USA > Pennsylvania > Erie County > History of Erie County, Pennsylvania, Volume Two > Part 44
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Louis Werren, who lives retired at Erie, is a native of Mckean Town- ship, Erie County, and a son of Gustave Werren, who came to this country from Germany at an early age and settled on a farm in Erie County. His son Louis became interested in dairy farming and for 36 years was thus engaged on the present Werren farm in Mill Creek Township. He has served as a member of the school board. Anna (Gerlach) Werren is a native of Green Township, Erie County, and the daughter of August Henry Gerlach, who was born in Hanover, Germany, March 13, 1843, and came to this country with his parents in 1846. He landed in New York and after making the trip up the Hudson River to Albany, he came by canal to Buffalo and made the remainder of the trip to Erie by horse teams. He served during the Civil War as a first lieutenant and after the close of the war he lived in Mill Creek Township until his death. To Mr. and Mrs. Louis Werren three children were born: Herbert A., the subject of this sketch; Anna, born Oct. 27, 1892, married G. H. Strayer, who is president and general manager of the Erie Steel Construction Company ;
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and Mabel, born March 21, 1894, married B. B. Whitley, Jr., lives at Erie, where he is connected with the Andrews Land Company.
Herbert A. Werren was educated in the public schools of Mill Creek Township and after completing a course at Davis Business College, Erie, he returned to his father's farm, which he purchased in 1923. He special- izes in dairy farming and owns 50 head of pure bred cows and distributes approximately 400 quarts of milk daily in the City of Erie. He is also a breeder of Percheron horses. His barns are electrically equipped with milking machines and all other modern dairy appliances. Mr. Werren engaged in the production of crude oil in 1908 under the firm name of the Werren Oil Company, and has met with remarkable success.
Politically Mr. Werren is a Republican. He is a 32nd degree Mason and a Shriner, and belongs to the Elks.
L. A. Battles, successful business man of Girard, is a member of a family that has been long identified with Erie County. He was born in Girard, June 8, 1867, and is the son of Asa and Sarah M. (Hinds) Battles.
Asa Battles, deceased, was a prominent fruit farmer of Girard. He was born in Girard Township, Erie County, in 1827, the son of Asa and Elizabeth Battles, both natives of Vermont. Thomas Battles, a Puritan emigrant, settled in Dedham, Mass., in 1642, and died in 1706. He raised a family and among his sons one settled at Bridgewater, Mass., from whom is descended John Battles, a great grandfather of the subject of this sketch. He married A. Curtis, Nov. 16, 1749, and their son, John, married Lydia Spear, and their son, Asa, was the father of Asa Battles, father of the subject of this sketch.
Asa Battles, Sr., was born in 1786 and married Elizabeth Brown, in 1814, the daughter of Abraham Brown, who was well known as a writer of sacred poetry and hymns. They had the following children: Rosina, born June 27, 1815, married L. I. Baldwin; George, born Rosina, born June 27, 1815, married L. I. Baldwin; George, born June 15, 1816, married Mary Bartlett ; Alsina, born July 22, 1820; Lucina, born Jan. 16, 1824; Asa, father of the subject of this sketch; and Rush S., born April 24, 1833.
Asa Battles, Jr., engaged in the mercantile business at Girard when 20 years of age and conducted one of the largest stores in the place. At 21 years he was appointed postmaster, holding the office four years, when he engaged in mail contracting on quite a large scale with the postoffice
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department, having at the commencement of the war of the Rebellion contracts in all the middle and western and some southern states. Owing to the unsettling of values the war about destroyed his business and he then turned his attention to the mercantile business exclusively, opening a wholesale store in Milwaukee, Wis., and soon after another in Chicago. He was also proprietor of a large hotel in Chicago, previous to the great fire, and he afterward operated a hotel in St. Louis a few years. Although exempt from military duty he hired a substitute and kept him in the service during the war. When Pennsylvania was unable to fill her quota in the army without resorting to draft, he accepted a commission from the government to proceed to the gulf states and obtain colored recruits in which he was quite successful. He was also largely interested in the oil business, owning many producing wells and a large refinery at Oil Creek.
