A twentieth century history of Erie County, Pennsylvania : a narrative account of its historic progress, its people, and its principal interests, Volume II, Part 8

Author: Miller, John, 1849-
Publication date: 1909
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 910

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 8

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JOHN STEVENS RICHARDS. He coveted success but scorned to attain it except through industry and honest means. He acquired wealth without fraud or deceit, and the results of his life are full of inspiration to the rising generation. These are significant words, and well do they indicate Captain John Stevens Richards as he stood as a man among men. He was a dominating factor in connection with the material and Vol. II-4

HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY

civic progress of the city of Erie, and no shadow rests on any portion of his career now that he has been called from the scenes and labors of this mortal life. His success, and it was pronounced, was largely attained through his connection with lake-marine and coal interests, and he gave of his splendid ability to the promotion of enterprises which conserved the general welfare of the community. Now that a perspective view of his career in its entirety may be gained, it is most consistent that at least a brief review of his life history be entered in a work of the province assigned to the one at hand.

John Stevens Richards was a native of the city of Erie, which represented his home during practically the entire course of his long and useful life. He was born in the old family homestead on Second street, between French and Holland streets, on the 5th of June, 1821, and his death occurred in Chicago on the 23d of April, 1897. He was a son of John and Ann (Henton) Richards, both natives of Card- iganshire, North Wales. John Richards left his home in Wales when a youth and thereafter followed a seafaring life for some time. He eventually took up his abode in the city of New York, where he served an apprenticeship in the yards of a large shipbuilding firm. At the time of the war of 1812 this firm sent out a large number of its operatives to construct the war vessels which eventually constituted Commodore Perry's historic fleet on Lake Erie, and among the men assigned to this work was John Richards, who rendered effective service in this connec- tion. After the close of the war he established his permanent home in Erie, where his name is honored as that of a sterling pioneer and loyal and influential citizen. For a time after taking up his residence in Erie he sailed on the Great Lakes, after which he engaged in shipbuilding, in which connection he had charge for many years of the construction of all of the Reed Line steamers. Both he and his wife continued to reside in Erie until their death.

Captain John S. Richards gained his early education in the school conducted in what was long known as a landmark of Erie,-the old "Yellow Meeting House," on Sassafras street, and this he supplemented by attending the Erie Academy. For a number of years after leaving school he was associated with his father in the operations of the local shipyard, and he then initiated his career as a sailor on the Great Lakes. He was thus identified with lake-marine service for more than twenty years, and he won rapid promotion through more subordinate offices to that of captain, in which position he had command of such vessels as the "Ohio," "Queen City," "Keystone State," and "Western World," the last mentioned of which held the route between Buffalo and Detroit. His last command was that of the steamship "Milwaukee," which oper- ated between Grand Haven, Michigan, and Milwaukee, Wisconsin, as a connecting adjunct of the Detroit, Grand Haven & Milwaukee Railroad, which is now a part of the Grand Trunk system.

In 1863 Captain Richards retired from the lakes and became a mem- ber of the firm of Henry Rawle & Company, of Erie, lake shippers of bituminous coal. This firm was succeeded by that of Richards, Pelton, Reed & Company, and the latter had its dissolution upon the abandon- ment of the Erie extension canal. In 1871 he became an interested principal in the firm of John Hern & Company, wholesale coal dealers, and with this concern and its successors, W. L. Scott & Company, and the W. L. Scott Company, he continued to be identified until his death, and was its president after the death of Mr. Scott. He also became

HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY

interested in other enterprises of important order, not the least of which was the Second National Bank of Erie, in which he was a large stock- holder and a director. His charities and benevolences were large and varied, but invariably unostentatious, and as a citizen he was moved by deep public spirit. He was one of those prominently concerned in the founding of the Hamot Hospital, one of the noble institutions of Erie, and as president of the Hamot Hospital Association he gave freely of his time and means to the promotion of the interests and to the main- tenance of the hospital. His political allegiance was given to the Re- publican party, in whose cause he maintained a deep interest, though he never consented to become a candidate for public office. He was affiliated with the Protestant Episcopal church, and was a liberal contrib- utor to the various departments of the work of St. Paul's parish, in whose membership . Mrs. Richards has long been identified as a zealous church woman. In the city and county of his birth Captain Richards will long be remembered for strength of character which would have made him a man of mark anywhere and for personal qualities which attracted and held all with whom he came in contact.

