History of Erie county, Pennsylvania. Containing a history of the county; its townships, towns, villages schools, churches, industries, etc, Part 175

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 175

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SAMUEL R. BRYANT, dentist, was born in Washington Co., N. Y., Jan. 22, 1837; son of A. C. Bryant, a native of Massachusetts, and a cousin of Wm. C. Bryant, the poet. A. C. Bryant came to Erie County from New York State with his family in 1847; he car- ried on the carriage making business in Waterford until his death, which occurred in 1863; his widow followed him in 1872. Our subject, who is the youngest child, learned dentistry in 1868, and has since practiced the same in Waterford; he, however, is naturally an in- ventor, and has made a success as such. Dr. Bryant married, in 1874, Miss Alice G., daughter of David Boyd, one of the first settlers in the county. This union has been blessed with one child-Florence. Mrs. Bryant is a member of the Episcopal Church. Mr. Bryant met with reverses in the oil regions in 1865 and 1866, but since then has been gradually gaining financially, and has been successful in business; he is a very moral man, a strong advocate of prohibition.

MATTHEW CAMPBELL, farmer, Waterford, was born in Crawford Co., Penn., Dec. 8, 1828; third son of James Campbell, a native of Pennsylvania, a tanner by trade, and a soldier of the war of 1812; he raised a family of eight children, four now living; he de- parted this life Jan. 8, 1846. Our subject came to Erie in 1853, and married, in 1856, Sarah, daughter of Thomas Moore, an old settler of Waterford, and now living. This union has been blessed with four children, viz., Martha E .; Bertha J., wife of Marshal Hood; James M. and George W. Mrs. Campbell and two daughters are members of the U. P. Church. Mr. Campbell is a self-made man, having accumulated 130 acres of well-improved land, with good buildings, by hard work; he keeps a small dairy, and sends his milk to the Waterford cheese factory. Mr. Campbell is a member of the A. O. U. W .; a true Repub- lican in politics.

F. L. CLEMENS, physician and surgeon, Waterford, was born in Crawford Co., Penn., March 13, 1856, second child of A. A. Clemens, a native of Erie Co., Penn., who is now living with his wife in Crawford Co., Penn. Our subject obtained his education in the Crawford Co. schools and at Waterford Academy. In 1877, he commenced to study medicine with J. W. Bowman, M. D., Waterford, and graduated in the Jefferson Medical College, Phila- delphia, Penn., March, 1881. Since his graduation he has been successfully following his profession in Waterford, where he enjoys the confidence and patronage of the general pub- lic. He is also a member of the firm of Clemens & Patten, successors of Bowman & Smith. They have a nice drug store, and do a good business. Although young, Dr. Clemens has a bright prospect before him. He is a member of Mt. Olivet Commandery No. 30, of Erie, also of the I. O. O. F., of Waterford.

WILLIAM O. COLT, proprietor of bus line and livery stable, Waterford, was born Sept. 25, 1832, in the village of Waterford, Erie Co., Penn., son of Henry Colt, Jr., a na- tive of Pennsylvania, who carried on blacksmithing and wagon-making in Waterford many years, and died about 1842. Our subject enlisted, April, 1861, in Company E., the old Erie regiment, and served three months. In July, 1861, he re-enlisted in the 83d P. V. I., and soon received the appointment of Second Lieutenant. This regiment was in the 5th Corps, Army of the Potomac, and was as distinguished as any during the war. Its first Colonel, McLane, was killed at Gaines' Mill; S. Vincent, its second Colouel, lost his life at Gettys- burg; then Col. O. S. Woodward took command; he lost a leg in the battle of the Wilder-

