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 49
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Mr. Lawrie wedded Miss Nellie Arron, of this city, a daughter of John Arron, deceased, and the couple reside in an elegant residence, which is supplied with every convenience with which to make domestic
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life happy. Mr. Lawrie is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias, the Royal Arcanum and a number of other social and fraternal organizations, his connections in these lines evidencing his belief in the brotherhood of mankind and in mutual helpfulness. He has always been deeply interested in the welfare of the city and the fact that he is a member of the Erie Chamber of Com- merce shows that he is a man who is ever ready to espouse and further such measures as will promote its business and financial interests. Mr. Lawrie is widely known as a young and aggressive business man and the part he has already taken in bringing the finances and commerce of the city to their present high place has won him the respect of the business men of the city, in which he is justly numbered as a repre- sentative and valued benefactor.
ISAAC ROBBINS REEDER, of Edinboro, was born just south of this village in Crawford county, Pennsylvania, in what is known as the Reeder Settlement, December 6, 1832, a son of James and Polly (Tay- lor) Reeder. James Reeder was born in Erie county, November 17, 1804, a son of Jobe and Nancy (Campbell) Reeder. Jobe Reeder, born April 29, 1776, came to Erie county about the year of 1799, and located in the southern part of Washington township. He married there on the 10th of March, 1800, Nancy Campbell, whose mother was one of the first settlers of Washington township, she having come from the eastern part of the state to near Edinboro in 1797, and she later married a Mr. Randolph. The names and dates of birth and death of the chil- dren of Mr. and Mrs. Reeder are as follows: Joseph, born September 23, 1802, died April 24, 1848; James, born November 17, 1804, died June 18, 1860 ; Dorothy, born January 16, 1807, died September 2, 1820 ; Jane, January 16, 1809, died May 9, 1848; Mary, April 29, 1811, died May 20, 1877 ; Jobe, February 27, 1813, died August 27, 1863 ; Eleanor, May 21, 1815, died September 23, 1894; John C., born November 7, 1817, died November 21, 1876; Samuel, born September 14, 1821, died September 2, 1901 ; Hannah, born December 11, 1823, died February 5, 1898 ; and Moses, born April 19, 1826, died March 22, 1899.
James Reeder, the second born son in the above family, at one time with his brother-in-law, Mr. Taylor, owned all of the land in the east- ern and southeastern part of the village of Edinboro, and to those two gentlemen belong the credit of laying out the streets and platting that part of the village. They also gave the land on which the Normal school is located, and it may be truthfully stated that had it not been for these public spirited citizens Edinboro would never have been the seat of this institution of learning. Throughout his entire life Mr. Reeder was a stanch advocate of education, and during a number of years served as a school director. He was not only a well-known agri- culturist, but also built and operated the saw mill a mile south of the village, which is now owned by his son Isaac. He was prominently identified with the early history of this community, and during the war of 1812 he was at several different times one of the guards of the city of Erie.
Mr. Reeder married on November 9, 1826, Polly Taylor, and they became the parents of the following children: James Oliver, born August 15. 1827, died May 4, 1857; Jobe D., born June 30, 1829, died March 16, 1842 ; Isaac Taylor, born August 19, 1831, died October 18,
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1831 ; Isaac Robbins, who is mentioned below ; Hattie Ann, born March 17, 1835, died August 27, 1899, and she married Martin Pratt; John Taylor, born February 4, 1837, died April 8, 1869 ; Mary Jane and one who died in infancy were twins, and the former, born on July 26, 1839, died when about two years of age; Louisa Flora, born July 22, 1841, married Charles Dale and resides at Franklin in Venango county, Penn- sylvania; Sally Dorothy, born December 6, 1843, died June 3, 1868; Fanny Quincina, born April 19, 1846, died January 25, 1871 ; Polly El- mira, born October 13, 1848, married James Martin and resides at New Castle, Pennsylvania ; Eleanor, born January 1, 1853, died November 21, 1895. Two of the daughters, Louisa Flora and Sally Dorothy, were the first two graduates of the Edinboro Normal after it came under state control, they having been the only members of their class, and both afterward taught in the institution for a number of years. The next younger sister, Fanny Quincina, also taught instrumental music there.
