History of Venango County, Pennsylvania : its past and present, including, Part 88

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

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J. M. HARDING, physician, was born in Bradford county, Pennsylvania, February 3, 1829, son of Joseph M. and Permelia (Hayden) Harding. His mother was a first cousin of General Hayden, who surveyed the entire west- ern country gained by the United States in the Mexican war.

Joseph M. Harding was a son of Samuel Harding, one of the original Plymouth colonists of New England. He was born on Cape Cod, Massachu- setts, was graduated from Harvard College, and subsequently settled in Bradford county in 1812 on a farm, and for twenty-one consecutive winters taught school in Newbury, now a part of Williamsport. He was drafted for the war of 1812, of which his father, Samuel, was a pensioner, and participated in the battles of Lake Champlain and Bennington. Joseph died in 1875 in the faith of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which or- ganization he was a class leader in one church for twenty-one years. Per- melia Harding, his wife, died in 1849 of typhus fever, and was the mother of thirteen children: Edwin; Darwin; J. M. ; Mary, married to William J. Crane of Arlington, Nebraska; Isaac; Philemon D., and Josiah; the others died when young.

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BIOGRAPHIES OF OIL CITY.

Philemon D. was a physician in New York when Governor Morton of Indiana issued a call for surgeons immediately after the battle of Pittsburgh Landing, and at once tendered his services to the great Indiana governor. He was assigned to duty and remained in the war many months, going with Sherman on his famous march to the sea. He is now practicing in Goshen, Indiana. Joseph, the father, was married a second time to Mrs. Ross of Troy, Pennsylvania.

J. M. Harding, our subject, was educated in the common schools and Troy Academy. At the age of twenty years he began the study of medi- cine under the instruction of Doctor F. H. White of Tioga county, Pennsyl- vania, who lived to be one hundred and seven years old. After two years of hard study with Doctor White he entered the office of Doctor D. H. Sweeny of Burlington, Bradford county, where he remained three years, afterward attending Geneva Medical College one term. He began practice in Herrick, Bradford county, and one year later bought the office of Doctor Parenett of Warren, where he practiced for seven years, and then located at Apalachin, Tioga county, New York, remaining there seven years. In 1867 he removed to Oil City, where he has since remained. He has discovered two special medicines for catarrh and lung trouble. He was married in 1852 to Miss Thankful Slingerland, who died in 1859 leaving three children: Frank, Jennie, and Madora. He was again married to Miss Elizabeth Graves, and by her had two children, Emma and Lenora. He has been a member of the Oil City council, and became a member of the New York State Eclectic Society in 1874, and was a charter member of the National Eclectic Medical Society. He was graduated at the United States Medical College at New York in 1882, is acting president of the Pennsylvania State Eclectic Medical So- ciety, and was the organizer and first president of the first Eclectic medical society in western Pennsylvania, of which he is now an active member. He is one of the trustees of Burton's Medical College of Philadelphia. He has been a member of the Masonic order since 1874, and belongs to the chapter in Oswego, New York, and New Jerusalem No. 47 of the same city; he is a Knight Templar belonging to Talbot Commandery, No. 43, Oil City, and is a member of the A. O. U. W. In politics he is an independent Re- publican, and his entire family belong to the Methodist church.

W. H. H. JACKSON, physician, was born July 21, 1840, in Portage county, Ohio, to John and Clara (Tinker) Jackson. He was educated in the common schools and at Oberlin College. He began for himself by teach- ing school, and was appointed superintendent of the schools of Monroeville and Defiance, Ohio. In 1862 he began the study of medicine at Aurora, Ohio, under the instruction of Doctor Sheperd. He attended medical college at Ann Arbor, Michigan, in 1865 and 1866, began practice in 1867 at Monroeville, but soon after entered the Western Reserve Medical College at Cleveland, Ohio, and was graduated in 1865. He practiced at Garretts-

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HISTORY OF VENANGO COUNTY.

ville, in his native county until 1872, when he came to Oil City. He is a. member of the American Institute of Homoeopathy, and is local surgeon for the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern railroad at Oil City. He married Mary C. Blackmarr, of Garrettsville, Ohio, and in politics he is a Repub- lican.

S. W. SELLEW, physician, was born September 22, 1856, in Crawford county, this state, and is a son of C. V. and H. A. (Catlin) Sellew. He was educated in Allegheny College, Meadville, and after a period of teach- ing he began the study of medicine in 1878 under the tuition of Doctor C. W. Parsons, of Meadville, and was graduated from the Homoeopathic College of Cleveland, Ohio, in 1882. In the spring of that year he began practice at Cambridgeborough, in his native county, where he remained until 1884, at which time he formed his present partnership with W. H. H. Jackson, of Oil City. He is a member of the Royal Arcanum, P. H. C., and I. P. A., and in politics is a Republican.

