USA > Pennsylvania > Crawford County > Our country and its people. A historical and memorial record of Crawford County, Pennsylvania. > Part 80
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On September 18, 1860, he was married to Miss Mary, daughter of Elisha Sprague, of Fabius, New York. She died in 1872, leaving one daugh- ter, Myra E., the wife of Dr. William G. Johnston, this city. In June, 1874, he married Jennie, the daughter of Judge Richard Irwin, of Franklin, Venan- go county, Pennsylvania. She died in April, 1877, leaving one son, Selden S., born June 23, 1875. On July 25, 1878, Mr. Benedict married Miss Edna J. Ruland, of Shamburg, Pennsylvania. She has borne him Willis B., March 16. 1880; Wayland R., January 19, 1882 ; Harry H., born January 4, 1884. and died September 27, 1887 : Robert B., born March 8, 1886, and Harold H., February 26, 1889.
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Charles Hyde was born February 27, 1822, at Eagle, Allegany county, New. York. The Hyde family is historic. The progenitor of the family in the United States was William Hyde, who came from England in 1633 with Rev. Thomas Hooker and settled at Hartford, Connecticut. His son was Samuel Hyde, whose son was Samuel Hyde, Jr., whose son was Elijah, whose son was Elijah ( second), whose son was Elijah Clark, whose son was Elijah, whose son was Charles, of the eighth generation, and the subject of this sketch. From the genealogical history of the Hyde family, prepared by the late Chancellor Walworth, of the state of New York, it is learned that William Hyde, the first in the line in the United States, was the uncle of Edward Hyde, Earl of Clarendon, in the reign of Charles the First.
Charles, the subject of this sketch, was the third of four children, of whom the late William C. Hyde, long well known in Titusville, was the oldest. Edward B. was the second ; and Eliza, the daughter, and youngest of the four, is married to Samuel Ridgway, the distinguished proprietor of the Hydetown Sanitarium. At about 1833 Elijah Hyde moved with his family to Nunda Valley, in Livingston county, New York, and four years later to Cherry Tree township, Venango county, Pennsylvania, settling upon a farm about two miles south of Titusville. The farm, which was partly cleared, adjoined the Stackpole farm. Mr. Hyde paid for his property at the rate of three dol- lars and thirty cents an acre, and this was for the absolute fee simple of the land. There were no mineral rights reserved in the warranty deed which conveyed the title. A part of this same farm is now owned by Mrs. Susan A. Emery, the surviving wife of the late David Emery, whose father, the late Lewis Emery, Sr., a few years ago, planted an orchard upon the place. The granddaughter of Lewis Emery, Sr., the daughter of David and Susan A. Emery, Verna, is married to Louis K., the son of Charles Hyde, and the grandson of Elijah Hyde, who purchased the property a little over sixty years ago. It is oil property, and the mingled blood of Hyde and Emery may possess the farm for generations.
The limits of this sketch will not permit a detailed account of the event- ful life of Charles Hyde. He was brought up to hard work on the farm and in the manufacture of lumber ; but he showed at an early period certain busi- ness qualities requisite for success. He was patient, persevering, thrifty and indefatigable in his efforts to better his condition. He joined with his father and brothers in the manufacture of lumber and in mercantile trade. They bought the Titus Mills in the vicinity of what was afterward Hydetown. When Drake sunk the first oil well Charles Hyde was a heavy lumberman and merchant at Hydetown. He had gathered petroleum from the surface of the water and used it as a lubricant, and had retailed the substance as a medicinal agent. His first investment in the oil business was one thousand dollars for one of the ten shares in the Tidioute and Warren Oil Company, which after-
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ward paid very large dividends. At the head of the Hydetown Oil Com- pany he sunk, in 1860, a well on the Mcclintock farm, which had been leased by Brewer, Watson & Company, and got a second sand producer. But the Hyde & Egbert farm, near Petroleum Center, was the largest source of great wealth which flowed to him.
The Second National Bank of Titusville was organized February II, 1865, starting with a capital of one hundred thousand dollars, Mr. Hyde being the principal stockholder. In December, 1867, the First National Bank of Titusville, with its capital of one hundred thousand dollars, was purchased, and in 1871 the First National Bank of Meadville, with another one hundred thousand dollars, was added, making a total capital of three hundred thou- sand dollars. ( An account of this bank appears elsewhere in this work. ) In April, 1880, the Hyde National Bank was organized and put into operation with a capital of five hundred thousand dollars, which continued until August. 1888, when it was merged into the private firm of Charles Hyde & Son, Louis K. Hyde being the junior partner. The banking office is upon the second floor of the Second National Bank edifice.