Asa Battles, Jr., was married Dec. 27, 1849, to Sarah M., daughter of Perley Hinds, one of the early settlers of this county. Six children were born to them: Dr. Clarence Perley, born Oct. 6, 1853, a physician; Dr. Raymond W., born July 31, 1856, a physician of Ripley, N. Y., mar- ried Theresa, daughter of Hon. L. W. Thickstrum, and they had a son, Donald R .; Wilton L., born Sept. 21, 1860, a dentist; L. A., the subject of this sketch; and Cora Gertrude, born Jan. 18, 1871.
Asa Battles devoted his entire life to horticulture and is said to have owned the finest and most extensive fruit farm in the State of Penn- sylvania. His wife is also deceased. Asa Battles died Aug. 28, 1889, and his wife died Jan. 27, 1901.
L. A. Battles was born in Girard, June 8, 1867, received his educa- tion at Girard high school and academy. Afterwards he lived on the Asa Battles fruit farm for a time. He then engaged in the practice of pharmacy, being a registered pharmacist in Pennsylvania, Arkansas and Indian Territory. He was also a member of the Arkansas Association of Pharmacists and a charter member of Indian Territory Association of Pharmacists organized at Muskogee. He returned to Girard in 1896 to manage the Battles fruit farm and also engaged in the real estate busi- ness which he is handling at the present time. He is a Republican in politics and a member of the Masonic and Odd Fellows fraternities.
Mr. Battles was married on Dec. 21, 1897, to Mary M. Babbitt, one of the two daughters of Eric Babbitt and Ellen J. Francis Babbitt, who are living retired at the old Babbitt home at Babbitt's Corners, south of
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Girard. The other daughter, Cora Babbitt, married John E. Greenslade, one of Chicago's prominent business men, May 2, 1908. One son was born to this union, John, Jr., July 15, 1915.
To Mr. and Mrs. Battles six children were born: Lillian Irene, a teacher in Conneaut city school; Gladys Marguerite, a teacher in Cleve- land; Marjorie Ellen, a graduate at Battles Memorial high school; and Leland Eric, also a student at the Battles Memorial high school. Two children died in infancy.
The Battles and Babbitt families are descendants of old New Eng- land stock. Mrs. Battles' grandparents were from Swanzy, N. H., and Boston, Mass. Both families were of the earliest settlers of this section. They have always been very highly esteemed and representative of the best citizenship in the county.
Charles M. James is among the successful and well known business men of Erie County. He is proprietor of St. James Hotel and Veil Hos- pital, Corry. Mr. James was born at Willard, Kan., March 10, 1879, and is the son of M. W. and Ellen (Smith) James.
M. W. James was born at Oil City, Pa., the son of Herman James, one of the pioneer oil men of that section of Pennsylvania. M. W. James removed to Kansas at an early age where he engaged in stock raising on a large scale. He died in 1906 and his wife died in 1918. They were the parents of the following children: Frederick R., deceased; Mary, de- ceased, was the wife of Fred Bear; Belle, married Frank Watts, both de- ceased; Herman, lives at Kansas City, Mo .; Charles M., the subject of this sketch; and Nellie, married Guy Hoskins, lives at Corry.
Charles M. James spent his boyhood on his father's ranch in Kansas and attended the public schools of Willard and also Bethany College. With his wife, who engaged in nursing, he became interested in hospital work and opened a hospital at Kansas City, Mo. The Veil Hospital in Corry was established in 1914 by Mr. and Mrs. James. They are also owners of the St. James Hotel.
On Jan. 7, 1903, Mr. James was married to Miss Irene Stephenson, a native of Missouri, born Sept. 22, 1879, and the daughter of George and Fannie (Moody) Stephenson, both deceased. There were four children in the Stephenson family: David J., lives in Kansas City, Mo .; Ophelia, married F. G. Butcher, ranch owner, Kansas; Dick, deceased; and Mrs. James. To Mr. and Mrs. James the following children were born: J.
