History of Venango County, Pennsylvania : its past and present, including, Part 79

Author: Bell, Herbert C. (Herbert Charles), 1868-
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Chicago : Brown, Runk & Co.
Number of Pages: 1323

USA > Pennsylvania > Venango County > History of Venango County, Pennsylvania : its past and present, including > Part 79

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

ROBERT LAMBERTON, son of William and Elizabeth (Gilfillan) Lamberton, was born March 20, 1809, at Gorton Raid, in the North of Ireland. His early boyhood was spent upon his father's farm, picturesquely situated on the left bank of the Foyle, about six miles from the old walled town of Londonderry. As the eldest of nine children, upon his shoulders rested much of the burden and responsibilty of the work of the farm. His chances for obtaining an education were consequently slight, but such as they were, he improved them to the utmost, and laid the substantial foun- dations of a common school education, which proved sufficient for all prac- tical purposes, in his subsequent career.

In the year 1830, upon attaining his majority, he set out on the then long voyage across the Atlantic to make a home for himself in the new world. After weeks of storm and contrary winds and unpleasant surroundings, he was finally safely landed at Quebec, Canada, and after a toilsome journey, sometimes by boat, sometimes by stage, and very often on foot, he at last, on July 10, 1830, reached the house of his uncle, John Lamberton, in Plum township, this county.

As soon as the farming season was over, he made his way to Franklin, and work of any kind being scarce, engaged in the first that presented itself, that of a laborer and afterward a stone cutter on the French Creek canal, then in process of construction. After a time he obtained work with a Mr. Eckert at the "Sam Hays forge," and here for a year or more he put in the most irksome and laborious period of his whole life, only in the end to be cheated out of his hard-earned wages by the insolvency of his employer. He next obtained the situation of clerk for a Mr. Sage in a store at the north end of the upper French creek bridge. By strict econ- omy and the most laborious industry, he laid by a sum sufficient to start a small store in partnership with a Mr. Lindsay, on the west side of Thir- teenth street where the Lamberton homestead now stands. One night their store with all they possessed was destroyed by fire. Once more having saved enough to purchase the lot on the southeast corner of Otter and Thir- teenth streets, he started in the mercantile business on a small scale, but his

782

HISTORY OF VENANGO COUNTY.

stock gradually increasing he finally in 1841 removed to larger quarters in the corner rooms of what is now known as the National hotel buildings, where he continued for some twenty-eight years, his trade extending until the small shop had become the large old fashioned store, dealing in all kinds of family supplies. He also about this time established and carried on for some years branch stores at Cooperstown and Dempseytown. As his bus- iness increased, his methodical habits of economy enabled him each year to devote his savings to new enterprises.

In 1845 he purchased and carried on a large rolling mill, nail factory, and grist mill at the mill site in the Third ward, and in connection with these he built the upper French creek dam; here it was that in the very abandon and recklessness of an unusual strength, in water and in all kinds of weather, he exposed himself along with the workmen and laid the founda- tion of a bodily ailment which followed him to the day of his death. The city of Franklin owes much of its early growth to him, for during his active life he engaged in every enterprise of a common benefit and with his own capital erected dwelling houses and brick blocks, together sufficient of them- selves to make a goodly-sized village.

He served as a trustee of the old Franklin Academy for several years and also one term as a school director. In 1862 he was elected an associate judge of the county and served for five years, sitting for a time with Isaac G. Gordon, and afterward with John Trunkey, both of whom subsequently became distinguished members of the state supreme court.

In 1860 he established what is now known as the Lamberton Savings Bank at Franklin, and in connection with his son-in-law, Calvin W. Gil- fillan, also carried on a bank at Oil City during the so-called oil excitement. In this, as in his mercantile business, he was eminently successful, but when, after many years of ill health, he was about to retire from active business and to sell the bank at Franklin to Mr. Gilfillan, R. L. Cochran, and R. G. Lamberton, an incident occurred which nearly took from him the acqui- sitions of years of industry and economy. His cashier, in whom he had placed every confidence and to whom he had rendered every kindness, sud- denly and without any known reason, attempted to destroy the bank by stuffing into a grate fire the money and bonds and books. Happily, with the loss of a few thousand dollars, almost all were saved. The incident fur- nished a vivid illustration of the really great side of his character, his wonder- ful self-control, and self-poise. In the words of Doctor Eaton: "Although packages of government bonds and masses of bank notes were roaring and crackling in the flames of the grate, and the books of the bank torn and mutilated, yet he seemed unmoved at the calamity and had not a word of condemnation for the rash hand that had brought the fearful peril, and when the danger was over and the damage partly averted, there was as lit- tle excitement as when the ruin seemed most imminent."

