USA > Pennsylvania > Crawford County > Our country and its people. A historical and memorial record of Crawford County, Pennsylvania. > Part 83
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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
Born in 1835, in Bloomfield. Crawford county, Eber Edson spent his boyhood upon his father's farm and received a common-school education. Before he reached his majority he bought his time of his parents and in 1857 went to California. During the next twenty years-for he did not return to the east for permanent residence until 1880-he experienced many of the vicissitudes common to frontier life, and had numerous peculiar experiences. At one time he owned stock in Virginia City, which stock became almost fabulously valuable after he had disposed of it, and at another time he was engaged in working a mining claim, and left it in order to assist in the pro- tection of some emigrants against the Indians. During his absence liis claim was "jumped" and he was unable to recover his rights in the property. Once. when pursued by Indians, he, being on horseback, performed a feat almost identical with the famous leap of Mccullough, under similar circumstances. He was strong and practically without fear, able to do wonderful things and bear almost insupportable hardships, as the true frontiersman must; and though the life he led was remote from the civilizing influences of the east he never sacrificed his inborn principles of right and justice, and was always ready to lend a hand to those who were in need. At the time of Lincoln's assassination he was the owner of a good livery stable with forty horses and vehicles in a small western town. The whole town was draped with mourn- ing emblems, the stables as well, and when a rough westerner started out with the expressed intention of tearing down all the crepe and came to Mr. Edson's place of business with that threat, trouble ensued. The bully retired with three of liis ribs broken and had to be helped home. The outcome of the matter was that the livery stable and fourteen horses were burned, the loss being a complete one to the owner. Another experience of his was in saving a "wooden" town from being entirely consumed by fire. Contrary to the opinion of the so-called "fire department," lie and a number of the leading citizens chopped and tore down a row of frame houses, thus preventing the spreading of the fiery element. He immediately afterward left the town and the next morning the papers were loud in their praises of the "stranger" whose good sense and diligent labors had preserved the place from destruc- tion. Many a narrow escape he had from death, in its varied forms, but per- haps his greatest fortune was when he was rescued, barely alive. from a mine which had caved in upon him.
He spent nearly three years in prospecting for silver in the territory of Nevada (now a state) when the Indians were hostile. Many times he would ride on horseback alone into their country. When pursued by them one of his strong games in fooling them was to build a large fire just at dark by some spring and then get on his horse and ride four or five miles in the dark and lie down in his blankets and sleep with his horse tied to his hand. At one time he rode one hundred and fifteen miles on horseback, in Placer county,
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California, in fifteen hours, having three changes of horses, in search of a man whose sister was supposed to be dying.
For the past eighteen years he has been quietly engaged in business il. this, his native county, where he owns real estate in Bloomfield and Athens, besides the store in Riceville, which is managed by his youngest brotlier, Perl B., who was born in 1852. He is a Republican and Odd Fellow, and since 1897 has been a member of the United Brethren church.
The first marriage of Mr. Edson was solemnized in 1856, Miss Fanny Akin becoming his wife. After her death he wedded a Miss Wylie, in Cali- fornia, and his third marriage was to Miss Phoebe Thompson. The surviv- ing children of Mr. Edson are Hubert, a chemist on a Louisiana sugar plan- tation; Bloomfield, a minister of the Christian church, now in California; Ora, a teacher, also in California; and Omer, Harold, Chelous, Elma and Nina,-all of this locality.
Charles H. Thompson was born in Beaver township, this county. Feb- ruary 22. 1866, educated at the public schools and in early life he was a farmer; but in 1884 he was fortunate in securing a position as an operative in the employ of J. W. Crider in the Conneautville woolen mills. His atten- tion to his duties and his faithfulness to his employer's interests were noted, and as a result he was promoted to a foremanship in 1891, which responsible station he still retains. On May 6, 1886, he married Clara B. Houghtailing of Conneautville. They have one son, A. Wayne, born on April 17, 1894. Jacob Thompson, father of Charles H., was born in 1813, in Spring town- ship, where he was educated and became a farmer. Marrying Margaret Burn- ham, also of Spring township, he had eight children, of whom six attained maturity, namely: Frank W., Mary, Elmer, Charles H., Ray, and Anna. Of these Frank W. married Ethel Thompson and Mary became Mrs. George Clow. Jacob Thompson died in 1890. Mrs. Thompson is now ( 1897) liv- ing. Mr. Charles Thompson is a Democrat in politics and also an Odd Fel- low, holding his membership in Conneautville lodge. The ancestry of the family is English, Irish and Dutch.
