USA > Pennsylvania > Erie County > History of Erie County, Pennsylvania, Volume Two > Part 6
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where he received his degree in 1917. On Sept. 8, 1917, Doctor Reichel volunteered for service during the World War and was commissioned a first lieutenant in the dental corps. He served throughout the war with the 23rd Engineers and was at the front during the St. Mehiel and Ar- gonne drives. He was promoted to captain on Feb. 17, 1919, and dis- charged at Boston, on June 12th of the same year. He immediately re- turned to Erie and established his practice at 1004 Palace Hardware Building.
On Nov. 22, 1923, Doctor Reichel was united in marriage with Miss Blanche E. Schackleton, a native of Edinboro, Pa., and the daughter of Samuel and Dora Schackleton, who are now residents of Erie.
Doctor Reichel is a Republican, a member of the Presbyterian Church and belongs to the Masonic lodge and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He is identified with the Erie County Dental Association, the Lake Erie, State and National Dental Associations. He has an excellent practice and is capable in his profession.
Dr. J. A. Purcell is among the leading young dentists of Erie. He was born in this city, Oct. 17, 1897, and is the son of James and Nora (Keough) Purcell.
James Purcell is a pioneer business man of Erie, having been engaged in the plumbing and heating business here for 25 years. He was born at North East, Pa., in 1860, and his wife is a native of Glenwood, N. Y. They were married in 1887 and had four children, all of whom reside in Erie: James J., Wm. J., Leo G., and Dr. J. A., the subject of this sketch. Mr. Purcell is a Democrat and has been a member of the Erie County Historical Society for many years.
Dr. J. A. Purcell was educated in the public and high schools of Erie and was graduated from Central High School in 1917. He then volun- teered for service in the World War and was stationed at the Navy Re- serve at Pittsburgh, Pa. Through his war work he received a year's credit in the University of Pittsburgh's Dental School, which he entered in 1919. After receiving his degree in 1923 Doctor Purcell established his practice in the Commerce Building, Erie, where he has met with success.
Doctor Purcell is a Democrat, a member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church, and belongs to the Psi Omega fraternity. He is identified with the Erie County, State and American Dental Associations.
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Dr. Charles B. Chidester, who has practiced his profession in Erie for 35 years with honor and exceptional ability, is a native of Ohio. He was born at Parkman, Ohio, Oct. 17, 1858, and is the son of Julius and Eliza H. (Mastick) Chidester.
Julius Chidester was born at Canfield, Mahoning County, Ohio, Feb. 21, 1826, and was a prominent agriculturist during his life. He was the son of Erastus and Lydia (Sackett) Chidester, besides whom three broth- ers and two sisters reached mature age. He married at Burton, Ohio, Sept. 24, 1850, Eliza Harriet Mastick, of Claridon, Ohio, and went house- keeping at Canfield; they lived here two years and in Geauga County 23 years engaged in the stock business, and then took a flock of 500 sheep to Mercer County, Ill. After his arrival there wolves were very savage, many times attacking the sheep in droves, and were with difficulty beaten off with dogs and guns. Here he also engaged in shipping stock to Chi- cago, and from 1867 shipped hundreds of head of dairy cows to the West- ern Reserve in Ohio for dairy purposes from Illinois and Iowa. He also procured thousands of head of young stock in Ohio and Pennsylvania and shipped to Iowa for stocks or feeders, as well as buying of fat or matured live stock for the Chicago and eastern markets up to the time he came to his late home at Fairview, Erie County, Pa., where he died Nov. 29, 1901. His wife died June 12, 1912. While a resident of Claridon, Ohio, Mr. Chidester was township officer eight years and also a member of the board of Geauga County Agricultural Society eight years. To Mr. and Mrs. Julius Chidester three children were born: Mary E. Coryl, lives at Maryville, Ohio; Dr. Charles B., the subject of this sketch; and William A., died Nov. 8, 1874.
