USA > Pennsylvania > Genealogical and personal history of the Allegheny Valley, Pennsylvania, Volume I > Part 75
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was born in Charlton, Massachusetts, October 9, 1796, died May 22, 1886. He migrated to Genesee county, New York, where he mar- ried, and located for a number of years. About 1830 he removed to Erie county, Pennsylvania, and settled on a tract of land three miles north of Corry. He purchased a farm of one hun- dred acres on Hare Creek, now Wheelock, Wayne township, cleared up the place, and resided there till 1850, when he disposed of the same and removed to Sugargrove town- ship, Warren county, Pennsylvania, where he resided, but spent the last fifteen years of his life with his son Edward R., at the village of Sugargrove. He was a member of the Meth- odist Episcopal church, and a Republican in politics. He married, in the town of Wales, Genesee county, New York, October 29, 1818, Lydia Tillottson, born January 19, 1801, died 1871. His children were : Charles A. (of whom further ) ; George G., born November 23, 1823, died September 7, 1894; Betsy A., born No -. vember 21, 1825, died July 24, 1826; Edwin Ruthven (of whom further ) ; Matthew G , born August 22, 1839, died December 20, 1895.
(VI) Charles A., eldest son of Abner (2) Wheelock, was born August 19, 1822, died at Warren, Warren county, Pennsylvania, De- cember 20, 1892. After completing his studies he gave his attention principally to farming, which line of work he followed throughout the most part of his life. He was a resident of Wayne township, Erie county, Pennsyl- vania, residing on his farm until 1860, when he removed to Meadville, same state, and for one year engaged in the foundry business. The following year he purchased a farm one mile west of Lottsville, in Freehold township, War- ren county, Pennsylvania, where he spent the remainder of his days. He was a Protestant in religion, and a Republican in politics, and served in the capacity of constable and super- visor of the township where he lived. He was a member and past master of Freehold Grange, and at the time of his death was secretary of Lottsville Lodge, I. O. O. F. He married, June 7, 1851, Elizabeth M. King, born May II, 1828, daughter of Ambrose and Dolly (Steele) King, died June 4. 1878. They had one child, De Forest A., of whom further.
(VII) Major De Forest A. Wheelock, son of Charles A. Wheelock, was born in Wheelock, Erie county, Pennsylvania, July 23, 1855. He gained his preliminary education in the common AV-26
schools, and this was supplemented by a course at the Teachers' Normal Department of Cham- berlain Institute, Randolph, New York, from which he graduated in 1877, and he pursued a commercial course at the same institution, com- pleting it in the unparalleled time of four weeks, also a special course of civil engineer- ing, which profession he has since followed. He has devoted his attention to civil engineer- ing, and has repeatedly been summoned to various parts of his and other states to settle land and other important engineering questions and disputes, and is considered one of the most reliable experts on questions submitted to him. Prior to taking ".p the active profession of civil engineering he was engaged for several years as a teacher in common, graded and union schools, holding a state teacher's cer- tificate entitling him to teach in any part of the state of Pennsylvania. From 1875 until the present (1913), with the exception of six years, he has been the official surveyor of Warren county, Pennsylvania, and since March, 1895, has been the city engineer of Warren, Penn- sylvania. At the present time (1913) he is chief engineer of the Hammond Engineering Company, which manufactures and erects water and sewage purification plants. He was for several years employed by the Pennsyl- vania State Department of Health as special engineer, to examine, report and recommend regarding matters of water and sewage puri- fication that came before the department. He also acted, and does at present, as special engi- neer for the Pennsylvania State Railroad Com- mission. He was appointed by Governor Hastings in 1895 on the commission to deter- mine the advisability of forming a new (Grow) county out of parts of Luzerne and other counties in the anthracite coal region. He was also appointed by the courts in 1886 to relocate the dividing line between Warren and Erie counties, in 1887 between Potter and Cameron, and Warren and Crawford, in 1895 between Center and Huntingdon, in 1909 between Crawford and Mercer, and in 1910 between Crawford and Venango counties.
