USA > Pennsylvania > Erie County > History of Erie County, Pennsylvania, Volume Two > Part 39
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Mr. Johnson holds membership in the Lutheran church and belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is a Republican.
Stephen M. Edwards, who is engaged in fruit farming on Ridge Road, West Springfield, is a native of Erie County. He is the son of Reuben and Mary (Sweet) Edwards.
Reverend Reuben Edwards was born in Portage County, Ohio, and many years ago removed to Warren County, Pa. He was a minister of the Methodist Church and died in 1851. His wife was later married to Rev. N. W. Jones, now deceased. She died Sept. 22, 1921, and is buried at Conneaut, Ohio. By her first marriage one child was born, S. M., the subject of this sketch. To her second marriage two children were born: H. C. Jones, lives in Buffalo, N. Y .; and Annette, married C. N. Thomas, lives retired at West Springfield.
S. M. Edwards began life as a railroader. He was educated in the public schools and later attended Edinboro State Normal School. He has since been interested in the raising of fruit and poultry and has a mod- ern farm of four acres on Ridge Road.
In 1873 Mr. Edwards was united in marriage with Miss Cora Dean, a native of Ashtabula County, Ohio, born Dec. 5, 1851, and the daughter of Chauncey and Calista (Miles) Dean, natives of Ohio and both now de- ceased. They were the parents of four children: Hamilton, deceased; Mrs. Edwards, who died June 28, 1911; Arthur H., lives at Conneaut, Ohio; and Minnie, married Sidney Hill, lives in Florida. To S. M. and Cora (Dean) Edwards were born four children: Flora, married Sherman Thayer, lives
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in Springfield Township, Erie County; Mary, married Luke F. Thayer, lives in Erie; Edna, married A. L. Mallory, lives at West Springfield; and Margaret, married A. C. White, lives at Flint, Mich.
Politically, Mr. Edwards is a Republican and he is identified with the Methodist Episcopal Church. He has always been an energetic man and stands well in the esteem of his neighbors and fellow citizens.
G. B. Wingerter, who for many years has been prominently identified with the commercial interests of Erie, is a native of Erie County. He was born in Harbor Creek Township, June 25, 1862, and is the son of Peter and Margaret (Nepper) Wingerter.
Peter Wingerter was born in Germany and came to America about 1849 and located in Erie, where he followed his trade, contracting and building, until his death, June 7, 1875. His wife died May 4, 1864. They were the parents of six children: John, associated with the Conrath Construction Company of Erie; Philip, died in 1904; Mary, married John Staub, of Denver, Colo .; Adam W., lives retired in Erie; Peter, died in 1921, and is buried at Syracuse, N. Y .; and G. B., the subject of this sketch.
G. B. Wingerter was educated in the public schools of Erie and early in life learned the cigar making trade with Manley & Company, with whom he worked about ten years. He then worked with E. A. Fette for four years, when they went to Colorado and manufactured cigars for several years. In 1883 he and his brother, Adam W., opened a factory in Central City, Colo., and two years later returned to Erie to establish the business of Wingerter Brothers. The firm is now known as Wingerter & Son. Mr. Wingerter is one of the largest jobbers of tobacco and cigars in this section of the state and operates a large cigar factory. About 40 people are employed, besides several salesmen who travel throughout Pennsylvania, New York and Ohio.
On Feb. 6, 1889, Mr. Wingerter was married to Miss Katherine Fisher, the daughter of John and Katherine (Diefenbach) Fisher, both deceased. They have a son, Emery, born March 26, 1890.
Emery Wingerter was educated at Bellefonte Academy, and was graduated from Pennsylvania State College. He is president of the Jones Furniture Company of Erie. On Oct. 9, 1915, Mr. Wingerter was united in marriage with Miss Louise DeForrest Greenwalt, of New York City, who was graduated from Barnard College in 1911. They have three chil- dren, Emery, Jr., Roger, and Donald. Mr. Wingerter is a Republican,
G. B. WINGERTER
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a member of the Presbyterian Church, and belongs to the Rotary, Kahkwa, Erie Yacht, Elks, and the Chamber of Commerce.