Isaac R. Reeder attended first the schools of Crawford county and later the old academy at Waterford in Erie county. In the year of 1853 he entered upon his business career as a farmer and lumberman, he hav- ing assumed control then of the old saw mill which his father had built, and he still continues to operate this old mill. At one time where it now stands the Reeder family owned six hundred acres of land, but at the present time only three-quarters of this once large estate is in their name, this forming a part of Isaac Reeder's mill yard. In about 1865 and in partnership with Isaac R. and Jobe Taylor he bought the Bur- lingham pump manufactory at Edinboro and engaged in the making of wooden pumps, following that occupation for many years, and after the death of one of the partners, Jobe Taylor, Dr. I. N. Taylor became interested in the firm. This business was successfully managed and conducted by Mr. Reeder, with the exception of the one year which he spent in the west, until it was destroyed by fire. With his youngest brother he in 1858 sailed from New York City around the Horn to Cres- cent City, Oregon, a journey of one hundred and thirty-three days, and after spending the summer on the Rogue river they returned via the Isthmus of Panama. Mr. Reeder throughout the active years of his business life has taken an active part in the advancement and welfare of his city and county, has served as a burgess, councilman and as- sessor, and he was one of the organizers of the Edinboro Savings Bank and one of its first directors. He is now the president of the bank. In 1862 he was made one of the directors of the Normal School, holding that office at different times for thirty-seven years, and he is now the president of the board. As did his father before, he takes an active and helpful interest in the cause of education.
Mr. Reeder married Miss Sarah T. Giles, who was born in Wash- ington township of Erie county, January 19, 1836, a daughter of Joseph and Tyler (Crossette) Giles. The parents were born and mar- ried in Massachusetts, and in 1818 they made the overland journey to Eric county, Pennsylvania, with a horse and yoke of oxen. locating in Washington township, and this was their wedding journey. Mr. Giles was for many years one of the prominent agriculturists of that township. The following children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Reeder : Eva, Fanny Edith and James Lynn, all of whom are deceased : Charles Joseph, the cashier of the National Exchange Bank in Carthage, New York, who wedded Miss Clara Jennie Richardson, of Lowville, Lewis
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county, New York, and has two children, Ronald Joseph Richardson and Roscoe Giles; and Anna Giles, the wife of A. A. Culbertson, of Erie. Mr. Reeder is an independent Republican voter, and with his wife he is a member of the Presbyterian church, and is one of its elders.
NORRIS S. WOODRUFF has been identified with the business and political life of Erie county for a long number of years, and is now serving as the postmaster of North East. He was born in Tompkins county, of New York, August 25, 1849, a son of Heman and Nancy J. (Norris) Woodruff, born respectively in Chautauqua county, New York, and in Sullivan county of the same state. The father was a son of Israel and Tamer (Hatch) Woodruff, natives of Connecticut, and the mother was a daughter of Stephen and Sally (Burr) Norris, from New York. Heman Woodruff was a farmer in Ripley, New York, from 1856, until his death in 1902, long surviving his wife, who passed away in 1860.
Norris S. Woodruff, the second born of their six children, two sons and four daughters, attended a private and high school at Ripley and the Westfield, New York, Academy. He was eighteen years of age when he left the parental home to begin his work as a school teacher in Chautauqua county, New York, but in 1880 he left the school room to become a carpenter and contractor, thus continuing until appointed the postmaster of North East. During all these years he has been an active local worker in the interests of the Republican party, and served as a member of the election board from 1888 until 1907, while for two terms he was a member of the Republican county central committee. Since 1906 he has served as a member of the school board of North East, serving three years as its secretary, two years as its president, and one year as its treasurer.
Mr. Woodruff married on September 24, 1872, Mary A. Phear, born in Stockton, Chautauqua county, New York, a daughter of Thomas and Paulina (Harris) Phear, the father born in England and the mother in Aurora, New York. The children of this union are E. Maud, the wife of J. D. Sterrett, the manager of the Standard Saw Mill and Machinery Company at Erie, and Blanche W., the wife of F. H. McCord, a grocer in North East. Mr. Woodruff is a member and since 1906 a past grand master of the fraternal order of Odd Fel- lows, Lodge No. 1073, of North East, and has passed all the chairs. He and his wife are members of the Presbyterian church and he has served as its trustee for several years.
MILTON HUGHES CHRISTIE, M. D. Prominent among the well- known and prosperous physicians of Corry is Dr. Milton Hughes Christie, who, thoroughly prepared by study for his chosen profession, has gained wisdom and knowledge from his years of experience, and won a fine reputation for skill and ability. A native of Butler county, Pennsylvania, he was born, March 7, 1858, in Concord township, where the birth of his father, William Hughes Christie, occurred in 1812.
