USA > Pennsylvania > Erie County > The history of Erie County, Pennsylvania, from its first settlement > Part 12
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steamer Michigan, being in winter quarters at Erie, was placed at their disposal.
Erie has always been the station for the revenue cutters. In March, 1833, one was launched of sixty-two tons; the col- lector gave it the name of Lewis McLane, but the Secretary changed it to Erie. The Benjamin Rush, of thirty-five tons, was launched September, 1828, being intended for the Upper Lakes.
Six revenue cutters were built in 1857, being one for each of the lakes ; the Jeremiah Black, of Lake Erie, was commanded by Capt. Ottinger.
CHAPTER XI.
Banks- Gas Company - Insurance - Fire Companies-Volunteer Military-Agriculture-Mutual Aid-Cemeteries-Moral, Benevo- lent, and Literary Societies.
Banks .- The act incorporating the Erie Bank passed in 1829. The first officers were R. S. Reed, President ; P. S. V. Hamot, Cashier ; J. A. Tracy, C. M. Reed, Samuel Brown, William Fleming, Thomas Moorhead, Jr., E. D. Gunnison, and D. Gillespie, Directors. The capital stock was not to exceed $200,000, and it commenced business with $50,000. On the ex- piration of its charter, in 1850, its outstanding circulating notes were redeemed and its business closed.
The United States Bank of Pennsylvania established a branch at Erie in 1837, to be discontinued in 1850. The first officers were T. H. Sill, President ; Josiah Kellogg, C. M. Reed, Wm. Kelly, G. A. Elliot, Samuel Hays, William Fleming, J. G. Williams, H. J. Huidekoper, Directors ; Peter Benson, Cashier. When the parent institution at Philadel- phia failed, in 1840, William C. Curry was appointed to settle the affairs of the branch in Erie.
The fine building erected for its use at an expense of $70,000, was purchased by the government in 1849 for a custom house and post office for $29,000. The banking-house is faced with white marble, and has steps and columns made of the same material.
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The Erie City Bank was incorporated in 1753, with a capital of $200,000. The first officers were Smith Jackson, President ; C. M. Tibbals, W. A. Brown, D. S. Clark, C. Seigel, John Brawley, James Webster, J. H. Fullerton, Ira Sherwin, M.D., J. D. Clark, Charles Brandes, J. C. Beebe, Directors ; J. P. Sherwin, Cashier ; Brua Cameron, Bookkeeper ; S. E. Neiler, Teller. Suspended, 1857.
Bank of Commerce (Erie City Bank revived) commenced business in April, 1858. Directors-B. Grant, President ; G. J. Ball, Cashier ; C. B. Wright, Vice-President ; W. F. Rin- dernicht, James Hoskinson, B. F. Sloan, Charles Metcalf, A. W. Blaine, G. F. King, J. W. Douglas ; A. W. Guild, Teller. Suspended December, 1860.
The Erie Gas Company was chartered March 5, 1852, with a capital of $60,000. This was to be divided into twelve hundred shares of $50 each. The Board of Directors have the privilege of increasing the capital from time to time, as they may deem necessary, to $100,000.
The company purchased ten lots for $10,000, and expended $50,000 on buildings, machinery, etc. ; the gas-holder is forty- five feet in diameter and eighteen feet deep, and capable of holding thirty thousand cubic feet. Pipe, the length of three and a half miles, was laid in the streets; it was first used August 22, 1853, by thirty-one consumers; at the end of the year, by one hundred and fifty ; burners, six hundred.
Mr. Meredith superintended the construction of the works, and Mr. P. Metcalf, who was the heaviest stockholder, con- tributed materially to the success of the enterprise.
Insurance .- In 1834 the Erie County Mutual Insurance Company was incorporated (the business to be transacted at Erie), with the following names, and those of any other per- sons that might hereafter associate with them in the manner afterward prescribed': John A. Tracy, William Kelley, Peter Pierce, J. W. Hitchcock, James Williams, Smith Jackson, Samuel Low, Conrad Brown, Jr., B. B. Vincent, Bester Town, Jabez Wight, David G. Webber, and Stephen Skinner.