G. B. Wingerter is identified with the Democratic party in politics. He is a member of the Catholic church and belongs to the Kiwanis Club. He is a man of integrity and industry, and is one of the reliable and substantial men of his community.
J. M. Griffey is an enterprising and successful young business man of West Springfield. He is a native of Conneaut Township, Erie County, born Dec. 22, 1897, and the son of Morton B. and Ida E. (Hewett) Griffey.
Morton B. Griffey, deceased, was a prosperous farmer of Erie County. He was born in Conneaut Township and during his life engaged ex- tensively in farming and stock raising. He owned 147 acres of land. Mr. Griffey died in 1909 and his wife lives at West Springfield. They had eight children, as follows: Aggie, deceased; Carl, an engineer on the Nickel Plate Railroad, lives at Conneaut, Ohio; Neta, married Ray Laughey, lives at Girard; Mary, at home; Edgar, a farmer, lives in Al- berta, Canada, is a World War veteran; J. M., the subject of this sketch; Dorothy and Mildred, both at home.
J. M. Griffey received his education in the schools of Conneaut Town- ship and spent his boyhood on the home farm. He spent several years farming, after which he engaged in the hardware business at Conneaut, Ohio. On March 7, 1921, he engaged in the general merchandise business at West Springfield, and three years later took in Mr. Merritt as a partner. They carry a fine grade of merchandise and have a well established trade.
Mr. Griffey is identified with the Republican party in politics and be- longs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
Christian A. Fisher, superintendent and manager of the American Monument Company, East Springfield, is among the successful business men of Erie County. He was born at Fulton, Mo., Oct. 22, 1860, and is the son of J. C. and Elizabeth Fisher.
J. C. Fisher was a native of Germany. At an early age he came to this country and settled in St. Louis, later removing to Fulton, Mo. He conducted the first monument business at that place, and was also an architect and contractor. He was a Republican and a member of the Presbyterian Church. To Mr. and Mrs. Fisher, deceased, the following children were born: William, Charles, and John, all deceased; Samuel, (70)
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lives at Fulton, Mo .; Lulu, married Charles Wasson, lives at Decatur, Ill .; Robert, lives retired in Colorado; Benjamin, lives in St. Louis; and C. A., the subject of this sketch.
C. A. Fisher was reared and educated at Fulton, Mo., and at an early age engaged in business with his father. He remained there until 1889, at which time he came to Erie County and engaged in the monument busi- ness at East Springfield. Mr. Fisher conducted this business successfully until 1920, when it was sold to the American Monument Company. He has, however, remained as superintendent and manager.
In 1882 Mr. Fisher was married to Miss Emma Craigheid, a native of Callaway County, Mo. She died the same year and is buried at Fulton, Mo. Mr. Fisher was later married to Miss Olive B. Creacy, a native of Callaway County, Mo., and they have four children: Carl, a veteran of the World War, lives at Erie; Ora, married Emery Winters, lives in Erie; Ernest, a veteran of the World War, lives at Conneaut; and Gladys, a student.
Mr. Fisher has been a life long Democrat. He is a member of the Pres- byterian Church and belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America.
James O. Smith, who lives retired in Springfield Township, is a mem- ber of one of Erie County's oldest and most honored pioneer families. He was born on this farm July 22, 1847, and is the son of Charles F. and Emily (Leach) Smith.
Oliver Smith, grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was one of the first settlers of Springfield Township, having come here from New York in November, 1800. His son, Charles F., improved 170 acres of land in this township and became one of the most prosperous fruit farmers and stockmen in the county. He died Feb. 26, 1886, and his wife, who was the daughter of James Leach, died Sept. 14, 1888. To Mr. and Mrs. Smith the following children were born: Betsy, married William Brockway, both deceased; Amos, served as county surveyor, of Cass County, Mich., for 30 years, and is now deceased; Sarah, married John B. McIntosh, both deceased ; Charles F., died in 1923; Oris, deceased; Emily, deceased; Helen, married H. B. Lines, both deceased; Addie, married T. B. Rundell, both deceased; James O., the subject of this sketch; Lathrop and Laura, both deceased.
