History of Mercer County, Pennsylvania : its past and present, Part 107

Author:
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : Brown, Runk
Number of Pages: 1288

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FRANKLIN W. KAMERER, furniture dealer, was born in Delaware Township August 27, 1861, and is a son of the late David Kamerer, of Delaware Town- ship. Our subject grew up and received his education in his native Township, and in the spring of 1879 began clerking in Greenville, which he continued eight years. In June, 1887, he formed a partnership with L. F. Black, pur- chased the furniture stock of Woodward Bros., and removed to the Johnston Block, where they continued to do a large and increasing business till Novem- ber, 1888, when the present firm of Kamerer & Newell was organized. Mr. Kamerer was married March 11, 1886, to Miss Fannie Brown, of Greenville.

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He is a Republican in politics, and one of the enterprising young business men of the town.

MARTIN KANE, dry goods and grocery dealer, of the firm of Gaiser & Kane, was born in Kilrush, County Clare, Ireland, June 24, 1847, and is a son of Patrick and Bridget Kane, natives of the same county. The family removed to England when Martin was three years old, and both died in Halifax, Eng- land. Our subject grew to manhood in that country, and in the fall of 1864 immigrated to Scranton, Penn., where he learned the boiler-maker's trade. at which he worked several years, subsequently traveling on the road selling goods. In 1873 he came to Greenville, and July 2, of that year, was married, by Rev. Thomas Tracy, to Miss Mary McEleavy, a native of the County Armagh, Ireland. Of this union eight sons have been born unto them: Pat- rick, John, Francis, James, Edward, Martin J. (deceased), Leo and Robert. Mr. Kane followed merchandising in Greenville, and in September, 1887, he purchased one-half interest in the general mercantile house of Gaiser, McClure & Co., the firm becoming Gaiser & Kane. Mr. Kane and family belong to St. Michael's Catholic Church, and he is a member of the C. M. B. A., and a stanch adherent of the Democratic party.

WILLIAM KECK, deceased, was born near Greenville, Penn., February, 29, 1808, and is a son of Joseph and Catharine Keck, pioneers of the Shenango Valley. Our subject obtained the usual advantages of a common-school edu- cation, and grew to manhood upon the old homestead. On the 3d of April, 1839, he married Miss Harriett Asberry Sheriff, a native of Zanesville, Ohio. Three children were born of this union: Lewis L., William A. and Ella S., wife of James Morgan, and all residents of Greenville. In early days Will- iam learned the fuller's and carder's trade, but did not follow that business very long. He then entered the dry goods store of the late Robert Cochran, a pioneer merchant of New Castle, Penn. He was there married, and soon afterward opened a dry goods store at Old Harmony, Butler Co., Penn., in partnership with a Mr. Ziegler. He afterward returned to New Castle, thence removed to Sheakleyville, where he established and carried on a mercantile business about four years, when he located in Greenville and followed clerk- ing. In 1861 he was appointed by President Lincoln postmaster of the borough, and after serving his full term of four years was reappointed by Lincoln, and again by Grant, and continued in office until his sudden death, April 27, 1871. He was succeeded by his daughter, Ella S., who was ap- pointed and served four years. He was first a Whig and afterward a Repub- lican.

JOHN KECK, deceased merchant, was born on the old homestead, south of Greenville, September 5, 1816, and removed into the village at the time his father, Joseph Keck, purchased the old log flouring mill from the executors of Jacob Loutzenhiser. Soon after attaining his majority our subject en- tered the employ of William B. Osmon, a merchant of New Castle, Penn. On the 24th of September, 1839, he married Terrissa Osmon, daughter of his employer, who was born in Philadelphia, Penn., February 10, 1819. Her par- ents, William B. and Terrissa Osmon, removed to Beaver County, Penn., when she was an infant. In 1839 Mr. Osmon died, and Mr. Keck became his suc- cessor in the business, which had previously been removed from New Castle to New Wilmington, and the following year he removed to Georgetown, Mercer County, where he carried on the mercantile trade about five years. In 1845 he came to Greenville to take charge of the business of Vincent, Himrod & Co. From that time forward he was engaged in merchandising for many years. In January, 1882, Mr. Keck was elected president of the Greenville

