USA > Pennsylvania > Erie County > History of Erie County, Pennsylvania, Volume Two > Part 43
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REV. C. THEODORE BENZE
REV. L. O. BENZE
REV. A. L. BENZE
REV. A. I. BENZE
REV. G. A. BENZE
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a handsome new church edifice. He died Jan. 18, 1891. Reverend Benze, on account of his astonishing success in building up the largest Protestant congregation in Erie, was one of the best known men of the city. He possessed exceptional ability as a pulpit orator, and as such was widely known. His reputation, however, was more than local. A fluent writer and frequent contributor to church and secular papers, he was asked more than once to assume the editorship of one of the best known German papers in the United States. He also gained lasting recognition in another department, that of church music, by the publication of a volume of songs, and he is generally acknowledged to have been excellent, both as a poet and a composer.
On Sept. 8, 1864, Reverend Benze was married to Miss Elizabeth Kiehl, who was born at Erlenbach, Hessen, Germany, Oct. 26, 1839, the daughter of Jacob and Saloma Kiehl. They had seven children: Rev. Charles Theodore, Rev. Gustave A., Leopold Otto, Marie Louise, Albert Louis, Emma C., and Frederick W. Benze.
Rev. Charles Theodore Benze, eldest of the children of the late Rev. Adolph L. Benze, has followed in his fathers' footsteps and has thus shown himself fully appreciative of the precept and example of the late pastor of St. John's Lutheran Church, to whom it must have been most gratifying that two of his sons should enter the ministry. He was born at Warren, Pa., Sept. 19, 1865, and his early educational advantages were those afforded by the public schools. He was graduated from high school in 1883 and was for a number of years a teacher of the German language, first in the Erie grammar school and later in the high school. In the field of pedagogy he was popular and successful, but he heeded the summons to a higher vocation and began the work of preparing himself for the ministry. In 1897 he was graduated from the Chicago Theological Sem- inary and in the same year received the order of ordination, after which he assumed the pastorate of Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church, Beaver Falls, Pa. In 1898 he became his brother's co-adjutor in St. John's Church, Erie, where he served as associate pastor until 1906, when he accepted the call to St. Stephen's Evangelical Lutheran Church, a mission which had been established by Rev. Gustave A. Benze, his brother. Of this pastoral charge he has since remained incumbent and his labors have not been denied a goodly fruitage, both spiritual and temporal. On Oct. 15, 1908, Reverend Benze started on a tour of inspection of the missions
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of the Evangelical Lutheran churches in India, and he remained abroad in this work until April, 1909, gaining valuable experience.
Reverend Benze was united in marriage with Miss Hermenia Ohl, of Milwaukee, Wis., and they have one son, Winfred Theodore.
Reverend Benze has inherited much of his father's gift of effective pulpit oratory, as well as administrative ability, and his pastorate of St. Stephen's church has been one marked by most successful work. He is a member of the Pennsylvania German Society, and the Erie County Historical Society.
Rev. Gustave Adolph Benze, A. M., D. D., succeeded his father in the pastorate of St. John's Church, where he has proven himself altogether faithful and zealous in advancing the work so long entrusted to his loved father. He was born at Warren, Pa., Jan. 11, 1867, and is the son of the late Rev. Adolph Leopold Benze, a complete sketch of whom appears else- where in this history.
To Rev. Adolph Leopold and Elizabeth (Kiehl) Benze were born the following children: Rev. Prof. C. Theodore, D. D., 7304 Boyer Street, Philadelphia ; Rev. L. A., A. M., 940 East 22nd Street, Erie; Mrs. Mary L. Appelman, deceased; Rev. Albert L. Benze, D. D., Putnam Street, Toledo, Ohio; Mrs. Emma C. Althof, East 22nd Street, Erie; Frederick W., de- ceased; and Rev. Gustave Adolph, the subject of this sketch.
Gustave Adolph Benze is indebted to the public schools of Erie for his early education. He was graduated from high school in 1884 and two years later from Thiel College, Greenville, Pa., with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. He was then a student at the theological seminary at Gettysburg, Pa., and in 1889 was graduated from the theological seminary of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in the city of Philadelphia. His ordination occurred in 1889, and his first charge was that of Drake's Mills and Corry, Pa., where he remained until Feb. 18, 1891, when upon the death of his father, he succeeded to the pastorate of St. John's Church in Erie, where he has since labored earnestly and effectively and with a deep appreciation of his stewardship, and where "his rare energy, admin- istrative tact and ability and pulpit eloquence found an enlarged field of usefulness." Building on the foundations so well laid by his father, he has made St. John's one of the largest and influential Protestant churches in the city, exerting an influence far beyond the confines of his member- ship. Having been pastor in the city for 34 successive years, Doctor
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Benze is the senior of the Protestant clergy as far as years of actual service in the city are concerned. He is the founder of St. Matthews and St. Stephen's Lutheran churches of this city and as conference president was instrumental in founding Christ Lutheran Church, Lawrence Park;
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ST. JOHN'S CHURCH, ERIE, PA.