The Farmers' Mutual Insurance Company of Harbor Creek was incorporated 1857, with the following officers: John Dodge, President ; Peter E. Burton, Vice-President ; Henry
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Gingrich, Treasurer ; Robert Henry, Secretary ; John Dodge, J. Y. Moorhead, John W. McLane, Calvin Leet, G. H. Wagoner, Jesse Saltsman, Robert Sewall, G. J. Ball, Thomas McKee, S. M. Brown, Henry Gingrich, Martin Warfel, and P. E. Burton, Directors.
Fire .- Active Fire Company, formed February 22, 1826. R. S. Reed, Chief Engineer ; E. D. Gunnison, Secretary ; John Riddel, Treasurer.
Red Jacket, No. 1, was formed in 1837.
Perry and Eagle Fire Companies formed in 1839.
Mechanics' Fire Company, No. 3, E. B. S. Landon, Secre- tary, formed in 1844.
Vulcan, 1848.
Phoenix Hook and Ladder Company, 1852.
The Parade Street Fire Company was organized in Feb- ruary, 1861, in Cloughsburg. The councils entrusted to them the engine Pennsylvania.
Officers of the fire department in 1859-William Murray, Chief Engineer ; A. E. Yale, First Assistant ; Robert T. Shank, Second Assistant; Richard Dudley, President ; John Constable, Jr., Vice-President ; E. D. Hulbert, Secretary ; G. A. Bennet, Water Commissioner.
Military Companies .- The first military company formed in Erie was the "Erie Light Infantry," in 1806; the names of the officers and privates were as follows :
Officers-Captain, Thomas Forster ; Lieutenant, Thomas Rees ; Ensign, Thomas Stewart ; Sergeant, Thomas Wilkins ; Second Sergeant, John Hay ; Fifer, Rufus Clough ; Drummer, J. Glazier.
Privates-Archibald McSparren, Simeon Dunn,1 Adam Arbuckle, George Kelley, John Sloan, William Murray, Jonas Duncan, John Woodside, William Duncan, George Slough, John Eakens, George Russel (died in 1813), John Lapsley, Peter Grawosz, Jacob Carmack, William Henderson, Robert Irwin, Ebenezer Dwinnel, John Bell, Robert McDonnel, Samuel Hays, Thomas Laird, Thomas Hughes, Robert
1 Mr. Simeon Dunn was recommended to Commodore Perry in 1813 as capahle and trustworthy, and was in his employ carrying important ex- press to Buffalo.
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Brown, John Morris, George Buehler, William Lattimore, James Herron, Stephen Woolverton, Francis Scott, Thomas Vance.
This company tendered it's services to the President, in the war of 1812, and was accepted. The brigade rendezvoused at the Flats, near Waterford, and chose Adamson Tannehill; of Pittsburg, Brigadier-General. At Buffalo, where they were ordered, Capt. Forster was made Brigade Inspector, and James E. Herron chosen Captain.
This brigade of Pennsylvania volunteers was at Buffalo during the winter of 1812-13, being the year before Buffalo was burnt. Many of the volunteers deserted-sometimes by whole companies. This was not true of the Erie Light In- fantry in a single instance.
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In 1808 the Presqu'ile Rangers were in existence. William Moore, Orderly Sergeant.
Erie Greens were organized in 1821.
The Washington Artillery, in 1824.
Erie Guards, in 1825. Thomas Forster, Jr., Captain. An Artillery company, in 1831. C. G. Howell, Captain.
Cavalry, 1836. F. Strong, Orderly Sergeant.
About 1841 two spirited German companies were formed : German Guards, Capt. Dutlinger, and the Washington Guards, Capt. Erhart.
In 1842 the Wayne Greys were organized. John W. Mc- Lane, Captain ; William Curran, Orderly Sergeant.
In June, 1846, the Wayne Greys held a meeting, Lieut. John Graham in the chair, and in consideration of a procla- mation of the Governor relative to the war with Mexico, requesting all citizens, especially those having in their possession public arms, to hold themselves in readiness to respond to the call of the Executive of the Union at a moment's warning, resolved to have themselves in readiness for any order from the Governor of the State for their services, and also to appoint a committee of four to procure an armorer to put all the arms and accoutrements of the com- pany in complete order immediately.
