Venango County, Pennsylvania: Her Pioneers and People (Volume 1), Part 88

Author: Babcock, Charles A.
Publication date: 1879
Publisher:
Number of Pages:

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Eight children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Rheem: Harry died when nineteen years old : Margaret died in infancy; William S., of California, is president of the Standard Oil Company of that State, and resides at Oak- land ; Alice, who is unmarried, lives in the old home at No. 922 Elk street, Franklin ; Carlisle died at the age of twenty-eight years ; Elizabeth died in infancy ; Albert K., who is engaged in the production of oil. resides at Franklin : Anna, widow of Charles K. Brown, resides with her sister Alice at the old homestead.

H. H. STEPHENSON. of Oil City, has lived in retirement since he gave up the presi- dency of the Oil City National Bank, with whose fortunes he was associated for over forty-five years. The upbuilding of this insti- tution and its development as a leading finan- cial house in this part of Pennsylvania may be considered his life work, and viewed either as a separate achievement or a part of the advance

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which has made Oil City famous as a business center is sufficient to entitled him to a place with those progressive spirits whose efforts brought the city to prominent and influential position. He still remains a director of the bank, of which one of his sons is now teller, and others are holding responsible positions in various parts of the country.

Mr. Stephenson came to Oil City in 1865 to become cashier of the bank, then known as the Oil City Savings Bank, and spent the rest of his active life in its service. Born Nov. 18, 1842, in Pittsburgh, Pa., he grew up in his native city and acquired his education in its public schools, attending high school until he commenced to earn his living. His first em- ployment was as clerk in a mercantile house, and he was so engaged for five years, when he began his connection with the banking business in the capacity of teller in the Union National Bank of Pittsburgh. He remained there until he moved to Oil City, in December, 1865, to assume the duties of cashier in the newly organized Savings Bank, opened Aug. 15, 1865. It was founded by George W. Cochran (the first president), T. B. Porteous, James Miller. William Parker. W. J. Kountz, Wil- liam Phillips, W. B. Riddle, John Mawhinney and William Thompson, and S. D. Herron was the first cashier, resigning shortly afterward. Mr. Stephenson held the position for thirty- eight years, until he became president, directing the affairs of the bank as chief executive until 1911, since when he has been a member of the board of directors. Nothing could bet- ter show the appreciation of his associates for his undeviating loyalty to the best interests of the bank and his ability to conserve them than a quotation from its monthly magazine, "The Bank Depositor," issue of September, 1915: "To one official more than any other is due the long continued prosperity of this institu- tion, Mr. H. H. Stephenson, who was elected cashier in December, 1865, succeeding Mr. S. D. Herron, Jr., and serving continuously for almost fifty years, thirty-eight years as cashier, eight years as president, and since 1911 as a member of the board of directors," his fellow members being: George N. Reed, who is also president ; H. G. Rush and W. O. Innis, vice presidents ; J. B. Crawford, W. Raymond Cross, H. H. James, W. O. Platt, E. W. Chase, Edward Seiderman and H. J. Crawford. The present cashier is Fred C. McGill; assistant cashier. J. L. Vaughan ; teller, J. G. Stephen- son. On Jan. 1, 1900, the bank was reorgan- ized as the Oil City National Bank, under which title it has since been operated. Its

original capital of fifty thousand dollars, for which each stockholder was individually liable, has been increased to one hundred thousand dollars. The bank is proud of the fact that its stability has never been questioned, and though it has been among the most progressive of local financial institutions its business has been conducted carefully and conservatively, with the funds of its depositors thoroughly safe- guarded. Its patrons have had every accom- modation and courtesy possible, and it has the distinction of paying four per cent. on savings deposits and certificates of deposit, a practical illustration of the possibilities of sound man- agement and a liberal policy toward depositors. All of the men connected with the bank, officers and directors, have been business men of rec- ognized standing in the community in other lines as well. The bank moved from its orig- inal location on Main street, near Bridge street, to quarters in the Wurster meat market build- ing on Main street, about 1874 securing the location at the corner of Elm and Center streets where it now occupies its own building.

