History of Erie county, Pennsylvania. Containing a history of the county; its townships, towns, villages schools, churches, industries, etc, Part 118

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 118

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On reaching Washington, the 83d Reg. was assigned to Butterfield's brig., of Maj. Gen. Fitz-John Porter's division, and during that fall and winter (1861-62) Vincent ren- dered frequent service as a Brig. Inspector. Before Yorktown he was incessantly in the saddle, in charge of working parties in the trenches. He made the siege a constant study, and knew the position and importance of every work and gun along our lines. His first battle was that of Hanover Court House. Shortly after this he was prostrated by the poi- sonous air of the Chickahominy Swamps, so that his life was despaired of. While in this condition, the terrible battle of Gaines' Mill took place, in which over one-half of his reg- iment were either killed or wounded. The Colonel and Major were both killed. The news was kept from him as long as possible. But the preparations for the retreat of our army revealed the truth. Sick as he was, he realized the desperate loss to the regiment in the death of its gallant commander, McLane. He forced his attendants to let him go, and mounting his horse led his regiment until he fell helpless from the saddle. Carried for a long distance on the back of his faithful servant. John Hickey, he knew nothing more until he found himself on board a sick-transport on the James River. He was met by his wife and father in N. Y., and taken home, where he remained until Oct. 1, when he returned to his regiment. During his absence he had been chosen and commissioned its Colonel.

In Dec., this brigade took part in the battle of Fredericksburg. Here he gained the enthusiastic and lasting confidence of his men and fellow-officers. Lying ou their faces a whole day under the fire of the enemy so near that it was death to rise from the ground, he cheered them by his own example of personal bravery; and the command of the brigade falling temporarily to him, he proved his generalship when ordered to fall back, by rescuing his troops from their perilous position under the momentary cover of a passing cloud on a full moonlit night.

Socially, he was an unusually attractive man, and his quarters at Acquia Creek dur- ing the following winter were always a popular resort. Maj. Swan's article says of him: " As a general thing, his companions were older than himself; for though Vincent was but twenty-five years old, his decisive countenance and confident address made him seem the compeer of men of forty. Among his associates were officers of the highest rank. He could adapt himself to all; could talk with the politicians on questions of history, with a general officer on military evolutions, or with a sporting man on the merits of horses, and all respected his opinion." An extract from one of his letters about this time will show his decided opinions. "It reminds us," says his Harvard biographer "of Gen. Grant's instructions to Gen. Sheridan far later in the war: 'We must fight them more vindictive- ly. We must desolate the country as we pass through it, and not leave the trace of a doubtful friend or foe beliind us; make them believe that we are in earnest, terribly in earnest; that to break this land in twain is monstrous and impossible; that the life of every man, woman and child in the entire South is of no value whatever, compared with the integrity of the Union.' "

For several weeks Vincent was President of a Court Martial, and later was offered the position of Judge Advocate General of the Army of the Potomac. This he declined. "I enlisted to fight," he said laughingly, when urged to take the staff position.

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In April, 1863, he was regularly appointed as ranking Colonel, to the command of the brigade. Shortly after this, he rendered signal service with it, in support of Gen. Pleas- anton's cavalry at the battle of Aldie. He there received the special thanks and com- mendations of the Commander-in-Chief, Gen. Meade.