Franklin Pierce Rifle Company was organized in 1858.
The Wayne Guards in 1859 ; John W. McLane, Captain.
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The Fairview Guards in 1858; T. Beckman, Captain. Girard Guards, 1860 ; commanded by D. W. Hutchinson.
Erie Perry Artillery Company, Gustavus Jarecki, Captain, organized in 1859.
An agreeable incident in the history of the Wayne Guards occurred in Cleveland at the dedication of the Perry Monu- ment, September 10, 1860. After the historical address by the Hon. George Bancroft, the Wayne Guards were drawn up in front of the stand, and, in behalf of the company, Capt. McLane presented Mr. Bancroft with a beautiful cane. The presentation was made with a few remarks in very good taste. Capt. McLane said the cane was made of wood from Com. Perry's flag-ship, the Lawrence. The Wayne Guards, he said, were proud to honor the hero, and the historian whose grace- ful pen preserved untarnished the luster of the heroic deeds of 1813.
Mr. Bancroft accepted the gift in a few felicitous remarks. He was happy to receive the memento from the Guards, and particularly as they bore the name of one ever to be revered, brave in battle, correct and kind in private life. He should keep the cane while he lived, and bequeath it to his son with an injunction to cherish it, and remember that it came to him with the benediction of the Guards. It would comfort the few years of old age yet left to him.
The whole transaction passed off very pleasantly, and at the close of Mr. Bancroft's remarks he was greeted by cheers, which were repeated for the Wayne Guards.
The gold head of the cane was the work of Mr. T. M. Austin, of Erie, and cost one hundred dollars, and was beauti- fully wrought. On one side was engraved "September 10, 1813. We have met the enemy and they are ours." On the other, " Wayne Guards of Erie to Honorable George Bancroft, at the inauguration of the Perry Statue, September 10, 1860. ' Perry's fleet was built at, sailed from, and returned to Erie.' American patriotism embalms the memories of its heroes."
In November, the Guards had the pleasure of receiving from Mr. Bancroft eight volumes of his History of the United States, superbly bound in Turkey morocco and gilt, accom- panied by the following note :
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HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY.
"NEW YORK, October, 1860.
"Capt. John McLane, and the Wayne Guards of Erie :
"DEAR SIRS :- The very great pleasure and enduring satis- faction which I derived from my friendly interview with you at Cleveland, excites in me a strong desire to secure a perma- nent place in your memory. For that purpose, I beg your acceptance of the volumes which accompany this note. Accept, also, I entreat you, very sincere assurances of grateful and affectionate regard from
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" Your friend, "GEORGE BANCROFT." Agriculture, etc .- In 1820 a Mechanical Association was. formed, S. Ball, Secretary, the object of which was to improve the condition of mechanics.
In 1822 an Agricultural and Mechanical Society was organ- ized, which held one or two fairs or exhibitions. The first officers were : Judah Colt, President ; Charles J. Reed, Treas- urer ; G. Sanford, Secretary ; John Vincent, Waterford, R. S. Reed, Erie, Wm. Miles, Union, Martin Strong, Mckean, Ben- jamin Russell, Mill Creek, Elisha Marvin, Greenfield, Moses Barnet, Fairview, John McCord, Northeast, Simeon Leet, Harbor Creek, and Mathias Brindle, Springfield, Directors.
The members contributed one dollar each, and the county fifty dollars ; seventy-eight dollars were paid out in premiums, which were awarded for farming commodities and domestic manufactures. The highest premium was eight dollars, which was offered for the best two acres of wheat. In the words of the Gazette, " the exhibition of stock was large, and we can safely say was not surpassed in quality at any exhibition in the State. But few articles of domestic manufacture were offered, but these were worthy of notice."
The Mill Creek and Erie Agricultural and Manufacturing As- sociation was formed in April, 1842, Robert Cochran, Secretary.
The Agricultural Society was formed in 1848, and the fol- lowing offcers elected : John Brawley President ; J. C. Spencer Treasurer, and J. D. Dunlap Secretary. The first fair was held at the market house, and $150 offered in premiums. These were increased every year. A flag was offered to the town entitled to the largest number of premiums, which was found to be
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Harbor Creek. Next, an agricultural library was offered on the same conditions, and Harbor Creek again claimed the prize, but generously donated the books to the County Society.
