A twentieth century history of Erie County, Pennsylvania : a narrative account of its historic progress, its people, and its principal interests, Volume II, Part 91

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 91

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HISTORY OF ERIE' COUNTY

was born in Concord township, this county, in 1836, and spent his life in cultivating its fertile soil. The mother was a New York lady, born June 20, 1832, daughter of Augustus Mills and his wife (Ann Monette Owen), who came to Erie county in 1844. The ma- ternal grandfather died in 1865, at the age of sixty-seven years, the grandmother following him in 1878, aged seventy-eight. The Bristol brothers have an aunt living-Lydia Warner, a resident of Spring- field, who is the widow of a soldier of the Civil war; also two sisters and a brother-Ellen, now the wife of W. W. Jennes, of North Girard, Pennsylvania; Achaia, Mrs. W. R. Chapman, whose husband is a farmer of Springfield township; and Emery, engaged as a clerk at Albion.

Miles O. Bristol is a native of Girard township, Erie county, born on the 22nd of June, 1864, and spent the four years after leav- ing school in the railroad business, being two years a conductor on the Erie street car lines. He then pursued agricultural pursuits about two years, in Conneaut township, after which he entered into a partnership with his brother at East Springfield in the general mer- chandise and farm implement business. He is a member of I. O. O. F. Lodge No. 416 of Springfield. Mr. Bristol has been twice mar- ried-first, to Miss Zadie Bowman, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. R. D. Bowman, of Springfield, both of whom are deceased. The child of this union, Ralph, was born March 6, 1898. The mother died in 1902 and as his second wife Mr. Bristol married Miss Jessie Hills, daugh- ter of Humphrey and Louisa (Loomis) Hills. In politics, Mr. Bristol is a Republican and is now serving as treasurer of Springfield borough.

George A. Bristol also engaged in railroading at Albion for some time after leaving school, and when eighteen years of age located at Springfield as a clerk for T. Webster. He continued with Mr. Webster about eight years, and after being three years with him opened up a grocery store and his brother Miles was associated with George for about one year. About 1898, Mr. Bristol and his brother Miles opened up a general store-later adding farm implements, and since that time their business has had a flourishing . growth. Their place of business is The Webster Store Building, now owned by the I. O. O. F., of East Springfield.

Mr. Bristol's wife was formely Miss Della Crouch, who was born in 1870 and is a daughter of Albert and Yeda (Whiting) Crouch. Their child, Ruth, is now eight years of age. Mr. Bristol is a Re- publican in politics and officially he was borough treasurer for sev- eral years, and borough councilman for years, and he is a member of the Board of Education. He is a member of Lake Erie Lodge No. 416. Mrs. Bristol is a member of the Presbyterian church and her hus- band is one of the trustees.

JOHN FRANK SALSBURY, proprietor of the "Central House," at Albion, this county, is the grandson of Elias and Hannah Salsbury, who came from Vermont at an early day and settled in the locality now called Kidders Corners, which was long the seat of the old fam- ily homestead. Both his father and himself were born in Springfield township, this county, the former (Luther Salsbury) being a farmer until his death in 1907, at the age of seventy-seven. He married Miss Eva L. Thomas, daughter of Elijah and Catherine (Brodhead) Thomas,

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natives of Germany, who were pioneers of Crawford county. The mother died in 1886, aged fifty-five years, her children being as fol- lows: Elijah T., a farmer of Springfield township; John F., of this sketch ; and Camilla, who resides at North Girard.

Mr. Salsbury was born in Springfield township, this county, on the 12th of October, 1879, and was educated in the district schools. He obtained his early business experience in the butcher business and continued in that line until 1905, when he became connected with the hotel business at Albion. In January, 1909, he bought the interest of E. T. Sheehan in the hotel now called the "Central House," which he now conducts and owns. Mr. Salsbury has also a wide connec- tion with the fraternal organizations of the township, being a mem- ber of the I. O. O. F. Lodge of Albion, No. 376 ; State Police Camp No. 66, of Springfield; Moose Order, Erie Lodge No. 66; Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks at Erie No. 67. On July 4, 1898, Mr. Salsbury married Miss Grace Green, born in 1880, a daughter of Samuel W. and Frances (Gabler) Green, the father being a farmer of Elk Creek township. The five children born to Mr. and Mrs. John F. Salsbury are: Blanche, Laura, Elmer, Howard and Helen.

