A twentieth century history of Erie County, Pennsylvania : a narrative account of its historic progress, its people, and its principal interests, Volume II, Part 92

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 92

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

William Henry Lewis, the father of the Lewis brothers, is asso- ciated with his sons in their lumber and shingle manufactory. He was born in Trumbull county, Ohio, June 22, 1847, and is a son Wil- liam Lewis, who, as a boy, came into Erie county with his parents. He was a native of New York state and died in 1888, at the age of sixty-two years. It was the great-grandfather, John Lewis, who first established the family in Springfield township, and that section of Erie county has ever since been influenced for good by the presence and useful work of its members. The original pioneer married Rhoda Hill, who died in 1870. William Lewis, the grandfather, mar- ried Olive Splitstone and died in Conneaut township, this state, his wife passing away in 1904, at the age of seventy-two. William H., the father, wedded Emily Jane Pennell, born in Ashtabula, Ohio, in 1852, daughter of William and Sarah (Oliver) Pennell. The five children of their union were Barney H., William E., Charles L., Burt J. and Floyd. For a period covering four generations of the Lewis family the scene of its useful and important labors has been West Springfield and vicinity.

Mr. Lewis wedded Miss Bertha V. Thomas, June 9, 1898. She is a daughter of Sydney W. and Phyletta (Phillips) Thomas. Mrs. Lewis was born December 4, 1862, and educated in common schools. Both her parents are deceased. Her father was a soldier in the Civil war, and was wounded in battle. He was a member Company I, Seventy-sixth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry.

MELVIN R. DAVENPORT. A thriving and enterprising merchant of Conneaut township, Pennside, Erie county, and its postmaster, Melvin

656

HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY

R. Davenport is one of the most substantial and prominent business men of the place, and an important factor in promoting its advance- ment and prosperity. A son of the late Marcus Davenport, he was born, January 1, 1858, in Lockport, Pennsylvania.

A native of New York state, Marcus Davenport located in early manhood in Lockport, Erie county, Pennsylvania, where he first fol- lowed his trade of a shoemaker, but later established a shoe shop. He was a man of integrity and worth, highly respected, and for some time served as postmaster at Cranesville. He resigned that posi- tion on account of ill health, and in 1863, when but thirty-three years of age, passed to the higher life. He married Esther Rhodes, a daughter of Stephen Rhodes. She survived him, passing away in 1907, aged seventy-seven years. She married for her second husband Rev. William Randall, of Conneaut township, a local preacher, and a farmer. By her union with Marcus Davenport, she had three chil- dren, namely: Melvin R., of this brief biographical sketch; Dora, wife of John Carter, a farmer in Conneaut township; and Ella, wife of J. L. Spaulding, also of Conneaut township. Of her marriage with Mr. Randall, one child was born, Bertha, wife of E. Keep, of Albion, Pennsylvania.

Completing his early education in the district schools, Melvin R. Davenport turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, and for a number of seasons worked as a farm laborer. After his marriage, he bought land in Conneaut township, and followed general farming successfully until 1905. He then purchased, at Pennside, the grocery store of Edward Canfield, and has since built up a large and lucrative trade in his line of merchandise, and has also rendered excellent serv- ice to his fellow-townsmen as postmaster, being painstaking, prompt and accomodating.

Mr. Davenport married Mary Wilsey, who was born in New York state March 15, 1858. Her father, Moses Wilsey, came from New York state to Pennsylvania, about 1867, locating with his family in Conneaut township, where his death occurred, May 19, 1902, aged sixty-nine years. His wife, whose maiden name was Harriet McClin- tock, was born in Lake county, Ohio, Nevember 16, 1838, and died in Erie county, Pennsylvania, March 30, 1896. They reared three children as follows: Mrs. Davenport; Lucius W., of Ashtabula, Ohio; and Carrie, wife of J. Williams, of Sandusky, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Davenport, are the parents of four children, namely: Verna, born in 1886, married H. Boyce, of Crawford county, and they have two children : Angie J., wife of Ezra Robb, of Crawford county, has one child ; Mark, born in 1893 ; and Morton, born in 1900. Politically Mr. Davenport affiliates with the Democratic party, and has served most acceptably in various township offices.

ALPHEUS S. DRAKE is the superintendent of Evergreen cem- etery, a beautiful burying ground located one mile east of Union City. Its thirty acres of ground is beautifully laid out and artistically cared for by its efficient superintendent, while its hedges and ever- greens are formed and fashioned into things of beauty under his artistic eye. The cemetery contains a commodious chapel built of buff amber stone and lined with brick, the floor being of cement, and in the back of this chapel, in the rear of the speaker's stand, are four

657

HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY

receiving vaults, but screened from view by a curtain. During the summer months five men are kept constantly employed about the cemetery, and all are under the supervision of Mr. Drake, who has held this position during the past ten years, the successor of P. K. Drury, for twenty years Evergreen's superintendent, and who now lies at rest in the ground he cared for and beautified.

