History of Erie county, Pennsylvania. Containing a history of the county; its townships, towns, villages schools, churches, industries, etc, Part 111

Author: Bates, Samuel P. (Samuel Penniman), 1827-1902; Whitman, Benjamin, 1940-; Russell, N. W. (Nathaniel Willard); Brown, R. C. (Robert C.); Weakley, F. E; Warner, Beers & Co. (Chicago, Ill.)
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Chicago : Warner, Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 1280


USA > Pennsylvania > Erie County > History of Erie county, Pennsylvania. Containing a history of the county; its townships, towns, villages schools, churches, industries, etc > Part 111


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


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CITY OF ERIE.


JOSEPH P. METCALF, manufacturer, Erie. Prominent among Erie City's business men is the gentleman whose name heads this sketch. He was born and reared here; son of Prescott and Abigail R. (Wilder) Metcalf, natives of Vermont, and of English extrac- tion. Our subject received a good English education at Erie Academy, Erie City, and dwelt in the place of his nativity till 1870, when he emigrated to the West, and after en- gaging in the banking business at Nebraska City for two years returned to Erie City and was in business with his father until 1880. Since that time he has been a member of the firm of Erie Malleable Iron Co., limited, occupying the position of Secretary and Treas- urer. Mr. Metcalf is an intelligent, energetic business man: was married in the State of New Jersey, in 1877, to Celia Fletcher, a native of New York, of English descent, by whom he has had three children, two surviving-Frances and Mary. Mr. and Mrs. Met- calf are members of St Paul's Episcopal Church. Politically he is a Republican. He is a member of the Council of Erie.


P. A. MEYER, of the late firm Marks &. Meyer, merchant tailors, Erie, was born in Germany, Oct. 5, 1844; son of Ludwig Meyer, a leading medical practitioner of Posen, in Prussia, where he died. Our subject was partly educated in his native land, and on coming to New York State in 1858, attended school there for a time. He then clerked in a merchant tailor's establishment in Schenectady, N. Y., eight years. In 1856, he came to Erie and formed a partnership with Charles S. Marks. Marks & Meyer carried on business for seventeen years at the same stand on State street. March 15, 1884, the firm dissolved, Mr. Meyer at that time starting for himself in the manufacturing and sale of clothing. Our subject was married, in this city, in 1870, to Louise, daughter of Christian Sexauer. To this union were horn Emma, Aida, Ludwig Garfield and Otto Blaine.


GEORGE R. MILLER, assistant engineer Erie City Water Works, Erie, was born near Hamilton, Ontario, in 1853, where he was reared until thirteen years old, when he came to this country with his people. His father, William H. Miller, a farmer, settled at North East. Our subject, when eighteen, engaged in railroading and took charge of the Harbor Creek Depot for two years, when he engaged in his present business here, with which he has since been reputably identified. Mr. Miller was married in 1876 to Nellie Connells, of Canandaigua, N. Y. Two sons and one daughter have blessed this union: George C., Elgin and Marietta Maud. Mr. and Mrs. Miller are active members of the Baptist Church. He is a member of the A. O. U. W.


GOTTLIEB MISCHLER, grocer, No. 518 Fourth street, Erie, was born in Switzer- land, March 1, 1844, son of John and Elizabeth (Walden) Mischler, natives of Switzerland, who came to America and settled in Erie in 1855. Our subject is a self-made man begin- ning with a quarter of a dollar capital. He first cleaned fish, gradually working himself into a successful fish trade which he carried on for ten years, and in 1863, embarked in the grocery business, in which he has since continued. He was married here to Kate Berry, a native of this city, and a daughter of Jacob Berry, who is a railroad engineer. To this union have been born six children, viz .: Edward, Etta, Charles, Arthur, Lillie and Katie. Mr. and Mrs. Mischler are members of the Lutheran Church.


