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 67
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Thomas M. Walker is a native of Butler county, Pennsylvania, born on the 4th of February, 1834, at a time when his mother was on her way to join her husband at Harrisburg, where he was attending certain public duties. Although a student at Princeton (New Jersey) College. his tastes were more active than scholarly, and in 1854 he left school and spent several years thereafter engaged in railroad construction in Missouri and Illinois. His next venture was in the Canadian oil fields, but the outbreak of the Civil war brought him home to Erie county to assist in the raising of the One Hundred and Eleventh Pennsylvania Infantry. Of this he was elected major, during the progress of the war receiving successive promotions as lieutenant colonel, colonel and brevet brigadier general, and remaining with the regiment named throughout, until his honorable muster-out at Washington, District of Columbia. At Lookout Mountain, with his color bearer, he went up the ladder in the hottest fire of that terrific conflict, and for the gallantry of his regiment the state of Pennsylvania has since placed a memorial tablet in their honor on the historic spot. On Sherman's march to the sea the One Hundred and Eleventh was the first regiment to enter both Atlanta and Savannah and General Walker led the command on both historic occasions. After the battle of Cedar Mountain he was reported dead for over a week, but he was really busily engaged in Washington in substituting for the old Belgian rifles with which his regiment was armed, the more modern Springfield. While thus employed his father was beseeching Secretary Stanton to permit him to go through the lines and make a careful search for his son's body; and father and son ac- cidentally ran into each other's arms in the old Kirkwood (now Raleigh) Hotel. at the national capital. It was a joyful meeting on both sides, and doubly so on the part of the former, who had hoped only for the sad comfort of finding his son's body on the battle field. For general gallantry in action General Walker was presented with a handsome sword by the ladies of Eric, and soon after the war the government breveted him brigadier general.
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For a time after his return to Erie General Walker was engaged in the wholesale grocery business. In 1820 he was elected sheriff and in 1816 appointed postmaster, serving in the latter position until his resig- nation in 1819. In the following year he went to North Dakota to engage in farming. Until 1906 he cultivated on an average of five thousand acres, but since that year has decreased the area of his opera- tions to about eleven hundred. He has the general supervision of his still large ranch and farm, usually spending the season from spring to the Christmas holidays in North Dakota, and returning to Erie for the winter months. General Walker is an old Mason, in 1855 joining Mis- souri Lodge, No. 1, St. Louis, Missouri. He is also identified with the societies of the Army of the Potomac, Army of the Tennessee and the Army of the Cumberland, and, naturally with the Grand Army of the Republic and the Pennsylvania Commandery of the Loyal Legion.
General Walker's wife was Agnes Caughey, daughter of William M. and Sophia (Clemmens) Caughey. Her father, who is deceased, was born June 15, 1817, and represented an ancient Scotch family, whose members were among the first adherents to Presbyterianism in the mother country. During the religious persecutions of the seventeenth century its American ancestors emigrated to Ireland, making their home in the vicinity of Donegal and about 1750 two Caughey brothers came to this country and located in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, where one of them (Francis) died at the age of ninety-three years. This ancestor of the Erie county branch of the family became the father of two sons and three daughters. John, the second in order of birth, was born in Lancaster county, June 13, 1784 ; married Ann Vance Wilson, in Washington county, Pennsylvania, and died June 19, 1859. His wife, who was born October 6, 1786, passed away on the 6th of May, 1839, the mother of fourteen children, of whom William M., Mrs. Wal- ker's father, was the fifth. The latter was for many years a prominent and honored citizen of Erie county.
JUDGE MYRON HUTCHINSON. The life history of Judge Myron Hutch- inson was indissolubly identified with the early annals of Erie county, and stood exponent for the most sterling personal characteristics. He was born in Madison county, New York, October 5; 1795, a son of David Hutchin- :son. The common schools of the Empire state afforded the son with his edu- cational training. and he remained in New York until he came to Erie county, Pennsylvania, in an early period in its history and enrolled his name among its most prominent and earnest citizens. He was one of the first to establish his home in Girard, and his farm was located on what is now the main street of the city, he having donated a part of that tract for the park in the center of the town, and although a farmer all his life he took a very active and helpful part in the upbuilding and well being of the beautiful village and was one of its most public spirited citizens.
