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 5
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pany, and for this and his service as an officer, he received a grant of a large tract of land. Captain John's son Robert, grandfather of William P. Hayes, was also a soldier in the Revolution, and this branch of the family for some reason inserted the "e" in the name. His son, James Hayes, was born in Northumberland county, Pennyslvania, in 1799, and removed to Waterford, Erie county, about 1821-22, and there died March 1, 1874. He married Polly Boyd, who was born in Northumberland county, in 1800, and died in 1866. She was daughter of John Boyd. whose father served as musician in the Revolutionary war, and was one of the pioneers of Erie county, the family settling in Waterford about 1800.
James Hayes was a wheelwright and chair maker, and at one time built and operated a mill on French creek, where he carried on the manu- facture of chairs. James and Polly Hayes had fourteen children, of whom the following are living: Charles M., of Titusville, Pennsylvania ; Ellen, who married John Holden, and resides at Chicago ; and William P.
William P. Hayes left Waterford in 1845, when sixteen years of age, proceeding to Erie, where he found employment in the store of Charles M. Tibbals; in 1851 Mr. Tibbals gave him an interest in the business, and the name became Tibbals & Hayes, general merchants. Five or six years later the health of Mr. Tibbals failed and he sold his interest to Mr. Hayes, who then formed a partnership with William A. Jordan, taking the name of Hayes & Jordan. About this time the firm began to occupy the fine store fitted out by General Reed, in the Reed House Block, and soon after this Mr. Jordan retired from the business. In 1860 General Reed became a partner of Mr. Hayes, and under the name of Hayes & Company they did a growing business. At this time, when Mr. Hayes proceeded to New York for the purchase of goods, lie carried with him a letter from Mr. Reed to A. T. Stewart, at that time a merchant prince, telling of the partnership, and asking him to let the bearer have all the goods he wanted; General Reed was well-known in New York and Mr. Stewart informed Mr. Hayes he could have every- thing in his store if he wished. The firm of Hayes & Company did busi- ness until the destruction by fire of the Reed block, after which General Reed withdrew. Mr. Hayes at this time removed his stock to a store on State between Eighth and Ninth streets. At this time the Civil war was being fought, and when peace was near General Reed advised Mr. Hayes to get out of business, as a period of commercial depression was at hand, and following this sage advice, he closed out his entire stock at auction and private sale. Mr. Hayes purchased a farm in Chautauqua county, New York, although he never lived on same. In later years Mr. Hayes handled considerable real estate for General Reed, and was a lifelong friend of that wonderful business man, who did so much for the prog- ress of Erie in early times.
In 1867 Mr. Hayes and S. P. Keplar, under the firm name of Haves & Keplar, organized the first real estate business of Erie. In 1826 Mr. Keplar withdrew from the firm, and Mr. Hayes managed the enterprise alone until 1889, in which year his son, Charles B., became a member of the firm, and the name became Hayes & Son, which has done a large amount of business, and is the largest enterprise of the kind in the city. Mr. Hayes has contributed much to the progress and development of Erie, and his business methods have gained for him the confidence and esteem of his fellow-townsmen.
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Mr. Hayes married Juliet F., daughter of Captain John Justice, who was born in Erie, in 1829. John Justice, who was a ship carpenter, came to Erie to help build Perry's fleet, and became one of the city's most honored citizens. He married Ann, daughter of Sheriff Gray, of Erie county. To Mr. and Mrs. Hayes were born children as follows: 1. Frank M., manager of the American Security Company, with headquar- ters at Pittsburg, where he resides. He was at one time employed by the United States Government as expert and as receiver wound up several banks throughout the country, which had failed, among them the Key- stone Bank, of Erie. 2. William J., now employed by the government as expert in bank defalcations, in New York City. Ile was at one time cashier of various banks, and was in the employ of the government during Cleveland and Harrison's administrations. 3. Joseph H., was cashier of the Keystone Bank of Pittsburg, one of the city's largest banking institu- tions, but on account of poor health was forced to resign his position, and died in October, 1898. 4. Charles B., of the firm of llayes & Son, is one of the prominent young business men of Erie. 5. A daughter, who died in infancy.
