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 52
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THOMAS B. McCRAY. Distinguished not only for his life record of honesty and integrity, but for his valiant services as a soldier during the Civil war, Thomas B. McCray, of Corry, is especially de- serving of more than passing mention in a work of this character. A son of Joseph McCray, he was born in Concord township, Erie county, February 25, 1841. He comes of excellent Scotch ancestry, his grand- father, James McCray, having been a native of Scotland.
Emigrating to America, the land of great promise, James Mc Cray was one of the pioneer settlers of Washington county, Pennsyl- vania, where he lived a number of years, taking while there, an active part in developing the agricultural resources of that part of the state. From there he came overland to Erie county, his wife bringing one of the children on horseback. Locating in what is now Concord town- ship, he purchased a tract of timber from the Holland Land Company, cleared a space, and there built a log house for himself and family. There were then neither railways nor canals in the country, and there being no convenient markets, all supplies for the household and farm were brought from Pittsburg by teams. The pioneers of those days used to burn timber, and with the ashes make black salts. the only product that could be sold for cash. In after years, when they began raising cattle in large numbers, all of the stock had to be driven either to Philadelphia or New York to be sold. On the farm that he improved from the wilderness, James McCray spent his later years of life, con- tented and happy. To him and his wife, six children were born, as follows: Joseph, George, William, James, John, and Ellen.
Born in 1794, in Washington county. Joseph McCray was reared among pioneer scenes, as a boy doing much pioneer labor on the parental homestead. While yet in his teens, he enlisted as a soldier in the War of 1812, and afterwards served for a time in the regular army, being stationed on the Western frontier. On receiving his discharge from the army, he returned home, and engaged in farming and lum- bering, rafting the logs down the rivers. On one of his river trips, he stopped awhile in Kentucky, and there married. Settling in Bracken county, that state, he continued his agricultural labors. A few years later his wife died of cholera, leaving an infant son, George McCray, who was reared by a Mr. and Mrs. Parks, and is still a resident of Ken- tucky. Returning to Pennsylvania after the death of his wife, Joseph McCray lived for awhile near Titusville, from there coming back to Erie county. Buving timber land in Concord township, he erected good buildings, cleared and improved a valuable farm, and there re- sided until his death, at the age of ninety years. He married for his second wife, Sarah J. Scott, a native of Ireland. Her father, Thomas
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Scott, was born in the North of Ireland, of Scotch ancestry. Coming with his family to this country, he settled as a pioneer in Crawford county, where he redeemed a farm from the wilderness, as a tiller of the soil becoming quite successful. Mrs. Sarah J. (Scott) McCray died on the home farm at the good old age of four score and four years. She reared five sons, James, Thomas B., John, Josiah, and William.
Receiving a good common school education, Thomas B. McCray also acquired a substantial knowledge of the various branches of agriculture while working with his father. In 1861, at the first call for volunteers, he enlisted in Company F, Pennsylvania Volunteer In- fantry, and served for three months under Captain Morgan, being on duty at Pittsburg. Being then honorably discharged from the army, he returned home, and on August 13, 1862, enlisted in Company A, One Hundred and Forty-fifth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. Go- ing south with his regiment, he arrived at Antietam just at the close of the memorable battle there fought. Subsequently, with the excep- tion of the time that he was confined in the hospital, Mr. McCray continued with his regiment, taking part in many important engage- ments, among them being the battles of Gettysburg, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, those of the Wilderness, and the battle of Spottsyl- vania. He was wounded at Gettysburg, and again at Spottsylvania, where his lower jaw was shattered, and his tongue badly cut. The greater part of the jaw had to be removed, and it was a long time before he could talk. In October, 1864, he received his honorable dis- charge from the service, and returned home. As soon as he was able to do anything, Mr. McCray was elected constable and collector, and served two years. Turning then his attention to agriculture, he bought the interest of his brothers in the old home farm, in Concord town- ship, and there carried on farming and stock raising until 1902. In that year he erected a house on Center street, Corry, where he has since lived retired from active pursuits.