MARK D. THRASHER. Perhaps one of the most prominent of the farmers and dairymen of Elk Creek township is Mark D. Thrasher, the well known proprietor of the Maple Shade Dairy. He is also a member of a family which has long been identified with the agricul- tural life of this township, and was born on his parents old homestead here March 14, 1867, a son of David Thrasher, and a grandson on the paternal side of Stephen Thrasher, who was born April 9, 1794, and died on the 9th of January, 1859, while his wife, nee Mary Smith, was born July 6, 1807, and died February 8, 1858. Their marriage was celebrated on the 29th of October, 1822, and among their children was the above named David Thrasher, who was born on the 22d of December, 1827, and died on the 7th of July, 1895, after many years of honorable and faithful labor in Elk Creek township. He married for his first wife Adelia Kidder, who was born May 15, 1827, and died on the 27th of April, 1863, the mother of Nancy Barnes, Mary L. and Mary A., but all are deceased with the exception of the last named, who is the wife of a Mr. D. Betts, a merchant in Cranes- ville.

David Thrasher married secondly, February 25, 1864, Almira Rhodes, who was born May 18, 1842, a daughter of Jefferson and Mary (Crandall) Rhodes, both natives of Vermont. The mother died in 1856, aged forty-five years. Mr. Rhodes, who was a carpenter and erected many of the early buildings of the township, was a set- tler of 1831, and he died in 1888, at the age of eighty-one. He was twice married, and the children of his first union are: Ruth, the wife of Amos Waite, of Elk Creek township: Jerry Rhodes, a farmer of the same township; and Almira, who became the wife of David Thrasher and two deceased. The second wife of Jefferson Rhodes, nee Miss Sarah Crounch, bore him one child, Henry E., who is now a resident of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. Mark D. is the elder of the two sons born to the union of David and Almira (Rhodes) Thrasher, and his younger brother, George R. Thrasher, is living in California,

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a carpenter there. He married a lady from Erie county, Edith Mitchell.

Mark D. Thrasher farmed with his father from the time of leav- ing school at the age of nineteen years to the age of twenty-one, and during the four years following this period he farmed for himself near Lockport in Erie county. Returning then to the parental home- stead, he remained there during another four years or until his mar- riage, when he bought his present valuable farm adjoining, and in connection with his general farm work he is quite extensively engaged in dairying. He married May A. Hurst, who was born November 27, 1871. She is a daughter of Thomas Hurst, for many years a prom- inent business man in Erie county, a granddaughter of Samuel Hurst and a great-granddaughter of Daniel Hurst. who was born near Manchester, England. This Daniel Hurst was a farmer by occupa- tion, and he married Alice Hunt.

Samuel Hurst, the grandfather, was also born in England, in 1815. Emigrating to America in 1845, he settled in Conneaut township, Erie county, where he first worked at his trade of carpentering, while subsequently he bought land near Cranesville in 1859, and was there engaged in agricultural pursuits during the remainder of his active life. He married Anna Beaumont, who was born in England, April 1, 1816, a daughter of Thomas and Alice (Goddard) Beaumont, and she died on the old homestead near Cranesville March 24, 1887.

The only surviving child of that household, Thomas Hurst, was born May 22, 1847, in Conneaut township, Erie county, and although reared as a farmer's son he on attaining his majority learned the carpenter's trade, but after this spent two years in the oil region. Lo- cating then in Cranesville he was there engaged in business for four- teen years as a manufacturer of sash, door and blinds, while sub- sequently he carried on a successful business as a general merchant for ten years. Assuming possession of his present home near Albion, he has since lived retired from active pursuits, an honored and re- spected citizen. He votes with the Republican party, and has served as a member of the school board and as township auditor. He is a member of the Grange, the Knights of Pythias, the Knights of the Maccabees and of the State Police. Thomas Hurst married Mary A. Martin, who was born May 27, 1848, a daughter of Franklin and Anna (Morris) Martin, and the seven children of their union are: May A., born in 1871, and now Mrs. Thrasher; Eugene W., born in 1873, a barber in Albion ; Clyde L., born in 1877, resides in Pittsburg ; Frank E., a business man in Albion ; Earl T., born in 1881, proprietor of a meat market in Lorain, Ohio; Alice, born in 1884, and Grace L., born in 1888, are both telegraph operators in 'Albion.

