J. Leary was born in the city of Erie, on the 14th of June, 1856, and after completing the curriculum of the public schools he pur- sued the higher branches of academic learning in Villa Nova College, in the city of Philadelphia. He initiated his business career by assuming the position of bookkeeper in the office of the Erie & Pittsburg Railroad shops, in Erie, and later he held a similar position in the plumbing establishment of - - Butler. In 1880 he went to Lowell, Massachusetts, where he became manager of the branch there maintained by the Lovell Manufacturing Company, one of Eries most important industrial con- cerns. In 1882 he returned to Erie, and here he finally became employed by Jacob Weshler in the malt business, in which they built up a large and substantial enterprise. With this Mr. Leary continued to be iden- tified for several years when the business was sold to the syndicate known as the American Malting Company, and since that time he has been retired from active business associations, save in the management of his various private interests.
Mr. Leary holds a deep interest in all that tends to conserve the welfare of his native city, and is one of the enthusiastic advocates of industrial and civic progress. He is aligned as a stanch supporter of Vol. II-19
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the principles and policies of the Democratic party, and though he has never sought political office he has rendered particularly able and zealous service as a member of the Erie board of education, of which he has been a member since 1900 and to the presidency of which he was elected in 1908. He is a charter member of the Erie Chamber of Commerce, in whose affairs he manifests a lively interest, and he is affiliated with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and the Knights of Columbus. Both he and his wife are communicants of the Catholic church and hold membership in the cathedral parish of St. Peter's church.
In 1882 was solemnized the marriage of Frank J. Leary to Miss Bena Weshler, daughter of Jacob Weshler, one of Erie's representative business men, and the children of this union are: William J., Marie, Katrina. Josephine, and Dunbar.
FRANKLIN YOUNGS. Proprietor of a large and productive fruit farm and sugar camp in North East township, Erie county, Pennsyl- vania, Franklin Youngs is one of the old and substantial residents of that locality. He is a native of Chautauqua county, New York, born in the town of Ripley, April 17, 1844. The earlier members of his family were natives and for years residents of Connecticut, his grandparents, Thomas L. and Permillia Youngs, and his parents, Philetus and Eliza (Sample) Youngs, being all born in that state. The grandfather came to Chautauqua county, New York, where he secured land and resided until his death. At the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Philetus Youngs the family homestead was established near the state line separating Pennsylvania from New York and after a number of years the father sold his property and removed to Lenawee county, Michigan, his wife having died previous to his change of location. The husband lived in Michigan until the time of his death, being the father of Lovinia, now Mrs. Leroy Perkins, of Ripley, New York, and Franklin, of this sketch.
After receiving a good district school education Mr. Youngs resided with his parents until his marriage in 1876 and during the two years following he worked his father's farm on shares. He then purchased fifty acres of land in North East township which was partly timber ; but he cleared the land and at once cultivated fifteen acres to grapes and five acres to black raspberries, subsequently lay- ing out a fine orchard. At the present time he is proprietor of eighty-three acres of land all in one body and thoroughly productive. Besides his fruit farm he has one hundred fine maple trees from which the production of sugar is both large and of a superior grade. His property possesses the further advantage of being closely connected with good transportation facilities as the lines of the B. & L. E. Traction Company pass through his farm. In politics Mr. Youngs is a Republican.
On September 10, 1876, Mr. Youngs married Miss Jeanette Fin- ley. born at Mina, Chautauqua county, New York, and a daughter of Carson Finley. Their children are Charles, residing on a portion of the home farm, wedded Miss Caroline Breakhalter ; Nina, living in North East, and Nellis, at home.
EDGAR MASON. Having been engaged in the grist mill business for over a quarter of a century and long a participant in mercantile pursuits. Edgar Mason is now extensively and profitably engaged in
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the culture, storage and sale of grapes. He is a native of Ripley, New York, born July 26, 1844, being a son of Hezekiah and Rosanna (Rich) Mason, his parents being both natives of Vermont. Sampson Mason, the grandfather, was a son of Massachusetts, in which state the family was established in early colonial times. Soon after the marriage of the parents near Lake Champlain, Vermont, in 1820, they came by ox teams to Ripley, New York. There, near the Pennsyl- vania state line, the husband followed his trade as a wool carder and during the later years of his life was proprietor of a woolen mill. Hezekiah Mason was born in 1800 and died in 1848, while his wife, who was one year his junior, survived him until 1884.
