A twentieth century history of Erie County, Pennsylvania : a narrative account of its historic progress, its people, and its principal interests, Volume II, Part 43

Author: Miller, John, 1849-
Publication date: 1909
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 910

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 43

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parents, Ezekiel and Rebecca (Custard) Chambers, to Harbor Creek township, Erie county. Here in his early life he married Philinda Sewell, who was born in Rome, Oneida county, New York, in 180%, a daughter of Ebenezer and Luanna (Orton) Sewell. She was but a child when she came with her parents to this township, and after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Chambers located on the farm he had bought in Harbor Creck township. That was their home until 1852. when they sold the place and bought what has since become known as the old Chambers homestead a half a mile east of their first pur- chase, and there the wife died on the 7th of December, 1880, and the husband on the 7th of August, 1894. Their six children were : Elizabeth, who died at the age of thirty-eight years; Eugene R., who was twenty-six years of age at the time of his death, dying from the effects of his army life ; Sophia, who became the wife of Frank Folder and died in Mantua, Ohio, in 1862; Amanda, who resides on the old home farm; Cassius M., mentioned below ; and George, who died in July of 1906.

Cassius M. Chambers was born in Harbor Creek township July 1, 1845, and he remained at home and cared for his parents until their death, his father having been an invalid with rheumatism for forty years or more. By buying at different times the interests of the other heirs he is now the sole owner of this old homestead farm, and with the exception of his ten acres of vineyard the place is devoted to gardening purposes. He married on the 10th of December, 1869, Maria Funston, a cousin of General Funston, who was born in De Witt, Onondaga county, New York, a daughter of Thomas and Maria E. (Hamilton) Funston, from Connecticut. The children of this union are : Jessie, who was born on Mav 28, 1871, and is the wife of Wilford Bliley, of Wesleyville, Pennsylvania; Benjamin F., born March 19, 1874, resides in Harbor Creek township; Clara B., born July 30, 1879, is the wife of W. O. Smith, of Erie; Anna M., born June 2, 1885, died February 17, 1886. Since the 25th of May, 1902. Miss Irene Stephenson has made her home with Mr. and Mrs. Cham- bers. She was born in Erie, Pennsylvania, February 3, 1891, a daugh- ter of George A. and Margaret Irene (Rankin) Stephenson, who were from Canada, but both are now deceased. Mr. Chambers affili- ates with the Republican party. During the past nine years he has served as a school director, and in 1902 he was elected the township tax collector.

HARRISON H. LEWIS. Generously endowed with the energy, enter- prise and push characteristic of the American people, Harrison H. Lewis, of Greenfield township, Erie county, is actively identified with the promotion of the mercantile interests of this part of the Keystone state, being proprietor of a general store at Ashton's Corners, where he has a large and rapidly increasing trade. A son of Horace Lewis, he was born, April 20. 1818, in Illinois, coming from pioneer stock, his grandfather, Nelson Lewis, having been an early settler of Erie county.

Born in Berlin, New York, January 18, 1814, Nelson Lewis was there reared and married. In 1852 he migrated to Erie county, Penn- sylvania, locating in Greenfield township, where he purchased four hundred acres of timbered land. He made valuable improvements on the place, and in 1857 purchased two hundred acres of near-by

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land, and on this estate of six hundred acres was engaged in agri- cultural pursuits until his death, May 2, 1860. He was a man of prominence in the community, serving in various township offices. and for seven years as justice of the peace. He was a sincere Chris- tian, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He married Lydia Shaw, who was born, in 1815, in New York state, their mar- riage being solemnized April 2, 1832. She survived him many years, dying May 13, 1899. They were the parents of seven children, as follows: Sarah, Harrison H., Phenius, Daniel, Benjamin, Lester and Horace.

Horace Lewis was born in Allegheny county, New York, and as a boy came with his parents to Greenfield township, Erie county, where he was educated. He subsequently lived for a few years in Illinois, but returned abont 1880 to Erie county, his former home, preferring life in this part of the union. He married first, in 18:1. Emma Rugg, who was born in Cattaraugus county, New York, and died in Erie county, Pennsylvania, April 15, 1888. On August 7. 1889, he married for his second wife Alice A. Austin. By his first marriage, he became the father of six children, namely : Harrison Il., of this sketch ; Alta ME. : Florence M. : Charles ; Cora ; and Arthur E., deceased. Of his second union eleven children have been born, as follows : Walter M., Roscoe R., Edna E., Zella E., Leon L., Clyde C., Clayton H., Forest, Harold G., Winifred A., and Daniel R.

