History of Erie county, Pennsylvania. Containing a history of the county; its townships, towns, villages schools, churches, industries, etc, Part 125

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 125

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W. G. NANTES, member of firm of Nantes & Son, dealera in groceries and produce, Corry, was born in Prince Edward Island, where he was educated in select achoola and clerked for five years. He spent two years in reading law and writing. He commenced mercantile business in Harhor Creck, seven miles from Eric City, Eric Co., Penn., where

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he remained until 1862. He then came to Corry, where he carried a general stock for seven years, and ran the first store in the city. Mr. Nantes spent eleven years in the South, Gar- risonville, Va., where he kept a general store, and was Postmaster. He returned to Cor- ry in 1881, since which time he has been in present business. The subject of this sketch was united in marriage, in 1859, in London, Canada, to Susanna Kendall, also a native of Prince Edward Island. They have been the parents of four children, viz., John O. H., a partner in the above business; William Henry, who is also interested in same; George A., a graduate of Corry High School, now reading law with Bole, reporter for the Herald; and Charles Frederick.

JOSEPH A. PAIN, editor of the Corry Telegraph, Corry, was born in Bristol, En- gland, April 2, 1828. His father was a medical practitioner and educational professor at one time, and in the latter years of his life kept a stationery store and printing office in Dartford, County of Kent, England. Our subject received a first-class education, finishing at Westminster College. Being frustrated by his father in his desire to become a sailor, Mr. Pain left home in 1848, and came to Quebec, Canada. After a few months, he went to Erie County, N. Y., a penniless lad. Desiring to return to England, he started at once for New York, afoot, but at Auburn, N. Y., he found work in the Auburn Daily Advertiser office, where he obtained a thorough knowledge of the practical part of the printer's business. From Auburn, he went to Wolcott, Wayne Co., N. Y., and published the Banner. Thence he found his way to Clyde, N. Y., with $3.05 in his pocket (all his worldly possessions), and took the material of a defunct paper and published a weekly paper, commencing March, 1850. On April 29, that year, Mr. Pain married Emily M. Smith, of Auburn, N. Y., who was a true helpmate to him, sharing his fortunes till May 30, 1883, when she de- parted this life, leaving behind four children. In 1865, our subject sold out his establish- ment in Clyde, and being attracted to the oil regions, bought a half interest in the Corry Telegraph, which had broken down under five different owners, and has continued its pub- lication nineteen successive years. The Corry Telegraph was a daily and weekly sheet when Mr. Pain purchased his interest. After a few months he bought out his partner, and in 1866 stopped the daily and continued the weekly until the fall of 1868, when he again started a daily, the Corry Daily Blade, commencing it small but continuing to enlarge till it became a seven-column four-page paper. In 1872, commercial depression compelled the stoppage of the Daily Blade, and Mr. Pain thereafter has given his entire attention to the Weekly Telegraph and his large job printing establishment. Our subject is now in his fifty-sixth year, active and energetic. He was Assistant Assessor of Internal Revenue for over a year; was elected a member of the Common Council of the city of Corry in 1867, School Director in 1878, and City Clerk for one term. He is an inveterate worker, liberal in his opinions, a forcible writer and a stanch friend. Is P. G. in the I. O. O. F .; P. M. W. in the A. O. U. W .; first P. G. D. of Pennsylvania of the K. of H. and an ex-member of the Supreme Lodge of the same order; P. H. C. R. of I. O. F .; P. G. P. and member of the committee on secret work of the Supreme Lodge of the K. and L. of H .; P. S. of I. O. R. M. By many of these Mr. Pain has been presented with badges and regalia of value, among which is a $100 gold medal by the K. of H., commemorating his fiftieth birthday, and a beautiful gold-headed cane by the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania K. of H. In politics, Mr. Pain is a Republican, and has taken a part in all the campaigns. In the Greeley cam- paign, he saved the Corry district to the Republican party.