Eliza Harriet (Mastick) Chidester was born in Claridon, Geauga County, Ohio, May 16, 1831, the daughter of Owen Mastick, who was born in Grafton, Vt., Dec. 20, 1802; married Jan. 3, 1830, Harriet, daughter of Ephraim and Susannah Cook. He died in Tampa, Florida, Dec. 20, 1884. Their other children were: Maryett Lydia Lavinia, Julius Cook, and Owen Burdell. Owen Mastick, son of Nathaniel Mastick and Lydia (Caryl) Mastick, was born in Norfolk County, Mass., July 8, 1772. His wife, Lydia Caryl, was born in Norfolk, Mass., Feb. 22, 1773, and died in 1857. He was a leader in his county and the first to import Morgan and Black Hawk horses and Durham cattle into Ohio. For seven years he was justice of the peace, ten years township trustee, a school director and militia captain.
Chus B. Chi dester M.D.
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John Mastick, father of Nathaniel, was the only son of John Salter, of a wealthy Holland family, born in 1717, was stolen by a British press- gang at the age of nine years, put aboard a man-of-war and held in the service nine years. Taking advantage of the first opportunity when the ship lay in Boston harbor, he "swapped" clothes with a stone mason, assumed the name of John Mastick, and though pursued and wounded, escaped, settled, married, and raised a family. An advertisement in after years appeared in a New York paper for the heirs of this Holland house. His eldest son gathered together the proofs and started for Europe, but was never more heard from. Harriet (Cook) Mastick, the third child in a family of four sons and five daughters, was born Sept. 27, 1804. She died May 20, 1894, aged 90, and was buried at Ridgeville, Ind. Her mother, Susannah Ives, was married Dec. 16, 1799, to Ephraim Cook, who was born Dec. 21, 1775, in Cheshire, Conn., son of Elam Cook, born in 1733, in Cheshire, Conn., son of Capt. Ephriam Cook, born in 1704, in Cheshire, Conn., son of Samuel Cook, who came from England.
Erastus Chidester was one of seven brothers: Hezekiah, Philo, Eras- tus, William Rush, Julius, Velorus and Royal Canfield; all but the last were born at Cornwall Bridge, Conn. His birth was on March 23, 1789, son of William and Martha (Dean) Chidester. He married Lydia Sackett, at Canfield, Ohio, in 1813, and they raised a family of three sons, Clark, Julius and William N., and two daughters, Caroline and Martha. He moved to Richland Grove, near Swedonia, Mercer County, Ill., where they cele- brated their golden wedding and here resided till his death, March 10, 1866. His wife, Lydia Sackett, who survived him several years, was born Nov. 1, 1790, afterwards went with her eldest son, Clark Chidester, to Fairfield, Jefferson County, Iowa, where she died Feb. 23, 1872, at the mature age of 82 years, and was buried at Brookville, Jefferson County, Iowa.
William Chidester, born in Williamstown, Mass., in 1757, was a son of William Chidester, who with his brother Jonathan, emigrated from Wales to America. The latter settled in New Jersey, the former in Wil- liamstown, Mass. When quite young the Indians attacked the town, killed a number of the inhabitants, and carried away several women and children, among whom was Mrs. Carter, sister-in-law of William, Sr. Together with Mr. Carter and others he followed their trail and overtook them near Wilkesbarre, Pa., where a battle ensued and both were killed. William, Jr., soon after went to live with his uncle, Hezekiah Carter, who
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resided at Cornwall, Litchfield County, Conn., and was brought up by him. He married Chloe Peck in 1779, by whom he had one son, but his wife and son died in less than two years.