James O. Smith has always lived on the same farm in Springfield Township, which is known as the C. F. Smith homestead. Many years
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ago he purchased his brothers' and sisters' interests and is the owner of 115 acres. He is an extensive fruit farmer and handles 3,000 bushels of apples each year. The farm contains 1,000 peach trees. Mr. Smith has specialized for many years in the breeding of Durham cattle.
On April 21, 1873, Mr. Smith was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Pettis, a native of Platea, Erie County, born Feb. 26, 1847, and the daugh- ter of John and Pauline (Drury) Pettis, early settlers of this county. Mr. and Mrs. Pettis, deceased, had five children: Abbie, Emma, and Arthur, all deceased; Mrs. Smith; and Mark, who lives in Michigan. Mr. and Mrs. Smith, who have celebrated their 52nd wedding anniversary, are the the parents of four children: Grace, married William Hayman, who died Feb. 16, 1922, and she resides in Florida; Dorothy, married Dr. W. H. West, lives at Harrisburg, Pa .; Dallas A., lives at North Girard; and Frank, at home.
Mr. Smith is a Republican, a member of the Universalist church and belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Both he and his wife are highly esteemed residents of the community.
Andrew M. Walbridge, a prominent farmer of Erie County, who lives on Ridge Road, Springfield Township, was born on the farm where he now resides, March 29, 1848, and is the son of John S. and Jane C. (Mallory) Walbridge.
John S. Walbridge was a native of Sharon, Vt., and his wife was born at Argyle, N. Y. He came to Erie County in 1829 and settled on a farm in Springfield Township, where he died May 3, 1859. His wife died in 1871. She was a daughter of Major Mallory, who served in the War of 1812. He came from New England, prior to the War of 1812, and set- tled in the very heart of the wilderness, in the western part of Erie County. John S. Walbridge was a son of John Walbridge. John S. and Jane (Mallory) Walbridge were the parents of the following children: Emma, married Jacob Moore, both deceased; Charles P., a Civil War vet- eran, deceased; Florence, married John Moore, both deceased; Andrew M., the subject of this sketch; Ida M., the widow of Charles Church, lives at East Springfield; Eliza, married Delos Morgan, both deceased; and Frank Delos, lives retired in Erie, was an engineer on the Erie Railroad for nearly 40 years.
Andrew M. Walbridge was educated in the district schools of Spring- field Township and has spent his entire life on this farm. He owns 180
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acres of well improved land and is an extensive shipper of potatoes and apples. For over 40 years he has been known as an extensive dairy farmer and has specialized in the breeding of Holstein cattle.
In 1872 Mr. Walbridge was united in marriage with Miss Kittie O. Strickland, a native of Carlisle, N. Y., born in 1849, and the daughter of William and Hattie Strickland. Mr. Strickland was a native of England and among the early settlers of Erie County, having removed here in 1852. He settled at East Springfield, where he built and operated the first mills in this vicinity. To Mr. and Mrs. Strickland the following children were born: William, John, and Sarah, all deceased; Hattie, married L. O. Eldridge, and is deceased; Mrs. Walbridge, who died in 1922; Myra, mar- ried Daniel Fails, both deceased; and Jeanette, married John Franks, both deceased.
To Mr. and Mrs. Walbridge six children were born: John, a farmer, lives in Springfield Township; Ralph, a farmer, lives in Springfield Town- ship; Carl, lives in Erie; Jennie B., married Carl Morrell, lives at East Springfield; Frances, married Ray Whitney, lives at West Springfield; and Lee, who died Oct. 24, 1924.
