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 65
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HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY
David Curtis, whose birth occurred August 12, 1786, was but ten years old when his parents removed to Chenango county, where he was brought up and educated. Entering the employ of J. H. Huyde- kopper, agent for the Holland Company, he came, in 1822, to Pennsyl- vania to survey land in Warren county, and for his services was given a body of land in Columbus township, a part of which is now included in the borough of Columbus. He subsequently donated a tract on the east side of the creek for a park, and another for a cemetery. In the fall he returned to Chenango county, making the trip as he came, on horseback, and early in 1823 removed with his family to Warren county, settling on land that he had selected the previous year, and on which a log cabin had been erected. Prosperously engaged in general farming, he resided there until his death, July 22, 1832. His wife, whose maiden name was Delilah Sears, was born September 5, 1291, and died February 1, 1872.
Seymour Curtis was born in Sherburne. Chenango county, New York, in 1818, but was reared and educated in Warren county, Pennsyl- vania. Choosing the free and independent occupation of a farmer, he bought land near Columbus when ready to settle in life, and from that time until his death, in 1856, carried on farming with good results. He married Lucretia Pardee, who was born at Rome, New York, March 26. 1820. a daughter of Merritt and Rebecca (Woodin) Pardee, both of whom were born in Connecticut, the former in Guilford, and the latter in New Haven. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Pardee lived for a time in Rome, from there coming to Corry, where they spent their last years. Two children were born of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Seymour Curtis, a son, Virgil G., of this brief sketch, and a daughter, Elvene. After her graduation from the State Normal School at Oswego, New York, Elvene Curtis attended Cornell University, and was subsequently, for a number of years, principal of the Teachers' Training School at Toledo, Ohio.
Having prepared for college at the Clinton Liberal Institute, in Clinton, New York, Virgil G. Curtis entered Tufts College, from which he was graduated in 1866 with the degree of A. B. Beginning his career as a teacher, he met with eminent success, and in 1870 became superintendent of the public schools of Corry, a position that he held for ten years. Going then to Minnesota, he was similarly employed for the next seven years, being three years in Stillwater, and four years in Winona. Returning East at the end of that time Mr. Curtis served most acceptably as superintendent of the schools of New Haven, Conn- ecticut, for five years, when he resigned to accept a similar position in St. Paul, Minnesota. Two years later, on account of the ill health of his wife, he gave up his position in that city, and returned to Corry in order that she might be with her friends and relatives, and since 1905 has filled his present position as superintendent of the city schools of this place.
Mr. Curtis married, in 1866, Mary C. Webber, who was born, in 1845. in Columbus, Warren county, daughter of Hiram and Esther ( Walton) Webber, natives of New York state, and pioneers of Columbus, Pennsylvania. Mrs. Curtis died in Corry, in 1905, leaving one daughter, Carlene, wife of John E. Blunt, Jr., of Evanston, Ill. Mr. and Mrs. Blunt have four children, namely: Curtis, John E., Carleton A. and Carlene Lucretia. Mr. Curtis is prominent in Masonic circles, being
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a Knight Templar and a member of the Mystic Shrine, and in his religious views is broad and liberal, and a worthy member of the Unitarian church.
EDWARD CAMPHAUSEN. Graven deeply and with marked distinction on the history of the state of Pennsylvania are the name and works of Hon. Edward Camphausen, who died at his home in the city of Erie, on Friday, February 13, 1903. He stood as an honored member of a striking group of men whose influence in the social and economic life of the nation was of most beneficent order. It is easy to attribute the elements of greatness to any man who has been in the least conspicuous in public affairs, but in the perspective of years cach presentment assumes its true value and an unequivocal verdict may be rendered. The fame of Edward Camphausen rests on the firm basis of work accomplished and honors worthily won, and in studying his clean-cut, sane, distinct char- acter, interpretation follows fact in a straight line of derivation. His character was the positive expression of a strong and loyal nature, and the laurels of high personal accomplishment were his, as well as the goodly heritage of distinguished and patrician ancestry.