The following account of the father, William Chidester, and his jour- ney to the then West, is from the lips of his son, Erastus: "William Chidester was a soldier in the War of the Revolution, at first drafted as a militiaman under Samuel Canfield of New Milford, Conn. He enlisted in the company of Capt. Theodore Woodbridge, Eleventh Connecticut line, under command of Colonel Homan Swift, in which he served four years. He participated in the battles of Brandywine and Monmouth. At the expiration of his term he was discharged, returned to Cornwall, and mar- ried Martha, daughter of Thomas Dean of that place. He began keeping house near Cornwall bridge, and followed his trade of tailor here for three years. He then bought a nearby farm on which he lived until 1802, when he exchanged it for land in Canfield in what was then called New Con- necticut in the Northwest Territory, later known as the Western Reserve, State of Ohio. He left Cornwall April 27, 1802, arriving at his destination, Canfield, Ohio, June 2nd. His large family and household goods and stores were conveyed in two wagons, one drawn by a team of horses, the other by oxen, with a led cow. His route was up the Hudson to Newburgh, where he crossed in a piroque at one load. Thence proceeded to Easton on the Delaware, which was crossed in a flat boat in two loads; thence by a then lonesome and dangerous road over the Allegheny Mountains to Fort Pitt; crossing the Monongahela here, they journeyed down the south bank over a mere trail in the rough hills to Beavertown. They forded the Ohio about a mile and a half below, thence reached Canfield, Ohio, in two and one-half days. He selected plot No. 15, first division in the woods, the next house west of his being then 15 miles distant. Three years after- wards he removed to plot No. 18 in the third division, where he lived, and in 1811 built a frame house for his son, Royal Canfield Chidester, the first white child born in that settlement. After the admission of Ohio in 1803 he was elected justice of the peace, which office he held until his death, Feb. 26, 1813. He also served as township trustee and commis- sioner of Trumbull County. His wife, Martha, survived him a number of years and drew a pension on account of his services in the Revolution."
Dr. Charles B. Chidester received his early education in the schools of Hiram, Ohio, and attended Hiram College, after which he was gradu- ated from the Medical Department of the University of Michigan, and
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the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Baltimore, Md., from which he received his degree of Doctor of Medicine, March 4, 1881. He began the practice of his profession at Burton, Ohio, and in 1890 removed to Erie, where he has since been located. His office is at 219 West 18th Street.
On Nov. 13, 1884, Doctor Chidester was married to Minnie, second daughter of Waterman S. and Caroline B. Hodges, of Middlefield, Ohio. They had two children: Rose Ann, born July 15, 1886, died Aug. 8, 1886; and Frank Charles, born May 5, 1888, died May 16, 1888. Mrs. Chidester died May 12, 1888. Her memory will always be dear to a large circle of friends by whom she was loved and admired for her vivacity and refine- ment of manner and a remarkable sweetness of disposition. Her ancestors were pioneers in Middlefield from North Bradford, Conn. He was married Feb. 19, 1889, to Mrs. Ella J. Durban (nee Vance), of Collingwood, Ohio, born July 16, 1850, at Fairview, Erie County, Pa. They had two daugh- ters: Minnie Bickford, born Dec. 25, 1889, lives at home; and Mabel E., born May 11, 1891, died April 29, 1915. Ella J. (Vance) Chidester's great- grandfather was Patrick Vance, who settled in Erie County in 1797. His son, Thomas Vance, lived on a farm near Fairview. He had three chil- dren: Thomas Vance, Jr., who afterward lived on the farm; Jane, who married Franklin Willis, of Fairview, April 14, 1842; and Margaret, who died, unmarried. Thomas Vance, Jr., born July 16, 1821, married Eliza- beth Olivia Weidler, Feb. 17, 1848, died Dec. 7, 1887. She was born Aug. 21, 1829, and died Feb. 18, 1855. They are buried at Fairview, Erie County, Pa. Her maternal grandfather, Daniel Weidler, a pioneer of Erie County, was born in Lancaster, Pa., Feb. 12, 1805, and married Sept. 15, 1827, Catherine Frissler in Lancaster. He died Sept. 3, 1874; she died May 19, 1855. They are buried in Fairview. Their children were: Eliza- beth Olivia, born Aug. 21, 1829, died Feb. 18, 1855; Michael George, Sam- uel, Daniel, Samuel S., Anna Amelia, Catherine Atlanta, John A. and Mary A.
