USA > Pennsylvania > Erie County > History of Erie County, Pennsylvania, Volume Two > Part 46
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Joseph E. Leslie spent most of his early life in Erie County and was educated in the public schools and Bryant & Stratton's Business College, Buffalo, N. Y. Before completing his schooling he worked for the Chau- tauqua Assembly and Chautauqua Lake mills at Mayville, N. Y. In 1886 he went to Fairview, Erie County, as a farmer and still owns the farm where he spent 22 years. He has served as town clerk, assessor, auditor
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of Fairview Township, and served as secretary of the Erie County Poor Board for five years. In 1913 Mr. Leslie was elected the first county controller of Erie County. He is now serving his fourth term.
Mr. Leslie was married Sept. 16, 1883, to Miss Lillian E. Loop, a native of North East, Pa., and the daughter of Orange S. Loop, of an old Erie County family. They have eight children, as follows: Harry W., lives in Erie; Kate, married Clint Graham, lives at Lundy's Lane, Pa .; Frank H., lives at Meadville, Pa .; Charles H., lives at Erie; Law- rence, lives at Fairview, Pa .; Joseph E., Jr., lives at Fairview; and Fred and Lynn, both of whom live at Fairview. Mr. and Mrs. Leslie have six grandchildren. Alice, Harold, Lillian and Leslie Graham; Frances, the daughter of Frank Leslie; and Joseph Harry, the son of Joseph Leslie.
Mr. Leslie has always been a Republican and cast his first vote for James G. Blaine. He is a member of the Episcopal Church and belongs to the Knights of Pythias, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and the Elks lodge. Mr. Leslie is a capable officer and the trust imposed in him by the public has been faithfully carried out. His position as county controller is one of the most important offices of the county.
Dr. H. H. Foringer, resident physician of the Pennsylvania Soldiers & Sailors Home, is a prominent and highly esteemed citizen of Erie. He was born at Brady's Bend, Armstrong County, Pa., March 24, 1854, and is the son of Joseph and Hannah (Barnhart) Foringer, natives of the same county, and descendants of pioneer American families.
Obtaining his preliminary education in the district schools, H. H. Foringer subsequently attended Edinboro State Normal School. He be- gan the study of medicine at Edinboro, in the office of Dr. S. B. Hotchkiss, after which he entered Western Reserve Medical College in Cleveland, where he was graduatd in 1883. Beginning the practice of his profes- sion in Edinboro, in company with his old preceptor, Doctor Hotchkiss, he remained there a year and a half. He then located at Middleboro, Pa., where he established an excellent practice, remaining there until the winter of 1889. He then established his practice in Erie, where he met with success. In May, 1915, Doctor Foringer accepted his present posi- tion.
On June 11, 1885, Doctor Foringer was married to Miss Anna A. Owen, the daughter of Richard and Lorinda (Strohm) Owen, of Rouse- ville, Pa. They had a son, Owen H., born July 17, 1886. He attended the
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School of Medicine in University of Michigan for three years for labora- tory experience. He attended the University of Pittsburgh two years where he graduated in medicine, and had a well established practice in Middleboro at the time of his death, Oct. 20, 1918. He left a son, Owen H. Jr. Mrs. H. H. Foringer died April 20, 1919, and with her son is buried in Erie cemetery.
Doctor Foringer is a Republican, a member of the Park Presbyterian Church, a 32nd degree Mason, and a thoroughly capable man in his pro- fession.
F. O. Pinks is a substantial and highly esteemed citizen of Erie, where he is connected with the public schools as supervisor of penman- ship. He was born at Greensburg, Ohio, Oct. 15, 1879, and is the son of Horace and Laura (Hillman) Pinks.
Horace Pinks was a native of Bristolville, Ohio, born Jan. 8, 1853, and his wife was born at Phalanx, Ohio, Oct. 14, 1856. He was a farmer all his life and died March 17, 1920. His wife lives in Painesville, Ohio, with her daughter, Jeanette. She was born April 17, 1877, and is the wife of L. J. Spaulding, county auditor, who lives at Painesville, Ohio.
