USA > Pennsylvania > Erie County > History of Erie County, Pennsylvania, Volume Two > Part 13
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In 1917 Mr. Guerrein was married to Miss Edith Margaret Arndt, of Erie, a daughter of Joseph G. and Theresa (Mangold) Arndt, residents of Erie. To Mr. and Mrs. Guerrein have been born three children: Carl J., born January 2, 1918; E. Barbara, born March 11, 1919; and Virginia, born February 29, 1920.
In politics Mr. Guerrein is identified with the Republican party. He and his family are members of St. John's Catholic Church. He belongs to the Elks lodge and various other organizations.
C. L. Siegel is a well known citizen of Erie and the manager of one of the city's old established businesses. He was born here, Aug. 24, 1875, and is the son of Jacob F. and Margaret (O'Brien) Siegel.
Jacob F. Siegel, retired, is one of Erie's pioneer coal dealers. He was born in Bavaria, Germany, May 12, 1845, the son of Frederick L. and Katherine (Zimmer) Siegel. In 1853 the family came to Erie, where Jacob F. was educated. In 1890 he entered the coal business and by careful management was able to build up a splendid business, which is now operat- ed by his son. In 1910 Mr. Siegel sold his oil interests to the Bayerson Oil Company of Erie. He now lives retired. There were seven children born to Mr. and Mrs. Siegel, five of whom are now living.
C. L. Siegel attended the Erie schools and when he was 18 years of age entered his father's employ. He now conducts the business, although his father maintains his interest in it. Mr. Siegel carries a complete line of building materials, cement, coal, etc., and operates three trucks. The business is located at 849 East 11th Street.
On April 27, 1910, Mr. Siegel was united in marriage with Miss Emma Vetter, of Erie, and they have two children: Charles and John, both stud- ents.
Mr. Siegel is a Democrat, a member of the Masonic and Elks lodges, and an excellent citizen of Erie.
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Henry J. Sevin was a prominent art dealer for more than fifty years in the City of Erie. He was born in this city, Jan. 14, 1856, was educated in the city schools, and at the age of 13 years entered the business firm of his father. His father, Jacob Theodore Sevin, son of a teacher, was born at Gruenstatt, Rhine Bavaria, Germany, Oct. 28, 1812, and died Aug. 17, 1888. His mother, Catherine Albrecht, was born at Erbach, Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, and died Oct. 14, 1871. She was the daughter of a cloth manufacturer. Both of Mr. Sevin's parents are buried in Erie Cemetery.
The Sevin family were originally French Hugenots and came from Orleans, France. To escape the Catholic persecutions of the early 17th century they fled to Germany. There is a legend that up until this time the name had been Nives, and that it was now written backward and spelled Sevin to escape detection. This is substantiated by the old Sevin crest which bears in the lower portion of an ornamental shield, a cluster of snow flakes. The Latin plural of snow is nives, denoting the origin of the name and its original spelling.
Jacob T. Sevin was educated in the public schools of Germany and was graduated from the Gymnasium, a school which corresponds to our high school. He was a student of Latin and spoke German, French, Italian, Spanish and English. His father was a school teacher by profession and Jacob also taught school when a young man. Later he became a journey- man worker, following a mechanical and constructive bent and a desire to travel. He was an expert wood turner, also a turner of metals, horn, and other mediums. In 1849 he was forced to flee Germany because of his republican tendencies and lack of sympathy with the German monarchy. He then came to the United States and to Erie, because his brother, Dr. Charles Sevin, had located here the year previously. These traits of mechanical ability, desire to travel, and independence of thought are ap- parent in his children and grandchildren.
In 1846, three years before leaving Germany, Jacob Sevin married Catherine Albrecht. Two children were born there, Ernestine and Eliza- beth Sevin. Ernestine taught in the public schools of Erie, was organist and choir leader in St. Paul's German Lutheran Church for many years, and later married Ernest Waeldin of Brooklyn, N. Y., where she made her home from that time until her death in 1923. Elizabeth became a pianist and teacher of music. She did not marry and died in 1917. Five more children were born in Erie: Carrie Sevin who married Jacob Eichorn and
HENRY J. SEVIN
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who died in 1916; Margaret Sevin, who married Charles B. Weunschel and is now living at 328 West Fifth Street, Erie; Charlotte Sevin, who married William S. Sherwood and is living at 435 West 10th Street, Erie (both Margaret and Charlotte were school teachers before their marriage). Charles Theodore, who is in the art business in Buffalo, N. Y., and lives at 785 Ashland Avenue; and Henry J. Sevin, the subject of this sketch.
