USA > Pennsylvania > Crawford County > Our country and its people. A historical and memorial record of Crawford County, Pennsylvania. > Part 101
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103
John G. Gutman, proprietor of the Spring Hill Hotel, at Titusville, was born in Switzerland, in 1851, came to America in 1870 and first located in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, where he was employed at his trade, that of car- penter, during the time that he resided here .. In 1871 he removed to Titus- ville, where he followed his trade for two years, when he purchased the Spring Hill Hotel and improved the same, which is still conducted by him. In 1877 he was united in marriage with Catharine Bellen, of Erie, Pennsylvania, and they have three children,-Libby Gertie, John Fred and Charles Frank. Mr. G. is a member of the Knights of Honor and of the D. O. H.
Susan F. Rose, M. D., of Meadville, is a native of Philadelphia, Penn- sylvania, a daughter of Peter and Eliza A. (Boyer) Rose, and was born Sep- tember 21, 1845. Her parents also were natives of Philadelphia, her father of Welsh and English, and her mother of French descent. Peter Rose came with his family to this county about 1857, and was a farmer and lumber dealer. He reared a family of eight children, Susan F. being the fourth, and his death occurred in 1882.
Our subject received her early education in the graded schools of her native city, and studied medicine under Dr. Smith, in this county, from 1872 to 1875. In 1873-4 she attended the Woman's Medical College in Philadel- phia, and graduated at the Homeopathic Hospital and College in Cleveland,
949
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
Ohio, in the year 1875. She then began the practice at Townville, in this county, and in 1877 came to Meadville, where she has since continued in the work of her profession, having a large practice.
Danicl Shaffer, of Wayne township .- Joseph Shaffer and his wife, Leah, daughter of George Noll, moved into Crawford from Dauphin county about the year 1850, locating upon the farm opposite that now owned by Daniel Shaffer. Their children are Daniel; Katharine, wife of Joshua M. Daily ; Moses, John, Joseph, William, Charles, Henry, and Eva, wife of John Mc- Cracken. Daniel was born on the old homestead in 1851, and March 29, 1877, married Ada, daughter of Adam and Elizabeth Daniels, from Dauphin county. Their children are Walter, Maud and Frederick. Mr. Shaffer has lived upon his farm, consisting of one hundred and forty-two acres, since his marriage. A member of the United Brethren church, his particular field of usefulness is Sunday-school work, he having filled the office of superintendent for eigh- teen years to the satisfaction of all.
William Shaffer, of Wayne township, and brother of Daniel, was born on the Shaffer homestead in Wayne township, November 14, 1857. In 1882 he married Ada, daughter of James Thompson. Their children are named Alta and Roy. Mr. Shaffer owns and cultivates a fine farm of sixty-seven acres. He has held several township offices.
F. Netcher, proprietor of Hotel Monroe, at Titusville, was born in Decein- ber, 1847, in Buffalo, New York. November 29, 1860, he came to Titusville, where he began the work of drilling for oil, with fair success. April 1, 1870. he engaged in the wholesale liquor business, which he conducted most of the period until 1880, when he purchased the Hotel Monroe. He was more or less interested in the wholesale business until 1888, and since then he has con- ducted the hotel uninterruptedly. In October, 1873, he was united in mar- riage with Mary, daughter of Ignatius Eckart, of Buffalo. They have three children,-Clara B., widow of J. Robinson; William C. and Ida May. Mr. Netcher is the son of Christian and Sophia (Remenger) Netcher, the former of whom died January 27, 1898, aged seventy-four years, and the latter September 4, 1896. Christian Netcher came from Germany at the age of thirteen years, was a cooper by trade, and was one of the carly founders of Pleasantville, Venango county, and an active citizen in that locality during the oil boom.
Charles W. Thompson, M. D., of Meadville, was born May 8, 1858, in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, the son of John and Letitia (Taylor) Thompson. The former, who was a native of Pittsburg, died in 1890, at the age of fifty-
950
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
eight years. He rendered efficient service in the war of the Rebellion. The mother, who was born in Greensburg, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, died in 1869, aged thirty-one years.
Dr. Thompson received his education in the public schools of Meadville, the Meadville Commercial College, Edinboro State Normal School. Allegheny College and the Wooster and Western Reserve Universities, Cleveland, Ohio, graduating from the latter in 1882. In April of the same year he began, in Meadville, the practice of medicine, which he has since continued with un- varying success. He was county physician from 1882 to 1885.
In 1890 Dr. Thompson married Miss Eva Apple, daughter of Hon. A. G. Apple. She died in 1893. October 3. 1896, he married Mary, daughter of John Derfus, of Mead township.
