Our country and its people. A historical and memorial record of Crawford County, Pennsylvania., Part 86

Author: Bates, Samuel P. (Samuel Penniman), 1827-1902
Publication date: 1899
Publisher: Boston : W. A. Fergusson
Number of Pages: 1044

USA > Pennsylvania > Crawford County > Our country and its people. A historical and memorial record of Crawford County, Pennsylvania. > Part 86

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).

P. O. Buc, the son of Ole and Betty ( Bue) Bue, was born in Tillehammer, Norway, October 5, 1832, where he was educated in the local schools. At the age of twelve he began work with his father in the silversmith trade, and con- tinued at this employment until he was twenty years old. He then learned the trade of machinist with his uncle, and continued in that work until 1868, when he came to America, and has since made machinery his life occupation.

On March 17, 1872, he came to Titusville, and for nine years he was fore- man of the large machine shop owned by Junius Harris. Here his two sons, Ole and Albert, learned the machinist's trade under his instruction. In 1884 he went into business with Ole and Albert. doing general repairing, bicycle work, gunsmithing, and light mechanical jobs, continuing at the head of this class of mechanics ever since.

On March 27, 1862, he was married to Miss Maria, daughter of Auda and Malinda Anderson. They have had five children .- Ole, Albert. Bergin. Bernard, and Bernard, the last three now deceased.

Rev. Lawrence Selser, son of Michael and I' mna M. ( Harm) Selzer, was born in Palentia, Freindheim, Germany, August 6, 1863. When he was five years old his parents came to America, and located near Akron, Ohio, where he attended a country school several years. At the age of fifteen he attended at Cleveland Calvin College one year. Then he was employed three years as. clerk in a provision store at Akron. In October, 1882, he entered the Franklin, Wisconsin, Mission-house college and seminary, where he was educated in both German and English, and graduated June 18, 1886. Next he took a theological course, graduating in 1888, and he was then licensed to preach and minister, and on September 10, 1889, he was ordained at Chainsville. Ohio. and August Ist. the same year, he took his first charge in Chainsville. This was before his ordination. He was located there until December 1, 1892, when

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE. 817

he moved to Black Creek, Ohio, where he had a mission charge until Feb- ruary 1, 1894. He then came to Titusville, and has since been in charge of St. Paul's German Reformed church.

During the time of his first and second charges Mr. Selzer was stated clerk to St. John's classis of the German Reformed church of the United States for four and a half years.

On September 25, 1888, he was married to Miss Augusta, daughter of Louis and Christiana (Naat) Praihschatis. The children of this union are Carl, born August 31, 1890; Gertrude, April 15, 1892; Ruth, December 21, 1894: Edgar, September 13, 1895; and Arthur, April 7, 1898.

Francis Bailey, West Fairfield township .- Theobold and Margaret Bailey came from France in the fall of 1837, and settled upon and cleared a farm of one hundred and twenty-nine acres, now occupied by their son Francis. Their other children are Mary, wife of Augustus Rush; Julia, wife of Sylves- ter Foulk; Josephine, wife of George Prenett; Jacob, Dennis and Peter. Den- nis served during the Civil war and died in Andersonville prison. Francis was born in 1832, in France. He married, in 1859, Margaret Ann, daughter of Samuel Brines. Their children are Louis, Park. Lee, Francis, Anderson, Mary, wife of Frank Hoyt; Margaret, wife of Hayes McConnell; David; and Elizabeth, wife of Henry Roberts.

Mr. Bailey's mother still lives, at the age of eighty-five.

Samuel P. Boyer was born in Pottsville, Pennsylvania, July 16, 1828, the son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Reed) Boyer. The father and mother were both natives of the country about Pottsville. In his boyhood the subject of this sketch was employed for a time at certain work in the coal mines near Potts- ville. Later on he learned the molder's trade, and continued at the business until the summer of 1850, when he left for California. He went with a com- pany of travelers, taking the overland route. The expedition was four months in going from Independence, Missouri, to what is now known as Placerville, California. Mr. Boyer remained in California until 1855, nearly five years, engaged while there principally in mining. He returned by the Nicaragua route, when Walker was filibustering in Nicaragua and Honduras.