Joseph L. Tew .- The late Joseph L. Tew was born in Springfield, Mas- sachusetts, July 24. 1811, educated in the excellent public schools of his native state, and devoted his early life to farming. Going to Cleveland, Ohio, how- ever, when nineteen years of age, he chanced to be where rare opportunities existed for acquiring business methods, and soon afterward became a whole- sale grocer. He made his home in Conneautville in 1854.
By his first wife, Mary Tew. who died in 1875, he had two children, who died in infancy. His second wife, nee Carrie Frances Druse, of Con- neautville, he married June 8, 1876. Mr. Tew died on July 24, 1890. George
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W. Druse, the father of Mrs. Tew, was born in Springfield, Otsego county, New York, in 18II, educated at the common schools and learned the shoe- maker's trade. When a young man he made his home in the beautiful village of Fredonia, Chautauqua county, New York, and there married Charlotte Hubbard, of a prominent family of that place. Their two children (daugh- ters) were Euretta A. and Carrie F. (Mrs. Joseph L. Tew). Mrs. Druse survives her husband, who died June 16, 1891. Mrs. Druse, Mrs. Tew and her sister are all members of the Presbyterian church. Ancestry of family, French and English.
Charles M. Wl'ood of Rome township, son of Phineas Wood, was born in Connecticut in 1823, educated at Fredonia, New York, studied law with Wilson Farrely of Meadville, as liis preceptor, was admitted to the bar and practiced at Meadville for several years. Then came to Centerville, where he still continued to practice. He married Mrs. Hannah Saunders, but as slie did not live long he married Mrs. Arvilla (Bishop) Davenport, who is now living at Centerville. Mr. Wood is deceased.
John Wormald, deceased, late of Conneautville, was born in Yorkshire, England, on May 6, 1821, and came to America with his parents when he was nine years old. They located in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, where he was educated in the public schools and thoroughly learned wool-carding. His father was a woolen manufacturer and John was soon engaged in the same business, which he conducted at various places in the state. In 1849 he came to Conneautville and for many years engaged in manufacturing, in company with his father and William Crider, and with successful results.
On February 20, 1849, Mr. Wormald was married to Margaret J. Con- nor. By legal adoption Sarah E. Crider, a daughter of Mr. Wormald's sister, was made their daughter and took their name.
Mr. Wormald was a successful and prominent business man, public- spirited and generous withal. As a large stockholder of, a director in and the president of the First National Bank of Conneautville, his influence was potent in the financial affairs of this section and ever for usefulness. He was largely interested in the chemical works at Conneautville and in the Key- stone Tannery of Springboro. Both Mr. and Mrs. Wormald united years ago with the Methodist Episcopal church.
David W. Smith was born in Summit township, Pennsylvania, Septem- ber 9, 1822. His father, John Smith, was born in 1779, and in 1797 came to Summit from New Jersey, and took up four hundred acres of land, two hundred of which was given him by the state as an inducement for emigrat- ing hither, and for the other two hundred he paid one dollar and twenty-five
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cents an acre. In 1833 he built the brick house in which he lived until his death, in August, 1849, at the age of seventy years. John Smith's wife lived to be seventy-five years old; she was born in 1788, and died in 1863. They had ten children, of whom two are now living,-a daughter, and David, the subject of this sketch. Of the other five sons, Daniel lived to be forty years old; William H. died in his eighty-sixth year, April 23, 1898; John H. died at Meadville, in 1890; and Darius in 1892. All of David's brothers settled on the old homestead and remained there until their death.
David Smith was married May 3, 1849, to Miss Martha C. Super, of Summit. Mrs. Smith died April 25, 1896, after nearly fifty years of mar- ried life. She is remembered as an unusually handsome woman, and pos- sessed, in addition, many fine traits of character. Her loss is sincerely mourned by a large circle of friends. There were ten children born to this couple,-seven sons and three daughters: Alvaredo Wellington, a butcher in Harmonsburg; Frank I., who enlisted in the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Regi- ment in the late war with Spain; Elmer Lincoln, a lumber manufacturer in Greenville, Tennessee; William Tell, a farmer at Summerhill; Hugh R., a lumberman, died at the age of twenty-four; David Grant and Fred B., now operating the home farm; Cora, who married Wilbur Upham, and is now living in Garnett, Kansas; Kittie Clyde, who married H. S. Temple, and lives in Cleveland, Ohio; Susannah Elizabeth, who married William V. McClure, and lives in Summit.
