History of Erie county, Pennsylvania. Containing a history of the county; its townships, towns, villages schools, churches, industries, etc, Part 119

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 119

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JACOB WARFEL, farmer, and dealer in farming implements, buggies and carriages, Erie City, was born in Erie City on the farm where he now resides. He is a son of Mar- tin and Anna (Shank) Warfel, natives of Lancaster Co., Penn., of German descent. The father came to Erie Co. in 1831, and raised four children. Jacob was reared on the farm, and received a common school education. He was married, in 1863, to Phebe, daughter of John Burton; she is of English descent. Mr. and Mrs. Warfel have one child-Anna. Mrs. Warfel has been an invalid for years. Our subject is a Democrat in politics; he has been a member of the Erie City Council four years, and School Director eleven years. While Director in Mill Creek Township, he was the prime mover in establishing the long-term system in the schools, and in abolishing the teachers boarding round. He has always been a strong advocate of Township Superintendents.

CAPT. W. B. WARNER, firm W. B. Warner & Co., general fire, life and accident insurance agents, Erie, was born in Fairview, Erie Co., Penn., July 31, 1841; son of Wal- ter W. and Minerva (Bird) Warner, natives of New York; former a hotel-keeper and drover, of English descent, latter of Scotch. Our subject left home wheu young, and was educated in Erie City. He first learned the shoemaker trade, which he worked at till April 14, 1861, when he enlisted in the Erie Regiment (three months), then in the 111th P. V.

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V., Co. B, of which he was elected Second Lieutenant, serving as such till Sept. 17, 1862, when he was promoted to First Lieutenant, which rank he held till the following January when he was promoted to a Captaincy. After serving with his regiment through all the en- gagements participated in, he was discharged Nov. 19. 1864. On his return home the Captain acted as traveling salesman for thirteen years. In 1879 he came to Erie City and hetook himself to insurance business. The firm represents eleven fire, life and accident insurance companies, showing a total amount of resources $46,173,763. Our subject was married, in Erie City, in 1866, to Minerva, daughter of Rudolph Pettit, a resident of Fairview. To this union was born one child-Nina. Mr. and Mrs. Warner are members of the Central Presbyterian Church. In politics he is a Republican. He was elected Commander of Strong Vincent Post, No. 67, Dept. of Penn., G. A. R., on Jan. 1, 1884.

WARNER BROS. The firm of Warner Bros., dry goods merchants, Erie, is com- posed of E. L., W. S. and S. D. Warner, natives of Oneida Co., N. Y. Their father, Austin Warner, was a native of New York, of English extraction. E. L., the senior brother, came to Erie Co. in 1857, and in 1862 embarked in mercantile business established along with a Mr. Bell, under firm name Bell & Warner. This continued till 1866, when Mr. Bell withdrew, and the firm assumed the title of Warner Bros., the other two brothers having arrived from New York, where they were engaged in mercantile business. These gentlemen have one of the most attractive dry goods stores in Erie City, and are recog- nized as men of sterling business qualities, and as public-spirited citizens.

A. WAXELBAUM, merchant tailor, Erie, was born in Germany Dec. 15, 1832; son of David Waxelbaum, a merchant there. Our subject attended school in his native land, and at the age of eleven commenced tailoring, serving four years. ' He worked at his trade in Germany till 1849, when he came to America. Then he engaged for eleven years as cutter and fitter in a popular house in New York. On the first call for volunteers, in 1861, Mr. Waxelbaum enlisted in the 2d N. H. I .; after ninety days re-enlisted in Co. H, 48th Regt. N. Y. V. I., serving two years. He was then employed in New York till 1865, when he came to Erie City, engaging for three years as cutter and fitter at a salary of $1,800 per year. He then followed same occupation, at same salary, in Corry, but in a year returned to Erie, where he has since continued. Though Mr. Waxelbaum has once failed, he has succeeded in regaining what he lost. In addition to merchant tailoring, he is actively engaged in oil business, and owns seven oil wells in Warren Co., Penn. The town of Clarendon is greatly indebted to his enterprise and energy, he having built two large blocks and several dwell- ing houses there, which he still owns, besides twenty-five acres of land. His real estate there is valued at $40,000. He is also owner of a good store and dwelling in Erie. Our subject was married, in Erie City, in 1865, to Fannie Bluff, and to this union four children were born-Tillie, Maximilian, Annie and Solomon. Mr. Waxelbaum and wife are mem- bers of the Jewish Synagogue. He is a Republican in politics; is a prominent member of several secret societies, and for two years has been Grand Lodge Representative, Garfield Lodge, Erie City.