Charles Hyde has been president of the City National Bank at Plainfield, New Jersey, where he resides, for twenty years. In April, 1897. he became president of the New Orleans & Northwestern Railway; previously Louis K. Hyde had been president. He has since been its vice-president and general manager. For about ten years past he has been cashier of the Titusville Sec- ond National Bank, of which from 1887 to 1891 he was vice-president. Since then his brother, Francis de L. Hyde, has been its vice-president. Louis K. Hyde is one of the ten citizens who in 1896 subscribed each ten thousand dol- lars to the stock of the Titusville Industrial Fund Association. He is a director of the association and a director of the Titusville Board of Trade. In the spring of 1866 Charles Hyde purchased the mansion at the northwest corner of Main and Franklin streets, this city, and made it his family residence several years. The son, Louis K. Hyde, now owns and occupies the same residence.
The children of Charles Hyde are Dorsey William, Charles Livingston, Louis Kepler, Francis de Lacy and Edith.
William Barnsdall was born at Biggleswade, Bedfordshire England. February 6, 1810, educated at a select school and learned the shoemaker's trade, which he continued to follow until 1831, when he came to America, landing at New York, where he remained a few months. From New York he went to Carlisle, Pennsylvania, and worked at his trade for a time. After- ward he visited his parents living near Titusville, who had come to America in 1829. Mr. Barnsdall came to Titusville in 1833, where he has since lived continuously an eventful life. He at once entered upon his trade, and he
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was the first shoemaker established at Titusville. He continued at his trade and at farming until 1859. After Drake's discovery, Mr. Barnsdall leased land of his brother-in-law, James Parker, in the eastern part of Titusville, and in company with Henry R. Rouse and Boone Mead, of Warren, and William H. Abbott sunk the second oil well, which was finished February 18, 1860. Next the Crossley,-in which Messrs. Barnsdall, Abbott and Witherop, to- gether with David Crossley,-the third well was tubed March 14, 1860; this well was near the present Boughton station. Mr. Barnsdall was instru- mental in bringing from New York to Titusville his brother, John Barnsdall, who afterward became a heavy oil operator, owning a large part of the famous Sherman well on the Foster farm.
Mr. Barnsdall was mayor of Titusville from 1878 to 1880, and he was city treasurer from 1880 to 1882, and he has held many other local offices. When he came to Titusville he was a Methodist, but he afterward became a Universalist and a leader in that denomination. He contributed largely toward building the Pine street church in 1844, and to the brick church, south- east corner of Main and Perry, built in 1865. He is a pronounced Spiritualist, and is charitable to those who differ from him in matters of faith. He is universally respected, and when he dies he will be missed in the community. September 1, 1835, he married Eliza Curry, daughter of Robert Curry, who died in 1843. Two children of the union survive : Olivia, wife of D. F. With- erop, and Lucy A., wife of H. P. Cleland. In 1846 he married Fidelia A., daughter of Chauncey Goodrich. Of this marriage two daughters, Fanny and Hattie, are dead. Rosa C., wife of Charles Snakard, and three sons- N. B., T. N. and William W .- all survive.
Hon. Chapman A. Stranahan .- In this democratic country, where true merit and intrinsic worth and ability are the only measures of nobility-the grandest standard in the world, as we believe-a man can make no prouder boast than that he springs from the people and that he is in thorough sym- pathy with the vast, hard-working majority. In this he may belong to one or the other of the two great political parties, or, on the other hand, he may be independent, for the people belong to all classes and parties. It matters little under what banner he enlists, if liis motives are pure and his principles are so firm that he is incapable of being bought. Knowing that he is one of the people, in fact and in sympathy, the many friends and acquaintances of Hon. C. A. Stranahan chose him to represent them in the Pennsylvania leg- islature, in 1896, and when his term expired they re-elected him to the same position in 1898. He had frequently manifested his zeal and ardent desire to advance the welfare of his own community in the various local offices to which his fellow citizens called him, and finding him "faithful over a few things"
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they knew that he would be faithful in greater affairs, as he has abundantly manifested.