Judge Hutchinson married in his native state of New York Miss Nancy Wells, born June 12. 1792, and the only surviving member of their eight children is Mrs. David Olin, mentioned below. Judge Hut- chinson was a devout Universalist, and he was not only one of the first to assist in the establishment of that church in Girard but he also remained one of its most active members throughout life, a pious Christian gen- tleman. His political affiliations were with the Democratic party, and he held the offices of justice of the peace. postmaster and associate judge of Erie county. This honored pioneer citizen of Erie county now lies buried
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at Girard, a city which he helped to build and maintain, and he died on the 1st of September, 1859.
Within less than a week after the death of Mrs. Martha Cutler the oldest inhabitant and residing directly across the street from where Mrs. Cutler lived, died Mrs. Nancy Hutchinson, the relict of the late Judge Myron Hutchinson. After the death of Mrs. Cutler, Mrs. Hutchinson was the oldest person residing in Girard borough, she having attained the ripe old age of eighty-seven years. She also retained her mental faculties to the last moment, but had for several years not enjoyed as good bodily health as had Mrs. Cutler, and for the last four or five months was entirely blind.
Mrs. Hutchinson was closely connected with the earliest history of this borough, as will be seen by the following brief biographical sketch : She was born in Saratoga county, New York, June 12, 1792. Her maiden name was Nancy Wells. She married Myron Hutchinson ( the late Judge Hutchinson) in Fenner, Madison county, New York, and with him re- moved to Girard in the spring of 1818, her brother, Joseph Wells, coming and settling here at the same time. Her father, Thurston Wells, had preceded them some time, and had purchased two hundred acres of land, upon which the bulk of our borough now stands. Upon his death the land was equally divided between her busband and her brother Joseph. The latter donated the public square to the new town about being laid out on the lands comprising the Wells farm and named the town Girard, out of compliment to Stephen Girard, of Philadelphia. Mrs. Hutchinson's mother's name was Irene Badger ; she was descended from the Thurstons and Greenes of Rhode Island, and was a not very distant relative of General Nathaniel Greene, the Rhode Island blacksmith of Revolutionary fame. She was a good and true woman, and a kind and affectionate mother. She is survived by four children, namely Monroe, Mrs. Lydia Clemens, of Erie, Mrs. Eliza Olin, and David Wells.
JEROME FRANCIS DOWNING. Success in any line of occupation, in any avenue of business, is not a matter of mere chance, but is won through energetic effort, extreme earnestness of purpose, a wise im- provement of every offered opportunity, and strict attention to its every detail. The great measure of prosperity that has invariably attended every venture of Mr. Downing is speaking evidence of his ability, keen foresight, and integrity, and does him both honor and credit. He is one of Erie's oldest and most prominent citizens, and is conspicuously identified with its financial and business progress.
Coming on both sides of the house from substantial New Eng- land stock, Jerome F. Downing was born, March 24, 1827, in Hamp- shire county, Massachusetts, being the youngest child in a family con- sisting of eight sons and four daughters. His parents, James and Roxana (Forbush) Downing, natives respectively of Boston and Rox- bury, Massachusetts, settled in the latter placc, which is now a part of the city of Boston, soon after their marriage, but subsequently, in 1810. removed to Enfield, Massachusetts, where they bought land, and engaged in agricultural pursuits.
Brought up on the home farm, Jerome F. Downing began as a boy to assist his father in the labors incidental to farm life, attending in the meantime the short sessions of the district school. An apt scholar. with a decided liking for books, he applied himself to his studies, and having earned some money by working for wages in the neighborhood
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in which he was brought up, he entered the freshman class at Amherst College, in Amherst, Massachusetts, in 1848. In 1850 he embarked in journalism, becoming editor of a newspaper in Holyoke, later being similarly employed on the Troy ( New York) Daily Post. In the mean- time Mr. Downing read law, and after his admission to the bar came to Pennsylvania in search of a favorable location, settling, in the fall of 1855, in Erie. Beginning at once the practice of his profession, he met with genuine success, and in 1863 was elected district attorney of Erie county. The ensuing year the Insurance Company of North America and Philadelphia, one of the most important and reliable fire and marine insurance companies in the country, was diligently searching for a suitable person to extend its operations westward. Its choice fell upon Mr. Downing, who, with some reluctance and many grave misgivings, accepted the offered position, becoming the company's general agent for the Western states, with headquarters in Erie.
