USA > Pennsylvania > Erie County > History of Erie County, Pennsylvania, Volume Two > Part 2
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Williams, Joseph H. 829
Williams, Nancy B.
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Wilson, Home of Wesley O. 1200
Wilson, Wesley O.
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Wingerter, G. B.
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Wishart, Hager MacL.
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Yard, James B. 772
Young, Annette 832
Youngs, L. G.
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Youngs, Mr. and Mrs. L. G.
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Zurn, J. A.
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VOLUME II.
History of Erie County
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY-CONTINUED
A. Elverton Sisson, who ranks among the prominent attorneys of Erie County, was born at Dayton, N. Y., Jan. 12, 1851, being the son of Nathaniel and Salina (Phillips) Sisson.
The Sisson family is of English descent, having settled in that coun- try in 1066, and having held New England residence since 1640. The first American ancestor was Richard Sisson, born in 1608, who came to America soon after the landing of the "Mayflower." He settled at Portsmouth, R. I., where he possessed lands that long remained in the family. He afterward became owner of large tracts of land in Dartmouth, Mass., his death occurring in 1684. James Sisson, son of Richard Sisson, from whom A. Elverton Sisson is of the sixth generation in descent, married Lydia Hathaway, daughter of Arthur and Sarah (Cook) Hathaway. John Cook, father of Sarah, and Francis Cook, father of John Cook, were pas- sengers on the Pilgrim vessel Mayflower, while the maternal grandmother of Lydia Hathaway, Sarah (Warren) Cook, was a daughter of Richard Warren, who also sailed on that vessel. Most of the Sissons of early years were members of the Society of Friends. James Sisson, of the second American generation, was a collector of taxes for the Massachu- setts town in which he lived, and suffered imprisonment because he would not collect the Church of England tax.
Nathaniel Sisson, great grandfather of A. Elverton, was a native of Dartmouth, Mass., born Nov. 11, 1756, and died at Queenstown, N. Y.,
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on May 10, 1840. His wife, Grace Gifford, was also a native of Dart- mouth, Mass., born Sept. 16, 1761, and died at Queenstown, on Sept. 4, 1843. The grandfather, Benjamin Sisson, born Jan. 22, 1791, was a native of Queenstown, and died at Brant, N. Y., in 1874. In 1820 Benja- min Sisson moved from Queenstown, N. Y., where his father had settled at the close of the Revolutionary War, and established a home near Buffalo. For many generations the majority of the Sisson family were Quakers, but Benjamin, the grandfather, was debarred from the church, as he had married Sally Ferris, a woman outside the faith. Nathaniel, father of A. Elverton Sisson, was a farmer and a native of Erie County, N. Y., born in 1821, his wife, Salina Phillips, being born near Glens Falls, N. Y., in 1819. Mrs. Sisson was a daughter of Samuel D. and Han- nah (Wing) Phillips. The Wing family, on the maternal side, was also identified with the Society of Friends, and was long established at Glens Falls, and Sandy Hill, N. Y., whither different members had moved from Massachusetts, prior to the migration of the Sisson family. In 1854 Nathaniel Sisson settled in Crawford County, Pa., and five years later moved to Springfield, Erie County, where he died in 1885. His first wife passed away in 1851, the year of the birth of A. E. Sisson, of this sketch.
A. Elverton Sisson received his education in the common schools of Crawford and Erie County and at the Kingsville, Ohio, Academy, the West Springfield, Pa., Academy, and the North East, Pa., Seminary. He taught school and was in business a short time, then began the study of law, and in 1881 gained admission to the bar of Erie County, and almost from the start gained favor as an attorney. His political activities began early and in 1885 and 1886 he held the chairmanship of the Republican County Committee, the following year being elected prosecuting attorney of Erie County. He succeeded himself in this office through reelection in 1890, his being the first instance in which a prosecuting attorney of Erie County had been elected for two successive terms. In 1900 he became the candi- date of his party (Republican) for state senator, was elected and re- elected in 1904 and again in 1908, thus setting a new mark as being the first senator from the Erie district to hold a seat in the Senate for three successive terms. At the conclusion of the session of 1907 he was elected president pro tempore of the Senate and again became presiding officer of that body of the Legislature in 1909. During the special session of the Senate in 1906 he served as a member of the committee investigating the state insurance department and in 1909 was chairman of the committee
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on railroads, and a member of the commission created at the session of that year to investigate all transactions in connection with the building and furnishing of the Pennsylvania State Capitol, and several men were sent to the penitentiary as a result of this investigation. President of the Senate, a member of the most important senatorial committee, and one of the leaders of his party, Mr. Sisson displayed rare political genius and wrote boldly a record of public service that will long endure.
