History of the counties of McKean, Elk, Cameron and Potter, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections; including their early settlement and development; a description of the historic and interesting localities; sketches of their cities, towns and villages biographies of representative citizens; outline history of Pennsylvania; statistics, Part 81

Author: Leeson, M. A. (Michael A.) comp. cn; J.H. Beers & Co., pub
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Chicago, J. H. Beers & Co.
Number of Pages: 1320

USA > Pennsylvania > McKean County > History of the counties of McKean, Elk, Cameron and Potter, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections; including their early settlement and development; a description of the historic and interesting localities; sketches of their cities, towns and villages biographies of representative citizens; outline history of Pennsylvania; statistics > Part 81
USA > Pennsylvania > Potter County > History of the counties of McKean, Elk, Cameron and Potter, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections; including their early settlement and development; a description of the historic and interesting localities; sketches of their cities, towns and villages biographies of representative citizens; outline history of Pennsylvania; statistics > Part 81
USA > Pennsylvania > Elk County > History of the counties of McKean, Elk, Cameron and Potter, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections; including their early settlement and development; a description of the historic and interesting localities; sketches of their cities, towns and villages biographies of representative citizens; outline history of Pennsylvania; statistics > Part 81
USA > Pennsylvania > Cameron County > History of the counties of McKean, Elk, Cameron and Potter, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections; including their early settlement and development; a description of the historic and interesting localities; sketches of their cities, towns and villages biographies of representative citizens; outline history of Pennsylvania; statistics > Part 81

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The resident tax-payers of Gibson township (later part of Benezette town- ship, 1846), in 1844, were John Brooks (surveyor), Washington Brooks, Aaron Bailey, Nathaniel Bailey (tannery), Benjamin Blossom, Saul Ellis, James and William Barr, Wintel Bartholomew (farmers), James Bateman (hunter). Jacob Coleman, (postmaster and grist-mill owner), John Coleman and Washington Coleman (saw-mill owners), Philip Chambers (saw mill), Samuel Conway (blacksmith). William Boyer, Thomas Dent (saw-mill owner), Andrew Dent, Thomas Dent, Jr., William Dent and Michael Frisbey (sawyers), James, David and John English (farmers), John C. and John S. Hicks, George Hol- lingsworth, Jesse Hall, Joshua Jewells (carpenter), William E. and Giles Jordan, Ralph Johnson (saw-mill owner), Theodore, M. D., William and Benjamin Johnson, Amos Kingsley, William Lane (blacksmith). Harrison and Archie Logue, Henry Lashbangh (or Lorshbaugh), James, Henry, John and William Mason, Joseph Mason (saw-mill owner). Joe Mason (shoemaker),

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HISTORY OF ELK COUNTY.

John Murray, William Montgomery, James Mix, (saw- and grist-mill owner), Hezekiah and Solomon Mix, Daniel Miller, George Mahan, Thomas, James and Andrew Overturf (farmers), Joseph, Robert and Joseph, Jr., Ritchie, John Stormfelder (tinner), Edward C. Schultz, Michael Spangler, Henry Shafer, Henry Stuttle, William Shepperd, Henry Strump, John Swartz, John Shafer, George, Daniel, John, Samuel, Sylvester, Isaac, Benjamin and Jacob Smith, Mears Sarver, James Wiley, Cyrenius E. and William Wykoff. James Yards' lands, represented by George Mead, covered a large area of this township small owners claiming the balance. The resident tax-payers of Huston township or rather of that part of it belonging to Elk county in 1844, were Isaac Bliss, Isaac Coleman, Henry Gross, James Tyler, John and William Macomber, Leonard Morey, Jr. (saw-mill); Morris and Charles Webb (saw- and grist-mill owners) and Hiram Decker.

R. M. and D. Winslow were merchants in Benezette township in 1850. There were thirty six dwellings, thirty-six families, 243 inhabitants, twenty- seven farms and ten industries ..... The new depot at Rathbun was com- pleted in January. 1890, and an extensive net-work of tramways erected round the Hall & Kaul mills.

The village of Benezette is located on the Low Grade Division of the Alle- gheny Valley Railroad, on Bennett's branch of the Sinnemahoning. Reuben Winslow, a man of energy, founded it. In the year 1813, while the battle upon Lake Erie was being fought, which resulted in Perry's victory, the cannonad- ing was heard all along the settlements within the limits of the township. The inhabitants, totally ignorant of the cause, and supposing it was an attack of the Indians on some other settlement, assembled and started in search of the Indians, continuing the pursuit for several days.