Messiah Lutheran Church, Wesleyville, Pa .; First English Lutheran Church, Dunkirk, N. Y .; St. Paul's, Farrell, Pa .; Grace, Conneaut, Ohio; and First English, Ashtabula, Ohio. He built an addition to the present church at an expense of $45,000, renovated the Sunday School at a cost
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of $18,000, built the first St. Stephen's Chapel, and was instrumental in securing the property of St. Matthews.
Doctor Benze preaches every Sunday in two languages, English and German, to large audiences at three services. He has made his Sunday School a thoroughly graded one, edits the Parish Index (monthly), wrote a history of St. John's in English and in German, which has been com- mended by church historians, and has been a contributor to the daily and religious press. He has been honored highly by the church at large. He is the first and only president of the Lutheran Home for the Aged, which he founded; director of the Erie Lutheran Mission and Church Extension Society, which he helped to found; director and member of various com- mittees of the Bethesda Home, Crawford County, Pa .; was president of the Erie Conference for 12 years, and at present is its treasurer; acting president of the Pittsburgh Synod for nine months; delegate to the former General Council and the United Lutheran Church in America for a num- ber of times. He is secretary of the Examining Committee of the Pitts- burgh Synod; was one of its trustees, member of its executive committee and is at present secretary of the Board of Northwestern Missions of the United Lutheran Churches in America.
On Oct. 7, 1903, Doctor Benze was united in marriage with Miss Alice L. Fourspring, a native of Cleveland, Ohio, and a daughter of John and Louisa (Laschinske) Fourspring. The former a native of Pennsyl- vania and the latter of Prussia, Germany. He is deceased and she lives at 2302 Peach Street, Erie. Doctor and Mrs. Benze have no children, but a niece, Beatrice Fourspring, makes her home with them.
Doctor Benze is a Republican.
Rev. Leopold Otto Benze, A. M., pastor of St. Stephen's Evangelical Lutheran Church, is a leading and influential citizen of Erie. He was born at Warren, Pa., March 26, 1869, and is the son of Rev. Adolph ยท Leopold and Elizabeth Katherine (Kiehl) Benze. A complete sketch of the late Rev. Adolph Leopold Benze appears elsewhere in this history.
Rev. Leopold Otto Benze received his education in the schools of Erie and was graduated from Erie High School with distinction in 1887; from Thiel College in 1893; and from the Mount Airy Seminary, Philadelphia, in 1896. In that year he took charge of the English Lutheran congrega- tion of Zelienople, Butler County, Pa., and was instrumental in building a handsome stone church. After eight years pastorate, he accepted a call to St. John's English Lutheran Church at Mckeesport, Pa., where he was
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rated as one of the most successful pastors. He accepted a call to St. Stephen's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Erie, in the year 1909, at a time when the congregation practically did not exist, necessitating work of extraordinary difficulty. A church had to be built without funds and at the same time a congregation had to be gathered. Added to this the almost prohibitive handicap of language, as the Mission had been started
ST. STEPHEN'S CHURCH, ERIE, PA.
in German and all German emigration had ceased. The scant material available had to be churched and Americanized. As the result of 15 years heart-breaking effort, there is now a substantial congregation in posses- sion of a handsome church edifice, invitingly equipped, including a splendid pipe organ. Besides this the congregation has come into full possession of an attractive parsonage and acquired title to an adjoining property, later to be used for a parish house; while the language problem is all but eliminated.
On Oct. 14, 1896, Reverend Benze was married at Bethlehem, Pa., to Miss Estelle Hess, a native of Quakertown, Pa., and the daughter of Joshua K. and Adelia (Nagle) Hess, natives of Pennsylvania. The Hess
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family is an old colonial family of this state with many distinguished members, having settled here in 1750. Mr. Hess was a Civil War veteran and died Jan. 5, 1924. His wife resides at Bethlehem, Pa. To Reverend and Mrs. Benze were born the following children: Miss Leona, a teacher in Garfield School, Erie; Mrs. George Hess, until recently an assistant to the postmaster of Erie; Miss Estelle, a teacher in Penn School, Erie; Miss Elizabeth, a teacher in Columbus School, Erie; John, a student at Thiel College, Greenville, Pa .; and James, a student at Lincoln, Jr., High School.