After returning to Pottsville he engaged in the coal trade, in which he continued until the war broke out, in 1861. About August he enlisted in Com- pany L, Third Pennsylvania Cavalry, and was in the service until the company was mustered out, in September, 1864, a little over three years. After his re- turn he was in Schuylkill county until 1865, when he came to Oil City, where he first went into the lumber business. He soon afterward began to drill for oil. At first he sunk dry holes, but in 1866 fortune was kind to him and he has been an oil producer ever since. (An account of his work as producer will

818

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

be found in the history of Titusville producers in this volume. ) He has resided in Titusville most of the time since coming to the oil country. .

In 1864 he married Miss Carrie C. Hartington of Philadelphia, who bore lim five children, two of whom died in infancy. The others were Samuel, now a doctor of medicine in Duluth, Minnesota; Elizabeth, who married E. G. Hollister, and died in 1895: and Franklin, who died in 1879, aged six years. The mother died in 1874. In 1876 Mr. Boyer married Miss Amelia Fuller of Titusville, who has borne him two children,-a son and a daughter. The son, Clarence V., is now a student at Princeton University, and Jeannette, the daughter, is a student at the Titusville high school.

Frank C. Baker, son of Charles P., was born in Meadville August 31, 1860. He graduated in the high school of Meadville in 1876; was clerk in a dry-goods store from 1877 to 1886. In 1886 he opened a clothing store for Mr. Lorz. conducting the business under the firm name of Baker & Lorz for one year, then the firm became Mendel & Baker, and has since continued under that title. He enlisted in Company B. Fifteenth Regiment, March 22, 1882, as a private. On March 22, 1886, he was elected captain ; August 31, 1887. major. He served as major of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Volunteers during Spanish-American war. In 1876 he joined the fire company, and was first assistant chief, and was foreman of the Hope Hose company about ten years. He was appointed chief in April. 1894, and has held the office since. In 1888 Mr. Baker married Adalaide Turner, and they have one son, Charles.

Charles P. Baker, son of Parkman, was born in Leroy, Ohio, March 17, 1827. In 1857 he came to Meadville and clerked. In 1857 he married Mar- garet E. Foust, and to this union were born two children: Bessie M. and Frank C. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. lodge and encampment.

John Fertig was born March 17, 1837, in Venango county, Pennsylvania. He was third in a family of twelve children, six sons and six daughters. His father was an early settler in the county, and a farmer. Having a large family to provide for. with limited means in a new country, he was able to give his children only a common school education. The monotony of farm life did not satisfy young Fertig. At the age of sixteen, in the fall of 1853. he started from home, with $5 in his pocket and a moderate outfit of clothing in a hand bag, for the licadwaters of the west branch of the Susquehanna river. to get employment in a lumber district. He made the trip, a distance of one hundred and fifty miles, on foot and alone. He worked this fall and during the winter following in a saw mill. In the spring he helped to run a raft of lumber down the river, and then with a replenished pocket book he returned home. He soon afterward began to study for the purpose of qualifying himself for teach- ing. He attended the Neilltown Academy, and the next winter he taught his

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE. 819

first district school. He continued to teach until he gained a good reputation as an instructor. In the fall of 1850 Captain .A. B. Funk, who had saw mills and a store in Deerfield township, Warren county, sought to secure the services of Mr. Fertig as teacher in his district for the coming winter. The school directors would pay Mr. Fertig only $18 a month, the teacher to board around. Mr. Fertig refused both the salary offered and to board around. Captain Funk then offered to pay $18 a month more, making the salary $36 a month, and board Mr. Fertig at his house, at his own expense. Mr. Fertig accepted the offer and taught through the winter.

But something better was at hand. Not long after Drake's discovery, Captain Funk became proprietor of both the upper and the lower Mcllheney farms, on Oil Creek, near the Pioneer oil district. In December, 1859, he executed a lease of several acres on the upper farm to John Fertig, David Beatty and Michael Gorman, of Warren county, and Dr. John Wilson of Pleas- antville. An account of Mr. Fertig's oil operations is given elsewhere in this work. But it may be said in this connection that in respect to period, the time of beginning development, constant work in many fields since the beginning until the present time, extensive business at refining and shipping oil and management in pipe line transportation, John Fertig is the most conspicuous representative of the oil trade now living. Some others have at certain periods produced more oil than Mr. Fertig, but it is believed that no other large pro- (lucer who began the work of development so early has continued at producing oil until now.