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ness; after which the regiment was re-organized, and C. P. Rodgers was appointed Colonel, and our subject Lieutenant Colonel. He commanded the regiment at Hatcher's Run, and passed through all the battles in which his regiment engaged during the war, and filled every rank from Second Lieutenant to Lieutenant Colonel. He had charge of the 16th Mich. Regt. at Boydtown Road, where he repulsed the enemy; he commanded the same regiment the day before the battle of Grand Forks. The chief in command of the corps knew Col. Colt was a man to be depended on, and placed him where there was the hardest fighting, and always found him equal to the occasion. He received a wound in his head at Malvern Hill, and at Bethesda Church was again wounded in the same place. He held the extreme right of the entire line, with the 16th Mich. Regt .; at the battle of Five Forks repulsed three charges of the rebels, and captured a regiment of the enemy's infant- ry. He returned home as Lieutenant Colonel, and was honorably discharged July, 1865, when he settled down as a peaceable citizen in Waterford.

J. L. COOK, builder and retired farmer, P. O. Waterford, was born Jan. 28, 1811, in Buffalo, N. Y., son of Robert and Lodima Cook, natives of New England. Robert Cook was accidentally shot in 1811, while sitting in a hotel in Buffalo. His widow moved to Chautauqua Co., N. Y., and bought a farm; she was subsequently married to Samuel Trusdel; she died in 1827. Our subject, until he was twelve years of age, remained with his mother; he then lived with a Capt. John Tracy one year, and was afterward ostler at H. G. Davice's hotel. Being an orphan, he was literally kicked from post to pillar, until he learnt the cabinet-making of John Boyd, at which he served five years. He married Belinda, daughter of John Boyd, and a sister of Charles E. Boyd, by whom he had follow- ing named children: Laura M., wife of John Brian; Ella, wife of D. V. Minor; Julia, wife of Dr. H. A. Spencer, of Erie, and Edwin; Lee died, aged nineteen, and Boyd when two years old. Mrs. Cook departed this life Sept. 1, 1877. Our subject kept the Cook's Hotel for about fifteen years; at the same time was engaged in the carpenter's and joiner's busi- ness, employing from three to five men most of the time. He was one of a company who constructed the Lake Shore Railroad from New York State line to North East, including the building of a bridge over Twenty-Mile Creek, 580 feet long and 300 feet high, and the railroad buildings at North East. He then engaged in building three miles of plank road from Waterford to Marvin's Mills; piers and ahutments across the Wabash at Vincennes, Ind .; graded about twelve miles on the O. & M. R. R., and about twenty on the N. M., in Maryland, and erected twenty buildings. He then returned to Waterford, bought the Eagle Hotel, which he conducted two years; then sold out and went to Cameron, Penn., and opened the " Biddle House," which he ran in connection with his trade for about four years. He then erected, himself, a large hotel, a block of buildings and a fine residence, which he presented to his daughter Laura. In fact, he built the greater part of the town of Emporium, and was probably worth at that time $180,000. But reverses came, and his buildings burned down, which were worth over $80,000. He then engaged in the hotel business in the oil regions; was burned out, and returned to Waterford, where he erected the Park Place Hotel, located in the beautiful park, in which he had set out most of the trees twenty years previously. Mr. Cook now owns a well-improved farm of about seventy acres. Though over seventy years old, he is a healthy, energetic man. He served as Commissioner in Cameron County, and as Postmaster for four years in Waterford. He is a Republican in politics.

JOHN R. CROSS, farmer and stone mason, P. O. Waterford, was born Nov. 17, 1818, in County Tyrone, Ireland, and emigrated to this country in 1846, bringing his wife and five children. He worked at his trade, that of stone mason, to support his family and buy his farm. He married, in Ireland, Nov. 28, 1837, Miss Ann Hayse, a native of same place, who bore him nine children, five now living-Eliza A., wife of James D. Gourley; James H., a soldier in the late rebellion, serving his country three months; Richard, whose biography appears elsewhere in this work; Thomas D. and Alfred. Mr. Cross is one of the promi- nent farmers of Waterford. He owns 180 acres of well improved land, with nice build- ings on same, and makes bis dairy a specialty. He and his wife are members of the M. E. Church.