Edward Camphausen was born in the historic old city of Cologne, Germany, on the 20th of February, 1823, and had his life been pro- longed by only a few days he would thus have celebrated the eightieth anniversary of his birth. In both the paternal and maternal lines he was a scion of distinguished ancestry. On the paternal side the family has been established in Dusseldorf, Germany, and its vicinity for fully five centuries, and the name has been prominent in connection with financial. civic and military affairs in the great German empire during practically that entire period. One of his cousins, the distinguished Otto Camphausen, was long incumbent of the office of minister of finance in the cabinet of the emperor at Berlin. His mother was a member of the notable Westphalian family of Freiherrn von Schorlemmer-Nieder-Hell- inghausen, prominent in German affairs for more than ten centuries. Her ancestors received the order of knighthood at the hands of the great Christian emperor. Charlemagne, and thus became freeholders of the Holy Roman Empire. At a later date representatives of this dis- tinguished family were prominent in the great religious reformation under the leadership of Martin Luther.
The subject of this memoir was afforded the advantages of a home of distinctive culture and refinement, and after attending a military academy in his native land he entered Bonn University, where he con- tintied his higher academic studies. He thereafter served about one year as a volunteer officer in the German army, and then, in 1848. during the turbulent times in Germany, when twenty-five years of age, he severed the ties which bound him to home and fatherland and came to America. where it was to be his portion to attain personal honors, success and distinction. He was a close personal friend of Carl Schurz, who when in Erie was entertained at Mr. Camphausen's home. Soon after his arrival he came to Erie county and took up his residence in that part of Mill Creek township which is now included in the Sixth ward of the city of Erie. In 1866 he was actively identified with the organization of South Erie into a borough, and there he was called upon to serve in various offices, including those of school director, councilman, justice of the peace and solicitor. In 1870 he was one of the foremost in bringing about the annexation of South Erie to the city of Erie, and
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his effective services and personal popularity led to his being chosen as a member of the select council, of which he became president in 18:1. In this office he had occasion several times to fill the part of acting mayor. during the absence of the regular incumbent, Hon. William L. Scott. As such he assumed the leadership in the raising of funds for the sufferers by the great Chicago fire of that year, and in this connection he exemplified that deep human sympathy and generous spirit which were ever characteristic of the man.
Through effective study and discipline Mr. Camphausen ably forti- fied himself for the work of the legal profession, and he was admitted to the bar of the state of Pennsylvania, March 15, 1865. Concerning his professional career the following estimate has been given by one familiar with the same : "He entered at once upon a large and very lucra- tive practice. He gave his attention mainly to the civil branch of his profession, especially in the line of conveyancing. His income as a lawyer was probably larger at one period than that of any other per- son who has practiced in the Erie courts. He took a trip to Europe with his family in 1823, being absent fourteen months. While there he was honored with an appointment as commissioner for Pennsylvania to the Vienna exposition. On his return he resumed the practice of law, with the same remarkable success as before. In 1876 he filled the office of city solicitor." Mr. Camphausen had a deep' appreciation of the dignity and responsibilities of the exacting profession to which he devoted many years of his life, and his record as a member of the bar of the Keystone state is one that will ever stand to his credit and honor.
In public affairs of wider scope it was given the subject of this memorial to gain distinction. On his career as a diplomat rests largely his national fame. Concerning this matter the following pertinent state- ments are consistently reproduced in this article: "Appointed United States consul to Naples in 1885, he served in that distinguished post for five years-four under Cleveland and one under Harrison. His serv- ice abroad was marked by a degree of tact, courtesy and ability that placed him in the front rank of our foreign representatives, and made him popular not only among Americans but also among all classes in Italy. He gave a great deal of attention to the social duties of his office and won the reputation of being 'the most hospitable consul in Europe.' One of those he had the pleasure of entertaining was the Hon. James G. Blaine, who wrote him a charming letter of acknowledgment and was his warm friend ever afterward. Upon returning home, June 18. 1890, Mr. Camphausen and his family were given a most cordial greet- ing. A public reception was tendered them in their home city, and wel- coming speeches were made by a number of representative citizens."
