History of Venango County, Pennsylvania : its past and present, including, Part 93

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

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BIOGRAPHIES OF OIL CITY.

thereby several thousand dollars. Mr. Will was married at Johnstown in 1864 to Miss Julia Seigh, a very accomplished lady. She died in 1872, leaving one son and two daughters. The former, Edwin C., is a well-known inventor and greatly distinguished himself at his peril, in rescuing thirty peo- ple from the floating debris of the great flood at Johnstown, Pennsylvania, May 31, 1889. Mr. Will is a member of the I. O. O. F. and the G. A. R.

DOCTOR E. M. WOLFE, dentist, was born October 27, 1847, in Cranberry township, this county, to Solomon and Catharine (Miller) Wolfe. He was educated in the common schools and at an academy at Clarion, Pennsyl- vania. He began the study of dentistry in 1869 with J. D. Wingate, then of Bellefonte, this state, and was subsequently graduated from the Penn- sylvania College of Dental Surgery. April 1, 1871, he located in Oil City, where he has remained actively engaged in practice, and holds a high rank among the profession in Pennsylvania. He was married by the Reverend J. S. Elder, December 21, 1871, to Margaret Orr, of Clarion, Clarion county, Pennsylvania, and to this union have been born four children: Linden W .; Catharine I .; an infant, deceased, and John M. The doctor has served one term as a member of the Oil City council. He is a member of the Lake Erie Dental Association, the Pennsylvania State Dental Asssociation, the American Dental Association, and the International Medical Congress. In politics he is an earnest Republican.

J. H. HEIVLY, dentist, was born in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, June 17, 1842, son of Daniel and Elizabeth (Raignel) Heivly, the former a native of York, and the latter of Lebanon counties, Pennsylvania, and the parents of four children: Jacob A., a merchant of Williamsport; J. H .; Mary M., married to William Swallow, and D. F., real estate dealer in Newton, Kan- sas. The father died in 1883; he was favorably known as a merchant of Williamsport, where his widow resides. Our subject was educated in the public schools of his native city and Dickinson Seminary of that place. In 1862 he enlisted in the One Hundred and Thirty-First Pennsylvania Volun- teers and served eleven months. On his return from the war he was em- ployed for three years in the United States treasury under F. E. Spinner. He then engaged in the dry-goods business in Williamsport for one year under the firm name of Kingsbury & Heivly. In 1871 he came to Titus- ville, and being qualified to survey, was employed with a civil engineering corps in surveying the New York pipe line from Hickory Station to the Al- legheny river. He soon after began the practice of dentistry at Petroleum Center, this county, where he remained until 1873, when he removed to Oil City. In 1876 he re-entered the Philadelphia Dental College, from which he was graduated in the term of that year. He is a member and treasurer of Lake Erie Dental Association and a member of the Pennsylvania Dental Society, belongs to the Masonic order, chapter, and commandery, and is a Republican. He was married October 13, 1881, to S. Alice, daughter of

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HISTORY OF VENANGO COUNTY.

Daniel and Harriet (Reiter) Gothers, who came to Oil City in 1864, where the mother subsequently died, leaving three children: Clara, married to Edward Byoung; William C., and S. Alice.

C. J. REYNOLDS, dentist, was born August 1, 1856, in Clarion county, Pennsylvania, and is a son of J. B. Reynolds of this city. He received his education in the Oil City schools and Beaver Academy. He was employed for a period as book keeper of the firm of Hunt & Reynolds, and in 1886 began the study of dentistry with Doctor E. M. Wolfe, with whom he remained for two years, after which he entered the Pennsylvania Dental College of Philadelphia, from which he was graduated in 1878. He soon after began the practice of dentistry in Pawnee City, Nebraska, coming thence to Oil City in 1881 where he has since continued in the active duties of his profession. He married Miss Lizzie Atwood of Nebraska. In politics he is a Republican.