In July, 1852, J. C., Jr., propounded the following question in the Adro- cate: "If it takes twenty-eight days and nights to carry papers from Phila- delphia to Bennett's Branch, Sinnemahoning, how long would it require to get news from Paris ?" Times have changed. The railroad now carries the tid- ings in a few hours. The village is liberally supplied with good hotels-the Benezette by Henry Blesh, the Winslow and the Daley. At Dent's Run is the well-kept house of W. A. Hatton.

The fire of June, 1884, was caused by the explosion of a lamp in a store- room. All the business part of the town was destroyed, eleven houses being burned.

The Catholic Church of Benezette was dedicated November 23, 1879, by Bishop Mullen. It is administered by Rev. Dr. Brennan at Driftwood .... The corner-stone of the I. O. O. F. hall at Benezette was placed August 14, 1884, by George Aumann, T. J. Shaffer. G. L. Winslow and D. W. Bennett .... Medix Run post-office was presided over from April, 1880, to September, 1882, by John Barr, when Luther Lucore was appointed. Mrs. Maggie McDonald was acting postmistress from April, 1850, to April, 1886.

Cornelius Wainright, who died at Dry Saw Mill in July. 1876, settled at Driftwood in 1857, leasing the John Coleman farm, hotel, blacksmith shop and wagon shop. In 1862 he moved up Bennett's branch, and in 1868 erected Dry saw-mill, near Grant depot ..... The history of Dent's Run is so closely identified with that of Driftwood, that references to it are made in the history of Cameron county. W. A. Hatton's hotel at Dent's Run was destroyed by fire February 13, 1889, while Miller's store was saved. . . . The fire of May, 1875, near Mount Pleasant depot, not only destroyed the woods in that vicinity, but also the barns of Johnson & Blesh and shop of William Johnson. St. Mary's was threatened at this time by bush fires.

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HISTORY OF ELK COUNTY.

CHAPTER XI.

BENZINGER TOWNSHIP-BOROUGH OF ST. MARY'S.

BENZINGER TOWNSHIP-GENERAL DESCRIPTION-EARLY LAND PURCHASES- RESIDENT TAXPAYERS IN 1844-ELECTIONS-VOTERS IN 1846-POPULATION- BUSINESS.

BOROUGH OF ST. MARY'S-LOCATION, ETC .- BEGINNINGS OF THE TOWN-REM- INISCENCES OF CHARLES LUIIR-MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS-FIRES-INDUSTRIES- BANK - HOTELS-CHURCHES-CONVENTS AND CONVENT SCHOOLS - ACADE- MIES-PUBLIC SCHOOLS-SOCIETIES-MISCELLANEOUS.

B ENZINGER TOWNSHIP is divided into the Mississippi and Atlantic basins by the Appalachian chain. In the eastern half are found the head waters of West creek (which runs to Emporium to unite with the Sinnema- homing. This creek is fed by the north fork coming down from Jarrett's Summit), and Trout run or north branch of Bennett's branch, Elk creek. which heads near the Cascade mines, east of St. Mary's, flows in a general westerly course to Ridgway. Powell's run parallels Elk creek a few miles north, and Crooked creek drains the extreme northern part of the west half of this township. The greatest elevation is on the divide between the head of Crooked creek and the north fork of West creek. This is said to be as high as Jarrett's Summit, 2, 245 feet, as determined by Col. Jarrett, September 15, 1855. At Rathbun depot. the elevation is 1,316 feet, and at the point where West creek crosses the east line, 1,280 feet or twenty-eight feet higher than Beechwood depot.

Round St. Mary's the lands have been cultivated for forty years, and as the hills are low, this section of the county tells at once of its agricultural wealth. The coal deposits in the neighborhood of St. Mary's are extensive, and have been a source of wealth to the county for over a quarter of a century. About two and three-fourth miles north of St. Mary's, at the old school-house (1,830 feet), a coal vein was discovered at an elevation of 1,780 feet. A gen- eral measurement of the strata shows 67 feet of gray sandstone, shale and slate, 3 of K. U. coal, 33 of sandy slate and shale, 18 inches of K. M. coal, 35 feet of sandstone and shale, 3 of Dagus coal, 3 of fireclay, 17 of shale, 16 inches of coal, 10 feet of sandstone and shale, 10 of limestone and shale, 13 of shale, a layer of coal, 16 of shale and 2 feet of coal, showing the lower productive measures to be 235.3 feet thick at St. Mary's. Ten miles south the Freeport limestone is only 40 feet above K. U. coal. From the center of warrant 4401 southwest to northeast corner of warrant 4395 the boldest exposure of sandstone in this township is found.