Mr. Walbridge was one of the founders of the Springfield Telephone Company. He is a Democrat, and a member of the Presbyterian Church. He has an extensive acquaintance in the community and is favorably known.
Howard G. Eisaman is among the enterprising young farmers of West Springfield. He was born at Pittsburgh, Feb. 19, 1891, and is the son of George and Isabelle (Glover) Eisaman.
George Eisaman was born in Westmoreland County, Pa., and has al- ways been a farmer. In 1904 he removed to Erie County and settled on his present farm in Springfield Township. His wife, a native of Pitts- burgh, died in 1916 and is buried at East Springfield. To Mr. and Mrs. Eisaman were born five children: Howard G., the subject of this sketch; Mabel lives in Coos County, Ore .; Chester, lives in Ontario, Can .; Isabel, lives in Cleveland; and Homer, lives in Pittsburgh.
Howard G. Eisaman was educated in the public schools of Pittsburgh and West Springfield. He has devoted practically his entire time to farming and is also interested in the bee industry.
In 1913 Mr. Eisaman was married to Miss Mildred Bonnell, who was born in Conneaut, Ohio, in 1891, the daughter of Orson A. and Mildred
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(Hunt) Bonnell, natives of Ohio and Pennsylvania respectively. Mr. Bonnell is engaged in the real estate business in Conneaut. His wife died in 1913. To Mr. and Mrs. Eisaman have been born two children: June Elizabeth, born in October, 1917; and Howard K., born in July, 1921.
Mr. Eisaman is a Republican, a member of the Christian Church and belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Grange. He and his wife are well known in the community in which they live.
Frederick W. Blair, a member of the Pennsylvania State legislature, is a leading and influential citizen of Erie County. He was born in Girard Township, Dec. 21, 1869, and is the son of Samuel and Harriet (Wells) Blair.
Samuel Blair, who died Dec. 18, 1913, was a native of Girard Town- ship, and the son of James and Mary (Wallace) Blair. He was born May 6, 1821. His father came to Erie County in 1803 and acquired a piece of land located about three miles south of Girard, which was heavily cov- ered with timber. He cleared the land and placed it under cultivation, and spent the remainder of his life in the log house which he erected thereon. He died in 1855 and his wife in 1873. Samuel Blair was in- terested in agricultural pursuits his entire life and owned a well improved farm of 120 acres in Fairview Township, Erie County. He was married June 22, 1865, to Miss Harriet Wells, a native of Guernsey County, Ohio, born June 13, 1843, and the daughter of Samuel H. and Hannah (Culbert- son) Wells. They had three children: Frederick W., the subject of this sketch ; Mary Ellen, lives in Girard with her mother; and Dr. James Dana, a graduate of the Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, and a promin- ent and successful physician of Franklin, Pa.
Frederick W. Blair was educated in the schools of Erie, attended Erie Academy, and Grove City Business College. He was extensively inter- ested in farming and stock raising until 1919, when he retired. He was elected a member of the Pennsylvania State legislature in 1920 and is now serving his third term.
On Jan. 13, 1898, Mr. Blair was married to Miss Helen Sayre, who was born in the present Blair home on Ridge Road, Girard Township, April 24, 1878. She is the daughter of Daniel and Caroline (Sweeney) Sayre. Mr. Sayre died Jan. 11, 1904, and his wife died Oct. 10, 1916. Mrs. Blair was their only child. To Mr. and Mrs. Blair were born eight children, as follows: Elizabeth, born Jan. 1, 1900, a graduate nurse, married Arthur
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Coughlin, lives at Conneaut, Ohio; James, born June 30, 1901, is a mem- ber of the Pennsylvania State Highway Patrol; Caroline, born April 7, 1903, was graduated from Girard High School and Edinboro State Normal School, now engaged in the insurance business, lives at home; Frederick, born April 15, 1906; Marion, born Nov. 30, 1908; Marjorie, born Jan. 28, 1911; Ruth, born Jan. 26, 1916; and Hugh, born Oct. 7, 1918.