JOSEPH DOTY, deceased, was born in Trenton, New Jersey, May 1, 1811, son of Elijah and Catharine Doty. Elijah Doty was born at Sharon, Con- necticut, February 22, 1774, son of Doctor David Doty of that place. He served in the war of 1812 and soon after the expiration of his term of serv- ice moved to western Pennsylvania, locating near Sugar creek, Venango. county. Subsequently he located at Tarentum, Pennsylvania, where he died September 23, 1849. Joseph Doty received a good common school education. He assisted his father in drilling salt wells, etc., until 1834, when he enlisted in the United States army at Zanesville, Ohio, for three. years. He reached the grade of first sergeant of Company B, Sixth United States Infantry, served in the Seminole war, and was honorably discharged at Fort Brooks, Tampa bay, Florida, at the expiration of his term of service in 1837. He was married to Eleanor, daughter of Robert and Mary Bor- land, of Tarentum, Pennsylvania, October 29, 1840. He contracted and drilled continuously for salt from 1840 to 1860 in various localities along the Allegheny, Youghiogheny, and Monongahela rivers. He commenced drilling with wooden pole-tools, and was the first to use wire cable in that section of country when in employ of the Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Company. He soon discarded its use on account of the salt water rusting the wire. Mr. Doty and Israel Overhall were the first to introduce the use of rope cable in the drilling of salt wells. In the spring of 1859 Colonel E. L. Drake visited Tarentum for the express purpose of securing the serv- ices of Mr. Doty to drill his projected oil well at Titusville, and to learn his- mode of drilling salt wells. Owing to previous engagements he was unable to comply with Colonel Drake's request, and thus missed the honor of drilling the first oil well. At his recommendation Drake secured the services of William Smith, a blacksmith of Tarentum. Having made arrangements to drill some salt wells for George Plummer in Westmorland county, in 1859

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BIOGRAPHIES OF OIL CITY.

he moved with his family to Sewickley creek, that county. His first drilling for oil was in 1861, on Dry run, Ohio, near Smith's Ferry, Pennsylvania, for John Risher, a coal merchant of Mckeesport. He also drilled wells on Little Beaver and on the Brinker and Zimmerman farms near Greensburg, Pennsylvania, being one of the first "wild catters" in that section. Mr. Doty, with his sons, came to Oil City in the spring of 1868, and engaged in contracting and drilling oil wells on Oil creek and in other localities in Venango county, being actively engaged in this business until his death in South Oil City, January 25, 1881. Surviving are his widow and the fol- lowing named children: George W. Doty, Bradford, Pennsylvania; Mrs. John Bly, Porterfield, Pennsylvania; Mrs. "George T. Nichols; Frank; Samuel; James H .; Charles E .; Josephine, and Emma, all respected resi- dents of South Oil City. Josephine Doty was appointed postmistress of South Oil City by President Cleveland, and assisted by her sister, Emma, has discharged the duties of her office in the most acceptable manner. An affectionate husband and parent, Joseph Doty was an exemplary citizen, faithfully performing his duties in life to his God, his family, and fellow- men. He was held in esteem accordingly in the community of which he was so useful a member. Passing away at a ripe age, honored and loved by family and friends, his life work faithfully performed, his memory is one that they can well afford to cherish and hold as one of their dearest pos- sessions.

GEORGE T. NICHOLS, druggist, was born November 12, 1845, in Clarion county, this state, and is a son of James C. and Frances (McDermitt) Nichols, natives of Pennsylvania, of German and Irish extraction, respect- ively, Presbyterians in religious belief, and the parents of five children, four of whom survive: Mary, Mrs. Thomas H. Hibben, of Latrobe, Westmoreland county; George T .; James O., a contractor residing in Topeka, Kansas, and Joseph, a grocer of Portland, Oregon.

