USA > Pennsylvania > Erie County > History of Erie County, Pennsylvania, Volume One > Part 52
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Mr. Robinson was admitted to the practice of law in October, 1924, but devotes the majority of his time to the insurance business. The Rob- inson agency was organized in 1880 by Richard F. Gaggin, then collector of the Port of Erie, who was succeeded in 1908 by Mr. Robinson's father.
On July 14, 1921, Mr. Robinson married Harriet Chester Evans, daughter of John Evans and Elizabeth Parmalee. Elizabeth Parmalee was of Belgian Huguenot descent and John Evans of Welsh descent, his father, Robert Evans, and grandfather, John Evans, owning the large farm now the Glenwood residential district. Mrs. Robinson was edu- cated in the Erie grade schools and Erie High School, class of 1915, and Bradford (Mass.) Academy. They have one child, Nancy.
Mr. and Mrs. Robinson are charter members of the Sarah Hearn Memorial Presbyterian Church. He belongs to the University, the Erie and Kahkwa Clubs. He is a 32nd degree Mason, a member of the Benevo- lent Protective Order of Elks and the American Legion, Rogers Israel Post. Mr. Robinson is always identified with movements for civic better- ment and has been a member since its organization of the Athletic Ad- visory Committee appointed by the Board of Directors of the School District of the City of Erie.
John J. Galbo, attorney, with offices in the Ariel Building, Erie, is a native of New York. He was born in Buffalo, Oct. 19, 1901, and is the son of Ross and Grace (Pinto) Galbo.
Ross Galbo and his wife are natives of Italy and residents of North East. They have seven children, as follows: Josephine, lives at North East; John J., the subject of this sketch; Joseph, a student at the Uni- versity of Pittsburgh; Minnie, a student at Erie Business College; Rose, Sarah, and Cancetta, all students.
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John J. Galbo was reared at North East, his parents having removed there when he was about a year old. He was educated in the public schools and after his graduation from high school in 1918 he entered Pennsylvania State College, where he spent one year. He then entered Georgetown University where he received his degree in 1922. He was admitted to the District of Columbia bar in 1922 and the following year was admitted to the bar of Pennsylvania. Mr. Galbo is engaged in gen- eral practice and is one of the prominent and leading young attorneys of Erie.
Mr. Galbo is a member of the Elks Lodge.
Henry Kessler, secretary of the Workingman's Building & Loan Asso- ciation, is among the well known and highly esteemed citizens of Erie. He was born in Rhine, Bavaria, Germany, Aug. 12, 1856, and is the son of Henry and Phillipine (Lanzer) Kessler.
Henry Kessler, deceased, spent his entire life in Germany, and was a stone cutter by trade. He died in 1878 and his wife came to this country eight years later and located in Erie with her family. She died in 1898, and was buried in Erie cemetery. To Mr. and Mrs. Kessler six children were born as follows: Henry, the subject of this sketch; John, lives in Erie; Phillipine, Elizabeth, Karl and Karoline, all deceased.
Henry Kessler was reared and educated in his native land and came to this country in 1872. He immediately came to Erie where he began clerking in a grocery store and he later engaged in the grocery business for himself at 431 West 18th Street. In 1908 Mr. Kessler retired from active business on account of failing health. However, in 1918, he accepted his present position with the Workingmen's Building & Loan Association. This company was organized in 1876 and is located at 1113 State State.
In 1881, Mr. Kessler was united in marriage with Miss Juditha Ried- inger of Erie. She was burned to death in September, 1891. To this union two children were born: Clara and Carrie, both of whom died in infancy. In 1894 Mr. Kessler was married to Mrs. Georgiana (Pembroke) Ross.
Mr. Kessler is an independent Republican and has served as select city councilman, city assessor and safety commissioner. He belongs to the Masonic Lodge, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias. He has always been one of Erie's progressive and leading citizens.