DANIEL WEEKS, gunsmith, Erie, was born in Orange Co., N. Y., in 1810. When fourteen he went to Webster, Monroe Co., N. Y., and learned the trade of a gunsmith, which he followed in his native State until 1849, when he came to Erie, where he has since followed his business. Our subject was united in marriage in 1835 in Webster, N. Y., with E. C. Hughes. They have an adopted daughter Rosamond, wife of H. W. Dagget, who is in the insurance business.

JOHN WEINHEIMER, furniture dealer, 1304 State Street, Erie, was born in Ger- many, May 19, 1841, son of Martin and Barbara (Decker) Weinheimer, the former a farmer all his life. Our subject acquired his education in his native land, and learned upholstering in this country, coming to Erie City in 1859. Here he worked at his trade till 1863, when he embarked in business on his own account. He was married the same year to Kate, daughter of Valentine Stein, and of German descent. This union was blessed with six children, among whom there is one son: John A., now a young man, assist- ing his father in the store. Mrs. Weinheimer died in 1881. She was a member of St. Paul's Church, as are the other members of the family. Mr. Weinheimer has made all he now possesses by his own unaided efforts; is owner of a neat, substantial residence on Twenty- second Street, between Holland and German streets, and of several other pieces of property.

FRANK L. WEISS, proprietor of the Sonntagsgast, Erie, was born in Berlin, capital of Germany, in 1846, and came to America in 1863; enlisted in the 14th N. Y. Cav., served to the close of the war, and then came to Erie City. Here our subject found no little difficulty in finding a channel adapted to one of his superior education and culture, and the pickax and shovel had often to he wielded instead of the pen, but as mind must ulti- mately triumph over matter, Mr. Weiss, in January, 1879, obtained the editorial chair of the Leuchtthurm, a German paper published in Erie. This position he resigned, however, in the spring of 1881, and, on May 15 of that year, founded the Sonntagsgast, a German Sunday paper devoted to humorous and other sketches, poetry, local jokes and all sorts of entertaining matter. The Sonntagsgast is non-political and has a total circulation of over 2,000. The father of our subject, who still lives, is an eminent musician and composer, and is proprietor of a music store in Berlin, Germany.

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D. C. WELLER, hardware merchant, and dealer in agricultural and farming imple- ments, wagons, carriages, etc., Erie, was born in Crawford Co., Penn., Dec. 15, 1844, son of Moses and Mary Ann (Braymer) Weller, natives of Pennsylvania. The former, a far- mer, was of English descent; the latter of Germau lineage. Our subject was reared on a farm, where he remained till 1869; then came to Erie City, and engaged in sewing machine business for seven years. Mr. Weller is a self-made man, pushing his way through the world since he was twelve years old. He embarked in his present business in 1876, which he has conducted very successfully. He was married in Erie City, 1873, to Ada, daughter of John Robinson, and a native of Erie Co., of German descent. They have two children living, viz., Harry Parker and Mabel. Mrs. Weller belongs to the First Methodist Episco- pal Church of this city. He is a member of the K. of H .; is in politics a Democrat.

JOHN L. WELLS, Erie County Treasurer, was born in Harbor Creek Township, this county, in 1841; son of Jarvis and Polly (Chambers) Wells, also natives of Erie Co. Jarvis Wells was twice married, on the first occasion to Polly Chambers, who bore him four children-James Madison and Thomas Jefferson (twins), John L. and R. Eliza. After the death of his first wife, Mr. Wells married Emily Knapp, and two children, both de- ceased, were the fruits of this union. James Madison Wells was a soldier during the late war, enlisting for three months at the first call, leaving just before graduating from Alle- gheny College, and served for nearly four years in the 111th P. V. I., and at the close of the war he finished his education and graduated. He was principal of the Erie High School for six years, of the Rochester Free Academy for twelve years. He began the study of law at Rochester, and will be admitted this year. Our subject also served

during the war of the rebellion, enlisting in 1861 in the 111th P. V. I., serving eighteen months under Cols. Schlaudecker, Cobham, Walker, and under Capt. Braden. He was commissioned as Lieutenant of his company, and was transferred to the command of an- other company, which he commanded until the end of the war. He participated in all the important engagements, among others second Bull Run, South Mountain, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Wanhatchie, Lookout Mountain, and all of Gen. Sherman's engagements during his memorable marchi to the sea. Being captured, he was placed in Andersonville, but almost miraculously escaped. He earned the rank of Lieut. Col, by acting as scout on one occasion and discovering the position of the enemy, thereby saving his entire Division; but his being captured and detained as a prisoner for several months near the close of hostilities, at the battle of Peach Tree Creek, prevented him from bearing his well earned promotion. He received from Gen. and Gov. Geary a special commission as a souvenir of his daring act at the battle of Lost Mountain, Ga. He was discharged in 1865. Capt. Wells married, in Feb., 1867, Adele S., daughter of Stewart Chambers, an early settler of this county. Three children were born to this union, two now living: Herbert M. and Raymond R. Our subject was elected to the office of County Treasurer in 1883 by the very flattering majority of 1,500.