On the 19th of September, 1853, was solemnized the marriage of Captain Richards to Miss Adelaide McAllister, who was reared in the city of Erie and who is a daughter of the late David and Caroline (Gil- son) McAllister, the former of whom was born at Springfield, Vermont, November 18, 1800, and the latter of whom was born at Chesterfield, New Hampshire, January 24, 1813. Both families were founded in New England in the early colonial epoch of our national history. David McAllister came to Erie from Jefferson county, New York, in 1840, and for the ensuing seven years he was here engaged in the dry-goods business. In 1848 he was appointed clerk to the county commissioners, and in 1851 he was elected register and recorder of the county, of which dual office he remained incumbent for two full terms of three years each. Later he was elected treasurer of the Erie Canal Company, and the last official position held by him was that of deputy collector of internal revenue, of which he was incumbent at the time of his death, which occurred March 26, 1880. He was a man of sterling character, was one of the honored pioneers of the city of Erie, and ever commanded the confidence and esteem of the people of the community in which he so long maintained his home. His cherished and devoted wife was summoned to eternal rest October 13, 1892.

Captain and Mrs. Richards became the parents of three children, who, with their mother, survive the honored subject of this memoir. Harry is now a resident of Perley, Minnesota, where he has extensive farming interests and is a representative citizen; Mary is the wife of George R. Metcalf, of Erie: and Adelaide is the widow of William W. Michener, of Chicago, who died in the autum of 1908.

PHILANDER HARLAN, who is active in the conduct of an extensive fur- niture establishment in Erie, has attained prominence in commercial circles solely on the strength of his own exertions and innate business acumen. For twenty-six years he has been identified with the city's commercial life, his initial venture being upon a very small scale and apparently without prospect to one possessed of a lesser degree of fore- sight and resolution than he. However, as the years came, every mo- ment was utilized toward a definite end and every opportunity seized for the advancement of his business interests, so that today he controls

HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY

a large furniture house and owns considerable valuable real estate ; wherein, when he started in business, he was practically destitute of finances and had but a small stock of second-hand goods. Such a career strongly indicates a full measure of business ability, economical management and the faculty of making circumstances, as they occur, serve the end in view.

Mr. Harlan was born in Chester county, Pennsylvania, November 11, 1852, a son of Samuel Harlan, also a native of that county. Orig- inally the family came from England and is numbered among the early ones of the above named county. When Philander Harlan was a mere boy his father died, and he was put on a farm in Delaware county, Pennsylvania, where he was to remian until he had reached his sixteenth year. During that period he gave his services for his "keep" but, upon attaining the stipulated age, he was paid ten dollars a month for the next half year. At the termination of that period he had his wages, amounting to sixty dollars. Five dollars of that sum he paid for a valise and then came to Erie, where for a year he worked in a restau- rant for a man by name of Nunn. In that position he remained for a time, but, before reaching his twenty-first year, enlisted in the United States navy, being assigned aboard the old "Michigan." For eleven years, or until 1883, he was in the government service on the Great Lakes and on the open sea. In that year he located in Erie and engaged in the furniture business, his stand being in the old Elsworth block. Second- hand goods, which he had accumulated during three previous years, constituted his stock. From the outset he determined to succeed, bring- ing to his aid that strong force of character developed by stern naval discipline and the business grew in response to his incessant application and wise methods, so that he soon began to deal in new furniture. His venture had proved so successful that by the year 1891, eight years after he had taken the step, he had amassed sufficient means to justify his purchase of the old Wright block, on the northeast corner of State and Fifth streets. It is a three-story brick building with a frontage of eighty-two and one-half feet. From time to time he made improvements on the edifice, in all spending about ten thousand dollars in reconstruc- tion, so that today the building presents the appearance of four capacious rooms, connected by archways and stocked with all descriptions of high class furniture. He conducts a large and growing trade since he has become very popular throughout the city owing to his reliability as a merchant and the high standard of commercial ethics he observes in his business transactions.