Mr. Drake was born in Union City on July 18, 1850, a son of Elias and Mary J. (Stephens) Drake, from the state of New York and from Pennsylvania respectively. In an early day in its history they came to Crawford county, Pennsylvania, and Drake's Mills in that county was named in their honor. The rearing and educating of their son was divided between Union City and Edinboro, and before entering upon his present office he had been engaged in agri- cultural pursuits. He married on December 25, 1873, Miss Ella M., a daughter of Fred and Eveline (Trow) Sherwood and they have four children : Effie, the wife of W. C. Stanley, of Jamestown, New York; Dr. Lavant Drake, a dentist of Jamestown, graduated from Ann Arbor, Michigan ; and Elbert A. and J. Floy. Mr. Drake served Union City as a councilman for one term. He is a member of the Independ- ent Order of Odd Fellows, Clement Lodge No. 220, at Union City, and of the Royal Arcanum, Union Council No. 198, and is a worthy member of and a deacon in the Baptist church. Mrs. Drake is also a member of same church as well as their sons, J. Floy and Elbert A. Mr. Drake is a Prohibitionist in every sense of the word.

ANDREW L. SWAP. A fine representative of the worthy agricultur- ists of Erie county, and an esteemed and respected citizen of Conneaut township, Andrew L. Swap is now living retired from active labor, having by industry, good management and systematic labor acquired a competency. A son of Andrew Swap Jr., he was born at Cherry Hill, Erie county, October 6. 1841. His grandfather, Andrew Swap Sr., was born in Pennsylvania, near the central part of the state, but subsequently settled permanently in New York state. He was twice married, by his first wife having six sons and three daughters, none of whom are living. By his second marriage he became the father of nine more children, and of these two sons and two daughters survive.

Andrew Swap Jr. was born in Cattaraugus county, New York. In 1840 he came with his family to Erie county, and for ten years re- sided in Conneaut township. Moving to Jefferson, Wisconsin, in 1850, he was there employed in farming two years, after which he located in La Salle county, Illinois, where he was engaged in agricultural pursuits for about thirty years. Returning to Pennsylvania, he lived for awhile in Crawford county, but spent his last years with his son, Andrew L., dying at a good old age. He was a carpenter and cabinet maker, and in addition to tilling the soil worked at his trade to some extent. He was a member of the Wesley Methodist church, and a strong abolitionist in politics. He married Sybil Hitchcock, of New York state, a native of Wyoming county, and they reared five chil- dren besides Andrew L., of this sketch, namely: Frank, a retired farmer of Jefferson county, Wisconsin; Albert E., engaged in the grocery business in Illinois; Prudence, of Humboldt, Kansas, is the widow of J. Towner ; Harriet, wife of William Watson, a retired busi- Vol. II-42

658

HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY

ness man of Goodland, Indiana; and Luther J. Three children have passed to the life beyond, Rachel, Melvina and Abigail.

When his parents removed to Jefferson county, Wisconsin, Andrew L. Swap remained in Erie county with an uncle, and was here educated. Going to Illinois in 1858, he worked as a farm hand until 1861, when, at Ottawa, La Salle county, he enlisted in Company I, Eleventh Illinois Volunteer Infantry, for three months. He was sent with his comrades to Cairo, Illinois, where he was stricken with fever, and ordered home. On August 30, 1861, Mr. Swap re-enlisted for three years, entering Company E, Thirty-seventh Illinois Volun- teer Infantry, and was sent under General Carter to Missouri. - He sub- sequently took part in numerous engagements of importance, in- cluding the battles at Pine Ridge and Perry, and the siege of Vicks- burg. He was afterwards sent down the river to Brownsville, Texas. On February 10, 1864, Mr. Swap again re-enlisted as a volunteer veteran, and was sent to New Orleans to take part in the inauguration of Governor Hahn, the first free state governor. He subsequently went with his regiment down the Mississippi and Red rivers to rein- force General Banks, later going to Mobile, thence to Texas, where he remained until June 30, 1866, when he received his honorable dis- charge from the service, being mustered out at Springfield, Illinois.