In 1860 this society was merged into a joint stock association, chartered by the Court of Common Pleas, styled the Erie County Agricultural Society for the promotion of agriculture, manufactures, fine and useful arts, with $5,000 capital, to be afterward increased as the society should determine. The capital stock to be represented by shares of ten dollars each, the first stock to be invested in the purchase and improvement of thirty acres of ground. The land purchased was in East Mill Creek, being a part of the farm of Mr. Ebersole. A build- ing designed to be a wing of the main building was completed in 1860. When the first fair was held, $355 were awarded in premiums.
Hon. James Miles in 1855 made an offer of 200 acres of land, situated in Girard township, to the State Agricultural Society, provided that organization locate an agricultural college on said land. To this was added an offer to sell land adjoining at a reasonable rate if required.
The Pennsylvania Farm School was located in Centre County, and in 1858 the Agricultural Society of this county voted $1,000 to its support.
The Union Agricultural Society of Girard adopted its consti- tution July 15, 1856, and at its first fair in September offered $170 in premiums. This society was intended as an auxiliary and not a rival of the Erie County Society, and was instituted in view of the distance of the western and south western town- ships from Erie. At the sixth annual meeting the following officers were chosen : P. Osborne, President ; Wm. Cross, J. W. Blair, J. Robertson, W. W. Eaton, Wm. Holliday, C. Bowman, A. Frances, S. Washburn, C. Leet, A. Nicholson, Vice-Presidents ; H. Ball, Treasurer ; J. McClure, Recording Secretary ; H. Hart, Corresponding Secretary.
The Wattsburg Agricultural Society was formed in 1856.
Masons .- Wayne Lodge, No. 112, was instituted in 1813. G. Sanford, Master ; T. Rees and Dr. J. C. Wallace, Wardens ; R. S. Reed, Treasurer.
Presqu'ile Lodge was organized in 1852. H. Pelton, W. M.,
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HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY.
Dr. William F. Owen, of Spring, in February, 1861, was appointed D. D. G. H. P. for the counties of Erie and Craw- ford.
Presqu'ile Lodge (Odd Fellows), No. 107. In 1859, the officers were William Mallory, N. G .; John Graham, V. G .; John Sweeney, Recording Secretary ; G. A. Bennet, Financial Secretary ; John Abell, Treasurer.
Philallelia Lodge, No. 299. Otis N. Gray, N. G. ; A. T. Thomas, V. G. ; A. M. Tarbell, Secretary ; A. M. Guild, Treasurer.
Officers of the German Beneficial Society, in 1859, were A. T. Flesler, President ; F. Fiesler, Vice-President; Michael Koch, First Secretary ; and F. M. Wagner, Treasurer.
Erie Temple of Honor, No. 5, a temperance association, was instituted in 1854, Wm. A. Galbraith, Esq., being the first W. C. T. It was reorganized in 1859 as No. 9. In 1861 the officers were A. H. Caughey, D. G. W. T .; James Lytle, W. C. T .; E. P. Bennett, W. V. T. and W. R .; John Fairburn, W. F. R. A lodge of the Good Templars, which had been in prosperous operation for two or three years, was merged into the Temple of Honor at its reorganization.
Exodus Lodge, No. 343, I. O. of G. T .; Edgar Olin, Degree Master ; in existence at Girard in 1855.
Constellation Lodge, No. 210, I. O. of G. T., at Springfield.
In 1846 the society of Odd Fellows, still in existence, was organized in Waterford ; there were also at one time organi- zations of the Temple of Honor, Sons of Temperance, and Good Templars.
Northeast Odd Fellows' Lodge, No. 412, established in 1850. Number of members, 92; of P. G., 17.
Albion Lodge, No. 376, I. O. O. F., was probably established about the same time.
The St. George's Benevolent Society of Erie has for its object charity to its sick members. Officers in 1861-Jacob Boty, President ; J. Singer, Vice-President ; M. Knoll, First Secretary ; P. Rochenwald, Second Secretary ; P. Schotten, Treasurer.