JOHN S. KLEIN holds with the National Transit Company the position of superintendent of machinery, and as such has the supervision of all that company's machinery and shops in Pennsylvania and all other oil-producing states. He was born in Nassau, Germany, April 26, 1849, and when but a few weeks old was brought by his parents to America. The family settled in Buffalo, New York, and there, in the shops of the New York Central railroad, he learned the trade of machinist. In 1868 he came to this state, and for the succeeding four or five years followed his trade at Plumer, Rouseville, Bredinsburg, St. Petersburg, etc. In 1872 or 1873 he began work for the United Pipe Lines Company at Petrolia, and in less than two years was made the foreman of their shops. As he came into his present position in 1882, it will be seen that, unaided by any outside influence, dependent at all times on his individual efforts and industry, he arose in less than ten years from the rank of a journeyman machinist to one of the most important positions within the gift of a great corporation. Mr. Klein was married at Buffalo, New York, when about twenty-six years of age, to Miss Emily Ernst.

LOUIS WALZ, general manager of the Penn Refining Company, was born in Gammalsbach, Germany, August 11, 1846, and came to America in 1867. He was a carpenter and millwright by trade, and worked thereat after coming to this country until 1887. In that year he came to Oil City from Titusville, where he had lived since 1868, and accepted the position of manager of the Independent Refining Company. He remained with this company about three and one-half years, then sold out and erected the Continental refinery. At the end of about one year he retired from the Continental, and in July, 1886, formed a partnership with Messrs. Suhr and Justus. With Mr. Walz as general manager, this company proceeded to erect the Penn Refining Works, one of the most thoroughly equipped con- cerns of the kind in the Oil creek country. They have a capacity for, and are

of Willewart

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BIOGRAPHIES OF OIL CITY.

handling now, about two hundred thousand barrels of crude oil per annum, and employ from sixty to eighty men. Mr. Walz was married at Titusville, Pennsylvania, in 1871, to Miss Frederika Teege. To this union eight chil- dren have been born. The first-born, Louisa, died when about seven or eight months old; the living are: Emma, George, Albert, Jennie, Matilda, Edward, and an infant not named. Mr. Walz and family are identified with the Lutheran church.

HENRY SUER, president of the Penn Refining Company, was born in. Hardegsen, Germany, October 11, 1844. His parents, Christian and Hen- rietta (Frohne) Suhr, reared three sons, of whom Henry is the eldest. Charles, the youngest, is dead, and Louis is engaged in the oil business at Bradford, Pennsylvania. The parents came to this country in May, 1877, remained about six years, and returned to Germany. The subject of this sketch came to America in July, 1868. He was a locksmith by trade, and worked at that business some months in New York and Buffalo. From Pittsburgh, where he worked about six months in a machine shop, he came to Oil creek, landing here in 1869. For six years he was employed by oil producers in various capacities, and in 1875 began business for himself in Oil City. From that to the present time he has been a successful oil producer. In 1886, associated with Messrs. Walz and Justus, he organ- ized the company of which he is now the popular president. As oil pro- ducers, the history of this company shows that they own and operate about one hundred good wells in Pennsylvania and New York, and that as refiners they handle about two hundred thousand barrels of crude oil annually. Mr. Suhr is a self-made man. The recipient of no gratuity, the legatee of no estate, he has depended solely on his individual effort and industry, and that fortune has smiled upon him is amply attested. He was married in Oil City in 1875 to Miss Louisa Schorman, and the four children born to him are named, respectively, Charles, Elizabeth, Lena, and Henry. Mr. and Mrs. Suhr are members of the Lutheran church.

JOHN E. HACKENBERG, book-keeper for the Penn Refining Company, Oil City, was born in Union county, Pennsylvania, October 18, 1827. He was educated in Easton, Pennsylvania, and grew up in his father's store, where he learned book-keeping, the vocation to which his life has been devoted. He came to Oil City in 1886, and has since been in his present position with the Penn Refining Company. Mr. Hackenberg was married at McEwensville, Pennsylvania, May 2, 1854, to Miss Mary Finney, who died February 14, 1870, leaving the following children: Lily, Mrs. R. C. Baugh- man, of Omaha, Nebraska; Grace, and Charles. One son, William, died in 1868, aged about eight years. Mr. Hackenberg is a consistent member of the Presbyterian church.