Brought up and educated in Erie county, Harrison H. Lewis occupies a noteworthy position among its esteemed business men. In 1908 he bought, of Mrs. A. D. Weaver, his present store at Ash- ton's Corners, a store which was established here in 1902. A man of enterprise and keen foresight. he possesses a good understanding of the best methods of so conducting his affairs as to secure profit- able returns, and his good success is made evident to all by his con- stantly growing patronage, his large stock of general merchandise being carefully selected, Mr. Lewis's aim being to please the eye and taste of each of his numerous customers.

In 1908 Mr. Lewis was united in marriage with Ella M. Gabriel. who was born in Chautauqua county, New York, May 18, 1889, and they have one child, Beatrice E. Lewis, born June 23, 1909.

JAMES M. HUMPHREY. For many years James M. Humphrey was actively identified with the agricultural growth and prosperity of Chautauqua county, New York, his homestead in French Creek town- ship having been highly improved. and under a fine state of cultiva- tion. An energetic and progressive farmer, thorough-going and sys- tematic in his methods, he used the most modern approved machinery in carrying on his agricultural labors, his equipments and improve- ments comparing favorably with the best in the vicinity. Since re- tiring from active business, he has resided in Corry, Pennsylvania, en- joying to the utmost a well-earned leisure. A son of Hiram Humph- rey, he was born. February 4, 1827, in Attica, New York, in what was then Genesee county, but is now within the limits of Wyoming county. His grandfather, Ebenezer Humphrey, was a pioneer settler of Attica, and upon the farm that he reclaimed from the dense forest spent the

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later years of his life. Ile was twice married, his first wife, Ilarriet Symons, having been the mother of his son Iiram.

Born in Marcellus, Onondaga county, New York, Hiram Humph- rey was a small lad when his parents removed to Attica, where he grew to man's estate. In 1806 he started westward in search of a desirable place in which to locate, journeying with teams through the almost unbroken wilderness to Warren county, Pennsylvania. In Columbus township he bought sixty acres of land, a small part of which was partly cleared. Moving into the log house which had been built in the opening, he at once began, with characteristic enter- prise and courage, the improvement of a homestead. Successful in his operations, he cleared the land, put up substantial frame build- ings, and was there engaged in tilling the soil until his death, at the age of eighty-eight years. Hiram Humphrey married Betsey Hills. a native, it is thought, of Canajoharie, New York. Her father, Adino Hills, was a pioneer settler of Eagle, Genesee county. She died at the age of fifty-six years, leaving four children, Ardelia, Horatio, James M., and Lovica.

About three years old when his parents located in Warren county, Pennsylvania, James M. Humphrey obtained his early education in the typical log schoolhouse of pioneer times, with its earth and stick chimney, and its huge fireplace. The seats were rough slabs, with wooden pins inserted for legs, and as there were no desks the pupils used a board placed along one side of the building to write upon. Leaving home at the age of twenty-three years, Mr. Humphrey pur- chased a timbered tract of land in the town of French Creek, Chautau- qua county, New York, and there set up housekeeping in a log cabin. He cleared the land, erected a fine set of buildings, and was there prosperously engaged in general farming until 1892, making a specialty of raising fine graded stock. Renting his farm in that year, Mr. Humphrey removed to Corry, purchasing the house which he has since occupied, and in his pleasant home is living retired from active labor, devoting his time to the management of his personal interests. Mr. Humphrey has been twice married. He married first, in 1849, Electa Whitford, who was born in Chenango county, New York, a daughter of Ezekiel and Ruth (Rice) Whitford. She died in 1897. On June 11, 1900, Mr. Humphrey married for his second wife Mrs. Almira (Dewing) Smith, daughter of Elihu and Orpha (Brown) Dewing, and widow of Henry Delos Smith. She was born at French Creek, Chautauqua county, New York, May 18, 1838. One of the first fourteen settlers of French Creek township, Elihu Dewing fol- lowed a trail made by blazing trees in journeying from Canada, his native place, to his new home in the wilderness, there being then neither railroads nor canals across the country. Indians still inhabited the forests. and deer, bears, wolves and other wild animals were plentiful, and oftentimes destructive. Buying a tract of timbered land, he built a small log cabin, in which Mrs. Humphrey was born. which for a number of years the family occupied. The settlers lived on the products of the soil, and all dressed in homespun garments fashioned by the women of the household from material which they carded, spun and wove from the wool and flax raised on the farm. A few years later, having placed a part of his land under culture, Mr. Dewing sold at an advantage, and migrated with his family to Kansas.