Under the efficient management of Mr. Downing. his department of the company's affairs made rapid progress, becoming one of the most important in the insurance world, and still maintains its high standing among the many flourishing organizations since established. To accommodate and better house this immense business, Mr. Downing erected the fine brick office block at the corner of Ninth and Peach streets, which has since been its home. In 1892, as an investment for his money, he erected the six-story, brick block known as the Downing Building, at the corner of Ninth and State streets. It is the largest and most modern business block in the city, and its first, second and third floors are occupied by one of the largest and most thriving dry goods establishments in Erie, while the other floors are used as offices. Mr. Downing has also other property of great value, owning real estate in the city of Chicago, and extensive farming lands in the Northwest.
Formerly a Whig in politics, Mr. Downing became identified with the Republican party at the time of its birth, and has since been true to its highest interests. He has been prominent in municipal affairs, serv- ing on the school board, and as a member of the city council. When Erie celebrated "Columbus Day." Mr. Downing was one of the four speakers selected to deliver addresses, the subject assigned him, and to which he did full justice, being "The Development of Four Centuries :" and when, September 11, 1895, the one hundredth anniversary of Erie's birth was celebrated, he was chosen Centennial Orator, and, as on the previous occasion acquitted himself with honor.
ALICE MAY McCRAY. Erie county claims Mrs. Alice May (Win- chester) McCray as a native daughter, and her career has reflected honor upon the place of her birth. She was born at Lundy's Lane on the 28th of June, 1870. to the marriage union of James M. and Lizzie L. (Rich) Winchester. James M. Winchester was a farmer until 1899 when he engaged in the flour and feed business. The daughter received her elementary training in the district schools of Pageville and at the Wellsburg high school, from which she graduated in 1886. Following this she pursued a four years' course in English and American literature, as prescribed by the "Y. P. S. and L. G.," at Ocean Park, Old Orchard, Maine, and graduated in 1894, and still later took a course of study in occultism and was granted a diploma by Dr. L. W. DeLaurence, of Chi- cago, Illinois, in 1904.
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From her earliest girlhood Mrs. McCray has displayed studious habits and literary, musical and artistic tastes. Her first step after leav- ing the school room as a pupil was to teach school in order to earn a livelihood and to enable her to pursue a still higher training, and she taught for six years, both in district and high schools. Since 1886, however, she has been engaged more or less in literary work, and has contributed to the following magazines and periodicals: "Eltka," "Ben- jamite," "Scroll." "Dayspring," "Sunflower," "Light of Truth," and "Progressive Thinker." From 1894 until 1905 Mrs. McCray spent the winter months in Warren county, Pennsylvania, living during the sum- mers at Lily Dale, New York, a beautiful lake resort and great educa- tional center. During these years she devoted much of her time to por- trait work, and many of her productions were sold to residents of Phil- adelphia, Pittsburg, Allegheny, Warren, Oil City, Spring Creek, Corry and Erie, Pennsylvania ; Buffalo and Lily Dale, New York : Cleveland and Olmsted Falls, Ohio; and Detroit and Saginaw, Michigan; and Minneapolis, Minnesota. She is a portrait artist of superior ability. During the year of 1907 she was secretary of the Belding Sanitarium at Belding, Michigan, and she spent a summer vacation at Grand Ledge, a beautiful resort on Grand river in that state.
During the intervening years from 1888 until 1894 Mrs. McCray was a member of the Free Will Baptist church at Wellsburg. Pennsyl- vania, but possessing an investigating mind and at all times receptive to truth from whatsoever source it might come, she delved deeply into all religious philosophies and finally came to the same conclusion as John Ruskin-that wherever one hand meets another helpfully there is the only true and mother church, so she is no longer bound by creed but be- longs to the great church of humanity, which teaches practical duties toward each other in this life, leads us to worship what we see of the divine in each other and shows us that loving, human fellowship is the real divine communion. She is a great lover of the occult and mystical. a deep sympathizer with the joys and sorrows of others, and in her life- time she has been associated with many prominent people, whose in- fluence have helped her in moulding her life. Her splendid educational training was obtained under great disadvantages and adverse circum- stances, and she has suffered many hardships on her road to success and renown, and although always aspiring and ambitious she is also thought- ful and contemplative. She is a lover of nature and possesses splendid knowledge in scientific pursuits.