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National Bank, which position he filled up to his death, September 7, 1885. He was the father of five children, three of whom grew to maturity, viz. : George Osmon (deceased) J. M. and William D., a leading merchant of Mercer. Politically Mr. Keck was a Republican, and filled the offices of justice of the peace and burgess of Greenville, and was also prominently identified with the growth and progress of the public schools. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and one of the most respected and best known citizens of his native county.

LEWIS L. KECK, dry goods merchant, was born in Old Harmony, Butler Co., Penn., January 30, 1840, and is the eldest son of William Keck, deceased. He received a common-school education and began his mercantile career in boy- hood days as a clerk in the store of Root & Hoge. He followed clerking up to 1864, when, in partnership with his Uncle Henry, he opened a dry goods store on the site of the First National Bank, Greenville, whence they removed to the room now occupied by him. The firm of H. & L. L. Keck continued for about six years, when his brother, William A., succeeded his uncle in the firm, which then became L. L. Keck & Bro. In 1877 our subject sold out to William W. Emery, and engaged in operating a coal bank west of town, which he followed five years. In the spring of 1882 he re-entered his former business in the old room, where he has since commanded a successful trade. Mr. Keck was married June 5, 1866, to Miss Felicia, daughter of David and Euty (Brown) Loutzenhiser, of Greenville. Three children have been born of this union: Harry L., Florence E. and Frederick L. Politically Mr. Keck is a Republican, belongs to the R. T. of T., and the family are members of the Presbyterian Church.

GEORGE OSMON KECK, who died in Greenville August 12, 1887, was born in Sheakleyville, Mercer Co., Penn., February 13, 1842, and was the eldest son of John Keck, deceased. He received a common-school education, and after- ward attended Girard Academy and Allegheny College, Meadville, Penn., and for a brief period taught school in West Salem Township. In September, 1862, he enlisted in Capt. Wood's company, One Hundred and Forty-fifth Pennsylvania Volunteers, and after serving five months was discharged on account of sickness and inability to continue in the service. In 1864 he pur- chased the interest of his uncle, Henry Keck, in the firm of J. and H. Keck, and the firm became John Keck & Son. He continued business in Greenville, Penn., and afterward East Palestine, Ohio, up to within a short time of enter- ing the private banking firm of Achre, Wick & Co., in 1872, which was after- ward merged into the Greenville National Bank, of which he was assistant cashier and book-keeper, and also one of the directors up to his death. Mr. Keck was married, August 17, 1869, to Miss Louisa, daughter of the late Hon. John Allison, who bore him three sons, J. Allison, C. Clifford and George Osmon, who reside with their mother in Greenville. Mr. Keck was a Repub- lican in politics and a member of the G. A. R. He served on the school board from June, 1885, up to July, 1887, when failing health compelled him to give up the duties thereof. He always took a deep interest in the growth and progress of the public schools, as well as in the social and material devel- opment of the town. He died in the faith of the Methodist Episcopal Church, with which society he united in 1870. He was also a member of the Masonic fraternity, and was buried with Masonic honors. Mr. Keck was a man of high standing in this community, and left to his children the rich legacy of an unblemished character.