Mr. McCray married, in May, 1886, Carrie G. Parsons, a native of Concord township. Her father, Henry Parsons was born, June 11, 1842, on the Atlantic Ocean, while his parents, James and Ann (Roberts) Parsons, were en route to this country. Mr. Parsons was born in England, and his wife in Wales, and both died in Concord township, Erie county, on the farm which they cleared and improved. Coming to Erie county in 1842, James Parsons lived there until 1849, when he had an acute attack of the gold fever. With a companion, he started on foot for California. His companion died while on the way, but he pushed on across the dreary plains, at the end of several months arriving at his point of destination. Not meeting with the anticipated success in his mining operations, he turned to Erie county, and until his death was engaged in farming in Concord township. In July, 1861, offering his services to his country, Henry Parsons en- listed in Company A, One Hundred and Eleventh Pennsylvania In- fantry, and with his comrades participated in several engagements, one of the more prominent having been that at Cedar Mountain. In 1863 he was honorably discharged on account of disability, returned home, and soon began to learn the carpenter's trade. He followed his trade awhile, after which he engaged in farming for a number of seasons. Locating in Corry in 1895, he resumed his trade, working as a car-
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penter until failing health compelled him to give up active labor, and he is now living in this city, retired from business pursuits. The maiden name of his wife was Martha McCray. Of the union of Mr. and Mrs. McCray six children have been born, namely : Parke, Webb, Reed, Scott, Miles, and Evelyn, who died, December 4, 1906, aged four years, two months and eleven days.
GARRETT SMITH HENRY. The home of Garrett S. Henry is one of the old ancestral places of Erie county, and he is a member of one of its earliest and best known families. Robert Henry, his grand- father, came from his native land of Ireland to the United States and located in western Mill Creek township in 1799, buying a farm there, and his mother and her sister lie buried on that old place, now known as the Halderman farm. After a time he sold that land and bought the farm of fifty acres in Harbor Creek township which was the birthplace of his son and grandson, and where he spent the remainder of his life and died in 1847. His son Franklin was born there, but in 1869 he left the farm and during the following sixteen years was the light- house keeper on Presque Isle. His home from that time forward was at Wesleyville, but he continued the work of the old farm until his death in October of 1889. Garrett Smith was his only child by his first marriage to Martha Long, who died in October of 1865, and he afterward married Alvira Frasier, who was born in Girard, Trumbull county, Ohio, and they had eight children : Paul and Edith, twins, John Brown, Mary, Melvin and Mable, twins, Robert and Nellie, twins.
Garrett S. Henry was born January 26, 1862, in the old home in Harbor Creek township, where his grandfather had spent so many years of his life, and which was also the birthplace of his father. His mother died in his babyhood, and he was given to his paternal grand- mother, who tenderly reared and cared for him. On the 7th of March, 1885, he moved to the farm of seventy-two acres adjoining the old home place on the north, inheriting the land, and in 1892 he began selling milk in the city of Erie. On the 19th of December, 1899, he became one of the charter members of the Erie County Milk Associa- tion, and his stock therein allows him to put one hundred and sixteen and two-thirds quarts of milk in the association. He raises on his farm only the crops necessary for his dairy purposes.
On the 3d of October, 1881, Mr. Henry was married to Sarah A. Ripley, who was born in Greene township, Erie county, a daughter of David and Mary Ann (Kuhl) Ripley, also from that township, and a granddaughter of David Ripley and Peter and Susan (Fry) Kuhl, all from Lancaster county. The children of this union are Robert H., Clarence and Roy B. Clarence is attending the Pennsylvania State College. Mr. Henry is a Prohibitionist in his political affiliations, and he has served as a school director and is a member of the Protected Home Circle, at Wesleyville.
THOMAS D. FINCH. Among the citizens of Corry that have ac- cumulated a competency through their own individual efforts, and are now living retired from active pursuits, is Thomas D. Finch, who has been identified with many industries, in the majority of his varied occupations meeting with success. A son of Thomas D. Finch Sr., he was born, August 27, 1835, at Hoosick Falls, Rensselaer county, New
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York. On the paternal side, he comes of good English ancestry, his great grandfather, Nathaniel Finch, having been one of three brothers that came from England to this country in colonial days. He settled in New York state, and subsequently followed his trade of a tanner and currier at both Horse Lake and Schaghticoke.