DAN MITCHELL, Captain of Police, Erie, was born in Jamestown, N. Y., March 23, 1841, son of Harlow and Louise (Bidwell) Mitchell, natives of Vermont, the latter of Eng- lish-French extraction. The former, who was a miller, and in later life a farmer. was of Scotch-German lineage. He came to Pennsylvania in 1850, and died at "Mitchell's Cor- ners " in Erie Co. in 1871. Our subject is the third in a family of four sons and one daughter, latter deceased. He obtained a good school training, and choosing the occupa- tion of engineer, when quite young, ran an engine for fifteen years. In 1861, he enlisted in Co. C, 83d P. V. I., serving for a time as wagon-master. June 30, 1862, he was taken prisoner, sent to Libby Prison till exchanged, and was discharged in 1863 for disability. From 1872 to 1875, he served on Erie City police force, and for five years was County De- tective. In 1881, Mr. Mitchell was appointed to the Erie City police force, and in 1882. was elected Captain. Our subject was married in March 16, 1875 to Jennie A .. daughter of Robert Hamilton, of Meadville, Penn. Their family numbers three-Jessie, Dean and May. In politics Mr. Mitchell is Republican.


CHARLES JENKINS MITCHELL, Mate of the steamer Schuylkill, Anchor line, Erie, , was born in Padstow, Cornwall, England in 1845. He wasreared a sailor, serving in the En- glish Merchant Marine until 1861, when he joined the United States Navy under Capt. C. H. Wells, of Admiral Farragut's fleet, Gulf Squadron, and after a year's service was houor- ably discharged. He afterward re-enlisted in the Navy, serving principally in the trans- port service till the end of the war when he was honorably discharged. He subsequently engaged in the American Merchant Marine where he continued until 1872, when he took up lake service. He was married in Brooklyn, N. Y., Dec. 6, 1876, to Mary Ann, daughter of George B. and Mary Marshall Jones, natives of England. Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell belong to the Episcopal Church. He is a member of the K. of P. society.


R. S. MOFFETT, dealer in crockery and glassware, Erie, was born in the Empire State, Aug. 14, 1844; son of Jairus and Almira (Brainard) Moffett. The former, who had been a merchant in early life and afterward Sheriff of Wyoming Co., N. Y., was a native of New York State, where he died in 1879. The latter was a native of Vermont, of Scotch


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descent. They were parents of two children, our subject being the youngest. He was educated in the academy at Perry and for seven years served as clerk in a dry goods store, afterward, in 1862, launching out in the same business for himself in Perry, N. Y., in which he continued till 1869, when he came to Erie City and opened an extensive whole- sale and retail crockery, china and glassware room, which is 28x155 feet in dimensions. Mr. Moffett was married in Perry, N. Y., to Ruth, a native of Perry, N. Y., of Scotch de- scent, and daughter of Josiah Andrews. To this union was born one child-Allen, at school. Our subject and his wife are members of the First Presbyterian Church. In pol- itics he is a Republican.


JOHN MOORE, retired sailor and business man, Erie, was born in Waterford Town- ship, Erie County, Penn., Nov. 20, 1812; son of Jolin Moore, a hotel keeper, who came to this county in 1798 and carried on business at Waterford; he was a soldier in the war of 1812, and reared five children. Our subject obtained his education in the common schools, when eleven years old going as a sailor on Lake Erie, where he continued most of the time till 1850; was for years clerk on a boat. During this period he also engaged in business in Erie City.


R. S. MOORHEAD, Clerk of Erie County Courts, was born in Moorheadville, Har- bor Creek Township, this county, June 3, 1844; son of Joseph M. and Harriet E. (Scott) Moorhead, the former a farmer; they were natives of Pennsylvania, and both of Irish descent. Our subject was brought up on the farm and educated in the common schools. In 1862, he enlisted in the 145th Reg . P. V. I. Co. D, serving as Regimental Postmaster until 1865, when he was discharged. On his return home he followed farming until 1873, in which year he was appointed Inspector of Customs, which position he held until 1879, when he was elected Clerk of the Erie County Courts. In 1879, Mr. Moorhead married Mary Carroll, who bore him two children-Florence B. and Emma M. Mr. and Mrs. Moorhead are attendants of the Presbyterian Church. His grandfather, Col. James M. Moorhead, was with Perry on the occasion of his victory on Lake Erie.