For a quarter of a century Mr. Stranahan has been a landowner of Sparta township, Crawford county, and a resident here at the same time. His par- ents were Franklin B. and Evaline ( Fuller ) Stranahan, the father a farmer and a hotel-keeper. The paternal grandparents of our subject were Gibson J. and Dolly (Devandorf) Stranahan, natives of Canaan, Columbia county, and Herkimer county, New York, respectively. In 1836 this worthy couple removed to Erie county, Pennsylvania, and took up their abode in Concord township, just across the line from Crawford county. Here Grandfather Stranahan died in 1869, and his wife some eight years previously.
The birth of Chapman A. Stranahan occurred October 6, 1849, at the old homestead in Concord township, Erie county. His education was obtained in the common schools, and during his boyhood lie mastered the varied details of agriculture and has since been a practical, thorough farmer. For two years after leaving school he worked for neighboring farmers, and for a similar length of time he was in the employ of the Philadelphia & Erie Railroad. In the fall of 1873 he purchased the farm owned by Francis Webb in Sparta township, and two years afterward he sold this property to his father, F. B. Stranahan, and removed to his present homestead. This place, formerly known as the Erastus Lewis farm, is situated in the same township, and is one of the most productive and best cultivated farms in the county. The owner carries on general farming, and makes a specialty of raising poultry, for which he finds a ready sale. In his business enterprises he has been almost invariably successful, and among others in which he has been interested are the Keystone Co-operative Association (a farmers' organization), of Corry. Pennsylvania, and the Patrons' Mutual Fire Insurance Association of North- western Pennsylvania. Of the first-named he was elected president in 1895. and in the other concern he holds a similar position. In January, 1874, the Sparta Grange was organized, with Mr. Stranahan as one of its charter members, and several times he has been elected as its presiding officer. In religious belief he is a Spiritualist.
September 10, 1873, the marriage of Mr. Stranahan and Martha Jane Webb, daughter of Francis and Nancy Webb. of Sparta township, took place. Their three children were Dorr D., born May 24, 1874; Gladys, December 8. 1877, and Harrison F., January 10, 1880. Little Gladys died when about a year and a half old, July 12. 1879.
P. S. Jackson, contractor and builder, Meadville, was born January 10. 1835. in Chautauqua county, New York. When three years of age his par- ents removed to Crawford county, this state, and located near Cochranton, on what was known as the Creek road. Here they remained about seven years,
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when they removed to Cooperstown, Venango county, where he received a common-school education and learned his trade as a carpenter and joiner.
In 1856 Mr. Jackson came to Meadville, remaining two years, and dur- ing his residence here was married to Clara F. Hillard, of Newburyport, Mas- sachusetts. He then removed to Warren, Pennsylvania, where for a nuni- ber of years he carried on the business of contractor and builder, among other things being employed on the State Hospital at North Warren for more than six years. He thien removed to Kansas City, where he worked on several large contracts, among others the Warder Opera House, built at a cost of four hundred thousand dollars. In October, 1892, Mr. Jackson re- turned to Meadville, where in association with his two sons he has since car- ried on the business of a contractor and builder. Jackson & Sons have built some of the most handsome residences in and around Meadville.
Mr. and Mrs. Jackson have had five children,-three boys and two girls, -- of whom but two sons now survive : Charles H., now serving as a sergeant in the Third Regiment of United States Engineers; and E. E., who is asso- ciated in business with his father.
Leonard Cutler Demary, deceased, was born in the state of New Hamp- shire, March 24, 1837, and in his early childhood was taken by his parents to Compton, Canada, where he was reared and educated, attending the public schools. In 1856 he went to Buffalo, New York, where he secured a posi- tion as conductor on the Buffalo division of the Erie Railroad. In 1877 he removed to Meadville, but continued his connection with the Erie Railroad in the capacity of conductor until his death.
He was married September 29. 1859, to Miss Mary A. Churchill, of Attica, New York, and to thiem was born a daughter, Sadie Ennice, whose birth occurred June 6, 1874, and who died in infancy. Mrs. Demary is a miem- ber of the Baptist church, and Mr. Demary belonged to Crawford Lodge, No. 734, I. O. O. F., and to the Brotherhood of Railway Conductors. His deatlı occurred November 10, 1887.