From Aldie his brigade marched to Gettysburg. Crossing the Pennsylvania line his excitement became intense. "As we rode slowly through the town (Hanover) Vincent had the torn colors of the old 83d unrolled, and brought to the front of the brigade. As they rustled in the moonlight before him, he reverently bared his head, and said to one of his staff in tones that will never be forgotten: 'What death more glorious can any man desire, than to die on the soil of old Pennsylvania, fighting for that flag!" The battle of Gettysburg began ou the 1st of July. The 5th Corps (Gen. Sykes), to which Vincent's com- mand was attached, arrived with the main body of our army on the second. He realized and yet spoke hopefully of the terrible struggle now fairly begun. As his command lay quietly awaiting orders, he said: "To-day will either bring me my stars, or finish my career as a soldier." (Who would have thought it would do both?) On the afternoon of the second, orders arrived for a brigade of their division to move to the support of Gen. Sickles' Third Corps. Vincent (so says an eye-witness) in the absence of his superior offi- cer, took the responsibility of taking his own brigade to the front, and posting them so as to hold "Little Round Top" Mountain. This was the real key, as it afterward appeared, to the position of our army in that day's fight, and the rebels strove desperately all that afternoon to take it, in order to turn our flank, and so drive us certainly from our posi- tion. This hill, since known as Vincent's Spur (and now marked by a marble slab erected by "Strong Vincent Post " G. A. R., of Erie), was held by this brigade, though at fear- ful loss. The disposition of these troops upon it was afterward cited in the class room at West Point as one of the most signal instances in the war of first-class military strategy by a volunteer officer. But it cost Vincent his life. While standing on a conspicuous rock, encouraging his troops, he was shot by a sharp-shooter, and died five days afterward. The appointment of Brigadier General was sent him the day after he was wounded. but it reached him too late. The gallant young soldier had sunk into his last sleep. He was buried at Erie with military honors. A little girl was born to him three months after his death. She lived only a year and then was buried in the same grave with "The hero of Little Round Top."

BETHUEL BOYD VINCENT. The earliest ancestor of the Vincent family in this country, was a French Hugnenot of the name, who fled from religious persecution In France in the latter part of the 17th century, and settled near Newark, N. J. In 1772, part of his descendants removed and settled near what is now Milton, Penn., on the West Branch of the Susquehanna. During the Revolutionary war they suffered greatly from attacks by the Indians and British, some being killed and others carried as prisoners of war to Quebec. Other families afterward settling in Erie Co. (the Himrods, Mileses, Boyds, Lytles, etc.) had a like experience at the same time and place. Three relatives of the name- John, William and Daniel-removed to Waterford. in this county, at different times, about the year 1800. Among the children of William are the Hon. John P. Vincent, lawyer and ex-County Judge, of Erie, and Miss Sarah Vincent, present Postmistress at Waterford; and of Daniel, T. B. Vincent and Elizabetlı (Mrs. Dr. William Faulkner), of Erie.

JOHN VINCENT came to Erie Co. in 1797, and settled at Fort Le Bœuf (now Waterford) when the region was still a howling wilderness. He was a man of strong natural intellect, sound common sense, and inflexible integrity. These qualities, though he had but a lim- ited education, procured his appointment as Justice of the Peace in 1803, and in 1805 as Associate Judge of Erie Co. This latter position he filled with entire satisfaction to the public for forty years. He married twice (first Nancy Boyd and afterward Nancy Anderson), and his children were Bethuel Boyd. John A. (now of Cleveland, Ohio), Phebe W. (Mrs. John Wood), Henry R., Cornelius H. and James P. He died in Feb., 1860, at the old homestead in Waterford.

Bethuel Boyd Vincent was the oldest son of the Judge, and was born in Water- ford Aug. 4, 1803. During his youth he helped his father on the farm and in the salt trade, picking up such education as he could between times at a country schoolhouse. Later, he studied surveying at the Waterford Academy. In June, 1826, he was employed as assistant to Col. James Kearney, U. S. A., in making surveys for a Government canal from the Ohio to the lakes at Erie. He was afterward some seven years in the State service at Meadville, as civil engineer. In 1834, he returned, and lived as a merchant at Waterford until 1843. He then removed to Erie, where he had previously formed a partnership (Vincent, Himrod & Co.) with William and David Himrod and William H. Johnston, in the business of an iron foundry and machine shop. In 1860, he retired from this firm and formed, with others, the banking house of Vincent, Bailey & Co .; and when this was con- verted, in 1865, into the Marine National Bank of Erie, he became its first President. In 1866, he joined in building "The National" Grain Elevator, of Chicago (burned in the great fire of 1871-rebuilt, 1873), and was a partner in this concern at the time of his death July 21, 1876.