F. O. Pinks received his early education in the public schools of Windsor, Ohio, and was graduated from high school there in 1898, and from Bryant & Stratton Business College, Warren, Ohio, in 1900. The following year he completed a course at Zanerin Art College, Columbus, Ohio, and then became a member of the faculty at Warren Business School, where he remained until 1907. From that time until 1910 he was connected with the Lackawanna Commercial School at Scranton, Pa., after which he spent three years in Malden High School, Massachusetts, where he specialized in penmanship. He then came to Erie and taught shorthand at Central High School and later at Academy High School, as well as penmanship. In 1921 he was appointed supervisor of penmanship in the grade schools of the city. Mr. Pinks obtained a leave of absence in 1917 and studied cartooning at Kalamazoo, Mich. He is also a short story writer for various well known magazines. Mr. Pinks has pre- pared and written five complete lessons in penmanship, which are used by the A. N. Palmer Company and known as the American Penman.
On Aug. 29, 1907, Mr. Pinks was united in marriage with Miss Bessie Jane Snyder, of Orangeville, Ohio, born Dec. 1, 1883, a sketch of whose family history appears below. Mr. and Mrs. Pinks have two chil-
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dren: Richard C., born at Orangeville, Ohio, Oct. 19, 1909; and Julia Jane, born at Orangeville, Ohio, Oct. 13, 1915.
George Snyder, grandfather of Bessie Jane (Snyder) Pinks, was born at Mahatonca, Dauphin County, Pa., March 9, 1799. His father, Thomas Snyder, died when he was about four years of age and he was raised by his maternal grandfather, John Kepner, until he was 14 years of age, when he went to Harrisburg, Pa., to learn the trade of a cabinet- maker. Although in a school room but three days in his life, he acquired a fair education. He came on foot to Hartford, Ohio, in 1817, and pur- chased 70 acres of land from his uncle, John Kepner, in lot nine, near Messersmith's Corners, for the consideration of $300, on which he im- mediately built a house. When he was only 19 years of age he married Elizabeth Carnes, daughter of Godfrey Carnes, a Revolutionary soldier and pioneer of Mercer County, Pa. Here he erected a shop and was the first cabinetmaker in the township; also working at the carpenter busi- ness part of the time for some years. Their children, all born on this farm, were Mary, Margaret, Jane, Ruhama, James, A. C., Uriah, and George W.
In October, 1835, he purchased an addition of two hundred and thirty- seven acres of land lying east of his original purchase, for the con- sideration of $1,513. On this land he erected a saw-mill, which was run by water for 20 years, when he purchased an engine and ran the mill by steam until 1858, when he sold the mill and 79 acres of this land to his son, James, and the remainder of this tract to his sons, Uriah and Cor- nelius Snyder, and in 1861 sold his old home of 70 acres, where he first settled, to Benjamin Messersmith, and removed to the center of the town- ship, purchasing the store and property formerly owned by G. L. Wood- ford, where he resided for a time, and carried on a grocery store. This property he sold to Dr. Daniel Artherholt, and removed to Brookfield Township, where he resided for a time, but being afflicted with paralysis, he sold his Brookfield property to his son, George, spending the remainder of his days with his children, dying March 8, 1880, at the age of 81 years. Mrs. Snyder was born in 1795 and died June 6, 1859, at the age of 64 years.