Jacob Sevin continued in Erie his trade of wood and metal turning, making various articles such as canes, pipes, and later picture frames. This was the beginning of the art business in this city and of Sevin's Art Store. His first place of business was at Seventh and State Streets, at about 705 State Street. It was in this building that Henry J. Sevin was born in 1856. Later the business moved just above Eighth Street on State, where the Penn Building now stands. Here it remained until 1863 when the shop was moved to 17 West Seventh Street and a house erected at 15 West Seventh Street. In 1873 the firm of J. T. Sevin and Sons was formed, the house was moved to the rear, and the present building at 15 West Seventh Street was erected. Here the sons, Theodore and Henry, developed the art business while their father conducted a repair depart- ment at No. 17. By 1884 the art business had grown considerably. In this year the sons erected a two-story building at 912 State Street, moved the art business there, and formed the firm of J. T. Sevin's Sons. Their father continued the repair department at 17 West Seventh Street until his death in 1888. In 1897 another change took place when the firm of J. T. Sevin's Sons was dissolved and C. Theodore Sevin moved to Buffalo, N. Y., to open an art store on Main Street. In 1903 Henry J. Sevin remodeled and enlarged the building at 15 West Seventh Street and moved back to the old stand. In August, 1924, he retired from active business and died April 18, 1925. The business is now being conducted by his daughter Gertrude K.
On Oct. 19, 1881, Henry J. Sevin married Fredericka Mehl. She was an Erie girl, having been born and reared in this city. Her parents came from Alsasce which belonged to France during the time they lived there. Her father, Michael M. Mehl and her mother, Catherine Witter, were mar- ried in 1834 and had several sons. Michael Mehl was not in sympathy with the military program of France and did not want his sons subjected to the enforced military training so he brought his family to America and settled in Erie. It was his intention to go farther west but his wife had wearied of traveling and requested that they go no farther, so they re-
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mained in Erie. Michael Mehl brought with him from Strausburg a num- ber of instruments and formed the Mehl Band, the first brass band in Erie. His sons went to the Civil War with it. Michael Mehl died in 1880 and his wife in 1887. They are buried in the Erie Cemetery.
Of the children born to Henry J. Sevin and wife, Harry Louis Sevin is now living in Birmingham, Mich. He is manager of the Detroit Branch Office of the Theodore L. Dodd Company, manufacturers' agents. In 1914 Harry Sevin married Ethel Love of Hartford, Conn. They have three boys, William, Harry Louis, Jr., and Frederic Robert. Gertrude Katherine the eldest daughter, was graduated from Syracuse University in 1910. In 1911 she was appointed professor of biology and head of that depart- ment at Agnes Scott College, a college for women in Decatur, Ga., a suburb of Atlanta. In 1915 she returned to Syracuse University for a year of study and was granted a master's degree in June, 1916, and elected a member of Sigma Xi, the national honorary science society. In the fall of 1916 she went to Adelphi College for women in Brooklyn, N. Y., where she was head of the biology department until June, 1923. In August of this year when her father retired from business, his daughter, Gertrude, decided to give up her teaching profession to take over and continue the art business which her father had successfully carried on for so many years. A younger daughter, Madeleine Sevin, was with her father in the art business for a number of years. In 1918 she married Dr. Donald S. Sterret, the orthodontist. They have three children, Virginia, David, and Martha. Two younger sons, Frederic William and Robert Edward are twins. They both were graduated from the University of Michigan in 1917 as mechanical engineers. During the World War they served with the Curtis Aeroplane Corporation as assistants to the chief engineer. Frederic W. Sevin is at present with the Vacuum Oil Company as a lubrication expert working out of their Detroit office. Robert E. Sevin is associated with the Union Iron Works of Erie.
Frank Kurczewski, steamship and insurance agent, is among the en- terprising and successful business men of Erie. He was born at Engle- wood, N. J., Jan. 17, 1877, and is a son of Stanislaus and Agnes (Wender- ski) Kurczewski.
Stanislaus Kerczewski was born in Poland in 1854 and settled in New Jersey in 1871. He was a successful merchant during his active career and now lives retired at Buffalo, N. Y. His wife, also a native of Poland,
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died in 1898, at the age of 51 years and is buried in Trinity cemetery, Erie. Mr. and Mrs. Kerczewski were the parents of eleven children, of whom Frank, the subject of this sketch was the oldest.