Returning to La Salle county, Illinois, Mr. Swap remained there a short time, and then came to Erie county, to his Uncle Jacob's, and for three years carried on general farming. Going then to Allen county, Kansas, he was there successfully employed in tilling the soil for twelve years. Again coming back to Erie county, Mr. Swap spent three years in Albion, selling nursery stock, and four years at Cherry Hill, being employed in mining. Buying then his present farm, he carried on general farming with excellent pecuniary results until his retirement from active pursuits.

Mr. Swap married, September 18, 1866, Loretta DeWolf, who was born in 1840, a daughter of William B. and Catherine (Harring- ton) De Wolf, pioneer farmers of Conneaut township. Mrs. Swap has three sisters, namely: Sarah, wife of H. Pond, of Springboro; Mollie, wife of John McDowell and Izora, unmarried, living with her sister in Virginia. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Swap has been blessed by the birth of six children, namely: Clara, born in 1867; Estella, born in 1871; Kate, born in 1873; Rachel, born in 1877; Maud, born in 1880; and Frank, born in 1883. Clara married first E. Walworth, who died, leaving her with one child, Pansy, who mar- ried Lee Orford, of Conneaut, Ohio, and has one son, Robert Orford. Mrs. Walworth married for her second husband E. E. Perkins, and they have three children, George, Frank and Alice. Estella Swap married E. J. De Wolf, a farmer in Conneaut township, and they have two children, Loren and Florence. Kate, wife of Fred Swoap, also a farmer in this township, has three children, Grace, Bruce and Henry. Rachel married Ralph Griffey, and they are the parents of four chil- dren, Osmer, Edna, Donna, and Emmer. Maud, wife of A. Cheney, who is engaged in farming in Conneaut township, has three children, Clifford, Lawrence and Myrtle. Frank Swap, a telegraph operator in Springfield, married Eva Mallory, and they have one child, Harold.

In his political affiliations Mr. Swap is a Republican, and has served for ten years as justice of the peace; as assessor one term;

659

HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY

and is now township collector. He is a member of Albion Post, G. A. R.

JAMES P. BARKER, a well-known farmer of Girard, Pennsylvania, is descended from prominent early settlers of Erie county. He was born in Fairview township, this county, January 18, 1840, son of Hiram and Jane (McClelland) Barker. Philo Barker, the father of Hiram, was a native of Connecticut, as also was his wife, whose maiden name was Lewis, from which state, when a small boy, he came to Erie county with his father, Philo Barker, their settlement being in the northeastern part of the county. In 1819 he took up his abode in the southwestern part of Fairview township, where he spent the rest of his life, engaged in agricultural pursuits, and where he died in 1845, his wife having passed away three years prior to his death. They were the parents of seven children, record of whom is as follows: Levi, who married Isabell McClelland, by whom he had six children, Samuel, Kate, Chancey, Edwin, Nancy and Alex- ander, all deceased, except the last named; Lloyd, who married Miss Galawer, by whom he had five children : Jane, Louis, Kate, Henry and Sophia, the first and last named still living; Hiram Samuel, who was twice married, the children of his first wife, nee Trowbridge, being Marcia, Electa, Charles and Celestia, and the children of his second marriage, Clarence and Charles; Edwin, who married Nancy McClelland, their children being Sarah, Lovicia and Alfred; Sophia, who married a Mr. Badger, their only child being Philo; Eleanor, who also married a Mr. Badger. Philo Barker and his wife are buried in Fairview cemetery. Their son Hiram, the father of James P., lived with his parents until their death. In 1852 he moved over into Girard township, where the last nine years of his life were passed, and where he died in 1861, at the age of fifty-two. Like his father before him, his energies were devoted to farming, in which he was successful. His wife's death followed his, and the remains of both rest in Girard cemetery. Their children in order of birth are: James P .; Mary, who became the wife of Alexander McClelland, of Girard township; Anna Jane, who is the wife of Emmett Shipman, of Akron, Ohio ; John, who died in the U. S. Navy during the Civil war ; William, a resident of Michigan, and Eleanor, who lives in Los Angeles, Cali- fornia.

James P. Barker grew up at the old home place, early became familiar with all the details of successful farming, and continued his residence with his parents while they lived. He has since maintained his interest in agricultural pursuits, and ranks with the prosperous farmers of his locality. He married Miss Mary E. Luther, daughter of George P. and Cynthia (Stuntz) Luther, representative early set- tlers of Fairview township, Erie county. Of Mr. Barker's maternal ancestry, we record that his mother, who before her marriage was Jane McClelland, was born in Girard township, daughter of Samuel and Jennie (McDonald) McClelland, of Scotch-Irish descent.