In 1842 the idea of establishing a colony on Elk creek was conceived. as related in the history of St. Mary's. Lands were purchased from the Fox Land Company of Massachusetts, September 20 of that year, for $24,668.62, or 75 cents per acre, the last payment being due in 1849.

The agreement between the trustees of the United States Land Company and Mathias Benzinger, of Baltimore, dated April 18, 1844, provided for the sale of 35,090 acres of land to the latter, on warrants numbered from 4112 to

Motension.

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HISTORY OF ELK COUNTY.

1408, out of which 100 acres for a church lot and 1,980 acres for roads were to be deducted. The price paid was 75 cents per acre, or $24,757. 72.

The resident taxpayers of Shippen township (Benzinger township in IS45) in 1844 were Martin* and Charles Herbstritt, Bartle Guire, John Addelber- ger. Nicholas Hill, Adolph Stockman, Paulus Dimel, Mathias Wellendorf (blacksmith), Sebastian Krauss, John Karker (cordwainer), Frank Kellar (tai- lor), Charles Kellar, John Rittman, Anton Avers, Dill Baltason, Charles Schrie- ber (matchmaker), Herman Koch and Nicholas Roth (cordwainers), Lawrence Stockman*, Benedict Heubel, Julius Forenbaum (cordwainer). John Sosenheim- er (tinner), George Hasselman, George Weis and Joseph Stockman. Each of the above named owned one or more town lots, except Joseph Stockman, who was a single freeman. Rev. Alexandre, a Hungarian count, was the trustee of a saw-mill-an eleemosynary institution In IS45 the names of Anthony An- tonaves, John Walker, Matthias Glans, Francis Smith, Anthony Fochtman and Andreas Fleisman appear on the roll.

The first election was held in February, 1846: George Weis* and Ignatius Garner were chosen justices; N. Hill*, constable; Adam Vollmer*, Louis Voll- mer*, F. J. Kellar, F. Schmidt*, Valentine Muller* and B. Weidenboerner*, directors; L. Stockman*, Ignatius Garner and Michael Langenfeldt*, audit- ors; L. Stockman*, clerk: George Wonder* and F. X. Biberger, in the west. inspectors; Adam Vollmer*, judge of election, and Adam Vollmer, assessor. Anton Hanhauser was chosen justice in 1849; J. Graham* and E. C. Schultz in 1850.

The Benzinger election of February, 1890, resulted in the choice of John Glesner and Charles Sneider, supervisors; J. B. Heindl, N. J. Tierney and Ignatius Schaut. school directors: John B. Gerber and W. A. McCoy, anditors; J. J. Vollmer, collector and constable; George Nissel, overseer of poor; J. M. Meyer, clerk, and Paul Busch, treasurer.

The first voters in February, 1846, were the officers named and Joseph Gernzer*, John Wonder (at Baltimore, now in Fort Wayne. Ind.). John Sosen- heimer, Casper Buchhage*, Matthias Wellendorf*, Michael Derlet*, Anton Fochtman*, Carl Schrieber*, F. Eisenhauer*, Augustus Osterman*, Anton Kuntz*, Bertol Guyer*, Francis Schmidt*, F. J. Kellar, Fred Miller*, Fran- cis Bonnert*, Peter Burget*, Joseph Korbe*, Michael Frey*, Joseph Kern*, and Bernard Weidenboerner *. All the voters and officers of 1846 are dead, with the exception of Ignatins Garner, John Sosenheimer and John Wonder.