Rev. Albert Louis Benze, D. D., pastor of St. Matthew's Lutheran Church, Toledo, Ohio, was born in Erie, Pa., July 4, 1874. He received his education in the public schools of Erie, Pa .; Wagner College, Rochester, N. Y., graduating from the Chicago Lutheran Seminary.
He was pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church, Meadville, Pa .; St. Peter's, North East; First English Lutheran Church, Jamestown, N. Y .; and Cleveland, Ohio; Wheeling, W. Va., before entering on his present pastor- ate, where he is eminently successful.
He is a director of Wittenberg, Springfield, Ohio.
He married Emma Bark, of Meadville, Pa. They have one child, Alberta.
Frank A. Schrimper is a reliable and enterprising young business man of Belle Valley, where he was born Jan. 31, 1892. He is the son of Frank C. and Anna (Detrich) Schrimper.
Frank C. Schrimper is a prosperous farmer of Erie County and owns well improved farms in Mill Creek and Green Townships. He is an exten- sive dairy farmer. To Mr. and Mrs. Schrimper, who are natives of Belle Valley, the following children were born: Edward C., born Dec. 23, 1887, married Callie Schuster, and they have three children, Clarence W., How- ard F., and Kenneth C .; Frank A., the subject of this sketch; Harry C., born March 29, 1894, lives at home; Elizabeth B., married W. G. Davis, a farmer, lives at South Harbor Creek, Pa .; Anna M., and Arthur W., both at home.
Frank A. Schrimper attended the public schools of Belle Valley, East Mill Creek High School and Erie Business College. For a time he was connected with the Buffalo & Lake Erie Traction Company as an assistant surveyor and was later employed by the W. J. Carrol Company of Erie.
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HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY
He then returned to Belle Valley and was associated with the W. D. Ripley Company until 1915, when with his brother, Edward C., he purchased the business. They are dealers in coal, feed, flour, fertilizer, hardware, and farming implements, and have a well established business. Mr. Schrim- per has served as secretary and treasurer of the local electric light company.
On Oct. 2, 1918, Mr. Schrimper was married to Miss Harriet J. Wag- ner, a native of this place, born May 3, 1891, the daughter of Cassius and Carrie (Drown) Wagner, both deceased.
Mr. and Mrs. Schrimper are members of the Presbyterian church and he belongs to the Erie Chamber of Commerce and the Belle Valley Grange. They are well known in Erie County and have many friends and acquaintances.
Charles F. Bliley, who is successfully engaged in the garage busi- ness at Hammett, Green Township, is a native of Erie County. He was born in this township, July 7, 1877, and is the son of Ferdinand and Kane (Yosten) Bliley.
Ferdinand Bliley, deceased, was a native of Erie County and a pros- perous farmer during his life. He served as constable for several years and died Sept. 7, 1886. His wife, a native of Germany, died in August, 1877. To Mr. and Mrs. Bliley were born six children: Blanche, mar- ried C. Martineau, lives at Union City, Pa .; Maud, the widow of William McGuire, lives at Union City; Will D., married Arie Titus, lives at Lake Pleasant, Pa .; A. J., married Cora Loop, lives at Lake Pleasant ; John F., married Orie Titus, lives at Union City, Pa .; and Charles F., the sub- ject of this sketch.
After completing his education in the district schools of Union Town- ship, Charles F. Bliley learned the carpenter trade at Erie. He was later a salesman for 18 years, handling farm implements. In 1920 he estab- lished his present business at Hammett, where he owns an up-to-date garage. He is an expert mechanic and does an extensive business through- out the surrounding community.
In 1900 Mr. Bliley was united in marriage with Miss Edith Ebert, a native of this township, born June 14, 1881, and a daughter of Charles and Sophia (Etter) Ebert, residents of Erie. To Mr. and Mrs. Bliley have been born five children: Theodore F., born Sept. 10, 1901, a farmer, of Green Township, married Agnes Norell, and they have a son, Neil; Edith
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HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY
L., born Sept. 8, 1908, a student at Academy High School, Erie; Belva, born May 26, 1911; Ferdinand, born March 3, 1916; and Alline, born Feb. 28, 1921.
Mr. Bliley and his family hold membership in St. Paul's Evangelical Church, of which he is vice president. He is a Republican and has served as township assessor for 13 years. Mr. Bliley is a reliable citizen and merits the esteem in which he is held in the community.
Claude D. Place, owner and proprietor of the Oregon Indian Medicine Company of Corry, ranks among the substantial and well known citizen of Erie County. He was born in Corry, Sept. 21, 1876, and is the son of Daniel B. and Mary A. (Daniels) Place.