Mr. Smith is a firm believer in temperance and an ardent worker in the cause. He is a member of the Royal Templars, and was for many years a member of the old Washingtonian movement. He was also a member of the Methodist Episcopal church of Harmonsburg. Mr. Smith cast his first vote for James K. Polk; he has been a Republican since the party's organ- ization, and is active in politics and attends county and other conventions.
As his share of the old homestead Mr. Smith has one hundred of the four hundred acres owned by his father, and this has since been his home. He has also another farm in Summerhill township, and has various interests aside from farming; for he has been extensively interested in the manu- facture of lumber and has operated two mills of the water variety, and has also owned two steam lumber mills. In 1847 he built a water mill on his farm and operated it for fifteen years. In 1864 lumber brought twenty-five dollars per thousand, and by running his mills to their utmost capacity he made money rapidly. His farm has also yielded a substantial fortune. One year he raised two thousand bushels of corn, that brought forty cents a bushel. Mr. Smith also has a fine orchard, which has produced six thousand bushels of fruit in a single season.
Mr. Smith has been, and still is, an unusually successful and enterprising man.
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Benjamin Harrison of Rome township was a son of Benjamin Harrison, and was born in Northumberland county, England, in October, 1797, and came to New Jersey from New England in 1827. In 1833, in company with Richard Morris and Inskip Harrison, he walked to the township of Rome, being ten days on the journey. They took up a section of four hundred acres of land and divided it into three lots, Mr. Harrison's lot being the farm now owned by Samuel Harrison, his grandson, and John Harrison, his son. He was a successful farmer. He married Nancy Brown and had ten children. The deceased are Jane, Sarah (first), Sarah (second), and Christopher; and the living are Benjamin, John, Betsy, Ellen, Richard, and Edward I.
Mr. Harrison died in 1875. and his wife died in 1840. After the death of his first wife he married Mrs. Isabella Edmonds. John, his son, married Elinor Harrison, daughter of Richard Harrison. He is a farmer and has one child, Richard B. Edward I. Harrison, born September 9, 1840, enlisted in Company K. Fifty-seventh Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, in August, 1861, and was discharged in 1862 by reason of disability. He married Amelia E. Rigby, daughter of Thomas and Mrs. Ellen (Farrington) (Summer) Rigby. He is a farmer and has three children.
James D. Gill, ex-mayor of Meadville, is a native of Crawford county, his birth having taken place September 17, 1822, in Hayfield township. His paternal grandparents, William and Catham (Campbell) Gill, emigrated from Scotland to Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, in 1786, and in 1794 they removed to what is now Hayfield township and located on tract No. 70, on the west branch of French creek. Robert Gill, the father of our subject, was born in Scotland and was educated in the subscription schools of Hayfield township, in which district he afterward engaged in farming until his death, in 1828. His wife, the mother of James I)., was Harriet, daughter of Captain James Dunn, a hero of the Revolutionary war.
James D. Gill supplemented his public-school education by a course in Meadville Academy and later attended Allegheny College, of which institu- tion he is now a trustee. In 1839 he became a clerk in the dry-goods store of Gill & Derrickson, and in 1844 he embarked in business for himself, in part- nership with James J. Shryock. The firm name was first J. D. Gill & Com- pany, but for many years has been Gill & Shryock. The partners have carried a stock of dry goods, and have also been interested in the hardware business and in milling enterprises.
In 1852 J. D. Gill became one of the incorporators of Greendale Ceme- tery Association, and has since been actively connected with the organiza- tion. Having been appointed chief engineer of the Meadville fire department by the city council in 1865, he instituted many reforms and reduced affairs to the fine system which has since been maintained. In 1873 he was elected
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mayor of the city, and during his term of office he prepared plans for new water-works, which he strongly recommended to the citizens, but the propo- sition was rejected by the popular vote. In 1874, however, he organized the present water-works company, was elected a director, and since 1876 has been its president. For the past quarter of a century he has been president of the Crawford County Mutual Insurance Company.
Mr. Gill has been twice married. His first wife was Elizabeth, daughter of General Daniel 'Shryock. Mrs. Gill died in 1851, and their only child, Will- iam, is also deceased. In 1853 Mr. Gill married Miss Susan E. Shryock, a sister of his first wife, and they have three children,-Harriet E., Daniel A., and Elizabeth.