The population in 1880 was 1,976, exclusive of St. Mary's, which then was credited with 1,501 inhabitants. In 1888 there were 56 Republican and 367 Democratic votes recorded in the township, pointing out a population of 2, 115. while in the borough there were 43 Republican, one Prohibitionist, and 308 Democratic votes given, showing 1,760 inhabitants-a number under the present population. The election on the prohibition and suffrage amendments of June 18, 1889, is noticed as follows by one of the local journals: "Six hundred and forty-one votes were cast in St. Mary's borough and Benzinger township, out of which the amendment received 32. In the borough 295 votes were cast, 280 against and 15 for the amendment; two votes were lost. proba- bly by two persons getting two prohibition tickets instead of one prohibition and one suffrage. Majority in the borough against the amendment, 263. In the township 346 men voted: 329 against, 17 for; majority, 312. Total major- ity in the precincts, 575." In St. Mary's borough were George Weis, Lee & Rom. Charles Fisher and G. Schoening, dealers; Joseph Lnzr, A. Fochtman, James Graham and John Haus, hotel keepers, in 1850. In Benzinger township

" Deceased.

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HISTORY OF ELK COUNTY.

were 263 dwellings, 270 families, 1,270 persons, 114 farms and two manufact- uring concerns. In 1852-53. M. Hans and Joseph Windfelder had breweries here and Philip Stephen a distillery.

The mines of the St. Mary's Coal Company were opened in September, 1863, and mining operations commenced in July following. In 1883 the Dagus coal was still taken out by this company, each side of the tracks of the Philadelphia & Erie Railroad, where the bed ranges from thirty-four to forty inches in thickness. Mr. Patton was then superintendent. and he resided near the sum- mit of the hill, 160 feet above the working coal bed, and seventy feet above a three-foot vein he discovered in drilling a well.

The Keystone mines, formerly owned by the Benzinger Company, of which Dr. O. S. Sanders was president, and W. H. Finney, secretary, are one and one- half miles east of the depot at St. Mary's. They were worked up to the period when D. Eldridge abandoned it. The extreme western opening was 1,825 feet above tide, and the coal bench was thirty-six inches in depth. Just east, at an elevation of 1,835 feet, was another opening into this Dagus bed. The mines were purchased by J. K. P. Hall, in 1889. The Cascade mines were opened east of the Keystone tract in 1878, by Kaul & Hall, with James Black, superin- tendent. The elevation is 1,815 feet and the depth of seam forty inches. Since 1880 Martin Dippold is superintendent, and W. A. McCoy has been weighman since the beginning. This mine employs 130 hands, and produces 80,000 tons annually. Their railroad system is one and one-half miles of standard track. The Silver Creek mine on the Monastery lands, just northwest of St. Mary's, was opened late in the " seventies," and explored to a depth of 2533 feet. The mine was worked by Eldridge until the deposit was exhausted.

The Scahonda coal tract, north of the depot, comprises the " Four Fingers " -prongs of the plateau-underlined by Alton coal, at a depth of fifty feet. The vein is thirty-six inches in depth. At a depth of seventy eight feet a twenty-four-inch vein of Alton coal was discovered. William C. Young's mine on the east side of the creek, is 1. SS0 feet above tide. Weidenboerner's opening on warrant 4405 is 1,817 feet above tide, and shows thirty-six inches of can- nel coal. The deposits are said to be of little commercial value. .. . The Hazel Dell mine, just east of St. Mary's, was opened in 1879 by the Cascade Coal Company, and was under the management of Daniel Geary, for some years, until P. J. Fleming succeeded him. Mr. Cook is the present mining boss. There are forty-five men employed and the product is 100 tons per day . . . . The Tannerdale Coal Company was incorporated in June, 1866, to develop the coal deposits in Benzinger township. The members were Isaac and I. T. Lu- lam, W. H. Hewitt, A. Stoutenburgh, P. S. Henderson, J. Kirkpatrick, F. A. Leash, Pamelia, Kate M., Lizzie C., M. and W. M. Singerly.

The only bed mined up to 1884, was the Dagus, three miles northeast of St. Mary's, within a half mile of the Philadelphia & Erie Railroad. The ele- vation of the opening was 1,750 feet. One mile east. on the Shabler farm, at an elevation of 1,675 feet, another mine was opened in the Clermont coal, and on the same farm at 1,660 feet a bed of the Alton upper coal . . .. The Kaul mine, adjoining the borough limits, was opened years ago and purchased by Mr. Kaul from Windfelder & Hill, in 1872. This mine may be said to be the supply mine of the borough . . . . The Elk creek mines were developed by Kaul & Hall, in 1877, with Superintendent Eldridge in charge. .. . In June, 1876, the Young mines were opened at Scahonda. In September, 1879, the St. Mary's test oil well was down 2,011 feet, and No. 2 was located on the Leonard Wittman farm, five miles north of No. 1, on Powell's run, 2,500 feet.