Edgar Mason was the youngest in a family of five boys and two girls and lived with his mother until three years after his father's death. He then made his home with his brother-in-law, Ira Gay, with whom he lived until his marriage in 1867. Soon afterward he entered into business and conducted a general store in Ripley until 1813 when he disposed of his business and purchased a grist mill at Gulf on Twenty-mile creek in North East township. This he con- ducted with profit and success for about twenty-five years and then only relinquished the business because of the complete destruction of his plant by fire. Mr. Mason then removed to Pittsburg, Pennsyl- vania, where he was employed as a produce salesman until 1900 when he purchased a twenty-five acre farm in North East township. At one time there were no buildings on the place and the land had almost gone to waste, but prior to going to Pittsburg, in 1893, he commenced to cultivate this tract to grapes and erect convenient and large buildings for the packing and handling of his produce. Since 1903 Mr. Mason has not only erected extensive barns and packing houses, but a fine and modern residence. Fraternally he belongs to the Masonic lodge of North East, and the Mt. Olivet Commandery. Knights Templar, of Erie.
On October 31, 1864, Mr. Mason married Miss Ellen R. Beatty. who was a native of North East township and a daughter of Hugh and Rhoda (Shortman) Beatty. She is of both New England and Irish parentage and the children born into their home were as fol- lows: Mable and Rosanna, the former of whom died at the age of four and the latter when two years old; Jennie, now Mrs. James Tripp, who resides with Mr. Mason : Hugh, a resident of Los Ange- les, California : John, living at Kellogg. Idaho; Ella, who died at Pittsburg in 1900 as Mrs. John E. McKee: Anna M., who married Frank Wolf, of North East township; and Ralph C., proprietor of the store at Stateline The ancestors of Mr. Mason on the paternal side figured conspicuously in the Revolutionary war.
WILLIS F. WOLF. An honored resident of North East township, Erie county, Willis F. Wolf comes of a family which, both paternally and maternally, materially participated in the pioneer life of the county. His grandparents were Cyrus and Mary Wolf and Samuel and Mary Myers, all of whom were early settlers of Erie county. former of Mill Creek and latter of Fair View, where Mr. Wolf was born, on the 16th of July, 1857. He is a son of Isaac and Eliza (Myers) Wolf, who were married near Erie and in the spring of 1860 settled on the homestead in North East township, where the
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father died August 14, 1904, and where his widow still resides. They became the parents of seven boys and two girls, Willis F. being the second of the sons.
Until his marriage, March 4, 1880, Mr. Wolf assisted his father in the work of the home farm, and for two years thereafter operated the place on shares. He then purchased sixty-seven and a half acres of land on which there was an apple and cherry orchard, whose area of productiveness he has extended until there is hardly a foot of uncultivated soil. Fifty acres are planted to grapes, and the balance to small fruits, Mr. Wolf being considered one of the most successful horticulturists in the township. Educated in the district schools himself, he has always taken a deep interest in their welfare and done his share toward advancing their interests, having served as school director for a period of six years. Although an active Republican and influential citizen, this is the only public office which he has held. His fraternal connections are with Grape City Lodge. I. O. O. F. No. 13, Heneosis Adelphon Encampment, of Erie, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and the Royal Arcanum, Council No. 764, of Ripley, New York.
On March 4, 1880, Mr. Wolf was united in marriage with Miss Elsie Woolsey, born in Elk Creek township, daughter of German and Ruth (Francis) Woolsey. The father was born in Cuyahoga county, Ohio, the grandparents, Joseph and Mehitable Woolsey, being of English parentage. The mother was a native of Lewis, New York, and her parents, Levi and Ruth Francis, were of old New Hampshire stock. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Willis F. Wolf were : Ford Woolsey and Frank Levi Wolf, both residents of North East township, Erie county, and Bessie, who lives at home. Ford W. wedded Miss Allie Heath, a resident of North East township, and Frank L. married Miss Anna Mason, residing on the estate in North East township. The family resides in a commodious and modern house of ten rooms, which Mr. Wolf erected in 1906.
ANDREW PHILO GREEN, who for many years has been numbered among the business men of Harbor Creek township, is the youngest of the five living children born to Philo and Betsy (Gleason) Green, well known early residents of this community. The son, born in Harbor Creek township April 16, 1863, received a good educational training in his early life in the district schools and in the State Nor- mal at Edinboro, and he remained at home on the farm with his mother until he had attained the age of fifteen years, his father having died just five years previously, in 1873. He then began learning the blacksmith's trade in Erie, and after working there for four years he came to Moorheadville and purchased the blacksmith shop of Mr. Canfield. He continued in business at that location for twenty years and more, and then tearing down that old shop he bought a brick school house which had been abandoned and converted it into a blacksmith shop, laying therein a cement floor and adding all the necessary articles for the carrying on of his work until the shop is now complete in all its arrangements. In the meantime Mr. Green has also acquired quite extensive realty holdings, owning a tract of five acres, and also twenty acres adjoining on the west which he devotes to fruit and grape culture, but his time and attention are prin- cipally given to the work of his blacksmith shop.
