USA > Pennsylvania > Erie County > History of Erie County, Pennsylvania, Volume Two > Part 22
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Dr. G. William Schlindwein attended the parochial schools of Erie and also took a business course, and then was employed in the coal office of R. W. Russell and later by the Jacob Weschler Company. He was grad- uated from Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, leading the class of 1904 with high honors, and served one year as interne in St. Joseph's Hospital in Philadelphia. The following year was spent as resident physician in Wills Hospital, Philadelphia, and in 1906 Doctor Schlindwein came to Erie, and located at 133 West Ninth Street. In 1912 he took post- graduate work in Berlin and Vienna and upon his return to Erie, estab- lished his practice in his present location. He is also connected with Hamot and St. Vincent Hospitals.
On Sept. 2, 1902, Doctor Schlindwein was united in marriage with Miss Rose E. Conrath, of Erie, the daughter of Herman and Kate (Schnurr) Conrath.
Doctor Schlindwein is a member of the County, State and American Medical Associations, and is also a member of the American College of Surgeons and the American Academy of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngol- ogy. He is a member of the Catholic Church and belongs to the Knights of Columbus. Doctor Schlindwein and his wife are well known in Erie and have many friends.
Humphrey Sullivan, well known county assessor and pioneer resident of Erie, was born in County Cork, Ireland, March 2, 1852, and is the son of Thomas and Ellen (McCarthy) Sullivan.
Thomas Sullivan and his wife were natives of Ireland, where they spent their entire lives. He died in 1883 and his wife died in 1892. Mr. Sullivan was a farmer during his life, all of which was spent on the Sulli-
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van homestead in County Cork, and which is now farmed by his son, Michael. To Mr. and Mrs. Sullivan five children were born: John, married Ann Dillon of England, and they are both deceased; Michael, married Helen Manahan, lives in Ireland; Thomas, died at Queensland, Australia ; Margaret, deceased, was the wife of M. Donovan, who lives in Ireland; and Humphrey, the subject of this sketch.
Humphrey Sullivan attended the national schools of Ireland and at the age of 20 years came to this country. After spending a year in Boston, Mass., he came to Erie in 1873, where he was employed as a time keeper at the grain docks. In 1895 he was appointed county assessor, which office he has since filled in a capable manner.
On Nov. 4, 1880, Mr. Sullivan was united in marriage with Miss Mary E. Meagher, a native of Buffalo, N. Y., born Aug. 13, 1857. To them were born nine children, as follows: Minnie, lives at home; Ella, Margaret, and Josephine, all deceased; Thomas, married Mabel Sullivan, lives in Erie; Lawrence, deceased; Elizabeth, married James Clancy, lives at Meadville, Pa .; Anna May, a teacher, at Wayne School, lives at home; and Joseph H., deceased.
Mr. Sullivan and his family hold membership in St. Patrick's Catholic church. They live at 215 Holland Street.
W. Louis Schlesinger. Among the most capable of the younger attor- neys of Erie is W. Louis Schlesinger, a veteran of the World War. He was born at Mckeesport, Pa., Oct. 2, 1893, and is a son of Jacob and Lena (Zimmerman) Schlesinger.
Jacob Schlesinger is a native of Austria Hungary, as is also his wife. He was born in 1863 and she in 1865. They have resided in this country for over 40 years and now live retired at Mckeesport, Pa. To Mr. and Mrs. Schlesinger were born the following children: (1) W. Louis, the subject of this sketch; (2) Sadie Helen, married Julius Degner, lives in Elizabeth, N. J., and they have two children: Sidney, born April 1, 1908; and Dorothy Helen, born in March, 1914; (3) Belle, born in October, 1897, married David Krause, a World War veteran, and they have a son, Arthur Selwyn Krause, born in January, 1924; (4) Samuel Alexander, born in October, 1901, a student at the University of Pittsburgh; and (5) Flor- ence B., born in October, 1908.
W. Louis Schlesinger attended the public and high schools of Mc- Keesport, from which he was graduated in 1910. The following year was
(59)
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spent at the College of the University of Pittsburgh, and in 1911 Mr. Schlesinger entered the law school of the University of Pittsburgh, from which he received his LL.B. degree in 1914. He was admitted to the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, Oct. 12, 1914, and to the Allegheny County Bar on the same date. Until January, 1916, Mr. Schles- inger was associated in practice with H. Fred Mercer, Esq., in Pittsburgh, and he has since been located in Erie, with offices in the Marine Bank Building. In January, 1916, he was admitted to the Erie County bar and the Superior and Federal Courts of Pennsylvania.