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HISTORY OF ELK COUNTY.

BOROUGH OF ST. MARY'S.

St. Mary's is located in north latitude 41º 25' and longitude 1° 25', west of Washington, according to observations made by Stokes in 1849. It is located in the midst of a rich agricultural district on an elevated plateau, where the steep hills, common to all other sections of this part of Pennsylvania, are merged into a heavy-rolling table land abont 1.900 feet above ocean level. The history of the town dates back to 1842. Its beginnings are told by docu- ments in possession of Charles Luhr, from which the following story is taken:

Some time in the early part of 1842, a committee from Baltimore and Philadel- phia was chosen to go westward in search of uncultivated lands for the establishment of a colony. It has always been a great mystery to me how this committee ever found their way into the wilds of Elk, and under whose guidance, but such it was, never- theless. On their return they reported favorably for this location. The lands were bought, and articles of agreement signed. The first meeting in Baltimore was held Octo- ber 25, 1842, and reads as follows: "Minutes of the German Catholic Brotherhood of Philadelphia and Baltimore to found a colony in Jefferson and MeKean counties, signed by John Kernhaas, secretary." Then follows a copy of the contract or agree- ment, made September 20, 1842, between the Fox Land Company, of Massachusetts, of the first part. and Nicklas Reimel. John Albert, Michael Derleth. Adolph Stockman. John Schad, Peter Brechtenwald and Mathias Schweitzer, members of the Brotherhood from Philadelphia and Baltimore for the purchase of twenty-nine warrants of land in the counties of Clearfield, Jefferson and MeKean (Elk not being formed at that time) for the sum of $24,668.62, or about 75 cents per acre, payable in rates. The last payment to be made in 1849. Sundry meetings were held during October, organizing the members: dividing them into several classes or installments, fixing payments, etc. On October 28. a committee consisting of John Sosenheimer, John Winter, John Want and F. X. Bic- berger, were chosen to start November 1 with the first installment for the colony, to meet a similar party from Philadelphia. Two families were included in the first installment, viz. : Benedict Ziebel, wife and four children; Barthel Geyer, wife and three children- fifteen persons in all, including the committee. Their route was laid out to Colum- bia. Penn .. by railroad; thence by canal to Freeport; thence by the overland route to the place of destination. The bill of expenses for the party may be interesting to the read- ers and is recorded as follows: Transport and over-weight, 888.69; utensils, $13.46; gro- ceries $18.02}; books, 82.75; cash, 880: miscellaneous, $14 20}. Arriving at Kersey. the party took np quarters with John Green; the house being too small for all, they had to take to the barn. As no road led to the promised spot from this point, and only a few blazed trees being their guide. the sturdy pioneers did not shrink from their undertak- ing, but with a pack on their shoulders, leaving their families in Kersey in comfort- able quarters, and following those few indications of a hunter's path, they arrived on the banks of Elk creek December 8, 1842. The site chosen for the first log huit was on the hill where now stands the home of Mr. Matthias Wellendorf. This gentleman and Mr. John Walker were of the first from the Philadelphia branch, and are the only two of the brave and enduring pioneers still residing here. December 8 being the feast of the Immaenlate Conception of the Virgin Mary, and the name of the first white woman who trod the soil being also Mary, the colony was named St. Mary's. The men toiled all week in clearing lands, building log huts covered with hemlock bark, cutting and opening roads, and returning Saturday's to their families in Kersey, providing they did not miss the trail. As soon as a road was opened and sufficient Inits were erected, the entire party moved to their future home.

Other names are given in connection with this settlement of December. 1842: Matthias Wellendorf, J. Walker, Herman Koch. F. J. Kellaf. J. Vorn- baum, A. Ewars, N. Hill, C. and M. Herbstritt, J. Dill. N. Reime], J. and M. Albert, P. Reitenwald and Messrs. Kraus, Fingering, Krauter and Girard- all from Philadelphia. A few days later the colonists from Baltimore ar- rived I. Lehaut, B. Henebel, B. Geyer, Caspar Wolfrom, G. Hassellman. Bartel Ox and Alderberger-who joined the first party at Kersey. As stated. the first cabin was raised on the Wellendorf home lot. . J. Dill built a sec- ond, which is still standing. Late in December of the same year, as they had built enough shanties, they took their families in and began to cut down trees along St. Mary's road. The shanties and all other work done was made in common, so also had they a common store where they drew their rations. The