HENRY KESSLER
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Lytle F. Perry is widely known throughout Erie County as a success- ful attorney and substantial citizen. He is a member of a pioneer family of this section of Pennsylvania and was born at Albion, May 18, 1888, the son of Rev. D. E. S. and Maude A. (Townley) Perry.
Rev. D. E. S. Perry, a native of Pennsylvania, was a minister of the Methodist Episcopal church until 1905 when he became identified with the clergy of the Episcopal church. He is pastor of St. John's Episcopal Church at Lafayette, Ind., where he and his wife reside. They have two children: Lytle F., the subject of this sketch; and Luella Ayleen, married O. Carter Berry, lives in Indianapolis, Ind.
Lytle F. Perry was educated in the public schools and attended Alle- gheny College. He read law in the office of Lewis, Jones & Lewis at Coudersport, Pa., having been admitted to the bar in 1911. He remained with the above law firm until 1914, when he removed to Erie, where he has since engaged in the practice of his profession. He founded the Erie County Law Journal in 1919 and has since been its editor and publisher.
Mr. Perry was united in marriage with Miss Eugenia C. Benson, of Coudersport, Pa., and the daughter of James B. and Katharine J. (Hodgs- kin) Benson, natives of Pennsylvania. Mr. Benson died May 30, 1897. To Mr. and Mrs. Perry have been born three children: Katharine Maude, David Townley, and Francis, all at home.
Politically, Mr. Perry is a Republican. He holds membership in the Episcopal Church and belongs to the Masonic Lodge and the University Club of Erie. He is held in high regard throughout the community and is an excellent citizen.
Monroe Echols is a representative citizen and well known attorney of Erie. He was born in Fairview Township, Mercer County, Pa., Nov. 19, 1861, and is the son of Asa and Amelia (MacDonald) Eckels.
Asa Eckels, deceased, was a native of Lawrence County, Pa., and his wife was born in Mercer County. They were both members of early pioneer families of western Pennsylvania. George Eckels, father of Asa, served during the War of 1812, and Robert MacDonald, maternal grand- father of the subject of this sketch, also served in the War of 1812. Asa Eckels removed to Mercer County when a young man and in early life engaged in farming in Fairview Township. He later came to Erie and for many years was a stationary engineer at the old blast furnace at the foot of Sassafras Street. He spent the latter years of his life on his (39)
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farm in Fairview Township and died there in April, 1887, at the age of 64 years. His wife died in March, 1903. To Mr. and Mrs. Eckels 11 children were born, six of whom are living, as follows: William, lives at Greenville, Mercer County, Pa .; Monroe, the subject of this sketch; George, lives at Sharpsville, Pa .; Wilson, lives at New Castle, Pa .; Alexander, lives at Pittsburgh, Pa .; and Phoebe, married David Thorpe, lives on the old homestead in Fairview Township. All the members of the Eckels family, except Monroe, use the old spelling of the family name, Eckels.
Monroe Echols spent his boyhood on his father's farm and attended the district schools. He was graduated from Edinboro State Normal School in 1886 and from the University of Michigan in 1892. He also received a degree from Allegheny College in 1892. In 1887 Mr. Echols was registered as a law student in the offices of T. A. Lamb, Erie, and was admitted to the bar of Erie County in 1893. He had taught school and traveled as a representative for the Kilborn Bros., Littleton, N. H., prior to that time. After being admitted to the bar he engaged in the practice of law in Erie and has been thus engaged since.
On June 17, 1908, Mr. Echols was married to Miss Flossie L. Wagner, a native of North Girard, Pa. One child died in infancy.
Mr. Echols is a Democrat and has made numerous campaign speeches in behalf of the party. He is a Unitarian in faith and belongs to the Lake Shore Lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
Peter J. Moline, a reliable and successful business man of Erie, was born in Sweden, June 11, 1869, and is the son of John and Maria (Peter- son) Moline.