STEPHEN R. KEELEN, contractor and builder, was born three miles east of Sheakleyville, Penn., September 20, 1837, and is a son of James and Eliza-

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beth (Rowland) Keelen, natives of Bucks County, Penn. They came into Mercer County early in the twenties, where they were married. James Keelen was a stone mason, and did considerable contracting in building the locks on the canal. He died when our subject was about four years old, leaving four children, only two of whom survive: Stephen R. and Mary E. (wife of Sam- uel Gibson, of New Castle, Penn.). His widow subsequently married Nathan Hazen, since whose death she spends her time with her children. After her second marriage she removed to the vicinity of New Castle, Penn., where our subject grew up and learned the trade of a bricklayer. He has since followed that business in different parts of Pennsylvania, Ohio and Kentucky, and located in Greenville in the spring of 1874, where he has been successfully engaged in contracting and building for the past fourteen years. Mr. Keelen was married, July 4, 1863, to Elizabeth J. Henderson, of Lawrence County, Penn., who is the mother of six children: Alonzo O., Robert B., Archy K., Olivia, Edwin E. and Elva. Politically Mr. Keelen is a Republican, and now a member of the borough council.

F. H. KELLER, deceased attorney at law, was born in West Salem - Town- ship, Penn., March 16, 1859, and was a son of Christian and Caroline (Beck- stein) Keller, natives of Germany, born September 6, 1830, and November 26, 1838, respectively. The former immigrated to Mercer County when a young man of twenty-three years of age, and the latter to the vicinity of Greenville when a girl of eight years old. They were married in West Salem Town- ship August 19, 1858, and F. H. was the only fruit of this union. On the breaking out of the war Christian Keller was in New York State, and imme- diately enlisted in the three months' service. On the expiration of his term he returned to Mercer County, and enlisted in Company K, Sixty-first Penn- sylvanian Volunteers, in which regiment he served three years. He died July 19, 1880, from disease contracted in the service, which incapacitated him from manual labor. His widow afterward applied for a pension, which was granted her in 1886. Our subject grew up in this county, and in September, 1876, began working in a coal mine, where he remained three years, earning suffi- cient means to defray his expenses in Thiel College five years. He entered that institution in September, 1879, and graduated June 19, 1884. The following autumn he went to Washington, D. C., and entered the law depart- ment of Columbian University, where he graduated with the degrees of B. L. and M. L. in June, 1886. He was admitted to practice June 8, of that year, in the supreme court of the district, and shortly afterward returned to Green- ville, was admitted to the Mercer bar at the September term, 1887, and began practice in Greenville. Politically he was a Republican, and captain of General Vincent Camp No. 179, Sons of Veterans. He was a member of the Lutheran Church, and died in that faith April 5, 1888. Mr. Keller was a young man of bright promise, and during his residence in Greenville had won the respect and confidence of its best citizens. Straightforward and honest in all his actions, he was likewise kind and courteous to friend and stranger alike, and few young men of his native county possessed so many warm friends.

REV. MICHAEL KUCHLER, deceased, was born near Hanover, York Co., Penn., November 10, 1800, and was a son of John Michael and Elizabeth (Beringer) Kuchler. In 1806 the family removed to Frederick County, Md., and in 1811 to Columbiana County, Ohio, where Michael attended the pioneer schools of his neighborhood. In the spring of 1818 Rev. Henry Heut, pastor of the Lutheran Church of his settlement, sent young Kuchler to Wolf Creek, Mercer Co., Penn., for the purpose of giving religious instruction to