Mr. Sisson was elected auditor general of Pennsylvania on Nov. 2, 1909, having been the unanimous choice of his party for that office. At the notification meeting informing Mr. Sisson of his nomination for this office, the chairman of the meeting spoke in part as follows: "Senator A. E. Sisson, you are the unanimous choice of the Republicans of Penn- sylvania for the office of auditor general. There existed special reasons for your selection for the office. You have an excellent reputation as a lawyer, your capacity and integrity as a business man are generally recog- nized, as legislator of wide experience for years, you have been identified with public affairs. You are familiar with the duties of auditor general and no other man in this state possesses higher qualifications for the per- formance of those duties. You are a public spirited and progressive citi- zen and your selection by the convention should be enthusiastically rati- fied at the polls." The fulfillment of the above prediction is now a matter of history and Mr. Sisson's efficient administration of the office has added to the lustre of his achievements in public life and has given a new appre- ciation of generous talents already recognized. In 1920 he was again elected to the state Senate, and his term expired with 1924. In 1907 he succeeded in securing an appropriation from the state of Pennsylvania of $150,000 for constructing and building the "public steamboat landing or wharf upon state lands of the Port of Erie, by producing State Street northwardly into the harbor commencing on the north side of the public dock at the foot of State Street in the City of Erie, and extending north- wardly about 600 feet, and 100 feet in width, to the harbor line estab- lished by the U. S. engineer." The splendid dock at the foot of State Street is the result of this legislation secured by the then Senator Sisson.
In 1909 and 1911, he, with others, secured the enactment of legisla- tion in Pennsylvania that brought about the building of the splendid Perry's Victory Memorial at Put In Bay, commemorating the victory won by Commodore Perry and his fleet at the Battle of Lake Erie, and in 1913 he was instrumental in securing an appropriation by the state of Penn-
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sylvania of the sum of $150,000 for raising and restoring the brig "Ni- agara" and "the erection of a permanent marker, arch or memorial at the city of Erie, Pa., commemorating the building of the fleet at that place, as well as the splendid manner in which, in the hands of the brave Com- mander Perry and the gallant men who fought with him, it performed its errands at the Battle which followed its construction," and in 1921, when a member of the Senate, he prepared, introduced and aided by Hon. J. Reed Craig, member of the House from Erie, secured the enactment into law of a bill providing that the Presque Isle peninsula and certain water property in the Bay of Presque Isle "be preserved, maintained, improved, enlarged, and forever held as a public park, to be known as Pennsylvania State Park at Erie."
Mr. Sisson was president of the Pennsylvania Perry's Victory Cen- tennial Commission and treasurer general of the Interstate Board of Perry's Victory Commissions, the latter of which built the splendid monu- ment at Put In Bay, Ohio, and now that board and commission has become a national commission and he is vice president of it. He took a very active part with others in bringing about the erection of that memorial, which has now, by act of Congress, been made a national memorial. He was a member of the Pennsylvania Historical Commission and is a mem- ber of the Pennsylvania State Bar Association, the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania Society of New York, the Erie Club, the Harrisburg Club of Harrisburg, Pa., and the Elks Lodge of Erie. He is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and has taken an active interest in all these organizations, availing himself of the special benefit of each as often as possible.
On Dec. 13, 1888, Mr. Sisson married Miss Lena L. Spencer, daughter of Dr. H. A. Spencer, a leading physician of Erie for a number of years. They have a son, Spencer Alec Sisson, a practicing attorney of Erie.
Spencer Alec Sisson, son of A. Elverton Sisson and Lena L. (Spencer) Sisson, was born in Erie, Nov. 2, 1889. He completed his public school course with graduation from Erie High School in 1908, going thence to Princeton University, there receiving his Bachelor's degree with the class of 1912. Choosing the profession of law, he entered Harvard Law School, whence he was graduated LL. B. in the class of 1915. In the autumn following, Mr. Sisson was admitted to the bar of Erie County and on Feb. 14, 1916, was admitted to the bar of the Supreme Court of Pennsyl-
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vania. He began practice with his eminent father and so continued until Dec. 6, 1917, renewing the affiliation in November, 1919, under the firm name of A. E. & S. A. Sisson, of Erie.
Mr. Sisson enlisted in the United States Naval Reserve Force, Dec. 6, 1917, and was released from active duty April 10, 1919, serving in the supply corps with the rank of ensign.