CHARLES S. CLARKE. A citizen whose influence has permeated in a most beneficent way the business and civic life of the city of Erie, where he has rendered distinguished service in offices of high public trust and where he has been a strong factor in forwarding the industrial prestige of the community. Mr. Clarke, former postmaster and former mayor of Erie, is clearly entitled to a place of honor in every compilation which touches the history of Erie county. In both the paternal and maternal lines he is a scion of old and honored families of America, with whose annals the respective names have been identified since the colonial era in our national history.
Charles S. Clarke was born in the city of Washington, D. C., on the 29th of July, 1852, and is a son of Major Robert and Martha (Tal- bott) Clarke, both of whom were likewise born in the capital city of the nation and both of whom were representatives of old and dis- tinguished Maryland families. Major Robert Clarke bore the full pat- ronymic of his honored father, Robert Clarke, who was a soldier in the war of 1812, who was a son of a valiant patriot soldier in the war of the Revolution, and who removed from his native state of Maryland to the city of Washington in an early day. Major Robert Clarke was a successful contractor in Washington up to the time of the Civil war, when he promptly manifested his inherent and personal patrotism by tendering his services in defense of the Union. In response to President Lincoln's first call for volunteers he organized in Washington a company for the three months' service, and of this compnay he was commissioned captain. After the expiration of his term of enlistment he re-enlisted as a veteran, and finally he was promoted to the office of major of the First District of Columbia Volunteer Infantry, with which he saw long and arduous service and made the record of a gallant officer and loval and valiant soldier of the Republic. In the time honored Masonic fra- ternity he attained to high degrees and distinguished honors, having been one of the most prominent members of the fraternity in the Union. For many years he served as treasurer of the grand lodge of the order in the District of Columbia, and in his official capacity it devolved upon him to deposit the Masonic jewels in the cornerstone of the Washington Monument. and in that of one of the wings of the national capitol. He
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continued to reside in Washington until 1868, when he removed with his family to Erie, Pennsylvania, where his devoted wife died in 1888, and where he continued to reside until his death, which occurred in February. 1905, at which time he had attained to the venerable age of eighty-nine years. His funeral obsequies were held in the city of Wash- ington, under distinguished Masonic auspices. Major Clarke was a Democrat in his political allegiance, and both he and his wife held mem- bership in the Baptist church.
Charles S. Clarke secured his earlier educational training in the public schools of the city of Washington and supplemented this by a course in Columbian College, now known as Columbian University. He began his business career in the city of Erie, where he assumed the posi- tion of bookkeeper in the dry-goods establishment of Edson & Churchill. From 1880 to 1885 he was a member of the firm of Churchill, Clarke & Company, engaged in the same line of enterprise and the business was closed out in the year last mentioned. In the same year Mr. Clarke was elected to the office of comptroller of the city of Eric, and at the expiration of his first term he was chosen as his own successor, so that he served two full terms of two years each. In 1889 he was elected mayor of the city, under the old law which limited the mayor's term to two years, and in 1890 he was practically legislated out of the
office under the necessary provision of the new law. In the same year, however, he was returned to the mayoralty in the regular popular election, . and he remained incumbent of this chief executive office of municipal government for the full term of three years. His administration was one that reflected distinctive credit upon him and he accomplished much for the progress of the city along normal lines of improvement and upbuild- ing. His regime was marked by progressive ideas and distinct business policy, so that he gained the uniform commendation of all classes of citizens.
In May. 1894, Mr. Clarke was appointed and commissioned post- master of Erie, under the administration of President Cleveland, and of this position he remained incumbent for four years, within which he made improvements in systematizing and facilitating the service of the local office. In 1899 he became one of the interested principles in the extensive contracting firm of Constable Brothers Company, of which he is secretary and treasurer and to whose affairs he has given the major portion of his time and attention since his retirement from public office. In principle and practice he is a fundamental advocate of the cause of the Democratic party, in which he has rendered yeoman ser- vice. He is an active and valued member of the Erie Board of Trade, becoming its president in 1909, and is affiliated with the Masonic fra- ternity, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Royal Arcanum, the Sons of the American Revolution, the Country Club, and other civic and social organizations. His popularity in Erie needs no further vouch- er than that offered in the positions of trust to which he has been called, and it may consistently be said that no movement for the betterment of Erie along civic, commercial or moral lines, has lacked his sympathy or his active, energetic support.