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On the 1st of January, 1885, he was united in marriage to Hattie E. Neff, who was born in South Wales, Erie county, and she died without issue on the 4th of May, 1899. In June of 1901 he married Anna Evans, from Ashtabula, Ohio, a daughter of Richard and Caro- line (Kellogg) Evans, and they have a son, Philo Andrew Green, born on November 21, 1906. Mr. Green is an independent political voter.
WILLIAM H. GRAY. Earl Gray lived in the county Wicklow, near Dublin, Ireland, and on account of some family trouble he disin- herited his son Robert, who thereupon left home and went to the county Tyrone, locating near Newtown, where he learned the weaver's trade. He married Jane Maclaroy and they had five children, as follows: John, Robert, James, Sarah and Margaret.
Robert Gray was born December 11, 1811, in the county Tyrone, and his wife, Isabella Carson, September 4, 1818, near the barracks in London, England. Her father was James Carson, who was a ser- geant in the English army and was pensioned on one hundred pounds per year. Her mother's name was Mary Mahoney, a Catholic lady educated in a convent. As a child, Isabella Carson was a playmate of Queen Victoria. All of the Grays were Presbyterians. Robert Gray and Isabella Carson were married January 23, 1836, and they had thirteen children, eleven reaching maturity, being as follows: James C., Margaret A., Isabella, Alexander A., Mary, John A., William H., Elizabeth, Sarah J., Thomas, Ella A., Thomas H., and Johanna.
Robert Gray came to America in 1853 and located near Harbor Creek, his wife coming the following year and bringing four children with her, leaving three in England with her parents. The family was on the ocean eight weeks, being shipwrecked off Newfoundland. The next year (1855), two of the children left in England came to this country, the third remaining with her grandparents until she was fourteen years of age. The family lived in the vicinity of Harbor Creek for many years, Robert Gray dying in August, 1882, and his wife, April 1, 1893.
Alexander A. Gray served one year in the navy during the Civil war. He was also the civil engineer in Erie for thirteen years and after a short illness died in November, 1881. James C. Gray, the oldest of the family, met a terrible death while driving across the Lake Shore tracks at Harbor Creek, being struck by a fast train and mangled beyond recognition.
William H. Gray left home at the age of sixteen years and mastered his trade by a three years' apprenticeship under J. M. Zuck, of Erie. He received a common school education, and also took a business course at one of the night schools in Erie. At the age of nineteen years he went to work for J. S. Stinson, at Harbor Creek, and after six years they formed a partnership, the company continu- ing for ten years; after which Mr. Gray purchased Mr. Stinson's interest and went into business for himself.
On June 10, 1878, William Gray and Clarinda B. Green, of Har- bor Creek, daughter of Philo H. and Betsy (Gleason) Green, were married, and four children were born to them: Frank E., Bessie I., Ella L., and Mabelle M. In 1880 Mr. Gray bought the C. G. Miller property consisting of six acres at Harbor Creek. This tract he
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platted into lots, improved and sold. He operated the blacksmith shop at this place for ten years and during this time bought and sold a number of farms. In the winter of 1898 he sold out his business, and on February 6, 1898, the family residence was burned. The family then moved to the Lowry farm, where they lived about six months, after which they located at Wesleyville, where Mr. Gray bought the John C. Paul lot, on the corner of Station and Main streets. Shortly after this he built the home where the family now resides. In 1906 Mr. Gray purchased a part of the Curtis property and built thereon a two-story blacksmith and wagon shop, where he and his son, Frank E. Gray, conduct a flourishing partnership busi- ness. In the spring of 1908 Willow street was opened and the prop- erty on the west side belonging to Mr. Gray was cut up into lots.
July 25, 1903, Frank E. Gray wedded Cora L. Thompson, daugh- ter of Doran and Lovica (Bonnell) Thompson and April 12, 1905, Bessie I. wedded Frank A. Oakes, son of Ellison A. and Phenia (Lupher) Oakes. Mr. and Mrs. William H. Gray have three grand- children: William Robert Gray, Margaret Lucile Gray and William Ellison Oakes.