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Becoming a pioneer of Sedgwick county, he bought a tract of prairie land near the present site of the now flourishing city of Wichita, which was then a small hamlet. During the unusually dry seasons that followed, many of the settlers of that locality lost heart, and left the country. He, however, persevered, improved his land, and before his death had the gratification of seeing the country round- about well settled, populous and prosperous. His wife was a native of New York, having been born in Lockport, a daughter of William and Mary (Weaver) Brown.

Henry Delos Smith, Mrs. Humphrey's first husband, was born in Columbus, Warren county, Pennsylvania, a son of Chauncey and Fanny (Eagles) Smith, pioneers of that place. After his marriage, he settled on a farm in French Creek township, and was there pros- perously engaged in agricultural pursuits until his death, in 1894. To him and his wife, now Mrs. Humphrey, four children were born, namely : Elmer E., who married Florence Woods, Katie M., who married George P. Brown, died at the age of twenty-four years, leav- ing one son, Elmer Ellis Brown, then sixteen months old, Charles H. died at the age of twenty-four years, and Millie Mary, wife of James H. Humphrey, has two adopted children, Floy May, and Charles Raymond. His wife died May 5, 1909.

By his first marriage, Mr. Humphrey reared five children, as follows: Eveline E., Mary J., Chloe A., James H., and George M. Eveline E., wife of Walter Sessions, has four children, Ora, Harry, Addie, and Tessic. Mary J., wife of Levant Olmstead, has four chil- dren, Frank, James, Belle, and Elbert. James H., as above mentioned, married Millie Mary Smith. George, who married Estella Wallace, has two children, Cecil and Ruth. Harry Sessions, Mr. Humphrey's grandson, married Alice , and they have two children, Beatrice and Harold. Elmer Ellis Brown was brought up after his mother's death by Mrs. Humphrey, and now has the care of her farm- ing property. He married Eva Moore, and they have one child, Alvan Kenneth Brown. Mr. Humphrey cast his first presidential vote for Zachary Taylor, the hero of the Mexican war. For many years after the formation of the Republican party, he was one of its stanchest supporters, but is now independent in politics, voting for the best men and measures, regardless of party affiliations.

CHRISTMAS EVANS, who was widely known as a prosperous farmer and good citizen of Harbor Creek township, was of an old Welsh family, born at Holly Head December 25, 1801. In 1855 he came with his family to the United States, first settling at Erie and soon afterward purchasing ninety-five acres of land in Harbor Creek town- ship. Fifty acres of this tract were timbered, but as he was a hardy Welshman and a good farmer he soon cleared the land and placed his farm under thorough cultivation and improvement. Since his death June 13, 1890, his daughter Grace has had the active manage- iment of the farm and the entire homestead.

In 1830, Christmas Evans was married in Wales to Miss Anna Hughes, who was born in that country in 1810. The eleven children born to them were as follows: Betsy, now deceased; Richard, who resides in Greenfield township, this county ; Margaret, now the widow of Ebenezer Davis, of Erie; William, who died as a soldier in the Civil war in 1864; Ellen, Jane and Jennie, all deceased; Grace, who

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conducts the home place ; John, who died in infancy; John (second) and Thomas. Mr. Evans' wife died April 21, 1891, less than a year after his own decease.

John and Thomas resided with their parents until their father's death when they removed to a farm of one hundred and thirty-one acres in Harbor Creek township and later purchased a farm of thirty- seven and one half acres in the same township. In 1896 they built a two-story frame house of ten rooms in which they comfortably spend their bachelor lives. Besides carrying on general farming operations, they conduct a large dairy, shipping their butter to Erie. They both obtained good common school educations, are firm Republi- cans and worthy citizens in every way.

DEWITT LLOYD BRACKEN. A man of excellent business qualifica- tions, honest and upright in his dealings, Dewitt L. Bracken has been identified with the mercantile interests of Erie for upwards of thirty- five years, as a member of the enterprising and substantial firm of Bracken Brothers, having established an extensive and lucrative business as a wholesale produce dealer. He was born, January 5, 1851, in Columbus, Warren county, being the fourth child in suc- cession of birth of George W. and Angeline (Lloyd) Bracken. An extended sketch of his parents and ancestors may be found elsewhere in this volume, in connection with the personal history of his brother, Charles H. Bracken.