In 1880 Mr. Clarke was united in marriage to Miss Alice Churchill, daughter of George T. Churchill, who is one of Erie's oldest business men and most honored citizens. Mr. and Mrs. Clarke became the par- ents of one son, Lawrence N., who was born in 1881 and who died in 1903, being thus summoned to the life eternal in the very flower of his
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young manhood and when his noble and generous qualities of mind and heart augured for a career of signal usefulness and honor.
REV. PETER M. CAULEY. True religion exists in a sincere love of truth and in a hearty approbration and compliance with doctrines funda- mentally good, in an inward good complexion of mind, and in the active practice of the substantial parts of religion. Such has ever been the purpose and life work of Rev. Father Peter M. Cauley. pastor of St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church of Erie, who is carrying on a note- worthy work in this city. A son of Peter Cauley, he was born, December 18, 1855, in Rochester, New York.
A native of Ireland, Peter Cauley came to this country in early life, locating first in New York state, where he was engaged in quarrying until 1858. Turning his attention then to agricultural pursuits, he carried on general farming in MeKean county, Pennsylvania, a number of years, remaining there until 1894, when he removed with his family to Erie. He married, in Portage county, New York. Catherine Mc- Kensey, a native of Ireland, and they became the parents of ten child- ren, namely: Terrance ; Peter M., of this sketch: Winifred and Mary A., twins : Rosa ; John : Joseph M. ; Stephen H. ; Charles L. ; and Cassie. Rev. Father P. M. Cauley acquired his elementary knowledge in the public schools of Mckean county, and obtained his knowledge of philosophy and theology at St. Bonaventure's College, where he spent eight years, entering in 1819, and being graduated in 1887. Ordained in St. Patrick's Cathedral. Erie, July 24. 1887, he afterwards served as assistant for three months each at Titusville, and at Warren. The ensuing year he was located at Oil City. doing excellent work there. Then, after spending a few weeks at Sartwell, Father Cauley was placed in charge of a mission at Conneautville, Pennsylvania, where he labored most efficiently for four and one-half years. He was subse- quently employed in pastoral work for ten weeks at East Brady, but since that year, 1893, has filled his present pulpit in Erie. A man of strong convictions, and of extreme earnestness of purpose. his influence in visible in the upbuilding of his parish, which is one of importance in the community. In his labors he has as assistants his three younger brothers, Revs. Joseph M. Cauley, Stephen H. Cauley, and Charles L. Cauley, three men of intellectual force and much ability, who are most efficient aids in advancing the cause of the church.
JAMES M. DICKEY. By no means among the veteran insurance men of the country, James M. Dickey, of Erie, has nevertheless attained a prominent standing both with his associates and the public. On the sunny side of forty, he has also evinced his powers as an originator in whatever field he has exerted his influence. He was one of the organizers and the second president of the Erie Association of Life Underwriters, and is a charter member of the Erie Chamber of Commerce, the Civic Club of Erie and the Country Club. A mere mention of such identification indicates his deep and steadfast interest in the business field of his present activity : in the commercial, municipal and other broad affairs relating to the city's progress, and in those necessary recreations and sports which keep the typical American on his best physical mettle for accom- plishment. Mr. Dickey is also a member of the Erie Club and the .Conewango Club of Warren, Pennsylvania, as well as identified with the local Young Men's Christian Association and the Benevolent and
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Protective Order of Elks. His religious affiliations are at present with the Park Presbyterian church, to which he was admitted by letter from the Jefferson United Presbyterian church of Jefferson county, Pennsyl- vania, with which he had long been connected.