Cemeteries .- On the 6th of July, 1801, a number of persons collected at Greenfield to cut and clear off about an acre of
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HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY.
ground for a burying-place. These were Enoch Marvin, Joseph Shadack and family, Henry and Dyer Loomis, Samuel, Hezekiah, and Philo Barker, Wm. Scott, Israel Wanever, James Heaton, Stephen Hazelton, Joseph Webster, Thomas Prentice, - Dagget, and one or two others.
In 1805 lots on the corner of Eighth and French streets were set apart for a burying-ground. The trustees of the United Presbyterian congregation paid the purchase money due the State for them, and after removing the bodies to the city cemetery, disposed of the ground to purchasers. At an early day we observe an Obituary Association in existence, P. S. V. Hamot, Secretary, which probably managed its affairs. Pre- vious to 1805, all interments were made on the bank of the lake, east of the town, where also were buried many of the soldiers of 1812.
About 1826 the Presbyterian Society purchased four lots on Seventh and Myrtle streets for burial purposes. After the Erie Cemetery was opened in 1851, the graves were removed from this, and, by an act, the trustees of the First Presbyterian Church disposed of the property.
The Episcopalians, Roman Catholics, and Lutherans also had separate grounds.
The Erie Cemetery was incorporated in 1850, and is hand- somely situated south of the city. It embraces seventy acres beautifully planned and ornamented with trees, shrubs, and flowers, and also contains at this time many fine monuments. The first managers were C. M. Reed, William Himrod, G. A. Elliot, William Kelley, A. W. Brewster, J. Galbraith, and E. Babbitt. G. A. Elliot was chosen President ; J. C. Spencer, Treasurer ; and Wm. A. Brown, Secretary. Mr. Brewster, who was in perfect health at the time he was made an officer, was the first person interred there, having died of smallpox.
In the immediate vicinity the German Roman Catholics consecrated a cemetery in 1853, and likewise St. Paul's Ger- man Evangelical Congregation in 1859.
The Northeast Cemetery was incorporated April 15, 1852. The following corporators were elected May 8 : John Brawley, John Schouller, James Smedley, Calvin Spafford, John Greer, William Griffith, A. W. Blaine. Twelve and a half acres of
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ground were purchased of the heirs of P. S. V. Hamot, to which five acres were added that had been used as a burying- ground for nearly fifty years. It is handsomely designed.
In Girard application was made by several citizens for an act of incorporation to establish a cemetery at or near that borough. The application was granted March 14, 1861.
Moral and Benevolent .- A Moral Society was organized at Waterford, December, 1815. The object, as expressed in the preamble, being to aid each other, and strengthen the hands of the magistrates in the suppression of vice and immorality, by every prudent, and, if necessary, by every legal method, hoping to meet the approbation of God, and the assistance of good men of every political sentiment and religious denomi- nation. Officers-Rev. John Mathews, Chairman ; Dr. Wm. Bacon, Secretary ; Amos Judson, Treasurer ; George W. Reed and Henry Woodworth, Corresponding Committee ; John Boyd, Esq., John Way, Esq., Archibald Watson (elder), and Capt. Martin Strong, Standing Committee.
The County Bible Society was organized in 1824, and has, without intermission, fulfilled its duties to the present time. The first officers were Rev. Johnston Eaton, President ; Rev. R. Reid, Vice-President ; E. D. Gunnison, Treasurer ; G., Selden, Secretary ; Managers, William Gould, Robert Porter, John McCord, Col. Joseph Selden, Judah Colt, Robert Mc- Clelland, Gen. John Phillips, Rev. Oliver Alfred, Rev. R. C. Hatton, James Flowers, Philip Bristol, and G. Sanford. At the thirty-seventh annual meeting, in 1861, Rev. G. A. Lyon, D.D., was chosen President; S. S. Spencer, Secretary ; and J. C. Seldon, Treasurer. The amount of receipts for the year, $750.18 ; disbursements for the same period, $514.13; balance in treasury, $522.28 ; value of Bibles and Testaments purchased during the year, $134.60 ; amount sold and donated, $120.43 ; amount in value at depository, $289.48.