George W. Snyder, the youngest son, was born Sept. 22, 1839. He spent his early life on his father's farm, and attended district school till he had reached the age of 18 years. He then spent three years in Hartford Academy, and one term in Folsom's Commercial College, Cleve-
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land. He began the study of law in Hartford, and in the office of L. C. Jones, now of Warren. He enlisted under the first call for volunteers in 1861, being the first man in Hartford to offer his services, but the quota having been filled, he, like many others, was discharged without being mustered in. In 1862 he again enlisted in the 84th Ohio Volunteer In- fantry and served with that regiment four months. In 1867 Mr. Snyder was admitted to the bar and opened an office in Orangeville. He was elected mayor of the village five successive times, and served as postmaster. Though his entire family belonged to the Demo- cratic party, Mr. Snyder, in 1860, cast his first vote for Lincoln, and has been an active Republican ever since. He has been a member of every county convention and several state conventions since attaining his ma- jority. He married in 1871, Julia A. Wilson, daughter of Nathaniel Wilson, of Orangeville. Both reside in that place. Mr. and Mrs. Snyder have four children: Sharlie Lucy, born Feb. 3, 1876, died Sept. 5, 1897; Vera, born Oct. 29, 1879, married L. H. Burr, of Erie; Blaine C., born June 14, 1881, married Agnes McFarland, lives at Orangeville, Ohio; and Mrs. Pinks.
In politics Mr. Pinks is identified with the Republican party and he and his wife hold membership in the Unitarian church. He is a mem- ber of the Masonic lodge.
Matthew Henry Taylor was born May 2, 1847, in Huntingdon, Pa., and died March 7, 1923, at Atlantic City, N. J. He was a son of Judge George Taylor of Huntingdon and his wife, Priscilla Moore Taylor.
He went to work at 16 for the Pennsylvania Railroad as timekeeper in the shops at Altoona, Pa. He came to Erie in 1866 as paymaster under Colonel J. J. Lawrence, Superintendent of the Erie & Pittsburg Rail- road Company. When W. L. Scott and Milton Courtright, who had built the Erie & Pittsburg Railroad, began the construction of the Canada Southern Railroad in Canada, he went to St. Thomas, Ontario, as treas- urer of that road in 1869.
When the Canada Southern was sold to the New York Central, he came to Erie in 1881 to be treasurer and later president of the Youghiog- heny River Coal Company, which company became in 1899 one of the basic properties in the Pittsburgh Coal Company. From 1897 he was president of the W. L. Scott Company, which mined and handled a large part of the anthracite coal of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, until 1905, when
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the Railroad Company took over all leases. That year he formed and be- came President of the Pittsburg & Erie Coal Company. In 1906 he be- came president of the Pittsburgh Coal Company and its chairman in 1907.
He was a member of the congregation of the First Presbyterian church. He was a president and director of the Hamot Hospital.
At the time of his death he was chairman of the Pittsburgh Coal Company; president of the Montour Railroad Company; director of the Pittsburgh Coal Company of Wisconsin, Erie & Pittsburg Railroad Com- pany, Second National Bank of Erie, Pa., Pittsburg & Erie Coal Com- pany.
He was married Dec. 19, 1872, in Pittsburgh, to Clara Anderson Bur- ton, who survived him. He left also a son, George B. Taylor, of Erie; two daughters, Mrs. James Carstairs of Ardmore, Pa., and Mrs. Walton Ferguson, Jr., of Stamford, Conn .; a granddaughter, Priscilla Moore Carstairs; and two grandsons, Walton Ferguson III and Matthew Henry Taylor Ferguson.
William Benson Walling, one of the well known and successful at- torneys of Erie, is a son of Judge Emory A. and Grace E. (Marshall) Walling. He was born at North East, Feb. 12, 1881.
Judge Emory A. Walling was born in Erie County, June 11, 1854, and is the son of Thomas and Laura Ann (Eliott) Walling. His educa- tional training was obtained in the public schools, Edinboro State Nor- mal School, and the Lake Shore Seminary of North East. In 1878 he successfully took the Pennsylvania bar examination and began profes- sional work in Erie, there gaining a degree of legal prominence and public favor that resulted in his election as district attorney of Erie County. He filled this position from 1881 to 1884, and in the latter year was elected to represent his district in the Pennsylvania State Senate, there serving a four year term, and at its close returning to private practice. From 1897 until 1916 he was President Judge of the Sixth Judicial Dis- trict Court of Pennsylvania, on Jan. 3, 1916, ascending to the State's highest tribunal, as Judge of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. Judge Walling is a Republican and a member of the Methodist Church.
