A twentieth century history of Erie County, Pennsylvania : a narrative account of its historic progress, its people, and its principal interests, Volume II, Part 88

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

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Joshua (4) Mackres was born in Vermont, and was there reared and educated. In 1839, accompanied by his family, he migrated to Chautauqua county, New York, crossing the intervening coun- try with teams until he came to the canal, when he continued his jour- ney by boat. Locating in Busti, he hewed a farm from the forest, and after living there many years removed to Kiantone, where he remained until his death. The maiden name of his wife was Esther Woodcock.

Henry O. (5) Mackres was born, December 16, 1824, in Calais, Vermont. Going with the family to Busti, New York, when young, he assisted his father in the pioneer labor of clearing a homestead, in the meantime continuing his studies as he had opportunity. Hav- ing fitted himself for a professional career, he taught school a number of terms in Chautauqua county, and during the time read medicine with Drs. Hill and Ellsworth. He afterwards attended medical lectures in Cleveland and Chicago, after which he was graduated, with the degree of M. D., from the Buffalo, New York, Medical Col- lege. Beginning the practice of medicine in Clymer, New York, he re- mained there until 1867, meeting with unquestioned success. In that year, Dr. Mackres located in Corry, Pennsylvania, and here continued his professional labors for many years, being one of the best known and most distinguished physicians of the city. At the end of fifty-three years of active practice, he retired, thereafter living a life of leisure until his death, December 9, 1907. Prominent in professional circles, he was a member of the Erie County, the Pennsylvania State, and the American Medical societies, for some time serving as president of the first named society. Fraternally he belonged to the Ancient Vol II-40

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Free and Accepted Masons, to the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, and to the Ancient Order of United Workmen. Politically he was a Democrat, and, while living in Clymer, New York, was active, in 1852, in helping to elect Franklin Pierce to the presidency, and four years later, in 1856, worked equally as hard for the election of James Buchanan. Dr. Mackres married, September 15, 1851, Ar- temisia Johnson, who was born in Columbus, Warren county, Penn- sylvania, April 4, 1828, a daughter of Jabez Johnson. Her grand- father, Harris Johnson, a farmer, was, as far as known, a life-long resident of Otsego county, New York. Jabez Johnson was born, brought up, and married, in Otsego county. Subsequently, accom- panied by his wife and two children, he came, with ox-teams, to Warren county, Pennsylvania, locating in' what is now Columbus township, being one of the first white settlers in that section. He lived for a number of years in a log cabin, and there his daughter Ruhama was born, being the first white child born in the township. After working at various occupations, he turned his attention to the making of boots and shoes, all of which were at that time custom made. He died while yet in manhood's prime, at the age of forty years. He married Margaret Richards, who was born in Otsego county, New York, and died at the home of one of her sons, in Wayne township, Erie county, Pennsylvania, aged seventy-eight years. Dr. Mackres's wife survived him, being now eighty-one years of age. She has three children, namely : Stella A., wife of Fay F. Root, of Kins- man, Ohio; Mary E., who married William E. Lewis, and is now living in Corry ; and James H.

James H. Mackres was but twelve years old when he came with his parents to Corry, where he completed his early education. On attaining his majority, he began his career as a railroad worker, at first serving for three years as fireman on the Cross Cut Railroad. He was then promoted to the position of engineer, and in that capacity proved himself so capable and trustworthy that nine years ago he was given charge, as engineer, of a passenger train on that part of the Pennsylvania road known as the Buffalo and Allegheny Division, his run being between Buffalo and Oil City.

On August 19, 1888, Mr. Mackres married Ada Payne. She was born, January 9, 1862, in county Surrey, England, the birthplace of her father, Albert Payne being county of Sussex. Her grandparents, William and Sarah (Burgess) Payne, were life-long residents of county Sussex, their home being near Petworth. Having served an apprenticeship at the wheelwright's trade in Ockley, near Dorking, county Surrey, Albert Payne remained in that place until 1867, when he emigrated with his family to Pennsylvania, locating at Freehold, Warren county. He there bought a tract of timbered land, assumed possession of the log cabin which had been previously erected, and at once began to clear and improve a farm. Meeting with excellent success, he put the greater part of the land under cultivation, and in the course of time built a barn, and subsequently erected a substantial frame house, continuing his residence there un- til his death, in 1875. He married, Sarah B. Tyler, who was born in Ockley, county Surrey, England, September 2. 1838, a daughter of Nicholas and Charlotte (Inwood) Tyler, life-long residents of county Surrey. Three children blessed their union, namely: Albert, of

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HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY

Corry ; Mrs. Mackres and Alice, who died in 1880, aged eight years. Mr. and Mrs. Mackres have three children, namely: Stella Alice, Ava Artemisia and Ethel Mae. Fraternally Mr. Mackres is a mem- ber of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers.