Doctor Chidester was married the third time on June 29, 1922, to Mrs. Florence (Hiegel) Burroughs, a native of Erie, and the daughter of George and Mary (Berchtold) Hiegel. Mr. Hiegel was born in Erie, Oct. 14, 1859, and died June 10, 1913. His wife, who was born Feb. 4, 1859, resides in Erie. There were four children in the Hiegel family: Mrs. Chidester; George, lives in Erie; William, deceased; and Gertrude Dunbeck, lives in Erie. Before her marriage Mrs. Chidester was the widow of Willard Burroughs, who was born in Maryland, Nov. 24, 1875,
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and died Nov. 11, 1909. By that marriage she had three children: George, died May 25, 1906; Iola Mary, born April 22, 1908; and Henry W., born June 7, 1910.
Doctor Chidester is identified with the Republican party.
Dr. O. N. Chaffee, who is widely known as a successful physician and surgeon of Erie, is a native of Pennsylvania. He was graduated from Wattsburg High School (Pa.) in 1896 and then attended Edinboro Normal School. The following two years were spent in teaching in the rural schools of his native state, after which Doctor Chaffee entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Baltimore, Md., where he began the study of medicine. He was graduated from the Physicians and Surgeons College at Baltimore, Md., in 1906, and his interne work was done at Mercy Hos- pital, Baltimore. The next year Doctor Chaffee located at Conneaut Lake, Pa., and the following year removed to Wattsburg, where he practiced his profession for three years, succeeding Dr. Bell, deceased.
After spending almost a year in the study of medicine at Vienna, Doctor Chaffee came to Erie in 1911 and established his practice at 820 Sassafras Avenue. He has a large practice and is recognized as one of the leading physicians and surgeons of this section.
On June 12, 1907, Doctor Chaffee was united in marriage with Miss Eliza Baldwin, of Erie, and the daughter of James and Frances (Titus) Baldwin, residents of Erie, where Mr. Baldwin is engaged in the real estate business. To Doctor and Mrs. Chaffee two children have been born: Mary F., born in 1908; and John S., born in 1914.
In October, 1923, Doctor Chaffee was made a member of the American College of Surgeons. He is identified with the Erie County, State and American Medical Societies, is a 32nd degree Mason, member of the Shrine, belongs to the University Club, and holds membership in the First Meth- odist Episcopal Church. Doctor Chaffee is a member of St. Vincent's Hospital staff.
Dr. James D. Stark, a physician of Erie, is well known throughout the community, both as a successful man in his profession and as an ex- cellent citizen. He was born at Toledo, Ohio, March 15, 1893, and is the son of Frank H. and Laura A. (Dolph) Stark.
Frank H. Stark, who resides at Coraopolis, Pa., is a native of New York. He has served as vice president of the Coraopolis Savings & Trust
DR. O. N. CHAFFEE
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Company for many years and as superintendent of the Montour Railway Company. His wife was born in Toledo, Ohio. To Mr. and Mrs. Stark were born three children: Elizabeth Reeve, deceased; Myrtle Anderson, lives in Pittsburgh, Pa .; and Dr. James D., the subject of this sketch.
Dr. James D. Stark attended the public and high schools of Coraopolis, Pa., from which he was graduated in 1912. He then entered Pittsburgh University, from which he received his Bachelor of Science degree in 1916. Four more years were spent in this institution and in 1920 Doctor Stark was graduated from the Medical School. He began practice of his profession in Erie at 960 East 6th Street, and in March, 1925, moved his office to his residence at 860 East 6th Street. He is connected with Hamot Hospital and the Erie Infants' Home and is identified with the Erie County Medical Society, the Pennsylvania State Medical Association, and the American Medical Association. He has served as physician for the Ham- mermill Paper Company of Erie for one year and is still associated with the company.
On July 30, 1921, Doctor Stark was united in marriage with Miss Emma McCormick, a native of Coraopolis, Pa., and the daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth McCormick. To Doctor and Mrs. Stark one child has been born, Marjorie Leigh Stark, born July 23, 1922.