Samuel McClelland and his brother William, at the ages re- spectively of eleven and seven years, came from the north of Ireland to America, and they remained together, their interests united. throughout their lives. Up to the time Samuel was nineteen, they lived in Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania. Then, in 1800, they

660

HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY

walked from there to Erie county, and in Girard township selected a location and began the work of clearing away the forest and develop- ing a farm. In this they were successful. They lived to be the owners of a fine tract of land comprising about eight hundred acres. After they had been here two years, Samuel returned to Huntingdon county, for "the girl he had left behind," and to the frontier home he brought his bride. He died here in 1852; his wife, in 1847. Following are the names of their children in order of birth: William, who married Mercy Ann Fargo, by whom he had three children, Robert, Jane Ann, Electa ; James, who married Mary Goodenough, who bore him three children, Helen, Susan and John; John, his brother who was killed when driving stage, at a place in front of what is now the County Poor House; Jane, the mother of the subject of this sketch; Anna, who married Robert Sterrett, became the mother of two children, John and Lincoln; Nancy, who married Edwin Barker, is referred to in connection with the Barker family history. William McClelland, the brother of Samuel, married Miss Ann Taggert, who bore him three children, Samuel, Cardiff and Alexander. William was a soldier in the war of 1812. He lived until about the close of the Civil war. From the earliest history of the township down to the present time the McClellands have occupied representative places among its best citizens. Mr. Barker is a Republican.

PHILLIP G. BALDWIN is one of the rising young business men of Union City, a dealer in paints, oils, varnishes and wall paper, and also a contractor in painting and decorative work in Union City and the adjacent territory. The business was organized in 1903 and was conducted under the firm name of Baldwin and Deamer until J. M. Deamer retired from the firm on the 24th of September, 1906, and sold his interest to his partner. The business was organized with a capital stock of only nineteen dollars, but it is now valued at four thousand dollars, and the store is commodious and well appointed in all its arrangements and splendidly stocked with the best manu- · factured goods in its line. He handles a large quantity of varnishes and sells to the wholesale trade.

Mr. Baldwin was born in Amity township of Erie county, Jan- uary 18, 1877, and is a son of D. D. and Laura E. (Philips) Baldwin, residents of this county and of New England ancestry. D. D. Bald- win is a well known and highly esteemed agriculturist in Amity town- ship. They have three children, Nellie, the wife of F. B. Mullen, Ruth, wife of J. Parker, and their only son, P. G. The last named is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias and of the Coleman Hose Company.

ERWIN H. SILL. Among the many prosperous business men of Union township who have turned their attention to the dairying side of agriculture is numbered Erwin H. Sill, whose postoffice is Union City. While a prosperous general farmer he saw great possibilities in store for a man who would conscientiously furnish the public with pure, clean, rich milk, and this he is now doing, his milk testing five per cent. of butter fat, and his output is two hundred and seventy-five quarts a. day. He keeps twenty-one cows of mixed breed, but of the grade that will produce the richest milk, and his home farm contains

661

HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY

fifty-five acres, and besides this he owns and leases sixty acres. He purchased this farm in 1905, and in the following year of 1906 he em- barked in his present business.

Mr. Sill was born in Crawford county, Pennsylvania, November 14, 1858, a son of Henry and Emeline (Nourse) Sill, both of whom were born in Cattaraugus county, New York. Of their family of seven children five are now living, namely: Lucian, Erwin H., Her- bert, Ormsbee and Emma, the last named the wife of Arvelle Miller, and Mrs. Miller, Ormsbee and Erwin are the only members of the family living in Erie county. Henry Sill, the father, died in 1865, and his widow survived until the year 1908. Although born in Crawford county, Pennsylvania, Erwin H. Sill was reared and educated in Cat- taraugus county, New York, where he lived with an uncle until 1866. Going then to Iowa he spent one year in that state, and returning to . Crawford county, Pennsylvania, he married there in 1883 Mary, a daughter of W. B. and Anna Bryner. Their union has been blessed by the birth of five children, Roy M., Ethel M., Homer E., Glenn W. and Edith M. The elder daughter, Ethel M., is deceased, and Homer E., the second son, is attending school in Meadville. Mrs. Mary Sill was born in Venango county, New York, but her father, W. B. Bryner, had his nativity in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania. Mr. Sill is a member of the fraternal order of Odd Fellows of Lincolnsville, Craw- ford county, and of the United Presbyterian church.