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the children of that community. In 1818-19 he taught school near Zion Church, meanwhile studying with a view of entering the ministry of the Lutheran Church. On October 2, 1821, he was married to Miss Catharine, daughter of Jacob and Mary E. (George) Snyder, pioneers of the southern part of Mercer County. She was born in Westmoreland County, Penn., April 1, 1802, and was also an adherent of the Lutheran faith. Soon after his marriage Mr. Kuchler moved to Ohio, and taught a German school one term. He returned to Mercer County in the spring of 1822, where he con- tinued to teach and give religious instruction. Rev. Kuchler conducted his first regular religious service November 26, 1826, at Herbst's, in Mercer (now Lawrence) County, and for nearly two years continued to serve several charges in that capacity. On June 4, 1828, Rev. Kuchler was received into the German Evangelical Lutheran Ministerium of Ohio, at Canfield, as a catechist. In 1829 he was licensed by the Lutheran synod in session, at Lancaster, Ohio, and was finally ordained at Zelienople, Penn., June 16, 1833. To Michael and Catharine Kuchler were born eight children, six of whom grew to maturity, and are still living: John, of Rolla, Mo .; George D., a physician of Greenville; James S., a physician of Sharon; Louisa M., widow of George L. Baker, and a resident of Buffalo, N. Y .; Lucinda H., of Greenville, and J. C., agent of the Erie & Pittsburgh Railroad, Greenville. In 1839 Rev. Kuchler and family removed to Erie, Penn., and he labored in that section of the State for many years. In 1860 he located in Greenville, where he resided until his death, April 4, 1887, in his eighty-seventh year. His wife died in Erie ten years prior to her husband's death. From early manhood up to. within a few years of his death Rev. Kuchler's life was devoted to the interests of his church in Northwestern Pennsylvania and Northeastern Ohio, his active service extending through a period of nearly fifty-four years, when failing health demanded a rest from labor. But his deep interest in church work, to which his whole life had been devoted, never ceased till his eyes closed in death. His last years were spent in Greenville, where he enjoyed the unceas- ing devotion of his children.

DR. GEORGE D. KUGHLER (originally Kuchler), physician and surgeon, was born in Mercer County, Penn., April 6, 1827, and is a son of Rev. Michael Kuchler, deceased. His early boyhood was spent in his native county, but in 1839 his parents removed to Erie, Penn., where George D. grew to manhood and was educated. He read medicine in that city, and in 1848 commenced. practice in Clarence, N. Y. In the meantime he attended lectures at the New York Central Medical College, of Rochester and Syracuse. This institution was afterward removed to New York City as the Metropolitan Medical College, now the Eclectic Medical College of New York, where he graduated in the spring of 1858. He practiced in Buffalo, N. Y., from 1855 to the fall of 1861, when he opened an office in the same room he has ever since occupied, over the Greenville National Bank. Dr. Kughler was married in Erie, Penn., to Miss Elizabeth F. Foust, of Norristown, Montgomery Co., Penn., who has borne- him four children, two of whom survive: James W., of Beaver Falls, Penn., and W. Wallace, general manager of the W. W. Kughler Company, collectors and financial adjusters, New York City. The family belong to the Lutheran Church, and the Doctor is a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity. Before the breaking out of the Rebellion Dr. Kughler was a Democrat, but at that time he joined the Republican party, and still adheres to that political faith. In 1877 the Georgia Eclectic Medical College conferred upon Dr. Kughler the degree of M. D. He is a member of the National Eclectic Med- ical Society, president of the Eclectic Medical Society of Pennsylvania, and

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president of the Eclectic Medical Society of Northwestern Pennsylvania. The Doctor enjoys a lucrative practice, which he has gradually built up since locat- ing in Greenville twenty-seven years ago.

J. C. KUCHLER, general agent of the Erie & Pennsylvania Railroad, was born in Erie, Penn., September 1, 1840, and is a son of Rev. Michael Kuchler (deceased). Our subject learned telegraphy, and after acquiring a knowledge of that profession was, in 1858, appointed operator at Girard, Penn., in the

Lake Shore Railroad office. He afterward served in the same capacity at Conneaut, Geneva and White Sulphur Springs, Ohio, and then at Franklin, Union City, and Meadville, Penn. In 1863 he was appointed ticket agent and operator of the A. & G. W. R. R., at Greenville, and in 1866 received the appointment as general agent of the E. & P. R. R. in the same borough, which position he has filled for the past twenty-two years. Mr. Kuchler was mar- ried July 3, 1862, to Miss Helen J., daughter of Capt. Thomas J. Carlin, of Conneaut, Ohio. Three children have been born of this union: Artie (deceased), Eva Carlin, and one who died in infancy. Mr. Kuchler is a member of the Lutheran Church, and his wife of the Presbyterian denomination. Politically he has been a life-long Democrat, and stanch in his allegiance to the princi- ples of that party. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and one of the well-known citizens of Greenville.