W. A. MORAND, photographer and artist, Erie, was born Sept. 29, 1842, in New York City, and is a son of the late George H. Morand, who was the first photographer in that city. He attended school in his native city, and early in his boyhood days showed a decided talent and taste for painting, and his father enabled him to obtain a thorough art education in the studios of the most noted artists of the day in New York. For over twenty years his mind and hand have been active in the profession he loves so well, and the result of his un- tiring efforts is his competency to cope with the best artists of this country. He makes portraits in oil and crayon a specialty, and finishes pictures in India ink and paints mini- atures in water colors. Mr. Morand is a photographer and artist not only in name but in education, one who understands the rules of art and chiaroscura, and the application of art principles in lighting, and posing his subjects, for herein lie the true merits of a pho- tographic portrait. Many of the engravings that appear in this work were copied from photographs taken by him. He came to Erie in 1877, and merited a large patronage; was married, in 1862, to Marie Antoinette George, of Watertown, N. Y .; the result of this un- ion has been two children, viz., W. A. (deceased) and Inez E.


JOHN A. MOSER, Chief Engineer of Fire Department, Erie, was born in the Borough of Hoerdt, Bavaria, Germany, Oct. 15, 1838; son of George Moser, a hotel-keeper in Hoerdt. Our subject received his education in his native land, and came to America in 1851, settling in Erie City, where he served a regular apprenticeship as a molder three years; subsequently as a carpenter, at which occupation he worked for seventeen years. On May 15, 1877, he was elected Chief of the Fire Department, Erie City; is also Fire Inspector and Superinten- dent of the Fire Alarm. Mr. Moser married, in 1862, Maria Magdalena Hemmerlie, whose father was a soldier under Napoleon Bonaparte, and, on coming to America in 1832, was one of the first settlers of Erie Co., where he spent the remainder of his life, dying in 1880. Mr. and Mrs. Moser are the parents of six children, all living. Our subject was a member of Erie City Council in 1874 and 1875; also a member of the License Board in 1877.


F. W. MULLER, contractor and builder, Erie, was born in Bavaria, Germany, April 27, 1829. His father, a government officer, followed Lafayette and served under him in this country in the war of Independence. He however returned to his native land, was en- gaged in the Government service, and is buried there. The subject of our sketch learned cabinet-making in his native land and at eighteen came to America. After spending two years in Ohio he came here and worked at his trade for a few years, but eventually took up building business, with which he has since been prominently identified. He was mar- ried, here, in 1851, to Barbara Speiser, who was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, in 1829. To this union have been born four sons and seven daughters-Frederick William, a con- tractor and builder; Minnie, wife of John Sapper, a tinsmith of Erie; Mary; John, a car- penter; Joana, wife of Edward Mehl, a merchant of Erie; Henry, a carpenter; Emma; Chas., a carpenter; Elizabeth; Louisa and Katherine. The family are members of the Lutheran Church. He is a member of the Oddfellows and Harugari societies.


D. T. MURRAY, manager for the W. U. Tel. Co., and L. S. & M. S. Ry., Union De- pot, Erie, is a native of Erie and a son of Thomas and Bridget (Foley) Murray, the


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CITY OF ERIE.


former of whom was born and reared in County Tipperary, Ireland, and came here about 1850, among the pioneer railway people who settled here. The mother was also a native of Ireland, born in County Waterford. Four of their sons and two daughters are living- D. T., J. C., Thomas, Jr., Mary, Daniel and Josephine. The subject of this sketch was reared to railroading, and when seventeen became a telegrapher, and when eighteen years old took charge of an office with same telegraph line, and in 1874 located here and has since been reputably connected with same line of business. He was married, in 1883, to Ellen Frances Hannon, a native of Erie Co. They are both members of the Roman Catho- lic Church and regular communicants. Mr. Murray is an active member and President of Branch 20 of the C. M. B. Association, and the Y. M. C. Lyceum, and he is President of the Board of Directors of that association; also a Common Councilman of the Municipal Government.