Nathan Shaffner, proprietor of the Shaffner Hotel, at Pleasantville, is a native of Cleveland. Ohio, born in 1849, a son of Solomon and Loretta ( Swab) Shaffner, the former of whom died at the age of sixty-five years and the latter at the age of seventy-five years. Mr. Shaffner is the second son in a family of seven children, namely: Joseph; Nathan; Cassie, wife of Leon Stein- berger. St. Paul, Minnesota: Henry, deceased; Abraham, Clarence and Rachel. July 20, 1874, Mr. Shaffner was married at Weedsport, New York. and he now has four children .- Clarence, Carrie, Alice and Florence.
Mr. Shaffner first began the restaurant business, in Oil City. in 1869, and came to Titusville in 1872, where he continued the same business until 1875, when he became proprietor of the European Hotel, of which he had charge for twelve years. He removed to Pleasantville January 1. 1898, and took charge of the Eagle Hotel, which was handsomely refitted, refurnished and renamed after its present proprietor.
At the age of thirteen years Mr. Shaffner enlisted, January 17, 1863, from Cleveland, Ohio, in the Thirty-second Ohio Infantry, and was mustered out with his regiment in July, 1865.
George T. Smith, merchant, Meadville, was born March 28. 1842, in Massachusetts, and came to Crawford county and located in Meadville in the autumn of 1863, and followed his trade, that of tinner, until the following year, when he removed to Franklin; and here he remained until 1868, when he returned to Meadville and followed the same line of business until April. 1896, since which time he has been engaged in the grocery trade on North street. Mr. Smith's ancestry was of the New England type. A descendant of John Rogers, his father, Dexter Smith, was born in 1812 and died in 1892 : Inis mother. Philindia (Morgan) Smith, died in 1858. at the age of forty- four years. Their family consisted of four sons: Chandler, of Illinois; George T., and John A .. and Clarence E. Smith, now residing in Massachu-
5
951
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
setts. Mr. Smith married, May 30, 1865, Sarah, daughter of Frederick and Margaret Metzer, who died November 21. 1890, at the age of forty-two years. To this union were born: Frederick D., Nettie M., Arthur H., Ed- ward B., Williard H., Clarence W. and Kenneth Smith.
In April. 1801, Mr. Smith engaged in the late Civil war and remained in service until January 18, 1863, when he received an honorable discharge 011 account of disability. His engagements included the battles of Williamsburg, Garnett's farm, Savage's station and Malvern Hill.
David Foster, a native of Ireland, born May 1, 1844, emigrated to this country and first located in Buffalo, New York, in 1863, and in April of the same year removed to Titusville. He was a member of a family of fifteen chil- dren, four of whom reside in Pennsylvania, as follows : Robert, at Erie; Mar- garet, wife of Samuel Cunningham, at Rixford; Samuel, at Dubois; and Anna, the wife of George Beatty, at Titusville. November 28, 1865, he was united in marriage with Emma J., daughter of John and Mary Ann (Suter) Megahey, formerly from the north of Ireland. Mr. Megahey died in 1889 at the age of seventy-five years, and his wife died in May, 1897, at the age of eighty-five years. Mrs. Foster is the second child in a family of seven children, as follows: William: Anna J., above mentioned; Arthur, Titusville; Letitia, wife of Samuel Koon; James, Titusville: Esther, wife of Charles Hall, Syracuse, New York; and Mary Elizabeth, de- ceased. Mr. and Mrs. Foster have three children,-Samuel J., Letitia and John B. Mr. Foster is the son of Samuel and Margaret (Wright) Foster, the former of whom died in 1873. at the age of sixty-nine years, and the latter died at the age of forty years.
Mr. Foster came to Titusville during the days of the oil excitement and followed his trade, that of builder and mover, together with lumbering and real-estate business. He is the pioneer and largest operator in his line. So- cially, he is a member of Shepherd Lodge, No. 443, F. & A. M., and a charter member of Queen City Lodge, I. O. O. F.
Peter A. Forsbloom, contractor, Titusville, was born in Sweden, January 17, 1835, son of A. P. and Anna Rebekah (Arling) Forsbloom, natives of Sweden. Mr. Forsbloom is the second child in a family of seven children, as follows: Charles A., deceased; Peter A .; John, Stockholm, Sweden; Johan- nah, wife of Mr. Ligeqvist; Albertina, wife of Charles Holmaqvist, Stock- holm, Sweden; Charlotta, widow of J. Lundquist, Brooklyn; and Caroline, deceased. In 1861 Mr. Forsbloom was united in marriage with Louise John- son, of Stockholm, Sweden, and they came to Titusville, where she died Octo- ber 25, 1887, at the age of forty-two years. Seven children survive, namely : Augusta, Emily, Albin, Edward, Earnest, Arvid and Anna.
