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 47
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GEORGE M. TIrus. Occupying a position of importance among the public officials of the city of Corry is George M. Titus, a man of ability and integrity, eminently trustworthy, who is now serving his third term as city comptroller. A son of Chauncey Titus, he was born, November 23, 1852, in Olean, Cattaraugus county, New York, of thrifty New England ancestry.
Chauncey Titus was born, reared and married in Connecticut. He there learned the trade of a blacksmith, which he subsequently followed in Olean, for a little while, after which he was a hotel keeper in that place for a short time. He subsequently engaged in the drug business at Olean, and still later took a contract to supply the Erie Railroad Company with wood to burn in its engines. Removing from there to Corry, Pennsylvania, on December ?, 1862, he bought two acres of land on East Main and Hill streets. Making a large addition to the frame house which stood upon that land, he opened it as a hotel, naming it the Titus House, and managed it for upwards of twenty years, making an ideal host. Selling out at the end of that time, he removed to Little Valley, Cattaraugus county, New York, where he built a hotel, which he conducted for about five years, when he sold it. He went from there to Iowa in search of a favorable loca- tion, but not satisfied with anything that he found soon returned to Corry, where, but a short time later, his death occurred. The maiden name of his wife was Susan Maria Smith. She was born in Sher- burne, Chenango county, New York, a daughter of Caleb Smith, and is now living with her daughter in Binghamton, New York. She had but two children, Lena, and George M.
After leaving the public schools, in which he was educated, George M. Titus entered the employ of H. C. Maxwell, with whom he spent two years learning the trade of a gig and saddle maker. Mr. Maxwell selling out, he sought other work, and for two months was employed in the shops of the Climax Manufacturing Company. Desirous then of learning the cigar maker's trade, Mr. Titus served an apprenticeship of three years with John Turner, at the end of that time being made foreman of the shop, a position which he retained until the death of Mr. Turner, some seven years later. Continuing work with Mr. Turner's successor, Mr. Titus remained with him three years, and then accepted a position as a foreman in the Warren Cigar Works, at Warren, Pennsylvania, where he stayed four years. Coming then to Corry, he entered the office of Riddlesbeyer Brothers & Cogswell, where for two years he was assistant book-keeper. The firm selling then to Cogswell, Eaton & Gay, Mr. Titus was made head book-keeper, and remained with the company in that capacity for ten years. The firm then changed partners, the new name being Cogswell & Brown, and Mr. Titus gave up his position and began the study of law with George Olmstead. Being admitted to the bar in 1899, he began the practice of his profession in Corry, but his health began to fail, and for two years he did but little active labor. In 1900 he was elected city comptroller, and served so acceptably that he has since been twice honored with a re-election to this office, and is now serving his third term.
On September 26, 1882, Mr. Titus married Jennie S. Crapser. who was born in Cleveland, Ohio, a daughter of George B. and Hannah (Randerson) Crapser. Mr. and Mrs. Titus are the parents of
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two children, namely : Margaret, and Douglas. The latter married Anna Cottrell. Fraternally Mr. Titus is a member of the Royal Arcanum, and of the Knights of The Maccabees.
ISAAC WOLF, for many years identified with the farming interests of Erie county and also a member of one of its pioneer families, was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, April 11, 1827, a son of Cyrus and Mary ( Platt) Wolf. They came from their native county of Lancaster to Mill Creek township in Erie county in 1838, and they were farming people there during the remainder of their lives.
The second born of their children, Isaac, remained at home with his parents until his marriage, and with his young wife he then lo- cated on a farm in Mill Creek township and lived there for eleven years. Coming then to North East township he bought and sold several farms here, and in March of 1900 became the owner of the present Wolf home in the town of North East, where he died a few years afterward, on the 15th of August, 1904. Erie county had been his home for many years, and he was known and honored to many of its residents.
He married on the 4th of October, 1853, Eliza Myers, from Fairview township in Erie county, a daughter of Samuel and Mary (Heiss) Myers, natives respectively of Cumberland county, Pennsyl- vania, and of Lancaster, that state. Her maternal grandfather was William Heiss, of German parentage. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Wolf are: Clara, the wife of F. J. Moore, of Dover, Dela- ware; Perry, of Ripley, New York; Willis, whose home is in North East township; Edward who died in infancy ; Frank, who died at the age of nineteen years; Nelson, of North East township; Mary, the wife of John Beatty, also of the township of North East; and Charles and Boyd, both in Chautauqua county, New York.