Andrew Christie, the doctor's grandfather, was born in Scotland, and, so far as is known, was the only member of his immediate family to cross the Atlantic. Emigrating to the United States when a young
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man. located first in Westmoreland county, but shortly after- wards removed to Butler county, settling as a pioneer in Concord township. Buying from the state six hundred and forty acres of land that was still in its virgin wildness, he built a small log cabin, and at once began the arduous task of hewing a farm from the forest. There he lived to the ripe old age of ninety-four years, and in the meantime had the pleasure of witnessing the development of the country there- about from a dense wilderness into a populous and wealthy com- munity, in the wondrous transformation taking, himself, an active part. He married Mary Hughes, who was of Welsh descent. She attained the venerable age of ninety-seven years. Three sons and three daughters were born of their union, namely: John, William Hughes, Andrew, Polly, Elizabeth, and Mary.
Reared on the home farm, William Hughes Christie inherited a part of the land which he had assisted his father in clearing, and was there prosperously employed in tilling the soil until his death, at the age of sixty-eight years. His wife, whose maiden name was Nancy MacClain, was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, of Scotch ancestry. Her father, John MacClain, emigrated from Scotland to America, and after spending a few years in Westmoreland county, re- moved to Freeport, where he was engaged in mercantile business the remainder of his life. Mrs. William H. Christie survived her husband, passing away at the venerable age of eighty-one years. She reared four children, as follows: Elizabeth, Emelda, Milton Hughes, and Maggie.
Having completed his studies in the district schools, Milton H. Christie attended first the Sunbury Academy, and later the Wither- spoon Institute, at Butler. Going then to Salem, Ohio, he studied medicine with Dr. Rhodes, and in 1888 was graduated from the Med- ical Department of Wooster University, at Cleveland, receiving the degree of M. D. Beginning the practice of his profession in Cleveland, Dr. Christie remained there a short time, after which he practiced suc- cessfully in Columbus, Warren county, Pennsylvania, until 1905. Coming then to Corry, the doctor has since built up a large and lucra- tive patronage in this city, his professional knowledge and ability being recognized throughout the community.
In 1879 the doctor married Hattie Rhodes, who was born in West Sunbury, Pennsylvania, a daughter of Albert and Rheuamy (Patter- son) Rhodes. Of the marriage of Doctor and Mrs. Christie three sons have been born, namely: Arthur, Merle, and Clare, to all of whom have been given ample opportunity to cultivate their scholarly tastes and ambitions. Arthur was graduated from the College of Physicians and Surgeons, at the Western Reserve University, in Cleveland, and is now assistant surgeon in the United States army, being stationed in the Philippine Islands. He married Maude Hopkins, and they are the parents of two children, Genevra and Carlisle. Merle, the second son, was graduated from the Dental Department of the Western Reserve University, in Cleveland, and is now practising dentistry in Corry. Clare, the younger son. is studying law in the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor. Politically the doctor is identified with the Republican party. Fraternally lie is a member of F. & A. M., of Columbus ; of Clarence Commandery, No. 51. K. T., of Corry ; and of the Knights of
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the Maccabees. Religiously both he and his wife are consistent mem- bers of the Presbyterian church.
AROLD ALBERT FREEMAN stands as a splendid representative of the profession which is the conservator of human rights and liberties and in all of his professional relations has manifested unwearied industry. laboring ever for the best interests of his clients and for the honor of his calling. He was born on the old Freeman farm in Crawford county, Pennsylvania, July 4, 1850, a son of Arold and Mary (Davis) Free- man. The father was born near Metuchen, New Jersey. July 26, 1807, and was a son of Arold Freeman, who was born in the same neighbor- hood in 1470. His father, Thomas Freeman, born in New Jersey in 1748, was the son of Henry Freeman Jr., born in Woodbridge, New Jersey, in 1717. The last named was of the first generation of Ameri- can-born members of the family. His father, Henry Freeman Sr., was born in England in 1670 and emigrated to America in 1683, landing at Philadelphia. He was married on the 16th of May, 1795, to Elizabeth Bonne. Thomas Freeman, the great-grandfather, is reputed to have been an American spy in the Revolutionary war and in Volume I of the "American Ancestry" is referred to as having "married Lillian Moore, served in the Revolutionary war, was taken prisoner by the British .and escaped." Family tradition has it that Thomas Freeman was once strung up to a tree by his captors to make him divulge information re- garding the patriot army but he refused to do so. Arold Freeman Sr .. was engaged in the coasting trade, sailing between New York and Boston until 1816, in which year he came to Pennsylvania and settled on a large tract of unimproved land in Crawford county. He married Sarah Edgar and they reared a family of eight sons and three daughters.