When the United States declared war against Spain in 1898, Major Wheelock, being loyal and patriotic, and also having had a military experience from December 2, 1882, when he enlisted in Company I of the 16th Regiment of the National Guard of Pennsylvania, and having been promoted to corporal, sergeant,
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first sergeant, second lieutenant, first lieuten- ant, and captain, he was one of the first to volunteer his services under the call for volun- teers, ranking as captain of Company I, which was mustered into the service of the United States, May Io, 1898, after having been on duty at the call of the state authorities since April 27th. His was the only company from the state that volunteered with full ranks to a man. After camping at Mt. Gretna, Pennsyl- vania, the company started for Chickamauga Park, Georgia, on May 15th, where he was joined by his son, Carl A., as corporal in his company, and subsequently ordered to Charles- ton, South Carolina, where they embarked July 22nd on the transport "Mobile," No. 21, and arrived at Ponce, Porto Rico, July 28th. The following night Captain Wheelock was ordered with fifty picked men from the 16th Regiment to El Coto, about seven miles distant, with orders to prevent any of the Spanish forces located there from burning the town, which they had threatened to, or from committing any other hostile demonstration. As Captain Wheelock and his men entered the town the rear guard of the Spanish forces retreated from the town. Captain Wheelock immediately took possession of the barracks just vacated by the enemy and captured several prisoners, as well as a large amount of commissary and quartermaster stores. On July 3Ist Captain Wheelock, in command of his company, and being reinforced by Company A, of Corry, proceeded under orders to Juana Diaz, took possession of the public buildings, telegraph and telephone offices, and at once hoisted the United States flag over the former. While at Juana Diaz, August 2nd, Captain Wheelock learned that at the seaport town of Port San Isabelle was a large amount of commissary stores ready to be delivered to the Spanish forces at Aibonita, and promptly during the night sent a detachment to take possession of the same. The detachment arrived just as the loaded wagons were starting for the Spanish lines. The detachment took the stores and some prisoners, and returned to Captain Wheelock's camp at Juana Diaz during the night, with stores, among which was a large amount of rice, which the captain at once turned over to the quartermaster of the 16th Regiment for the use of the men, which, as rations at the time were short, was a welcome accession. Guard duty was done there and outpost duty for two days, and a quantity of supplies and number
of prisoners taken, among the prisoners being the Spanish war secretary from Port San Isa- belle, whose commission and saber the captain has ever since retained. The remainder of the 16th Regiment joined Company I and A, and on August 4th moved to a point halfway be- tween Juana Diaz and Coamo, encamping along the military road. During the night of August 8th the regiment made a flank movement to get to the rear of Coamo, camping in the mountains during the night, and the following morning (August 9th) reached the top of the mountain overlooking Coamo, about sunrise, with the battery of the United States troops opened fire on the block house about two miles outside of the town, when the Spaniards re- treated through the town and toward Aibonita, opening fire on the United States troops of the 16th Regiment, who were double-timing down the side of the mountain to intercept them. The battle lasted about an hour, when the Spanish forces surrendered. The principal part of the fighting was done by the First Battalion of the 16th Pennsylvania troops, com- posed of Companies I, A, H, and C. Captain Wheelock after the battle found that he had three men slightly wounded, but otherwise no casualties. When the Spaniards surrendered, Company I, under Captain Wheelock, entered the town of Coamo, took possession of the Spanish barracks and a large amount of government military stores, among which was taken the Spanish flag that floated over the barracks at the time the battle began, and which has ever since been retained by Captain Wheelock, who prizes it very highly. They then went into camp just east of the town, on that part of the battle field occupied by the Spanish forces during the engagement, remain- ing there until October Ist, when the regiment under orders started to march to San Juan, a seaport city on the north side of the Island, but after three days' marching were ordered back to Ponce. During this three-day period Captain Wheelock, who had just reported for duty from the hospital, was placed in charge of 136 convalescents whom he furloughed home, and rejoined his regiment in time to go with it back to the United States, leaving Ponce October 11th and arriving at New York on October 17th. He reached Warren with his company October 19, 1898, and was muster- ed out of United States service December 28, 1898. He continued in the service of the Na- tional Guard, being elected major October 14.
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1907, and served as such till January, 1909, when after over twenty-six years' service he resigned and went on the retired list on account of long service.
Major Wheelock is a member of North Star Lodge, No. 241, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons ; Occidental Chapter, No. 235, Royal Arch Masons; Warren Commandery, No. 63, Knights Templar, of which he is past eminent commander; Pennsylvania Consistory, 32nd degree, Valley of Pittsburgh; Presque Isle Lodge of Perfection, 14th degree, of Erie, Pennsylvania ; Warren Lodge of Odd Fellows ; due to his efforts, Lottsville Lodge, Independ- ent Order of Odd Fellows, was organized, he being its first noble and past noble grand ; Warren Lodge, B. P. O. E., of which he is a past exalted ruler, and past trustee. He is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, and the Engineers Society of Penn- sylvania.