After his return from his post at Naples, Mr. Camphausen lived a virtually retired life, though he continued to give a general supervision to his various private interests, which were of varied order and wide scope. He continued to take a loyal interest in public affairs, and "every effort for the general benefit of Erie found in him a brave and energetic advocate." He made judicious investments in local realty and made sub- stantial improvements on his various properties, having erected buildings in divers parts of the city. In 1895 was completed the erection of the beautiful family homestead, on West Tenth street, and it has ever been
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a center of gracious hospitality, offering the attractions of refined ap- pointments and cultured atmosphere.
In politics Mr. Camphausen was arrayed as a stalwart advocate of the principles and policies for which the Democratic party stands sponsor. He was reared in the faith of the Lutheran church, in which he was confirmed as a boy, and he aided in many ways the cause of re- ligion, in which connection his generosity knew no creed. He was well fortified in his opinions, had a deep reverence for the spiritual verities, and was tolerant of the views of others. He was affiliated with the Masonic fraternity, held membership in the Erie Club, Kahkwa Country Club, and the Erie Board of Trade, and was one of the incorporators of both the Hamot Hospital and the Glenwood Park Association.
On the 18th of April. 1853, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Camphausen to Miss Sophia Zimmerman, who survives him, as do also two of their seven children-Misses Eda and Florence, who remain with their mother. Mrs. Camphausen was born in the city of Erie and is a daughter of Frederick and Almira (Drown) Zimmerman, the former of whom was likewise born in Erie, a member of the old and honored family of that name, and the latter of whom was a member of the Drown family, prominent in the early history of New England. Freder- ick Zimmerman was a son of John Zimmerman, who came from Lebanon county, Pennsylvania, and settled in Erie county in the pioneer epoch of this section.
An editorial appearing in a local newspaper at the time of the death of Mr. Camphausen spoke of him in the following appreciative words : "Mr. Camphausen was a man of splendid bodily vigor as well as mental attainments. Few persons who saw him a month before his death would have supposed him to be over sixty years of age. Always dignified and courteous, he was known to nearly every person in the city, and had the respect of all. His home relations were of the kind- est and happiest nature. He loved his family and was blessed with the most devoted attention in return." His benevolence was a constant and unwearicd desire to contribute to the happiness of all who came within the sphere of his influence. He had a high sense of his stewardship, but the great, tender heart of the man is the basis of the love and veneration in which his memory is held in the city and state which he so signally honored by his life and services.
MICHAEL LIEBEL, JR. A native son of the city of Erie who has well upheld the prestige of a name honored in the history of this county and who has marked by distinctive personal accomplishment a place of his own in connection with the economic, industrial and civic affairs of Erie, is the city's present able and popular mayor, whose name intro- duces this paragraph.
Mr. Liebel was born in the city of Erie, Pennsylvania, on the 12th of December, 1870, and is a son of Michael and Clara (Uhr) Liebel. Michael Liebel was a native of Germany, where he was born on the 11th of June, 1843, a son of John and Barbara (Hammer) Liebel, who passed the closing years of their lives in Erie. Michael Liebel was afforded the advantages of the excellent schools of his native land, and was fourteen years of age when he came to America in company with his parents. The family located in Erie soon after their arrival in Amer- ica, and here Michael served an apprenticeship at the shoemaker's trade,
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in which he became an expert workman. In 1861 he engaged in the boot and shoe business, in which he here continued for a period of five years. In the meanwhile he had commenced to make judicious invest- ments in local realty, and his interests in this line eventually became very extensive, while he also identified himself, in a capitalistic way, with various enterprises of importance. After he retired from the shoe business these varied interests placed ample demands upon his time and attention, and he became one of the substantial capitalists and influential citizens of Erie, where he gained success through his own well directed efforts and confidence and honors through his sterling character and generous personality. He did much for the advancement and material upbuilding of Erie, where he erected many buildings of substantial type, including the Liebel Hotel, a fine brick and stone structure of four stories, on State street, which is still owned by his estate.