FRED EUGENE HOAG. One of the substantial and progressive mer- chants of Cranesville is Fred Eugene Hoag, who for many years ap- plied to his agricultural operations those same traits of industry, thrift and foresight which, within a more recent period, have enabled him to establish himself among the solid business men of Erie county. A son of George Hoag, he was born in Crawford county, Pennsylva- nia, on the 27th of November, 1866, coming from more remote Rhode Island ancestry. His grandparents, Alexander and Clara (Bingham) Hoag, were born and reared in that state, and upon coming to Cam- bridge Springs, Crawford county, in the early forties, established themselves as hotel keepers and in that calling spent the remainder of their lives. It was in that locality that George Hoag was born in 1845 and resided with his parents until he had attained his majority, early adopting agriculture as his life calling. In 1891 he moved to Elk Creek township, this county, and continued to engage in farming there until his death in 1901, at the age of fifty-six years. His wife was Permelia Wells, who was born in 1833 and is still residing in Cranesville with her son, Fred E. Hoag. Her father, the late Samuel Wells, who died in 1895 at the venerable age of eighty-six years, was a man of prominence in his community. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. George Hoag, the four still living being as follows: Fred Eugene, of this sketch; Alexander, a farmer of Conneaut, Ohio; Jen- nie, who is the wife of C. Barney of Elk Creek township and the mother of three children; and Arley, wife of F. Rose, a successful farmer of that township, to whom she has borne five children.

After leaving school, Fred E. Hoag spent five years as an employe of a saw mill and then worked for a time in Titusville, as a currier and tanner. Subsequently returning to Erie county, he carried on farming with profit until 1904, when he purchased the store of D. Edwards, at

662

HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY

Cranesville, and has since developed a substantial business. His suc- cess has been dependent upon his ability to provide the public with the class of goods which they need and want, and upon fair and cour- teous treatment of customers. In 1895 Mr. Hoag married Miss Mary Myrtle Waite, born May 29, 1869, and a daughter of Amos H. and Ruth (Rhodes) Waite. Mr. and Mrs. Hoag are the parents of the following four children: Ruth Permelia, born May 16, 1897; Esther Louise, born November 28, 1898; Russell Waite, born November 4, 1900, and Kern Eugene Hoag, born October 19, 1904. Mr. Hoag is a Republican in politics, belongs to the Protected Home Circle and is identified with the Methodist church.

Mrs. Hoag's family has been established in Erie county for nearly eighty years. Horace Waite, her grandfather, was a native of New York, who came to Bean township with his family in 1830. In 1854 he removed to Elk Creek township and bought the homeship now owned and occupied by Amos H., the father of Mrs. Hoag. The grandmother (nee Mary Hilburn) was a daughter of Amos and Polly Rose Hilburn and was related to President Mckinley. She died on the homestead in Elk Creek township in 1873, aged sixty-seven, her husband surviv- ing her until 1890, when he passed away at eighty-six. Two of their offspring survive-Amos H., with another son, Lester. The two brothers live together. Amos H. Waite was born in Crawford county June 25, 1839, and remained on the old farm with his parents as long as they lived. He then assumed the management of the farm and continued to conduct it successfully. Amos H. Waite has also been of useful public service, having held the office of township commis- sioner for ten years and that of a member of the school board for three years. He is an earnest Prohibitionist and a member of the Knights of Pythias. In 1866 he married Miss Ruth Rhodes, born December 1, 1845, a daughter of Jeff and Mary (Crandall) Rhodes, both natives of Vermont. The latter died in 1856, aged forty-six years. Mr. Rhodes, who was a carpenter and erected many of the early buildings of the township, was a settler of 1831 and died in 1888, at the age of eighty- one. The deceased married twice, the living offspring by his first union, besides Mrs. Waite, being Jerry Rhodes, a farmer of Elk Creek township and Almira, who married L. D. Thrasher, also of that township. The second wife of Jeff Rhodes (nee Miss Sarah Crounch) bore him one child, Henry, who is now a resident of Pittsburg. After her mother's death, Mrs. Waite was adopted and reared by her hus- band's parents, and her marriage was therefore the result of years of acquaintance and final love. She is an active member of the Metho- dist church, and a lady of most useful and lovable character.

SAMUEL GILCHRIST SHERMAN, the venerable citizen of Elk Creek township who is now living in peaceful retirement on his fine home- stead which he first occupied in 1877, is one of the pioneer farmers and lumbermen of Erie county. He has fully earned his rest by many years of hard work, coupled with the judicious investment of his earn- ings and capital, and has reached his present honorable position by the achievement of a substantial success through straightforward as well as wise methods. Mr. Sherman is a Canadian, born March 2, 1838, to Carlos Sherman and wife, both natives of Connecticut. When quite young his father migrated from Connecticut to Canada, where

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

A twentieth century history of Erie County, Pennsylvania : a narrative account of its historic progress, its people, and its principal interests, Volume II, Part 92

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