On November 12, 1894, Alice May Winchester was united in mar- riage in Erie to W. A. McCray, a lecturer and writer. Mrs. McCray has one sister, Mrs. Leonore Martin, wife of Frank Martin, a railroad man, of Lundy's Lane, Pennsylvania, and she is the mother of five chil- dren, viz .: Leon, Florence (deceased), Pauline. Fenton, and Geraldine.
HON. JOHN R. MULKIE. No man is more widely known or highly respected in Union City than the Hon. John R. Mulkie, a former legis- lator and councilman. He was born in Cattaraugus county, New York, in 1842. and reared and educated in the county of his birth. At the age of twenty-one years he moved from there to Erie county, where he has since resided as a useful, progressive and prosperous citizen. During thirty-four years he served the Erie Railroad Company as an agent, and during ten years previous to that time he was a freight clerk for the same company at Corry, Pennsylvania. In 1873 he was stationed in Union
HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY
City as joint agent for the Erie and the Western New York, and Penn- sylvania railroad companies, and served in that capacity ten years or until the Western New York was merged with the Pennsylvania Company about the year 1883. From that time until his resignation Mr. Mulkie was the agent for the Erie Company, but during that time he also carried on an extensive wholesale and retail business in coal and mason and builders' supplies, being associated in that capacity at different times with C. L. Reed, S. W. Brown and E. Collopy as partners.
On the 1st of April, 190?, Mr. Mulkie, with his son Roy B., pur- chased the grist mill which he now operates in connection with his for- mer coal and supply business, and the industry is known as the Union Coal and Supply Company. The mill was built by R. D. Poor and others in 1821, and after operating it as a stock company for six years they sold it to Messrs. Camp, Geiger and Beebe, of Warren, Ohio, who carried on the business up to the date of purchase by Mr. Mulkie and son in 1907. The former capacity of the mill was one hundred and ten barrels of flour and twenty tons of feed per day, but the flouring machinery has since been moved from the mill, and it is now operated solely as a feed mill with the above capacity and contains a sixty horse power engine. Mr. Mulkie served his city as a councilman, and during his administration had the pleasure of seeing a city water plant inaugurated. During 1899 and 1901 he served his district as a member of the state legislature and was a member of the following committees : "legislature appropriations," "railroads," "municipal corporations," "public roads," "geological sur- veys." and "compare bills," serving on the last named as a chairman. He is a worthy member of the Masonic fraternity, and affiliates with Eureka Lodge No. 360 of Union City, Columbus Chapter No. 22 of Corry. Clarence Commandery of that place and Zem Zem Shrine of Erie. Ile is both a past master and past commander of his order.
In 1867 Mr. Mulkie was united in marriage to Miss Sarah S., daugh- ter of W. T. and Cynthia (Scott) Brown, and their two children are Maud and R. B. Mulkie. The daughter is now the wife of Dr. G. E. Humphrey, the resident physician of River Side Hotel, Cambridge Springs, and the son is in partnership with his father. Mr. Mulkie is a member of and an elder in the Presbyterian church.
GEORGE SELDEN was a native of Connecticut, born at Hadlyme, New London county, on September 28, 1790, the son of Samuel and Deborah (Colt) Selden, and was descended from the Seldens who came from England in 1650, settling at Hadlyme. His grandfather, Samuel Selden, organized the first company and was elected colonel of the first regiment equipped by his native county for the Continental army during the war of the Revolution ; was wounded and captured and died a prisoner in New York just prior to the evacuation of that city. When about fifteen years of age George Selden entered the mercantile establishment of his uncles, Charles and Joseph D., at Troy, New York. He came to Erie in about 1819, joining his uncle, Judah P. Colt, bringing with him his wife and two sons. He engaged in merchandising on French street near Sixth, which business was continued until 1857.
He was active and prominent in church work, and in 1832 was chosen elder in the First Presbyterian church, a position he held the bal- ance of his life. He was a pioneer in Sunday school work in Erie, and for many years was superintendent of the Sunday school of his church.
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His death occurred May 23, 1857. On October 14, 1813, Mr. Selden was united in marriage with Elizabeth Grace Card, who was born in Troy, New York, the daughter of Joseph and Hannah Card, who bore him four children. Elizabeth Selden died on September 26, 182, and on June 12, 1833, Mr. Selden married Emily Marvin, who died in May, 1856, leaving no children.