G. W. PARDEE, carriage dealer, Corry, was born, July, 1828, in Russia, Herkimer Co., N. Y., and when six years of age moved with his parents to Chautauqua County, same State, where he was reared on a farm, on which he remained until thirty-five years of age, paying considerable attention to stock-raising, particularly the imported varieties. Mr. Pardee was united in marriage with Mary L. Wheeler, a native of Lockport, N. Y. Three children blessed this union-Merrit, Teller in Corry National Bank; Clifton (de- ceased), and Curtis S., clerk for the Star Oil Company. Mr. Pardee has been a resident of Corry eleven years, owns a residence here, and has spent several years in above business, selling by the wholesale and retail, and has had several partners. Previously, for six years, was a traveling salesman, three years for J. F. Leiberling & Co., Akron, Ohio. He sold in one season, in Corry, forty-five machines, of which he was the General Agent, Corry being his headquarters, and employed seventy-five sub-agents, principally in New York State. Mr. Pardee also engaged in the hardware business at Columbus, Penn., for seven years, making a specialty of cross-cut saws, selling 1,500 in one year. Mr. Pardee has served as a member of the City Council, is a member of A. O. U. W., and of the K. of H.

M. PARDEE, Teller Corry National Bank, Corry, was born in March, 1854, in Pan- ama, N. Y. He obtained his education in the schools of his birthplace, and at Ilion, N. Y., High School and Swathmore College near Philadelphia. He was with his father five years in the hardware business in Columbus, Penn .; then was book-keeper in Jamestown, N. Y., with J. R. Wilson; thence went to Corry in 1870, where he clerked for the Empire Line for a year, and in 1871 went into the bank, first as book-keeper for six years, and for the last six years as Teller. Mr. Pardee was united in marriage, in 1875, with Carrie, born in 1856, in Columbus, daughter of George Blair, a druggist of Corry. To this union have been born Paul, born October 4, 1876, and Virginia Mary, born July 8, 1881.

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J. G. PARKER, in firm of C. J. Swift & Co., Corry, was born in Niagara County, N. Y. Our subject obtained his education in Corry, Penn .; was married in 1878, to Lillian M. Bliss, of Allegany County, N. Y. One child, Montrose S., aged eighteen months, has blessed this union. Mr. Parker came to Corry, Penn., in 1865, and engaged as clerk, with C. J. Swift, in 1871, and in 1881 obtained an interest in the business. This firm is doing a large jobbing and retail trade, and is one of the best business firms in Corry.

E. T. PETERSON, member of the Corry Bed Manufacturing Company, Corry, was born October 29, 1842, in Denmark, where he obtained his education and learned his trade. He emigrated to America in 1869, locating in Jamestown, N. Y., for four years, thence went to Union City for four years, and then to the oil country for eighteen months. Our subject came to Corry in 1878, and worked for C. W. Hare & Co. four years. He has been in business for himself since January, 1882. Mr. Peterson was united in marriage, in 1871, with Charlotte Ericson, who was born in 1838. Five children have been born to this union, viz., Charlotte, Leonhart, Theodore; Anton and Theo are deceased.

B. H. PHELPS, physician and surgeon, Corry, was born March 16, 1844, in Williams- field, Ashtabula Co., Ohio, and is the third in a family of seven children, all living. Our subject's early education was obtained in his native county, and subsequently he attended the Grand River Institute. Austinburg, Ohio, for about two years. Graduated from the Kingsville Institute, Ohio, June 14, 1867, in classics, and in medicine from the Cleveland Col- lege February, 1871. He was a member of the Twenty-ninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry from the fall of 1861 to the spring of 1863, in the capacity of musician. The Doctor was twice mar- ried; on the first occasion, in 1866, to Phelina, daughter of Jacob Greenlee, a farmer and highly respected citizen. By this union there is one child-T. Otis. The Doctor losing his first wife by death, married, April 16, 1879, at Orwell, Ohio, Alice C., daughter of Rev. J. H. Dungan, a retired minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, a resident of Orwell. The Doctor's brother, Obed K., served in the same Ohio Regiment for nearly four years. Another brother, Charles H., served in the One Hundred and Forty-eighth Pennsylvania Regiment for nearly three years. Was a prisoner of war over one year. The Doctor is one of the leading physicians of the city of Corry, and is also widely known in musical circles as a very fine singer.