George T. Nichols received a common school education before the year 1860, when he began clerking in the drug store of J. G. Hammar at Latrobe, Pennsylvania. After three years of diligent application to the duties as- signed him in this business he began moving from place to place, which afforded him a varied and beneficial experience in dispensing drugs to dif- ferent classes of people, until 1864, when he came to Oil City and accepted employment in the store of M. L. Porterfield, one of the earliest physicians and druggists of Oil City. Within a brief period he changed to the employ of John A. Christy, whose business was in the Third ward, and in 1865 took full charge of the drug store of Christy, Phillips & Company, located on Ferry street, South Oil City. In 1868 he purchased Christy's one-third in- terest in the firm, the name was changed to Phillips, Vanausdall & Company, and Mr. Nichols was assigned to the management of the business until 1877, when he bought out Phillips and two years later became sole owner. The

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HISTORY OF VENANGO COUNTY.

firm of Phillips, Vanausdall & Company started a branch store where our subject is now located in 1870, and this also fell into the possession of Mr. Nichols in 1879. In 1883 he, after mature deliberation, concluded to consolidate the two stores, consequently the stock of drugs was transferred from the original to the branch store-room on State street, which he had previously enlarged, and where he has since remained, doing a continually increasing business in the line of drugs, patent medicines, oils, window glass, wall paper, etc. He carries a stock valued at from six to eight thousand dollars, which together with the ample building and ground upon which it is located, is the reward of his individual labors and careful and frugal deal- ing. He was married in 1870 to Miss Mary C. Doty, daughter of Joseph Doty, and to this union have been born five children: Harry, Josephine, George, Gertrude, and Bessie. Mr. Nichols was the second treasurer of Venango borough, and has represented the Sixth ward in the city council for five years. He is a member of the A. O. U. W., K. O. T. M., K. of H., and Royal Arcanum, and is a Republican.

ROBERT COLBERT, physician and druggist, was born December 28, 1830, in Armstrong county, Pennsylvania, son of Isaac and Fannie (Ramsey) Col- bert, natives of Greene county, this state, and the parents of four children, all of whom are living. The father was treasurer of Butler county, where he settled in 1835, and was a hatter by trade. His son, Robert, was edu- cated in the common schools, at an academy, and at Witherspoon Institute of Butler, where he completed all of the studies taught at that institution. He taught several winter terms of school, and began the study of medicine in 1855 under the able tuition of Doctors Leisure and Hamilton of New Castle. He completed his studies at Jefferson Medical College and during his course took private lessons in anatomy under Doctor D. Hayes Agnew. He began the practice of his chosen profession in 1857 at Emlenton, Penn- sylvania, with Doctor A. W. Crawford, which partnership lasted until Craw- ford was appointed and accepted the consulship to Antwerp. Doctor Colbert practiced alone until 1863, when he removed to Oil City and prosecuted his profession in connection with the drug business until he was appointed in- ternal revenue collector by Abraham Lincoln, and continued to discharge the duties of that important office for over sixteen years. On retiring from his official position he resumed his profession and opened his present drug store in 1885. He has been a member of Oil City council and a school director, is connected with the A. O. U. W., an elder of the Second Pres- byterian church of Oil City, and votes the Republican ticket. He was mar- ried to Miss Emma M., daughter of J. B. Reynolds, and has five children: Harry, a book-keeper for the Lamberton Bank; Mary, the efficient organist for the Second Presbyterian church; Nita, a teacher in the Oil City schools; Walter, a clerk in his father's store, and Fannie A. His wife is also a mem- ber of the Second Presbyterian church.

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BIOGRAPHIES OF OIL CITY.

M. S. SIMMONS, druggist, was born in Sharon, Schoharie county, New York, son of Severenus, a farmer and wool carder, and Catharine (Gasper) Simmons, who were active members of the Dutch Reformed church. They were the parents of three children. M. S. Simmons was educated in the common schools, began his business life in wool carding and dressing cloth for his father, and assumed control of this branch of the business of the latter at the age of twenty-three years. He continued this for three years and then opened up a mercantile store in Broome county, his native state. After ten years of successful experience in this business he left there and removed to Pithole City, where he remained until 1867, when he began the drug trade in Petroleum Center. From there he removed in 1872 to Oil City, where he has continued to merit a large patronage. His first marriage occurred in 1850 to Miss Almira Ball, by whom he had two children: Charles, interested with his father in the drug store, and Minnie, a daughter removed by death at an early age. His second marriage was to Permilla A. Carr and to this union has been born one son, Clyde. Mr. Simmons was township clerk while in Broome county, New York, and assistant postmaster for five years up to the time of removing to this state. He is a member of the Masonic order, a Republican in politics, and with his wife is a member of Trinity Methodist Episcopal church, of which he is one of the trustees.