Michael Liebel, Sr., was a man of strong individuality and excellent mentality, so that he naturally had a due appreciation of the responsi- bilities of citizenship in the land of his adoption. His political allegi- ance was given to the Democratic party, and he took a deep and intelli- gent interest in public affairs, especially those of a local order. His hold upon the esteem of the community was shown in the fact that he was called upon to serve in both the select and common councils of the city, in each of which bodies he was chosen president within his term of membership. In 1877 he was elected a member of the board of water commissioners, and for one year he was president of this board. He was a communicant of the Catholic church, and held membership in the parish of St. Peter's cathedral, in which his widow is a devout com- municant. He was summoned to the life eternal in May, 1906, and his record is that of a man who accomplished much and whose career was marked by the most impregnable integrity and honor. His marriage to Miss Clara Uhr, daughter of John Uhr, of Erie, was solemnized in 1865. and they became the parents of three sons-Eugene, who is a represen- tative business man of Oil City, Pennsylvania : Frederick W., who died in 1896; and Michael, Jr., who is the immediate subject of this review. Mrs. Liebel who survives her honored husband still occupies the at- tractive family homestead in Erie, with whose social affairs she has been identified for many years, having a wide circle of loyal and valued friends.
Michael Liebel, Jr., gained his early educational training in the parochial and public schools of Erie, after which he was matriculated in St. Canisius College, in the city of Buffalo. New York, in which institution he was graduated as a member of the class of 1887. For a brief interval after leaving college he was employed in the Buffalo offices of the Nickle Plate Railroad, and he then returned to Erie, where for five years he was employed in the office of Jackson Koehler, at that time conducting one of the leading breweries of this section of the state. After his retirement from the position last noted Mr. Liebel engaged in the wholesale liquor business, under the title of the M. Liebel. Jr .. Company, and with this line of enterprise he continued to be identified for a period of three years. He was one of the organizers and incorporators of the Cascade Brewing Company, and of the same he was secretary and treasurer until the business was consolidated with that of the Erie Brewing Company, under which latter title the combined enterprise was continued. Of the Erie Brewing Company Mayor Liebel
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was secretary for seven years, at the expiration of which he resigned the office and disposed of his interest in the business. He still has many business and capitalistic interests, both in Erie and elsewhere, and has charge of his father's large estate. He is the owner of a con- siderable amount of improved real estate in Erie, is a member of the directorate of the Security & Savings Bank of Erie, and is president of the Youngstown Heating Company, of Youngstown, Ohio. He is a valued member of the Erie Chamber of Commerce and the Erie Board of Trade, and is affiliated with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Fraternal Order of Eagles, the Order of Moose, besides which he holds membership in the Erie Maennerchor and the Country Club.
The political allegiance of Mayor Liebel is given to the Democratic party, and he has shown a commendable interest in all that has tended to conserve the progress and prosperity of his native city, which has honored him by calling him to serve in the chief executive office of the municipal government. In September, 1906, Mr. Liebel received from the city council the appointment to the office of mayor, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Mayor Robert J. Saltsman. At the regular city election of 190? he was chosen by the popular vote to fill out the re- mainder of the unexpired term of Mayor Saltsman, which term ex- pired on the 1st of April, 1908. The popular appreciation of the ad- ministration of Mavor Liebel was even more distinctly shown in the election of February 1, 1907, when he was elected to the mayoralty for the full term, while still serving the unexpired term of his honored prede- cessor in the office. His administration has been sane, progressive, and directed according to business principles, so that his name will pass into the annals of the city as that of one of its excellent and popular chief executives. His present term of office will expire April 1, 1911. So far as superficial evidences can indicate, Erie's popular mayor is still "heart whole and fancy free,"-at least he still clings to the life of the bachelor.
