USA > Pennsylvania > Erie County > History of Erie County, Pennsylvania, Volume Two > Part 56
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Mr. Gallanis and his brothers are unmarried. They hold membership in the Greek Orthodox Church and are well known in Erie, where they have many friends and acquaintances.
William L. Barthel, a prominent business man of Erie, and a well known and substantial citizen of his community, was born in Erie, Sept. 27, 1888, and is the son of Charles G. and Mary (Zink) Barthel.
Charles G. Barthel, deceased, was born in Zweibricken, Germany. At the age of 21 years he came here and after living in Buffalo for a short time, removed to Erie, where he worked at his trade as tinner. This was in 1861. He was employed by the Murphy Brothers Sheet Metal & Hardware Company, Erie's pioneer business house, and was an expert in his line. Among Mr. Barthel's work is the dome of St. Mary's School, which was made of copper. He died in 1897, and is buried in Erie Ceme- tery. His wife, also a native of Germany, died in 1921 at the age of 73 years. To Mr. and Mrs. Barthel four children were born: Mrs. Emma A. Hollingsworth, lives in Erie in the old homestead at 1819 Sassafras Street; Charles, lives in Texas; Clara Louise Shackelton, lives at 509 East 5th Street; and William L., the subject of this sketch.
William L. Barthel attended the public and high schools of Erie and when he was 14 years old went to work in order to pay his high school expenses. His first employment was as a messenger boy for the Pennsyl- vania Railroad and in 1907 he was employed by the Second National Bank as a messenger. Mr. Barthel was promoted from various positions and became assistant cashier of that bank. His next position was with the Ralston Purania Mills, selling health foods, under the supervision of W. J. Willard. Later, he became associated with the Seigel Oil Company,
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but returned to his former position with Mr. Willard. In March, 1922, Mr. Barthel embarked in the brokerage business for himself with offices at 15th and German Streets. He has a well established business and is widely known as a dependable business man.
On July 28, 1923, Mr. Barthel was married to Miss Marian Hudson, of Erie, and the daughter of Charles and Carrie (Williams) Hudson, resi- dents of Erie. They have a daughter, Mary Louise, born Nov. 18, 1924.
Mr. Barthel is a Republican, a member of the Church of Christ, and belongs to the Masonic lodge, the Shrine, and the Elks.
E. B. Willis, of Erie, is a member of one of Erie County's oldest and most prominent pioneer families. He is the great-grandson of John Coch- ran, who settled in Erie in 1809.
Hon. John Cochran was associate judge of Erie County, and built and operated some of the first mills erected in the county. He had two sons, Robert and George. Robert Cochran was born at Milton, Pa., Aug. 10, 1798. He served as postmaster in Erie for twelve years and was a promi- nent citizen of his time. On Oct. 20, 1822, he was married to Miss Eliza Justice, a native of New Jersey, and to them were born nine children, among them being Martha, mother of the subject of this sketch.
Edwin Willis was a native of Erie. He was an engineer on the Lake Shore Railroad and met an accidental death when E. B., the subject of this sketch, was but 13 months old. His widow remained in Erie until 1869, when she removed to Battle Creek, Mich. After a number of years, however, she returned to Erie, where she died. To Mr. and Mrs. Willis two sons were born: E. B., the subject of this sketch; and John, deceased.
E. B. Willis was born in the old Cochran homestead in Erie, June 29, 1855. He was educated in the schools of Battle Creek, Mich., and upon his return to Erie engaged in the newspaper business. From 1900 until 1916 he published "The People." The original Cochran farm of 50 acres, now known as Bungalow Park, is owned by Mr. Willis, and is one of the exclu- sive residential sections of Erie.
Mr. Willis was married to Miss Flora E. Warner, of Grand Rapids, Mich., and they have three children, Jessie, Vira, and Roy.
Mr. Willis has in his possession some of the old Cochran silverware, which was made of silver coin. It is such a complete collection that an entire dinner party may be served with it.
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Lawrence Bevins, a well known and successful merchant of Erie, was born near Pittsburgh, in Allegheny County, Pa., March 20, 1881, and is a son of William H. and Harriet M. (Holmes) Bevins.
William H. Bevins was a native of Sheffield, Eng., and came to the United States at an early age. He was interested in the oil fields of Penn- sylvania and was also superintendent of a steel mill in Pittsburgh. He died in 1901 and is buried at Titusville, Pa. His wife, a native of Chester, Eng., now resides in Erie. Lawrence, the subject of this sketch, was their only child.
Lawrence Bevins spent his boyhood at Titusville and after complet- ing his early education there attended the Armour School of Technology, Chicago. He then became associated with the Western Electric Company at Chicago and later went to Oklahoma City, Okla., as sales manager for the Oklahoma Steel & Iron Works. In 1907 Mr. Bevins removed to Erie to accept a position with the General Electric Company, with whom he remained until 1921. He has since engaged in his present business at 23 East Eighth Street, Mr. Bevins is a wholesale and retail radio dealer and carries a most complete line of supplies. He is also the owner of one of the finest radio stations in the city.
On Sept. 27, 1913, Mr. Bevins was married to Miss Hazel Green of Spartansburg, Pa., and the daughter of Dr. H. Green, deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Bevins have no children.