COL. THOMAS AUGUSTUS EDWARDS. Filled with the venturesome and restless spirit so characteristic of the American race, Col. Thomas A. Edwards had a varied experience during his' active career, meet- ing with adventures on land and sea, a record of his life reading more like a modern romance than a sober biography. He was born, July 21, 1832, in Saugerties, Ulster county, New York, and died De- cember 9, 1904, in Corry, Pennsylvania. His father William Edwards, was a farmer, and as far as known spent his entire life in New York state, passing away in Palenville, Greene county. His wife, whose maiden name was Catherine Amelia Lewis, was born at Catskill, New York, a daughter of Peter Lewis. She died in Saugerties, leav- ing two children, Thomas A., of this sketch, and Alfred.

A bright, keen-witted boy of ten years when his mother died, Thomas Augustus Edwards was subsequently bound out to a farmer, Harvey North, with whom he remained until seventeen years old. Tiring then of the restraint and confinement, he took his departure without even a farewell to the family, and went to sea, first as cabin boy on an ocean liner, and afterwards on a whaling voyage. The latter trip proved sufficient for him, however, and he returned to Saugerties, where for a short time he was employed in a grocery. Fond of adventure, he next joined a circus, and thus started his career as a showman, becoming business manager for the Spaulding & Rogers Circus Company, subsequently serving in the same capacity with John Robinson. In 1857 Mr. Edwards joined the expedition commanded by Gen. Albert Sydney Johnston, who was sent to Utah during the difficulty with the Mormons, and served as quartermaster of the regiment. In 1858, when the gold excitement was at its highest, Mr. Edwards was at Pike's Peak. Returning East, he entered the employ of the Memphis Transportation Company, with which he was associated until the breaking out of the Civil war. Entering then the secret service of the United States, he crossed the lines in many places, securing valuable information for the Union forces. On one occasion, he was captured, near Wilmington, by the Confed- erates, and might have been shot had he not been fortunate enough to escape. Making his way back to the Union lines, he continued in the secret service until late in 1864, when he went to Arkansas as a scout for General Fred. Steele.

Going to Oregon in 1866, Col. Edwards entered the United States Secret Service, under command of General Cooke, and during the Snake Indian war was the bearer of secret despatches. Going with a band of Indians to Europe in 1874, he exhibited them in many of the larger cities, and in 1876, on his return to this country, exhibited them in Philadelphia, at the centennial exposition. In the fall of that year, the Colonel organized the Oregon Medicine Company, with headquarters in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, and for several years travelled with the circus of Robinson, the veteran showman. Re- moving to Corry in 1885, he engaged in the manufacture of Indian remedies of various kinds, and started on the road several troops

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giving entertainments and selling medicines. Establishing a success- ful business in this line, he continued it until his death, when he was succeeded by his daughter, Mrs. Van Vleck, who had a thorough knowledge of its details.

Colonel Edwards married, April 14, 1842, Elizabeth Kelley. She was born in Cranesville, Erie county, Pennsylvania, March 24, 1848, a daughter of William Letts Kelley, and grand-daughter of William Kelley. Her grandfather removed from Vermont to Niagara county, New York, settling there as a pioneer farmer, but spending his last years at the home of a son, in Albion, Erie county, Pennsylvania. His second wife, mother of William L. Kelley, was Fanny Russell, who was of Holland Dutch descent. William L. Kelley was born in Lockport, New York, and was there reared to agricultural pursuits. After coming to Erie county, he followed farming for awhile, after which he kept hotel in Cranesville for a number of years. He died in Erie, aged fifty-eight years. His wife, who before marriage was Deborah Ducland, was born in Canada, of French parentage. Her father, a native of France, spent his early life in the city of Paris, and after coming to this country lived first in Canada, but later came to the States. Of the union of Colonel and Mrs. Edwards, one daughter was born, Daisy Clarion, wife of Lawrence Van Vleck. Mr. Van Vleck was born in Perrysburg, Ohio, of Holland ancestry on both sides of the house. His father, William Van Vleck, a native of New York state, married Emma Hugabone, who was born in Wisconsin. Mr. Van Vleck, a man of good business ability and enterprise, is now employed as travelling salesman, while Mrs. Van Vleck, as be- fore stated. has charge of the business established by her father.