Mr. Dickey is a native of Jefferson county, Pennsylvania, born September 25, 1870, on the old family homestead in that part of the state. He is a son of David Blair and Margaret (Kennedy) Dickey and a grandson of Matthew and Elizabeth (Templeton) Dickey. His grand- mother was of an old Pennsylvania family, while his grandfather was of Irish nativity, coming to the United States when sixteen and marrying when nineteen years of age. First he settled at Leatherwood, on the Allegheny river in Clarion county, this state, but later sold his property and bought a fine farm in Jefferson county, which is still considered a model country place in that portion of Pennsylvania. The last years of his active life were spent on the farm and there he died in his eightieth year. He became the father of three sons-James, William and David Blair Dickey. David B. Dickey, father of James M., was born September 5, 1837, and has always been engaged in farming on the old Dickey homestead. His wife, who died in 1880, was born at Brookville, Pennsylvania, and was a daughter of William Kennedy, a leading hardware merchant of the old times who reached the advanced age of ninety-three years.
James M. Dickey, of this sketch, was reared on the old ancestral farm in Jefferson county, and was a pupil in the district school of the neighborhood in which his father, his sister and he himself served as teachers. Later, he attended the academy at Belleview and the State Normal at Clarion, teaching for several years both in Jefferson and Mc- Kean counties. In November, 1896, he became manager of the local branch of the Armour Packing Company, at Punxsutawney, Pennsyl- vania, and continued in that position until 1900, which marked the active commencement of his insurance career. It was at that time that he be- came connected with the Pittsburg agency of The Mutual Life Insurance Company of New York, and on January 1, 1901, he was appointed in- spector of agencies in the Pittsburg district. He was transferred to Erie in January, 1902, and in 1905 was appointed to the responsible position of manager of the Northwestern Pennsylvania agency, with headquarters at Erie.
Mr. Dickey's wife (nee Josephine Livingston Lacy) is connected with the faimly so famous in the political, educational and religious history of the country, representatives of which have repeatedly been sent to Congress from New York and held high positions in the national cabinet and diplomatic corps. One of its members, Philip Livingston, was also a signer of the Declaration of Independence, and not a few were active figures in the Revolutionary war. Mrs. Dickey is a daughter of Isaac and Mary (Livingston) Lacy of Warren, Pennsylvania, and her genealogy on both sides of the family has earned her membership in the "Daughters of the American Revolution." She is the mother of Harriet Estella, Lois Livingston and Allen Lacy Dickey, and a woman of do- mestic, social and refined tastes.
COL. J. Ross THOMPSON. A man of broad mind and scholarly attainments, thoroughly versed in legal lore, Col. J. Ross Thompson of Erie holds high rank among the leading members of the Erie bar, with which he has been intimately associated for a full half century. Of Vol. II-3
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the many noted lawyers that have practiced in this locality during the past fifty years, he is one of the best known and most eminent. while his forceful arguments, his skill in solving perplexing legal problems, and his many successes, have given him a wide and merited reputation. He was born in Franklin, Venango county, Pennsylvania, December 6, 1832, a son of Judge James Thompson, one of Pennsylvania's most dis- tinguished jurists and statesmen.
A native of the Keystone state, Judge James Thompson was born, in 1805, in Butler county, and began life for himself as a printer. Sub- sequently turning his attention to the study of law, he was admitted to the bar, and in 1832 began his long and brilliant public career by being elected to the state legislature. He served as Representative six consecutive years, in 1834 being chosen speaker of the House. He was afterwards elected to Congress from Erie county, and served three full terms in the National House of Representatives, in Washington, D. C. In 1854 he was again elected to the Pennsylvania legislature. Three years later, in 1857. he had the honor of being chosen a judge of the supreme court of Pennsylvania. For fifteen years the judge rendered noteworthy service in that capacity, for five years of that time being chief justice of the court. Previous to his election to the supreme court he had served as circuit judge. After his election to the supreme court, Judge Thompson removed to Philadelphia, and in that beautiful city spent the remainder of his life, passing away in 1873.
After his graduation from the Erie Academy, J. Ross Thompson entered Princeton University. from which he was graduated with the class of 1854. Immediately after leaving college he began the study of law, and since his admission to the Erie bar, in 1856, has been actively engaged in the practice of his profession in this city. His wide legal knowledge, keenness of comprehension, unflagging perseverance, and aptitude for clear incisive statement, have contributed to his professional success, and have won for him a foremost position among the members of the bar. In 1859 Mr. Thompson was admitted to the bar of the supreme court, and in 1860 to that of the United States courts. During the latter-named year he became attorney for the Pennsylvania Railroad Company and has held the same ever since, and since 1871 has held a similar position for the Pennsylvania Company.