John Moline spent his entire life in Sweden and is now deceased. He took a course in agriculture in one of the universities of his native land and devoted his life to farming interests. He died May 15, 1917, and his wife died Oct. 18, 1923. They had two children: Peter J., the subject of this sketch; and Christine, who lives at Swanaholm, Westbo-Ahs, Sweden.
Peter J. Moline grew to manhood in his native land and in early life engaged in farming. After coming to this country he spent seven years in the lumber camps of Pennsylvania and arrived in Erie in 1897. After two years he entered the employ of the Erie & Pittsburgh Railroad, and in 1907 was employed by the Pennsylvania Railroad. From 1908 until 1912 he was connected with the New York Central Railroad, and in the
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latter year, after passing the civil service examination, he was appointed assistant light keeper at Presque Isle Pier Head Light Station. In De- cember, 1916, Mr. Moline engaged in business, forming a partnership with C. H. and A. E. Freeburg, the business being known as Moline & Free- burg. They are dealers in tires and automobile accessories and have an extensive business, which is located at 607 French Street.
On Jan. 14, 1903, Mr. Moline was united in marriage at Erie with Miss Hilma H. Freeburg, a native of Sweden and the daughter of John and Hannah (Anderson) Freeburg, natives of Sweden. Mr. Freeburg died in May, 1890, and his wife died in October, 1896. Mr. and Mrs. Moline have no children.
During the Spanish-American War Mr. Moline volunteered for service and was a member of Company I, Pennsylvania National Guard. He is an independent voter and is identified with the Masonic Lodge. He and his wife are members of the Christian Science Church and are highly esteemed citizens of their community.
H. C. Lord, patent attorney of Erie, with offices in the Penn Building, was born at Mantorville, Minn., Jan. 23, 1867, and is the son of Samuel and Louisa M. (Compton) Lord.
Samuel Lord was a native of Meadville, Crawford County, Pa., emi- grating while a young man to Minnesota. He served as a member of both houses of legislature and at the time of his death in 1880 was serv- ing a second term as President Judge of the Fifth Judicial District of Minnesota. Louisa (Compson) Lord was born at Ypsilanti, Mich., but spent the greater part of her girlhood in Erie County. She died in 1879.
H. C. Lord's paternal and maternal ancestors were early New England settlers. The emigrant ancestor of the Lord family was one of the founders of Hartford, Conn., the descendents forming the branch to which H. C. Lord belongs moving to Lyme, Conn., and from Lyme to Mead- ville, Pa.
After the death of his father, H. C. Lord came east and after short residences at Edinboro, Pa., Dunkirk, N. Y., and Meadville, Pa., he came to Erie in 1884, and entered Erie High School. He was graduated in 1887 and afterwards took a post graduate course in the same institution. He read law under the preceptorship of Judge E. A. Walling. While a student he was appointed deputy U. S. marshal and also taught in the public night schools of Erie. He was admitted to the bar in 1890, and
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since 1892 has made a specialty of patent law and trade marks, and has confined himself to this practice. He has recently founded the Lord Manufacturing Company, making a specialty of bonded rubber joints and springs. He served one term, 1902-1906, as a member of the Select Council, presiding over that body the last two years of the term. Mr. Lord served as a director of the Chamber of Commerce and in 1916 as its president.
Mr. Lord was married June 7, 1893, to Rena Slocum, daughter of the late Richard M. and Cecelia (Partridge) Slocum. Five children have been born to them, two of whom, Helen (Mrs. Irving Whitehouse) and Thomas Lord, are now living. Mrs. Whitehouse resides at Erie and has two children: Henry H. and Hugh L. Whitehouse. Thomas Lord resides with his parents.
Marshall Rogers Merrick. Among the younger generation of Erie's successful business men is Marshall Rogers Merrick, owner of the Merrick Grain & Milling Company. He was born at Corry, Pa., March 3, 1888, and is the son of Austin W. and Mary (Haynes) Merrick.