Mr. Schlesinger enlisted in the army during the World War in August, 1918, and was sent to Camp Holt, Gettysburg, Pa. He was later trans- ferred to Erie and served with the District Appeal Draft Board until Dec. 29, 1918, when he was sent to Camp Dix, N. J. He was honorably dis- charged Jan. 9, 1919. Before entering the World War Mr. Schlesinger was secretary of the Jewish Welfare Board of Erie, an organization with activities during the war similar to those of the Y. M. C. A. and K. of C.
Mr. Schlesinger is a member of the West Eighth Street Temple and belongs to the Erie Lodge of B'nai B'rith of which he is past president and a delegate to the Grand Lodge at Erie in 1922. He also belongs to the Men's Club of the West Eighth Street Temple of which he is a mem- ber of the board of directors, and he is identified with the Y. M. C. A., Erie County Bar Association, University Club, Erie Elks lodge, Commer- cial Law League of America, Glenwood Park Golf Association, and the Young Men's Hebrew Association. He is also a member of the American Legion, Post No. 11, Roger Israel.
Lewis W. Olds. A man of good business talents and ability, Lewis W. Olds is intimately associated with one of the most important manufactur- ing industries of Corry, being president of the Climax Manufacturing Com- pany, builders of geared locomotives, and also interested in timber lands in Washington. A son of Mason O. Olds, he was born March 30, 1865, at Youngsville, Warren County, Pa. He comes of New England stock, his grandfather, Elisha Olds, a lineal descendant of Phineas Olds, who was a son of Ezekiel Old, of Brookfield, Mass., having been born and brought up in Vermont, and who served as corporal and captain in the war of the Revolution, being in the Battle of Bunker Hill, June 17, 1777, also in the. Battle of Lexington. Ezekiel Old also served in the French and Indian wars, as mentioned in History North Brookfield, pages 214-215 and 697.
Ezekiel was the son of Capt. William Old who took part in the siege
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and capture of Louisburg in Queen Anne's War in 1747, and William Old is a son of Dr. Robert Old who settled in Windsor, Conn., in 1669, having come from England in that year and settled in Connecticut. The letter S was added to the surname Old as mentioned, pages 44-45 of History Suf- field, Colony Massachusetts 1660-1749, published by Hezekiel Spencer Shel- don.
In company with his half-brothers, Joel and Gilbert Olds, Elisha Olds migrated from the Green Mountain state to Pennsylvania in pioneer days, making the entire journey with teams. Locating in Erie County, he bought a tract of forest covered land on Mill Creek, being one of the earlier settlers of that part of the county. Making a clearing, in which he erected a log cabin, he began the improvement of a homestead. After he had well started his farming operations, he took advantage of the water on the place, developed the water power, erected a saw mill and a pump shop, and was one of the pioneer lumber and pump manufacturers of Erie County. Succeeding in his labors, he cleared a goodly portion of his land, erected a substantial set of frame buildings and there resided until his death at the age of 67 years. He was three times married. He married first Abigail W. Flint, who was born in Vermont, a daughter of James and Jerusha Flint. He married second Mary A. Deming, of Kenosha, Wis., and married for his third wife, Mrs. Electa (Chase) Huie. By his first mar- riage he had 13 children, as follows: James P., George, Oby, Oro, Mason O., Allen, Welcome, Henry, Delight, Moses, Nellie, and Martha. One child died in infancy. Of his second marriage two children were born, Dana E., and Walter R.
Mason O. Olds was born July 21, 1836, at Belle Valley, Mill Creek Town- ship, and was there reared on the home farm, receiving his education in the pioneer schools of his district. Beginning when young to assist his father in the shop and mill, he became familiar with the business, and on attaining his majority went to Youngsville, Warren County, Pa., where he engaged in the manufacture of pumps until 1870. Coming in that year to Corry, he established a pump factory, which he conducted successfully until his death, two years later, while yet in manhood's prime. His wife, whose maiden name was Eliza Mead, was born at Youngsville, Pa., in 1838, a daughter of Joseph Mead, a pioneer farmer of Warren County. She died in 1906, aged 68 years.
The only son of his parents, Lewis W. Olds received a practical edu- cation in the public schools of Corry, after which he commenced his busi- ness career as a bookkeeper for the Climax Manufacturing Company, ac-
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cepting the position in 1885. After a few years of faithful work in that capacity, he became financially interested in the business as a part owner, and in 1904, when it was incorporated, Mr. Olds was elected president of the company and has since devoted his entire time and energies to its interests.