MR. AND MRS. CHARLES M. JAMES
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Earnest, born May 2, 1914; James Gerrell, born July 29, 1918; Shirley, born Nov. 2, 1921; and Ellen, deceased.
Mr. James is a Republican, a member of the Baptist church and belongs to the Masonic lodge. He is an enterprising citizen of the com- munity.
Dr. D. V. Reinoehl, who has practiced his profession in Erie for the past 25 years, ranks among the county's prominent physicians and sur- geons. He is a native of Pennsylvania, born at Lebanon, April 1, 1873, and the son of John and Anna (Vogt) Reinoehl.
Doctor Reinoehl received his early education in the town of his birth and in 1894 was graduated from the Philadelphia School of Pharmacy and the following year from the Medical Department of University of Pennsylvania, with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. During that year he was appointed resident physician and surgeon of the Soldiers Home at Erie, which position he filled until January, 1900. Since that time he has been located in Erie, where he has established an excellent prac- tice. His office is at 139 West 10th Street.
Doctor Reinoehl is identified with the Masonic lodge and takes an active interest in the affairs of his community.
Dr. L. W. Dolan, one of the well known physicians and surgeons of Erie, who has been successfully engaged in the practice of his profession for a number of years, was born in Canada, Sept. 19, 1885, and is the son of Patrick and Bridget (Barrett) Dolan.
Patrick Dolan and his wife were natives of Castlebar, Ireland. After coming to Pennsylvania in 1894 they located in Mckean County, where Mr. Dolan engaged in farming. There were ten children in the Dolan family, of whom five are now living: Martin, lives retired at Jamestown, N. Y .; John, lives at Kane, Pa .; Winifred, a nun, located at St. Joseph's convent, St. Marys, Pa .; Anthony, who is engaged in the general merchan- dise business with his brother at Kane, Pa .; and Dr. L. W., the subject of this sketch.
Dr. L. W. Dolan attended the public and high schools of Kane, Pa., from which he was graduated in 1904. The following two years were spent in the study of law with T. J. Dolphin, and in 1907 Dr. Dolan en- tercd Medico-Chirurgical College of Philadelphia, from which he received his degree in 1911. He spent the next year as an interne in Alexian
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Hospital, Elizabeth, N. J., and in 1912 began the practice of his profession at Kane, Pa. He removed to Erie in 1920 and was located at 1130 East 6th Street, until Dec. 30, 1922, when he removed to his present location, 204 Gorney Building.
Dr. Dolan is a Republican, and a member of St. Ann's Catholic Church. He is a capable physician and surgeon and is recognized as one of the leaders of his profession.
Dr. C. F. Heard, who specializes in the treatment of disease sof eye, ear, nose and throat, is a native of Erie County. He was born at North East, and is the son of Dr. Amos B. and Amanda J. (Stuntz) Heard.
Dr. Amos B. Heard was born at Cussewago, Crawford County, Pa., Sept. 10, 1837, the son of James and Orpha M. (Button) Heard. He received his schooling in the public schools of his native township, at- tended the State Normal School in Edinboro for two terms and completed his general education in the Kingsville Academy. He had just entered upon the study of medicine when the Civil War broke out and he enlisted in Col. McLean's regiment, subsequently becoming master of transporta- tion in the quartermaster's department, under Major Phelps, and con- tinued in that service until the close of the war. He then resumed the study of medicine with Dr. William Bullock, of Flint, Mich., and in 1867 entered the medical department of Michigan University, Ann Arbor. After two terms spent in this institution he entered the Detroit Medical College and was graduated from there in 1872. He then entered upon the practice of his profession in Flushing, Mich., where he remained for four years, then removing to Ripley, N. Y., where he spent the following seven years. In 1880 he located at North East, where he established an excellent practice. To Dr. and Mrs. Heard were born the following chil- dren: Mary K .; Ralph E., an attorney, lives in Buffalo, N. Y .; Dr. James Lewis, practices medicine at North East, Pa .; Corydon F .; the subject of this sketch; and Fausta Heard.