THOMAS A. ELLIOTT. Andrew Elliott, the grandfather of Thomas A., of this review, has the honor of being the pioneer settler of Harbor Creek township. In 1797 he came from his native state of New York and taking up one hundred acres of timber land proceeded to clear it and fashion it into the family homestead. He remained thereon until the time of his death. His wife, Betsy Elliott, who was a native of Ireland, also passed away in this locality. The parents of Thomas A. were Thomas and Maria (Torry) Elliott. The father, who was born on the old homestead in Harbor Creek township, died in November 1864, and his wife, a daughter of New York, survived him until 1905.
Thomas A. Elliott was the fourth child in the family and obtained the bulk of his education at the Erie Academy and Erie high school. At the age of twenty he became a telegraphic operator in the employ of the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad at Harbor Creek, and thus continued for three years when he was appointed station agent by the New York, Chicago & St. Louis Railroad, being the first to hold that position at Harbor Creek. He was thus engaged until February, 1908, when he removed to a portion of the old home estate which he, in the meantime, had inherited. Mr. Elliott has al- ways been a firm Republican and his constancy and public usefulness are proven by the fact that he has held the office of town clerk at Harbor Creek since 1888. In his fraternal relations he is identified with the North East Lodge and Mt. Olivet Commandery of the Masonic order and also belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America, of Erie. Mr. Elliott was married December 22, 1886, to Miss Jennie Whitley, a native of Mill Creek township, and a daughter of Benjamin B. and Isadore (Burton) Whitley, and their one child, T. Whitley Elliott, was born July 11, 1888.
LOUIS F. SHULTZ, who spent the last years of his life at Boscobel, Pennsylvania, was long known in Harbor Creek township as a pros- perous saw mill proprietor and was interested in the progress of the
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local schools. He was a native of the township named, born August 15, 1848, son of Christian and Sophia (Yaw) Shultz. His parents were both natives of Saxony, Germany, and coming to the United States on their wedding trip, about 1843, settled in Erie county, Penn- sylvania. The father was engaged for many years there as a weaver and employee of various woolen mills in the vicinity and resided in Harbor Creek township until the time of his death, with the exception of the period during which he served in the Civil war.
Louis F. Shultz, of this sketch, spent the chief part of his busi- ness life in the saw mill industry, also conducting for a long time a large cider mill which he erected between Greene and Harbor Creek townships. He was thus employed at the time of his death February 10, 1886. On May 13, 1873, Mr. Shultz married Miss Dora Goodwin, born in Harbor Creek township and a daughter of Lorenzo D. and Lorinda (Barnes) Goodwin, the early members of her family being prominent Bostonians. The father was also engaged in the saw mill business for many years, his death occurring November 22, 1895. After the death of her husband the widow made her home with her parents, in the southeast portion of Harbor Creek township and there resided until 1904 when she established her home at Wesleyville.
Prior to her marriage, Mrs. Shultz was a widely known school teacher, being employed in the educational field from the age of fifteen until her union to Mr. Shultz and for nine years after his death. Seven years of this period were spent in connection with the schools of Wesleyville and two years in the common institutions. In 1904 the widow purchased land in Wesleyville and erected thereon a large modern residence. She has, moreover, a natural gas well on her pro- perty from which she derives an abundant supply for heating and lighting purposes. It should be stated further regarding the Goodwin family that Mrs. Shultz's grandparents, Daniel and Elizabeth (Carl) Goodwin, were both natives of Maine, and that Solomon and Phebe (Taylor) Barnes, the grandparents on her mother's side, were of New York state. The Goodwin family was one of the prominent families of the Old Bay state, and Mrs. Shultz has a copy of the Coat of Arms, which the Earl Goodwin of "Merrie England" possessed. As early as 1815 the Goodwin family migrated from the Pine Tree state to Harbor Creek township where for many years Mr. Goodwin plied his trade as a cooper. At the age of fourteen, he was a mail carrier em- ployed by his father who had the government contract covering the section from Wesleyville, Pennsylvania, to Mayville, New York. Three days were spent in completing the trip which was made mostly along the bridle-path and the boy was thus employed for about three years. After his marriage he removed to Fox Lake, Dodge county, Wisconsin, making the trip overland by wagon and was engaged in real estate at that point for some time. As his mother was still living at Harbor Creek he returned to that locality twelve years later, having in the meantime served in the Civil war in connection with the commissary department of the government.
CASSIUS M. CHAMBERS owns and operates one of the valuable old homesteads of Harbor Creek township in Erie county. Benjamin Chambers, his father, was born in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, but in 1802, when he was but six months old, he was brought by his
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