Doctor Stark is a Republican, a member of the Presbyterian Church, and belongs to the Masonic lodge.
Dr. Edward M. Engels, a prominent and successful dentist of Erie, with offices at 960 East 6th Street, is a native of Highland Falls, N. Y. He was born Aug. 7, 1877, and is the son of Charles W. and Louise (Lebrantz) Engels.
Charles W. Engels has spent his entire life in New York and is en- gaged in the painting business at Beacon, N. Y. His wife is also a native of that state. They have ten children, as follows: Charles, lives in Brooklyn, N. Y .; Dr. Edward M., the subject of this sketch; Catherine, lives at Albany, N. Y .; Anna Boliver, lives at Union Hill, N. J .; Leonard, lives at Middletown, N. Y .; Clara Martin, lives at Batavia, N. Y .; Paul, lives at Newburgh, N. Y .; Carroll, lives at Union, N. Y .; Grace Harring- ton, lives at Beacon, N. Y .; and Jennie Foster, lives at Beacon, N. Y.
After receiving his preliminary education in the public schools, Dr. Edward M. Engels entered the dental school of the University of Mary- land, where he received his degree in 1900. For one year he practiced
(49)
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his profession at Rochester, N. H., then went to Altoona, Pa., where he remained six years. In 1913 he located at Erie, where he has built up a splendid practice.
On June 8, 1907, Doctor Engels was married to Miss Agnes M. Young, a native of Philadelphia and the daughter of John Young. They have three children: Edward, born in 1908; Elizabeth, born in 1909; and Miriam, born in 1917.
Doctor Engels is a Republican, a member of the Episcopal Church and belongs to the Elks lodge. He is identified with the Erie County, State, Lake Erie and American Dental Associations.
Dr. H. R. Steadman, physician and surgeon of Erie, who is engaged in practice at 529 East 6th Street, is a native of Pennsylvania. He was born in Mckean, Oct. 8, 1888, and is the son of Thomas and Fannie L. (Morrow) Steadman.
Thomas Steadman was born at Mckean, Pa., April 21, 1864, and his wife is also a native of Pennsylvania, born Aug. 13, 1864. He engaged in the grocery business at Edinboro, Pa., for 29 years and now lives retired. Mr. and Mrs. Steadman had two children: Dr. H. R., the sub- ject of this sketch; and Vera Coyle, born April 5, 1895, lives at Edin- boro, Pa.
Dr. H. R. Steadman attended the public and high schools at Edinboro and in 1906 completed a course at Edinboro Normal School. The next four years were spent in teaching school, and as principal of the Phillips- ville and Edinboro high schools. In 1910 Doctor Steadman entered Jef- ferson Medical School at Philadelphia where he received his degree of Doctor of Medicine in 1914. He then served as interne at Kings County Hospital (N. Y.) for two years, and in 1916 established his present prac- tice in Erie.
In 1916 Doctor Steadman was married to Miss Mary J. Haffner, a native of Lawrence, Mass., and a daughter of Lewis and Emily (Bour- isse) Haffner. Before her marriage Mrs. Steadman was a trained nurse, after having completed her course in the King County Hospital in 1914. Doctor and Mrs. Steadman have two sons: Thomas R., born March 15, 1917; and Henry R., Jr., born Nov. 27, 1921.
Doctor Steadman is identified with the Erie County Medical Society, the Pennsylvania State Medical Association and the American Medical Association. He is also a member of the American Public Health Asso-
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HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY
ciation and has served as chief medical inspector of the Erie public schools for seven years. He is a Republican, and a member of the Masonic and Elks lodges. He is connected with the staff of St. Vincent's and Hamot hospitals. Doctor Steadman is one of Erie's best known young men and is deservedly popular with his rapidly increasing practice.
Dr. J. F. Robertson, a prominent physician of Erie, with offices at 918 Peach Street, was born in Dorchester, New Brunswick, Canada, Sept. 11, 1867, and is the son of Allan O. and Margaret (MacDonald) Robertson.