Lewis Finch, grandfather of Thomas D., was born at Horse Neck, New York. Learning the trade of a tanner and currier, he carried on a substantial business at Schaghticoke, Rensselaer county, during a large part of his active life. He lived to a venerable age, dying at the home of a son, in Warren county, Pennsylvania, at the age of ninety-six years. He married Adelia Daggett, a native of France, being a daughter of Thomas Daggett, who emigrated to this country, settling in New York state. She, too, spent her last days in Warren county, Pennsylvania, passing away at the age of ninety-two years.
Born at Glens Falls, New York, Thomas D. Finch Sr., began life as a wage-earner when but eight years of age, working in a cotton factory in Schaghticoke. He continued in this employment a number of years, subsequently working at Hoosick Falls and at Cohoes. Making a decided change of occupation and residence in 1846, he went to Warren county, Pennsylvania, where he lived for nearly twenty years, being employed in mercantile pursuits. Locating in Corry in 1865, he opened a grocery, being a pioneer merchant of the place, and carried on a successful business for some time. The later part of his life he lived retired, in Corry, passing away at the good old age of eighty-three years. His wife, whose maiden name was Ann Eliza Slocum, was born in Washington county, New York. Her father, a farmer, spent his closing years in the southern part of Warren county, Pennsylvania. She survived her husband, dying at the venerable age of eighty-seven years. She reared four children, as follows: George H., who served in the Civil war as second lieutenant in Company E, One Hundred and Forty-fifth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, was killed at the battle of Gettysburg, and his remains are buried in the National Cemetery: Thomas D., of this brief sketch; Victoria; and Mary L.
Eleven years of age when he came with the family to Warren county, Thomas D. Finch completed his early education in the com- mon schools of the neighborhood. When sixteen years old he began working in a saw mill, and was afterwards steadily employed in the lumber business, in Warren and Elk counties, for fourteen years. Going then to the oil region, he was engaged in drilling wells until 1866, being a part of the time in the employ of H. H. Rogers. Locat- ing in that year in Corrv. Mr. Finch was for two years engaged in the grocery business with his father. Selling out in 1868, he subse- quently opened a restaurant opposite the railway station, where he continued three years. He next managed the American Hotel until the fire, and the ensuing two years was in the oil business at Keokuk, Iowa. Returning from there to Corry, Mr. Finch built the Phoenix Hotel. which he conducted successfully for nearly four years, when he sold out at an advantage. Building then the European Hotel, he managed it successfully for two years, and then sold out. Going then to Venango borough, Crawford county, Mr. Finch purchased the "Tarr farm," and was there engaged in agricultural pursuits two years. Selling the estate. he returned to Corry, and for two years
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carried on a wholesale liquor business, afterwards being engaged for two years in the manufacture of cigars. Selling his cigar business, Mr. Finch again had the management of the European Hotel for two years, after which he conducted a restaurant in Erie, for eighteen months. Once more taking up his residence, he carried on the har- ness business for one and one-half years, and since that time has lived retired from active pursuits, at his pleasant home enjoying all the comforts of life.
On February 21, 1865, Mr. Finch married Nancy J. Carle, who was born, November 30, 1837, on a farm that is now included within the limits of the town of Reno, Venango county, Pennsylvania, her father, Columbia Carle, having been born in the same locality. Her great grandfather, James Carle, was born in the North of Ireland, of Scotch ancestry. Emigrating to this country in colonial days, he served seven years in the Revolutionary army, a part of the time being a companion of the noted Indian scout, Brady. He was severely wounded in battle, and died from the effects shortly after the close of the war. He married Mary Stuart, who was born in Scotland, and she survived him many years, passing away at the age of eighty-seven years. Their son, Alexander Carle, Mrs. Finch's grandfather, was one of the early settlers of Venango county. Taking up from the government a tract of timbered land, he cleared from the wilderness a farm, upon which the present village of Reno is built, and there spent the remainder of his life. He married Uretta Holyday, who was born at Oil Creek, her father, a native of Ireland, having been a pioneer settler of that part of Venango county. Columbia Carle was reared to agricultural pursuits, but being a natural mechanic, worked during his earlier years at shoemaking and carpentering. At the time of his marriage, he began housekeeping in the log cabin that his father built. He subsequently bought a tract of wild land, which is now included within the limits of Oil City. A part of it was then covered with a heavy growth of native timber, but it is now entirely built over with burner's blocks and dwelling houses, a wonderful scenic transformation having taken place in a comparatively few years. He passed away in Oil City, in 1868. The maiden name of the wife of Columbia Carle was Lydia Hazen. She was born in Chautauqua county, New York, where her father, Benjamin Hazen, was an early settler. He afterwards removed to Venango county, Pa., bought land above Oil City, and there cleared and improved the estate now known as the "Clapp Farm." In the early forties, Mr. Hazen crossed the country with teams to the territory of Iowa, the greater part of which was then owned by the government. Purchasing upwards of seven hundred acres of land in Jackson county, he improved a home- stead, on which he resided until his death, at the age of four score and four years. A man of energy, foresight and good judgment, he was prominent in advancing the growth and prosperity of the new country, living to see the locality in which he settled transformed from its primitive wildness to a populous and wealthy community. He mar- ried Nancy Willard, who was born in the northeastern part of New York state,, and died, at the age of eighty-four years, in Iowa. Mrs. Lydia (Hazen) Carle, mother of Mrs. Finch, died at the early age of thirty-one years, and Mr. Carle married for his second wife, Sarah Ranson, who died three years later.