JOHN H. WELSH, retired wholesale merchant, Erie, was born in Ireland in Decem- ber, 1839, son of Patrick and Bridget (Sullivan) Welsh, natives of Ireland. In 1847 they moved to Wales, and in 1848 emigrated to America, settling in Erie Co., Penn. Their family numbered seven children, four boys and three girls. Our subject, who is the young- est, received a common school education, and enlisted in the United States Navy, commencing as cabin boy. He rose so rapidly that, when the war of the rebellion broke out, he was master of a schooner. In 1864 Mr. Welsh was ordered aboard the U. S. Ship "Undine," then an Acting Ensign, to take the position of executive officer, in which capacity he exhibited marked ability and skill. His gentlemanly bearing and uniform courtesy to superiors and inferiors very soon won for himself the confidence and respect of every one with whom he came in contact. The "Undine" was kept constantly on active duty, which called into play all the executive ability of our subject. To him belongs the honor of being the organizer of the Soldiers' and Sailors' Home in Erie. In 1860 Mr. Welsh married Mary Sheahan, a native of Ireland, by whom were six children, five living-Thomas P., Libbie, James E., Bettie and Effie. Mr. and Mrs. Welsh are members of the R. C. Church.

CHARLES H. WELSHMAN, dealer in tobacco, cigars, stationery and confectionery, was born in New Jersey, and came to Erie with his parents, Edward R. and Sarah Welsh- man, his father being among the pioneer cigar manufacturers here; he departed this life April 9, 1876, and is buried in the Erie Cemetery. He left a widow, one son-Charles H .- and two daughters-Ida, wife of William F. Rindernecht, and Hattie, who is unmarried. After his father's decease, Charles H. took charge of the business, which he has carried on steadily since. He was united in marriage. in Erie, in 1881, with Carrie Burger, a native of the same, her parents being early settlers of Erie, coming from Germany.

JACOB WESCHLER was born in Bavaria in the year 1828. In 1852 he married, in Erie, Miss Barbara Hauck, daughter of Lawrence Hauck, Esq., farmer, by whom he had two children : Daniel D., married Sophia M. Warfel, 1878, they have two children : Ber- tena M. and George D .; Julia (deceased). Married again 1857, to Miss Frances, daughter of Andrew Siedle, farmer, of Erie, by whom he has had six children : Bena, married to Frank J. Larey and residing in Erie (have one child : William); Leo B., married Pauline Kimmith in 1876 (have four children: Robert E., Charles L., James S. and Frank); Jacob (de-