Leonard C. Graves, of Springboro, was born in Madison. Indiana, May 6, 1850, and came with his parents to Crawford county when five years old; was educated in the public and high schools of Conneautville, and learned the blacksmith's trade. In 1872 he was conducting general blacksmithing in custom, carriage and sleigh work, horse-shoeing and repairs. In 1882 the business was expanded, and he began the manufacture of carriages and sleighis for the wholesale trade, which had an increasing and steady growth. On January 1. 1894, with G. W. Eighmey he formed the firm of L. C. Graves & Company, which employed from fifty to seventy-five operatives and several
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traveling salesmen. In 1885 only ten men were employed, but now, in 1897, seven times ten men are at work.
On April 7, 1872, Mr. Graves married Laura J. Ross, of Rundell. They have four children,-Homer Benton (a graduate of Allegheny College, at Meadville), Clarence Melvin, Anna Elizabeth and Hubert Raymond.
Mr. Graves's father, James B. Graves, a native of Pennsylvania, was a Methodist clergyman for over twenty years. By his wife, nee Elizabeth Funk, of Philadelphia, he had six children,-Leonard C., Julia, Elizabeth, James B., Francis and Samuel E. Rev. J. B. Graves died in 1882 and his widow on May 13, 1885.
Leonard C. Graves and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. He is a class-leader, a steward and a trustee.
The ancestry of the family is English, German and Scotch.
David Emery was born in Chautauqua county, New York, September 7, 1837. In 1842 his parents moved to Michigan. He studied in Hillsdale Col- lege, of which he was afterward one of the trustees, and read law under a certain Judge Pratt. But before finishing his course, he engaged in the mill- ing business. In 1866 lie came to the Pennsylvania oil district, and located first at Pioneer, Venango county, and at once entered into the work of oil pro- duction. From the start, and afterward during a period of many years, Mr. Emery was a successful-not to say lucky-producer. In 1870 he adopted Titusville as his permanent home. In 1876 he served in the Common Council. In 1877 he was Mayor of the city. In 1879 he served in the State Legislature. In 1889 he served again in the Common Council and was its presiding officer. He was one of the founders of the Oil Creek Valley Agricultural Association, and was for a long time a member of its board of directors. He was also its president and treasurer, but resigned the presidency during his second term. He was the founder of Battery B, in 1879, of the Pennsylvania National Guards, and its commanding officer. In 1880 he erected, at his own expense, an armory for the use of the battery company. He continued captain of the company until it was disbanded, and changed into Company K, Sixteenth Regiment Pennsylvania Infantry in the summer of 1883. He then remodeled the armory building, converting it into an opera house in the fall of 1885, and opening it to the public in the spring following. He was president of the Canadohta Club, but resigned because of ill health. He was a member of the Silver Lodge of the Knights of Honor, of Shepherd Lodge, A. & F. & A. M., Knights of the Maccabees, Tent No. 24. He was colonel of the Citizens' Corps at the time of his death, which occurred January 23, 1891. He was a share- holder of the Producers' and Manufacturers' Bank, organized in 1870, and closed in 1876. He was the president of the Octave Oil Company during its ex- istence. This company, with Mr. Emery at its head, purchased and operated
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the Van Syckel Refinery from 1872 to 1875, when it sold the works to the Standard Oil Company. For twenty-four years he was an expert oil operator, a producer in Venango, Crawford and McKean counties, and with excellent fortune. One of his last ventures was the purchase of the land on which was the original Drake well, and he resuscitated this historic well. He was a member of both oil exchanges, and of the boards of trade in Titusville. The magnificent public fountain on the Diamond was his gift to the city. This single act, alone, indicating the generosity of his nature, and a spirit to be useful to the community in which he lived, entitles the memory of Mr. Emery to a high place in the gratitude and respect of his fellow citizens. When the armory of Battery B was dedicated, Governor Hoyt of this State was present and participated in the exercises. In his address before a large concourse of peo- ple on that occasion, Governor Hoyt paid a high tribute to the patriotism and public spirit of Captain Emery, who had pushed forward the organization of the Battery company and, without knowing whether he would ever be reim- bursed for the outlay which he alone had made in the construction of the build- ing and its equipments, had at large expense furnished to the military or- ganization excellent quarters. Previous to 1879, when Mr. Emery took his seat in the legislature, he had not given much attention to public matters outside of his city. But he had not been long in Harrisburg before attracting the attention of the prominent men of the state. His straightforward honesty won for him the respect of men of all parties. If he had chosen to continue in public life, promotion would naturally and easily have followed. But his tastes and inclinations induced him to return to business.