Brought up and educated in his native town, Dewitt L. Bracken remained an inmate of the parental household until sixteen years old. Desirous then of making a start in life, he came, in 1867, to Corry in search of employment, and for five years served as clerk in a grocery store, in the meantime, being observing and quick of comprehension, obtaining a practical insight into the management of the business. Forming a partnership with his brother, Charles H. Bracken, in 18:2. under the firm name of Bracken Brothers, he has since been among the leading merchants of the city.

Mr. Bracken married, in November, 1864, Ella Page. She was born in Mercer, being a daughter of James B. and Mary (Carroll) Page. Mr. and Mrs. Bracken have two children, namely : Opal May, born April 19, 1888 ; and James W., born June 23, 1895. Religiously Mr. and Mrs. Bracken are valued members of the Methodist Episco- pal church.

I .. EMMETT TORRY. A leading citizen of general activity and public enterprise, L. Emmett Torry, of Erie, is one of the ablest members of the bar. He is of an old and honored family of Scotch-Irish de- scent, his grandfather, James Torry, being a native of Ireland who settled in Crawford county, Pennsylvania, in 1797. Upon first coming to America, however, he settled in Virginia, whence he migrated to the Keystone state. He married Miss Margaret Alexander, and one of their sons, also James Torry, wedded Miss Margaret Rubner. They became the parents of L. Emmett. The father was reared on the Torry farm in Crawford county ; engaged in agriculture all his life, and died on the place where he was born in 1881, his widow surviving him until 1905.

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The Torry homestead in Venango township, Crawford county, whose age entitles it to the title of "ancestral estate," is also the birth- place of L. Emmett Torry, who reached his youth in the same locality and there obtained a district school education. Later, he attended the State Normal at Edinboro, and while pursuing his course was obliged to teach school in order to "work his way through." That expression, although hackneyed, has a world of meaning for thou- sands of successful men of today, who thus chose to obtain a fore- taste of the difficulties which stand in the way of honorable progress, and whose mastery no sturdy member of the community can afford to put off until the very moment of launching himself among them. Graduating from the normal school in 1884, Mr. Torry continued his career as an educator, at the same time commencing the study of law. Ile began his professional studies in the latter field at Mead- ville, Pennsylvania, and completed them in the office of Vincent and Walling, Eric, being admitted to the bar in the latter city, on the 18th of October, 1881. MIr. Torry selected Erie as the place to inau- gurate liis practice, with good judgment, as his progress of the inter- vening twenty-two years has proven. He is an active and leading member of the Erie Bar Association, of the Country Club and other organizations, and his honorable standing as a citizen is indicated by his election to the presidency of the Erie Board of Trade, his term of office covering 1908-9. He is a married man of domestic tempera- ment, his wife being formerly Miss Henrietta Degmeyer, daughter of G. F. Degmeyer, a most reputable Erie citizen.

ELMER ELLSWORTH BUSH. Possessing those personal traits of character that win the respect and esteem of a community, Elmer Ellsworth Bush holds an assured position among the valued citizens of Corry, which has been his home for many years. A son of Willis Henry Bush, he was born, October 16, 1860, in Columbus township, Warren county, Pennsylvania. The representative of one of the early colonial families of New England, he is a descendant in the fifth generation of Joshua Buslı, a farmer of Enfield, Connecticut.

Mr. Bush's grandfather, Rev. Joshua Bush, and his great-grand- father, Jonathan Bush, were both natives of Enfield, the birth of the former occurring December 9, 1788, and that of the latter March 3, 1747. Migrating to Chenango county, New York, in 1788, Jonathan Bush was for a number of years proprietor of a hotel in the town of Oxford, on the old stage coach line, that being long before the time of railroads. Subsequently removing to that part of the county now included within the town of Guilford, he bought a farm, on which he resided until his death, February 23, 1816. He married Patience Killum, who was born, September 30, 1750, in Enfield, Connecticut, and died, January 12, 1828, in Guilford. New York.