Dr. C. F. Heard attended the public schools of North East and in 1898 was graduated from the University of Michigan, where he studied medicine. After serving as a throat specialist at the university for one year he returned to North East and practiced with his father and brother until the time of the former's retirement in 1911. In the meantime, Dr. C. F. Heard spent several years abroad in study and in 1912 came to Erie, where he established an office in the Masonic Building. He is connected
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with the Hamot and St. Vincent's hospitals and has a well established practice.
Dr. and Mrs. Heard hold membership in the Presbyterian Church and he is identified with the Masonic lodge. He is a member of local, state and national medical societies, and is a progressive and capable man in his profession.
Dr. Clarence E. Cheeks, well known throughout Erie as an enterpris- ing and successful dentist, was born at Abingdon, Va., April 9, 1890, and is the son of J. R. and Laura M. (Fowler) Cheeks.
J. R. Cheeks, a native of Virginia, died in 1916. He was a carpenter by trade. His wife resides in Cleveland, Ohio. To Mr. and Mrs. Cheeks were born 11 children, as follows: Lena R., lives in Alabama ; Robert, an attorney, lives in Cleveland; John, died at the age of three years; Ella Phillips, lives in Cleveland; Elmer J., lives in Cleveland; Clarence E., the subject of this sketch ; W. F., lives in Erie; E. M., lives in Cleveland; E. F., a student at Western Reserve University, Cleveland; A. H., lives in Erie; and Henrietta, a teacher, lives in Cleveland.
Clarence E. Cheeks received his early education in the public schools of Cleveland, and was graduated from Central High School there in 1914. After a year's study at Iowa University he became a student at Western Reserve University, where he received his degree in 1917 as Doctor of Dentistry. He was commissioned a first lieutenant and sent to Columbus, Ohio, where he practiced his profession with Doctor Cox for eight months. He then went to St. Paul, Minn., to take charge of the practice of a friend, Dr. J. R. French, who had been called into the army. In the fall of 1921 Doctor Cheeks came to Erie and established his present practice. His office is located at 1801 State Street.
On Dec. 31, 1918, Doctor Cheeks was united in marriage with Miss Juanita Thompson, who was born in Erie, Dec. 14, 1894, the daughter of H. C. and Fannie Thompson. Mr. Thompson is a retired naval officer and lives at 448 West 3rd Street, Erie. To Doctor and Mrs. Cheeks have been born two children: Audrey, born Sept. 20, 1919; and Clarence E., Jr., born July 22, 1924.
Politically, Doctor Cheeks is a Republican. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and belongs to the Elks lodge. He is iden- tified with the Erie County Dental Society, the Pennsylvania State Dental Society and the American Dental Association. Doctor Cheeks and his wife are well known in Erie and have many friends.
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Dr. H. Schmalenbach, a well known and successful young dentist of Erie, was born at Corry, Pa., June 7, 1899, and is the son of Rev. Joseph and Clara (Smith) Schmalenbach.
Rev. Joseph Schmalenbach was born in Germany and came to this country when he was 20 years of age, and located in Cleveland. Later, he lived in Pittsburgh and Baltimore, Md., where he was a minister of the Lutheran Church. He died Sept. 11, 1921, and his wife, a native of Erie and the daughter of George Smith, pioneer resident of Erie, now resides with her son, Dr. H. Schmalenbach. A sister, Esther E., also lives in Erie.
Dr. H. Schmalenbach attended the public schools of Pittsburgh and was graduated from high school in 1917. He then entered Capitol Uni- versity at Columbus, Ohio, and was later graduated from Baltimore Uni- versity with the degree of Doctor of Dentistry. Since Oct. 3, 1923, Doc- tor Schmalenbach has practiced his profession in Erie at 234 West 18th Street. He has already established an extensive practice and is efficient in his work.