783

BIOGRAPHIES OF FRANKLIN.

For fifty years he was closely connected with the Presbyterian church of Franklin, of which he was at times ruling elder, trustee, Sabbath school superintendent and teacher, and toward the erection of its fine building contributed a very large proportion of the expense. Politically, Judge Lam- berton was a Democrat of the old school, and until within a few years of his death, when his health became feeble, was recognized as a leader of ability and influence in the party.

On the 6th of April, 1837, he was married to Miss Margaret Seaton, of Franklin. To them were born nine children, the following of whom are now living: William J., intermarried with Sarah L. Raymond; Elizabeth, intermarried with Calvin W. Gilfillan; Lewis T., intermarried with Martha A. Mitchell; Samuel H., intermarried with Ann E. Smith; Robert G., inter- married with Luella J. Chess, and after her decease with Jessie K. Judson; Margaret J., intermarried with George P. Hukill; Edwin H., intermar- ried with Annie C. Kirker, and Harry, intermarried with Virginia E. Hughes.

After a painful and lingering illness Robert Lamberton died at his resi- dence on Thirteenth street, in Franklin, on Friday morning, August 7, 1885, in the seventy-seventh year of his age. The funeral services took place from the Presbyterian church on Sunday afternoon, August 9, 1885, and were attended by a very large concourse of people from different places. The services were conducted by Reverends John McCoy and S. J. M. Eaton, D. D., Doctor Eaton delivering a most eloquent and feeling address in trib- ute to a life-long and steadfast friend. After the services the remains were taken to the Franklin cemetery. For several years previous to his decease Judge Lamberton had anticipated the event and in his usual systematic way had put everything in order, so that, as Judge Trunkey truthfully said: "His family inherited no litigation, no complicated matters of business; all were settled by himself, and the distribution readily made according to his testament."

His ancestry on his father's side were Scottish, the name Lamberton being of pure Scotch origin and figuring prominently in the history of Ayr- shire, Scotland, as far back as the twelfth century. Although never able to revisit the home of his youth, he never forgot the land of his birth or turned a deaf ear to the calls of his Irish countrymen. Judge Gordon's letter of October 17, 1885, to Doctor Eaton gives this brief but just summary of his character:

"There are but few men of the many within my acquaintance whom I more thoroughly esteemed. About his justness and integrity there was no question, and whilst he was firm even to sternness, fixed in his opinions when once settled by conviction-a characteristic alike of his person and of his race-yet was he full of kindness and open to the influence of reason. He was a quiet man and without pretense; he observed much and said little, but what he did say was to the point. His judgment was sound and ac-

784

HISTORY OF VENANGO COUNTY.

curate and in the transaction of our official business I depended much upon it. He was a godly man, one who loved righteousness and eschewed evil. His friendship was not easily gained but when once had it was as firm as the everlasting hills."

"It would be idle," said Judge Trunkey, "to say of him that he never made a mistake or committed an error, as it would be of other men, but those who knew him best most highly appreciated him while living and have most pleasant memories of his life."-E. H. L.

ROBERT G. LAMBERTON, banker, fourth son of Robert and Margaret Lamberton, was born February 14, 1848, at Franklin. He was educated at Westminster College, New Wilmington, Pennsylvania, and at Monmouth Col- lege, Illinois. He read law with Calvin W. Gilfillan, and was admitted to the Venango bar September 12, 1870. For over fourteen years he continued the practice of the law, most of the time alone, but during a year or more he associated with him in partnership his brother, E. H. Lamberton. In Sep- tember, 1884, an advantageous opening offering itself he purchased the banking house and business of Reynolds, Lamberton & Company of Oil City, of which he became president and changed the name to the Lamberton Bank, which position he still retains. He was married December 23, 1873, to Miss Luella J. Chess, of Franklin, by whom he has two children: Bertha C. and Chess. Mrs. Lamberton died November 10, 1877. He was again mar- ried October 21, 1880, to Miss Jessie K. Judson, of Waterford, Pennsyl- vania. Two children are the fruits of this union: George J. and Robert. Mr. Lamberton has filled in an acceptable manner many positions of trust and responsibility, among which is the office of supreme protector of the United States of the K. and L. of H.