Major Wheelock married, May 1, 1878, at Columbus, Pennsylvania, Sarah Le Ell Smith, born July 11, 1854, daughter of David O. and Emily A. (Walton) Smith, who were the par- ents of five other children, as follows: Albert J., Eva A., Winnie, Arta W., and Robert W. David O. Smith was a farmer and justice of the peace. Children of Major Wheelock: Carl Ayres, of whom further ; Harry O., born June 5, 1881 ; Bertha E., born August 22, 1882, mar- ried, June 25, 1912, Frank J. Lyons, district attorney of Warren county, Pennsylvania ; Winnie C., born February 28, 1884, married, February 16, 1907, Kern W. McCray, super- intendent of an oil and gas company in West Virginia.
(VIII) Carl Ayres Wheelock, son of De Forest A. Wheelock, was born at Lottsville, Warren county, Pennsylvania, March 8, 1879. He attended the district school at Lottsville until ten years of age, then became a student in the Warren grade and high school, graduating from the latter in 1898, and during the years 1897-98 also attended a business school. In November, 1898, he entered the employ of the Warren Street Railway Company, remaining until July 31, 1899, when he was employed by the Struthers Wells Company, remaining until March 18, 1901, and from that time to the present (1912) has served in the capacity of accountant at the State Hospital for the Insane at Warren, Pennsylvania. During the Spanish- American war he enlisted his services in de- fence of his country, June 14, 1898, holding
the rank of corporal in Company I, Sixteenth Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. He joined the company in Chickamauga, after completing his high school course, went with his regiment to Charleston, South Carolina, where a week later he took transport for Ponce, Porto Rico; he participated in the skirmish at Coamo, went with his regiment to Cayey when they received orders to return to Ponce and subsequently to the United States, arriving in New York City, October 20, 1898, and received his honorable discharge, Decem- ber 28, 1898. Mr. Wheelock is an attendant of the Presbyterian church. He is a member of North Star Lodge, No. 241, Free and Ac- cepted Masons, of which he is past master ; Occidental Chapter, No. 235, Royal Arch Ma- sons, of which he is past high priest; Warren Commandery, No. 63, Knights Templar, of which he is past commander ; Venango Lodge of Perfection, of Oil City; Pennsylvania Con- sistory, of Pittsburgh; Zem Zem Temple, An- cient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, of Erie; Conewango Council, No. 115, Royal Arcanum, of North Warren, of which he is past regent and treasurer ; Conewango Club, of Warren, and Deerhorn Fishing and Hunting Club, of Warren.
Mr. Wheelock married, December 17, 1902, at North Warren, Pennsylvania, Elizabeth, born October 23, 1872, daughter of Robert and Mary (Jackson) Grier. Children: Bertha Elizabeth, born November 1, 1903; Carl Al- bert, June 26, 1905.
(VI) Edwin Ruthven, son of Abner (2) Wheelock, was born in the town of Wales, Genesee county, New York, August 24, 1827. When he was three years of age his parents removed to Pennsylvania, settling on a farm three miles north of Corry, Erie county, and there he spent his boyhood days. He was edu- cated in the schools of the neighborhood, and later went to Waterford, Pennsylvania, where he attended the State Academy, having for his classmates many who later became prominent in the history of Waterford and whose de- scendants now reside in that locality. At the age of sixteen years Mr. Wheelock left the old home and took up his residence in Freehold township, locating at Wrightsville, where he became identified with the lumber industries. He boated on the river, and was successful in his various undertakings. He made his home in Freehold township until about 1871, when he moved to the village of Sugargrove and
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there erected a store, embarking in the general hardware business and later admitting his sons as partners, conducting for many years a suc- cessful and remunerative business. He was one of the influential and active citizens of Sugargrove, his residence on Main street being one of the best and most attractive. He retired from active pursuits in 1904 and then went to Decatur, Illinois, where he resides with a son. Almost every year he pays a visit to Sugar- grove, where he is a most welcome guest, not only among his relatives, who are numerous, but in almost every home in the entire com- munity. He was reared in the Methodist Epis- copal faith, and is a Republican in politics, active in the affairs of his party, having served as county commissioner two terms, burgess of the borough of Sugargrove one term, and served for many years as councilman and school director.
Mr. Wheelock married, September 20, 1853, Betsey Allen, born in Freehold township, War- ren county, Pennsylvania, August 28, 1833, died February 18, 1901, daughter of David and Fannie (Abbott) Allen. Children : Frank De Forest, of whom further ; George R., born All- gust 26, 1860, in Freehold township; he was educated in the common schools, spent his early life in Warren county, in 1884 went to South Dakota and farmed two years, returned to Sugargrove, Pennsylvania, and engaged in the hardware business, and subsequently re- moved to Decatur, Illinois, where he is work- ing at his trade of tinsmith; he married Char- lotte, daughter of George and Emiline (Green) Reynolds; one child, Bessie May Reynolds Wheelock, born in 1903.