Arold Freeman, the father of our subject, followed the occupation .of farming throughout his entire life and died in Crawford county September 11, 1888. His wife was born in that county in September, 1810, and was a daughter of Isaac Davis, of Welsh descent and a pioneer of Crawford county. She died January 10, 1877, after having reared a family of seven children to maturity, all of whom are still living with the exception of one son, who was killed by a falling tree.
Arold A. Freeman, whose name introduces this review, remained on the old home farm of the Freeman family in Crawford county until he attained the age of nineteen years. Leaving the district schools, he entered the state normal school at Edinboro, Erie county, and was there graduated with the class of 1872. He afterward engaged in teach- ing school for a few terms in order to obtain money with which to complete his education and after acquiring his literary course he en- tered the medical department of the Buffalo University, from which he was graduated with the class of 1876, winning his M. D. degree. The same year he located in Erie, where he engaged in the practice of liis profession for five years until his health became impaired and he was forced to put aside the duties of his chosen calling. About that time he was elected to the office of alderman and while filling that position he also read law familiarizing himself with the leading textbooks and commentaries during his five years' aldermanic term. In 1886 he was admitted to the bar and at once entered upon the practice of law. in which he has continued successfully to the present time. His ability at the bar is evidenced by the large clientage accorded him. Thorough and careful in the preparation of his cases, he loses sight of no point
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which will bear upon the decision, yet gives to the most prominent point its relative place. In argument clear and concise, his application of legal principles is correct and his deductions are sound.
While his professional duties make heavy demand upon his time, Mr. Freeman has also been recognized as an active worker in the ranks of the Democratic party and in 1888 was made its candidate for as- semblyman, being defeated by only seventy-two votes. The same year he was elected a member of the Erie school board and served for three years, while for one year he was president of the board. During that period he agitated the subject of building a free school library, earnest- ly advocating this work and is conceded to be the originator and chief promoter of the project, a report of the secretary of the board giving him credit in this way. He has at all times been interested in matters of general improvement, reform and advancement and wherever the op- portunity has presented for a good work or for assistance in any worthy movement he has not been found wanting. He was one of the in- corporators of St. Vincent's Hospital, drafted the plans for its organiza- tion and has ever since been its attorney. He is also attorney for the Sisters of St. Joseph, representing them in legal interests since his ad- mission to the bar.
Mr. Freeman was married to Miss Josephine Finn, who was born in Chautauqua county, New York, but was reared in Erie county, a daughter of Nehemiah L. and Lucina (Weaver) Finn. She is a de- scendant in the fourth generation of William Finn, who came as a stowaway from Ireland and when the vessel reached Castle Garden was sold for his passage to a Dr. Carpenter, of Long Island. He afterward married the doctor's daughter, Helen. Their son, Anthony Finn, re- moved to Orange county, New York, while Nehemiah Finn, the grand- father of Mrs. Freeman, located in Greenfield township, Erie county, and was one of the first to make and ship butter from this town to New York City, shipping by lake to Buffalo and thence by the Erie canal to the Hudson and on to the metropolis. His son, Nehemiah Finn Jr., became a well known and representative farmer of North East township. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Freeman have been born the following named : Arold R., whose birth occurred March 3, 1878, and who wedded Alice Blickinderfer, of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, by whom he has one daughter, Elinor Jane, born October 2, 1907: Robert T., who was born January 19, 1881 ; Hortense, born December 20, 1883; and Gladys, who first opened her eyes to the light of day on the 19th of July, 1889.
Such in brief is the history of A. A. Freeman, one of Erie county's representative lawyers, who holds to high standard in his professional service and is recognized as an able, faithful and conscientious minister in the temple of justice. He has achieved and deserves a prominent position at the bar, for in his practice he is absolutely fair, never in- dulging in artifice or concealment, never dealing in indirect methods. but winning his victories, which are many, and suffering his defeats, which are few, in the open field face to face with his foe.