In personal appearance, Mr. Emery was an impressive figure. In public processions in the streets of Titusville he was often seen mounted on his favorite white horse. At such a time he would have attracted attention in any procession, civil or military, in any city of the country. His manner was dignified, and his riding easy and graceful.
The estimation in which he stood in the community could be learned from the remarks of Rev. Dr. Henry Purdon, at his funeral. Dr. Purdon said : "The large concourse present attested that a man of strength, influence and warm sympathies, and active and conspicuous leadership, had passed away. These tokens of respect and sympathy, spontaneous and from the heart, evinced the hold Mr. Emery had upon the affections of the community. It was the warmth of his social nature, the depth of his humanity, the purity of his character, the disinterestedness of his kindness, overflowing sect or creed, and seeking to do good for its own sake, the uniform disposition to aid, encourage, advance and communicate happiness to others, that were shining characteristics of David Emery, as all could testify. His friendship showed that he did not live for himself alone, but for his family, friends and neighbors,-the whole
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community. Hence he was a social, public man, and a factor in the com- inunity, an accepted leader all his life."
The Oil Exchange adopted resolutions on his death, one of which reads thus :
"Resolved, That the Exchange declares its sense of great respect for the life and character of Mr. Emery as a public-spirited citizen, whose hand was in every good work, and whose benevolence was proverbial, as a man of exalted integrity, and one justly recognized as a most useful member of the com- munity."
Mr. Emery was married September 16, 1858, to Miss Susan A., daughter of Asa G. and Margaret ( Peters) Edwards, of Hillsdale, Michigan. The children of this union are Eva Lena, now Mrs. L. A. Brenneman, and Verna. now Mrs. Louis K. Hyde.
The Titusville Herald said of Mr. Emery : "Our departed friend was a man of unusual endowments of mind and heart, and will power; he was full of enterprise and public spirit; he was a man of strong and positive political principles, holding to the Republican faith; he was generous and charitable. Indeed, he was foremost in counsel and generous with aid for all good causes and charitable objects. It was a marked feature of his liberality that it was not bounded by any sect, creed, nationality or party. His family relations were of the happiest kind. He was devoted to his home, and to his family, and what- ever he could do to make their lives happy, was done."
Another paper said, editorially: "Mr. Emery was a benevolent and pub- lic-spirited citizen. His charity was broad, liberal, unrestricted by sect or class. He carried his heart in his hand. Many of his charitable deeds are known, but the majority of them, performed quietly, are unrecorded, save in the grateful remembrance of his beneficiaries."
O. O. Squier, one of the prominent and successful agriculturists of Steuben township, Crawford county, is a thorough man of business and is now serving his third year as president of the Farmers' Bank of Townville, one of the substantial and strictly reliable banking institutions of this section. In 1888 he was elected justice of the peace and acted as such for one term ; served for one term as a school director and for a period of two years was secretary of the board, and at different times has acceptably filled other local positions of more or less responsibility and trust.
The father of the above-named gentleman was William P. Squier, whose birth took place in Monson, Massachusetts, May 2, 1812. He chose for his wife Jane P. Sturdevant, a native of Onondaga county, New York, born March 2, 1819. In the year 1837 they both became residents of Lincolnville, Crawford county, Pennsylvania, and upon the 8th of March, 1838, their destinies were united by the marriage ceremony. Much sorrow fell to their
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share, as several of their children died when young, but together they passed a great many happy years, in spite of trouble and adversity. In 1863 they re- moved to Townville, and the following year they took up their abode upon a farm in Steuben township, the one now owned and cultivated by our sub- ject, and here the father spent his last years, his death occurring July 3, 1888. Mrs. Squier, now almost eighty years of age, is still living, though an invalid for nearly thirty years.
Two brothers of O. O. Squier were sacrifices to their country in the dreadful war of the rebellion, and of his ten brothers and sisters only three are now living, namely: Mrs. J. M. Hyde, of Amherst, Massachusetts ; Rev. W. L .. pastor of the Presbyterian church in Iola, Kansas: and A. L., of Townville. O. O. Squier, next to the youngest of the eleven children, was born February 2, 1859. His sister, Jennie E., the youngest of the family, and the constant companion of his boyhood, entered the silent land September 23, 1894.
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