Mr. Olds married in 1885 Nellie Raymond, whose father, Murray M. Raymond, and grandfather, Francis Raymond, were born in Columbus Township, Warren County, Pa., where her great-grandfather, Seth Sears Raymond, was a pioneer settler, and where her great-great-grandfather, Zachariah Raymond, a Revolutionary soldier (mentioned in Book 1298, Massachusetts, Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolutionary War, page 1013) spent his last years. Seth Sears Raymond came to Warren County when the country round-about was in its primeval wildness. Buying a tract of timber land in Columbus Township, he cleared and improved a homestead on which he lived many years. When ready to give up active labor, he removed to the village and there lived retired until his death. Brought up on the home farm, Francis Raymond early turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, and having purchased land in Columbus Township was there engaged in general farming during his active life, residing there until his death, at the age of four score years. His wife, whose maiden name was Della Colegrove, was born in Concord Township, where her par- ents were early settlers. Murray M. Raymond was born June 10, 1843, and grew to manhood on the home farm. During the Civil War he served one year in the Union army, after which he engaged in the lumber business for a time. He later established himself in Corry as a manufacturer and was president of the Raymond Manufacturing Company. He married Seraphina Bishop, who was born in Columbus Township, a daughter of Joseph Bishop. Joseph Bishop's mother's maiden name was Sallie Burk, daughter of Joseph Burk, who served in the Revolutionary War at New- berry, Guilford, and Westminster, mentioned in Vermont Revolutionary Roll, book 991-12, page 353. She died in 1903, leaving three children: Nellie G., wife of Mr. Olds; Frank M., and Harriet. Mr. and Mrs. Olds have one son living, Murray Raymond Olds, born in 1890. Their first son, Mason O., was born in 1887 and died in 1904.
Mr. Olds is a director of the National Bank of Corry. He has served as a member of the Corry Council and city commission. He is identified with the Masonic lodge, being a 33rd degree Mason, and he belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and Elks lodge.
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John Stephen Rilling. Among the prominent members of the Erie County bar, who has practiced his profession in Erie for 40 years with honor and exceptional ability, is John Stephen Rilling. He was born in Mill Creek Township, Erie County, July 22, 1860, and is the son of Chris- topher and Elizabeth (Ackerman) Rilling.
The paternal grandparents of John S. Rilling were Stephen Henry and Mary (Young) Rilling, and his maternal grandparents were Valentine and Susan (Weigel) Ackerman. His four grandparents were born in the southern part of Germany in the Neckar Valley near the town of Tubin- gen. In 1834 they embarked on and sailed on the Rhine to Antwerp, where they took a sailing vessel for America and were three months in making the passage. Arriving in Philadelphia, they proceeded via Pittsburgh, canal and horse drawn vehicles, to Erie and located on land in Mill Creek Township, a short distance south of the city of Erie. Christopher Rill- ing, father of John S. Rilling, son of Stephen Henry and Mary (Young) Rilling, was married on Aug. 20, 1846, to Elizabeth Ackerman, daughter of Valentine and Susan Ackerman. They both came from Germany with their parents when very young.
John Stephen Rilling attended the public schools in his native township and Northwestern State Normal School at Edinboro, Pa .; studied law and was admitted to the bar of Erie County, Feb. 19, 1885, and to the Superior and Supreme courts of Pennsylvania, the United States District Court and the Supreme court of the United States. From the time of his admission to the bar he has continued in active practice, and has offices in the Ariel Building.
Mr. Rilling was a candidate for Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania in 1894 and was a delegate at large to the National Democratic Conven- tion which met in Chicago in 1896. In 1907 he was appointed by Governor Stuart a member of the Commission to codify the school laws of Penn- sylvania and was the only lawyer on the commission. When the School Code became a law in 1911, he was appointed by Governor Tener a mem- ber of the State Board of Education, on which Board he continued to serve until May 26, 1915, when he was appointed by Governor Brumbaugh a member of the Public Service Commission for the term of nine years, dating from July 1, 1913.
Mr. Rilling was married Oct. 20, 1887, to Miss Stella Armstrong, daughter of Andrew and Amy Maria Armstrong. Her father was killed at the bloody angle at the battle of Spottsylvania during the Civil War
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and her mother died June 7, 1924. Mr. and Mrs. Rilling have two chil- dren: Marian E., married John R. Metcalf of Erie and they have two children, Mary R., and John R., Jr .; Ruth A. Rilling married Chester H. Lang of Schenectady, N. Y., and they have two daughters, Margaret I., and Amy A. Lang.
Mr. Rilling is identified with the Masonic lodge and is past master of Tyrian lodge and past commander of Mount Olivet Commandery, was one of the incorporators of St. Vincent's Hospital Association in 1894 and is still connected with that institution. He was also one of the charter mem- bers of the Kahkwa Club.