952
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
It was not until the year 1869 that Mr. Forsbloom finally located in Titus- ville. He had made a brief sojourn in Jamestown, New York, and December 13, 1869, he located permanently in Titusville, where he has since followed his trade, that of carpenter and builder. He was first employed by Smith & Hubbard, contractors, for the period of two years. Many of the important buildings of Titusville, among which the Hotel Brunswick and not a few of the many beautiful homes in architectural beauty will remain as monuments of his enterprise.
John B. Houser, contractor at Meadville, was born October 25. 1855. son of George and Mary (Walp) Houser, natives of Pennsylvania. The latter died in 1862, at the age of thirty-three years. Mr. Houser began his trade, that of carpenter, with his father in 1870, and since his apprenticeship has constructed many fine buildings. April 4. 1877, he married May, daughter of Albert and Marietta (Pierce) Belton, of Crawford county. Two chil- dren-Alberta B. and Fred P. Houser-have been born to this union. Mr. Houser is the third of a family of six children, five of whom are living: Ma- tilda, widow of David Owens; Christina, wife of Joseph Hannah: John B. ; Josephine, widow of the late Charles Stuart; William B., of Columbus, Ohio: and Henry, deceased. John and Henry Walp were in service during the late rebellion and Albert Belton was engaged as provost guard at Harrisburg.
General John Dick .- A man of wide reputation who stood forth as a central figure in the annals of Pennsylvania through more than half a century was General John Dick, whose identification with the public life of Mead- ville was so inseparable as to render his career a part of its history. No com- pendium such as the province of this work defines in its essential limitations will serve to offer fit memorial to the life and accomplishments of the honored subject of this sketch,-a man remarkable in the breadth of his wisdom, in liis indomitable perseverance, his strong individuality, and yet one whose entire life had not one esoteric phase, being an open scroll, inviting the closest scru- tiny. There was in him a weight of character, a native sagacity, a far-seeing judgment and a fidelity of purpose that commanded the respect of all, and his name is deeply engraven on the history of Meadville and the Keystone state.
Of Scotch-Irish descent, he was born in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, June 17, 1794, and was a son of William and Anna (McGunnegle) Dick, whose family numbered four children, namely: John, David, James R. and Wilson WV., all now deceased. In the year of his birth he was brought by his parents to Meadville, then a mere collection of log houses. The town then gave little promise of development, but with the passing years it expanded, and in the activities of life General Dick kept pace with its growth and progress. He
John Dick
N FC
953
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
was for many years one of its successful merchants and was one of the founders of the private banking house of J. R. Dick & Company, which in 1850 was conducted under the firm name of J. & J. R. Dick. He was an able financier, and made this institution one of the most reliable and prosperous financial concerns in this part of the state. His reputation in business was unassailable, and his energy and enterprise made him very prosperous, so that at his death he left to his family a large estate. He was identified with many other business interests, which resulted not only to his own benefit, but also to the great benefit of the community. These included the construction of the easteril plank road, which was built mainly through his instrumentality, and the At- lantic & Great Western Railroad. He was president of the Crawford Mutual Insurance Company for several years, the first president of Greendale ceme- tery, and at one time captain of the Cussewago Fire Company. The cause of education found in him a warm friend, and he was one of the trustees of Allegheny College. At the time of his death he was the oldest vestryman of Christ Protestant Episcopal church, in Meadville, having been elected to that position February 7, 1829, and for more than forty years he devoted his energies untiringly to the welfare of the parish. No enterprise which was calculated to prove of public benefit solicited his aid in vain, and his co- operation advanced many public movements and measures upon which time has set the stamp of highest approval.
In his political affiliations General Dick was a Whig and was a member of the electoral college of 1840, at which he cast the vote of Pennsylvania for General William Henry Harrison. In 1850 he was appointed by Governor Johnson associate judge of Crawford county, and the following year was elected and commissioned to the same position. On the bench he was ever just and upright, his course being unalterable by either fear or favor. While serving in that capacity he was elected to congress, in 1852, from the district composed of the counties of Erie and Crawford, and served in the council chambers of the nation for three consecutive terms, leaving the impress of his strong individuality upon the legislation of the country. High military honors were also his. At the age of twenty-seven he was elected major of the First Battalion and was so commissioned by Governor Heister, in 1821. Four years later he was made colonel of the Thirty-first Regiment ; in 1831 he was commissioned by Governor Wolf brigadier-general of the Second Brigade, Sixteenth Division, composed of the troops from the counties of Beaver, But- ler. Mercer, Crawford, Erie, Venango and Warren, extending from the banks of the Ohio to the shore of Lake Erie. He was well versed in military tactics and drill, and the honors thus won were well merited.