MARTIN S. GILLASPIE, M. D. Noteworthy among the more prom- inent citizens of Edinboro, Erie county, is Dr. Martin S. Gillaspie, who is distinguished as a native-born resident, as the descendent of a pioneer family of worth, and as a fine representative of the medical profession of Erie county. A son of the late Martin Gillaspie, he was born January 15, 1861, in Edinboro, and here in the common schools, laid a substantial foundation for his future education. His paternal grandfather, David Gillaspie, was a life-long resident of Onondaga county, New York, but after his death his widow, whose name was either Margaret Gillaspie or Nancy Gillaspie, came, about 1840, to Pennsylvania, and spent her remaining years in Erie county.
Martin Gillaspie was born, April 30, 1818, in Onondaga county, New York, and there learned the trade of a stone mason. When a young man, he came to Erie county, and having purchased land in Washington township, carried on farming in connection with his trade until his death. He married Georgiana Taylor, a native of Can- ada, and into their home five children were born, namely: H. G., G. H., D. E., Sarah Anna, and Martin S.
After leaving the public schools, Martin S. Gillaspie continued his studies in the Edinboro Normal School, and in 1895 was gradu- ated from the Medical Department of the University of Pennsyl- vania, with the degree of M. D. Immediately commencing the prac-
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tice of his profession in Edinboro, Dr. Gillaspie has since remained here, having built up a large and remunerative patronage in this vicinity.
NELSON KIMMY, the practical and prosperous farmer of the town- ship of Wayne, was born in Amity township, Erie county, on June 27, 1857, the son of William and Clarissa (Fronce) Kimmy, the former a native of Meadville, Crawford county, Pennsylvania, and the latter of Mckean township, this county. The father came to Erie county about the year 1855, locating first in Amity township where he pur- chased a small saw-mill and became interested in the manufacture of lumber. Here he made a considerable advance financially and then resided in Union township, and also was a resident of Crawford county. He later purchased the farm of one hundred and seventy acres which his son now owns, and which was then familiarly known as the "Perkins Place." He was married twice. By his first wife he had one child-Madeline E., and by his second, two children-Nelson, of this sketch, and Evelyn, the latter being the wife of John Caflisch, one of the leading business men of Union City. William Kimmy expired March 5, 1901, in Corry, and was followed in death by his beloved wife, April 20, 1906.
Nelson Kimmy, of this review, was raised and educated in his native township, and in 1878 settled on the fertile and up-to-date dairy farm of one hundred and seventy acres which he now occupies, and which he operated with his father up to the time of the latter's death. He is also possessor of a fine herd of twenty fine dairy cattle. Mr. Kimmy was united in matrimony to Miss Martha E. Condon, of Elk Creek township on October 19, 1886, and of their eight children, the following seven survive: Harry L., Eugene L., John W .. James Arthur, Frederick G., Myron Nelson and Delford Ozel. Mr. Kimmy is a Republican, but he is a believer in the principles which sustain the poor and honest man.
CLARK CURTIS. An important factor in developing and main- taining the agricultural prosperity of Erie county, Clark Curtis is pleasantly located in Venango township, where he is profitably en- gaged in general farming, managing his estate with ability and suc- cess. A native of this township, he was born in 1859, a son of Stephen and Julia (Brown) Curtis, both of whom were born and reared in Franklin, Pennsylvania. His parents bought one hundred acres of land in Venango township, and improved a good farm, on which they spent their remaining years, the mother dying in 1902, and the father in 1905. They reared three children, namely : Clark, Sam- uel, and Gilman.
Growing to maturity on the parental homestead, Clark Curtis received a practical education in the district school, in the meantime becoming familiar with the various branches of agriculture. Choos- ing for his life work the free and independent occupation to which he was brought up. he has been uniformly successful in his labors, and in 1898 purchased his present farm of one hundred acres. Here he is carrying on general farming, raising abundant crops of the cereals common to this part of the country, at the same time devoting a part of his time to dairving, keeping a herd of twenty fine graded cows. His farm is well improved, and judiciously cultivated, consti-
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HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY
tuting with its appointments and equipments one of the model farms of the neighborhood.
Mr. Curtis married, in 1879, Elizabeth, daughter of Randall How- ard, of this county, and they have four children, Mark, Maud, Mary, and Clyde. Mrs. Curtis was born, bred and educated in Venango township, her birth occurring in 1855.