EDWIN H. LAMBERTON, fifth son of Robert and Margaret Lamberton, was born October 21, 1854, in Franklin. He was educated at Phillip's Academy, Andover, Massachusetts, at Lafayette College, Easton, Pennsylvania, where he graduated in June, 1876; at Columbia College Law school, New York city. and the University of Leipsic, Germany. He studied law also with his brother, R. G. Lamberton, and April 21, 1879, was admitted to the Venango bar. On the 18th of October, 1881, he was admitted to the supreme court of Pennsylvania, and May 3, 1882, to the supreme court and state courts of Minnesota. On the 30th of June, 1882, he was admitted to the district courts of the third judicial district of Dakota territory, and December 20, 1883, to the circuit court of the United States for the district of Min- nesota. From May, 1882, until December, 1884, he resided at Moorehead, Minnesota, where, as attorney for the St. Paul, Minneapolis, and Manitoba Railway Company at that point, he had an extensive practice in the various courts of Minnesota and Dakota. He also took an active part in politics, serving on the Democratic county committee, and as a delegate to the Demo- cratic state convention at St. Paul assisted in sending a solid delegation to

785

BIOGRAPHIES OF FRANKLIN.

support Grover Cleveland's nomination for president in the national con- vention at Chicago. In the campaign that followed he supported the Demo- cratic cause and made many public addresses in behalf of its candidates. In the winter of 1884 Mr. Lamberton, having purchased his brother's law library, succeeded him in practice at Franklin and since that time has con- tinued in the active duties of his profession in the Pennsylvania courts. He was married September 16, 1885, to Miss Annie C. Kirker, daughter of J. W. Kirker, attorney, of Pittsburgh. One child was born of this union, but died in infancy.

JAMES BLEAKLEY, deceased, was born near Unionville, Berks county, Pennsylvania, September 13, 1820, a son of John Bleakley, a native of the township of Murphy, County Tyrone, Ireland, where he was born October 20, 1788. He came to Venango county in the summer of 1833 and resided there until his death, September 11, 1869. Our subject was apprenticed to the printing business in 1836, and after completing a three years' term of service he went to Butler, Pennsylvania, where he worked three years. His educational privileges were exceedingly limited. Early in life he was called upon to give assistance to his father, who labored under pecuniary embar- rassments, and as he was an energetic and methodical worker, he was able at an early age to render material aid. The time he spent in school did not exceed eighteen months. During the last term he attended school he was frequently late in returning home, for which his father demanded an ex- planation. Inquiry developed the fact that the teacher was often unable to solve the examples of his advanced class in arithmetic, and that James Bleakley had remained after school to assist him in preparing the lesson for the following day.

In 1842 he returned to Franklin, and in company with John W. Shu- gert established the Democratic Arch, continuing its publication about two years and a half. The files of this paper from July, 1842, to October, 1843, still in possession of his family, are the earliest continuous files extant of any newspaper in Venango county.

He married Elizabeth Dubbs, oldest daughter of Jacob Dubbs, who came to Franklin in 1824, and was engaged as a wheelwright until 1830, when he embarked in merchandising and so continued until his death in 1845. Seven children were born to James and Elizabeth Bleakley. Eliza- beth, Mrs. T. W. Brigham, was born January 16, 1845; Clara, who mar- ried Alexander McDowell, banker, of Sharon, Pennsylvania, was born April 6, 1847; William James was born July 6, 1849, and married Miss Mary S. Lamb, daughter of John Lamb, of Allegheny township, Venango county; Effie, born November 26, 1851, married Doctor E. W. Moore, of Franklin; Orrin Dubbs, born May 15, 1854, married Miss Hattie Richardson, of Frank- lin; Harry was born January 8, 1859; and Edmund, born October 30, 1860, married Miss Bertha Legnard, of Waukegan, Illinois.

786

HISTORY OF VENANGO COUNTY.

In the spring of 1844 he engaged in business as a merchant. Although trade was limited expenses were light, and with the assistance of his wife in preparing articles for sale he was soon able to accumulate a little money, which he invested in real estate at Franklin and throughout the county. In 1849 he erected the building now occupied by the International' Bank. For about twenty years he continued in the mercantile business. In 1851 and for several years thereafter, he was associated with A. P. Whitaker in the publication of the Venango Spectator. He was elected county treasurer in 1851, serving two years. In 1864 he was instrumental in organizing the First National Bank of Franklin, of which he was cashier from that date until 1867. In 1868 he opened the International Bank at its present loca- tion, and the business thus established is still continued by his sons. It is one of the well-known financial institutions of the county.