During the administration of Governor Packer, Mr. Thompson served as his aide-de-camp, with the military rank of lieutenant-colonel. He was subsequently commissioned colonel of the Sixteenth Regiment of Pennsylvania Militia, and in that capacity performed the duties devolv- ing upon him with ease and dignity. For many years Col. Thompson has been active and prominent in the Democratic ranks, and in 1876 was a delegate to the National Convention in which Samuel J. Tilden was nominated for the presidency ; and four years later, in 1880, he was a Democratic nominee for presidential elector and in 1887 Democratic can- didate for the supreme bench. In 1888 the candidacy was again at his disposal but he declined to enter the race. His brother, Samuel Gustine Thompson was a member of the supreme court of Pennsylvania for two terms by appointment of the governor.
Colonel Thompson married in 1858, Josephine Mayer, daughter of the late M. Mayer, of Erie. She died in 1877, leaving seven children. One of these children, W. L. Scott Thompson, has inherited in no small degree the legal talent and ability of his father and grandfather, and is
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now actively engaged in the practice of law in Erie, being junior member of the firm of J. Ross Thompson & Son.
URIAH D. SWEIGARD. Generally speaking a leader in the building trades and master of the metal workers, Uriah D. Sweigard is special- ly identified with the Erie field as proprietor of one of the largest and most complete roofing and cornice works in the county. In every way he is also one of its best known citizens. He is a native of Halifax, Dauphir county, Pennsylvania, born on November 27, 1858, the son of David B. and Emeline Catherine (Rouch) Sweigard, both natives of that locality. The father was born in 1833 and died in September, 1866, and the mother who was born in 1836, passed away in the December following her husband's decease. They were the parents of the following five children : Susan Catherine, who married H. W. Sweitzer and resides in Pitts- burg, Pennsylvania ; Uriah D., of this sketch; Ida Isadora, who married D. A. Lowe, the well known Peach street photographer of Erie; Ellen Linda, who is now Mrs. I. H. Foster, and resides in Erie; and Sherman L., also of that place.
The Sweigard family is an old one in Pennsylvania, the original ancestors having come over from Germany many, many generations ago, settling in Daphin county. The parents of Mr. Sweigard, were members of the United Brethren church. After their death for about seven years, Uriah D., made his home with an uncle who was a farmer in Dauphin county, near Harrisburg. The youth next spent about three years work- ing on different farms, obtaining from three to four months attendance at the district school during the winter months. At the age of seventeen years, he began an apprenticeship at the tinsmith's trade in Halifax, serving four years. In the spring of 1880, he went to Pittsburg, where he worked at his trade the first year for T. W. Irwin, and the succeeding six years for Rasner and Dinger. He next became foreman of the tin department of the Union Switch and Signal Works of Pittsburg for one year ; was then foreman two years for S. Keighley and Company, and held the same position a year for John T. Bealor and Company. In 1891, he went into business for himself, establishing a shop in Allegheny City, and in the spring of the following year, located at Erie and be- came a partner in the Flickinger Cornice and Roofing Company, also taking charge of the business as superintendent. In January, 1898, Mr. Sweigard was elected secretary and treasurer of the company and in January, 1901, became, by purchase, the sole proprietor of the business The plant is at No. 424 West Nineteenth street, and covers an area of 40 by 120 feet, employing an average of eight men. The establishment turns out a general line of sheet metal and slate roofing, galvanized and copper cornices, skylights and metal ceilings-mostly contract work. Mr. Sweigard has handled, among others, such contracts as those connected with St. Joseph's school, St. Michael's and St. Ann's churches, St. John's church and school, the Public Library, No. 2 public school and numerous business blocks and residences. He is also president of the Automatic Dumb Waiter Refrigerator Company, which was organized and incorpo- rated June 13, 1906. He is also a charter member of the Erie Builders' Exchange, having served as its secretary from its organization, and is secretary of the Master Sheet Metal Workers Association. He is further, a member of the Chamber of Commerce, Erie Business Men's Association and of the South Erie Improvement Association. Mr. Sweigard has been a fraternal leader in Odd Fellowship for many years, being a mem-
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