WILLIAM H. ROTH, proprietor of the National hotel, was born in 1841 in Buffalo, and came to Venango county in 1863. He began operating for oil on the farm now owned by Mrs. McClintock in Cornplanter township, and has continued in the oil business ever since. He began keeping the Simon house in 1870, which was burned July 4th of that year. In 1871-72 he con- ducted the Central hotel on Elm street, in 1873-74, kept the Arcade hotel, and in 1874-75, managed the Central hotel. He then connected the Cen- tral and National hotels, and kept them until 1879, when the Taylor house was joined, forming what is now the National hotel, which he conducts in a creditable manner. His parents, John G. and Wilhelmina A. (Mast) Roth, were natives of Germany, emigrated to America about 1833, and set- tled in Buffalo, New York, where the father followed his profession-that of school teacher and musician. They were blessed with twelve children, eleven of whom grew up: Mary, married to John Schriner, and after his death to a Mr. Brown; Catharine, married to John Hanny of Buffalo; Caro- line, married to William Danna; Victoria, married to Lawrence Steadhelm; W. H .; John G .; Esther, married to Jacob Lenhart; Amelia, deceased; Louisa, married to Perry Thayer; Charles F., an oil producer in Warren county, and Henry. The father died in 1873, the mother in 1866, both members of the Lutheran church. Our subject is a member of the K. of M., and is a stanch Republican.

WILLIAM DWYER, proprietor of a hotel and livery, was born December 16, 1840, in Ireland. His parents, John and Judith (Davern) Dwyer, were

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HISTORY OF VENANGO COUNTY.

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also natives of Ireland and had five children: Michael, deceased; Judith, residing in the old country; William; Bridget, married to E. Manning, and John. The father died when our subject was quite young; Mrs. Dwyer was married to Patrick Boland, by whom she had five children, and resides in New York, where they settled in 1866. William Dwyer was educated in the common schools of Ireland and emigrated to America about the year 1859. He worked from that time until 1862 on a dairy farm in central New York. During the last mentioned year he enlisted in Company K, One Hundred and Fourteenth New York Volunteer Infantry, and served through all the battles with his company for three years. In 1864 he re- ceived a sun-stroke during the Red river campaign. On his return from the war he engaged in working at the landing at Oil City, but soon after went into the grocery business as one of the members of the firm of McCauley & Company. After two years' successful business he sold out his interest and built the New York brick hotel, which he has since conducted. In 1873 he- established a livery business in connection with his hotel. He was married to Margaret McGuigan, of Buffalo, New York, and has eight children, all of whom are living: John, William H., Mary, James, Mertie, Maggie, Joanna, and Daniel. He has been a member of the Oil City council almost- continuously since its incorporation, and was for three years chief engineer of the fire department of the city. He is a member of the C. M. B. A., the Catholic Knights, the U. V. L., and the G. A. R. He cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln and has ever since been an unswerving Republican.

J. B. REINBOLD, proprietor of the Bellevue hotel and livery stable, is a native of France, born August 21, 1846. His parents, John B. and Mary (Burghard) Reinbold were also natives of France and had six children, three of whom are living: John B., Louise, and Charles. The father died in his native country; the mother came to Oil City in 1871 and lives with her son, Charles. She is a consistent member of the Catholic church. Our subiect was educated in the common schools and began for himself in a grocery and bakery store in Allegheny City. He came to Oil City from France in 1869 and soon after went to Allegheny City as noted; in 1871 he returned to this place and continued the same business on the south side until 1872, when he turned it over to his brother, Charles. In that year he assumed charge of the Bellevue hotel, leasing it until 1880 and subsequently buying it. Dur- ing the last mentioned year he established his extensive livery business in connection with this house. He has been financially successful, and owns a large farm in Cornplanter township, upon which he raises stock and feed. He was married to Mary Saltzmann, daughter of J. J. Saltzmann, and has six children: Bertha; Emma; Clara; Laura M. ; Mary, and John. He has been a member of the Oil City council, was assessor of the city for two terms, and is now president of the Oil City school board. He belongs to the I. O. O. F. and the K. of H., and in politics is a Democrat. He served five years in the French army.

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BIOGRAPHIES OF OIL CITY.

LUDWIG MAYER, wholesale liquor dealer, was born in Germany, and im- migrated to New York city, in 1857. He soon after engaged in the whole- sale fancy goods business in Maine, which he continued until 1859. After one year's experience in North Carolina at the same occupation he returned to Maine and continued the business until 1865, when he went to New York city and was successful during his business career there. In 1872 he came to Oil City and established a wholesale cigar and liquor business, which he still continues. He has had good financial success, owns considerable real estate in the limits of Oil City and vicinity, and is one of the worthy citi- zens of the place. He was married in 1871 to Rachel Schultz, a native of Germany, by whom he has eight children: Solomon; Joseph; Sidney; Harry; Mabel; Maud; Josephine, and Ludwig. He is a Republican in politics, a member of the Masonic order, and with his wife belongs to the Hebrew synagogue.