Daniel B. Place was a native of St. Lawrence County, N. Y., and an early settler of Pennsylvania. He settled near Corry and was interested in the oil business for a number of years. Later he engaged in general farming and stock raising. Mr. Place was a Democrat and served as road commissioner for several terms. He was a member of the Christian church and died Dec. 22, 1914. His wife, also a native of New York, died Nov. 25, 1922. Mr. and Mrs. Place had five children, as follows: Frank, died in 1881; Clayton, deceased; Charles B., lives in Philadelphia; William C., died in 1882; and Claude D., the subject of this sketch.
Claude D. Place attended the Corry schools and his first position was as a drug clerk in a local store. He later became associated with Col. T. A. Edwards, founder of the Oregon Indian Medicine Company. Mr. Place purchased the business in 1909.
In 1874 Col. T. A. Edwards, Dr. Wm. C. Mckay, Donald McKay, and 18 Warm Spring Indians, who had served the government during the Modoc War, formed a company to travel and give exhibitions illustrative of Indian habits and customs. This troupe was styled "The Heroes of the Lava Beds." They visited Europe, exhibited in Austria, Belgium, Ger- many, Scotland and England, and returned to this country in the spring of 1876, and were at Philadelphia during the Centennial Exposition. Dr. Wm. C. Mckay and his brother, the well known government scout, Donald, were of Scotch-Indian ancestry. The doctor was not only familiar with the remedies known to Indian tradition, but was as well a graduate physi- cian of the Williamette University, and was thus able to combine the Indian lore with the best that was known to medical science.
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Claude solace
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HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY
At the close of the Exposition the two brothers together with Colonel Edwards organized the Oregon Indian Medicine Company, and presented for the first time to civilization real Indian medicines. The miracles per- formed by these simple Indian remedies soon gave them a reputation seldom attained by other medicines. The rapidly increasing sales at- tracted wide attention, and with increased capital, a company was formed,
OREGON INTTAN MEDICINDO.
OREGON INDIAN MEDICINE COMPANY, CORRY, PA. .
chartered and incorporated under the laws of Pennsylvania, grounds for erecting laboratories were purchased at Corry, and the manufacture com- menced on a large scale. From that day until the present, during a period of nearly 50 years, the business has been one of phenomenal and uninterrupted success. "Ka-Ton-Ka" was the first medicine introduced by the company and together with Modoc Oil and a complete line of Indian medicines has an extensive sale, throughout the country.
On March 15, 1904, Mr. Place was married to Miss Josephine N. Cameron, born April 4, 1885, and the daughter of Maxwell C. Cameron, (73)
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a sketch of whom appears in this history. To Mr. and Mrs. Place have been born three children: Janet Elizabeth, born in 1913, died in 1918; Claudia Cameron, born May 21, 1915; and Mary Joan, born Dec. 6, 1919.
Mr. Place is a Democrat, and he and his family attend the Presby- terian church, and he belongs to the Elks lodge. He is an enterprising citizen of Erie County and stands high in his community.
Charles E. Renick is among the highly esteemed and well known citizens of Albion, where he has served as station agent for the Bessemer & Lake Erie Railroad for 25 years. He was born in Butler County, Pa., June 16, 1872, and is the son of W. D. and Caroline (Snyder) Renick.
W. D. Renick and his wife were born in Germany. With their parents they came to America at an early age and settled in Butler County, Pa. He became an extensive stockman and large land owner, owning 600 acres of land in that county. He was a prominent citizen and held many public offices. Mr. Renick died at the age of 76 years and his wife at the age of 80 years. They are buried at West Liberty, Pa. To them the fol- lowing children were born: J. G., a prominent farmer of Butler County, Pa .; D. A., lives retired at Slippery Rock, Pa .; Louisa, deceased, was the wife of F. J. Doerr; G. W., deceased, was the husband of Myrtle Sager, of Slippery Rock, Pa .; Margaret, married A. M. Hall, lives retired at Grove City, Pa .; A. H. married Clara Weimer, lives near Keister, Pa .; W. F., married Margaret Wallace, lives on the old home place in Butler County, Pa .; and C. E., the subject of this sketch.
C. E. Renick spent his boyhood on his father's farm and attended the district schools of Butler County and Slippery Rock Normal School. In 1892 he entered the employ of the Bessemer & Lake Erie Railrcad as a clerk and operator. He was later made agent at Branchton, Pa., and on June 2, 1900, was transferred to Albion as local station agent, in which capacity he has since served.