C. K. Higgins, a contractor and builder, residing in Meadville since 1850, was born in Sparta township, Crawford county, November 29, 1835, a son of Telassar and Mary Ann (Golden) Higgins, both natives of New York. The former died at the age of fifty-six, and the latter at the age of sixty years. Our subject is the third child of a family of eiglit children, as follows: Sylvester, deceased; Caroline, deceased; C. K., subject; Hannal, wife of Harrison Mcclintock, Woodville, Ohio; Charles O., formerly of Oil City, Pennsylvania, deceased: Elna, wife of Frank Ward, of Sparta town- ship, this county; Frank, a resident of Corry, Pennsylvania; and Edward, of Woodville, Ohio.
Our subject is distinctively a self-made man, having worked his way from boyhood. His reputation as a builder ranks among the best, as many landmarks in Meadville showing the skill of his workmanship will attest. He began when quite young to work with his father, who was at that time a miller, but finding outdoor work more congenial to his temperament he chose his trade, which he has since followed with the most flattering results.
In September, 1858. he married Louisa, daughter of Salmon and Louisa (Lord) Tower. She is the eldest of a family of three children, as follows : Louisa, wife of our subject ; Henry, of Bradford. Pennsylvania; and Alice, wife of Wilmot Stephens, Binghamton, New York. The issue of this union are two children : Charles W. and Lu Setta, wife of Harry Warmer, Mead- ville.
William Nason, M. D .- For almost half a century Dr. William Nason was one of the leading citizens of Townville, actively associated with whatever was calculated to be of benefit to the city in the line of progress and improve- ment. As a physician he stood high in his profession, and his long experience. sound judgment and ripe wisdom were constantly deferred to by his brothers in the healing art.
Born in Chautauqua county, New York, in 1827, Dr. Nason came of a
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line of patriots and heroes, his father having fought in the war of 1812 and his paternal grandfather having been a soldier of the Revolution. On his father's side the doctor was of Scotch-Irish extraction, while on the maternal side he was of English lineage.
Being graduated in the Philadelphia Medical College in 1850, Dr. Nason at once established himself in practice in Townville, where he continued to live until his death, in 1896. Kindly and cheerful in disposition, his presence in the sick-room brought renewed strength and courage to the patient, and in many a home he was loved and venerated as an ideal physician. In early years especially he rode far and wide into the surrounding country, never sparing himself when the suffering required his aid.
In 1853 Dr. Nason married Miss Catherine Breed, who survived him. Six of their children attained maturity, and three of the sons are practicing physicians. The only daughter is Mrs. T. B. Lehbenthaler, and the sons are : Charles A. W., of North East; Dr. W. A., of Roaring Springs; S. E., of Hydetown; Dr. F. T. F., of Mckeesport; and Dr. J. B., of Mount Jewett, Pennsylvania.
The causes of education and religion found warin support at the hands of Dr. Nason. For fifteen years he served as a member of the local school board, and at the time of his death' was acting as one of the borough council. He served as superintendent of the Methodist Episcopal Sunday-school for thirty years. For years he had been a representative member of the Odd Fellows society, and the Townville Lodge conducted the funeral services at his death.
O. A. Tillotson, M. D., of Titusville, was born October 29, 1858, in Syracuse, New York, a son of Dr. William and Susan ( Osborne) Tillotson, for many years residents of that city, where the father was for a long time engaged in the cooperage business, in which the subject of this sketch, after the age of fourteen years, assisted his father materially. He is the eldest in a family of three children, the others being Mary E., the wife of Earnest L. Myers, a representative of the fifty-first district ( Omaha) of Nebraska; and Willard, residing at Union City, this state.
Dr. Tillotson was educated at Whitestown Seminary and Brown Uni- versity, and received his medical education at the Bellevue Medical College in New York and the Cleveland Homeopathic Medical College at Cleveland, Ohio, at which latter institution he graduated in 1883. For two years prior, however, to his attendance at the medical college in Cleveland he was book- keeper for the Standard Oil Company. He began the practice of his chosen profession in Titusville in 1883. the year of his graduation. He is a member of the staff of the Sixteenth Regiment, I. O. O. F., and of the Order of Knights of Pythias.