In 1878 the Kurczewski family removed to St. Joseph, Mo., and ten years later settled in Erie. When a young boy Frank Kurczewski learned the cigar making trade, in which business he was engaged for 28 years, being in the employ of several leading cigar manufacturers of Erie. In 1910 he entered the employ of Lawrence Stachowski, at that time steam- ship agent of Erie. In 1920 Mr. Kurczewski purchased the business which is located at 1208 Parade Street. He is also engaged in the insurance business, specializing in fire insurance.
Mr. Kurczewski has four children: Walter, born in 1901; Edmond, born in 1902; Alois, born in 1904; and Irene, born in 1910.
Mr. Kurczewski is a member of the Catholic church.
Davis Reichbaum is a progressive and enterprising business man of Erie. He was born in Russia, Aug. 14, 1877, and is the son of Moses and Gussie Reichbaum.
Moses Reichbaum was born in Poland in 1831 and now lives there re- tired. He was successfully engaged in the manufacturing business until the outbreak of the World War. His wife, who was born in 1840, died in 1891, and was buried in Poland. Mr. and Mrs. Reichbaum had seven children: Marian, Ida and Gussie, all live in Poland; Solomon, died in 1920; Abraham, lives in Pittsburgh; Alexander, lives in Pittsburgh; and Davis, the subject of this sketch.
At the age of 15 years Davis Reichbaum came to this country and settled in Pittsburgh, where he engaged in the salvage and contracting business with his brothers. In 1916 he removed his family to Erie and successfully engaged in the same business in this city. On June 23, 1924, Mr. Reichbaum, with Edward C. Hanley, opened the Boston Terminal Parking Station, 714 Peach Street, which is one of the largest and most conveniently located parking spaces in Erie. The space is 87x180 feet. On Feb. 10, 1925, Mr. Reichbaum bought Mr. Hanley's interests in the business. He also conducts a gasoline filling station and has a special car washing machine. Mr. Reichbaum has business interests in New York city, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Cambridge Springs, Pa.
In 1896, Mr. Reichbaum was married in Pittsburgh to Miss Anna Shocet, a native of that city. To them were born four children: Samuel,
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who has been with the Keith Circuit for 14 years, and known as the popu- lar comedian, "Roy Rogers"; Doctor Theodore, a veteran of the World war, and a graduate of the School of Medicine, Harvard University, now con- nected with St. Vincent's Hospital, New York city ; Benjamin, now a stud- ent at a military academy in Virginia; and Sidney, a student at East High School, Erie.
Mr. Reichbaum is a member of the C. B. S. Congregation Church and he belongs to the B'nai B'rith, the Elks and Moose lodges and Erie Maen- nerchor. He is a capable man who has achieved marked success in his business undertakings.
Charles Edward Royer is a veteran of the World War and a leader among the younger attorneys of Erie. He was born in this city, Feb. 15, 1896, and is the son of Charles Edward and Joanna (Carney) Royer.
Charles Edward Royer, deceased, was born at Waterford, Pa., Oct. 26, 1849, and died March 28, 1917. He was employed by the Erie Forge Company for a number of years as a draftsman and was highly esteemed in the city. He was a Democrat, a member of the Catholic Church, a fourth degree Knight of Columbus, and belonged to the Royal Arcanum and the C. M. B. A. He was married Sept. 26, 1882, to Miss Joanna Car- ney, who was born in Erie, Aug. 28, 1859, the daughter of John C. and Mary (Crowley) Carney, natives of Ireland and early settlers of Erie. To Mr. and Mrs. Royer two children were born: Ellen Josephine, born Nov. 6, 1884, married John Henry Coon, of Buffalo, now of Baltimore, Md. She is a graduate of Villa Maria Academy, Erie; and Charles Edward Royer, the subject of this sketch.
Joanna Carney Royer was educated in the parochial schools of Erie and has been identified with the L. C. B. A. since its organization in 1890. It was the first fraternal insurance society organized for Catholic women in the world and from the time of its organization in 1890, Mrs. Royer has served continuously as Supreme Recorder. In that year she was a delegate to the first convention held at Titusville, Pa. The society now has 1,300 branches throughout the United States and Canada, with head- quarters in Erie. Mrs. Royer is a member of St. Peter's Catholic Church and belongs to the Women's Club. Elbert Hubbard referred to Mrs. Royer as being one of the 12 leading business women of the world.
Charles Edward Royer attended the parochial and public schools of Erie and was graduated from Central High School in 1914, from George
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CHARLES EDWARD ROYER
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Washington University in 1920 with A. B. degree, and from the Law School of Georgetown University in 1921 with the degree of LL.B. The following year he received the degree of LL.M. He was admitted to the Bar of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals of the District of Colum- bia in 1921, to the Erie County Bar in 1922, to the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania in 1923, to the Superior Court of Pennsylvania in 1923, and to the U. S. Federal Court of the Western District of Pennsylvania in 1924. On Aug. 1, 1922, Mr. Royer established his office in the Marine Bank Building.