Three children have been born to Mark D. and May A. (Hurst) Thrasher: Glancie D., on the 15th of January, 1897; Howard H., January 8, 1899; and Mary, October 27, 1901. Both Mr. and Mrs. Thrasher are members of the Methodist church at Cranesville, of which his father was one of the founders, and he is a Prohibition voter. He has served his community as a member of the election board, a useful and valued citizen of his community.

MRS. CHARLOTTE HELEN (PAINE) MCKEAN, widow of the late Alon- zo George McKean, the well known farmer and contractor of Spring-

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field township, Erie county, is a native of Pennsylvania, born near Greenville, Mercer county, on the 25th of June, 1859. She is a daughter of Stephen Paine, a Rhode Island man who settled in that place at an early day. He was a skilled mason and one of the first contractors on the Erie canal, his death occurring in 1887 at the age of seventy-four. The mother died at Greenville, in 1902, aged seventy. Mrs. McKean received a thorough education in the schools of her native town and previous to her marriage was a modiste. Following are her three brothers and three sisters: Tyler Paine, who is a civil engineer ; James, a master mechanic at Conneaut, Ohio; Stephen, a lithographer, in business on Jackson boulevard, Chicago; Alice, now Mrs. E. Ludwig, of Andover, Ohio; Nora, who married W. S. Hollen- berger, a Mercer county farmer; and Maude who is the wife of W. Shade, railroad engineer, of Greenville.

After her marriage Mrs. McKean came to the old Mckean farm in Springfield township, but later moved to Cherry Valley, Ohio, where her husband engaged in the manufacture of cheese. In 1888 they located in Erie county, where Mr. McKean bought a farm called Five Corners. The present comfortable homestead was occupied in 1896. Mr. McKean then engaged both in farming and masonry con- tracting and while engaged on the brick work of the Perry bridge met with the accident which caused his death March 30, 1909. As he was born August 11, 1855, he was a man of useful middle age and his sudden taking-off seemed untimely to his loving relatives and his many friends. He had earned the deep respect of the community, having been active not only in its practical works but in its social, fraternal and religious activities. He was identified, at the time of his death, with the I. O. O. F. Lodge of Albion; State Police Camp No. 66; P. H. C. and the local Grange, and was one of the active and honored members of the Methodist church of West Springfield. Both the Mckean and Paine families had their old-world origin in France, the grandparents of the deceased (George and Syphone (Hazen) Mckean) having been natives of that country. The sur- viving brothers and sisters of Alonzo G. Mckean are Alexander, who is a mason of Greenville ; Sylvester, a contractor; Harriet, wife of J. Hill; Elizabeth, now Mrs. E. Foot, of Cherry Valley, Ohio; Harp, who married M. Kyle, also a resident of Greenville, and Sally, who lives in Harrison county, Iowa. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. McKean, as follows: Eva, born in 1882, who is the wife of P. Bort, a Conneaut (Ohio) mason, and the mother of Earl, Fay, Maurice, Paul and Alonzo; Lutie, born in 1885, who is married and the mother of Margaret Evelyn; and Vida, born in 1894, who is at- tending the commercial college at Conneaut.

SEYMOUR D. WARE. Among the native born citizens of Erie county who have spent their lives within its boundaries, aiding in every pos- sible way its growth and development, whether relating to its agri- cultural, industrial or financial interests, stands Seymour D. Ware, whose birth occurred, October 16, 1839, in Springfield, on the old Rea homestead, which was likewise the birthplace of his mother, and which has been in possession of the family for one hundred and eight years. Succeeding to the ownership of this homestead, he was for many years prosperously employed in general farming.

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His father, Joseph Ware Jr., was born in Girard, Pennsylvania, coming from there to Springfield when a boy. Joseph Ware Sr., grandfather of Seymour D., came from Vermont to Erie county, bringing his family with him. Driving with a yoke of oxen, he car- ried his provisions with him from Cleveland, and on reaching Zanes- ville was stricken with a fever, and died in that place. After the death of his father, Joseph Ware Jr. remained with his mother, assisting her in the care of the family and returning to Erie county, Pennsyl- vania. He was a general farmer, making dairying a specialty. He married Eliza Rea, who was born in Springfield, August 19, 1808, and died March 13, 1899. Politically Joseph Ware Jr. was a Whig until the formation of the Republican party, after which he was one of its strongest supporters, both by voice and by vote. Re- ligiously he was a member of the Methodist church. To him and his wife four children were born, of whom Seymour D., is the only one now living, one son and two daughters having passed to the higher life.