WILLIAM DELOSS TAGGART, for many years identified with the farming interests of Girard township, was born on the old Taggart homestead where he now resides July 30, 1842, and he is a member of one of the first families to establish their home in Erie county. His parents, William and Susannah ( Higbee) Taggart, are mentioned in the sketch of his brother on other pages of this work.
In 1864, during the latter part of the Civil war, William D. Taggart enlisted for service in the navy, and was assigned to the "Quaker City," a wooden vessel engaged principally in blockade service. He is now a member of Lewis Post No. 359, G. A. R., at Fairview. He married Sarah E. Barker, a daughter of Edwin Barker and a granddaughter of Philo Barker, names prominent in Erie county history, and two children were born to them, Edwin Roy and Isabelle. The son married Susan Shutt, and resides on the farm with his father. The daughter married James Noyes, of Girard township, and they have one child, Sarah Ethel. Mrs. Taggart, the wife and mother is now deceased. Mr. Taggart has been a life-long farmer and a life-long resident of Erie county, with whose interests he has been prominently identified, and he has worthily upheld the prestige of an honored family name. His politics are Re- publican.
JOSEPH O. BALDWIN is one of the honored pioneer residents of Erie county, and he is now living retired after many years of active and honorable labor. He was born in Franklin county, Massachu- setts, Aug. 16, 1828, a son of Phineas and Mary (Welsh) Baldwin, who moved from that state to Cleveland, Ohio, and there spent the remainder of their lives.
In the early days of its history, Joseph O. Baldwin came to Waterford, but after a short time here went to Cleveland, Ohio, and for two years was the foreman of a lumber yard there. He was married in that city in 1853, and in the following year moved with his young wife to Adrian, Michigan, where he worked in the car shops for nine years, and at the close of that period he returned to Waterford township, in Erie county, and bought a farm of one hun- dred acres. He later became the owner of a tract of fifty acres just at the edge of Waterford borough, and he carried on general farming there until within the past few years, when he has lived with a daughter on a farm near Waterford. When he first came to the town- ship, before going to Cleveland, Mr. Baldwin worked in the saw mill which was sawing the lumber for the old plank road between Erie and Meadville. This was in the days before the advent of the rail- road, he having made the journey hither by boat, and he is truly numbered among the county's earliest living pioneers.
His marriage to Sarah Corvilla Phenix, which was celebrated in Erie. Ohio. in 1853, was blessed by the birth of three children. Marcia, wife of Charles Skinner, a resident of Washington township,
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engaged in the oil industry, has four children : Mabel, Thaddeus, Theo- dore and Clarence ; Mabel wedded Philip Blond and they have three children: Arthur, Nellie and Virginia. Nellie M. is the wife of Charles Lane, a farmer of Waterford township, and they have four children : Lucile, Joseph and Aaron (twins), and Leora. Annie M. wedded W. A. Owen, a farmer residing in Waterford township, and they have three children: Georgia, Robert and Wallace. Mr. Bald- win is a stanch Republican politically. His paternal grandfather Baldwin was a soldier in the Revolutionary war.
FRANK M. PRESTON, a prosperous dairy and stock farmer, of Amity township, was born in New York state, December 8, 1859, and is the son of Lorenzo and Martha (Robinson) Preston, both natives of New York, and grandson of William and Electa (Lamphier) Pres- ton, of New York. William Preston owned a valuable farm of two hundred and forty acres, in Erie county, Pennsylvania, and was a thrifty and prosperous farmer, also operating a grist mill; he had nine children, the only one still living being Mrs. Emma Williams.
Lorenzo and Martha Preston had children as follows: Byron, Ida M. (deceased), Frank M., William R., George B., Mary C., and Kitty M. ; Frank M. is the only one residing in Erie county.
Frank M. Preston came to Erie county with his parents when but a few months old, and here received his education. He is enter- prising and progressive, and on his farm of seventy-two acres, uses modern agricultural machinery. He keeps fourteen head of cattle, of which nine are Red Polled, thoroughbreds, and his daily output of milk is three hundred and twenty-five pounds. He is a public-spirited and enterprising citizen, and has served three terms as director of the school board.
Mr. Preston married, September 10, 1880, Ada McAlister, and to them have been born three children, Ida M., a teacher of music, Lena M., who teaches school, and Charles M., who is a merchant. Mr. Preston is a Prohibitionist in politics and a stanch advocate of its principles.