MANHATTEN PICKETT, M. D., Corry, was born in Charlotte, Chautauqua Co., N. Y., August 15, 1843. He attended the common schools in his native place until seven- teen years of age, and two years at Ellington Academy, same county, where he also taught a term. Our subject enlisted during the late war in the One Hundred and Twelfth N. Y. Regiment, Company B, serving from 1862 as non-commissioned officer. He also served three months in the Erie regiment under Col. J. W. McLane. Was wounded by a musket June 2, 1864, in the battle at Cold Harbor, Va., from the effects of which he has never re- covered. He participated in several large battles, and was with Butler in his Dutch Gap expedition. Dr. Pickett began to study medicine at the hospital of the Sisters of Char- ity, Buffalo, in 1864. He read under Dr. Sanford Eastman (deceased), Professor of Anatomy, and graduated in Buffalo in 1869. He began to practice his profession in Co- lumbus in 1868, continuing five years; then went to Corry in 1872, where he has a large and lucrative practice. Dr. Pickett was married, at Bennington, Vt., May 17, 1869, to Ger- trude Webber, born in Columbus, Warren Co., Penn., February, 1850. Her parents were natives of N. Y. State. This union has been blessed with one child, Jennie E., born at Columbus, Penn., April 7, 1871. Our subject has served as Health Officer of Corry six years, Pension Examiner at Columbus, Warren Co., Penn., four years, and has been sur- geon on the Buffalo, New York & Philadelphia Railroad five years, and on the Philadel- phia & Erie nine years. Dr. Pickett, with wife, is an attendant of the Episcopal Church. He is a member of the Masonic order, Sylvan Lodge, 303, St. Clairsville, N. Y .; Co- lumbus Chapter 200, Corry, Penn .; and Clarence Commandery 51, Corry, Penn. He has a sister, single, living at Charlotte. The Doctor, in politics, is a Democrat.

CHARLES PORTER, proprietor Depot Dining Hall, Corry, was born in Fredonia, Chautauqua Co., N. Y. He was partly educated in his native place, and when eight years of age removed with his parents to Meadville, Penn., where he completed his educa- tion. Mr. Porter came to Corry in the spring of 1868, engaging in the shoe business with a brother for six years, and as Teller in Corry Savings Bank two years. He then started in his present business, in which he has been very successful. Mr. Porter was united in marriage, January 25, 1875, with Hattie M., daughter of L. R. Geer, a cigar manufacturer of Corry. Mr. Porter is serving his second term as member of the City Council, elected to the same by the Second Ward. He is a member of the Royal Arcanum, also a K. of H. and K. of P. and of the Masonic fraternity.

HENRY A. PORTER, Alderman and general insurance agent, Corry was born August 24, 1844, in Fredonia, Chautauqua Co., N. Y., and is a son of Anson Porter. In the early part of 1869, our subject came to Corry from Meadville. He was the first teleg- rapher in the old Atlantic & Great Western Railroad, and was in the construction depart- ment of this road until its completion, when he came to Corry and engaged in the boot and shoe trade. In 1873, he went into the Corry Savings Bank, of which his father was man- ager; the latter was taken ill in 1878, dying in 1882 of softening of the brain, when his