In 1898 Mr. Harlan bought the old Marshall homestead, on Fifth street near Peach, this being a well-known residence of Erie and, since purchasing the property he has completely remodeled the house, equip- ping it with all modern conveniences. Here he enjoys the comforts of an elegant home with his wife, who was Susanna Shimer, a native of Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, and a daughter of John Shimer, Mrs. Harlan having been reared in Delaware county of her native state. Interested in the welfare of the city Mr. Harlan exerts his influence for its betterment as a member of the Chamber of Commerce and the Business Men's Exchange. Fraternally he is associated with the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, while both he and his wife are members of the Baptist church.

HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY

HUDSON W. MOSIER. If any man ever fairly earned a leading posi- tion with a representative business house it is Hudson W. Mosier, a foreman of the Watson Paper Mill Company, at Erie, who has applied his abilities to the best interests of that corporation for nearly thirty years. In other words, he has devoted nearly three-fifths of his entire life to the industry as represented by that company. His career fur- nishes a fine example of faithfulness as an employe, with a hearty recog- nition both of constancy and efficiency by the employer. Mr. Mosier is a native of the village of Fairview, born September 22, 1859, and is a son of Samuel and Sophia (Osborn) Mosier. His father was a native of Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, born April 4, 1825, and the mother, of Erie county, born on the 29th of January, 1830. The grandfathers, on both sides of the family, were Daniel Mosier and James Osborn, pioneers respectively of Montgomery and Erie counties. Samuel Mosier lost his parents when quite young and was only nine years of age when he accompanied his two brothers and one sister to Erie county. Journey- ing hither in a wagon, they first located at Le Boeuf, but afterward settled in Mill Creek township. There the father learned both shoemaking and wagon-making, following the latter during the last active years of his life in Fairview township. He died in 1893, his wife having passed away June 1, 1886. Two children were born of this union-Marion, who died in infancy, and Hudson W., of this sketch.

Mr. Mosier was reared in Fairview township as a farmer's boy and there obtained a district school education. He worked both on neighborhood farms and in a brick yard before he became connected with the business which has absorbed most of his life since early man- hood. In 1879, when twenty years of age, he went to work for the Watson Paper Company in the Fairview mill, and in 1882 accepted a position in the Erie plant. For a number of years past he has been a foreman of the flourishing paper mill. Albeit the thirty years of his service with the Watson Paper Company have engrossed his working hours, his residence ward (the Sixth) has honored him with membership on the school board for four years, and his brother Masons have ad- vanced him to one of the highest offices in the order. At the expiration of his recent term as potentate of Zem Zem Temple of the Mystic Shrine, Mr. Mosier received as an evidence of its members' esteem a handsome diamond jewel, beautifully and elaborately set. He is also past master of Keystone Lodge, No. 455; a member of Temple Chapter and Mount Olivet Commandery, and secretary of the Mutual Building and Loan Association for over thirteen years.

Mr. Mosier's wife, who was formerly Miss Laura J. McCully, was born at Fairview and is a daughter of John and Maria (Mayer) McCully. Their daughter, Hazel K., was born October 5, 1885, and their son Paul H., February 22, 1888. The latter has been on the Pacific coast for about two years, being an assistant engineer on the Standard Oil steamer "Atlas."

ELIGIUS KOHLMILLER. The dye and cleaning works of Eligius Kohlmiller, of Erie, represent not only the first of their kind in the city, but are pioneers in the use of dry cleaning and other present-day processes, as well as among the most extensive establish- ments in their line in the United States. Mr. Kohlmiller is a native of Erie, born on Ninth street, between German and Parade streets, on the 29th of March, 1857. His parents, Joseph and Walburga (Christal)

HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY

Kohlmiller, were born in Germany, married in that country and came to Erie in 1854. Having thoroughly learned the trade of a dyer, the father soon opened a small shop-the first in Erie-its location being on East Ninth street, near the present site of Webber's photographic studio. In 1860 he removed his business to the location of the extensive establishment developed and conducted for twenty-six years by the son, Eligius Kohlmiller. Its founder retired from active work in April, 1883, when the latter assumed its management, and died in the following month, at the age of fifty-eight years. His widow survived him until June 11, 1890, when she had reached her sixty-third year. Both were faithful members of St. Mary's Roman Catholic church. They were the parents of the following children : Walburga, who became Mrs. Frank Boelte, of Erie; Eligius; Julia, who is deceased; Theresa, who mar- ried Henry Runser ; Henry J., deceased; and Louisa, who died as the wife of Henry Arens.