Rev. Joshua Bush was reared and educated in Chenango county, New York. In early life he started across the country with ox-teams, the favorite mode of traveling in pioneer days, for Chautauqua county, locating in Ellington at a time when settlers were few and far between. Purchasing wild land, he cleared a part of it, and in 1825 sold out at an advance. Going from there to Warren county, Pennsylvania, he settled in Columbus township, about four miles from the present site of the village of Columbus. There were no railroads in the vicinity

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for many years after that time, and no near-by markets. Deer, wild turkeys and other kinds of game were plentiful, and, with the pro- ductions of the soil, furnished the chief subsistence of the pioneer families. Having previously united with the Christian church, the Rev. Joshua Bush became a local preacher, and as an evangelist did successful work in that region. Occupying the farm that he cleared from the forest, he moved, about 1870, to the village of Columbus, where he lived retired until his death, in the ninety-fifth year of his age, being then a lale and hearty man, bearing with ease and dignity the burden of his years. His death was accidental, a runaway team colliding with the carriage in which he was riding, throwing him out, and injuring him in such a manner as to cause his death, which oc- curred in September, 1883. The maiden name of his wife was Lovincy Ingersoll. She was born in Chenango county, New York, where her parents, Oliver and Hannah (Burgett) Ingersoll, natives of Massa- chusetts, settled as pioneers. Nine children were born of their union. as follows: Tabitha, Maria, Alonzo, Sally, Hannah, Harriet, William. Willis Henry, and Editha.

Born in Columbus township, Warren county, May 30, 1830, Willis Henry Bush was brought up on the home farm, and after grow- ing to manhood bought, of his father, a tract of partly improved land in Columbus township. Erecting a good set of buildings, he con- tinually added to the improvements of the place, and subsequently increased the amount of its acreage by the purchase of adjoining land. There, successfully employed in his chosen occupation, he lived un- til 1890. Coming then to Corry, he bought a home, and here lived retired from active pursuits until his death, March , 1892. He mar- ried Mary E. Baker, who was born in Columbus township, Warren county, November 16, 1841, a daughter of Tilly Baker, and grand- daughter of David and Lucy (Bowen) Baker, of whom further record may be found on another page of this work, in connection with the sketch of Capt. Marion N. Baker. Tilly Baker was born in Smyrna, Chenango county, New York, but was reared in Cattaraugus county. where his parents settled when he was young, buying land near Farmersville. He assisted his father in clearing and improving a homestead, and when ready to start in life for himself removed to Warren county, Pennsylvania, becoming a pioneer of Columbus town- ship. Buying land that was still in its virgin wildness, he labored heroically to clear a farm from the wilderness, and in the course of time was well rewarded for his labors. On this farm he resided until his death. The maiden name of his wife was Phoebe Marble. Mrs. Mary E. (Baker) Bush survived her husband many years, passing away June 6, 1904. Two children were born of their union, namely : Elmer Ellsworth, the subject of this brief sketch ; and Emmett, who died at the age of nine years.

Brought up on the home farm, Elmer E. Bush attended the dis- trict schools, and assisted his father in his agricultural work, living beneath the parental roof-tree until ready to take upon himself the cares and responsibilities of a married man. Since that time Mr. Bush has resided in Corry, and has been variously employed, his private interests demanding much of his time and attention.

On October 3, 1882, Mr. Bush married Ina Curtis. She was born in Columbus township, Warren county, a daughter of De Lafayette

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Curtis. Her grandfather, Captain David Curtis, was born in Wood- bury, Litchfield county, Connecticut, August 12, 1786, a son of James Curtis, whose birth occurred in the same town, in 1762. During the Revolutionary war, James Curtis served five enlistments. Late in the eighteenth century, he removed to Chenango county, New York, becoming an early settler of Sherburne, where he improved a farm, and spent the remainder of his days, passing away in 1835. He mar- ried Amy Seymour, who was born June 9, 1761, and died November 8, 1826. In 1822 Captain David Curtis visited Warren county, as an agent for H. J. Huydenkupper, who was associated with the Holland Land Company, making the entire journey overland. Returning to Chenango county, New York, he staid there about a year, and then took his family to Warren county, traveling the distance with teams, and located in Columbus township, where he resided until his death, in 1832. His wife, formerly Delilah Scars, lived until an advanced age, passing away in 1822. De Lafayette Curtis was a life-long resi- dent of Warren county. during his earlier life carrying on farming in Columbus township, and spending his last days, retired from active business, in the village of Columbus, where his death occurred in February, 1908, at the age of eighty-two years. He married. Melissa Dewey, who was born in Columbus township, in 1829, and died in January, 1886. Six children were born of their union, namely : Eloine, Emmett, Sybil, Ina, Fayette, and Albert. Mr. and Mrs. Bush have two children, Emmett and Albert. In his political affiliations Mr. Bush is a straightforward Republican.

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A twentieth century history of Erie County, Pennsylvania : a narrative account of its historic progress, its people, and its principal interests, Volume II, Part 43

Author: Miller, John, 1849- Publication date: 1909 Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 910

Author: Miller, John, 1849-
Publication date: 1909
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 910