Mr. Vincent was, like his father and other of his ancestors, a man of marked individu-

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ality of character. He had a clear, vigorous, well-informed mind; an indomitable, almost imperious will; thorough independence, and unwearied energy of spirit; yet, withal, a tenderly affectionate, and hearty social disposition, amounting at times to joviality. As a business man, he was active and successful; as a citizen, public-spirited and benevolent; aa a Christian, conscientious, exemplary, most devoted, yet without a particle of cant. There was a wholesome, whole-souled, courageous manliness about him in this last respect, as there was in all else he was and did. Such qualities naturally made him a man of mark and influence among his fellow-citizens.

All these traits were most apparent, perhaps, in his activity in the church of his choice. From his earliest residence in Erie, he was connected with St. Paul's (Prot. Epis.) Church as a vestryman and warden, and wasforthirty years the Superintendent of its Sunday school. He had a great fondness for children, and a great faculty for winning their confidence and affection. He was always ready to be useful anywhere in the Lord's work, from reading public service to pumping an organ. His means, like his strength, were generously given to the same cause. Much of both went into the building of the present beautiful St. Paul's Church, and of its four chapels. He was almost always, too, a representative of this parish, both in the diocesan and general councils of the Church. A beautiful memorial tablet in St. Paul's testifies to the active blessedness of Mr. Vincent's Christian life, and to the gratitude of those whom he helped to teach and lead in the same way.

Mrs. Vincent was a daughter (Sarah A.) of Capt Martin Strong, of this county, and still lives (1884) with her only surviving children-Rev. Boyd Vincent, Ward Vincent, and Mrs. Geo. A. Lyon, in the city of Pittsburgh. Three daughters-Blanche, Belle and Kate -died in early life, and two sons-Strong (Gen. Vincent) and Reed-in early manhood.

JOHN P. VINCENT, ex-President Judge of Erie Co., Penn., and attorney at law, Erie, was born in Waterford, this county, Dec. 2, 1817, son of William Vincent. Our sub- ject received his education in Waterford Academy, and chose the profession of law. He came to Erie City in 1839, and having been regularly admitted to the bar in 1841, com- menced practicing in that year in Erie, and has so continued ever since, excepting such time as he was acting as Judge. From 1849 to 1854, Judge Vincent was associated in part- nership with James C. Marshall. Our subject has been a Republican in politics since the organization of that party, previous to which he was a Whig. He was elected to the Leg- islature from Erie Co. in 1862-63, and in the latter year was the Republican candidate for Speaker of the House. He then resumed his profession, and continued it till Dec., 1866, when he took his seat as Additional Law Judge of the Sixth District of Pennsylvania, then composed of Crawford, Warren and Erie Cos. This seat the Judge occupied till the adop- tion of the Constitution in 1874, which made Erie Co. a separate district, and he then served Erie Co. as President Judge till 1877. Since that year he has continued in law practice without intermission.

ALBERT VOSBURGH, barber, and dealer in real estate, Erie, is a native of this city, son of Robert and Abigail (Tisdale) Vosburgh, the former of Dutch descent, a native of Kinderhook, N. Y., a barber, the latter of French and English descent, of Taunton, Mass. They came to Erie in 1818, and were parents of nine children, eight sons and one daugh- ter, Mrs. Susan Dickson, wife of W. H. Dickson. Our subject and sister are the only members of the family in Erie City. He received a common school training, and on the death of his father, in 1846, he and his brother F. J. continued the business for a time. Mr. Vosburgh has speculated in real estate in Erie City, and at present owns, besides the lot he lives on and where he was horn, six houses and ten valuable lots in Erie City. While never an aspirant for office, he is influential in molding sentiment in the recognition and enactment of established facts. He is one of the most active and zealous Republicans of Erie. For many years he has most successfully co-operated with William D. Forten, of Philadelphia, William Nesbitt of Altoona, Robert Stuart, of New Castle, and others, in securing to all classes equality before the law; and no one regards with more intense sat- isfaction the great changes wrought in the fabric of society. Of ample means, he has traveled extensively, and few are better posted in current and local history. He is unmar- ried, and resides with his sister in the family mansion. Of his brothers, Robert has for thirty-five years filled a position in the New York Custom House; George at the L. S. R. R. depot at Cleveland; Henry and Israel perished in the destruction of the steamer "Erie " in July, 1841; Fitz died at Oakland, Cal., and Charles at Erie in 1880.