Mr. Kohlmiller was educated in the public and parochial schools of his native city of Erie, and when a small boy commenced to receive his training as a dyer in his father's establishment. At the age of fourteen, however, he entered the employ of Barr and Johnson, stove manufacturers, with whom he remained for several years, before becom- ing a machinist at Stearns Manufacturing Company. In 1879 he went to Detroit and received a thorough training in the cleaning and dyeing establishment of a French expert, being called home in April, 1883, to assume the charge of his father's business. It was small and rather crude when he became its manager and, soon after its proprietor, its development to its present large proportions, along modern lines, being solely due to his energy and practical ability. Mr. Kohlmiller was one of the first in Erie to adopt and push the dry-cleaning process, and has gradually developed his plant so that it embodies all the newest and most modern sanitary machinery. He now employs eleven women and six men in his works, and the business has grown to 14,000 pieces annu- ally, the quality of his work having obtained so high a reputation that his patrons are found in New York, Boston, Cincinnati, and other large cities east and west, and as far south as Austin, Texas. Mr. Kohlmiller is a member of the Erie Chamber of Commerce and the Business Men's Exchange, and also of the Erie Maennerchor, East Side Turners, Knights of Pythias and Elks. Both himself and all the members of his family are Roman Catholics, members of St. Mary's church.

Mr. Kohlmiller was first married in Detroit to Miss Minnie St. Amour. She was a native of that city and died in 1882, leaving one child, Frank J., who is now associated with his father in business. The second marriage was on August 24, 1886, to Miss Margaret K. Eisert, who was born in Erie October 29, 1866, daughter of Martin and Frances (Kegel) Eisert. Her parents were both natives of Germany, her father dying in October, 1900. The children of this marriage were as follows: Elenor, born June 29, 1887; Albert, born October 24, 1888, who met his death on the railroad June 23, 1907; Elmer, born July 21, 1891, and Lavina, born April 28, 1896.

CHRISTIAN KESSLER. There are few if any of the German citizens of Erie, who have taken a more active and prominent part in the affairs of the city than Christian Kessler who has resided here for quite half a century, during which long period he has been closely identified with the city and its government, holding many positions of honorable trust

HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY

and responsibility and discharging his official duties with an eye solely to the best interests of the community. Mr. Kessler is a native of Bavaria, Germany, where he was born November 21, 1842, the youngest son of the late Henry and Elizabeth (Backfish) Kessler. The mother died in Bavaria in 1852, and in 1857, the father brought his family to America. He was a quarryman by vocation. He first located in Greene township, Erie county, but later removed to Iowa, where he died in 1869.

Christian Kessler attended school in the old country until he reached the age of fourteen years; but the only instruction in the English branches which he secured was limited to what he obtained in a three or four months attendance at the public schools of Greene township. When he thus became a pupil he could not speak a word of English, yet so apt a student was he, that in a few months he could "spell down" the entire school. In 1859, he came to Erie without capital, and first worked as a grocer's clerk for six years, in February, 1865, becoming a retail grocer, on a small scale at number 408 State street. There he continued until 1870, and then removed to No. 403 State street, where he has since continued. Later he added wholesale whiskey to his grocery business, that department of his establishment being located at No. 401 State street, corner of Fourth. In 1904, he closed out his grocery depart- ment, since when he has given his entire business attention to the whole- sale liquor store.

Mr. Kessler began his public career in April, 1873, when he was elected to the common council of Erie, serving until 1875. In April of 1875, he was appointed a member of the license board, serving one year, and enjoys the distinction of having been the only man appointed to such a position in the state, who is engaged in the liquor business. In 1876, he was elected to represent his ward to the city select council, serving as such until 1878; in 1880, he was unanimously elected to rep- resent his ward in the city select council, serving until 1882, and from 1886 to 1892 he was a member of the board of water commissioners. Mr. Kessler was one of the incorporators of the Hamot Hospital, and took an active part in establishing the People's market house, securing the major part of the subscriptions and personally overseeing the erection of the buildings.