George E. Pierce. Among the native born citizens of Erie County who have spent their lives within its boundaries, and have aided in every possi- ble way its growth and development, whether relating to its agricultural, commercial or financial interests, is George E. Pierce. He was born at North East, Dec. 25, 1860, and is the son of Earl and Louisa L. (Histed) Pierce.
Earl Pierce was born at North East, Dec. 19, 1820. His parents were Palmer and Anna (Brewster) Pierce, the former a native of New York, and both of English descent, the Pierces being lineally descended from one of the Pilgrim fathers. Palmer Pierce purchased a farm in North East Town- ship in 1819, and the following year located upon it with his family, and there continued to reside throughout his life with the exception of a year or two spent in Chatauqua County, N. Y. He died in 1859 and his wife in 1868.
Earl Pierce was educated in the public schools and after learning the carpenter's trade followed that business for 24 years at North East. He purchased a farm in the township, where he resided for 12 years, during which period he was a dealer in agricultural implements. In 1876 he re- turned to North East where he spent the remainder of his life. His wife, who was born at North East, July 6, 1822, is also deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Pierce had two children: Royce S., born at North East, May 2, 1846, died in August, 1907; and George E., the subject of this sketch.
George E. Pierce attended the schools of North East and Lake Shore Seminary. At an early age he became interested in the grape growing industry and established the George E. Pierce Grape Company, which for a number of years has been one of the leading concerns of its kind in this section of the state. Mr. Pierce is vice president of the National Bank
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of North East, president of the Fernald Manufacturing Company, North East, and president of the Electric Materials Company, North East. He has served as burgess of North East since Jan. 1, 1922.
In 1886 Mr. Pierce was married to Miss Cora Rogers, who was born at North East, Feb. 14, 1860. They have a son, Carleton R., born in June, 1895. He is a graduate of Swarthmore College and is now superintendent of his father's farms.
Mr. Pierce is a member of the North East Presbyterian church, a 32nd degree Mason, and belongs to the North East Club. His wife organized the D. A. R. Chapter at North East and is Regent of that Chapter. She is also State Vice Regent of the Daughters of the American Colonists. Mrs. Pierce is the daughter of Zenas and Lydia (Leet) Rogers, who were both natives of Erie County.
H. Harold Meyer, manager and treasurer of the Keystone Co-Operative Grape Association, is a well known and successful business man of North East. He was born in Hodgeman County, Kansas, Aug. 30, 1888, and is a son of E. Carlos and Ida May (Chapman) Meyer.
E. Carlos Meyer was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, Nov. 2, 1864, and his wife was a native of Chautauqua, N. Y., born July 25, 1865. He was a graduate of Ohio State University and when a young man settled on a ranch of 640 acres in Hodgeman County, Kan. Later he returned to Cin- cinnati, and at the time of his death in 1894, was secretary of the H. H. Meyer Packing Company. He is buried at Lawrenceburg, Ind. His wife died in June, 1920. To Mr. and Mrs. Meyer two children were born: Bertha Mae, born June 4, 1886, married Oct. 6, 1908, to Dr. Arthur W. Dieffen- bach, a prominent dentist of Westfield, N. Y .; and H. Harold, the subject of this sketch.
H. Harold Meyer received his education in the public and high schools of western New York and in 1908 was graduated from Bryant & Strat- ton's College, Buffalo. He was then employed as a bookkeeper by the Grape Products Company of North East, and later traveled as a representative for the Fernald Manufacturing Company of North East. In 1911 Mr. Meyer was associated with the Jacob Dold Packing Company at Buffalo, later with the W. D. Andrews Company, Buffalo, and in 1914 he entered the employ of the Welch Grape Juice Company of Westfield, N. Y. The following year he was transferred to their factory at St. Catherines, Can., as manager, and six months later to their factory at North East as assist-
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ant superintendent. After two years he returned to the company's main office at Westfield. In April, 1918, Mr. Meyer went with the Federal Trade Commission, Washington, D. C., as an examiner and auditor on special investigating work and remained in that position until 1920, when he accepted a position as office manager and chief accountant with the Har- vard Vineyard Company, Brocton, N. Y. In 1922 he came to North East as manager and treasurer of the Keystone Co-operative Grape Association, and in 1923 was made a director of the company.
On Nov. 25, 1914, Mr. Meyer was united in marriage with Miss Hallie Adelle Rouse, of North East, born Aug. 1, 1890.