GEORGE A. HAMPSON, of North East, has long been an influential representative of the progressive interests of the place, business, fi- nancial and public, and is also an honored member of a pioneer and prominent family whose useful works are identified with both the founding and the development of Erie county. The paternal grand- father, Robert Hampson, was a soldier of the war of 1812, and as- sisted in building and fitting out the boats which formed Commodore Perry's famous fleet and served under that gallant commander. In his local relations, he was well known as a substantial farmer citizen, and one of the founders of the First Presbyterian church at North East. He came from Huntington, Pennsylvania, and located in the township of North East during the spring of 1800, purchasing two hundred acres from the Population Land Company, which tract he improved as his farm and homestead until his death in 1851. This land remained in the Hampson family for eighty-eight years, fron 1800 to 1888. Samuel, a brother of Robert, was the first resident of North East, locating there in 1795 and making it his home until he moved to Salem, Ohio, in 1815. That place was then the frontier of western civilization and remained the home of Samuel Hampson un- til his death. The father of these pioneers, John Hampson, was a British soldier in the Revolutionary war. Robert Hampson mar- ried Miss Sarah Fee, and her father, Colonel John Fee, commanded a patriot regiment in the same conflict.

James Hampson, a son of the couple named and father of George A., was born in North East township August 30, 1805, and in his early

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life served as captain of a boat on the Erie canal, later being a contrac- tor at Toronto, Canada, in association with his brother Jolin. He re- mained a resident of that city for many years, attaining standing as one of its leading business men. Most of his life, however, was spent in North East. James Hampson was first married, in 1832, to Miss Charlotte Brecht, of Fairview, Pennsylvania, who died in 1842, mother of four children, of whom Elias V. Hampson of Montana is the sole survivor. In 1846 he married Miss Matilda Porter, of North East township, who was a native of Belfast, Ireland, born in May, 1818. When she was two years of age her parents brought her to the farm which had been purchased as a family homestead, two miles east of the borough of North East. There the father, Robert Porter, spent the remainder of his life, dying in 1846 at the age of seventy-five years, and his wife, Sallie Duncan, died in March, 1865. The original Porter farm remained in the family until sold by the grandson, George A. Hampson, in 1908. Of the five children born to James and Matilda (Porter) Hampson three are now living :- Annie, wife of G. W. Blaine of North East; George A., of this sketch ; and Alice, widow of John S. Towne, and a resident of Erie; Hattie J. died in July 1876 aged twenty-one years. James Hampson died in May, 1898, at the advanced age of ninety-three years. He was like his father a life-long member of the Presbyterian church and like him was distinguished for his probity and uprightness of character.

George A. Hampson was born in Harbor Creek township, Erie county, in May, 1853, and received his education at the Lake Shore Seminary. At the age of twenty-two he left home and, after travel- ing through the western states for a year, located at North East as cashier of the People's Saving Institution, remaining in that position for over five years. During the succeeding four years he was manager of the office of Sampson Short, and after severing this connection engaged in the fire insurance business. Later, Mr. Hampson purchased the North East Vinegar Works, which he both owned and superintended for twelve years, during that period devel- oping a weak and struggling concern into one of the leading manu- factories of the kind in Pennsylvania. He then sold the business to a company which now conducts the largest cider vinegar works in the state. Mr. Hampson next became the owner of the Haywood Custom Mills, which he operated for a year and sold to Blaine and McKay, since that time having been engaged in the real estate and fire insurance business at North East. In 1896 he was appointed receiver of the People's Saving Institution, and after several years of faithful and skilful service closed its affairs to the mutual satis- faction of stockholders and depositors. His record as a public of- ficial is also highly commendatory, and covers a period of seven years as secretary of the school board and five years as justice of the peace. An active member of the Royal Arcanum and an attendant of the Presbyterian church, Mr. Hampson is fully supported by sub- stantial works and a kindly spirit in the character which he enjoys of one of the most useful, able citizens of the county.