In 1828 a Colonization Society was organized in Erie, but was sustained only a few years. Rev. Robert Reid, President ; G. A. Elliot, Secretary ; Rev. D. Mckinney, Josiah Kellogg, R. O. Hulbert, and G. Selden were a committee to solicit sig- natures. In the spring of 1860, Alex. Simms, wife, and eight children, with eight other colored persons from Erie County,
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left for Africa under the auspices of the Pennsylvania society. In 1836 a Colonization Society was formed at Northeast. Henry Frey, President ; John Brawley, Vice President ; J. D. Dunlap, Secretary, and Clark Putnam, Treasurer. The same year a County Anti-Slavery Society was formed, Col. James Moorhead, President, and William Gray, Secretary ; and also one at Northeast, Truman Tuttle, President ; James Duncan, Vice-President ; Dr. E. Smedley, Secretary, and R. L. Loomis, Treasurer.
About the same time an anti-abolition meeting was called at Springfield, H. G. Davis in the chair, and Daniel G. Webber, Secretary. The meeting in its resolutions highly approved of the Colonization Society, but not of a crusade against the South.
About 1824 a Female Tract Society was formed in Erie, which was useful for many years. Mrs. J. Colt, Directress ; Mrs. G. Sanford, Treasurer ; Miss E. Wight, Secretary.
At Wattsburg a Tract Society was formed in 1828, Rev. A. McCreary, President ; James Nelson, Secretary, and Wm. K. Black, Treasurer.
A society was formed in Erie in 1844 for abolishing capital punishment. In 1845 a committee, composed of Irvin Camp, W. H. Knowlton, Smith Jackson, Oliver Spafford, and Wm. A. Galbraith, gave notice that they would meet a committee who might be appointed to discuss the question, "Ought capi- tal punishment to be abolished in Pennsylvania?" The question was discussed at the courthouse, and excited general interest ; John Galbraith and Irvin Camp in the affirmative, Elijah Babbitt and J. H. Walker, negative, and James C. Marshall, Moderator.
A Lady's Benevolent Society was formed in 1843, which for many years possessed the confidence of the public, and relieved much suffering.
In 1845 a Sabbath Convention was called that resulted in the organization of a Sabbath Association, which for several years held meetings, and attempted to promote the better observance of the Sabbath by travelers, on the canal, lakes, etc.
The Erie City Tract Society, which represented five evan- gelical denominations, and had for its object tract distribution
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and aid to the poor, was active for seven years. It was formed in 1854, with the following officers : D. S. Clark, President ; W. F. Liddell and J. D. Dunlap, Vice-Presidents ; Rev. Joseph Pressley, M. R. Barr, James Metcalf, C. Doll, and M. B. Cook, Managers.
Among so many efforts to repress vice, we are sorry to record one attempt to promote immorality. In 1840 a petition was sent to the Legislature from the county, signed by forty persons, asking that the Sabbath might be abolished, to legal- ize blasphemy, and extend the privilege of giving testimony in court to all persons, whether believers or not.
Temperance societies were formed in Erie and Wattsburg in 1829, and in Wayne Township in 1832, which year the county society had seven hundred and forty-two members. Judah Colt, President ; R. McClelland, Vice-President ; R. O. Hul- bert, Secretary ; G. Selden, Treasurer ; G. Sanford, Hugh Wil- son, William Gray, John Cook, Chauncey Graves, Benjamin Whitley, Ira Phelps, James Smedley, Samuel Beedy, James Nelson, and Rev, Edson Hart, Managers.
In 1840 they had a temperance society in most of the town- ships. In 1842 the jailer complained (as his apartments were vacant) that the temperance people had combined to injure the business of the house.
In 1851 a Division of Sons of Temperance was formed, which continued in operation for several years.
In 1852 a Harp and Shamrock Temperance Society was formed. J. W. Duggen, President.
One hundred ladies of the first standing in Erie and in Wattsburg petitioned for a prohibitory liquor law in 1853.
The same year, Cadets of Temperance appeared in Erie, being a society of youths between twelve and eighteen years of age, with rules similar to those of the Sons of Temperance ; they were also to abstain from tobacco, profane language, etc.
The Carson League, formed in 1854, was an efficient aid to temperance.
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