William Benson Walling was educated in the public schools in Erie and was graduated from Erie High School in 1899. He then entered Stanford University from which he was graduated in 1903. He then read law in the office of T. A. Lamb, Erie, and was admitted to the bar
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in 1907. He has since engaged in the practice of law in Erie, and his office is located at 25 East 8th Street.
In 1909 Mr. Walling was married to Miss Anna M. Bostwick, of Erie, the daughter of Charles F. and Henrietta (Riblet) Bostwick. The Rib- lets were one of the pioneer families of Erie County, having settled here in 1806. Mr. and Mrs. Walling have three children: Henrietta, a student at Gridley High School; Ellen, a student at Gridley High School; and Jean Kirkpatrick, who attends kindergarten.
Mr. Walling is a Republican, a member of the University club and belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is secretary of the Optimist club and belongs to the Chamber of Commerce.
Rev. Goran E. Forsberg, pastor of the Swedish Bethany Lutheran Church, is among Erie's highly esteemed and well known citizens. He was born in Sweden, Oct. 22, 1858, and is the son of Per and Anna Regina (Larson) Forsberg.
Per Forsberg was a railroad builder in Sweden and came to this country in 1880, where he lived retired. He died April 4, 1895, and his wife died March 18, 1906. They are buried at Assaria, Kan. They were the parents of the fol- lowing children: Goran E., the subject of this sketch; Nels M., lives at Linds- borg, Kan .; M. A., lives at Marquette, Kan .; August, lives at Roxburry, Kan .; and three others who are deceased.
Rev. Goran E. Forsberg spent his boyhood in his native land and received his education at Bethany College, Lindsborg, Kan., and was a student at Augustana College and the Theological Seminary at Rock Island. He was ordained to the ministry in the Augustana Synod, June 16, 1889, and his first appointment was the Swedish Lutheran Emanuel Church at North Grosvenor Dale, Conn., where he remained until May 1, 1905. He has since been located in Erie.
Reverend Forsberg has served as treasurer of the New York Confer- ence 14 years and as president of the Mission Districts 15 years. He has
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been a member of the Mission Board for 30 years and editor in chief of the church paper 15 years. On June 1, 1921, Reverend Forsberg received the degree of Doctor of Divinity from Upsala College and Bethany College.
Philip H. Hartman, superintendent of the Board of Fish Commis- sioners of Erie, in charge of all local hatcheries, is a native of Erie. He was born March 17, 1873, and is the son of Philip and Mary (Uthe) Hart- man.
Philip Hartman was a well known resident of this city and was a stone and brick contractor.
Philip H. Hartman grew up in this city and attended the public schools. He learned the machinist and boilermaker trades, at which he worked for seven years. He then engaged in fishing on the lakes for 10 years and in 1903 was appointed to his present position, which he has filled in a most capable and efficient manner.
The Erie Hatchery is among the finest hatcheries in the country. It is located on Presque Bay and has a capacity of half a billion fish yearly. Eggs are gathered by a large corps of men and the following fish are hatched here in abundant numbers: white fish, cisco, perch, pike and blue pike.
On Sept. 5, 1905, Mr. Hartman was married to Miss Magdalene Stubbs, of Erie, and the daughter of the late Joseph and Christine (Aichle) Stubbs. They have a daughter, Agnes Elizabeth, born July 16, 1906.
Joseph Stubbs was a fearless figure on the Great Lakes during the early days. He went with Captain Gridley on his famous trip, known as his North Pole Expedition.
Mr. Hartman is a Republican and a member of the Lutheran church. He is a citizen of material worth to his community.