Mr. Blair is a Republican, a member of the Presbyterian Church and is a 32nd degree Mason. He is a charter member of the Girard Lodge F. and A. M. and belongs to the Erie Consistory. He and his family are widely known in Erie County.
The Sacred Heart Mission House at Girard is an institution for the training of young men for the Heathen Missions. It is the second school of its kind erected by the missionary society of the Divine Word. The school was opened in August, 1912, when the first fathers and brothers of the community came to Girard. They commenced their work in the old Culbertson manse on East Ridge Road. There they operated their little Mission House with great zeal and much patience. Patience was particu- larly demanded. The Mission House continued in its first narrow quar- ters for four trying years. Then there was an end and the decision to build was definitely reached. The students were transferred to the So- ciety's older Mission House at Techny, Ill. It required almost a year to prepare the plans for the present new building. In August, 1917, building operations began and in 1918 the building was completed.
In June, 1924, a building campaign for the construction of a new home was launched at the first commencement held at the school. Four boys were graduated. At a banquet which followed the Very Right Rev. John Mark Gannon, bishop of the Erie diocese of the Catholic church, sub- scribed $5,000 toward the building fund. Construction was begun in 1925, when the order of the fathers of the Divine Word, founders of the mission school, celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of their foundation and the 25th anniversary of their establishment in the United States.
Following graduation from the mission the boys are sent to the no- vitiate at Lake Beulah, Wis., and after finishing the novitiate they go to Techny, Ill., for philosophy and theology. On the completion of these studies they are ordained into the priesthood and sent on the mission. The young men who attach themselves to the order give up everything, leave their loved ones and go to distant lands to convert the heathen.
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Charles Teras, who successfully conducts a poultry farm in Springfield Township, was born in Finland, Oct. 29, 1881, and is the son of Herman and Mary (Wick) Stahlberg.
Both Herman Stahlberg and his wife were born in Finland. He died Dec. 8, 1924. There were ten children born to Mr. and Mrs. Stahlberg, two of whom came to the United States: Charles, the subject of this sketch; and Aarne, a farmer, lives near Detroit, Mich.
Charles Teras came to this country in 1903 and settled at Worcester, Mass., where he was employed as a mechanical draftsman for three years. He was then located at Schenectady, N. Y., in the employ of the General Electric Company in the same capacity. Before coming to Erie County Mr. Teras spent 8 years in Pittsburgh and in March, 1922, purchased his present farm of 60 acres in Springfield Township from Miles Hall. He has made extensive improvements on the place and devotes his entire time to the raising of high grade poultry. Mr. Teras has several thousand chick- ens and ships poultry to all sections of the county.
On Oct. 24, 1911, Mr. Teras was married to Miss Aino Wirtanen, who was born in Finland in 1889 and died Feb. 29, 1919. A daughter, Irma, was born in Pittsburgh, April 18, 1913.
Mr. Teras is one of the substantial and dependable citizens of Spring- field Township.
John Toivonen, owner of the Hillside Poultry Farm, in Springfield Township, is one of Erie County's most prominent and successful poultry men. He was born in Finland, Oct. 29, 1874, and is the son of Andrew and Wilba Toivonen, both deceased. There were three children in the Toivonen family ; Anna and Mary, who live in Finland; and John, the sub- ject of this sketch. The father died in 1921 and the mother died in 1874.
John Toivonen spent his boyhood in Finland and after coming to this country in 1901 worked at his trade as a tailor in New York city, Indian- apolis and Pittsburgh. On April 1, 1915, he removed to Erie County and purchased the farm of John Hughes in Springfield Township, where he has since resided. Mr. Toivonen specializes in the raising of White Leghorn chickens and is an extensive shipper. His incubators have a capacity of 3,000. He has won many ribbons at various poultry shows and recently was awarded first place in the pullet class, in which there were forty en- tries from Erie County, as well as entries from every county in Pennsyl-
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vania. A recent poultry report states: "In the older hen class a flock of 195 white leghorns owned by John Toivonen of Springfield Township, pro- duced an average of 191.5 eggs to lead the hen flocks in the State of Pennsylvania."