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ceased); Francis, at home; James J. and Philip Andrew. Mr. Weschler came to this county when but nineteen years of age, landing in New York City in 1847, with but 25 cents in his pocket. He first engaged with a farmer in Flushing, N. Y., at $8 per month, where he remained two months, when he took passage on a canal boat for Buffalo and from there to this city by steamboat, where he arrived thirty-seven years ago. Soon after arriving in Erie he engaged with George Fry, to work in his brewery for one year, after which he worked for another year as foreman in Dietz's brewery. He had then saved sufficient means to start in a small way for himself, and with that sturdy self-reliance which has always characterized him in his commercial career, he began the business which has to-day grown into such magnificent proportions. After renting for three years, he bought a brewery and made lager and ale and did his own malting; in 1864 he built a new brewery, selling it the same year, when he purchased the old malt house on the present site of the Lake City Malt House, and has devoted his attention ever since exclusively to malting. The constantly increasing demand for his fine quality of malt compelled him, in 1873, to build additions to his malt house, and in 1879 he removed the old building and doubled his capacity. Jacob Weschler is now tifty-six years of age as appears by date of his birth, but from personal appearance would not be judged over forty. He personal- ly superintends the details of his immense business, as well as the malting operations, as- sisted by two of his sons. The eldest son, Daniel D., attends to the financial affairs, including the purchase of barley; and the quality of the barley used, and the success of the concern attests his fitness for the responsible position to which he is assigned. To meet the vast requirements of his constantly increasing malting business Mr. Weschler found it necessary to again enlarge his capacity, which he did by erecting the large and substan- tial building at the corner of Parade and Sixteenth Streets on Lake Shore & Penn. R. R., from which he has tracks into the building. The walls are of brick and iron with slate roofs, and the entire building is made as nearly fire-proof as possible. The malting floors : The northern portion of the building is occupied by the floors and kilns. There are five spacious floors, occupying as many stories, with a capacity of 1,000 bushels each. These floors are of cement. built in the most durable manner, and fitted with the latest improve- ments for regulating the temperature. The grain is introduced on the floors at the west end and swept into the kilns by a large trimmer, all work being done by machinery when- ever possible. The elevator bins are in the south half of the building and are eighteen in number, with a capacity of 100,000 bushels. United States Bonded Warehouse : These bins are secured above and below by custom house locks, as they are all bonded by the U. S. Government for the storage of barley from Canada. Mr. Weschler has for many years been a heavy importer of Canadian barley, which he has not only used for his own malting, but has also shipped in large quantities to other points. There not being suffi- cient storage capacity always available in the dock elevators, and Mr. Weschler needing all of the room in bis Lake Shore malt house for his local business, the erection of the new building just completed became necessary to accommodate his fast increasing trade. The elevator bins' capacity of 100,000 bushels makes a considerable addition to the storage of the port. Mr. Weschler made applications to have the elevator bonded under the ware- house laws of the United States, which was granted him after examination of the property. This gives Mr. Weschler valuable privileges in the barley and malt trade, which his ample means and large business experience will make available. The elevator building is 100x70 feet on the ground and 75 in height.

J. W. WETMORE, attorney, Erie City, was born in Warren Co., Penn., May 1, 1820; son of Lansing and Caroline (Ditmars) Wetmore, the former a grandson of Amos Wetmore and Hugh White, of Whitestown, N. Y. and the latter coming with her parents from Long Island. Lansing Wetmore was Prothonotary, Clerk of the Courts and Register and Recorder at the organization of Warren Co., afterward practiced law, and was Associate Judge, retiring in the last years of his life to a farm near Warren. Our subject received his education at Warren Academy and Union College, N. Y., and afterward engaged in teaching. He was principal of Warren Academy for one aud a half years, and in 1846 removed to Erie City, where he taught in the academy for two years. He commenced the practice of law in Erie City in 1849, which profession he continues to follow. In bus- iness Mr. Wetmore has been successful. In politics he is a Republican.

REV. JAMES H. WHALLON (deceased) was born in Argyle, Washington Co., N. Y., July 20, 1808. At the age of seventeen he was converted, joined the Methodist Church at Rochester, N. Y., studied for the ministry, and in 1830 was ordained and became a mem- ber of the Genesee Conference. His first appointment was at Lewiston. Our subject married, in 1829, Miss Kelso, who bore him ten children, only two surviving: Melvin S., an industrious and thoroughly Christian young man, with the Lovell Manufacturing Co., and Isabella, residing in Erie. J. H. Whallon, LL. D., was transferred in 1837 to the Erie Con- ference, his first charge being in Waterford. He came to Erie City in 1843, and though moving from place to place, the custom of the ministry of his denomination, ever consid- ered this his home. In 1857 the Doctor, then pastor of the Erie Street Church, Cleveland, became a delegate to the General Conference held in Boston, subsequently filling the posi- tion of Elder, Fredonia District, four years, then for six years in the Jamestown District,

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then for three years in Erie; this he resigned to accept the United States Consulate to Port Mahon, Spain. At the expiration of three years, Dr. Whallon returned home, went to Dayton, Cataraugus Co., N. Y., and served till his death. Our subject, up to the time of the war, in 1861, was a Democrat in politics; but he then became a stanch Republican, and frequently spoke words of loyalty to his country from the stump. Though he was often spoken of as a good subject for Congressional honors, he never became a delegate. The Doctor was identified with many public spirited-enterprises of Erie City. His prop- erty on the west side is well known to-day, and the remains of his docks, now owned by the Anthracite Coal & Iron Company, serve as a reminder to the older settlers of his project to utilize the water front of the-city east of Ash Lane. Our subject departed this lite highly respected by all.

E. A. WHITE was born in Chenango Co., N. Y., Feb., 1839. Came with his family to Erie, in 1842. His youth was passed in this city, and at the age of twenty-three, he enlisted in the United States Navy, and served through the war of the rebellion. He was married Dec. 26, 1865, to Miss Mary E. Bryant, of his native county. They have had three children, two of whom survive, viz., Minnie, at home, and Edward A. Mr. White is a painter and grainer by trade, and does a good business. His residence is 358 W. 5th Street, this city.