RICHARD CROSS, carpenter and farmer, P. O. Waterford, was born in Waterford Township, Erie Co., Penn., April 26, 1848, son of John R. Cross, a native of Ireland, born in 1818, who came with his family to Erie in 1847. He reared five children, our subject be- ing third child, all now living. One son served three months in the late rebellion. Rich- ard Cross was unitedin marriage, in 1878, with Lillie Rice, anative of Erie Co., and a daughter of William Rice. This union has been blessed with two children-Clyde D. and William L. Mr. Cross works principally at his trade, that of carpenter, and is well skilled. He is owner of thirty-five acres of improved land. He is a member of the A. O. U. W .; politi- cally, is a Democrat.

WILLIAM DAVIS, retired farmer, P. O. Waterford, was born in Rutland Co., Vt., Nov. 27, 1812, son of Zophar Davis, a native of Long Island, and who came to Erie Co., Penn., with his family in 1816, and died June, 1858. He was a soldier of the war of 1812. Our subject was the fourth son in the family. He married March 16, 1837, Miss Louisa, sister of Joseph Thomas, whose biography appears in this work. This union has been

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blessed with eight children, seven now living, viz., Thomas M., Minor M., Stoton W., Montillo W., Oscar P., Anna M., wife of Otis Trow, and Louie L., wife of Harvey Clute. Mr. Davis began with nothing, but by hard work has accumulated 100 acres of fine land, besides giving much to his children; each of his sons received $1,000 from him. He has held the office of Constable; has always been a Democrat.

ELIPHALET G. DAVIS, cheese manufacturer, McLain, Erie Co., was born in New York Aug. 31, 1841, youngest child of Henry and Mary Davis, the former a native of New York State, the latter of Massachusetts. They reared a family of four children. Our sub- ject enlisted, in 1862, in Bat. A, 1st N. Y. Lt. Art., and served on the borders of Maryland. He was in the battle of Chambersburgh, Penn. After serving two years and ten months, he was honorably discharged in 1865, and returned home. Mr. Davis married, in 1866, Emily J. Burrows, a native of New York State. This union has been blessed with two children-Edith and Bertram. Mr. Davis made cheese four seasons in New York State; came to Erie Co. in the fall of 1881, and worked the first season in the Draketown Cheese Factory, in Washington Township. In the spring of 1883, he was employed in the Sharp's Corners factory, located in Waterford Township, which he now operates alone. That the factory is well patronized is proved from the fact, that though running in competition with another factory of the same kind only half a mile distant, in one season, the first, the milk of 200 cows was consumed. Mr. Davis is a Democrat in politics; was a good soldier, and is a good citizen.

F. F. FARRAR, retired, P. O. Waterford. The gentleman, whose name heads this biography, is not among the oldest settlers of Erie County, but one whose talents and abil- ity have prominently identified him in the business interests of the county. He is a native of Vermont, born Aug. 24, 1822; his father, Oliver, was a native of Massachusetts, and his mother, Polly, of New Hampshire. The father was engaged many years of his life in the milling business; was for several terms a member of the Legislature of Vermont, chosen by the Democrats; he also served the people of his resident county in Vermont as a Justice of the Peace. F. F., Franklin and A. W. are the only survivors of his thirteen children. Our subject was brought up in his father's mills and upon the farm. His educational advantages were good, being the common schools and the Hancock Academy in New Hampshire; he taught one successful term of school about the time of reaching his majority. In 1843, he removed toWaterford, this county, and with his brother, A. J., conducted a mercantile bus- iness until 1853, when he withdrew and engaged in farming and the hotel business at Forest Home, Erie Co., continuing nearly four years with good success; he then entered a partner- ship with L. Phelps in the grocery line at Waterford. In one year be sold out and engaged under the firm name of Gray & Farrar in the wholesale grocery business at Erie with his usual good luck, up to 1867 or 1868, when he sold and turned his entire attention to the restoration of sulphuric acid at Pittsburgh, in which enterprise he had invested prior to this time ; he subsequently took the principal management of the branch business at Titus- ville and was very successful. At a period during his busy life, he was compelled to lay away his first consort. the mother of four children, three of whom are living, viz., Charles W., W. T. and Mrs. Minnie Arbuckle; he was again married to Mrs. Mary Day, the result being Joe; his estimable wife is a member of the Episcopal Church, while he is a worthy element in the A. F. & A. M. fraternity. During the war he was Mayor of Erie, and discharged the duties of that office with efficiency and satisfaction; he was ardently attached to the cause of the Union, was ever opposed to slavery, and is to-day an enthusi- astic Republican. Socially, we find him a genial, pleasant gentleman. He is the artificer of his own little fortune, and is indeed fortunate beyond the common lot of humanity, in being surrounded by all that makes life pleasant, yet now, in his declining years, is some- what troubled with the asthma.