Mr. Meyer is a member of the Methodist-Episcopal Church, a 32nd degree Mason and belongs to the Elks lodge, Lions Club, Y. M. C. A., and is Director of the North East Golf Club. He is a member of Erie Motor Club; a Shriner of Zem Zem Temple, Erie, Pa., and a Director of H. H. Meyer Packing Company, Cincinnati, Ohio. He is a substantial citizen of Erie County and a worthy member of his community.
Conrad Hess, Jr., merchant tailor, is a member of a prominent pioneer family of Erie. He was born in Bavaria, Germany, and is the son of Conrad and Elizabeth (Schellong) Hess, natives of Germany.
Soon after their marriage in Germany, Mr. and Mrs. Conrad Hess emigrated to this country and settled in Erie, where he was employed at his trade as a cigar maker. In 1870 he engaged in business for himself, and at the time of his retirement in 1900 he ranked among the prosperous business men of the city. He died in 1922. To Mr. and Mrs. Hess the following children were born: John C., lives in Erie; Conrad, Jr., the sub- ject of this sketch; Matilda, lives in Erie; Matthew, warden at the Erie County Prison, formerly of Matthew Hess & Brother, leading cigar manu- facturers of Erie; Catherine, married William Goulett, lives in Erie; An- thony, employed by the American Cleaning & Pressing Company, Erie; Emma, married Ray Zuck, Erie, Pa .; and James, lives in Erie.
Conrad Hess, Jr., was educated in the public schools of Erie and when a boy worked with his father and learned the cigar trade while going to school. At the age of 13 he began learning the tailor trade with Warnath Brothers in Erie, serving four years. He then went to New York City to learn more of the trade and there took a course in men's garment cutting in Professor Green's Cutting Academy of New York. Later he spent 10 years in traveling from city to city, working
CONRAD HESS, JR.
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at his trade as a coat maker. In 1898 he returned to Erie, Pa., and worked for Charles S. Marks, merchant tailor. In 1901 he began working for Isaac Baker & Sons Company, where he continued until 1916, when he established his present business at 266 West Eighth Street. He is the owner of the building in which his store is located, a fine two-story brick building. He has an excellent trade and his is one of the high class tailor- ing establishments of the country.
On Nov. 8, 1899, Mr. Hess was married to Miss Julia Richtsheit, of Erie, a daughter of Joseph and Catherine Richtsheit.
Mr. Hess is vice president of the board of education and has served as a member of the board since 1919. He is a Republican, a member of St. Matthews Lutheran Church, a 32nd degree Mason, and member of the Shrine, and belongs to the Elks Lodge, Knights of Malta, Chamber of Commerce and Union Club. Mr. Hess takes a keen interest in educa- tional affairs and is a man of progressive ideas.
Theodore C. Hill is a veteran of the World War and a popular young business man of North East. He was born at Clymer, N. Y., Dec. 10, 1893, and is the son of Clyde C. and Cora E. (Case) Hill.
Clyde C. Hill, well known county engineer of Erie County, was born at Clymer, N. Y., Jan. 16, 1865, the son of James and Aurelia S. (Green) Hill. In 1897 the Hill family removed to North East, where Clyde C. Hill successfully conducted a fire insurance business until 1915. He also followed his profession of civil engineer from 1895 and was elected county engineer in 1919. He resides in North East, Pa. Mr. and Mrs. Hill have three children: Theodore C., the subject of this sketch; James R., a mem- ber of the firm of Hill & Hill, civil engineers, in the Marine Bank Building, Erie; and Lucy A., who lives at Dundalk, Md.
Theodore C. Hill was graduated from North East High School in 1911 and after attending Allegheny College was graduated from the University of Michigan in 1916, and was later licensed by the University of New York as a civil engineer. In 1917 he was appointed city engineer at West Union, Iowa, and also served as county engineer of roads and bridges in Bremer County, Iowa, until 1918, when he began the study for Doctor of Public Health in the medical school at the University of Michigan. On , Feb. 28, 1918, he volunteered for service in the army and served as a member of the water supply division of the sanitary corps. Mr. Hill served in France for ten months and was discharged at Camp Mitchell, L. I., July
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12, 1919. He is now city engineer of North East, Girard, Edinboro, Cam- bridge Springs and Westfield, N. Y., and is also secretary and treasurer of the civil engineering firms of Hill & Hill, Erie.
In 1918 Mr. Hill was married to Miss Ada Thompson, of Cochranton, Pa., and they have two daughters, Kathryn, born May 19, 1920, and Marie Estelle, born Feb. 7, 1925.
Mr. Hill is a member of the Presbyterian church, a 32nd degree Mason, and belongs to the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled Veterans of the World War, Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity, and the Lamda Chi Alpha fraternity. He is also a life member of the University of Michigan Union.
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