B. B. WHITLEY .- In 1814, Wm. Whitley removed from Dauphin Co. to this county and purchased reserve tract No. 47, now joining the city limits on the east side. His family consisted of himself, wife and three sons. His wife died in 1828. He died in 1843, leaving his farm to his son, B. B. Whitley, who came from Dauphin Co. with him. B. B Whitley married Jane Holliday, of Springfield Township, this county, in 1831. by whom he had five children. He died in 1849 and his widow in 1871. The children of B. B. Whit- ley, the present County Commissioner, who married Isadore Burton, in 1865, are the fourth generation of Whitleys on that tract, still in possession of the family. There are only two other cases of the same kind in Mill Creek.

BENJAMIN WHITMAN, Erie, eldest son of George F. and Mary (Hemperley) Whit- man, born in Middletown, Dauphin Co., Penn., Jan. 28, 1840; attended the public schools of his native town until twelve years of age, when he left home to live with an uncle in Bradford Co., Penn .; commenced the printing trade in the office of the Harrisburg Tele- graph when about fifteen; became partner and editor of the Middletown Journal soon after he was eighteen; sold out the Journal at the end of six months, and did editorial work in Harrisburg and Lancaster for a time; tanght school in Middletown, in the winter of 1859-60, and part of that of 1860-61, for the purpose of improving his education; came to Erie Co. in January, 1861, as assistant editor of the Observer, then owned by Andrew Hopkins, became part owner and editor of the paper in Jan., 1862, and sole owner in April, 1864; continued to own and edit the Observer until Dec. 1, 1878, since which time he has mainly given his time and attention to business and literary work; though actively engaged in State and county politics for upward of twenty years, and frequently named for promi- nent offices, he has always declined to be a candidate for nomination. The only official position he has ever held is that of Water Commissioner, of the City of Erie, an honorary position, voluntarily conferred by the Court of Erie Co. He was Chairman of the Demo- cratic County Committee, for ten years, has often been a delegate to Democratic State Conventions, and a member of the Democratic State Committee, and was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention, of 1884. Mr. Whitman was married May 30, 1870, to Miss Mary Emma, daughter of Silas E. and Julia A. Teel, of Erie City.

CAPT. E. L. WHITTELSEY, attorney at law, Erie, was born in Litchfield Co., Conn., Oct. 5, 1841, son of Henry R. and Mary A. (Parmlee) Whittelsey, the former a farmer and merchant, and both natives of Connecticut, of English descent. Our subject was brought up on the farm till he attained his eighth year, and then attended school till he was nine- teen. On July 29, 1861, he enlisted in the 83d P. V. I., Co. E, and obtained regular pro- motion from private to Captain. He served throughout the war; was wounded at the bat- tle of Bull's Run, and was discharged June 28, 1865. On his return home he was elected, in 1869, as Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas of Erie Co .; being re-elected, he served till January, 1876. At this time he continued the study of law (which he had com- menced before joining the army), with Benson & Brainerd, where he remained one year. He was admitted to the bar in 1877. Our subject was married to Charlotte, daughter of Henry Hunt, formerly a farmer, now deceased. To this union were born six children, four living-Maud, Ruth, Mary and Kate. Mr. and Mrs. Whittelsey are members of the Cen- tral Presbyterian Church, in which he is also Sunday-school teacher. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity.

JAMES R. WILLARD, editor and proprietor of Erie Morning Dispatch, Erie, was born at Madison, Ohio, Sept. 24, 1844. In 1853 he moved to Michigan with his parents, who are still residents of Olivet, that State. Our subject graduated from Dartmouth College, New Hampshire, in 1867, and attended law lectures at the University of Michi- gan in 1867-68. In the spring of the latter year he entered the law office of Judges Worden and Morris, Fort Wayne, Ind., and a few months later became associated with Hon. Isaac Jenkinson in the publication of the daily Gazette of that city, from which Mr.

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Willard retired at the end of a year. He then bought an interest in the Erie Dispatch, with which he has been since connected. Our subject was bearer of dispatches to Den- mark for the U. S. Government in the spring of 1873. In Feb., 1874, he was appointed Collector of Customs of the Port of Erie, which office he held for a term of four years. Mr. Willard is a member of the Chicago Board of Trade, and does a grain and commission business at Erie.

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History of Erie county, Pennsylvania. Containing a history of the county; its townships, towns, villages schools, churches, industries, etc, Part 119

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