Austin W. Merrick was born in Pleasantville, Pa., Jan. 18, 1841. When very young he volunteered for service in the Civil War. He par- ticipated in the Battle of Gettysburg, Sherman's March to the Sea, Wauhatchie, Chattanooga, Peach Run Creek and a number of the other principal engagements of the war.
Following his service Mr. Merrick attended Bryant & Stratton's Busi- ness College at Buffalo, returned to Pleasantville, then locating at Sham- burg. At this place Mr. Merrick served as the first postmaster and was present in that vicinity during all of the excitement of the early oil days at Pithole. He came to Corry in 1879. He had an interest in a planing mill, the other partners being Mr. Leach and Mr. Griffin. This mill burned and he built a grist mill later which he operated a great many years.
He passed away March 3, 1917.
Mary Haynes Merrick was born in Greene, N. Y., March 29, 1848. Her father was Artemis Haynes of Greene, N. Y. She came to Shamburg about 1868 and shortly after she was married to Austin Merrick of Pleasantville. In 1879 she with her husband moved to Corry where she lived until her demise, March 8, 1909. There are four children in the Merrick family: Walter H., engaged in the automobile business,
AUSTIN W. MERRICK
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Corry, Pa .; Nellie A. and Mary E., both at home in Corry, Pa., and Mar- shall Rogers, the subject of this sketch.
Marshall Rogers Merrick received his education in the public schools of Corry and, after completing his schooling in 1907, he engaged in busi- ness with his father and remained in Corry until 1918. He has since lived in Erie where in 1922 he organized the Merrick Grain and Milling Com- pany. They are wholesale dealers in flour, feed and grain and are among the largest grain dealers in northern Pennsylvania.
On June 14, 1916, Mr. Merrick was united in marriage with Miss Lena Jensen, of Corry, and the daughter of Thomas and Dorothea Jensen, resi- dents of that place. Mr. and Mrs. Merrick had two children: Thomas, born March 18, 1917, and Dorothea, born May 22, 1921, died May 26, 1924.
Mr. Merrick is a Republican, a member of St. Paul's Episcopal Church and belongs to the Masonic Lodge, and the Chamber of Commerce.
C. Harrison Lund is among the prominent and highly esteemed attor- neys of Erie. He was born in this city, Sept. 7, 1888, and is the son of Nels Peter and Catherine (Sabe) Lund.
Nels Peter Lund, who lives in Erie, was born in Denmark, Jan. 18, 1850, the son of George P. Lund. In 1869 he emigrated to America and in 1873 he located in Erie. On Oct. 27, 1882, Mr. Lund was married to Miss Catherine Sabe, a daughter of Joseph and Sarah (Givins) Sabe, of Erie. They have four children: Walter E., lives in Erie; James Louis, lives in New York City ; Ralph E., lives in New York City; and C. Harri- son, the subject of this sketch.
C. Harrison Lund grew up in Erie and received his early education in the public schools. He was graduated from Central High School in 1908 and later attended Pennsylvania State College. At the age of 21 years he engaged in the grocery business at 1114 Chestnut Street, Erie, and while thus engaged Mr. Lund attended college. He was admitted to the bar of Erie County in 1917 and during that year volunteered for service during the World War and was commissioned a lieutenant. He served in the army until 1919 and after his discharge engaged in the general practice of law in Erie. Mr. Lund has had considerable corpo- ration practice, including the position of attorney and vice-president of the Union Storage Company of Erie. In 1924 he was commissioned cap- tain in the department of the Judge Advocate General of the United States Army.
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On April 18, 1922, Mr. Lund was united in marriage with Miss Gladys Freeman, a native of this city, and the daughter of A. A. and Josephine Lawrence (Finn) Freeman, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of New York. Mr. Freeman lives at 332 East 6th Street, Erie. His wife died March 2, 1921. To Mr. and Mrs. Lund have been born two children: John Freeman, born May 8, 1923; and Sarah Margaret Lund, born July 25, 1924.