Reference has already been made to Mr. Fertig's connection with the United States Pipe Line Company. He was treasurer of that institution dur- ing the most critical period of its existence. In 1893. three pipe manufacturing institutions, which had sold heavily their products to the United States Pipe Line Company, taking its paper in payment with the promise of each to renew at maturity, if asked to, had been forced to suspend, while the crash was still going on. This unexpected misfortune was highly embarrassing to the United States Pipe Line Company. With rare financial skill Mr. Fertig piloted the pipe line company through rocky straits out into smooth waters. The crisis was extraordinary, but Mr. Fertig's management was equal to the emer- gency. He resigned his treasurership of the company in 1895.

Twenty years before this experience, Mr. Fertig's powers as a financier were subjected to a similar strain. At the municipal election in the early part of the year 1873. Mr. Fertig was elected mayor of Titusville. The finances of the city, as he found them, were in a bad condition. Heavy expenditures had been made in the erection of school buildings and in supporting the schools. The inhabitants were paying high taxes, and a stringency was be- ginning to be felt, but of its more serious character few-if any -- citizens were at the time conscious. Preparations had already been begun to increase upon

820

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

a large scale the improvements already made, for the payment, in part, of which! bonds had been issued. When Mr. Fertig became Mayor the city treasury was empty, and the system of issuing city orders to meet current expenses was in operation. In the fall of that year came the great crash precipitated by the fail- ure of Jay Cooke. The effect of this disaster in Titusville was vastly greater than that of 1893, twenty years later, when not a single failure of note oc- curred in Titusville. In 1873 the cataclysm was terrific. At that time there were six banks in Titusville. The Roberts Bank had been in operation but a short time, and its affairs were in comparatively a compact condition, so that it weathered the storm without much difficulty. Of the five older banks, the Second National alone emerged from the wreck unharmed.

During the severe stress in the fall of 1873 and for many months afterward Mr. Fertig urged upon the Council all possible retrenchment and the severest economy in expenditures. At that time, the municipal government was work- ing under the original city charter, by whose provisions a mayor was elected every year. When Mr. Fertig was elected in 1873 he received a large ma- jority of the votes cast. But his majority the next year was overwhelmingly large. He was elected still another term in 1875, with the financial strain still continuing. City bonds, bearing high rates of interest, were bought at a dis- count. When at the end of his first term the Council voted him the usual salary of $500, Mr. Fertig turned it back into the treasury, with the request that it be made the beginning of a permanent sinking fund, and with the recom- mendation that the Mayor's salary be abolished. Both recommendations were adopted. The sinking fund has proved to be of infinite benefit in extinguishing the city debt. Subsequent legislation has made the sinking fund sacred for the express purpose of paying municipal indebtedness.

When the city had become flooded with municipal orders, passing at a constant reduction of value, Mr. Fertig, single-handed, grappled with the abuse. He refused to attach his signature to any more city orders. Noisy threats followed of an appeal to the court for a mandamus, ordering him to sign the orders, but that was all. No appeal to the court was made. The effect in restoring confidence was instantaneous. Taxes were levied and the orders promptly paid, and the system of issuing orders disappeared, it is hoped forever. In his last term of office as Mayor, Mr. Fertig had the satisfaction of seeing the city credit established for the first time upon a solid basis. The city bonds no longer went begging for purchasers. The tide immediately turned to the opposite direction, and Titusville city bonds speedily rose above par, and ever since the extinction of the municipal debt has been steadily and easily going on. In 1873 Titusville bonds, bearing 10 per cent interest, could be sold only at a discount. Within the last five year's Titusville bonds in quan- tity have been sold at 33 per cent.

The justice of history requires it to be said, without invidious comparison,

821

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

that to John Fertig, more than to any other citizen, Titusville owes its finan- cial rescue, and the adoption of a solid and safe system of finance.

In 1876 Mr. Fertig was elected to the State Senate, and he served one term. In 1878 he was nominated by the Democratic state convention as a candidate for lieutenant-governor, but with the rest of the Democratic ticket he was defeated. At the Democratic national convention in Chicago in 1892 Mr. Fertig was a delegate, representing the 26th congressional district of Penn- sylvania. He has served the community as a member of the city school board.