On Sept. 10, 1902, Mr. Renick was united in marriage with Miss Sara E. Krumpe, who was born at Sarver, Pa., March 24, 1877, and the daugh- ter of William and Mary (Koegler) Krumpe. Mr. Krumpe is deceased and his widow lives at Slippery Rock, Pa. They had four children, two of whom died in infancy. The remaining two were: Mrs. Renick; and Dr. H. E., a dentist, was graduated from the University of Pennsylvania and now practices his profession at East Liberty. After her first hus-
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band's death, Mrs. Krumpe was married to Frederick J. Doerr, who is deceased. To this union three children were born: Rev. Alfred Doerr, was a minister of the Presbyterian Church, is now deceased; Dr. Clarence Doerr, a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh, now practicing den- tistry in Pittsburgh; and Norman Doerr, a successful farmer and stock- man of Slippery Rock, Pa.
To C. E. and Sara E. (Krumpe) Renick four children were born: H. E., born at Albion, July 22, 1903, was graduated from Albion High School in 1921, and is now a senior at Allegheny College, Meadville, Pa .; W. F., born June 6, 1906, a senior at Albion High School; R. M., born Oct. 25, 1908, a student at Albion High School; and Mary C., born Jan. 24, 1912, a student.
Mr. Renick has served as mayor of Albion and as auditor of the borough for several years, as well as a member of the health board. He is a 32nd degree Mason, and an active member of the Parent-Teacher Association of Albion. He was one of the organizers and is a director of the First National Bank of Albion, and was instrumental in the organiza- tion of the Albion Telephone Company. Mr. Renick is a reliable citizen and favorably known in Erie County.
FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF ALBION, PA.
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Continental Rubber Works. In August, 1903, the Continental Rub- ber Works received its charter from the State of Pennsylvania, having been organized by residents of the city of Erie, under the direction of Theron R. Palmer, who was formerly connected with the Pennsylvania Rub- ber Company.
The original plant of the Tribune Bicycle Works was purchased and altered to conform to the requirements of the manufacture of rubber goods.
On Nov. 12, 1903, the machinery was started and the manufacture of bicycle tires, tubes and accessories begun.
The following officers were elected: Theron R. Palmer, president and general manager; Alex Parecki, vice president; Charles Jarecki, secretary ; Chas. S. Coleman, treasurer.
Such was the reputation of those whose initiative made possible the formation of the Company, that orders were received from all over the country before the samples were ready for inspection.
At first bicycle tires and tubes were the chief products, but not long afterwards the mechanical Department began to produce a varied assortment of hose, packing and other goods, as soon as the required machinery could be erected.
From the beginning success seemed to be established and it soon became necessary to enlarge the -plant to adequately take care of the increasing business, until today the buildings occupy an entire square and additional space adjacent, all of which are fully occupied in the manu- facture of rubber goods.
The original plant occupied one and a fourth acres, while at present, due to purchases at different times, the company owns five acres. The floor space of the plant at first was 70,000 square feet, which has been increased by reason of the erection of several new buildings, to 227,500 square feet.
The power plant as now constructed, contains automatic machinery for handling, crushing and storing coal, and for loading cars with ashes.
The number of boilers has increased four fold, all fed by automatic stokers of the best type. Another feature is the Reclaiming Plant which converts scrap rubber of all kinds into rubber suitable for manufactur- ing various kinds of mechanical goods.
As business grew and the reputation of the Company became estab- lished, the original captal of $200,000 was increased to $800,000 in 1910; to $2,000,000 in 1914 and to $3,000,000 in 1920.
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At different times branches were opened in various cities and today they are located in New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Pitts- burgh, Buffalo, Cleveland, Detroit, Chicago, St. Louis and San Francisco.
The business was not confined to the United States alone, but was also extended to England, the Continent, South America and Cuba, and is under the management of C. C. Kerner, who formerly had charge of the export business at the Erie office, but who now has his headquarters at the New York Branch.
In order to supply the demand for the finest quality of rubber goods, to be distinguished from those usually sold, the Continental Rubber Works put upon the market its "Vitalic" brand, which means the best that can be made and embraces bicycle, automobile and mechanical products, and that name is known all over the world as the Standard of quality and manufacture.
The latest development of the business, and one of large and growing volume, covers the manufacture of battery boxes, for use in automobile and radio outfits.
Herbert A. Werren, widely known as a successful dairy farmer, and the owner of 150 acres of well improved land in Mill Creek Township, is a member of one of Erie County's oldest families. He was born on the farm where he now resides, Feb. 14, 1890, and is the son of Louis and Anna (Gerlach) Werren.
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