REV. P. W. FREE, pastor of the United Presbyterian Church, Waterford, was born in Crawford Co., Penn., in 1839; son of Richard Free, a native of same county. Our sub- ject enlisted in 1862, in the 145th Reg. P. V. I., and served in Hancock's Corps, Army of the Potomac; he participated in the battles of Antietam, Fredericksburg and Chancellors- ville, where he was taken prisoner, but exchanged at the end of four months, returned to his regiment and was through the battles of the Wilderness and in the siege of Petersburg; he was honorably discharged as Captain at the close of the war. Our subject was united in marriage, June 16, 1870, with Sarah, daughter of Jacob Rodgers, of Crawford Co., Penn., who has borne him four children, viz .: J. Clark, who died May 13, 1879; Ina S .; George G. and Lytte R. Mr. Free commenced his ministry in the United Presbyterian denomination in 1870, and has since been located in a congregation in Waterford, organ- ized in 1812, whose first pastor, the Rev. Robert Reid, remained until June 1, 1841, when the Rev. John J. Findlay took charge until Nov., 1853; the next was Rev. Thomas Love, who was succeeded May 3, 1864, by the Rev. H. P. Jackson, who was released Sept., 1869. The congregation is in a flourishing condition, the church property worth prob- ably $10,000, with a membership of 140 persons, among whom are some of the wealth- iest residents of Waterford. Our subject is the owner of a fine residence in Waterford.

GEORGE FRITTS, retired farmer and stock-dealer, Waterford, was born in Rens- selaer Co., N. Y., Apr. 3, 1811; son of Peter Fritts, a native of New York State, who came

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to Erie Co. with his family in the spring of 1825 and located in Waterford Township; be raised a family consisting of eleven children (our subject being second child) four now liv- ing. He died, aged eighty-one, in 1871; his widow died in 1880, aged ninety-five. Our subject married in 1832 Miss Lucy Ann, daughter of Lewis Thomas and sister of Josephus Thomas, whose biography appears in this work. This union has been blessed with four children, viz .: Darius P., Clinton G., Isadore (deceased in infancy) and Delia I., wife of W. L. Brown. Mr. Fritts has lived on a farm the greater part of his life, and has accu- mulated a nice property by honesty and hard work. He sold a farm of 250 acres and moved to Waterford in 1874, where he has lived a retired life. He has dealt quite ex- tensively in cattle for many years, and during the war shipped a great many head of stock from Canada. He has served as Director of the Poor one term. In politics is a Republican.