Franklin P. Kincade, a progressive and enterprising business man of Erie, who is connected with the Stirling Brothers Company as sales man- ager, was born at Fortville, Ind., July 8, 1890, and is a son of Amos and Myrtle (Hawkins) Kincade. Mr. and Mrs. Kincade now live retired at Anderson, Ind. He was a farmer during his active career.
Franklin P. Kincade grew up on his father's farm and attended the rural schools and Anderson (Ind.) High School, from which he was gradu- ated in 1907. He then entered the automobile business with the Maxwell-
(75)
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Briscoe Automobile Company, at New Castle, Ind., with whom he re- mained two years. From 1909 until 1914 he was connected with the Overland factory at Indianapolis and later with the American Motor Company in that city. At the outbreak of the World War Mr. Kincade enlisted in the Officers Training School in August, 1917, and was sent to Fort Niagara, N. Y., where he was commissioned a first lieutenant. He was then transferred to the 90th Division at Camp Travis, Tex., and later sent to Kelley Field, where he served with the air service for three months. He was then assigned to the aerial division at the Massa- chusetts Institute of Technology, Boston, Mass. At the time of his dis- charge, Dec. 26, 1918, Mr. Kincade was assistant engineering officer at the Speedway in Indiana. The following year was spent with the Stirling Brothers Company in Erie, after which he became district representative in southern territory for the Chandler Automobile Company. Since 1920 Mr. Kincade has been sales manager for Stirling Brothers Company, Dodge representatives in Erie for 11 years. This company sells approxi- mately 400 cars annually and is among the well known automobile firms of the city.
On Jan. 2, 1915, Mr. Kincade was united in marriage with Miss Hazel S. Dietly of Erie, and they have four children: Franklin D., Mary Jane, Russell, and Thomas A.
Mr. Kincade is a Republican, a member of the Presbyterian Church, and belongs to the Masonic lodge, Zem Zem Temple and Snrine.
Milan D. Fletcher, who is successfully engaged in the real estate business, is among Erie's representative citizens. He was born at Trum- bull, Ohio, Feb. 11, 1864, and is the son of William and Betsey (Murphey) Fletcher.
William Fletcher was a native of Sandy Creek, N. Y., and his wife was born at Thompson, Ohio. He was a farmer during his life and met with success. He died in June, 1899, and his wife died in January, 1915. They had two children: Milan D., the subject of this sketch; and Walter E., lives at Rock Creek, Ohio.
Milan D. Fletcher attended the public schools of his native town and was also a student at New Lyme, Ohio. At the age of 18 years he became a telegraph operator for the New York Central Railroad and after six years became the proprietor of the Erie Shorthand & Business College. Two years later he engaged in the brokerage business at Erie, and was
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thus engaged from 1893 until 1907. He then served as secretary and treasurer of the Williams Tool Company until 1916, and was also a direc- tor of the company. Since 1916 Mr. Fletcher has been interested in the real estate business. He has been a director of the Peoples Bank & Trust Company since 1912 and also a director of the Y. M. C. A. since that time.
On June 20, 1893, Mr. Fletcher was united in marriage with Miss Maud Boor, of Sherwood, Ohio the daughter of Emanuel and Martha (VanBuskirk) Boor, deceased. Mr. Boor died in 1889 and his wife died in 1902. To Mr. and Mrs. Fletcher a son was born, Milan Paul Fletcher, deceased.
Milan Paul Fletcher was born in Erie, Jan. 23, 1898. He was educated in the public schools of Erie and after completing his high school course in 1916, he entered the University of Michigan. At the outbreak of the World War he volunteered for service and was accepted by the Naval Aviation Service and trained at Massachusetts School of Technology and also at Miami, Fla. At the close of the war he was patrolling for Ger- man submarines. At the time of his death he was in command of Head- quarters Company of Pennsylvania National Guards at Erie. He died of pneumonia, Oct. 9, 1923.