He is a Republican in politics and a member of St. Paul's Protestant Episcopal Church of Erie. He is a member of the American Legion, the Pennsylvania and the Erie County Bar associations, the University Club and the Kahkwa Club of Erie.
At Malletts Bay, Vt., on Aug. 11, 1917, Mr. Sisson was married to Miss Marguerite Amy Nash, the daughter of George and Isabelle (Mar- shall) Nash. They have a daughter, Lois Marshall Sisson, born at Erie, Jan. 25, 1921, and a son George Spencer Sisson, born likewise at Erie, on Nov. 1, 1922.
Dr. F. E. Ross, physician of Erie, who has practiced his profession for 25 years, is a native of Pennsylvania. He was born at Waterford, Dec. 2, 1872, and is the son of L. M. and Nancy Jane (Lunger) Ross.
L. M. Ross, deceased, was born at Waterford, Pa., in 1841. He was a son of James S. Ross, who died in 1885. He moved to Waterford Town- ship in 1851 and was engaged in lumbering for some time. His wife was Sarah Ann Wilson, a native of Vermont. L. M. Ross was a farmer in early life and later engaged in the threshing business. He died in Janu- ary, 1921, and his wife died in October, 1919. Mr. and Mrs. Ross, who were married at Waterford, Pa., in 1863, had two children: Hattie Eliz- abeth Wells, born in 1863, lives at Waterford, Pa .; and Dr. F. E., the subject of this sketch.
After receiving his preliminary education in the schools of Water- ford, from which he was graduated in 1894, Dr. F. E. Ross entered the medical school of the University of Buffalo, from which he received his degree in 1897. The following year was spent in the Buffalo General Hospital and in 1899 Doctor Ross came to Erie and established his prac- tice at 137 East Eighth Street. After seven years he removed to 2012 Peach Street, later to 154 West Eighth Street, and in 1919 he located at his present address, 1341/2 West Ninth Street. Since 1912 Doctor Ross has specialized in pediatrics, after having spent a year in study at the Children's Hospital in Boston. He has been connected with the
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staff of Hamot Hospital for 18 years and is also a member of St. Vincent's Hospital staff.
On June 20, 1901, Doctor Ross was married to Miss Myrtice E. Watson, a native of New York and a daughter of Stephen and Emma E. (Bull) Watson. To Doctor and Mrs. Ross three sons have been born: Cecil E., born Dec. 7, 1902, a student at Allegheny College; Everett L., born June 17, 1907, a student; and Robert W., born Sept. 21, 1912.
Doctor Ross is identified with the Medical Society of Erie County, the Pennsylvania Medical Society, and the American Medical Association, Erie Clinical Society and Erie General Dispensary. He and his family hold membership in the First Methodist Episcopal Church and are well and favorably known in the community.
Leonard Pasqualicchio, president of the Bank of Italy, is a represen- tative business man of Erie. He was born at Troia, Italy, April 28, 1886, and is the son of Pasquale and Josephine Pasqualicchio. The Pasqualic- chio family came to America in 1891. The father and mother are both deceased.
Leonard Pasqualicchio worked his way through school as a printer's boy. He attended the public schools, was graduated from the high school of Brockwayville, Jefferson County, Pa., and was also gradu- ated from the State Normal School at Clarion, Pa., in 1905. The follow- ing 10 years were spent in the printing business, after which Mr. Pas- qualicchio was appointed Italian court interpreter for Clarion, Jefferson and Elk counties, Pa. In 1908 he went to Corry, Pa., where he was connected with the Evening Journal for five years. During that time he was appointed probation officer by Judge Walling. In 1913 he was ap- pointed court interpreter for Erie and removed to Erie at this time. Later, with his brother he became interested in the wholesale grocery . business, the business being known as Pasqualicchio Bros. This partner- ship was dissolved in 1919, our subject taking over the real estate repre- sentatives of the steamship lines and foreign exchange end. Mr. Pas- qualicchio continued in this business until the organization of his bank in 1921. The Bank of Italy is a private bank under state supervision. It has had a steady growth and at the end of the year, 1924, had assets amounting to $184,791.70. It is located at 444 West 18th Street.
On Dec. 10, 1906, Mr. Pasqualicchio was united in marriage with Miss Lucille Aquilino, of Troia, Italy. They have four children: Leonard, Jr.,
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a student at Academy High School; Louisa, also a student at Academy High School; Dora and Robert.