In addition to the business mentioned, he was also interested in various other enterprises, among them a tannery, foundry, oil refinery, and tinning establishment, and in real estate and other transactions. From the year 1859 until his death he was engaged in the various branches of the oil business. He was one of the purchasers of the Galloway tract and out-lot No. 8, famous for their production of Franklin lubricating oil. The block built by him on Liberty street, Franklin, is one of the most substantial in the city.

A man of positive character, he made some enemies but more friends. He was a Democrat until Buchanan's election in 1856, but from that date affiliated with the Republican party. He was burgess of Franklin several terms, and served in the council of both the borough and city. He was active in advocating public attention and care for the parks, and in promoting the various improvements designed for the advancement of the city. He re- mained an ardent Republican until his death, October 3, 1883 .- W. J. B.

WILLIAM J. BLEAKLEY, banker, was born in Franklin, Pennsylvania, July 6, 1849, and is the eldest son of James and Elizabeth Bleakley. He was reared in Franklin, and received his education in the public schools, subse- quently spending one year at Waterford Academy. From boyhood he assist- ed his father in the bank, and on the death of the latter he succeeded him as head of the International Bank, of which he is now president. Under his management the International has continued the same prosperous career that it enjoyed during the lifetime of his father. Politically Mr. Bleakley is a Republican, has served five years on the city council, and two terms as mayor of Franklin. He is recognized as one of the most competent officials that the city has every had. During his several terms in the council he made a special offort to reduce the debt of the city, which finally resulted in accomplishing that object and in establishing a sinking fund for the redemp- tion of the city bonds.

Mr. Bleakley was married May 17, 1876, to Miss Mary S., daughter of John and Anna (May) Lamb, of Allegheny township, Venango county. Her

787

BIOGRAPHIES OF FRANKLIN.

mother was a daughter of Reverend Hezekiah May, one of the pioneer min- isters of this part of the state. Six children are the fruits of this union: Anna M., Orrin L., Frederick J., Margaret M., Evelyn E., and William Jay. The family are adherents of the Presbyterian church.

JOHN L. MITCHELL, banker, was born in Centre county, Pennsylvania, April 10, 1826, son of Thomas and Eliza (Lamb) Mitchell. His grand- father, Reverend David Mitchell, a Methodist preacher, was a native of the North of Ireland who immigrated to Pennsylvania and located' in Centre county. He reared two sons: Thomas and James. The latter remained in Centre county until his death. Thomas grew up in that county where he followed blacksmithing; in April, 1836, he removed to Venango county, and settled on a farm near Pleasantville in Allegheny township. Here he en- gaged in farming and merchandising. He had a family of ten children: David H., deceased; John L .; Forster W .; Sarah J., wife of James L. Con- nely, of Philadelphia; Martha, wife of L. T. Lamberton, of Franklin; Mel- vina, deceased; Minerva E., wife of Alexander W. Brown, of Pleasantville; William; Charles R., and Mary J., the three last mentioned being dead. The mother was a member of the Baptist church, and died on the old home- stead in the winter of 1851. Her husband subsequently removed to Ashta- bula, Ohio, where he died in April, 1870. Our subject grew up on the old homestead, and followed farming until manhood. He afterward engaged in lumbering and merchandising and thus accumulated his financial start in life. He was one of the first men in Venango county to engage in oil pros- pecting, and put down, on the Buchanan farm in Cornplanter township, one of the first wells in the oil country. From that time until he entered the banking business, he was one of the most extensive and successful operators of the county. In 1871 he was one of the organizers of the Exchange Bank of Franklin, and has been president of that institution since its inception.

Mr. Mitchell was married February 21, 1867, to Miss Hattie R., daughter of A. W. Raymond of Franklin. She was born at Utica, Venango county, and is the mother of nine children: John R., a graduate of Yale College, and civil engineer at Seattle, Washington; Lida L .; Mark D .; Jennie E. ; George W., deceased; Mary; Thomas; Bertha, and Lynn. In politics Mr. Mitchell has been a supporter of the Republican party since its organiza- tion, but has taken little active interest in public affairs. Commencing life poor he has by steady application, persevering industry, and close attention to his business accumulated a handsome fortune, and is to-day one of the solid, substantial financiers of the Allegheny valley.