In politics Doctor Schmalenbach is identified with the Republican party. He is a member of the Lutheran Church.
Dr. George T. Barrett, a capable physician and surgeon, who has been successfully engaged in the practice of his profession for the past 20 years in Erie, is a native of Pennsylvania. He was born at Franklin, July 9, 1885, and is the son of Stephen and Catherine (Carew) Barrett.
Stephen Barrett was born in Ireland and came to America at the age of 16 years. He settled in Franklin in 1870 where he became a well known oil promoter and prospector. In later life he engaged in the wholesale liquor business and also operated a hotel at Kane, Pa. He died in 1915 at the age of 61 years, and his widow, who was born in Newfoundland, resides in Erie. To Mr. and Mrs. Barrett were born seven children, as follows: Frances, deceased; George T., the subject of this sketch; Mary A. VanHouser, lives at 1339 West Tenth Street, Erie; Dr. Martin C., mention of whom is made below; Rev. Urban S., a priest, located at Bradford, Pa .; Marion, died in 1921, at the age of 26 years, was in training as a nurse at St. Vincent's hospital, Erie; and James P., now a medical student at the University of West Virginia.
Dr. Martin C. Barrett, who died May 6, 1924, at the age of 33 years, was among the prominent young physicians and surgeons of Erie, where
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he was engaged in the practice of his profession from 1914 until his death. He served overseas during the World War with the rank of captain. He was unmarried.
George T. Barrett was graduated from St. Bonaventure College, Allegany, N. Y., in 1903, and in 1908 received his degree of Doctor of Medicine at Georgetown University, Washington, D. C. His interne work was done at Hamot Hospital, Erie, and since 1910 he has been actively engaged in practice. He specializes in surgery and has been a member of the surgical staff of St. Vincent's hospital four years. He was connected with Hamot Hospital ten years.
On June 14, 1910, Dr. Barrett was married to Miss Mabel E. Welch, a native of Franklin, Pa., a daughter of Thomas C. Welch. Mr. Welch is connected with the Atlantic Refining Company, at Franklin, as a chemist. To Doctor and Mrs. Barrett have been born four children: Catherine, born in 1911; George, Jr., born in 1913, died in 1919; Robert, born in 1915; and Clement, born in 1917.
Doctor Barrett is an independent voter. He is a member of the Catholic Church, and is a man highly esteemed in his community.
Doctor Barrett is identified with the Erie County Medical Society, the Pennsylvania State Medical Association and the American Medical Association. He belongs to the Elks lodge.
Dr. Harry C. Cooper, a successful physician and surgeon of Erie, engaged in the practice of his profession with offices at 711 State Street, is a native of Pennsylvania. He was born at Waynesboro, Franklin County, July 5, 1864, and is a son of Jeremiah and Catherine (Temm) Cooper.
Jeremiah Cooper, deceased, was a native of Pennsylvania and a well known merchant of Waynesboro. There were seven children in the Cooper family, three of whom are now living: Dr. Harry C., the subject of this sketch; John lives in Binghamton, N. Y .; and Lillian Gerring, lives at Elmira, N. Y.
Harry C. Cooper was reared in Franklin County and after complet- ing his early education attended the College of Physicians and Surgeons, at Baltimore, Md. In 1903 he received his degree as Doctor of Medicine from the University of Pittsburgh, and spent the following year as an interne in Mercy Hospital, Pittsburgh. He began the practice of his profession at Ebensburg, Pa., in 1906, and after two years located in
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Pittsburgh, where he remained in general practice for 15 years. Doctor Cooper has been located in Erie since 1920, and has already established an extensive practice.
In December, 1900, Doctor Cooper was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Lloyd, of Ebensburg, Pa., and the daughter of Rev. William Lloyd, deceased. Doctor and Mrs. Cooper were the parents of one son, William Clay Cooper, who was drowned in the Allegheny River when he was 15 years of age.
Doctor Cooper is a Republican, and holds membership in St. Mary's Episcopal Church, Pittsburgh.