JAMES D. GOURLAY, farmer, P. O. Waterford, was horn Sept. 19, 1836, on the farm he now occupies in Waterford Township, Erie Co., Penn., and is the youngest child of John and Elizabeth Gourlay, natives of Scotland, where the former manufactured linen and cotton goods. He came to Erie Co. in 1832, and engaged in farming. He was a member of the Presbyterian denomination, and took great interest in all that concerned the church. After being an invalid fifteen years, he died Jan. 2, 1855. His widow, aged eighty-nine, is living with her daughter, Mrs. William Lee. Our subject served three months in McLane's Erie Regiment. After his return he was drafted, and served as 2d Lieut. of the 169th P. V. I., where he remained ten months. He came home again, and later was commissioned as Captain, and appointed recruiting officer in 1864. He raised 144 men in Waterford and joined the 211th P. V. I., where he received the command of Co. F, attached to the Ninth Corps of the Army of the James. He participated in the battle of Fort Steadman, and in the capture of Petersburg, where he was wounded in the head. After an honorable discharge June 2, 1865, he returned to his home. July 3, 1866, he married Miss Eliza A., daughter of John Cross, whose biography is in this work. Five children, three living, have blessed this union-Steen F., May J., Mary (died March 23, 1884), Lee W. and Margret H. Mr. Gourlay is one of the proprietors of the cheese factory located at Davis' Corners. This factory, which has been opened one season, consumes about 5,000 pounds of milk per day, is well patronized and gives perfect satisfaction. Our subject owns 151 acres of well improved land. He is a member of the F. & A. M. and of the Republican party.

DAVID C. GRAY, tanner, Waterford, was born in Crawford Co., Penn., Nov. 28, 1842; second child of John and Hannah Gray, natives of New York State. John Gray was a miller by trade, at which he worked nearly all his life. He raised a family of four children, three now living. He departed this life Sept., 1850; his widow died June, 1877. David C. Gray enlisted Aug. 10, 1861, in the 83d Reg. P. V. I., Co. E, Fifth Corps, Army of the Potomac. He took part in the siege of Yorktown, seven days' fight on the Penin- sula, Gaines' Mill, Malvern Hill, second Bull Run, Gettysburg, Mine Run, Wilderness, Spottsylvania, and in the siege of Petersburg, including some very hard fighting in cap- turing the Weldon Railroad, and finally in the capture of Lee's army, besides many minor engagements. At the battle of Gaines' Mill he lost his knapsack, and, in 1866, a bible, given him by his mother, was returned to him by the rebel who had secured the knapsack, and in which he had found the bible. Mr. Gray now prizes this book as a sacred relic. He served his country nearly four years, and was honorably discharged June 28, 1865, and returned home. He is now employed in the tannery business. He is a Republican in poli- tics, and cast his first presidential vote for A. Lincoln. Is a member of the I. O. O. F. and A. O. U. W. societies.

CORNELIUS HALEY, farmer, P. O. Waterford, was born in 1830 in County Cork, Ireland. He emigrated to America in 1849. Mr. Haley worked four or five years on the railroad, and accumulated enough money to buy a farm of ninety-five acres, which he now owns in Waterford Township. He bought the farm cheap, hut has improved it and made it into a splendid home. Our subject married, in 1850, in St. Patrick's Church, Erie, Miss Nora Austin, a native of County Clare, Ireland. This union has been blessed with four children, two dying young. Those now living are Daniel (married and living in Dallas City) and a daughter, Maria (residing with her parents). The entire family are members of the Roman Catholic Church at Waterford Station. Mr. Haley has been a hard worker, and has now a nice property.

JAMES HARE, farmer, P. O. LeBœuf, was born Oct. 22, 1815, in LeBœuf Township, Erie Co., Penn., second son of John Hare, a native of Pennsylvania, who must have come to Erie Co. about 1800, and whose father was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and also served in the French war. He witnessed the defeat of Braddock, and shouldered his musket to go forth in the war of 1812, when over eighty years of age; he died in 1843 at the patri- archal age of nearly one hundred and sixteen years. John Hare reared a family of thirteen children, five now living; he died in 1854. Our subject married, in 1835, Harriet Preston,; a native of New York State, and a daughter of Jeremiah Preston. To them have been born seven children-Amos W .; Stephen W., who served twenty-one monthis in the late war, and was honorably discharged; Silas H., a soldier in the 83d P. V. I., and died in the hospital

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at Alexandria in 1862; Martin E., a soldier in the 83d P. V. I., was missing at the battle of the Wilderness and never since heard from; Mary J., widow of David Cottrell; Lydia A., wife of S. B. Stoke, and Aaron L. Mr. Hare is descended from one of the oldest and most respected families of the county. He owns eighty acres of improved land-a part of the old homestead. He and his wife are members of the Christian Church. In politics he is a Republican.