CARL HENRY WALBRIDGE, lumber dealer, Erie, son of John S. and Jane C. (Maloy) Walbridge, was born in Erie, May 1, 1846. His father was born at Sharon, Vt., Sept. 10, 1815, and died at Springfield, Penn., May 3, 1859. His mother was a native of Argyle, N. Y., born Aug. 15, 1818; died at Springfield, Penn., Jan. 22, 1872. John S. Wal- bridge was the father of eight children, all of whom are now living, viz .: Emma J., now Mrs. J W. Moore, born Nov. 30, 1840; Charles P., born Aug. 25, 1842, married; Florence H., now Mrs. L. L. Jordon, born May 12, 1844; Carl Henry, born May 1, 1846; Andrew M., born March 29, 1848, married to Kitty O. Strickland; Ann Eliza, born Sept. 3, 1850, mar- ried to Lclas Morgan; Frank L., born June 11, 1854, married to Ida M. Smith; Ida Maria, born Aug. 25, 1858, married to Charles F. Church. Our subject passed his youth with his parents, but at eighteen years of age, when the country wanted brave and true men to

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come forward in its defense, he promptly offered his services, and entered the U. S. Navy in Dec. 1862; but March 31, following year, he was enrolled as a volunteer in the 63d P. V. I., in which he continued to serve until the close of hostilities. At Petersburg, June 16, 1864, he received a wound that resulted in the loss of his left leg. He received his dis- charge from the army June 8, 1865. Upon his return home Mr. Walbridge applied himself with energy to business pursuits.

JOHN H. WALKER was born of Scotch-Irish parentage on his father's farm in Cum- berland Co., Penn., near Harrisburg, Feb.29, 1800. In 1817 his father moved to Washing- ton Co., Penn., where the son completed his education, graduating from Washington Col- lege in 1821. Soon after he entered upon the study of law with an uncle in Pittsburgh, where he was admitted to the bar. He came to Erie in 1824, and entered upon a good le- gal practice almost from the start, becoming one of the acknowledged leaders of the bar, a position he held for more than half a century. In 1831 he was married to Miss Cath- arine D. Kelly, of Erie. Entering into politics, Mr. Walker became a zealous anti-Mason, and was elected by that party to the Assembly in 1832, 1833 and 1834. In 1849 he was chosen State Senator for the district composed of Erie and Crawford Cos., serving three years, the last of which he was Speaker of the body. He was the Whig candidate for Congress in 1850, and defeated by only 206 votes, the district comprising Erie, Clarion, Jefferson, Warren, Potter, Elk and Mckean Cos., being usually Democratic, by a con- siderable majority. In 1862 he received the endorsement of Erie Co. for the same posi- tion, but failed to receive the district nomination. In 1872 he was chosen a Delegate-at- large to the Constitutional Convention, and on the 16th of September, 1873, upon the death of William M. Meredith, succeeded him as President of that assemblage. Mr. Walker did much to promote the building of the first railroad along the lake shore, and was active in encouraging the several plank roads that extended out of Erie. During the famous railroad war he took the side of the railroad company, and suffered many annoy- ances on account of his position. He returned from the Constitutional Convention in bad health, and failed rapidly from that time till his death, which occurred on the 25th of January, 1875. His wife died in 1860, having borne him nine children, of whom five sur- vive, as follows: John W. Walker (intermarried with Annie V., daughter of Hon. S. S. Harrison, of Kittanning, Penn., formerly a member of Congress), Captain of Volunteers, and Paymaster during the war for the Union, Democratic nominee for State Senator in 1876 and 1880, Chairman of the Democratic County Committee in 1881, elected to the As- sembly from Erie City in 1882; Thomas M. Walker (intermarried with Agnes, daughter of William M. Caughey, of Erie City), Colonel of the 111th Penn. Regt. during the war, elected Sheriff of Erie Co. in 1870, Chairman of the Republican County Committee for two years, Postmaster of Erie from 1876 to 1879; Catharine D. Walker, intermarried with Samuel A. Davenport, of Erie; Isabella M. Walker, intermarried with H. N. Armstrong, now a resi- dent of Missouri; Mary K. Walker, intermarried with Mr. Beemer, of Missouri.