Milan D. Fletcher is a Republican, a member of the First Methodist Episcopal Church, a 32nd degree Mason and Knight Templar, and a mem- ber of the Y. M. C. A. He has served as trustee of his church since 1913. Mr. Fletcher is a citizen who is at all times ready to support the best interests of the community.
John J. Williams, commander of the American Legion Post LaBaron No. 237, Union City, is a veteran of the World War and one of Erie Coun- ty's prominent young men. He was born in Warren County, Pa., June 29, 1898, and is the son of Jared and Elizabeth (Patterson) Williams.
Jared Williams and his wife were born in Warren County, Pa. He engaged in general farming and stock raising during his life and was also extensively interested in the raising of bees. He died April 26, 1914, and his wife resides in Corry. John J., the subject of this sketch, is their only child.
After completing his early education, John J. Williams studied mechanical engineering. On April 13, 1917, he enlisted for service during the World War and was sent to Camp Hancock, Ga., as a member of Com- pany A, 16th Pennsylvania National Guard, which was later known as
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the 112th Infantry. Mr. Williams was sent overseas and took part in many important engagements of the war, including the battle of Chateau Thierry, St. Mihiel, Vesel River and the Argonne. While in service he was severely gassed. He was discharged May 7, 1919. He then returned to Union City where he was interested in the manufacture of furniture. On May 12, 1924, he entered the employ of the E. L. Smith & Company, grain and coal dealers.
Mr. Williams is a Republican, a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He was elected commander of the local post of the American Legion on Jan. 1, 1925. Mr. Williams is favorably known throughout the community and has many friends.
Zachary Taylor Brindley is well and favorably known in Erie, where he has always taken an active part in the industrial development of the city. He is a native of Erie County, N. Y., having been born at Boston, Sept. 2, 1849, the son of George and Cynthia Ann (Burt) Brindley.
George Brindley was born in England and his wife in Franklin County, N. Y. He was a blacksmith in early life and later was supervisor of Town- ship Boston, N. Y., and Associate Judge of Erie County, N. Y. He also followed general farming for a number of years. He died in 1891 and his wife died in 1878. They are buried at Eden Centre, N. Y. Mr. and Mrs. Brindley were the parents of the following children: Cynthia, Henry, Ozias, George and Robert, all deceased; and Zachary Taylor, the subject of this sketch.
After attending the district schools of Erie County, N. Y., Zachary Taylor Brindley began his business career in the employ of the American Express Company at Erie in 1870. He remained there until 1891, at which time he entered the manufacturing business and in 1908 he became connected with the Erie Lumber Company with Daniel G. Curtis. This is among the leading business enterprises of the city and does a large volume of business.
On Jan. 6, 1876, Mr. Brindley was united in marriage with Miss Nelly May Gillen, a native of this city, and the daughter of Henry and Jane L. (Poor) Gillen, natives of Pennsylvania, and both now deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Brindley was born a son, Gillen Brindley, who died in 1881.
Mr. Brindley is a member of the First Methodist Episcopal Church and is identified with the Masonic lodge, Tyrian No. 362, Temple Chapter
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No. 215, Presque Isle Lodge Perfection, Erie Council, Erie Chapter, Erie Consistory, Keystone Council Royal Arcanum. He was president of the Board of Trade; president of the Manufacturer's Association; president of the Inter-Church Federation; president of the Board of Trustees 1st. M. E. Church; a director of the Peoples Bank & Trust Company; director of the Rickert-Shafer Mfg. Co .; and a director of the Community Sav- ings & Loan Association. He is a Democrat and a man highly esteemed in his community as a valued citizen.
Charles Jarecki, a well known and highly respected citizen of Erie, who is connected with the Jarecki Manufacturing Company, as manager of the foundry department, is a native of Erie. He was born June 26, 1869, and is a son of Theodore and Marie (Becker) Jarecki.
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