JAMES M. MCLAUGHLIN, superintendent of the Penn refinery, was born in Crawford county, Pennsylvania, August 10, 1839. He was educated at the

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HISTORY OF VENANGO COUNTY.

common schools in his native county, and there spent most of his life. He was eight years at Olean, New York, as superintendent of the Acme Refin- ing Company and in August, 1888, came into his present position. October 24, 1862, at Titusville, he enlisted as a private soldier in a company subse- quently known as Company C, Second District Regiment, Washington city, and served until November 21, 1863. Mr. McLaughlin was first married in Crawford county to Miss Elizabeth Kellogg; both she and a second wife, who was a Mrs. Carringer, are dead. The present Mrs. McLaughlin, to whom he was married at Olean, New York, May 27, 1884, was Mrs. M. Libbie Ashby. By his first wife Mr. Mclaughlin had six children, by his second two. He is a Republican in politics, a member of the I. O. O. F., and of the A. L. of H.

THOMAS ANDERTON, treasurer of the Continental Refining Company, was born in Lancashire, England, in 1845, and came to America in July, 1862. In Oil City, whither he came in 1865, he was for about five years in the mercantile trade; the rest of the time he has been in the petroleum busi- ness. He was one of the organizers of the Continental Refining Company and has been actively identified with its interests from its inception. Mr. Anderton was married in this city when about thirty-eight years of age to Mrs. Mary Stubler nee Huster, and the children that have been born to him are named, respectively, Thomas; Mary; Joseph, and Charles.

JOHN W. DAVIS, president of the Nonpariel Refining Company located at Rouseville, is a citizen of Oil City and came here from Cleveland in Jan- uary, 1873. In Cleveland he was connected with the Continental Oil Works, and coming here as a member of the Economy Refining Company, he had charge of their works for five years. From that he became a producer, and was interested in the Bradford, Allegheny, and Venango oil fields. In 1888 he organized the Nonpariel Refining Company and became its president. Mr. Davis was born in Chester county, Pennsylvania, January, 1831. He was educated at the common schools and as a young man studied chemistry and dispensed drugs. In 1862 he turned his attention to petroleum and was engaged in refining oil when he decided to enter the army. In 1863 he raised Company B, Forty-Third Pennsylvania Volunteers, became its captain, served a few months, resigned, and returned to Pittsburgh, where during part of 1864 and 1865, he was refining oil; thence he went to Cleve- land, and, as has been seen, to Oil City. A history of the Nonpariel Re- fining Company will be found in this volume, Chapter XXIII.

ALBERT H. SMITH, superintendent of the Eclipse Lubricating Oil Com- pany, Limited, is a native of Franklin, this county, a son of David S. and Mary (Wallace) Smith, and was born April 28, 1862. He was educated at the Franklin high school and Cornell University. Immediately after leav- ing the latter institution he entered the employ of this company at Frank- lin, and has remained with it ever since, working his way up from the bot-

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BIOGRAPHIES OF OIL CITY.

tom rung in the ladder to a first-class superintendency. He came to his present position July 15, 1888, and has under his supervision thirty-five to forty men, and handles, approximately, three hundred thousand barrels of crude oil a year. Mr. Smith is a member of the popular society familiarly known as the Elks, and of several college fraternities.

GEORGE S. OBERLY, secretary of the Oil City Tube Company, was born in Berks county, this state, December 4, 1858, and is the son of J. H. Oberly. Mr. Oberly was about ten years of age when his parents moved into Oil City, and his education, so far as scholastic training goes, was completed at the common schools of this place. September 24, 1887, he was appointed to his present position. Prior to that time he was for several years book-keeper for the Oil City Trust Company and confidential secretary to M. Geary, the president of the Oil City Boiler Works. At this writing, June, 1889, he yet fills the latter position in addition to that of secretary of the tube com- pany. He is a member of the American Legion of Honor, in which order he holds the office of collector. He was married in this city September 21, 1887, to the daughter of George Steffee.