DR. JOHN C. WALLACE (deceased) was the first resident physician in Erie Co., and was the only one until within a short time before his death. He was born in Dauphin Co., Penn., Feb. 14, 1771, and died in Erie, Dec. 8, 1827. He graduated at Philadelphia under Dr. Rush and other celebrated medical men. He was appointed Surgeon in the United States army, and in 1794 accompanied Gen. Wayne in the Indian war. During the war he visited Erie for a short time. Some years later he resigned his position in the army, and after residing in Franklin, Penn., for three years, came to Erie with his family in 1803. Professionally he was identified with the entire county, in fact, his professional calls often took him far beyond its bouuds. In 1806 he was elected the first Burgess of Erie and also held the offices of Justice of the Peace, County Commissioner and Coroner. At the beginning of the war of 1812, he commanded an Erie Co. regiment, and after the battle on Lake Erie assisted Dr. Parsons, of the navy, in attending the wounded. Dr. Wallace was married in Franklin, in 1801, to Miss Margaret Heron, daughter of Capt. James Heron of the army. They had seven children: Eleanor, Benjamin, Elizabeth, Gordon, Jane, Mary Ann and William Perry, of whom only two are now living. Gordon Wallace lives in Missouriton, Mo., and Jane (now a widow), who married Capt. Wheeler, late of the army, lives in Troy. Mo. The only one who remained in Erie Co. was Elizabeth, who married Charles Pollock, March 8, 1831. They had nine childreu: John, Wheeler, Charles, Benjamin, James, Robert, Jane, Elizabeth and Ellen. Five are still living: Wheeler, Charles, James, Robert and Elizabeth. Wheeler has three children: Burt, Josephine and Winnie. Charles has two children: Annie and Robert. A grand-daughter and a great-grandson are the only descendants of Dr. Wallace now living in the county.

IRVINE M. WALLACE is the son of William Wallace, a lawyer of prominence who came to Erie from Harrisburg, Penn., in 1795. as the attorney for the Pennsylvania Pop- ulation Company. and afterward practiced law in the Erie County Courts. His mother was the daughter of Hon. William Maclay, of Franklin Co., Penn., and grand-daughter of John Harris, the founder of the city of Harrisburg, Penn. William Wallace had three sons and one daughter: Benjamin, a Presbyterian clergyman, deceased; William M., physician, deceased; Mary, wife of Dr. DeWitt, of Philadelphia. deceased; and Irvine, lawyer, now residing in Erie, all of whom have attained a high rank in their professions.