In 1863, Mr. Kessler married Helen Bloeser, of Erie, who died May 4, 1883, aged thirty-eight years and five days, leaving the following children: Elizabeth, who married John Kolb, of Erie; Helen D., living at home with her father; Annie K., who is bookkeeper for her father ; Minnie J., a teacher in the Erie public schools; Clara L., who married W. S. Nason of Erie; C. Harry, vice president of the Wayne Brewing Company, that city; Louis J., who died as an infant of two months; and Florence A., who married Frank L. Feisler, a druggist of Erie.

Mr. Kessler is a Mason in high standing, a successful and honorable business man, and a citizen of public enterprise, ability and unimpeach- able integrity.

ROBERT J. ROSSWOG. The art of dyeing is largely hereditary in the Rosswog family of Erie-that is, three generations have numbered ex- perts in that line, and as Robert J. Rosswog, one of the leaders in his field in Erie, is himself the father of two living sons, the genealogical history in this particular may be continued into a fourth generation. Mr. Rosswog mentioned, who is proprietor of one of the two largest dyeing and cleaning establishments in the city, is a native of Baden,

HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY

Germany, where he was born on the 7th of May, 1879. His parents, Julius and Amelia (Brucker) Rosswog, were also both natives of the duchy, where the paternal grandfather followed his trade and business as a dyer for many years. He was succeeded by his son Julius, who emigrated to the United States with his family in 1888, continuing the business in Erie at No. 1320 Turnpike Road. In 1892 he erected the large two story brick building at the corner of Fourteenth and Peach streets, and there developed his cleaning and dyeing establishment until 1902, when he sold it to his son, Robert J., and retired from active business. Julius Rosswog died in 1905, at the age of seventy-four years, his wife having passed away in 1895, aged fifty. He was twice married, both times in Germany, and by his first wife had six children, of whom the five survivors still reside in the fatherland. The children by the second marriage were as follows: Julius, Jr., who is a business man of Cleveland, Ohio; Amelia, now Sister Eugenia, O. S. B., of Erie ; Lena, who married Henry B. Rastatter, a tinner and hardware merchant of that city, located on Parade street; Josephine, who married Louis Bierig, the painter and frescoer of Erie; and Robert J., of this sketch.

The child last named was nine years of age when the family located in Erie, receiving his literary education at St. Mary's Catholic school and his technical and business training under his father. Mr. Rosswog commenced as a delivery boy and not only mastered every detail of the business, but of the mechanisms and processes connected with dyeing and cleaning, so that he was fully competent to assume active charge of the establishment in 1902, when his father relinquished the control. In the fall of 1908 he purchased the business property which he now occupies from the family estate, and to this has added the Johnson property to the south, giving him a plant site of 40 by 90 feet. In the former Johnson building he installed his modern dry cleaning works. In 1903 he introduced the automobile as a delivery agency in Erie, and in 1907 he installed the Hoffman Sanitary steam presses, so that his establishment is one of the most complete in Pennsylvania. His average number of employes is twelve and his work covers the city and neigh- boring towns, the name Rosswog, having been considered, for many years, a certain guarantee of skill and honesty applied to dyeing and cleaning. Mr. Rosswog is an active member of the National Dyers' and Cleaners' Association and, locally, is identified with the Erie Chamber of Commerce, Business Men's Association, Erie Maennerchor, Knights of Columbus, Catholic Order of Foresters and the Knights of St. John.

Mr. Rosswog married Miss Otillia Haibach, a native of Erie and daughter of Lorenz and Mary Haibach, the father being engaged in the meat business on East Tenth street and a well-known citizen. The three sons of this union were as follows: Robert E., born October 2, 1903; Anthonie J., born May 11, 1906, and Bernard, who was born March 30, 1908, and lived only until the following 15th of July. The mother of the family, who was born August 25, 1877, died April 9, 1908.

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A twentieth century history of Erie County, Pennsylvania : a narrative account of its historic progress, its people, and its principal interests, Volume II, Part 8

Author: Miller, John, 1849- Publication date: 1909 Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 910

Author: Miller, John, 1849-
Publication date: 1909
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 910