LOUIS SCHWARTZCOP, superintendent and one of the principal owners of the Independent Refining Company, was born in Lancaster, New York, Oc- tober 28, 1846. His father, Frederick Schwartzcop, a farmer by occupation, was a native of Germany, and died in Wellsville, New York, in 1886, seventy years of age. Louis was educated at the public schools of Wellsville, and brought up as a farmer boy until he had attained his majority. After spend- ing some time with an engineer corps in the survey and location of railways he drifted into the Allegheny oil fields, where he spent about three years variously employed in the operation of petroleum wells and their products. He came to Oil City in 1883 and was employed by the Independent refinery until 1884, when he purchased the interest of John Theobold in the concern and at once became manager and superintendent of the shipping department. He was married at Wellsville, New York, in September, 1885, to Miss Caro- line Miller, and has one daughter, Clara. Mr. Schwartzcop is a member of the Lutheran church and the Order of Tonti, and is a Republican.

JOSEPH REID, machinist and manufacturer of mill machinery, stationary engines, etc., North Seneca street, Oil City, came to this place from Phila- delphia in 1876. Here he became an oil producer for a few months only, and then turned his hand to that with which he was much better acquainted -machinery. In 1887, having purchased the plant of a defunct concern, he engaged in the business to which he has since adhered. He has been twice burned out, once in 1882 and again in 1887. His plant is now upon the site of the old skating rink, and he employs fifteen to twenty men in the manufacture of all sorts of steam saw and grist mill machinery, station- ary engines of the latest improved patterns, drilling tools, steam hammers, etc., and carries on a brass and iron foundry. Mr. Reid is the patentee of

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HISTORY OF VENANGO COUNTY.

the now famous Reid hydro-carbon oil burner-a device which promises to bring into popular use as a fuel the cheaper grades of crude petroleum- notably the Lima, Ohio, product. Joseph Reid was born in Ayrshire, Scotland, in 1843, and was about twenty years of age when he came to America. He was educated in his native country, and there learned the trade of which he is an acknowledged master. Since coming to this place he has served the city creditably as councilman, and has established an en- viable reputation as a citizen. He is a Knight Templar Mason.

CHARLES HUSTER, of the Continental Refining Company, Limited, whose works are located on Oil creek, one and one-half miles from Oil City, is a native of Rhine Hessen, Germany, and was born March 29, 1856. He came to America with his parents in 1872 and the following year was in Oil City. From here he moved to Erie, Pennsylvania, where he was engaged in work- ing at the carpenter trade for a few years, then learned the finishing trade in an Erie boot and shoe factory, and worked at it for three years, then started a hotel business and was at it until 1886. From there he moved to Oil City and with others established the Continental refinery, himself being at the head of the organization. The youngest of four sons, he was edu- cated in the old country, and although in this country comparatively but a short time his English is as pure and thorough as a native's. Mr. Huster is a member of the Catholic church and the beneficiary order known as the C. M. B. A. He was married in Erie May 13, 1879, to Miss Annie W. Eichenlaub and has two living children: Katharina M., and Margaretha M., and has buried one, Rosa Anna, who died in 1888 aged two years. His father, Jacob Huster, died in Erie in 1885 at the age of eighty-two years, and his mother, now about seventy-seven years old, lives in Erie.