CHARLES MCLAUGHLIN, who during many years has been prom- inently identified with the business interests of Edinboro, was born at Sterrettania, in McKean township, Erie county, October 11, 1836, a son of Thomas and Honora (Fagan) Mclaughlin. Thomas Mc- Laughlin, who was born to John and Mary (Spence) McLaughlin on March 28, 196, in County Tyrone, Ireland, came to the United States in 1818, and after spending three years in the state of Georgia came north to New York City and became the owner of a farm in what is now the heart of that great city. But becoming ill he disposed of his property there and located in Mill Creek township of Erie county, Pennsylvania, on what is now Twenty-second street of Erie, where, during four or five years, he worked at brick making. Moving then to Sterrettania in McKean township he was engaged in farming dur- ing the remainder of his life and died there on the 5th of March, 1880. During a number of years he served as the supervisor of Mckean township, and for twenty-one years was its auditor.
His wife was born in Mill Creek township, of Erie county, in July of 1807. a daughter of John and Mary (Logan) Fagan. The
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parents were born in York county, Pennsylvania, but coming to Erie county, Pennsylvania, in 1800 they located in Mill Creek township, east of the city of Erie on what is known as Fagan's Road, where they cleared a farm of one hundred acres and lived for fifty years. Mr. Fagan was a Revolutionary soldier, entering the army when but eleven years of age and he was discharged at the age of fifteen. He also took part in the war of 1812, serving as a waiter for Mad Anthony Wayne, and he was also with Perry at the battle of Lake Erie. He now lics buried in the city of Erie. Ten children were born to Mr. and Mrs. McLaughlin, namely : John, deceased; Mary Jane, who married James Kennedy and resides in Crawford county, Pennsyl- vania ; Elizabeth, the deceased wife of M. Ricks; Thomas, deceased ; Charles, who is mentioned below; Rosanna, who married Michael Harmon and lives in Girard, this county ; Michael, who resides on the old Mclaughlin farm ; Hannah, deceased; Edward, whose home is in Mckean township; and James C., deceased. Mrs. McLaughlin died on the 4th of September, 1858.
Charles McLaughlin spent the first twenty-three years of his life at home with his parents, and after working for a time at the carpenter's trade, he bought a small farm and also conducted the R. T. Stewart farm until enlisting for the Civil war. He became a member in 1863 of Company I, One Hundred and Second Pennsyl- vania Volunteer Infantry, as a private, took an active part with his regiment in the conflict, and was present at the surrender of Lee. After his honorable discharge in 1865 he returned home, but was ill, during the following year, and after his recovery he followed car- pentering and farming until 1878. From that time until 1895 he was engaged in the house moving business, and then until February of 1898 he operated the Keystone mill in Edinboro. He owns a num- ber of splendid farms in Erie and Crawford counties, and his time is devoted to looking after these estates and to his real estate business.
Mr. McLaughlin married Miss Margaret McIntosh, who died in the city of New York in 1903, and lies buried at Crossettville, in Crawford county, Pennsylvania. Their union was blessed by the birth of fifteen children, namely: Thomas W., whose home is in Oklahoma; James, deceased; John F., of Detroit, Michigan; Mary A., who became the wife of Michael Nash and is deceased; Lizzie, deceased ; Dora, whose home is in Wichita, Kansas; Michael, of New York City; Abbie, the wife of John Murphy, of Crawford county ; Allie, of New York City ; Ves, who for eight years was a member of the navy and is now living in the city of New York; Lorene, who married S. F. Eckles and lives in Rochester, New York; Charles, of Wichita, Kansas; Bertha. the wife of Guy Baker, of Akron, Ohio; Bernice, deceased ; and Henry, whose home is also in the city of New York. Mr. McLaughlin is a member of Proudfit Post No. 416 at Edinboro. He is one of th best known citizens and business men of this community.
ELMER M. LOVE. Having a natural taste for mechanics, Elmer M. Love has applied himself diligently to the study of everything con- nected with the mechanical arts and sciences, and is now successfully operating the foundry established in Corry by his father, the late Milton Love. A native of Chautauqua county, New York, he was
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born in the town of Chumley, February 3, 1862. His grandfather, Erastus Love, was born near Attica, New York, a son of Richard Love, a fariner, who moved from Wyoming county, New York, to Chautauqua county in pioneer days, and there, living with his chil- dren, spent his last days, dying at the remarkable age of one hun- dred and four years.