LESTER KUDER, attorney at law, was born in Allegheny County, N. Y., July 1, 1835. His father, Israel Kuder, was born in Lehigh County, Penn., January 14, 1806, and June 17, 1834, was married in Allegheny County, N. Y., to Miss Elizabeth Hollister, a native of that county, born August 9, 1818. In 1836 they removed to Turnersville, Crawford Co., Penn., where they have ever since resided upon a farm which adjoins the Mercer County line. They reared a family of six children: Lester, of Greenville; Mary Ann, wife of William Durham, of Turnersville; Charles, who lives near the parents; Ju- liett, wife of Reuben Camp, residing on the old homestead; John, a merchant of Turnersville, and Osee, wife of J. W. Snodgrass, a con- tractor and builder of Turnersville. Our subject grew to maturity under the parental roof, and received his early education in the public schools of that vicinity. He commenced teaching at the age of seventeen, and followed that profession twelve years, four years in the district schools, one year in Har- monsburgh Academy, two years in Chatham, Ontario, Canada, and five years as principal of New Lebanon Academy, Mercer County. Upon the expiration of his fourth year as teacher in the district schools Mr. Kuder attended Alle- gheny College, Meadville, Penn., where he took the degree of A. B. in 1862, and that of A. M. in 1865. In 1864 he began his legal studies in the office of H. L. Richmond & Son, Meadville, and was there admitted to the bar in 1866. In the fall of the latter year Mr. Kuder took charge of New Lebanon Academy, which position he filled until the spring of 1871. He then opened a law office in Packard's Commercial Block, Greenville, where he has since been engaged in the active duties of his profession. Mr. Kuder was married November, 19, 1868, to Miss Cordelia, adopted daughter of Dr. D. B. Packard, of Greenville, who died March 31, 1873. He was again married November 19, 1874, to Miss Louisa, daughter of John and Catharine (Snyder) Rutter, natives of Dauphin County, Penn., who came to Mercer County in 1847. Mr. Rutter died April 27, 1879, and his widow still resides on the old homestead in Delaware Township. Mrs. Kuder is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, while our subject adheres to the Presbyterian faith. Mr. Kuder has always been a Democrat, and was once the candidate of his party for district attorney, and though defeated he ran considerably ahead of the balance of the ticket.

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WILLIAM LAIRD, deceased, was born in the County Tyrone, Ireland, in 1806, and was a son of James and Ellen (Blakely) Laird, natives of the same place. His mother died when William was only two weeks old, and when a year old his aunt, Mrs. James Donnel, took him to her home and cared for him till he was old enough to make his own living. In return for this loving care Mr. Laird provided for his aunt for many years preceding her death. When William was about three years old, James Donnel and wife immigrated from Ireland to Chester County, Penn., locating in that county in 1809, where they remained till 1820, when they came to Greenville, William being then fourteen. years of age. Four years after coming to Mercer County he became an appren- tice in the cabinet-shop of Robert G. Mossman, one of the pioneer business men of Greenville and subsequently sheriff of the county. He spent three years with Mr. Mossman, and after completing his trade he worked in Mead- ville, Penn., and Vienna and Warren, Ohio, during which period he purchased and paid for twenty-five acres of land, on which was a log cabin, as a perma- nent home for his aunt. He also saved some money, and returning to Green- ville, in 1835, purchased an interest in the business of his old employer, which then consisted of a furniture establishment and grist-mill, located on the north side of Main Street, immediately east of the bridge. Messrs. Mossman & Laird soon afterward established a woolen mill across the street, and took John M. Graham into partnership to operate that factory. Mr. Mossman was elected sheriff of the county in 1836, and sold his interest to Mr. Laird, who soon afterward added a saw-mill to the business. In 1838 he sold out and removed to a farm a short distance south of Greenville, where he resided five years. In 1843 he returned to the borough, purchased considerable real estate, and began improving the same. Among these improvements was a large frame building, which stood on the site of Laird's Opera House Block till burned down. In 1877 he began the erection of the latter substantial structure, but ere its completion Mr. Laird was laid at rest in the beautiful cemetery near Thiel College, his death occurring December 14, 1877. Mr. Laird was twice married, his first marriage taking place in 1838, in Vienna, Ohio, to Miss Lois Woodford, a native of Connecticut, whose parents died when she was quite young. Five children were born of this union, viz. : Mrs. Lovisa Miller and James S., of Greenville; Mary E., deceased; Mrs. Celestia Camp, of Union City, Penn., and Susan J., deceased. Mrs. Laird died August 3, 1850, in her thirty-third year, and her husband was again married, February 19, 1852, to Mrs. Rebecca Burton, of Brookfield, Ohio, who bore him two children: Blakely, deceased, and William F., of Brookfield. A few years after his second marriage Mr. Laird removed to Brookfield, but upon his wife's death, September 20, 1875, returned to Greenville, where he spent the few remaining years of his life. Mr. Laird was a faithful member of the Methodist Episco- pal Church, and was known and recognized as a plain, sober, industrious citi- zen, and an upright, honest, Christian man. Beginning life a poor orphan boy, he soon developed those industrious and saving habits which, ere his death, made him the possessor of an estate valued at about $40,000.