CYRUS R. LEVIER, in charge of the Eclipse pumping station, came to Oil City from Franklin, Pennsylvania, August 15, 1888. He was born in Rich- land township, Venango county, March 15, 1844, and was educated at the common schools. August 21, 1862, he enlisted in Company F, One Hun- dred and Twenty-First Pennsylvania Volunteers, and with that command served two years and ten months in the Army of the Potomac, participating in all the battles with his regiment up to October 18, 1864. After the war he lived three years in Clarion county; the rest of the time he has spent in the Venango oil regions and in charge of and operating machinery. He has been with his present employers, the Eclipse Lubricating Oil Company, Limited, for the past eight years. Mr. Levier is a member of the G. A. R., A. O. U. W., E. A. U., and the Methodist Episcopal church. He was mar- ried in Rockland township, this county, November 21, 1867, to Miss Mary Elizabeth Smith, and to this union have been born six children: Burton William, who died aged about seven years; Myrtel May, who died aged about six years; Frank Leroy, associated with his father at the pumping station; Martha Grant; Daisy May, and Frederick Read.

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BIOGRAPHIES OF OIL CITY.

MICHAEL DOBSON, superintendent of the Oil City water works, came to this place from Reno in April, 1867. He is a native of Lockport, New York, and was born May 15, 1844. His father, Thomas Dobson, came from Ireland when a small boy, grew up and married at Lockport, and there lost his life by accident. Michael, the only son now living, was educated at the common schools of Lockport, and there began his trade of machinist. He came into Venango county in 1863, and at Rouseville finished his trade, working there with one firm nearly sixteen years. Coming into Oil City, he was made foreman of the fire department, and subsequently served two years as assistant chief engineer. In 1883 he was placed by the board of water commissioners in his present position. Mr. Dobson was married Sep- tember 28, 1868, at Callensburg, Clarion county, this state, to Miss Rachel A. McCamant. Both Mr. and Mrs. Dobson are members of the Catholic church.

W. J. SUTHERLAND, foreman car inspector for the Lake Shore and Michi- gan Southern Railway Company, was born August 15, 1841, in Kingston, Canada. His parents, William and Mary (Joyce) Sutherland, had seven children: James; Mary; John; Esther; Elizabeth; W. J., and George A., who was in the United States navy during the war for three years and nine months. The father was a contractor, and he and his wife died, members of the Scotch Presbyterian church. Our subject received a common school education, and at the age of fifteen began for himself. He learned the cop- persmith trade in Kingston, Canada, and after following that for three years, he came to Akron, Ohio, and was employed at the Atlantic and Great West- ern railroad shops at that place, where he remained one and one-half years. He then returned to Canada, sold some property there, and went to Auburn, New York, where he worked for six months in an agricultural implement shop. He repaired to Cleveland, Ohio, in 1865, where he took a position with the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway Company, and came to Oil City in 1870 in the capacity of car inspector for that company. He was married in 1866 to Margaret Connors, a native of Canada, and by whom he has had ten children: George A., deceased; William J., a bright, intel- ligent, and promising young man, who was drowned while bathing in the Allegheny river; Cora B. ; Georgenna, deceased; John; Alexander; Kate M. ; Anthony; Charlotte E., and Elsie. Mr. Sutherland is a member of the I. O. O. F., at Cleveland, and of the A. P. A. of Oil City. He and his es- timable wife belong to the Presbyterian church; he is a Republican, and one of the honest, upright, and intelligent citizens of Venango county.

F. W. SHARP, superintendent of the Penn Refining Company's barrel works, was born February 14, 1846, in Germany, and is a son of Frederick and Amelia (Hagerman) Sharp, natives of the same country, who came to Cleveland, Ohio, in 1871, where they both died. They were the parents of eight children, five of whom are living: Joseph, an employe of the barrel

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HISTORY OF VENANGO COUNTY.

works; Maria, married to Charles Bankey of Cleveland, Ohio; John, a farmer living in Nebraska; F. W., and William, a resident of Cleveland. The pa- rents were consistent members of the Lutheran church. Their son, F. W., received a common school education in the German schools and what English education he has he gathered through the every day walks of life. He learned the trade of a gardener in his native country, which vocation he followed until 1869, when he came to Cleveland, Ohio, where he worked at anything he could get to do. In 1870 he took his first employment with the Standard Oil Company and remained with that great corporation for fourteen years. In the year 1877 he was transferred by them to Oil City and remained in their employment until 1885. At this time he built a shop and manufactured barrels for one year and then took charge of the business which he now superintends. He was married in 1869 to Maria Stark, a native of Germany, and has five children: Anna; Lizzie; Rosy; Georgie, and Freddie. He is a member of the Royal Templars of Temperance and of the K. of L .; with his wife he belongs to the Evangelical church, and in politics he is a Republi- can. He is deservedly popular in the position he holds among the twenty- eight employes under his charge.