On the 16th of November, 1830, General Dick married Miss Jane .1. Torbett, daughter of Samuel Torbett, one of the honored pioneers of Craw- ford county and for many years an extensive and prominent real-estate
954
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
dealer liere. They became the parents of six children : George M., J. Henry, Samuel Bernard, Anna C., Mary E. and Jolin.
For years General Dick was acknowledged the leading citizen of his county, by reason of the prominent part which he took in military, political, business and social life. He achieved financial success by careful management and untiring energy ; he won political and military honors through fidelity to duty and loyalty in citizenship, and won the regard of many friends by those sterling qualities which everywhere command respect. He lived through the period of the republic's early development, witnessed its wonderful progress along all material lines, in invention, science, art and commerce: saw the beginning and consummation of one of the greatest civil wars known to his- tory and the re-establishment of the nation on a firmer foundation than ever before. He died May 29, 1872. in his seventy-eighth year, and thus was closed a life devoted to goodly ends.
Joseph A. Roser, engineer of the Erie Railway at Meadville, was born January 17, 1859, a son of Joseph and Catherine (Swop) Roser. The former died in Germany, at the age of thirty-six years, and the latter is now living in Meadville, at the age of sixty-nine years. Mrs. Roser, soon after the death of her husband, with her three children,-Elizabeth, Marion and Joseph,- left Germany and came to America, locating soon after in Meadville, where the subject of this sketch, at the age of thirteen, began as a messenger for the dispatcher's office of the New York, Pennsylvania & Ohio Railway. At the age of cigliteen lie accepted a position as fireman and was afterward pro- moted as engineer, and has acceptably filled this place of trust since 1884. July 25, 1883. Mr. Roser married Fannie E., daughter of David and Annie ( Mitcheltree) McCreary, of West Middlesex, Mercer county, Pennsylvania, both deceased. Mrs. Roser is the youngest of a family of four children, viz. : John W. : Laura J., wife of Mathew Farrell, Ottumwa, Iowa; David .1., and Fannie Elizabeth McCreary. John McCreary, father of David, was a native of Ireland, and emigrated to this country prior to the Revolutionary war, and served through the entire struggle with General Morgan. Mr. Roser is a member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, Division No. 43.
William S. Flower, physician, Cochranton, was born in Harbor Creek. Frie county, Pennsylvania, in 1821. a son of James and Sarah Flower, natives of Massachusetts, who resided in Erie county for over half a century. Dr. Flower first began the study of medicine in the office of Dr. Davenport, at Ellington Center, Chautauqua county, New York, and soon after entered the medical department of a university at Philadelphia, at which he graduated in 1860, and began the practice of medicine in Cooperstown, Venango county. Pennsylvania, the same year. He came to Cochranton in 1856, where he has
955
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
continued to practice, and chose for a life companion Miss Mary J. Barthol- omew, of Waterford. Erie county, Pennsylvania, born 1827, and only last year celebrated the event of their marriage with a golden wedding. To this union were born four sons: William, a resident of California: Chauncey, of Frank- lin; Frank E., of Cochranton; and Charles W., of Buffalo, New York. Dr. Flower was the second child of a family of seven children : David E., William S .. Dr. Phineas D., of Albion, Pennsylvania : Elbridge J .. Jamestown. New York: Mrs. C. A. Fuller, Fredonia, New York: Mrs. L. D. Davenport, Al- bion, Pennsylvania: and Lydia W. Flower, Fredonia, New York. James Flower, father of William S., was captain of militia at Erie during the war of 1812.
F. A. Sutton, a well known citizen of Meadville, is a native of Venango county, Pennsylvania. His parents were Solomon and Elmira ( Knowlton) Sutton. When the war of the Rebellion was being waged our subject, then a young man, offered his services to his country, and fought for the Union. He was a member of the Fifty-second Pennsylvania Regiment. As early as 1860 he became interested in the oil industry in the vicinity of Oil City, and during the intervening years he has given his chief time and attention to this line of business, at present having additional investments in the oil region of West Virginia. Politically he is affiliated with the Republican party, and socially he is a Knight of Pythias.
Mr. Sutton married Caroline, a daughter of William and Eleanor ( Beck) Gray, then residents of Indiana, but now deceased. The five children born to our subject and wife are named as follows: John, William, Curtis, Ella and Jessie May.