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Mr. and Mrs. Finch have one son, Charles Carle Finch. Charles C. Finch has been twice married. He married first, Myra Sweet. She died when but twenty-eight years old, leaving one son, Carle Sweet, who lives with his grandparents. Charles C. Finch married second, Kate Beader, and they have one child, Gustave Finch. Fraternally Mr. Finch is a member of Corry Lodge, No. 470, K. P.
JOHN JOHNSON has resided within the borders of Erie county for many years, prominently identified with the agricultural interests of Waterford township, but he is a native son of the Emerald Isle, born February 4, 1846, to Robert and Susannah (Bettles) Johnson. Coming with his parents to America, they located about 1854 in Water- ford township, Erie county, Pennsylvania, where Robert Johnson took up farming pursuits, and both he and his wife are now deceased.
The public schools of Waterford township afforded John Johnson with his educational training, and farming has been his life occupa- tion. His homestead contains one hundred and twenty-five acres of rich and well cultivated land, located near the borough of Waterford. In politics he affiliates with the Republican party, and voted for Grant first.
Mr. Johnson married in 1864 Miss Susannah Lundy, a daughter of James and Elizabeth (Shields) Lundy, also from Ireland, and they have had the following children : James, George, David, Frank, Alice, Jessie and Harry, but three of the sons, James, David and Frank, are deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson are members of the United Presby- terian church at Waterford.
D. W. HUNT. One of the interesting characters which has graced the early and subsequent history of Erie county is D. W. Hunt, who was born on the old Hunt farm on which he now resides at the edge of Waterford, March 12, 1834, a son of Simeon and Asenath (Tracy) Hunt. from Connecticut. The grandfather was Captain John Tracy, one of a family of three children, and on the paternal side the grand- father was from Vermont. Simeon Hunt passed through Waterford in the year of 1814 on his way to Meadville, but after two years there he returned to Waterford and bought of General Martin the farm now owned by his son D. W. Captain John Tracy also bought land here of the same man. Mr. Hunt's purchase consisted of one hundred acres, the greater part of which has been platted into Waterford lots. During many years he operated a distillery here, the only one ever in Waterford, and his death occurred in .April, of 1874. When Mr. Hunt first came to Waterford he was accompanied by two brothers, but after remaining here a year they moved on to the Western Reserve and secured homes there.
D. W. Hunt received a good education in the Waterford Academy, and farming has been his life occupation. He now owns and conducts sixty-five acres of the original farm secured by his father in the early days of the county's history. In 1856 he went to Iowa and took up one hundred and sixty acres of land, but after two years there he re- turned to Waterford, and remained here until again crossing the plains to Iowa in 1867. During his stav in the west he had many interesting experiences and also endured the many hardships and privations of pioneer life, but these only helped him to appreciate more fully the
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ASTOR, LEHOX TILDEN FOUNDATIONS
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trials his ancestors endured in subduing the wilds of this community in its pioneer epoch. During his first trip across the plains in 1856 they very narrowly escaped trouble with the Indians in Hamilton county of that state, and locating in Pocahontas county he secured a claim on the river, eighteen miles from a neighbor. At one time it was reported that he had been killed by the red skins and a searching party was about to be sent out, but one of this party succeeded in making his way to the settlement and informed them of the truth. On his way to the west he traveled two hundred miles in the primitive pioneer manner of those times, and crossed without bridges the vari- ous streams which he encountered en route.