EARL L. BROWN. A man of unlimited energy and enterprise, pos- sessing excellent judgment and good business ability, Earl L. Brown, of Corry, has for many years been actively associated with the lumber interests of the country, in his various dealings meeting with signal success. A native of Erie county, he was born, March 16, 1868, in Concord township. His father, Oliver Lorenzo Brown, was born,
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October 5, 1838, in Spring Creek township, Warren county, where his father, Josiah Brown, was a pioneer.
Having cleared and improved a farm in Spring Creek township, Josiah Brown lived there a number of years, and then removed to Harbor Creek, subsequently settling permanently on a farm in Con- cord township, Erie county, where he spent the later years of his life. His wife, Nancy (Stowell) Brown, survived him, dying, at the home of a son, in Bradford.
Choosing the free and independent occupation with which he had become familiar when a boy, Oliver Lorenzo Brown bought land in Concord township, four miles from Corry, and there began the improve- ment of a farm. Successful in his operations, he has now a valuable farm of eighty-five acres, well supplied with the necessary buildings, and is carrying on general farming and stock raising in a profitable manner. The maiden name of his wife was Lois Ophelia Patterson. She was born near Stockton, Chautauqua county, New York, a daugh- ter of Alvah and Maria (Cressey) Patterson. Of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Oliver L. Brown, four children were born, as follows: Earl L., Clyde F., Bessie Grace, and Bertha Della.
Leaving home on attaining his majority, Earl L. Brown went to Kane, where for three years he worked for an uncle in a feed mill. The ensuing eighteen months he was engaged in the grocery business in the same town. Selling out, he embarked in the milling business, but at the end of four years sold his interest in the plant, and located in Corry. Taking advantage of what seemed to be a most favorable opportunity for increasing his financial resources, Mr. Brown joined the Yukon Dredging and Transportation Company, and started for Alaska. At Astoria, Oregon, the company procured a steamer, loaded it with a complete set of dredging machinery, and proceeded on its way to Alaska, intending to secure gold by dredging the river. Arriv- ing, after a voyage of twenty-nine days, at Saint Michael, the party went up the Yukon about one thousand miles, but did not meet with the anticipated success in finding the yellow metal. Disposing, there- fore, of his personal outfit, Mr. Brown returned to Corry, having been away four months. Forming soon afterwards a partnership with Henry Cogswell, he was here engaged in the wholesale and retail meat busi- ness for two years. Selling out his interest in the firm, Mr. Brown became associated with the Elgin Chair Company, the following two years serving as book-keeper for the organization. In the meantime he had become interested in the lumber business with George Hay- wang, and at a later time became identified with the Chautauqua Lum- ber Company, which purchased a large tract of timber in Mina, Chau- tauqua county, New York, and put up a large saw mill. Mr. Brown was an active factor in the business of that company until its timber in Mina was exhausted. While thus employed Mr. Brown assisted in organizing the Commonwealth Lumber Company, which operated at Glen Ray, West Virginia, and in 1907 became a member of the Au- gusta Lumber Company, which owns twenty-five thousand acres of timber land near Staunton, Virginia. Now, in 1908, Mr. Brown is operating individually in Corry.
On December 25, 1889, Mr. Brown married Minnie Alice Lemon. She was born in Corry, January 24, 1866, a daughter of Isaac and Catherine (Hainer) Lemon. Her grandfather, James Lemon, born in
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Dover, Canada, February 4, 1788, married Jane Van Sickle, and both spent their lives in Canada. Isaac Lemon, born in Dover, Canada, February 7, 1823, came with his wife to the States, having previously learned the wheelwright's trade. Becoming one of the first settlers of Corry, he bought a tract of land on West Pleasant street, it being cov- ered with timber. He built a house on Union street, and for a few years carried on farming, in the meantime platting a portion of his land, and selling it for house lots. He subsequently spent a year at Panama, being in the government employ. Eventually he sold his Corry farm, and bought one in Concord township, where he resided for awhile. Returning to Corry, he lived here retired until his death, in September, 1898. His wife survived him, passing away July 9, 1908. They were the parents of nine children, as follows: Mary, Aleck, Ben- jamin, Lavina, Amanda, James, Melissa, Merta, and Minnie Alice. Into the home of Mr. and Mrs. Brown three children have been born, namely: Gertrude, Robert, and Lloyd. Fraternally Mr. Brown is. a member of the Knights of Pythias, and of Corry Tent, No. 16, K. O. T. M. Both Mr. and Mrs. Brown are members of the Methodist Epis- copal church.
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