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son, Mr. Henry A. Porter, took charge of the bank, wound up its affairs, settling without loss or a lawsuit. Mr. Porter was united in marriage, in Meadville, Penn., August, 1866, with Miss Sarah A. Kress. They are the parents of one daughter, about fifteen years old. CHARLES R. POWELL, dealer in hoots and shoes, Corry, was born March 31, 1842, at Portland, N. Y., son of L. I. Powell, a farmer, an early settler, coming in his eighteenth year; born ahout 1800. Our subject has three brothers and one sister living, and one brother and one sister deceased. Until fifteen years of age, he attended the district school, and then went to Ravenna, Ohio. in 1857, where he learned the machinist's business. He was in the United States Navy from August 12, 1862, to October 24, 1865. He joined as landsman, was steward two and one-half years and went to South America, Africa, Java, China, Japan, and the Phillipine Islands, coming home by the way of Cali- fornia. Mr. Powell was married, March 7, 1867, to Alice R. Alexandier, of Corry, Penn., born May 2, 1849, of German descent. One child, Sarah A., has blessed this union. Mr. Powell has served as a member of the City Council one term, and of the School Board three years. He acted as foreman eight years for Gibbs & Sterrett Mower and Reaper Manufacturing Company. He has been established in present business in Corry two years. M. M. RAYMOND, manufacturer, Corry, was born June, 1843, in Columbus, Warren Co., Penn., and was reared in the country, where he spent the most of his life. Our sub- ject received his education in the district school, and came to Corry in 1868. He was en- gaged in this vicinity for ten years in the lumber business, in which he is still interested. Mr. Raymond was united in marriage, November, 1865, with Serahphina Bishop, born 1845, in Columbus. Four children have crowned this union, viz., Nellie G., aged sixteen; Lottie D. (deceased); Frank M., horn June 10, 1881; Hattie M., born November 25, 1892. Mr. Raymond is the inventor and manufacturer of the Raymond Baby Jumper and Swing, patented in the United States June 12, 1883, in Canada, July 21, 1883.

C. P. ROGERS, Corry, was born Octoher 28, 1839, at Girard, Erie Co., Penn., and is a son of Dr. Channing Rogers, an eminent surgeon, killed by a canon explosion June 13. 1839. During the years 1851-52, our subject clerked in drug store at Girard, Penn., subse- quently, in 1856, was book-keeper for Wright, Montgomery & Co., at Minneapolis, Minn. From 1858-59, he was surveyor and agent for the Emigration Company. During the year 1859, he served in a campaign against the Sioux Indians. In 1860, Mr. Rogers was in Texas, and in 1861 he enlisted for three months. afterward re-enlisted and served seven- teen days as private; was successively promoted to Second Lieutenant, First Lieutenant, Captain, Lieut. Colonel, Colonel, Eighty-third Regiment Penn. Volunteer Infantry, Brigadier General, Third Brigade, First Division, 5 A. C. At the close of the war, in 1866 and 1867, Mr. Rogers clerked for the committee on commission bills. Our subject was elected Prothonotary of Erie County, in 1872, to the office of F. R. Penn. Mr. Rogers was appointed by the Secretary of War, in 1881, to examine and settle claims against the United States resulting from a raid and the invasion of Pennsylvania (Gettysburg) by Gen. Lee.

DAVID S. ROWE, railroad agent, Corry, was born in 1843, in Columbus, Warren County. He was educated in the common schools of Columbus, and studied a few terms at Edinboro Normal School. In 1861, our subject removed with his parents to Conneaut, Ohio, but he left home in 1862, and returned to Columbus, where he acted as agent for the A. & G. W. R. R., for more than two years. In 1865, he was appointed ticket agent for the New York, Pennsylvania & Ohio Railroad. at Corry (then A. & G. W. R. R.), which position he still holds. Mr. Rowe was united in marriage, in 1867, with Miss Emily R. Gilson, a resident of Corry. The fruits of this marriage are Emily Pearl, born in 1869, dying in 1876; William D., horn 1876; and Rodney Holland, born in 1881, now living.