CHARLES T. SELDEN, son of George and Elizabeth (Card) Selden, was born in Troy, New York, August 16, 1815, and died in Erie, April 18, 1825.
JOSEPH SELDEN, son of George and Elizabeth (Card) Selden, was born in Troy, New York, August 16, 1817. He engaged in mercantile pursuits in Erie in 1840 with his father, and so continued until his death on January 18, 1852. On April 27, 1841, he married Joanna Lauman, daughter of Hon. Thomas H. Sill, and to their union children were born as follows: George Dudley, Joanna, Emma Josephine and Elizabeth Grace.
SAMUEL SELDEN, son of George and Elizabeth (Card) Selden, was born in Erie, July 9, 1821. When a young man he took charge of his uncle Dudley Spencer's plantation interests on the isle of Cuba, and spent several years there. Returning to Erie, he engaged in the manufacture of paper for a time, subsequently taking up fruit culture at Mayside, this county. He possessed inventive genius and perfected and patented several valuable articles, and in 1868 he, with his brother John C. and Matthew Griswold, established the Selden & Griswold Manufacturing Company, of which enterprise he was the guiding spirit, being at the time of his death, June 25, 1882, managing partner. This factory is still in existence under the name of the Griswold Manufacturing Company.
He was married August 12, 1851, to Caroline M., daughter of Dr. C. F. Perkins, of Erie, and to their union the following children were born : Mary L., Caroline E., Edward P., Dr. Charles C., and Samuel F. Samuel Selden was a man of large public spirit ; he was active in church and Sabbath school work and for many years was an elder in the First Presbyterian church of Erie. He had a prominent part in the Young Men's Christian Association and in establishing the night schools for the benefit of those who could not attend the public schools during the dav.
JOHN CARD SELDEN, son of George and Elizabeth (Card) Selden, was born in Eric, November 28, 1825. From 1844 to 1850 he was a clerk in a store in Troy, New York. The latter year he joined his brother George in California, returning to Erie in 1853 and joining his father in the mercantile business, subsequently purchasing the store and chang- ing it from general merchandise to that of hardware and manufacturing supplies, which he continued until 1822. In 1868 he became interested in the establishment of the Selden & Griswold Manufacturing Company. Later, and until his death on May 12, 1888, he was associated with his brother George in the Erie City Iron Works. He was for a number of years a member of the board of water commissioners of Eric. For many years he was connected with the Erie County Bible Society and was long a leading member of the First Presbyterian church of Erie. He was
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married February 28, 1855, to Lydia M., daughter of Matthew Gris- wold Sr., and sister of Hon. Matthew Griswold. To them were born two children-Marion, and Grace Card (wife of Commander Frederick I .. Chapin, U. S. N.).
GEORGE SELDEN, son of George and Elizabeth (Card) Selden, was born in Erie, September 26, 1822. He was educated at the Erie Academy and by private study and extensive travel. At the age of seventeen years he decided to see the world, and going to New York, he shipped on board a merchant vessel bound for the East Indies and China, and spent several years on the sea. Returning to Erie he remained here until the gold excitement of 1849, in which year he went out to California, where he spent four years in a fairly successful quest for gold. Returning once more to Erie, he became associated with the late Col. John H. Bliss in the manufacture of petroleum barrels and in other lines of business. In 1864, he and Col. Bliss purchased an interest in the Erie City Iron Works. He made and patented important improvements in steam boilers and saw mill machinery and the success of the Erie City Iron Works was due largely to his inventive genius and to his remarkable ability as a business man and executive. He was president of this gigantic enterprise at the time of his death on November 19, 1893. He was a true "captain of industry." He traveled extensively through the United States, Mexico and Europe and in 1885-6 accomplished the journey westward around the world.
Mr. Selden was united in marriage March 4, 1857, to Anna M., the daughter of Charles Lawton, of Pottsville, Pennsylvania. She died in Erie in March, 18:1. For many years Mr. Selden was a prominent member of the First Presbyterian church, of which he was a generous supporter. The beautiful chapel of the church was a gift from Mr. Selden, a memorial to his wife. He was a member of the board of trade and of Mt. Olivet Commandery of the order of Masons. He was for years a managing director of the Hamot Hospital and at his death left by bequest a large sum for that worthy institution.
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