Mr. Royer enlisted in the Quartermaster's Corps, U. S. Army in August, 1917, and later transferred to the 33rd Artillery, 11th Division. He served with this outfit until his discharge, Dec. 11, 1918. He now holds the commission of second lieutenant in the Field Artillery, Officers' Reserve Corps. He is a member of the American Legion and the Societe des 40 Hommes et 8 Chevaux.
Mr. Royer is a member of the Erie County Bar Association, the University Club, the Erie Golf Club, Knights of Columbus, and Sigma Nu Phi Fraternity (legal) .
Kendall R. Morrison, justice of the peace and leading real estate opera- tor of Wesleyville, was born in Cameron County, Pa., Oct. 20, 1861, and is the son of Robert H. and Alzina (Bliss) Morrison.
Robert H. Morrison was a native of Genesee County, N. Y., born in 1834. He engaged in the lumbering business in Cameron County, Pa., for many years and died in 1911. His wife died in 1901. To Mr. and Mrs. Morrison six children were born.
Kendall R. Morrison grew up in Emporium and attended the schools there. At the age of 19 years he learned telegraphy and three years later engaged in the lumber business with his father. He was a bookkeeper for 15 years for Hall, Gardner & Company, in Elk County, Pa., after which he served in the same capacity for the West Hickory (Pa.) Tannery Com- pany for 11 years. In 1920 Mr. Morrison removed to Wesleyville and after clerking for three years for the Frask, Prescott & Richardson Com- pany, he became interested in the real estate business. In May, 1923, he was appointed justice of the peace. Mr. Morrison handles insurance, also, and is considered a reliable business man.
On July 21, 1883, Mr. Morrison was married at Wilcox, Pa., to Miss Annie Cook, and to them have been born nine children, as follows: Laura
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HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY
May, married Ezra H. Webb, lives in Ontario, Canada; Nellie Mary, mar- ried W. O. Hazelton, foreman in the General Electric plant, Erie; Edward K., lives in Wesleyville, is also connected with the General Electric Com- pany ; Robert H., insurance agent, lives in Erie; Lena, a demonstrator at the Boston Store, Erie, lives at home; Anna I., at home; Gerald E., mar- ried Mary Bertram, and he is also employed at the General Electric Com- pany, Erie; Verna Belle, at home; and Ethel, a high school student.
Mr. Morrison is a member of the Free Methodist Church of Erie.
George Allen Miller, authorized dealer for the Hupmobile and Gray automobiles, ranks among the leading business men of Erie. He was born there Jan. 1, 1891, and is the son of Allen and Susan (Wiley) Miller.
Allen Miller was born in Ireland in 1852 and came to this country when a young man. He settled in Erie where he worked at his trade of a moulder and later as a machinist. Mr. and Mrs. Miller, who now live retired in Erie, are the parents of four children, of whom George Allen, the subject of this sketch, is the youngest.
George Allen Miller was reared and educated in Erie and when he was 14 years old learned the pattern making trade, being the first apprentice ever hired by the General Electric Company there. Several years later Mr. Miller became a plumber and glazer. His first automobile experience was with the Keystone Sales Agency. During the World War he enlisted with the 111th Regiment, 28th Division, and was later transferred from the infantry to the regimental band. After two years service he returned to Erie and entered the employ of the Meyers Motor Sales Company, Chevrolet dealers. He was later appointed sales manager of the Watson & Peck Agency, and for the past year has had the agency for the Hupmo- bile and Gray cars. His place of business is located at 21 West 21st Street, and is among the up to date agencies and garages of the city.
On April 18, 1923, Mr. Miller was married to Miss Ruth Allison, the daughter of Charles and Myrtle Allison, of Erie. They have one son, George Allison, born March 2, 1924.
Mr. Miller is a Republican, a member of the Wayne Methodist Epis- copal Church and belongs to the Masonic and Elks lodges, the Kiwanis club. and the Loyal Order of Moose.
The Miller Orchestra was organized by Mr. Miller in 1906 and was composed of members of his high school class. It now has 20 members and is considered one of Erie's leading orchestras.
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E. J. Morton, retired city engineer, is among Erie's prominent and in- fluential citizens. He was born in London, Eng., April 6, 1847, and is a son of John and Emma (Haddan) Morton.
John Morton, deceased, spent his entire life in London, and for a num- ber of years published the London Gazette. There were seven children in the Morton family, of whom E. J., the subject of this sketch, was the oldest.