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The Wallace family came of good stock, the father an eminent lawyer, and the mother a daughter of the Hon. William Maclay. Mr, Maclay was a member of the State Legisla- ture of Pennsylvania in 1781, and in Sept., 1788 was the first United States Senator elected from Pennsylvania. After the expiration of his term in the Senate, he was elected mem- ber of the House of Representatives, of Pennsylvania, and was again elected in 1803. He was Presidential elector in 1796, and in 1801-2-3, was one of the Judges in Dauphin Co., Penn., and was also one of the committee which arranged for the purchase of the land that gave Pennsylvania a frontage on Lake Erie. During Mr. Maclay's term as Senator, it was proposed by Mr. Adams to give the President the title of "His Highness," etc., when Mr. M. said, "It is impossible for any title to add to the respect entertained for Gen. Wash- ington." * * * "There are none who can enter the lists of true glory with him." Mr. M. died in Harrisburg in the year 1804.

CHAS. WALLHAUSER, of the firm of Striebel & Wallhauser, importers and dealers in bottled and keg beer, Erie, is a native of Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, born Feb. 7, 1851, a son of Philip and Christine Wallhauser (deceased). who were the parents of three sons and a daughter: George, a beer dealer in Olean, N. Y .; Chas., our subject; Elizabeth, wife of Ernest Hagner, a carpenter and joiner, died leaving three sons and three daughters; Jacob, a mechanic in Chicago. Our subject at seventeen came to America with his people, who settled here. He engaged for twelve years in the oil districts of Pennsylvania, and then came here and started in his present business. He is an active member and officer in the K. of H. lodge. In 1873 Mr. Wallhauser was united in marriage, at Collins, N. Y., with Mar- garet, daughter of Matthias and Margaret Smith, natives of Germany, who settled here about fifteen years ago. Four daughters have blessed this union: May, Eda, Josie and Wilhelmina.

JACOB F. WALTHER, Collector of Internal Revenue of the Nineteenth District, Erie, Penn., was born in Alsace, France (since the French-German war of 1870 and 1871 Alsace has been annexed to the German Empire), Nov. 22, 1832; is the oldest son of Jacob Walther, who came to America with his family in 1847, settling in Erie City, where he now resides. Our subject attended common and high school in Alsace and the Erie Academy in this country. Having clerked for ten years in dry goods stores in Erie City and Mil- waukee, he, in 1857, embarked in business for himself in Erie, which he carried on till his appointment June 25, 1883, to the office of Inland Revenue Collector. Mr. Walther was united in marriage, in 1863, with Frederica Streuber, by whom there were four children: Leonie, Emil J. J., Ida and Cora. Mr. and Mrs. Walther are members of the Protestant Evangelical Church. He has been member of the School Board and of the City Council, also Notary Public five terms. He is a Sir Knight; politically a Republican.

MARTIN WARFEL, of firm Swalley & Warfel, manufacturers of soap, Erie, was born in Lancaster Co., Penn., Aug. 21, 1829, son of Martin and Anna (Shenk) Warfel, both natives of Lancaster Co., Penn., of German descent. Martin Warfel was a farmer, and came to Erie Co. in 1831, settling on a farm in Mill Creek Township. This farm is now within the corporation limits of Erie City. Our subject was brought up ou the farm, and received a common school training. He first commenced in life for himself by clerking in a drug store. In 1854 he entered the drug store of Dr. P. Hall, remaining as clerk until 1860, in which year he and Dr. Hall formed a partnership, lasting twenty-two years. In 1883 Mr. Warfel engaged, in company with J. W. Swalley, in the manufacture of soap. They erected an extensive building on Peach Street, Erie City, for the purpose, three stories high, and 45x100 feet long, with a large addition. Here the firm manufacture fine, laundry and other soaps. Mr. Warfel was twice married; on first occasion, in 1860, to Anna Dumars, who died in Sept., 1862. He then, in 1876, married Jessie Craig, who bore him three children-Helen Bliss, Jessie Alice and Rudolph Shenk. Mr. Warfel is a mem- ber of the Universalist Church, of which he was Trustee and Treasurer; has also been a City Councilor; in politics is a Democrat.

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History of Erie county, Pennsylvania. Containing a history of the county; its townships, towns, villages schools, churches, industries, etc, Part 118

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

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