George J. Philley, Cochranton, was born in Chenango county, New York. in 1829. a son of Isaac and Eliza ( Perkins) Philley, for many years residents of New York state, where the former was an extensive lumber and dairyman. Mr. Philley is of a large family of children, viz. : Lewis, a resident of Minne- sota : Orphia, wife of Charles Purdy; Jeremiah, of Binghamton. New York : William, deceased: George J .; Eunice, deceased, formerly wife of Elijah Fernalla, of Chenango county, New York ; DeForest, in Minnesota : Melinda. wife of Charles Fernalla : Clarinda, wife of John Kilman, Minnesota; Frank- lin, deceased ; and Remembrance, deceased. In January, 1853. Mr. Philley married Martha, daughter of Levi Morse, of Chenango county, New York. and three daughters have been born to this union, viz .: Flora, who married D. H. Myers, and resides in Greene township, Erie county: Emma. wife of William Watson, of Wayne township, Crawford county; and Cora Philley. of Cochranton.
956
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
Mr. Philley has been extensively engaged in the meat business for several years, and has held several local offices, among which are those of constable. assessor. and appraiser.
Joseph Gerlach, proprietor of the Burkhardt Hotel, is a native of Craw- ford county, and has been a resident of Meadville since 1866. He was born in Vernon township in 1843, being a son of John and Elizabeth (Shepper) Gerlach, natives of Germany, who emigrated to America and settled in Vernon township in 1839. The former was a soldier in the German army, and died in West Fallowfield township in 1856, at the age of sixty-one years, and his widow died in 1888, at the ripe age of eighty-six years. They reared a family of three children. all of whom are living : John, a resident of Conneaut, Ohio; Joseph, subject of this sketch; and Andrew Gerlach, of Erie, Erie county, Pennsylvania.
February 23. 1865. our subject married Catherine, daughter of Leonard and Catherine Zimmerman, of Meadville. They have no children. Mr. Ger- lach became proprietor of the Burkhardt Hotel April 1, 1895. He is a men- ber of the C. M. B. A., and the St. Lawrence Life Association.
Timothy B. Hicks, of Rome township, is a son of William Hicks, and was born in the town of Manchester, Vermont, in 1823. His father came to Erie county, Pennsylvania, when he was a small boy, and in 1852 settled in Rome township. In 1861 he enlisted in Company K, Second Regiment, United States Artillery, at Buffalo, and served five years. He is a pensioner. He married Amy Young, daughter of Alonzo and Salome (Loomis) Young. He cleared his farm where he now lives and has six children living .- Clarissa V., Alonzo, George W., Flora V .. Loren and Ira B.
Francis Nelson, a farmer of West Fairfield township, was born August 7. 1843, in West Fairfield township, the son of Allen and Hannah (Dunn) Nelson. The former was born in 1814 and died November 25, 1895, the lat- ter was born in 1810 and died in September, 1883. Allen Nelson was a son of Colonel David and Jane ( Milligan) Nelson, who died at the age of ninety- four years and seventy, respectively. Allen was the third son of a family of eight children, viz. : John. James, Allen, father of our subject, and William,- all deceased; Daniel, of Meadville; Mary, who became the wife of Hamilton Armour and is now deceased; Betsy B., deceased, was the wife of Thomas McDonald; and Jane, wife of Hugh McClintock, Cochranton. In 1835 Allen Nelson married Hannah, daughter of Allen and Mary (Hamilton) Dunn, of Sandy Lake, Mercer county. Their family numbered nine children : Elizabeth, who married W. H. Line, of Pottawatomie county, Kansas; David C., who died in 1873: Allen D., who died in 1893; Francis, the subject of this sketch ;
957
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
Samuel H., of Cochranton ; James A., who died in 1863 ; Margaret J., who died in 1889, the wife of W. H. Applegate, of Kansas; Stewart L., of Topeka, Kansas; and H. E. Nelson, on the homestead. October 13, 1870, Francis Nel- son, the subject of this sketch, married Sarah A., daughter of Mason and Mary (McDonald) Williams. No issue.
Mr. Nelson was in the Civil war, enlisting in August, 1862, and being mustered out in July, 1865. The principal engagement in which he partici- pated was the battle of Gettysburg, where he was severely wounded, a bullet piercing his right lung.
The Nelsons are prominently identified among the first families of the township. Colonel David Nelson settled upon the homestead farm in 1776, coming on horseback from Westmoreland county. He returned the same year to Westmoreland county, was married, and then came to his new home here and began life in earnest. Surrounded by a dense forest and limited facilities, he made his way toward the front rank of civilization. He served his country in the war of 1812, being stationed at Fort Meigs in the winter of 1813-14.
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.