In politics Mr. Pasqualicchio is identified with the Republican party. He is a member of the Catholic Church and belongs to the Sons of Italy, Italian National Club, and the Italian Business Men's & Professional Club. He was an active war worker during the recent World War, being promi- nent in the various Liberty Loan Drives, as well as a four minute Speaker, appointed by the late President Wilson. Mr. Pasqualicchio is an enter- prising and energetic business man and well known throughout Erie County.
Mr. Pasqualicchio is the authorized representative of the Banca Com- merciale Italiana, of Naples, Italy, one of the largest banking institutions of the kingdom of Italy.
Through Mr. Pasqualicchio's activities during the World War in bene- fit of the Italian Red Cross, he received a special decoration and a First Degree Diploma by the Italian government, Red Cross Department.
Dr. Charles G. Strickland, a leading physician and surgeon of Erie, with offices at 153 West Seventh Street, was born here, and is the son of the late Dr. David Hayes Strickland.
Doctor Strickland was graduated from Erie High School in the class of 1897 and in 1904 received his medical degree at the University of Pennsylvania. The following two years were spent in Philadelphia hos- pitals and in 1906 Doctor Strickland came to Erie and engaged in the practice of his profession with his father at 702 Sassafras Street. His father spent 40 years here in the practice of medicine and met with unusual success. Doctor Strickland specializes in obstetrics and gynae- cology. He is an ex-president of the Erie County Medical Society and is a member of the American College of Surgeons.
On Oct. 29, 1907, Dr. Strickland was married to Miss Clara L. Walker, the daughter of B. F. Walker, late vice president of the Erie Malleable Iron Works. They have two children: Benjamin W., born in November, 1908, a student at the Choate School, Wallingford, Conn .; and Jane G., born in May, 1911.
Doctor Strickland is a member of the Park Presbyterian Church, has served as president of the Erie Club and the Kahkwa Club, is vice president of the Marine National Bank, and is a director of the Erie Bolt & Nut Company and of the American Sterilizer Company.
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Giles Marquis, vice president of the Schluraff Floral Company, was born on the Isle of Guernsey, Dec. 30, 1878, and is a son of Giles Clark and Lydia (Martel) Marquis.
Mr. and Mrs. Giles Clark Marquis, residents of the Isle of Guernsey, are the parents of the following children: Sidney, engaged in the green- house business with his brother, Giles; Walter, lives at home with his par- ents; and John, who was killed during the World War while serving with Guernsey's forces under English command.
A CARNATION ROOM, SCHLURAFF FLORAL COMPANY
Giles Marquis left his native land in 1905 and located in Canada, where he engaged in the lumber business and also conducted a greenhouse until 1912. He has since lived in Erie and for the past ten years has been associated with the Schluraff Floral Company. He has complete charge of the large greenhouses on West Lake Road and is recognized as an au- thority on flower and plant life. The greenhouses of the Schluraff Floral Company cover 35,000 square feet. They have a wholesale and retail store at 30 West Eighth Street.
Mr. Marquis is a Republican and a member of the Episcopal church. He has an extensive acquaintance in Erie and stands high in the com- munity.
GILES MARQUIS, VICE-PRESIDENT SCHLURAFF FLORAL COMPANY
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John Griffith is a leading business man of Erie, where he has had the agency for the Franklin automobile since 1910. He was born in Eng- land, June 2, 1882, and is the son of John and Mary (Owens) Griffith.
John Griffith, deceased, brought his family to this country in 1883 and settled in Erie, where he worked at his trade as blacksmith. There were five children in the Griffith family: Will, Robert, John, Hugh and Jeanette.
After completing his schooling in the public schools of Erie, John Grif- fith entered the employ of the Jarecki Manufacturing Company. He was later employed by the Erie Pail Factory, the Simmons Bros., the Epp Bros. Furniture Company, and Murphy Bros. He remained in the employ of the latter concern for seven years and received his experience in the automobile business with that company, who were then the local Franklin dealers. Mr. Griffith's business, which is located at 419 West 5th Street, is among the up-to-date agencies of the city. He has an attractive sales- room and a fine garage in connection.
On April 9, 1902, Mr. Griffith was united in marriage with Miss Anna Lundgren, of Sweden. They have one daughter, Nathalie, attending the Syracuse, N. Y., University.
Mr. Griffith is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and be- longs to the Automobile Association of Pennsylvania, the Erie Auto Dealers Association and the Board of Commerce. He has an extensive acquaintance and is highly esteemed in Erie.
Dr. J. C. M. Drake, who has ranked among Erie's leading physicians and surgeons for many years, is a native of New York. He was born at Panama, Chautauqua County, June 24, 1855, and is the son of Col. Jeremiah C. and Clara (Utley) Drake.