In 1867, on his second return from Iowa, Mr. Hunt married Miss Adaline Trask, a daughter of Esquire J. and Sophia (Reed) Trask. The mother came to Erie county from Ohio when seven years of age, and lived with an uncle, George Reed, until her marriage. Her mother was a full blood Indian, and her father was James Maning Reed. Esquire J. Trask was brought by his parents to Erie county when but two years of age, and he became a cabinet-maker and carpenter, also owning a farm two miles from Waterford. He died in October of 1866, and his wife survived until November of 1883. Reed Tracy Hunt is the only child of Mr. and Mrs. Hunt, and he now lives in Waterford and farms the old Hunt homestead. He married Miss Elizabeth McArdle, and their only child, Dan Tracy Hunt, is deceased.
LEWIS WILSON OLDS. A man of superior business talents and ability, Lewis W. Olds is intimately associated with one of the most important manufacturing industries of Corry, being president of the Climax Manufacturing Company, builders of geared locomotives, and also interested in timber lands in California and Washington, and in the production of oil in Ohio and Oklahoma. A son of Mason O. Olds, he was born March 30, 1865, at Youngsville, Warren county, Pennsyl- vania. He comes of New England stock, his grandfather, Elisha Olds, a lineal descendant of Phineas Olds, who was a son of Ezekiel Old, of Brookfield. Massachusetts, having been born and brought up in Vermont, and who served as corporal and captain in the war of Revolu- tion, being in the Battle of Bunker Hill, June 17, 1727, also in Battle of Lexington. Ezekiel Old also served in the French and Indian wars, as mentioned in History North Brookfield, Page ?14-215 and 697.
Ezekiel was the son of Captain William Old who took part in the siege and capture of Louisburg in Queen Anne's war of 1747, and William Old is a son of Dr. Robert Old who settled in Windsor, Con- necticut in 1669, having come from England in that year, and settled in Connecticut. The letter S was added to the surname Old as men- tioned, Pages 44-45 of History Suffield, Colony Massachusetts 1660- 1749, published by Hezekiel Spencer Sheldon.
In company with his half-brothers, Joel Olds and Gilbert Olds, Elisha Olds migrated from the Green Mountain State to Pennsylvania in pioneer days, making the entire journey with teams. Locating in Erie county, he bought a tract of forest covered land on Mill Creek, being one of the earlier settlers of that part of the county. Making a clearing, in which he erected a log cabin, he began the improvement of a homestead. After he had well started his farming operations, he took advantage of the water on the place, developed the water power, erected a saw-mill and a pump shop, and was one of the pioneer lumber Vol. II-24
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and pump manufacturers of Erie county. Succeeding in his labors, he cleared a goodly portion of his land, erected a substantial set of frame buildings and there resided until his death, at the age of sixty-seven years. He was three times married. He married first Abigail W. Flint, who was born in Vermont, a daughter of James and Jerusha (-) Flint. He married second Mary A. Deming, of Kenosha, Wisconsin, and married for his third wife, Mrs. Electa (Chase) Huie. By his first marriage he had thirteen children, of whom twelve grew to mature life, as follows: James P .; George: Oby ; Oro; Mason O .; Allen ; Wel- come : Henry ; Delight ; Moses ; Nellie ; and Martha. Of his second mar- riage two children were born, Nana E. and Walter R.
Mason O. Olds was born, July 21, 1836, at Belle Valley, Mill Creek township, and was there reared on the home farm, receiving education in the pioneer schools of his district. Beginning when young to assist his father in the shop and mill, he became familiar with the business, and on attaining his majority went to Youngsville, Warren county, Penn- sylvania, where he was engaged in the manufacture of pumps until 1870. Coming in that year to Corry, he established a pump factory, which he conducted successfully until his death, two years later, while yet in manhood's prime. His wife, whose maiden name was Eliza Mead, was born in Youngsville, Pennsylvania, in 1838, a daughter of Joseph Mead, a pioneer farmer of Warren county. She died in 1906, aged sixty-eight years.
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