Dr. John Ackerman, physician, is a citizen of Erie, where he has practiced his profession for 27 years. He was born at Tatamy, Pa., Jan. 28, 1872, the son of Josiah and Sarah Ackerman, both deceased.
Doctor Ackerman was educated in the public schools and in the State Normal School of Kutztown, Pa. In 1897 he received his degree of Doctor of Medicine at the post graduate school of the University of Penn- sylvania. In 1897 Doctor Ackerman came to Erie and established his practice at 9 West 11th Street, where he remained 13 years. He has since been located at 138 West 7th Street. In 1909 Doctor Ackerman was a student at the University of Berlin. He has been a member of the staff at Hamot Hospital for the past 16 years.
Doctor Ackerman is identified with the Erie County Medical Society, the Pennsylvania Medical Society and the American Medical Association. He is a member of the Reformed Church, a 32nd degree Mason and Shriner. Politically he is a Republican.
Dr. R. E. Patton, widely known naturopathic physician of Erie, was born at Springfield, Ohio, April 7, 1878, and is the son of Josiah T. and Mary A. (Saums) Patton.
Josiah T. Patton, deceased, was a native of Ohio and a pioneer busi- ness man of Springfield, where he was a well known undertaker and funeral director for 35 years. He was a Democrat, a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and belonged to the Masonic lodge, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias. His wife, who was born at Bellefontaine, Ohio, Dec. 4, 1845, now resides with her children. There were the following children in the Patton family: Willie and Nora, both deceased; Dr. R. E., the subject of this sketch; and Mabel Waldron, lives at Springfield, Ohio.
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Dr. R. E. Patton received his early education in the schools of Springfield, and upon his graduation in 1896 he immediately went to Battle Creek, Mich., where he spent ten years in the famous sanitarium. He was graduated from the American School of Naturopathy in 1912 and after taking post graduate work in the Lindlahr College of Natural Therapeutics, from which he was graduated in 1916, Doctor Patton began the practice of his profession, although he had been located in Erie since 1907 at various times when not taking courses in study. His office is at 131 West 18th Street and he has a well established practice.
On June 6, 1906, Dr. Patton was married to Miss Jessie A. Torrance, at Fredonia, N. Y. She is the daughter of Robert and Anna (Williams) Torrance. To Dr. and Mrs. Patton have been born four children: Dor- othy L., born in 1907; Anna May, born in 1913; Lee Emerson, born in 1915; and Marjorie Lucille, born in 1917.
Doctor Patton is identified with the Knights of Pythias. He is a worthy member of his community and is highly esteemed.
Dr. Joseph N. Shipley, chiropractor, is widely known in Erie as a progressive man in his profession. He was born in Washington County, Md., May 28, 1872, and is the son of Joseph and Elizabeth Marie (Hall) Shipley.
Joseph Shipley, deceased, was born in Rockingham County, Va., in 1829. In early life he engaged in farming and later became interested in the shoe business in Maryland. He died Oct. 2, 1912, and his wife, a descendant of an old Virginia family, was born in 1836, and died Nov. 11, 1907. Mr. and Mrs. Shipley were the parents of the following children: Samuel P., Isaac V., and Walter Edward, deceased; Lydia Kreps, lives in Williamsport, Md .; Ada Palmer, lives in Seattle, Wash .; William H., lives in Cleveland; Dr. Joseph N., the subject of this sketch; Daniel K., lives in Pennsylvania; Claud, Ashley, and Elizabeth, triplets, died in infancy ; Lucy M., lives in Mckeesport, Pa., and Thomas Jefferson, deceased.
Dr. Joseph N. Shipley received his degree as Doctor of Chiropractic at the Palmer School of Chiropractic, Davenport, Iowa. He has been located in Erie since 1923 and is associated in practice with his wife and son, Dr. Joseph D. Shipley. Their offices are located at 924 State Street, and the Shipleys rank among the leaders in their profession in this sec- tion of the state.
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