After leaving the public schools, Seymour D. Ware attended the old academy at West Springfield. In 1862 he enlisted in Company D, One Hundred and Forty-fifth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, under Col. Brown, of Erie, and was subsequently at the front in the battles fought at Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, and Gettysburg. On July 25, 1863, he was taken prisoner, and was con- fined five months in Belle Isle prison. Being then exchanged, Mr. Ware rejoined his regiment at Petersburg, and at the close of the war was mustered out of the service as hospital steward. Returning home, he took up farming on the old Rea homestead, and continued the occupation in which he was reared. He carried on a good busi- ness as a stock raiser. He constantly added to the improvements previously made on the place, replacing the old log house occupied by the original owner with the present commodious and substantially built dwelling house. In 1901 Mr. Ware rented his land, and has since been a resident of West Springfield. In 1902 he was elected to represent his district in the General Assembly, and re-elected to the same high position in 1904. He has been a member of the School Board twenty-three years, during which time he has served as its clerk twenty years. Mr. Ware has been a member of the Methodist church many years, and one of its trustees. Fraternally he belongs to the East Springfield Lodge, No. 416, I. O. O F.

Mr. Ware married Mary Weldon, who was born on January 31. 1840, in McKean township, a daughter of Joseph and Margaret (Ster- rett) Weldom, early pioneers of Erie county, the former dying here at the venerable age of ninety-two years, and the latter passing away in 1900. Mr. and Mrs. Ware have no children.

GEORGE PATTERSON SCOTT, who is conducting the old Scott farm in Springfield township, is one of the most thorough agriculturists and respected citizens of western Erie county. He was born on the place of his present residence and activities, on the 5th of February, 1851, and is a son of Daniel and Elizabeth (Patterson) Scott. His paternal grandfather, John Scott, at an early day moved from the east to Conneaut township, this county, but the family afterward settled in Springfield township. There Daniel Scott erected the first

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brick house in the township, founded his homestead and performed other acts worthy of a pioneer.

Mr. Scott of this sketch farmed continuously on the family home- stead until he was twenty-four years of age; then spent one year at Conneaut, Ohio, but returned to assist his father in his declining years and at his death, in 1882, assumed its full management and pro- prietorship. He is widely respected both for his faithfulness and his practical abilities. Although a firm Republican he has neither held nor desired office, but has modestly performed his duties as a hus- band, father and good citizen.

In 1820 Mr. Scott married Miss Mary Clark, daughter of Joel and Lucy Ann (Graham) Clark, her father, aged seventy-eight, being a retired citizen of Conneaut. Mr. and Mrs. George P. Scott became the parents of three children, as follows: Charles, who married Theresa Moyer, became the father of two children (Dorothy and Homer), who, by the death of their mother in 1907. are now cared for by their grandparents ; Elizabeth, who is the wife of Frank Wood- ward, a farmer of Conneaut, and is the mother of George and Walter ; and Jay Scott, of Albion, Pennsylvania, who, by his marriage to Miss Lillian Warner has one child, Lucille.

ROBERT D. SCOTT, proprietor of the largest general store in western Erie county, is a resident of West Springfield and is a representative of one of the widely known pioneers of Springfield township. He is also an extensive purchaser of farm products and shipping agent for the Buffalo Fertilizing Company, transacting a business in the latter line of six car-loads per year. Mr. Scott was a successful farmer for many years previous to assuming his present large and agreeable business relations with the community which has noted his advance- ment since boyhood and warmly indorsed his able and progressive character. He was born on the old Scott homestead in Springfield township November 26, 1858, and is a son of Daniel Scott, who was born October 18, 1817, and died in Springfield township in 1882. His paternal grandparents were John and Patience Scott. They came from the east and first settled in Conneaut township, the grand- father dying in 1863. The family afterward moved to Springfield township, where Daniel Scott erected the first brick house within its limits and founded what was known as the old Scott homestead. His wife (nee Elizabeth Patterson) was born August 29, 1821, daugh- ter of John Patterson, a pioneer of West Springfield, and died in 1862.

R. D. Scott was thus left motherless at the age of four years, but was brought up by his father to habits of industry and morality and given a thorough education in the local schools. He left school permanently at the age of eighteen and until he was twenty-four as- sisted in the conduct of the old farm. He was then married and took possession of a farm adjoining the homestead of his birth, and upon this place of ninety acres conducted general farming for twenty-seven years. During much of that period he also operated a threshing machine, and placed himself in such comfortable circumstances that in the spring of 1909 he purchased the large general store at West Springfield then conducted by W. G. Walker. His trade covers a large surrounding territory and represents cash transactions of twenty

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thousand dollars annually. The stock embraces hardware, dry goods, harness, saddlery, cigars, tobacco, drugs, etc., and is not only com- plete but specially adapted to the wants of the home community. The store is forty by ninety feet and well adapted to the business.