Allan O. Robertson, deceased, was a native of Scotland, as was also his wife. When a young man he came to this country and settled in Providence, R. I. Later they moved to Maine, where he engaged in the lumber business. He moved to Connecticut, to engage in the building stone business, later moving to Canada, where the subject of this sketch was born. He served as superintendent of The Ohio Building Stone Com- pany for a number of years. In the year 1887 he went to Tacoma, Wash., and engaged in the building stone business there. He died at the age of 86. His wife is also deceased.
To Mr. and Mrs. Robertson, who were married in Providence, R. I., in 1844, were born eight children, of whom four are now living: Cath- erine Gooding, lives at Central Falls, R. I .; Georgeanna Vinol, lives at Pasadena, Cal .; Margaret Bailey, lives at Dayton, Ohio; and Dr. J. F., the subject of this sketch.
J. F. Robertson spent his boyhood in the state of Ohio and attended the Northwestern Ohio State Normal School (Ohio Northern) and Ober- lin College. He later went to the Pacific coast, where he engaged in the mercantile business for several years. In 1895 he was graduated by the Philadelphia Dental College and in 1896 by the Medico Chirurgical College of Philadelphia. He practiced dentistry from 1896 to 1900 in Philadel- phia. He practiced medicine in Philadelphia from 1900 to 1909. He served as a member of the Philadelphia Polyclinic staff for several years. He then moved to New Castle, Pa., where he specialized in Urology and Proctology for 13 years. Since January, 1923, he has been in Erie, where he is well established in general and special practice.
On June 18, 1891, J. F. Robertson was united in marriage with Miss Anna L. Barker, of Seattle, Wash., and the daughter of David W. and Margaret L. Barker. They have three children: Allan D., born Oct. 22, 1894, lives in Erie, Pa., lessee and manager of Park Theatre; Gladys
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B. Wood, born July 13, 1896, lives at Cleveland; and Margaret L., born Aug. 22, 1904, a student at Lake Erie College, Painesville, Ohio.
Doctor Robertson is identified with the Republican party in politics. He is a member of the Baptist church, a 32nd degree Mason, and belongs to the Shrine. He was formerly a member of the Philadelphia County Medical Society and the Lawrence County Medical Society, as well as other state and national associations.
James B. Yard, the well known prothonotary of Erie County, is a native of Pennsylvania. He was born at Milton, Northumberland County, March 14, 1871, and is the son of John W. and Sarah (Buoy) Yard.
John W. Yard was born in Pennsylvania, as was his wife. In 1890 they came to Erie where he became a prominent architect. He died in 1920 and his wife died three years later. They had three children: Wil- liam H., lives in Utica, N. Y .; James B., the subject of this sketch; and Mrs. Grace Spangenberg, lives in Erie.
After completing his early education in the schools of New York, James B. Yard entered Cornell University, from which he received his degree in 1894. He then located in Erie with his father and engaged in architectural work until Jan. 1, 1916, when he was elected to his present office. Mr. Yard is now serving his third term and is most capable and efficient. He served as a member of the city council from 1900 until 1904.
Mr. Yard was a member of the National Guard when the Spanish- American War broke out and was at that time made a first lieutenant in Company C, Fifteenth Regular Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. He left for war April 26, 1898, and was transferred later from Mount Gretna to Athens, Ga., and later to Cuba with the rank of captain. He spent three months there and was discharged in Erie, Feb. 1, 1899.
June 18, 1913, Mr. Yard was united in marriage with Miss Alice Daniel, of New York City. They have six children: Mary, married D. C. Dean; William B., a student at Cornell University ; Amanda ; Daniel; Laura- Grace; and Florence.
Mr. Yard has taken an active part in Republican politics and has been a delegate to two state conventions and to the national convention in Chi- cago in 1920. He is affiliated with the Masonic and Elk lodges and belongs to the University Club and the Spanish-American War Veterans. He and his family hold membership in the Kingsley Methodist Episcopal Church and are representative of the best citizenship in Erie County.
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