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HISTORY OF ELK COUNTY.

clearing and the work in general progressed slowly. The community plan of working would not go-some were always sick, and others had some other ail- ings or excuses-so that during the first year only a few town lots were cleared. although in the spring of 1843 the number of colonists was increased by the second installment from Philadelphia and Baltimore. About 1844 John Kaul. Andrew Dessler and John Raum arrived. While they were building their shanties the men used to come in on Mondays, take their rations along, camp out and return on Saturday to their families in Kersey. In one of their jour- neys to the settlement, Girard and his son, with their rations for the week. were a little behind the rest of the party, and went out of their path some- where near Laurel run and lost themselves. They wandered about all day; when night came they built a fire, and as they had their rations along for the whole week, they made a hearty supper. The next day they began wandering again and walked continually all day long. Toward evening they came to a place where a fire was smouldering. when the old man said: "Thank God! we must now be near some settlement, as there must have been some one here who has built this fire." While they were occupied in replenishing the fire and making arrangements for supper, the young man said: "Why, father, this is the place where we camped last night, and we built this fire!" Next morning they resumed their journey; this time they struck a creek, which they followed. aud toward evening they came out at Ridgway.

* In the fall of the year 1842, Father Alexander, from Baltimore, came to the colony by invitation. This gentleman, a man of great learning and experience, and a lover of rural life, became so convinced that the community plan would not work, that the settlement was bound to break up, and the labor and money already spent in the undertaking lost. He conceived another plan to save it, but this could only be carried out by some person of influence and means. He, therefore, after consultation with the colonists, went back to Baltimore, and laid his plans before Col. Matthias Benzinger, a man known for his kindness, enterprise and experience. He prevailed on Col. Benzinger to come and look at the settlement. Late in the fall of 1843, Col. Benzinger came to the colony, and after examination concluded to buy the lands. The community society then had their contract annulled with Mr. Kinsbury, and Col. Benzinger then bought the colony lands, with some other adjoining. making about 66,600 acres. The following year. as soon as the season was favorable, part of the lands was laid out in farms of 25, 50 and 100 acres, and also part of the village of St. Mary's, and he gave each of the colonists of the community, who remained, 25 acres and one town lot free. Now each one was for himself, and the work and improvements went on well from that time. In 1844 John Kaut came from Bavaria and located for a time at St. Mary's, but subsequently settled on his farm. In the fall of the year 1844, George Weis came to the colony and put up a store at the house of J. Walker, then the largest and best in the place, and in the following spring built his store-

> Early in the summer of 1843 Rev. Father Borgess, of Trinity Church, Philadelphia, visited the settlement, after holling services in the old church at Irishtown. He advised the poineers to disband- to leave the wilderness; but they persevered, and converted the wilderness into a garden spot, their earnestness winning additions in 1843. In 1844, during the Know-nothing riots in Philadelphia. a number of Philadelphians sought refuge from political and religious troubles here: George Weis. Philip Stephan. Louis and Adam Vollmer. Gerhard Schoening, B. Wehlenboerner, A. Kuntz and others not so well known. Baron ( harles Van Ersel died at St. Mary's. Angust 3, 1851. le came from Belgium in 1849, and was preparing a home for his wife and children when death called him away. He died in the house of Charles Luhr, of appoplexy. Ignatius Garner administered the estate. Francis J. Kellar, who arrived with the first colonists, December 8, 1842. died in October, 1881, leaving Messrs. Wellendorf, Walker and Avis, the only contemporary poineers, surviving. Gerhard Schorning died in October, 1883. He came to the United States from Prussia in 1837, and early in the "forties " was one of the three agents sent to select lands in Elk county for the German colony. Old Mrs. Erig, who died at St. Mary's in January, 1873, is said to have been born in 1767. Louis Vollmer, born in Bavaria July 25, 1818, came to the United States in September. 1841. and to St. Mary's in 1845, he died January 5, 1889. Mrs. Heindl, a settler of 1846, died late in the fall.

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Author: Leeson, M. A. (Michael A.) comp. cn; J.H. Beers & Co., pub Publication date: 1890 Publisher: Chicago, J. H. Beers & Co. Number of Pages: 1320

Author: Leeson, M. A. (Michael A.) comp. cn; J.H. Beers & Co., pub
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Chicago, J. H. Beers & Co.
Number of Pages: 1320