Politically Mr. Bevins is a Republican, and he belongs to the Masonic lodge. He is esteemed throughout his community as a reliable man.
C. H. Diehl. One of the citizens of North East who has built up a substantial business is C. H. Diehl, plumbing and heating contractor. He was born here June 30, 1885, and is the son of Louis F. and Elizabeth (Schifferle) Diehl.
Louis F. Diehl was born in Buffalo, N. Y., in 1850. In early life he engaged in general farming and later entered the employ of the North East Water Department, where he remained for 20 years. He now lives retired at North East. His wife, a native of North East Township, died in 1903, at the age of 42 years. Mr. Diehl is a Republican and a member of the Methodist church. There were two children born to Mr. and Mrs. Diehl: William W., lives at North East; and C. H., the subject of this sketch.
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C. H. Diehl spent his boyhood at North East and attended the public schools. When a boy he clerked in a local store and later learned the plumbing trade with W. D. Grimes. Mr. Diehl spent some time in the employ of the East Ohio Gas Company of Cleveland and then went to Youngstown, Ohio. He has been located in his present place of business since 1915.
On April 20, 1918, Mr. Diehl was married in Erie to Miss Gertrude Slack of Kane, Pa., and the daughter of John S. Slack. Mr. and Mrs. Diehl have a son, Louis William, born April 20, 1921.
Mr. Diehl is identified with the Republican party, is a member of the Methodist Church, and belongs to the Loyal Order of Moose. He has held the office of fire chief of North East, having been appointed when 18 years of age.
The First National Bank, Albion. (Illustration, p. 1155.) The first men, far-seeing and enterprising enough to stimulate interest and co-operation in an effort to establish a national bank for the growing boro of Albion, were Charles E. Renick, Jesse A. Hall, and Thomas Dolan. Forty-four subscribers assured a capital of $25,000, and it is of particular interest that 80 per cent. of the stock was subscribed by residents of Albion and the immediate vicinity. A lease on a frame building on State Street, owned by Mott Sherman, was secured for a term of five years at $25.00 a month, and therein the First National Bank of Albion opened its doors for business Sept. 14, 1909, with the following officers in charge: Thomas Dolan, president; John Eckert, vice-president, and Will A. Pond, cashier. Under the supervision of an active board of directors, the new institution quickly established itself in the confidence of the community and a steady progress marked the growth of the bank from its earliest days.
In 1914, a purchasing committee, Jesse A. Hall, Charles E. Renick, and Will A. Pond, concluded the deal by which the First National Bank came into possession of the property which it had occupied since its estab- lishment.
In another five years, the bank had outgrown its first home and the pressing need of larger quarters was most gratifying to the stockholders, even though inconvenient to the working corps. Through the unceasing energy and capable management of a building committee, consisting of Jesse A. Hall, chairman; Harry Dershimer, Dr. L. R. Umburn, and C. G. Cherry, a handsome and commodious new fire-proof structure of pearl gray brick and Onondago stone in modified Italian Renaissance architecture was
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HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY
formally opened to the public on March 3, 1925. The interior of the build- ing is finished in Napoleon gray marble with fittings of mahogany. The vault is built of 18-inch concrete, reinforced with steel, and electrified copper cables. The new home of the First National Bank is on the orig- inal site of 90 feet frontage on State Street. The grounds have been land- scaped and the institution is a noteworthy credit to Albion.
From the beginning of its career, the bank has paid 4% interest on deposits. A larger capital was necessitated by the demands of the rapidly growing business of the institution, and at the annual stockholders' meet- ing, Jan. 11, 1924, it was voted to increase the capital stock of the First National Bank of Albion from $25,000 to $50,000. The growth of the bank is attested by the following comparative table of resources:
Opened for business Sept. 14, 1909.
Dec. 31, 1909
$ 74,899.36
June 30, 1913 204,083.99
June 30, 1917 272,136.85
June 30, 1921
502,711.26
June 30, 1925 821,492.19
Two presidents have served the institution: Thomas Dolan and Charles Kennedy; likewise, two vice-presidents: John Eckert and Jesse A. Hall. Three of the bank's cashiers have resigned to accept more lucra- tive positions in larger institutions: W. A. Pond, C. W. Perrine, and S. E. Nichols. W. L. Hart is the present cashier.
Ray Forbes, Carl Joslin, F. E. Klingensmith, Homer Eckert, and W. L. Hart have filled the position of assistant cashier.
The men who have contributed their services as directors of the bank are: I. M. Lewis; Samuel Beach; John Eckert; Charles Kennedy; C. R. Forbes; Charles E. Renick ; J. C. Chaplin; Thomas Dolan, deceased; Jesse A. Hall; John Einhiple, deceased; G. E. McCommons, deceased; Albert H. Rathbun, deceased; Will A. Pond ; Samuel Purcell; S. W. Green; S. E. Nich- ols; Harry Dershimer; Dr. L. R. Umburn; C. G. Cherry, and W. L. Hart.
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LAUREL BOOK SERVICE KATHERINE AND KARL GOEDECKE 33 West Third St. HAZLETON, PENNA.
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