In November, 1880, Mr. Hampson married Miss Anna McCord, daughter of Joseph and Amanda (Leet) McCord, and they became the parents of Helen, Harriet and Alice, the last named being the wife of B. Forrest Ginder, of Philadelphia. The wife and mother

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died in July, 1885, and in June, 1901, Mr. Hampson married Miss Lida Thompson, of Ripley, Chautauqua county, New York, a daugh- ter of Hugh and Eliza Thompson.

B. CORTLAND SPOONER. One of the most prominent of Erie county's business men is B. Cortland Spooner, one of the organizers and the cashier of the First National Bank of North East. This institution was organized in April of 1893, and its doors were opened for busi- ness on the 1st of August, following, and from that time to the present it has been under the efficient cashiership of Mr. Spooner, who is also one of its directors. The officers of this bank are men of the highest standing in business and social circles in Erie county and are as follows: G. W. Blaine, president ; Robert Dill, vice president ; N. P. Fuller, assistant cashier ; and Joseph A. Spooner, teller, while its board of directors are G. W. Blaine, Robert Dill, C. H. Mottier, J. F. Downing, W. A. Walker, E. E. Chambers and B. C. Spooner. Its capital stock is fifty thousand dollars, with a surplus of thirty- five thousand dollars, and undivided profits amounting to fourteen thousand dollars.

Its cashier, B. Cortland Spooner, was born in North East town- ship, September 10, 1850, a son of Benjamin T. and Marana K. (Nichols) Spooner, who were natives of the north of England. The father was born August 28, 1802, in Gill, Massachusetts, and the mother born June 18, 1812. It was in Chatauqua county, New York, that they met and married, and for a time they lived in Penama, where the husband followed his trade of shoemaking. In 1849 they came to North East township and purchased a farm four and a half miles southwest of the village of that name, where they continued the work of cultivating their land until moving into North East in 1872. Mr. Spooner became a member of the First Presbyterian church of North East, April 5, 1851, and was ordained as a ruling elder March 2, 1856. His former pastor, Rev. Thos. B. Hudson, D. D., pays the following hearty tribute to his memory: "Mr. Spooner was a sincere and consistent Christian and a faithful servant of Christ and of the church. The better I knew him, the more I became attached to him. He was a man who could be depended upon. As an officer of the church he was true to his trust. He felt his responsibilities and honored the Eldership. He was a good man, a kind husband, and devoted father. His domestic relations were happy. He was a good citizen, and his name deserves to be ranked with the best men who have been enrolled in the membership of this church." Mr. Spooner died in North East, June 11, 1881, and his wife December 25, 1887. Of their four children Joseph N. died March 9, 1860; Caroline M., became the wife of Martin L. Selkregg, and died August 18, 1904, and Mary dicd October 9, 1857.

B. Cortland Spooner, the only surviving member of this fam- ily, spent the days of his boyhood on the home farm and in attending the district schools, while later he spent a portion of three years in the Oberlin College of Ohio. From 1870 for two years he was en- gaged in the insurance business in Erie, and on the 5th of November, 1874, came to North East and accepted a position in the private bank of Blaine, Gould and Short, which was later converted into the People's Saving Institution, and he served as the cashier of that

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house until his resignation in May of 1892. It was at the close of that period that he assisted in the organization of the First National Bank of North East.

He married December 14, 1875, Alice Southard, from Harbor Creek township, and a daughter of Allen and Jane (Hughes) South- ard, the father from Brooklyn, New York, and the mother from Wales. The only child of this union is a son, Joseph A., born June 13, 1879, and now the teller in the First National Bank. Mr. Spooner supports the principles of the Republican party, and he has served for three years as a school director and for six years as the borough auditor. He, and wife and son are members of the Presbyterian church.

FRANCIS A. LOVELAND. Holding a position of importance among the leading business men of Corry is Francis A Loveland, who, as vice- president and superintendent of the J. W. and A. P. Howard and Company, Ltd., is intimately associated with one of the prominent industries of the city. A son of William Loveland, he was born, November 10, 1859, in Wellsville, Allegany county, New York, of excellent English ancestry, the family name being recorded in the College of Arms and entitled to a crest.