At the age of 15 years E. J. Morton came to the United States and settled in Buffalo, N. Y. Later he came to Erie, making the entire trip on foot. Here he studied engineering in the offices of Gray & Sherman. Mr. Morton was connected with the city engineering department for about 30 years. He lives at 708 West 10th Street.
On Sept. 16, 1877, Mr. Morton was married to Miss Elvira Masters, a native of Clarion County, Pa., and the daughter of Johnathan and Hannah (Richenbrode) Masters, both deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Morton have four children: Daisy Emma, married J. Hogan, inventor of the Trojan Wash- ing Machine, lives in Erie; Edna, lives in New York city, where she is connected with the Lee Tire & Rubber Company; Henry Edgar, lives in Erie, where he has been connected with the city water department for 22 years; and Grace, private secretary of Charles Strong, Erie.
Mr. Morton is a Republican and a member of the First Methodist Church. He is one of Erie's well known and representative citizens.
L. T. Rossiter is a prominent citizen of Erie, where he is successfully engaged in the real estate and insurance business. He was born in Phila- delphia, June 24, 1863, and is a son of James P. and Eliza (McCusker) Rossiter.
James P. Rossiter was a native of Philadelphia, born in 1838. He was a distiller and engaged in the wholesale liquor business during his entire life. He died in Philadelphia in 1898, and his wife died there in 1871. They were the parents of five children.
L. T. Rossiter spent his boyhood in Philadelphia and was educated in the public schools there. When 17 years of age he became an apprentice to a ship's smith, and worked at that trade continuously for 12 years, after which he became interested in the insurance business in Philadelphia. Mr. Rossiter represented the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company and the New York Life Insurance Company for 21 years, and in 1902 removed to Erie, where he became local superintendent of the Metropolitan Life
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Insurance Company. In 1910 he engaged in the real estate business, spe- cializing in residence property. Mr. Rossiter's offices are in the Penn building.
On Dec. 28, 1886, Mr. Rossiter was married at Philadelphia to Miss Elizabeth Griffin of that city. To them were born seven children: Helen, married L. F. O'Brien, lives in Buffalo, N. Y., and they have three chil- dren, Rita, Louis F., and Helen Marie; James P., a graduate of George- town University, and a veteran of the World War, having served as a lieutenant in the artillery, now practicing law in Erie; Louis T., Jr., also a World War veteran, engaged in business with his father; May T., lives in Erie; Ruth A., a student at the University of Philadelphia; Elizabeth, married Harry Harvey, lives in Erie; and Marion C., lives in Erie.
Politically, Mr. Rossiter is a Democrat. He is a member of St. Peter's Catholic Church and is among the dependable business men of his com- munity.
Richard E. Ford, who is successfully engaged in the insurance and bond business, is a member of one of Erie's most prominent pioneer fami- lies. He was born there July 16, 1881, and is the son of the late Jerry and Catherine (Lang) Ford.
Jerry Ford and the Erie Herald grew up together. He printed the first newspaper in July, 1878, and with very few exceptions got out every issue until the last day of June, 1918, when his active career ceased. Mr. Ford was born in Bristol, England, in 1854, where his parents had moved from County Cork, Ireland, on their way to America. He arrived in this country at the age of three months. He learned the printer's trade under John Bayliss of Philadelphia on the Erie Republican. At the age of 15 years he worked on the Erie Dispatch, and later went to Cleve- land, and from there to Pittsburgh, where he was employed by James Bul- lock, the inventor of the Webb press, which revolutionized the newspaper printing business. Later he worked for Walter Scott, inventor of the Scott press, and later was associated with Elder Goss, who also became a great manufacturer of printing presses, and whose machine Mr. Ford operated during the last ten years of his life. His next position was as an expert with the Campbell Press Company of New York City, placing machinery, and also served as a factory inspector. During this time his parents lived in Erie and while on one of his frequent visits there, his mother persuaded him to locate in Erie, which he did. His first work was to move a press for the Lake Shore Visitor, owned by Father Casey and
RICHARD E. FORD
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Bishop Mullen. He operated this press for some time, after which he began the publication of the Erie Herald. The first copy was printed in the basement of the old Lafayette Hotel on French Street, between Fourth and Fifth Streets. The press was later moved to the basement of the Scott Building, and when the present building at State and 10th Streets was occupied, Mr. Ford superintended the moving of the machin- ery without missing an edition of the paper. At that time he was super- intendent of the printing department and for some time it was the largest printing concern between New York City and Chicago.
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