WILLIAM P. LEECH, produce dealer, is a descendant of one of the pioneer families of Sugar Grove Township, Mercer Co., Penn., where he was born May 21, 1824. His grandfather, John Leech, settled in that township in the spring of 1802, and his father, Joseph Leech, grew to manhood, married and spent his whole life in that part of the county. [See sketch in Sugar Grove Town- ship of father and grandfather. ] William P. received a good English educa- tion, and taught school a couple of terms. He was married April 12, 1849, to Miss Minerva Martin, a native of Greenville, and daughter of John and

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Mary Martin, early settlers of Mercer County. Mr. Leech settled on a farm close to the old homestead, where he resided until his removal to Greenville. Four children were born to William P. and Minerva Leech, viz. : Lester D., Augusta, Elizabeth H. and Sarah E., all residents of Greenville, where the mother died August 10, 1887, a zealous disciple of the United Presbyterian Church. In early life Mr. Leech was a Whig, but was in at the birth of the Republican party. In the fall of 1860 he was elected, on that ticket, sheriff of Mercer County, and served one term, and was afterward elected jury com- missioner. In 1857 he took up his residence in Greenville, and, excepting his term in the sheriff's office, when he lived at Mercer, has ever since been one of the active business men of the borough.

LESTER D. LEECH, general grocer, was born in Sugar Grove Township, Mercer Co., Penn., March 20, 1850, and is the only son of W. P. Leech, of Greenville. He resided with his parents until reaching manhood, and obtained a good English education. In the spring of 1877 he and James Loutzenhiser each purchased an interest in the queensware store of D. D. Lynn & Co., of Greenville, and the firm name was changed to Artherholt &. Co. In December, 1881, Mr. Leech sold out to his partners, and in March, 1882, purchased a half interest in the grocery house of L. L. Kamerer, and the firm of Kamerer & Leech was established. This lasted till February, 1884, when the partnership was dissolved. The following October Mr. Leech bought out the grocery store of R. C. McClure & Son, and has since conducted one of the leading houses of Mercer County. Mr. Leech was married March 3, 1880, to Miss Clara, daughter of John R. Packard, Esq,, of Greenville. Two children are the fruits of this union: Josephine and John P. (deceased). Politically Mr. Leech is an unswerving Republican, a prominent member of the I. O. O. F., and is one of the enterprising young business men of the borough.

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History of Mercer County, Pennsylvania : its past and present, Part 107

Author: Publication date: 1888 Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : Brown, Runk Number of Pages: 1288

Author:
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : Brown, Runk
Number of Pages: 1288