Since his retirement from the office of Mayor, in 1876, his advice upon · subjects of municipal policy has constantly been solicited by city officials of all parties, and his judgment upon most questions relating to city affairs lias been relied upon. He has long been an active and influential member of the Titus- ville Board of Trade. In the winter of 1895-96, and in the spring following, he was the leading spirit in establishing the Industrial Fund Association, and he was one of ten citizens who subscribed each $10,000 to the fund, other citizens subscribing each smaller amounts down to $100, the whole aggregat- ing $250,000. He has been vice-president and one of the directors of the Titusville Commercial Bank, since it's organization in the spring of 1882. He is the president of the Titusville Iron Company, one of the largest and most important manufacturing institutions in northwestern Pennsylvania, a de- scription of which appears elsewhere in this history. Nearly thirty years ago Mr. Fertig built the three-story brick block which still bears his name, on Diamond, Martin and East Spring streets. He is the owner of the Exchange Block, a three-story brick edifice adjoining the Oil Exchange. He also owns one-half of the Titusville City Mills, and he owns two fine farms in Oil Creek township, from one to two miles west and northwest of the city.

In the foregoing sketch the aim of the writer has been to present a faith- ful delineation of one of Titusville's most distinguished and influential citizens. It may be said of Mr. Fertig that one of the most important secrets of his success in life has been his clever management of managers. Whatever he does is done searchingly and thoroughly. It is not too much to say that, in business associations with which he is connected, his judgment, conclusions and counsels are generally adopted.

George W. Wesley, of Rome township, is a grandson of Charles Wesley, the celebrated Methodist minister, poet and hymnologist, and is a well and favorably known citizen. A son of John and Salinda (Grover) Wesley, he was born in Canton, Bradford county, Pennsylvania, four-score years ago, in 1819.

Such education as fell to the lot of our subject was obtained in the com- inon schools of the day, and, having a natural talent for anything in the line of mechanics, he learned the millwright's trade, and has been engaged in .

822

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

the building of saw and grist mills during much of his career. In 1862 he came to Rome township, and two years subsequent to his arrival here he assisted in the erection of what has long been known as Wesley's sawmill, his associate in this enterprise being E. T. Rigby. The sawmill, which is now the sole property of our subject, is situated on Little Oil Creek, and is well equipped with machinery, its capacity being upward of eight thousand feet of lumber per day.

In 1848 Mr. Wesley married Fidelia Saxbury, a daughter of Adam Saxbury.

John II. Simons .- One of the largest and finest country homes to be found within the limits of Crawford county is the one which was erected a few years ago by John W. Simons near Espyville station, in North Shenango township. It stands in the midst of fertile, well-cultivated fields which yield abundant harvests to the fortunate owner; but the one to whose years of un- remitting toil and watchful care the beauty and value of the homestead is in- debted has passed forever from the peaceful scene. Death came to John W. Simons upon the 3d of May, 1896, after a busy, well-spent life, and when he had almost reached the age which the Psalmist counts as the usual limit of man's years. For a long period he had been associated with the Masonic fraternity, and he was laid to rest with all the honors of its beautiful rite, his late comrades of Linesville Lodge attending the funeral in a body. Known far and near as a man of noble character, of kindliness and sympathy toward his fellow men, of enterprise and integrity in all his business dealings, he left to his children a heritage of which they have just occasion to be proud.

The birth of John W. Simons occurred in Bedford county, Pennsylvania, February 19. 1827, his parents being John and Rebecca ( Williams) Simons. Though he followed general agriculture unon arriving at mature years, his chief occupation consisted in the buying, selling and shipping of live stock. In 1874 he settled on the fine farm above mentioned. and for years Espyville station, a short distance from his residence, was but little more than the point from which he shipped his stock to the city markets. In time he became well off in this world's goods and owned several valuable farms, some of them in South Shenango township, one in the neighborhood of Williamsville, Chic, etc. To each of his four children he gave a good farm and other financial assistance, in order that they might have a fair start in life.

On the 22d of June, 1854, Mr. Simons was united in marriage with Miss Adelia Robinson, who was born February 22, 1832. Their eldest son, Charles, is now the owner of the fine family residence referred to at the beginning .of this article as having been built by the father. The young man also owns one-half of the old homestead on which the house stands, the remainder of the farm being the property of his brother Joseph, who is making extensive and

823

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

valuable improvements upon his land. They are wide-awake, enterprising young men and seem to have inherited much of the fine business ability that distinguished their honored father. Following in his footsteps, they render allegiance to the standards of the Democratic party and are progressive and public-spirited.