HENRY NEUBAUER, of the firm of H. Neubauer & Son, Arcade Hotel, Erie, was born in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany in 1835, and there learned shoe-making. He came to America in 1850, and located in Erie, where he carried on this business very successfully until 1860, when he engaged in merchandising, continuing in the same until 1878, when he took up his present business, having previously (1870) built his handsome hotel. He was united in marriage in 1851, with Elizabeth Lederer, of Bavaria. This union has been blessed with four sons and one daughter-John A., merchant, Frank, a member of the firm, Edward, Alfred and Anna. Mr. Neubauer is a member of the Erie City Benefit Association, Harugari and the Odd Fellows societies.


JOHN F. NEUBAUER, retail liquor dealer, Erie, was born in Erie City, Penn., Sept. 30, 1847, son of Jacob and Barbara (Fisher) Neubauer, natives of Germany, who came from thence to Erie in 1846. They were parents of ten children, five hoys and five girls, all but two of whom are living. Our subject received his education in Erie City, then for a time worked at upholstering, but, on account of weak eyes, was compelled to give up his chosen avocation. He then clerked in a furniture store. In 1881 Mr. Neubauer embarked in his present business, in which he has since continued. He is a member of the Lutheran Church; is a Republican in politics, and is a prominent member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, Erie City.


WILLIAM NICHOLSON, retired farmer, Erie, was born April 7, 1800, in Fairview Township (then Allegheny Co.), now Erie Co .; son of George and Jane (McKee) Nicholson, natives of Ireland, who came to this county in 1783, and purchased 200 acres of land of Sur- vey 315, surveyed by Thomas Reese. The land is now held by Mr. Marcus Lewis on a life lease, and eventually falls back to the Nicholson heirs. William Nicholson is the only one of his father's family now living. He is one of several lads who boarded one of the ships built for Commodore Perry's fleet, the Lawrence or the Niagara, the day they were launched, he being about twelve years of age. He remembers having heard Gen. La Fay- ette make a speech in Erie, June 4, 1825, and Maria C. Ball, she that was afterward Mrs. William Nicholson, was taken by the General and kissed, and this she remembers. She also well remembers many a time sitting on the knee of Red Jacket, the great Indian Chief, in her father's jewelry shop in Buffalo. William Nicholson's parents were among the earliest settlers of the county. He is the oldest man born in the county now living, while his only son is now twenty-seven years of age. Mr. Nicholson is a remarkable man for his years-eighty-four. He has been a thorough business man in his day, and has ac- cumulated much property and wealth. He is possessed of all his faculties, and can read very fine print without spectacles, and has the history of the county well fixed in his mind. He was married, Aug. 27, 1849, to Maria C., daughter of the late Sheldon Ball. They had three children, of whom only one son is now living-Walter V., who is at home with his parents, and is a promising young man. William Nicholson is said to resemble Gen. Jackson by all who have seen the General's portrait. His wife's father was one of the first jewelers and engravers in the city, some of his work surpassing anything of later day en- graving.


WILLIAM F. NICK, druggist, Erie, was born in Germany, Sept. 6, 1845, son of G. F. W. and Louise (Teubner) Nick. Mr. Nick, Sr., also a druggist while in Germany, was hon- ored with a visit from Horace Greeley, when the latter was traveling in Europe, and was induced to emigrate to America in 1848. He came to Erie City in 1849, and is still active- ly engaged in business on State Street. Our subject has been in business in Erie City since 1859. His premises, which are in the Scott Block, the finest building in the city, occupy a floor space of 20x165 feet, with an L frontage on Tenth street, of 20x40 feet. This, with a cellar under the entire building used for storing surplus stock, makes the largest drug store in the city of Erie. The business was established in 1862, and the firm was formerly composed of W. F. and H. C. Nick, but is now, since 1882, carried on by our subject, who graduated in pharmacy in New York. He was married, in 1868, to Matilda K. C., daugh- ter of Frederick Von Buseck, a resident of Erie Co. To this union were born Ida, Louise, William and Rachel.