WILLIAM WARD REED, who died in his native city of Erie, January 10, 1904, was one of the leading members of a family which has been most prominent in the primitive establishment of the community and its development, for considerably more than a century, into prosperous and advanced metropolitan life. A Reed was one of the first settlers of Erie ; he built the first house on the site of the present city ; one of his sons celebrated the first marriage recorded in the local annals, and his grandson by this marriage was the first white child born in Erie. It was Colonel Seth Reed, great-grandfather of William W .. who thus established the family name and started it in its broad and honorable career of useful and good works. He was a native of Uxbridge, Mas- sachusetts, born March 6, 1746. and a son of Lieutenant John Reed who received his military title through active service in the French and Indian wars. Colonel Reed himself was commissioned in the Revolu- tionary war and commanded his troops at the battle of Bunker Hill. At the conclusion of the war he moved from Massachusetts into Ontario county, New York, where by trade with the Indians he became owner of a tract of land eighteen miles in extent. Finally, he sold this prop- erty, and brought his wife and two sons (James Manning and Charles John) to the present site of Erie, arriving on the 17th of June. 1795. The family came from Buffalo to Erie in a sail boat, reaching the har-
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bor in the evening and camping on the peninsula over night, for fear of the Indians. Soon after his arrival, Colonel Reed erected a log cabin at the mouth of Mill Creek, which was the first permanent building in Erie. Known as the Presque Isle Hotel, it was used by its builder both as family residence and public house. In the following fall the Colonel's others sons, Rufus S. and George W., came to Erie by way of Pitts- burg, and in the succeeding year the family homestead became the well known farm on Walnut Creek, where the pioneer father died March 19, 119, less than two years after his arrival on the banks of Mill Creek. His wife ( nce Hannah Harwood) died in Erie on December 8, 1821, being the mother of the following children, four sons of whom have already been mentioned : James Manning, Charles John, Sophia. Rufus . Seth, Sally Adams, Henry Joseph, George Washington and Mary (Polly).
Charles J. Reed, the grandfather, was also a native of Uxbridge. Massachusetts, born December 23, 1141, and his marriage to Rachael Miller, December 22, 1191, was the first ceremony of the kind solem- nized in Erie. His former wife (Esther Wyndham) had died in that place at the birth of their son, William Wyndham Reed, the first white child to claim Erie as its birthplace. The children of Charles John and his second wife ( Rachel Miller), all of whom were born on the Walnut creek farm, were Matilda Catherine, Seth II, Emily, Charles John, Jr., Cyrus, James Manning. Nancy, Caroline, Mary Annin, Henry Joseph Annin, George Washington, Frances Sarah, Thomas Miller and Hannah. The father of this family died at Erie, May 10, 1830, his wife also pass- ing away as a resident of the city, October 25, 1851.
William Wyndham Reed, son of Charles J. Reed by his first mar- riage, was born in Erie, February 20, 1796, and married Elizabeth Ing- ram Smith, at Ashtabula, Ohio, on the 7th of October, 1821. His wife was born at Clinton, Oneida county, New York, on the 14th of Novem- ber, 1197, and their children ( all born in Ashtabula) were as follows : Charles Manning II., born August 14, 1822, who died at Erie, October 23, 1845: William Ward, special subject of this review ; Rufus Seth II., who was born October 21, 1826, and died February 17, 1830: Edmund Wyndham, born November 14, 1828, who died on the 4th of May, same year : Elizabeth Ann, who was born May 21, 1831 ; Edmund Wyndham II., born September 6, 1833; Robert Irwin, who was born March 11, 1836, and died March 13th of the following year, and Sarah Ann, young- est of the eight children, a sketch of whose elevated and elevating life follows the biography of her talented and honored brother. William W. Reed, the father of the family, remained in Ashtabula, Ohio, as a lead- ing merchant for a number of years. He failed in the panic of 1837. but did not return to Erie until 1845, when he became secretary and treasurer of the Erie Canal Company, which office he held at the time of his death September 9, 1851. His widow survived him for more than a third of a century, passing away at Erie, on the 15th of May, 1888.
William Ward Reed, the second child of this family, was born in Ashtabula, Ohio, on April 1, 1824, and was nearly eighty years of age at the time of his death in Eric. He received an academic education at Ashtabula and Erie, and after leaving school became a clerk in a ware- house in the former place, subsequently filling various positions on the lakes for some four years. Then leaving the marine service he filled a clerical position for some time in the general store of the Reed's furnace on Big Sandy creek, Mercer county, Pennsylvania. In 1849,
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