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Henry H. Burlingame, now deceased, was for many years a resident of Pennsylvania, but belonged to one of the old New England families. The first of the name of whom we have record is Isaiah Burlingame, who was a native of Rhode Island, whence he removed to New Berlin, New York, where most of his children were born. He was twice married, his first union being with a Miss White of Vermont, and to them were born thirteen children. By his second wife he had five children, and with them emigrated to northern Indiana, in 1835, but some of the children located in southern Michigan. Most of the representatives of his large family were farming people, but among them were also ministers, physicians and teachers.
Titus Burlingame, one of the eldest of the family, was born in New Berlin, Chenango county, New York, February 23, 1796, and carried on agricultural pursuits throughout the greater part of his life, and was also a local preacher of the Methodist Episcopal church. He was married in his native town, in 1820, to Betsy Eliza Elizabeth Hooper, who was born in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, May 16, 1801, and died June 3, 1856. Titus Bur- lingame died March 14, 1868, and was buried in Hatch Hollow cemetery, in Amity township, Erie county, Pennsylvania. Three children were born to them: Alvira, who was born in Madison county, New York, January 5. 1823, and is now living in Louville, Erie county, Pennsylvania; Euphemia, who was born in New Berlin, New York, February 28, 1826, and is now deceased ; Emily, who was born in Pittsfield, Otsego county, New York, February 3, 1837, and is now living near Wattsburg, Erie county, Pennsylvania.
Henry Harrison Burlingame, whose name initiates this review, was born in New Berlin, New York, October 18, 1831, and devoted the greater part of his time and attention throughout his business career to the tilling of the soil. He lived most of the time near Wattsburg, Erie county, where he suc- cessfully operated a farm. For fifty years he was a faithful member of the United Brethren church, and had the confidence and regard of all who knew him. He was married October 25, 1856, to Nancy M. Mason, who was born August 14, 1838, in Wayne township, Erie county, Pennsylvania, a daughter of Eben P. Mason. Her death occurred August 10, 1869, and her husband, long surviving her, passed away March 19, 1898. Henry H. married, second time, Martha Conant, December 16, 1869, with whom he lived until his death. He was the father of four children,-Charles L., Viettie A., Willis O., and Willie E. The eldest son was born March 18, 1858, is a grad- uate of the Battle Creek Sanitarium, of Battle Creek, Michigan, and is now a medical missionary and nurse. He was married August 15, 1885, to Estella P. Weede, and they have two children : May, born May 25, 1886, and Ralph, born April 5, 1895. Viette A. Burlingame was born April 2, 1862, and on the 16th of June, 1885, became the wife of William J. Low. They have six children : Ray, born in Cleon, Michigan, April 27, 1886; Clair, Septem-
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ber 6, 1889; Edna, February 25, 1892, in Marinette, Wisconsin; Ethel and Eva, twins, born in Menominee, Michigan, February 7, 1894; and Willie, November 1I, 1897, also in Menominee, Michigan. Mr. Low is located at that place in the employ of the railroad.
Willis O. and Willie E. Burlingame are twins, and were born in Wayne township, Erie county, Pennsylvania, February 14, 1869. When only two weeks old the latter became an inmate of the home of his aunt, Mrs. Olive Mason Rogers, of Spartansburg, Pennsylvania, with whom he remained until his marriage, and has always been known by the name of Willie E. Rogers. He now resides on a farm in Sparta township, Crawford county. He mar- ried Ruth R. Snapp, of that township, March 9, 1892, and they now have two children, -- Harry E., born May 10, 1894, and Nancy Rose, born July 20, 1896.
Willis O. Burlingame, better known throughout Crawford county as Willis O. Washburn, when three and a half months old went to live with Mr. and Mrs. Charles B. Washburn of Sparta township, Crawford county, where he still makes his home. He is one of the enterprising and progressive young farmers of the community and is widely and favorably known in that locality.
Roger Sherman .- For many years Roger Sherman was one of the most distinguished and honored citizens of Titusville, Pennsylvania. All eminent lawyer, a man of high scientific and literary attainment, of broad humanitarian principles, and an American citizen whose life showed forth the loftiest patriotism, he left the impress of his individuality upon the state, its legislation and its people. Life to him was real and earnest, and he real- ized, as few have done, his duty toward his fellow men. Possessed of strong intellectuality, charming personality and high mental culture, he might have attained to the most distinguished honors at the bar or in the affairs of the state had an ambition for personal preferment dominated his life: but while he was readily recognized as one of the leading lawyers of western Pennsyl- vania he found his greatest pleasure in using his influence for the benefit of his fellow men.
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