On March 17, 1909, Mr. Toivonen was married to Miss Hilma Wirtanen, a native of Finland, born June 21, 1879, and the daughter of Wihardt and Amelia (Peterson) Wirtanen, deceased. They were the parents of the fol- lowing children : Mrs. Toivonen; Anna, married John NoKari, lives in Erie; Theodore, lives in Springfield Township; Inez, married Charles Teras, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this history; and Emma, married Hugo Forsgeren, lives in Detroit, Mich. Mr. Wirtanen died Feb. 10, 1898, and his wife died May 8, 1892. Mr. and Mrs. Toivonen have no children.
Mr. and Mrs. Toivonen are well known in their community and have many friends and acquaintances.
Benjamin E. Briggs, consulting engineer, is a prominent citizen of Erie. He was born at Sullivan, Ind., July 26, 1860, and is the son of Murray and Margaret Briggs.
Benjamin Briggs, grandfather of the subject of this sketch, estab- lished one of the oldest newspapers in this section of the country, which was published at Newark, Ohio, in 1820. It is still a leading newspaper of that city. His son, Murray Briggs, began the publication of a news- paper at Sullivan, Ind., in 1853. To Mr. and Mrs. Briggs, both of whom are now deceased, the following children were born: James, a graduate of Purdue University, an engineer with the Pennsylvania Public Service Company; Murray, an attorney, at Charleston, W. Va .; Benjamin E., the subject of this sketch; Martha Evans Martin, an author, of New York City, who wrote "Our Friendly Stars" and "The Ways of Our Planets"; Elizabeth J. Evans, New York City ; and Margaret Ellen Thurman, deceased.
Benjamin E. Briggs received his education in the schools of Indiana, and after completing his course in engineering, he made a survey of the Wabash River bottom lands in Sullivan County, Ind., in 1883, his survey reclaiming much land that had hitherto been wasteland. He came to Erie in 1890 and during the years 1892 and 1893 was connected with the engineering department of the Pennsylvania Railroad. Before coming here he was connected with the Coronado Beach Company at San Diego, Cal., going there from Indiana, where he had served as county surveyor of Sullivan County. He had also served as surveyor for the Indiana & Illinois
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BENJAMIN E. BRIGGS
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Southern Railroad. On Nov. 1, 1893, Mr. Briggs was appointed assistant city engineer of Erie and three years later was promoted to city engineer, at a time when Erie had a population of 40,000. He served in this capacity until 1916 and he is credited with many improvements made during that time. The Buffalo Road viaduct was among his achievements.
On Sept. 19, 1882, Mr. Briggs was united in marriage with Miss Cora Saxton, the daughter of William Henry and Ollie (Miner) Saxton, early settlers of Geneva, Ohio. Mrs. Briggs had one sister, Miss Grace Saxton, who was with the Herald Publishing Company. She died in 1915. To Mr. and Mrs. Briggs a daughter was born, Margaret, born Oct. 11, 1885, married Oliver D. Horton, who is connected with the engi- neering department of the Erie City Iron Works. They have four chil- dren: Martha, born July 10, 1917; Pricilla, born Aug. 18, 1919; Richard, born Jan. 7, 1921; and Oliver, born Dec. 31, 1924.
Since 1916 Mr. Briggs has engaged in private work and has offices at 207 Marine Bank Building. He is a member of the American Society of Municipal Improvements, a national organization of city engineers, of which he served as president in 1912. He is also identified with the Amer- ican Society of Civil Engineers and the Engineering Society of North- western Pennsylvania, which was founded by Mr. Briggs in 1898. He served as its first president for two years. Mr. Briggs is a capable man in his profession and a representative citizen of Erie.
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