Mark Ward, of North Shenango township, was born April 9, 1837, in Oakland township, Venango county, Pennsylvania, of Irish extraction, and a son of Mark Ward, who walked from Philadelphia to Venango county in his emigration to his new home.

Mr. Ward's boyhood was spent in the country, and for a time he operated a farin on his own responsibility, later disposing of the land and for four years engaged in the general merchandise business, selling goods in Cochranton and Meadville. The large farm owned by Mr. Ward at the time of his death is in North Shenango and is one hundred and thirty acres in extent. At the time of purchase the property was in a wild condition, and Mr. Ward spared no pains in clearing away the brush and removing stumps and reducing his crude land to a condition of fertile productiveness. He also built the present substan- tial and commodious house and barns. For several years Mr. Ward was inter- ested in the breeding of heavy-draft horses and supplied flie demand for the adjacent territory. Though caring little for office. he yet served the town- ship in various capacities, and was for twenty years a member of the United Presbyterian church, being connected with the local society called Ebenezer church of South Shenango.

Mr. Ward was thrice married. His first wife, Sarah Ann McFate, had a little daughter who died when five years old. Mr. Ward was married the second time to Miss Mary Jane Culbertson, and her son Samuel is now operating the old Ward farm. Mrs. Mary McNutt, who became Mr. Ward's third wife, is now living on the farm. Her daughter, born February 16, 1869. married Mr. John Borrows and died in her twenty-third year. Mrs. Borrows lost a little daughter, Hazel. when very young : but a son, Mark Thurman Borrows, survived her, and is now living with his grandmother on the Ward homestead.

In the memory of those who were privileged to know him, Mr. Ward's character stands out with stern and striking distinctness. He was an uncom- promising champion of right and justice, and did not recognize the middle road of tact and diplomacy. The Puritan fathers were not more impressed with the seriousness of life. He enjoyed a social time and any innocent amuse- ments, and was especially opposed to games that offered the possibility of chance.

Mr. Ward died September 13. 1896.

821

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

J. B. Pastorius .- One of the successful and wide-awake young business men of Titusville is J. B. Pastorius, a native of Pennsylvania, born in Cherry Tree township, Venango county, August 30, 1860, a son of John and Catherine (Peeples) Pastorius. His education was acquired in the public schools of his native township and in Titusville and Edinboro prior to his eighteenth year, when he started out to make his own independent way in the world of business.

For fifteen years Mr. Pastorius was engaged in the milk business in Titusville, handling about five hundred quarts of milk daily, besides great quantities of cream, and furnishing the ice-cream factories with the material used in the making of that dainty. In 1887 Mr. Pastorius disposed of his milk business, selling out to Charles August, and went to West Virginia, where he was extensively interested in dealing in lumber for several years. In 1892 he returned to Titusville and purchased the livery owned by E. C. Quimby and has since conducted the business successfully. At present he is the lead- ing liveryman of the city, and enjoys the bulk of the local patronage. He keeps a goodly array of carriages and vehicles of various kinds and has about thirty-five good carriage and saddle horses, in addition to which he is board- ing twenty-five or more for the accommodation of citizens.

On the Ist of April, 1898, Mr. Pastorius, in partnership with H. J. Wager, opened the Titusville cold-storage plant, under the firm name of Wager & Pastorius. This enterprise is destined to be one of much local importance, as its need has long been felt here. All kinds of farm produce and foreign fruits can be stored and kept in fine condition for a long period, and the plant is to be utilized in the manufacture of artificial ice, it having a capacity of forty tons per day.

Socially our subject is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, belonging to Queen City Lodge, No. 304, and in the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks he is identified with Lodge No. 264. In his political affiliations he is a Democrat.

On Christmas Day, 1879, Mr. Pastorius married Ida Scoville, daughter of Almon and Lucy (Hulburt) Scoville. Two daughters bless the union of our subject and wife, named respectively Georgiana and Lena.

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.

Our country and its people. A historical and memorial record of Crawford County, Pennsylvania., Part 86

Author: Bates, Samuel P. (Samuel Penniman), 1827-1902 Publication date: 1899 Publisher: Boston : W. A. Fergusson Number of Pages: 1044

Author: Bates, Samuel P. (Samuel Penniman), 1827-1902
Publication date: 1899
Publisher: Boston : W. A. Fergusson
Number of Pages: 1044