Col. Jeremiah C. Drake, deceased, was a descendant of one of the earliest families of New England. His father was a colonel of militia and his grandfather was a captain in the Revolutionary War. His ancestors were among the first settlers of the Empire State, and were descendants of the renowned Sir Francis Drake, the first circumnavigator of the globe. Colonel Drake was born at Salisbury, N. Y., April 19, 1824. At an early age he embraced religion under the Harmony Baptist Association, and throughout his life adhered with his whole heart and soul to his faith.
He was graduated from Rochester University in 1852 and also during that year was ordained pastor of a church which he had organized at
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Churchville, N. Y. Later he had a pastorate at Westfield, N. Y., and at the outbreak of the Civil War he joined the 49th New York Infantry as a captain under the Command of Col. D. D. Bidwell. In the fall of 1862 he was commissioned colonel in charge of the 112th Regiment and during his subsequent two years of service he was distinguished for his courage in action. During the battle of Cold Harbor he was mortally wounded and died the following day, June 2, 1864. His wife is also deceased. To Col. J. C. and Clara (Utley) Drake were born three children: J. C. M., the subject of this sketch; Mrs. Jennie Leakey, resides in France; and Charles K., who died at the age of 14 years.
Dr. J. C. M. Drake attended Greylock Institute, Mass., after which he entered Cornell University, taking a literary and scientific course. After two years he entered Hahnemann College, Chicago, and was grad- uated from there in 1880, when 25 years of age. After practicing a year at Westfield, N. Y., in connection with Dr. George W. Seymour, he came to Erie, and has since been identified with the practice in this city. He has been president of the Erie County Homeopathic Medical Society, and is a member of the County, State and National societies. Since 1895 Doctor Drake has maintained his office at 720 Sassafras Street.
On June 4, 1890, Dr. Drake was married to Miss Cassie Crouch, the daughter of J. B. and Frances (Cook) Crouch, the former a prominent miller in Erie for many years. Mrs. Drake has a sister, Mrs. Florence Evans, who lives at Wabash, Ind. To Doctor and Mrs. Drake were born two children: Benson, born Feb. 20, 1891, lives at Jacksonville, Florida ; and Clara Louisa Criswell, born Feb. 10, 1893, lives in Pittsburgh, Pa.
Doctor Drake attends the Park Presbyterian Church and is a repre- sentative citizen of Erie County.
Dr. Ira J. Dunn, who ranks among the leading physicians and surgeons of Erie, is a native of Crawford County, Pa. He was born Nov. 12, 1863, and is the son of Holton D. and Diantha (Curtis) Dunn, natives of Penn- sylvania. Their family consisted of four children: Lizzie R .; Thomas D., a physician; Ira J., the subject of this sketch; and Arthur D., Dunn, a prominent physician of Omaha, Nebr.
Dr. Ira J. Dunn received his college preparatory education in the pub- lic schools of Crawford County, Pa., and in 1881 entered Allegheny Col- lege at Meadville, from which he was graduated in 1886. He then accepted the principalship of the Linesville public schools, where he remained one
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year, and in 1887 he resigned the same and entered the medical depart- ment of the University of Pennsylvania. At the end of the year he tem- porarily abandoned his medical studies and accepted the professorship of Latin in the First district normal school of West Chester. He remained there one year, when he returned to the University of Pennsylvania and in 1891 was graduated from the medical department. He then became assistant surgon in the Miner's State Hospital at Hazelton, Pa. He remained there about six months, when he resigned and began a special course on the eye. In March, 1892, he was appointed assistant physician at the State Hospital at Harrisburg, Pa., and after nearly a year in that institution he returned to Philadelphia and took a special course at the Philadelphia Polyclinic for graduates in medicine, on the eye, ear, nose and throat. He then engaged in practice at Meadville, where he remained but a short time, and in February, 1894, he located in Erie. Doctor Dunn has been in his present location in the Masonic Temple building since 1910. He has an excellent practice and is known as a thoroughly capable man in his profession. During the past year Doctor Dunn has been associated in practice with Dr. George H. Clapp.
Doctor Dunn was married Oct. 21, 1893, to Miss Addie E. Phillips, and they have four children: Thomas P., a successful young attorney of Erie; Dr. F. L., a graduate of the University of Chicago, also the Medical Department of Harvard University, now an interne in the Presbyterian hospital; Suzanne, attended the University of Chicago, and the Radcliffe College for Women at Harvard, now a graduate nurse, lives in Erie; and Florence, attended the Universities of Wisconsin and Pennsylvania.
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