Mrs. Lund was graduated from Central High School in 1908 and from Maryland College in 1911. She is active in social and philanthropic work. In 1915 she took charge of the settlement work at Neighborhood House and during the World War was engaged by the American Red Cross. She is a member of the Women's Club, the College Women's Club and Delta Sigma Sorority.
Politically, Mr. Lund is a Republican. He is a member of St. Paul's Episcopal Cathedral and belongs to the University Club, Chamber of Commerce, and the American Legion. In 1924 he was appointed assistant district attorney of Erie County under M. Levant Davis.
F. W. Burnham, Sr., a progressive business man of Erie, engaged in the wholesale lumber business, was born at Faribault, Minn., May 2, 1859, the son of William B. and Frances F. Burnham.
William B. Burnham engaged in farming for a number of years and in 1871 removed from Minnesota to Union City, Pa., where he entered the mercantile business. Mr. and Mrs. Burnham, deceased, had three children: George, lives at Lakeland, Fla .; F. W., the subject of this sketch; and Belva, married Rev. C. M. Miller, lives at Pittsburgh, Pa.
F. W. Burnham engaged in the mercantile business with his father at Union City and after his father's death conducted the business until 1889, at which time he sold his interests and engaged in the lumber business there. In 1904 he located in Erie and established his present business. Mr. Burnham operates four portable mills besides the local plant and has a well established business.
On Sept. 1, 1881, Mr. Burnham was united in marriage with Miss Lettie I. Waters, a native of Union City, Pa., and the daughter of Alonzo and Jeanette Waters. They have three children: Bess, married J. L. Miner, lives at Hawthorne, N. Y .; Rena J., married Francis J. Walker, lives at Pasadena, Cal .; and F. W., Jr., who is associated in business with his father.
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F. W. Burnham, Jr., is a graduate of Erie High School and Wesleyan University, Middletown, Conn. He married Miss Ramona Hubbard of Middletown, Conn. He is a Mason and a member of the University Club.
F. W. Burnham, Sr., is a Republican, a 32d degree Mason, and belongs to the Rotary Club and the Erie Motor Club. He is a member of the Chamber of Commerce and a director of the Y. M. C. A., also is a member of the First M. E. Church of Erie. He is identified with the Hardwood Manufacturers Institute and the Lumber Dealers Association.
George E. Leet. Prominent among the successful business men of Erie is George E. Leet, dealer in office furniture and supplies. He was born at Vienna, Trumbull County, Ohio, Oct. 20, 1876, the son of Irvin and Mary (Young) Leet. A more extensive history of the Leet family appears in the biography of Frank R. Leet.
George E. Leet attended the public and high schools of Erie and in 1900 engaged in his present business at 1413 State Street. In 1920 he removed to his present location, 1116 Peach Street. Mr. Leet owns the office building which he occupies. He deals in high-grade office furniture exclusively and also has an extensive printing business.
In political faith, Mr. Leet is a Republican; in religion, a Methodist. In fraternal affiliations he belongs to all the Masonic bodies, both Scottish and York Rite, also the Ancient Order of the Mystic Shrine. He is also a member of the Knights of Pythias, I. O. O. F., United Commercial Trav- elers, Knights of the Golden Eagle, Y. M. C. A. and the Board of Commerce.
James H. Bennett, a substantial citizen of Erie, was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, Aug. 4, 1884, and is the son of Eli and Anna (Harp) Bennett, natives of Cincinnati and both now deceased. There were ten children in the Bennett family, three of whom are living and seven deceased: William E., lives retired at Hamilton, Ohio; Alice, married William Draut, who is employed at the General Electric Plant in Erie; and James H., the sub- ject of this sketch.
James H. Bennett was reared and educated in Cincinnati, and in 1909 settled in Erie, where he engaged in the fruit and produce business, sell- ing out in 1911. The following three years were spent with the Erie Storage & Cartage Company, and the J. G. DeMosch Trucking Company, Mr. Bennett serving as president and manager of the latter concern. He was later identified with the Superior Fruit & Produce Company at 1319 State Street, which was destroyed by the flood of 1915. After a year in the employ of the Pennsylvania Railroad, Mr. Bennett embarked in
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his present business. He does general trucking, local and long distance moving and specializes in piano moving.