JOHN A. LEWIS, architect, contractor, and builder, South Oil City, was born in Clarion county, Pennsylvania, November 26, 1838, and is a son of Zachariah Lewis. At the common schools he acquired a fair education, and while yet in his teens turned his attention to carpentering, architecture, and drawing. In May, 1861, he joined the volunteer army as a private soldier in Company E, Tenth Pennsylvania Reserves, and served something over three years. While carrying the musket he participated in the battles of Drainesville, West Virginia, the Seven Days' fight around Richmond, the second Bull Run, South Mountain, Antietam, Mead's Mardi Gras cam- paign, Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, the Wilderness, and Cold Harbor. At Spottsylvania Court House May 8, 1864, he fell into the hands of the enemy, but at Beaver Dam the following day his friends overhauled the enemy and released him. From the first to the last of his service Mr. Lewis took part in all the engagements of his regiment. He was never off duty for any period, never spent a day in the hospital, was but once a prisoner, and but once slightly wounded. He was mustered out of the army at Pittsburgh, in June, 1864, and came almost at once to Oil City. Here he began the occu- pation to which, with the exception of a year or two given to the oil busi- ness, he has since adhered. He has been seven years a member of the city council and was one of the prime movers in the adoption of the now popular Wallace charter. He is a member of the G. A. R. post at this place, was seven years its quartermaster, and in 1887 its commander. In fact he was one of the organizers of Post 435, and is rightfully credited as one of its most ardent workers. Mr. Lewis was married in Oil City in 1868 to Miss Porter, who has borne to him six children: Theron Victor, Rena Agatha, Ora , Cecil, Lester Leroy, Walter Everett, and an infant, not named.

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BIOGRAPHIES OF OIL CITY.

FREDERICK EICHNER was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, December 20, 1834, and came to America in 1853. His parents, John and Louisia Frederica (Bachman) Eichner, had borne unto them nineteen children, only four of whom, three sons and one daughter, are now living. The senior Mr. Eichner died in Germany in 1864; his widow is yet living (1889); their three sons are in the United States and their sister remains with her mother in Germany, both being widows. The subject of this sketch was educated in his native country, where he also learned the tanning trade. When eighteen years old he came to America with his elder brother, worked here and there wherever he could get work for a few years, and then engaged in the tanning business in Clarion county, Pennsylvania, for nine years. While a tanner Mr. Eichner was married in Clarion county, February 17, 1859, to Anne Elizabeth Hugus, a native of Westmoreland county, Penn- sylvania, and has had borne unto him six children, as follows: Samuel H., of the firm of Eichner Brothers, dealer in boots, shoes and gents' furnishing goods, in South Oil City; Louisa C .; William C., a partner of his father in the meat business in South Oil City; T. Edgar, a resident of the state of Washington, who is also a member of the firm of Eichner Brothers; Lilly May, and Florence Edna. In 1863, having fully determined to remain in this country, and to become an American citizen, he took out his naturaliza- tion papers and placed himself at the country's service, at a time when others, native born, were fleeing to Canada. In 1866 Mr. Eichner located in Oil City, and engaged in the meat business, which has received the most. of his attention with a few exceptions. He has been a producer of petro- leum at various times, and for two years a farmer, after which he again embarked in the meat business. He is a man of excellent business habits, and as demonstrated by his success as a merchant, he embraces the essen- tials that too few men in his business have. He has a large circle of friends and patrons both in and out of Oil City. The family belong to the Presbyterian church, and Mr. Eichner is a member of the A. O. U. W.

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History of Venango County, Pennsylvania : its past and present, including, Part 93

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