But a child when he went with his parents from Wyoming county to Chautauqua county, Erastus Love spent his earlier life in helping his father clear and improve a homestead. Developing a liking for agricultural pursuits, he chose farming for his life occupation, living for a number of seasons near Poland, New York. He afterwards spent some time with his wife's people, and then came to Corry, Pennsylvania, where he resided during the remainder of his life, passing away at the age of seventy-five years. His wife, whose girl- hood name was Catherine Love, was born at St. Clareville, Chau- tauqua county, New York. Her father was born in the eastern part of New York, being a son, so saith tradition, of John Love, Sr., who was born in the North of Ireland, of Scotch ancestry, emigrated to America when young, locating in New York state. John Love mar- ried Polly Bronson, a native of Chautauqua county, New York, and subsequently bought land in Gerry, where he carried on farming successfully for many years, acquiring a competency, after which he lived retired until his death, at the age of three score years, his death occurring in St. Clareville. Catherine Love died in 1840, at a comparatively early age, leaving five children, as follows: Melissa, Margaret, Milton, Merritt, and Marvin, all of whom have passed to the higher life.
Born in Gerry, Chautauqua county, New York, October 23, 1835, Milton Love was brought up on the parental homestead, and acquired his education in the district schools. He subsequently served an apprenticeship at the machinist's trade in Buffalo, after which he followed the tide of emigration across the country to California. There he was first employed in installing saw-mill machinery for some Mormons, after which he turned his attention to mining, remain- ing on the Pacific coast until 1860. Returning then, by way of the Isthmus of Panama, to Chautauqua county, New York, he followed his trade in Chumley for three or more years. Locating in Corry, Pennsylvania, in January, 1864, he opened a blacksmith's shop, and the same year enlisted, in Dunkirk, New York, in Company I, One Hundred and Eighty-seventh New York Volunteer Infantry. Going to the front with his regiment, he was severely wounded at the battle of Hatcher's Run, and was subsequently confined in the hospital until the close of the war. Being honorably discharged in Buffalo, he re- turned to Corry, where he continued his occupation as a blacksmith until 1886, when he established the foundry now operated by his son Elmer. He lived to the age of three score and ten years, spend- ing the last few years retired from active business.
Milton Love married Caroline M. Cobb, who was born in a log house, situated on the Read farm, in the town of Charlotte, Chau- tauqua county, New York, August 27, 1842. Her father. George Cobb, was born in St. Clareville, Chautauqua county, which was also the birthplace of his father, Bassett Cobb. Her great-grandfather. David Cobb, was born, it is thought, in the eastern part of New York.
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As a young man he migrated to Chautauqua county, journeying with ox-teams, oftentimes being forced to cut his way through the forests. Buying wild land, he cleared and improved a farm, on which he spent the remainder of his life. He was a very successful business man, acquiring a handsome property, and assisted each of his children to a farm. Bassett Cobb married Harriet Porter, a native of Utica, New York, and a niece of General Wolfe, who was brother to her mother. After his marriage, he settled on land given him by his father. Sub- sequently selling out, he came with his family to Erie county, Penn- sylvania, locating at Harbor Creek, where he resided the remainder of his life. His wife survived him, and spent her closing years in Michigan, making her home with her children. George Cobb was born and brought up on a farm, but having learned the trades of a carpenter and millwright when young, followed those occupations throughout his active life. He spent his last years in Fredonia, New York, pass- ing away at the venerable age of four score and four years. His wife, whose maiden name was Maria White, was born, in 1819, in South Hadley, Massachusetts. Her father, Horace White Jr., a son of Horace White Sr., was born and bred in Massachusetts, and for many years owned and operated a cotton mill on the Connecticut river. On account of ill health, he sold his mill, moved with his family to Western New York, spending his last days in Chautauqua county. He married Jerusha Skinner, a native of Connecticut, and she died before he did, dying when but thirty years old. Mrs. Caro- line M. (Cobb) Love is now living in Corry, which is also the home of her four children : Elmer, Earl, Catherine, and Grace.
Having completed the course of study in the graded schools, and the Corry high school, Elmer M. Love taught school in Chautauqua county, New York, for a year. Embarking then in business in Corry, he established a hardware store, and carried it on for a short time. Selling out at an advantage, he went to Washington Territory, where he installed the Spokane Water Works. Completing the contract, Mr. Love returned to Corry, entered the foundry with his father, and has since continued business as a foundryman, since the death of his father having had entire control of the plant.
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