AARON M. HIMROD, farmer and proprietor of saw mill, P. O. Waterford, was born in Waterford, Erie Co., Penn., Jan. 23, 1823, son of Moses and Nancy (Lattimore) Himrod, the latter a daughter of James Lattimore, a native of Northumberland Co., Penn., a sol- dier in the Revolutionary war, and one of the first pioneers of this section. Moses Himrod was also a native of Northumberland Co., Pa., and came to Erie Co. in 1800; his father, our subject's grandfather, was also a soldier in the Revolutionary war, participating in the battles of Princeton and Trenton, besides other engagements; he received a pension in his latter days. Moses Himrod reared a family of eight children, seven now living. He was a Captain in the war of 1812. He was a prominent farmer, held nearly all the town- ship offices, and died in 1865. Our subject married, in 1853, Miss Mary J., daughter of David Cook, of Venango Co., Penn. They were parents of seven children, viz .: M. L., a promising young man, married but nine months to Miss Mary Mitchell, when he died; Eva A .; Alfred C., died at the age of twenty-one; Lee, Frank H., Belle and Carl. Mr. Himrod owns 120 acres of well-improved land, which he has mostly cleared himself, and on which is his saw mill, which is operated nearly all the time, and doing a good business. Mr. and Mrs. Himrod are members of the Presbyterian Church. He is a Republican in politics.

MRS. NANCY HIMROD, widow of Aaron Himrod, Waterford, was born in Erie Co., Penn., Aug. 21, 1834, second daughter of George Smith, a native of Erie Co., now living in Waterford. Our subject married, Dec. 31, 1861, Aaron Himrod, eldest son of Simon Himrod, a native of Pennsylvania, and one of the early settlers of Erie Co. He raised a family of eight children, only one now living, viz., Martha, wife of Alfred Lamb, of Pleasantville, Penn. Mr. and Mrs. Himrod were blessed with two children, viz., Reid S., born Jan. 20, 1863, and S. Steele, born April 22, 1864; both sons reside with their mother. Mr. Himrod was a farmer, but during the last two years of his life was engaged in the grocery business. He accumulated a nice little property, which he left to his widow. He and his wife were members of the U. P. Church, to which the latter still belongs. He took quite an interest in church matters. He departed this life Feb. 15, 1873. Mrs. Nancy Himrod owns a fine residence on Third street, Waterford. She is descended from one of the oldest and best families in the township.

GEORGE HIPPLE, miller, Waterford, was born in Perry Co., Penn., iu 1831. and came to Erie Co., Penn., in 1854, where he engaged as miller in the old mill at Waterford, located on the spot of his present place of business. After remaining about five years, he moved to Erie City, where he worked fifteen years, when the old Waterford mill burned down, and he moved back and built the present mill on Le Bœuf Creek, about a half mile south of Waterford. He was then associated with T. P. Judson, whose interest is now owned by his son, T. N. Judson. This is one of the best mills in Waterford Township; has four sets of buhrs and a set of rollers, run by water and steam, and has a capacity of 100 bush- els of wheat per day. It is under the immediate control of our subject, and is doing a first-class business. Mr. Hipple married, in 1854, Miss Julia, sister of David Kinaman, whose biography appears elsewhere in this work. Three children were born to this union, viz., Ida, wife of Marshal Moore, Anna and Sadie. Mr. Hipple is a member of the A. O. U. W .; an Anti-Monopolist in politics.

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History of Erie county, Pennsylvania. Containing a history of the county; its townships, towns, villages schools, churches, industries, etc, Part 175

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