H. H. SKIDMORE, Freight and Traveling Agent for the N. Y., P. & O. R. R., Corry, was born May 25, 1837, in Dunkirk, N. Y., of American parents. Mr. Skidmore has been connected with ahove railroad since 1860, when he was a clerk at Salamanca. In 1868, he was appointed freight agent at same place, and in 1869 received his present posi- tion in Corry, both of which he now holds. Our subject was united in marriage, in 1860, with Miss Mattie Eaton, a native of Laona, N. Y., horn of American parents, in Laona, Chautauqua Co., N. Y. They have been the parents of four children, two boys and two girls. Mr. Skidmore has served for several years as a member of the School Board, of which he has been Director, and for two years President.

A. SLATER, 42 Center Street, Corry, Penn., dealer in groceries, provisions, crockery and glassware.

REV. WILLIAM N. SLOAN, Presbyterian minister, Corry, was born in Youngs- town, Westmoreland Co., Penn., March 5, 1849, and is a son of David and Jane (Hunter) Sloan, natives of Westmoreland County, Penn., and parents of eight children. Our sub- ject moved to Ashland, Ohio, where he was brought up on a farm until eighteen years of age, and received his early education at the District Schools of Ashiland, graduating from the High School of that place. He attended, also, the Vermilion Institute, and there grad- uated in his college course. His theological training was obtained in the Western Theo- logical Seminary in Allegheny City, Penn., finally graduating in 1873. He was at once called to the Westminster Presbyterian Church, where he remained five years, thence to

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Foxburg, Clarion Co., Penn., two years; then to Corry, October, 1880. - Mr. Sloan was married, November 25, 1873, to Mary S., born, in Pittsburgh, Penn., December 25, 1849. daughter of James H. Gray. To this union have been born three children-Homer W., Mary and Hazel.

CALVIN SMITH, drayman, Corry, was born in New York State July 1, 1828, and is a son of S. S. and Nancy (Gates) Smith, natives of New York State; the former by trade a blacksmith. Our subject received his education in Corry, and married, July, 1850, C. M. Johnson, born February 9, 1835, near Sherman, daughter of Anson and Olive B. (Allen) Johnson (see sketch), natives of Connecticut, who came to Corry in 1848. Two children have been born to this union-W. W., Agent N. Y., P. & O. R. R., Corry, and O. C., wife of J. N. Saunders, employed in Balls Locomotive Shops at Erie City. Mr. Smith made shingles from the age of nineteen to twenty-five; subsequently had a third interest in a grist mill for eighteen months. He worked six months in Oil Creek shops; was carpenter for three years on Cross-cut Railroad, and has been employed altogether five and eight-twelfth years by the Downer Oil Company. Mr. Smith ran a saw mill, and farmed two years in Corry, three in Illinois, and one in North East Township, farming in all aix years. He has been a resident of Erie since 1853, and of Corry since 1872.

W. W. SMITH. Cashier N. Y. L. E. & W. R. R., Corry, was born in Blackberry, Ill. His parents are residents of Erie County, moving within five miles of Corry when our subject was but two years of age, about 1858. W. W. Smith received his educa- tion in the Corry High School, and has occupied his present position since May, 1876; he previously worked for the Empire Line from October, 1872, until May, 1876. He was united in marriage, in 1877, with Kate Conic, a native of Jamestown, N. Y., born January 14, 1858. Mr. Smith and wife have been the parents of three children-Mabel E., Leon B. and Georgie M.