ORANGE NOBLE, founder and President of the Keystone National Bank, Erie, was born April 27, 1817, at Whitehall, N. Y .; son of Salmon and Betsy (Delamater) Noble. The former, who had been a farmer, was a native of Massachusetts, but in early life moved


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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:


to Washington Co., N. Y .; the latter was a native of New York. They were parents of seven children-Orange, Laura, Horace W., Mary Ann, Helen C., Amelia and Carissa. Our subject remained on the farm with his father till he was twenty-three years of age, and was educated at the common schools and the Academy in Washington Co., N. Y. Jan. 1, 1840 he married Minerva Reed, who bore him two children-Theodore F. and George H. Early in 1853 Mr. Noble moved to Crawford Co., this State, when he entered into partner- ship with his relative, G. B. Delamater, in merchandising and farming, as well as oil pros- pecting, and by 1863 they had made their fortune. In that year, the "Noble well "-the noblest in the world-yielded more than 2,000 barrels per day. In 1864 Mr. Noble became a resident capitalist of Erie City. In 1865 he purchased the Bay State Iron Works, and is to-day its chief owner. At a cost of $135,000, he erected the Noble Block in this city, and in 1867 he and others erected the first elevator at this harbor, and in 1869 he became a large owner in the Blast Furnace. He was the original stockholder in the Burdett Organ Factory, the Dime Savings Bank and the Second National Bank, sole proprietor of the Noble Sewing Machine Company, and connected with many minor enterprises. He was founder of the Keystone National Bank and has been President of same for twenty years. Mr. Noble has been twice elected to the Mayoralty of Erie City, and once to a seat in the General Assembly. In politics he is a strong Republican.


LYSANDER STERRETT NORTON, attorney at law, Erie, was born in Forestville, Chautauqua Co., N. Y., Jan. 26, 1845. His paternal ancestry settled in Connecticut in 1640; the branch from which he sprung removed to New York State about 1780, finally locating in Pennsylvania in 1830. His father, Rev. Niram Norton, devoted more than forty years to the ministry, and was a prominent divine among the Methodist clergy of his day. His mother, Ann M. Sterrett, was a niece of Judge Joseph M. Sterrett, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this volume. Our subject acquired his education in various schools and academies, including Allegheny College, Meadville, Penn., where he graduated at the age of nineteen in the class of 1864. He also graduated in the law department of Harvard University, class of 1868. Having acquired a thorough literary and legal education, he was admitted to the bar at . Meadville in Oct., 1868. He immediately entered upon the active practice of his profession at Erie, where he has since resided. In 1873 he formed a law co-partnership with Col. C. B. Curtis, which was continued until the latter's death in the spring of 1883. Mr. Norton enjoys a fine practice, and is regarded as one of the leading attorneys at the bar. He was married, June 12, 1873, to Miss Mattie L. Curtis, young- est daughter of Col. C. B. Curtis, by whom he has one child-Carlton Curtis, born July 20, 1876.


RICHARD O'BRIEN, agent Pennsylvania Company operating Erie & P. R. R., Erie, was born Feb. 25, 1825, at Dromig, County Cork, Ireland, sou of Richard and Ellen (Am- brose) O'Brien. He emigrated to Quebec, Canada, in 1847, and moved to Erie, Penn., the same year, where he acted as Clerk and book-keeper in the commercial and commission business at the harbor for nineteen years. When the E. & P. R. R. was completed in 1866 to the harbor, he was appointed its agent, a position he has since continued to fill in an efficient manner. During the last thirty-seven years, from 1847 to 1884, he has been inti- mately associated with the lake business and the commerce of the harbor as employe, em- ployer, vessel-owner and railroad agent. He was married in Philadelphia in 1852, to Mar- garet, daughter of Denis McCarthy, who also emigrated from Ireland and was his com- panion from childhood. To this union were born four children-Catharine Annie, Joseph P. (an attorney at law), Ellen I. and Fannie. His first wife dying in 1868, Mr. O'Brien married in 1873, Mary, daughter of James Casey, of Erie. By this union were born two children-Agnes Annie and Mary. Mr. O'Brien is a member of the Catholic Church.