C. H. WEAVER, proprietor of the Exchange hotel, was born in Clarion county, Pennsylvania, September 29, 1866, to James and Sarah (Kapp) Weaver who reside in that county, and have ten children. He received a common school education and at the age of fourteen years began the trade of brick laying in Titusville, where he remained three years, attending in the meantime a commercial college at that place. Leaving Titusville he went to Dubois and Kane, this state, and followed his trade at each of these places. In 1888 he came to Oil City, worked at his trade until November 15th, when in partnership with C. F. Weaver he bought the Exchange hotel, a brick structure with accommodations for fifty guests, and with bar-room and billiard hall. In October, 1889, he purchased the interest of C. F. Weaver and is sole proprietor. He conducts the house at the rate of one dollar and a half per day, and by close attention to business is meriting a large and growing patronage.

JOSEPH STUBLER, proprietor of the Union house, was born March 4, 1859, in Clarion county, this state, and is a son of George Stubler, who came from Hungary to Clarion county in 1855, and kept hotel at Fryburg until 1861, when he came to Oil City, erected the building and started the Union house in 1863. He continued to conduct it until 1876, when he withdrew, and now resides in Clarion county. Under his management the Union house became a very popular inn and a valuable property, he having at a time been offered twenty-three thousand dollars for it. His son, Joseph, received a common school education, and in 1882 began for him- self in his present occupation, soon afterward joining James McGuigan in the livery business, and continuing the latter until 1888. He married Miss Lizzie Siegel of Clarion county. He has served as a member of the city council, belongs to the Catholic church, and is a Democrat.

SPRAGUE E. HUNT, deceased, was born July 17, 1829, in New Hamp- shire, and was one of ten children: Warren, Sprague, Charles, Caroline,

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HISTORY OF VENANGO COUNTY.

Emma, George, Monroe, Julia, Mary, and Henry G. Our subject received a common school education, and began business for himself in the lumber trade. He became an early resident of Oil City, where he was married April 3, 1873, to Helen L. Gaisford, daughter of John and Mary (Arders) Gais- ford, natives of England, and the parents of eight children, four of whom are living: Mrs. J. B. Stitt, of Oil City; J. C .; Walter W., a traveling sales- man for Marshal, Kennedy & Company, and Helen L. Mr. Hunt kept books for his brother, W. G., in Warren for a time, and in 1874 he took charge of the Central Avenue hotel, in South Oil City, which he conducted successfully for five years, going thence to the United States hotel, where he remained until 1881, when he located in the Commercial hotel, where he died in October, 1887. One year later Mrs. Hunt became the owner of this property, and manages the business in an efficient manner, so as to merit a large patronage. Mr. Hunt served as baggage master in the war, was an upright citizen, and a Democrat in politics.

WILLIAM LOOTS, grocer and proprietor of the Petroleum hotel, was born in Maryland, February 14, 1843, son of Isaac and Catharine (Eves) Loots, natives of the same state, of German extraction and the parents of ten children, six of whom are living: W. H .; Elizabeth; Susan; John; Charles, and Amanda. The father is dead and the mother resides on the old home- stead in Woodsborough, Maryland, both having united with the Lutheran church at an early period in their lives. Our subject was educated in the common schools and was brought up at farming and brick making. In 1866 he began clerking in a hotel at Woodsborough for George W. Smith, re- maining with him until 1866, when he came to Oil City and engaged in the restaurant business, subsequently adding to this a hotel and grocery which he still continues with excellent success. During his residence in Oil City he has developed some oil territory with his usual success. He is a member of the gas and water companies, of the Oil City school board, a director of the building and loan association, and a Democrat in politics. He was married to Mrs. Sarah Garrett nee Downing, and has three children: Libbie, married to B. R. Clickner of the Oil City Oil Exchange; Charles, and Hattie. Mrs. Loots and children are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Her father, Nelies Downing, was born in Vermont and a son of James Downing who is mentioned in connection with a sketch of J. D. Downing. Nelies owned land in Cornplanter township, where he lived for over fifty years and married Susan Winger, daughter of Henry and Sarah (Fry) Winger, who settled at an early date near Siverly and were the parents of the following children: Samuel; Solomon; Henry; Jeremiah; Josiah; William; Susan; Lu- cinda; Sarah J., and Mary. Of these, Henry, William, Lucinda (Mrs. Kiser of Clarion county), and Mary (Mrs. McMurdy of Clarion county), are living. Jeremiah and Josiah served in the Union army in the Rebellion; the former died and was brought home and buried, while the latter never returned, and

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History of Venango County, Pennsylvania : its past and present, including, Part 88

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