FORSTER W. MITCHELL, banker, was born in Centre county, Pennsylvania, May 7, 1828, and is a son of Thomas and Eliza (Lamb) Mitchell, early set- tlers of Allegheny township, Venango county, mentioned in the previous sketch. Our subject was reared on the old homestead in this county, and has resided here since the coming of his parents in April, 1836. He fol-

788

HISTORY OF VENANGO COUNTY.

lowed farming and lumbering, and since the earliest period of the oil excite- ment has been an extensive operator. For the past eighteen years Mr. Mitchell has also been engaged in the banking business, and is now senior member of the firm of F. W. Mitchell & Company, bankers, Oil City. He was married to Miss Laura M. Wilson, of Enterprise, Warren county, Penn- sylvania, in May, 1851. She is the mother of three children: Herbert W., deceased; Lottie M., wife of Dilworth Richardson, of St. Paul, Minnesota, and Stella V., wife of Bryan H. Osborn, attorney at law, of Franklin. Po- litically Mr. Mitchell has been a stanch Republican since the organization of that party, and takes an active interest in the success of its principles and measures. In 1875 he was appointed by Governor Hartranft one of the Centennial Commission of Pennsylvania, and served as treasurer of the board during that historic event. Mr. Mitchell has been one of the most successful men of his adopted county, and has always been a liberal sup- porter of every worthy local enterprise. He is recognized as one of the public-spirited, prominent citizens of this portion of the state.

CALVIN W. GILFILLAN, banker, was born in Mercer county, Pennsylvania, February 20, 1832. He is a son of James and Jane (Adams) Gilfillan, and grandson of James Gilfillan, one of the earliest settlers in that portion of. Mercer county cut off in the erection of Lawrence, where the family lo- cated about 1797. His father was born on the old homestead in 1800 and died in Iowa in 1886. Mr. Gilfillan was reared in Lawrence county, obtained a primary education in the common schools, and subsequently attended Westminister College at New Wilmington, Pennsylvania. He commenced reading law in the office of William Stewart in Mercer in the winter of 1856-57, and was admitted to practice in November, 1859. He was elected in 1857 superintendent of schools of Mercer county, and filled the office two years. In 1858-59 he served as transcribing clerk in the house of representatives of Pennsylvania. Immediately after his admission to the bar Mr. Gilfillan located in Franklin, where he soon built up a good practice. In 1861 he was appointed district attorney of Venango county and elected to the same office in 1862, serving three years in that capacity. In 1862 he formed a partnership with Charles E. Taylor, and the firm of Taylor & Gilfillan was soon recognized as one of the leading law firms of the district. In 1867 the partnership was dissolved and Mr. Gilfillan continued the active duties of his profession alone until 1873; he then accepted the presidency of the Lamberton Savings Bank, which position he has since filled, devoting his entire attention to the banking business. Politically he has always been an ardent Republican, and in 1868, was elected to congress by a good round ma- jority, and served in the house his full term. In 1870 he was a delegate to the national Republican convention that nominated Grant for president the sec- ond time, and in 1880, as a member of the electoral college of Pennsylvania, he cast his vote for James A. Garfield as president and Chester A. Arthur as

CuBilfillon

791

BIOGRAPHIES OF FRANKLIN.

vice-president. Mr. Gilfillan was married November 8, 1858, to Miss Lizzie, daughter of Robert Lamberton, of Franklin, who has borne him four children: Annie M., wife of Doctor E. P. Wilmot of Franklin; Robert E., William L., and Emma M. The family are Presbyterians. Mr. Gilfillan is one of the substantial and popular citizens of Venango county, where he has resided over thirty years.

CHARLES MILLER, sixth son of Christian Miller, is of Huguenot ancestry, and was born in the little village of Oberhoffen, Canton de Bish weiler, Alsace, France, June 15, 1843. When he was eleven years old, the family came to this country and settled near the village of Boston, Erie county, New York. where the father purchased a farm. At the age of thirteen he engaged him- self to a country merchant for a year for thirty-five dollars and board. When seventeen years old he secured a clerkship in a dry-goods store in Buffalo at one hundred and seventy-five dollars, board not included. The highest wages he received as long as he remained a clerk was eight dollars per week. He enlisted in the New York National Guard in 1861, and in 1863 was mus- tered into the United States service.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Venango County, Pennsylvania : its past and present, including, Part 79

Author: Bell, Herbert C. (Herbert Charles), 1868- Publication date: 1890 Publisher: Chicago : Brown, Runk & Co. Number of Pages: 1323

Author: Bell, Herbert C. (Herbert Charles), 1868-
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Chicago : Brown, Runk & Co.
Number of Pages: 1323