(VII) Frank DeForest, eldest son of Ed- win Ruthven Wheelock, was born at Freehold, Warren county, Pennsylvania, August 12, 1854. He attended the public schools of Free- hold and Sugargrove, acquiring a practical education. Upon attaining his majority he en- gaged in the hardware business at Sugargrove, continuing in the same until 1892, when he went to northern Wisconsin and there served as manager for a lumber company until 1899, when he returned to Sugargrove and again embarked in the hardware business, purchasing his father's store, which he has conducted to the present time (1912), being in receipt of an extensive patronage. He carries a full and complete line of hardware, and in addition deals in wagons and buggies, and ranks among
the enterprising and successful merchants of the community. He adheres to the principles of the Republican party and has been the in- cumbent of several township and borough offices, in which he served creditably and effi- ciently. He is a member of Stillwater Lodge, No. 547, Free and Accepted Masons, of Sugar- grove, in which he served as worshipful master for ten years.
Mr. Wheelock married, at Jamestown, New York, January 6, 1896, Rozella ( Blodgett ) Mc- Donald, born at Sugargrove, Pennsylvania, July 6, 1857, daughter of Alden Divers and Helen (Brands) Blodgett, and widow of Archibald D. McDonald, by whom she had two children : Anna B., born June 4, 1878, at Sugar- grove, married, August 1, 1906, Dr. William Hamilton Shortt, one son, William Hamilton Jr., born May 26, 1907, they reside at Youngs- ville, Pennsylvania ; Alden Blodgett, born Jan- uary 26, 1880, at Sugargrove, is a specialist on diseases of ear, eye, nose and throat, located at Warren, Pennsylvania. Alden D. Blodgett was a farmer and merchant; he and his wife were the parents of three children, as follows: Jane Celia, Robert Brands, Rozella, aforemen- tioned. Mr. and Mrs. Wheelock have no chil- dren.
BEMIS Every probable and improbable way of spelling this name seems to have been employed by the twenty-two families, each having a different orthography, but all perhaps springing from a common ancestor. A few of the most distorted spellings are: Beemish, Bemisht, Beamiss, Beeamis, Beamous and Bemass. There is also Bemis, Bemus, Bemos, Bemas and Benes. The name is perpetuated locally by localities in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and New York, the best known, perhaps, being Bemis. Heights, Saratoga county, New York, where the battle of Saratoga was mainly fought and where Burgoyne surrendered, September 19, 1777.
(I) The founder of the branch herein re- corded was Joseph Bemis, born in England, 1619. He came to Watertown, Massachusetts, as early as 1640, bringing, it is believed, his. wife Sarah with him, or as is possible they were married in Boston, 1641, as the birth of their first child is recorded there. He was elected selectman of Watertown, 1648-72-75. He was a farmer and at times seems to have
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been also a blacksmith. His will is dated the day of his death, August 7, 1684, and proved October 7, following. His widow Sarah died in 1712. Children : Sarah, born January 15, 1642-43, married John Bigelow; Mary, Sep- tember 10, 1644, married Samuel Whitney ; Joseph and Ephraim, twins, October 28, 1647, were buried November 4, following ; Joseph, of whom further; Rebecca, April 17, 1654, married ( first ) John White, (second) Thomas Harrington.
(II) Joseph (2), son of Joseph (1) Bemis, "the emigrant," born at Watertown, December 12, 1651, died at Westminster, Massachusetts, August 7, 1684. He was a soldier of King Philip's war, his name being spelled on the record Joseph Bemish and service credited under Captain James Oliver, March 24, 1675. His wife Anna also died in Westminster. Chil- dren: Joseph; Mary; Philip, died 1782; Thomas, of whom further.
(III) Thomas, youngest child of Joseph (2) and Anna Bemis, died in Westminster, Massachusetts, 1788, having settled there about 1738. Children : Anna, born April 22, 1741, said to have been the first girl baby born in Westminster : Thomas, of whom further.
(IV) Thomas (2), son of Thomas (I) Bemis, was born in Westminster, Massachu- setts, where he learned the trade of blacksmith. He married, September 3, 1787, Lucy Green, who died September 13, 1824. Children : Daniel; Pearson, married Betsey Jackson; Polly, married (first) Henry Dunster, (sec- ond) William Lewis; Reuben, born 1797, died April, 1811.
(V) Daniel, son of Thomas (2) and Lucy ( Green) Bemis, was born in Westminster, Massachusetts, 1788, died at Chesterfield. He married Polly Sawin. They lived at Chester- field and Croydon, New Hampshire. They had issue including a son, Elias H.