William Loveland was born at Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, England. Scholarly in his tastes and ambitions, he was given ex- cellent opportunities to cultivate his talents, and was graduated from the University of Oxford Law School. Soon after receiving his diploma, he emigrated to America, being the only member of his family to cross the Atlantic. Locating in Allegany county, New York, he lived for a while in Angelica, practicing law, afterward taking up his residence in Wellsville, where he became connected with the tanning firm of Bush and Howard. He was somewhat active in public affairs, and while a resident of Angelica served as county clerk, also filling various municipal offices. In 1866 he came to the new and rapidly growing city of Corry, Pennsylvania, with J. W. and A. P. Howard in the operation of the tannery, acting as superintendent and confidential office man, and continued with the firm until his death, November 4, 1905. He married Polly Witter, who was born in Maine, a daughter of Clark and Polly Ann (Greene) Witter, na- tives of New England. She died in 1896, several years before the death of her husband. Ten children were born of their union, namely : James, Walter, Melissa, Amanda, Francis A., William, Lillian, Mary J., Ellen, and Anna.

A lad of six years when he came with his parents to Corry, Francis A. Loveland was here brought up and educated. Beginning when quite young to work in the tannery with which he is now con- nected in an official capacity, he became familiar with its operation, mastering the intricacies of the different branches of the business, thus fitting himself for the position that he now holds as vice-president and superintendent of the company. This firm was incorporated as the J. W. and A. P. Howard and Company, Limited, in December, 1898, and is one of the foremost organizations of the kind in Erie county, its business being well established, extensive and remunera- tive.

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Mr. Loveland married, November 10, 1882, Clara D. Schultz. She was born in Bowmansville, Erie county, New York, a daughter of Frederick and Louisa (Eaden) Schultz, both natives of Germany. After his marriage, Frederick Schultz came with his wife to Amer- ica, being the only member of his family to leave the fatherland. Locating at Bowmansville, New York, he opened a meat market, having while in the old country learned the trade of a butcher. Sub- sequently moving to Titusville, Pennsylvania, he was there similarly employed until his death, both he and his wife spending their last years in that place. They were the parents of seven children, as fol- lows: Louis, Fred, Mary, Louisa, Caroline, Clara D. and Daniel. Mr. and Mrs. Loveland are the parents of four children, namely : Frank M., Clarence C., Howard W., and Eva I. Politically Mr. Loveland supports the priciples of the Republican party, and though not an office seeker is now serving as a member of the Board of Education, occupying the chair of the president of that body. Re- ligiously both he and his wife are trustworthy and consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal church, Mr. Loveland having filled vari- ous offices in the church, such as president of the Sub-District Ep- worth League, delegate to the Annual Conference, etc., and is now a trustee of the local church and the secretary of its Sunday school.

BUEL G. THORNTON, of Wesleyville, Harbor Creek township, Erie county, who has been engaged in Evangelical labors for the past twenty years, is a native of Monroe, Ashtabula county, Ohio, where he was born on the 17th of December, 1844. He is a son of Isaac M. and Rachel Ann (Goodsell) Thornton, both of his parents being na- tives of Massachusetts. Mr. Thornton's wife is a New Orleans woman, whom he met in that city while serving as a Union soldier of the Civil war. Altogether he resided seven years in the south (three years in the military service), and since locating in Erie county has been engaged in religious work, in connection with ag- ricultural pursuits. After having raised an honorable family of twelve, ten of whom are living, he is now living with his good wife in contentment, both universally honored for their useful and Christ- ian lives. The couple reside on a small farm, chiefly devoted to the cultivation of berries. Besides their ten children, most of whom are married, with families of their own-they enjoy the solace and love of fifteen grandchildren. Mr. Thornton's parents were ardent and life-long members of the United Brethren church, and it was largely through their influence that he adopted his career as an Evangelist.

Mr. Thornton's experience as a faithful, hardy and brave soldier of the Union is interesting and instructive. He enlisted from Ashtabula county, Ohio, August, 1862, and was first under fire at Duvall's Bluff. Arkansas. He also participated in the engagements at Coldwater, Milliken's Bend and in front of Vicksburg, all in Mississippi. One night which he spent while in front of the besieged city is impressed upon his memory with particular distinctness. The boys in blue had been on the boat for two nights and had obtained no sleep whatever, and were so completely exhausted when they finally struck camp in a corn field near Vicksburg that they sank upon the ground without thought of anything but rest. It rained all night, but the hill of corn which Mr. Thornton had selected for his pillow was so downy that

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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 88

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