Mr. Scott has been too busy a man to give much time to politics ; but he is an earnest and loyal Republican, has served as judge of election and in other local offices. In his mental and religious belief he is a Christian Scientist, has been one of the members of the local society and is a firm and intelligent supporter of the faith which he has adopted. In 1882 Mr. Scott first married Miss Victoria Cole, of Wellsburg, daughter of Myron and Mary L. (Dean) Cole. His wife, who was born in 1859, died childless in 1902. In 1904 Mr. Scott wedded Mrs. Jennie (Purcell) McCallie, who was born in 1876, daughter of Charles and Parilee (Cole) Purcell, both of whom are living. Mrs. Scott is also an enthusiastic Christian Scientist and she is a second reader. It may be added, as an item of family matters, that George Scott, a brother of R. D., is conducting the old farm, and that the sister, Libbie, is the wife of J. Paddelford, a North Girard plumber.

WILLIAM E. LEWIS is the most extensive manufacturer in western Erie county, his enterprises in West Springfield including one of the most extensive plants for the turning out of wooden ware in north- western Pennsylvania. His father, William H., is identified with the shingle mill. Take it as a whole, there is no other family in Erie county which has done more for the continuous development of the wood and farming industries than that represented by the Lewises. John Lewis, the great-grandfather of the brothers, was the first to locate in the county, settling with his family at Five Corners, near West Springfield. His son, William, who was then a boy, was reared in that locality and in his early manhood married Olive Splitstone, of whose union William H. was one of the offspring. He, in turn, wedded Emily Jane Pennell, who was born in 1852, at Ashtabula, Ohio, daughter of William and Sarah (Oliver) Pennell. The father is one of the leading Odd Fellows of the county, being a charter mem- ber of the Conneaut (Ohio) lodge and connected with the fraternity for more than thirty years. He is also connected with Camp 42 of the State Police.

Mr. Lewis, of this sketch, is a native of Trumbull county, Ohio, born on the 15th of December, 1872, and from the age of twelve has been identified with some form of wood manufacture, receiving his initial training under his father. In 1905 he installed some second- hand machinery and an old engine in a small frame building at West Springfield and commenced the manufacture of various articles of wooden ware. This modest enterprise has since developed into the largest manufactory in western Erie county. It occupies a building one hundred by one hundred and fifty feet, two stories in height, with an independent electric plant and a fine outfit of modern machinery. The products embrace many articles in the line of novelties, as well as such household necessities as clothes racks, step ladders and iron- ing boards, and the output is shipped throughout the United States. The saw and shingle mill and lumber manufactory are combined in a busy plant valued at about twenty thousand dollars, which is operated

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by the brothers, William E. and Barney H. The other brothers of the family are Charles L., a resident of Albion; Burt J., whose home is with William E .; and Floyd, engaged in the threshing machine business at West Springfield. The wife of the Mr. Lewis of this sketch was formerly Miss Dora Hubbard, daughter of George A. and Hannah (Brewster) Hubbard, old residents and honored pioneers of West Springfield.

BARNEY H. LEWIS. The milling and lumbering industries of Erie county are much indebted to the enterprise and substantial busi- ness qualities of the Lewis brothers of West Springfield for their progress and solid status. As they are still young men, they are bound to come most prominently to the front as leading manufacturers and business men of the state. Born in Crawford county, Pennsylvania, on the 29th of March, 1872, Barney H. Lewis has had a thorough ex- perience in milling and lumbering throughout Erie, Allegheny and Beaver counties, the commencement of his practical training dating from the conclusion of his school days in boyhood. His earlier years were also spent in farm work and when he located at West Springfield, in 1899, he was operating a threshing machine. He is now not only a large sawyer and manufacturer of lumber, but operates a flourishing shingle mill. Mr. Lewis is a good business man and a sound financier, and also possesses those social qualities which do so much these days, to push along large enterprises. Like most of the enterprising and law-loving citizens of the county he is a member of the State Police (Camp No. 42), and his other fraternal relations are with the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows No. 416.

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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 91

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