ARTHUR O'DONNELL, livery and feed stables, on French between Fourth and Fifth streets, Erie, was born in 1846 in County Cavan, Ireland, and came to America in 1862, locating at Norwalk, Ohio, where he remained several years; thence came to Erie in 1871, and subsequently engaged in his present business. He was married here, Oct. 8, 1878, by Rev. Thomas Casey, in St. Patrick's Cathedral, to Ellen Sarah, daughter of Will- iam ard Johana Delaney, natives of Ireland. Mrs. O'Donnell was born in Erie Co .; on Dec. 1, 1881, she departed this life in full communion with the Roman Catholic Church, and is buried in Trinity Cemetery beside her two infant daughters-Mary Frances and Johana, who had preceded her.


JOHN O'HAGAN, chief clerk of the P. & E. Ry. Shops, Erie, was born in Newry, Blair Co., Penn., June 24, 1844; son of Peter O'Hagan, a native of Ireland, who came to this country about 1823, and settled in this State. He was a merchant, and our subject was reared to the same industry, but at twenty two took up railroading with which he has been since connected in this State. He came here in 1867 as a clerk for the P. & E. R. R. Our subject was married in 1872, in his native place, to Maggie Mahoney, born in Blair Co., Penn., who has borne him three daughters-Lulu, Mary and Kate. She is a member of the Roman Catholic Church and a regular communicant. Mr. O'Hagan is an efficient member of the School Board of this city, and has always been interested in the develop- ment of its social and industrial life.


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CITY OF ERIE.


LEWIS W. OLDS, proprietor of the Wood Pump and Pump Log Factory, Erie, was born in East Mill Creek, Erie Co., Penn., July 21, 1822, son of Asa Gilbert Olds, a native of Alstead, N. H., born Nov. 15, 1793, and who when a child was taken to Williamstown, / Vt., where he resided until the spring of 1816, when he came to East Mill Creek, this county. Here he died Dec. 8, 1871. He married, April 17, 1821, Lucy Church, a native of Winchester, Conn., who bore him five children, all now living, viz .: Lewis W., our sub- ject; Nelson, married and living in Greene Township, this county; Erskine, married and residing on the old homestead in East Mill Creek; Clarissa E., married to Isaac Keeler May 2, 1882 (they together publish a monthly religious paper, called the Banner of Love, now at Washington, D. C.), and Emily J., teacher in the public schools, Erie City. John Church, father of Lucy (Church) Olds, enlisted when eighteen years of age during the Revolutionary war, at Saybrook, Conn., and went with Arnold to the Siege of Quebec in 1776. He was present at the battle of Saratoga, and assisted Arnold off his horse when there wounded. Our subject received a part of his early education in a small log school- house in the country, with a slab bench for a seat. He finished his academic course at the Erie Academy, and was married in Erie City, May 9, 1848, to Louisa E. Ackerly, born in Middletown, N. Y., March 11, 1826. To this union were born Inez L., married to Eugene M. Tayntor, now live in Brooklyn, N. Y .; Clark, who graduated from the University of Michi- gan in 1870 after a four years' course, and when under twenty years of age; for several years he was in the United States Topographical Corps of Engineers, engaged in a survey of the upper lakes; having resigned, he went to Germany, and studied for a time at Leipsic University, and on his return to Erie he studied law, and is now practicing at the Erie bar; he married, Dec. 13, 1876, at Cortland, N. Y., Elizabeth L. Keator (have one son-Romeyne K. Olds); Nettie, an artist by profession, and now attending the Cooper Institute, New York; Phila, a graduate of Erie High School, at present at home; William C., married in Spence Creek Valley, Huntingdon Co., Penn., Jan. 9, 1884, to Mary Porter Brown, live in Erie, Penn .; Florence, now at home, and Charlotte Marion, also at home. Mr. Olds com- menced the manufacture of pumps in East Mill Creek in 1844, and moved his pump works to Erie in 1853, and was the first man in the United States, and probably in the world, to reduce the old log pump to an article of commerce, and has stood in the front ranks of manufacturers ever since. His pumps have had an extensive sale in all parts of the country.




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