On April 29, 1908, Mr. Bennett was united in marriage with Miss Minnie Miner, who was born April 18, 1883, and the daughter of Edward and Katherine (Manning) Miner, residents of Wyoming, Ohio. A brother of Mrs. Bennett, William, resides at home with his parents. To Mr. and Mrs. Bennett two children have been born: Dorothy Anna, born Feb. 12, 1910, attends Academy High School; and James Gordon, born May 27, 1917.
Mr. Bennett is a Republican, a member of the Wayne Street Meth- odist Episcopal Church and belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and Knights of Malta. He is a man of integrity and ability and an excellent citizen.
Joseph Orin Wait, is a member of the firm of Reed, Wait & Spofford, a leading law firm of Erie. He was born in LeBoeuf Township, Erie County, July 5, 1871, and is a representative of one of the pioneer families of Erie County.
The Wait family of Erie County is descended from Thomas Wait of Portsmouth, R. I. He, with two brothers, Richard and Gamaliel, came from the west of England to America, arriving at Plymouth, Mass., in 1634. Soon after his arrival in America he settled in Rhode Island, where the family continued to reside until after the Revolutionary War. Since that time the family has become extended over the country, principally through the New England States and New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, Iowa and Kansas. John Wait, a descendant of Thomas Wait, was the fifth justice of the Supreme Court of Rhode Island. An- other descendant of the Rhode Island family was the founder of Smith College at Northampton, Mass.
Samuel Wait, son of Thomas, married Hannah Whitman of Kingston, R. I., they had four children: Samuel, John, Joseph and Susanna. Susanna married Benjamin Perry, they had a son, Freeman Perry, who married Mercy Hazzard, who had one son, Christopher Perry, who mar- ried Sarah Wallace Alexander, who had a son, Oliver Hazzard Perry, com- modore in the United States navy.
The great-great-grandfather of Joseph Orin Wait, was Joseph Wait of Broadalbin, N. Y. He was born in Rhode Island in 1759 and died Oct. 19, 1828. He was the son of Benjamin (4th), the son of Samuel (3rd),
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J. O. WAIT
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the son of Samuel (2nd), the son of Thomas (1st), of Portsmouth, R. I. He was a brother of Colonel Beriah, who was an ensign in the Third Com- pany, North Kingston, R. I., in 1778, a lieutenant in June, 1780, and a colonel in the Continental Army for five years.
Joseph Wait, of Broadalbin, served in Captain Delano's company of Rhode Island troops during the Revolutionary War. He married Abagail Clarke on Feb. 23, 1783. They were the parents of eight sons: George, Clarke, Beriah, Joseph, Benjamin, Walter, Philip and Stephen, the great- grandfather of our subject. He was born at Broadalbin, N. Y., Aug. 3, 1802, and died in LeBoeuf Township, Erie County, Pa., Feb. 13, 1874. He was married at Broadalbin on Jan. 17, 1821, to Jane Shepherd. They settled in LeBoeuf Township in 1833, where he took out a patent for a tract of land from the Commonwealth.
The children of Stephen Wait were: Samuel S., Peleg P., Eunice, Benjamin J., Sarah, Stephan A., Edmund R., Beriah G., and Levi J. Peleg P., grandfather of Joseph Orin Wait, was born at Broadalbin, N. Y., Jan. 11, 1824. He married Lois Davis of Washington Township, Erie County, on March 30, 1845. They had four children: Daniel, Sarah Jane, Peleg Henry, and Stephen.
Daniel Wait was born in LeBoeuf Township, Oct. 25, 1846, and mar- ried Oct. 29, 1867, Martha A., daughter of Joseph and Isabella (Benn) Arters. To them were born three children: Jennie Viola, Joseph Orin and Raymond Philip.
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