EDGAR A. SQUIER, Congregational minister and member of West Pennsylvania Association and of Ohio State Association of Congregational Churches, was pastor of Congregational Church of Ridgeway, Penn., and recently installed pastor of Congrega- tional Church in Corry, Penn .; was born in Savannah, Wayne Co., N. Y., February 19, 1838, son of James W. and Angeline (Phillips) Squier, the former a native of Long Is- . land, N. Y., of Welsh extraction, the latter from White's Furr-Run, Cayuga Co., N. Y,, of Scotch and English lineage. Our subject came with his parents, in 1841, to West Springfield, Erie Co., Penn .; commenced very early his struggle for an education at the district schools of his county, afterward teaching and struggling against adverse circum- stances; he also took an academical course of study at Waterford, Penn. He took pri- vate study with Rev. Joseph Bradford, a distinguished scholar, in addition to above. He. also took a four years' course of theological study in connection with the Erie Confer- ence, Methodist Episcopal Church, of which conference he was a member for fifteen years. His appointments in said Conference were as follows: Wesleyville, Penn .; Cat- taraugus, N. Y .; Petroleum Centre, Penn .; Pleasantville, Penn .; Tidioute, Penn .; Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio; Dunkirk, N. Y .; Edinboro, Penn .; Karns City, Penn .; and Ridgeway, Penn. His labors in the ministry have been very successful; he took about one thousand persons into the Methodist Episcopal Church on profession of their faith in Christ, and built four churches. His labors in the Congregational ministry have been equally as successful since his connection with said body. Mr. Squier was married in Waterford, Penn., November 27, 1862 to Emma, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. T. B. Gray, both deceased. To this union haa been horn one child-Lillian B. Squier.

MOSES STARBIRD, wholesale and retail buggy dealer, partner in grist mill and grain speculator, Corry, Penn., was born in Freeman, Franklin Co., Me., May 18, 1829, of English deacent, and was the third child in a family of nine, six of whom are still living. He was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools. He commenced businesa as a builder in Lewistown, Me., where he remained five or six years; subsequently spent. three years as a watchman in Lowell, Mass .; then engaged in farming in Freeman, Me. Mr. Starbird came in 1865, to Corry, where he ran a feed-mill in partnership with his brother, I. S. Starbird. In 1866, he built a saw mill, which he worked for two years, with a capacity of 5,000,000 shingles; subsequently sold this mill, and built the block corner of Washington and Center streets in 1870, buying adjoining property, and built a house on South street, expending in all $18,000, and realizing on same $27,000. He afterward sold this property, but bought it back in two years. During the year 1875, he engaged in the grocery business with M. Moffett; sold out to Burroughs & West. He was in the real ea- tate business two years, and subsequently in the wholesale and retail buggy and wagon manufacturing business, the retail department conducted by C. G. Andrews. They do a large business, and have handled upward of 3.000 jobs in this vicinity. In 1879, Mr. Starbird built a feed and grist mill, with L. True as partner, and did a large business, sell- ing 300 car-loads of grain in three years. He bought out True in 1882, and formed a con- solidated firm with L. Hammond and T. A. Allen, with new mill built by them, having a capacity of 125 barrels of flour per day; he has been successful in this also. Mr. Starbird was united in marriage in Freeman, Me., August 27, 1855, with E. G. Gilkey, born in Free- man June 1, 1835, of English descent, and died October 27, 1882. Three children were

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born to this union, viz., Walter H., Addie (wife of Lawrence Colegrove, farmer), and Ar- thur M., aged twelve years. Walter H. was born in Lewistown, Me., March 13, 1857. He was reared on his father's farm, and educated in the district school. He came to Corry with his parents in 1865, and there completed his education, graduating in 1877, and has since been employed as book keeper by his father in Corry, Penn. He married Miss Ida Bliss.

MARTIN STARK, dry goods merchant, Corry, was born August 27, 1832, in Breslau, Prussia. His father was a merchant, who died in Germany at the age of fifty-seven. Our subject was reared and educated in his native land, and chose the occupation of salesman, which he continued in until eighteen years of age. He emigrated to America in 1858, lo- 'cating in New York, where he carried on merchandising for two years. Mr. Stark came to Corry in 1865, and has been in mercantile business successfully since. He was united in marriage, February 12, 1860, with Sophia Hoppe, born in 1835. Our subject served eight years as Notary (1871 to 1879), appointed by Govs. Geary and Hartranft. He has been a member of the Board of Education three years, elected by the citizens of the First Ward; was elected by the same ward to serve as City Councilman two years. He is, a member of the Masonic fraternity, which he joined in New York City two years after his arrival in America.

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History of Erie county, Pennsylvania. Containing a history of the county; its townships, towns, villages schools, churches, industries, etc, Part 125

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