(VI) Elias Harrison, son of Daniel and Polly (Sawin) Bemis, was born in Croydon, New Hampshire, 1818, died in the town of Granville, Washington county, New York. He was well educated, and in early life learned and followed the shoemaker's trade, later com- ing to Granville, New York, where he bought a farm of one hundred acres. He cultivated this farm until late in life, when he sold it and moved to the village of North Granville, where he lived retired until his death. He was a member of the Baptist church, and a Whig,
later a Republican in politics. He was twice married, his first wife, a Miss Chase, being the mother of Horace Allen, of whom further, and Silvia (or Sylvia), who married Captain William Thomas, a deep sea mariner, plying between New York and Liverpool, England, they reside in Granville, New York.
(VII) Horace Allen, only son of Elias Har- rison Bemis and his first wife, was born in the town of Granville, Washington county, New York, March 29, 1842, died there December 19, 1903. He was educated in the public schools, and when compelled to leave school and commence work he continued study in night schools. He learned the carpenter's trade and became a well known contractor, although his residence was always at Granville he did a great deal of business in neighboring towns and in Massachusetts. He lost his life by a boiler explosion at the plant of the Matthews State Company at Hatch Hill, where he was doing some carpenter work at the time. It was during the noon hour and Mr. Bemis had gone to the engine room to eat his lunch, the weather being too cold to sit outside. He was an active working member of the Baptist church, and a Republican in politics, holding many township offices in Granville. He mar- ried Harriet M. Van Gilder, born at Granville, May 17, 1847, died April 29, 1906, daughter of Daniel Van Gilder. Children: William ; Horace Allen ; Fred; Cora, died young ; Har- riet, died in childhood; Charles; Flora E .; Elias Harrison, of whom further ; Daniel D .; four others who died young.
(VIII) Elias Harrison (2), son of Horace Allen and Harriet M. (Van Gilder) Bemis, was born in Granville, Washington county, New York, April 4, 1879. He was educated in the public schools and North Granville Semi- nary, taking a full course at the latter institu- tion and receiving a diploma. He began busi- ness life as an employee of the Algonguin State Company, continuing with them seven years in the paint department. He was with the Stucco (or Staco) Paint Company for two years, then with the American Seal Paint Com- pany of Troy, New York, where his health failed and he returned to Granville. He next became traveling salesman for the Atlantic Refining Company of Cleveland, Ohio, continui- ing until 1906, when he returned to Granville and entered the employ of the Borden Con- densed Milk Company. He began at the bot-
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tom and worked up through all branches and departments, thus gaining a practical knowl- edge of all phases of the business. He re- mained with the Borden's in Granville four years. He was then offered and accepted the position of superintendent with the Walker Ice Cream Company at their condensing plant in Sugargrove, Warren county, Pennsylvania, which position he now holds. He is a Repub- lican in politics. In Granville he was a mem- ber of both lodge and encampment of the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, transferring his membership to Sugargrove Lodge. He is also a member of Sugar Lodge, Free and Ac- cepted Masons, a member of Modern Wood- men and the Knights of the Maccabees, of Granville. He married, June 8, 1898, Daisy M. Hutchins, born at Middletown, Vermont, June 9, 1882, daughter of Herbert and Susan Hutchins. Children: Mildred H., born De- cember 3, 1899: Herbert H., March 1, 1901 ; Milton H., October 30, 1905; Viola S., July 4, 1908; Sylvia D., 1910, died aged eleven months.
RICE The Rice family, in early genera- tions, was prominently identified with the history of the state of Mas- sachusetts, five generations having resided there, in the towns of Marlborough, Sudbury, Petersham and Shrewsbury.
(I) Asa Rice, the first of the line here un- der consideration of whom we have definite information, was a native of Massachusetts, from whence he removed to Caroline Center, Tompkins county, New York, where he spent the remainder of his days, dying at about the age of eighty years. He followed the occu- pation of farming, which proved a remunera- tive source of income. He was a member of the Episcopal church, and highly respected in the community where he resided for so many years. He married Polly Reed, who lived to an advanced age. Children: I. Augusta, de- ceased, married Harry Grant. 2. Henry, a resident of Missouri; married and reared a large family. 3. William Bigelow, of whom further. 4. Christopher Columbus Titus, was a resident of Missouri ; married and reared a large family. 5. Alvin, died unmarried. 6. James H., died in Chicago, Illinois ; married but left no issue. 7. Frank, deceased. 8. George R., deceased, resided in Seneca county, New York. 9. Ann, deceased ; married Ismond Knapp.
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