Mr. Stephenson has always been a man of quiet habits and domestic tastes, his chief activity outside of business being in the Second Presbyterian Church, which he joined when it was a struggling little congregation, taking a leading part in church and Sunday school work during its formative years. During the Civil war he served nine months in Company E, 123d Pennsylvania Volunteers, which he joined at Pittsburgh. He held the rank of lieutenant.

By his marriage to Margaret A. Moorhead, daughter of William Moorhead, of Indiana, Pa., Mr. Stephenson has the following chil- dren: Frank M., who is now a member of R. B. Hutchinson & Company, bond firm in Pittsburgh, Pa .; William B., a member of the firm of the Hew Chemical Company, in Phil- adelphia, Pa .: G. Albert, now of Cleveland, Ohio, in charge of the bond department of the Federal Reserve Bank of that city; Ellen E., wife of Frederick Fair, treasurer of the Oil City Trust Company : Harry S., of Oil City; Charlotte I., wife of Robert S. Fletcher. of Amherst, Mass., and John G., of Oil City. The family home is at No. 121 West Third street, Oil City. Mr. Stephenson is as highly esteemed in his personal relations as in busi- ness circles.

GEORGE N. REED, since 1913 president of the Oil City National Bank, has had a suc- cessful business career in that association as in his previous connections, which have not only been highly creditable to himself but also

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valuable to the general situation in his com- munity. Coming here in 1877 as a young man, he has become thoroughly identified with the business and civic progress of the city, pros- pering in his commercial and financial under- takings and incidentally working for social betterment and material improvement. Besides a long association with the Oil Well Supply Company he has been engaged in the produc- tion of oil on his own account, and still retains his interests in both, while carrying his re- sponsibilities as head of the bank.

Mr. Reed is a native of Mercer county, Pa., son of the late John P. Reed, who lived and died in that county, where all his active years were spent. He had the best educational fa- cilities afforded by the public schools, attend- ing high school, and in 1877 obtained a posi- tion at Oil City with the Eaton, Cole & Burn- ham Company, whose establishment eventually became the Oil City branch of the large Pittsburgh concern known as the Oil Well Supply Company, manufacturers and jobbers of oil and artesian well supplies. He was first engaged as purchasing agent, and given other responsibilities as his familiarity with the busi- ness increased, remaining with the house for thirty-five years and being manager of the Oil Well Supply Company when he severed his connection to accept the presidency of the Oil City National Bank, to which most of his time is now devoted. Mr. Reed has been associated with the bank since 1900, and when the death of George W. Parker, in 1913, left the presi- dency vacant he was considered the best man for the position, his success in other lines giv- ing evidence that he possessed the substantial qualities required. His good judgment and conscientious desire to discharge his duties to the best of his ability have been recognized in every move that he has made in the direction of the affairs of the bank, which are in the ex- cellent condition and upon the solid basis that have been the pride of its owners from the beginning. The favorable reputation which he 'has always borne has been augmented greatly by his capable services in his present capacity.

The Oil City National Bank was started in August, 1865, as the Oil City Savings Bank, and its first president was George W. Cochran. His successors have all been men of prom- inence in financial affairs, namely: William Thompson, John Mawhinney, William Parker, Amos P. Dale, H. H. Stephenson, George W. Parker and George N. Reed. The present offi- cials and directors are among the best known business men of Oil City, viz .: Vice presi- dents, H. G. Rush and W. O. Innis, the for-

mer proprietor of the Rush Barrel Works, the latter a substantial oil producer ; directors, J. B. Crawford, oil and gas producer; W. Raymond Cross, president of the United Natural Gas Company; H. H. James, manager of the Oil Well Supply Company's store; W. O. Platt, president of the Reid Gas Engine Company : E. W. Chase, treasurer of the Empire Oil Works; Edward Seiderman, oil producer; H. H. Stephenson, former president of the bank : and H. J. Crawford. president of the First National Bank of Emlenton, this county. The present cashier is Fred C. McGill; assistant cashier. J. L. Vaughan : teller, J. G. Stephen- son. The bank was reorganized under its pres- ent title Jan. 1, 1900. The capital is one hun- dred thousand dollars, and it occupies its own building at the corner of Elm and Center streets, acquiring the site about 1874.

Mr. Reed has always been public-spirited in matters affecting the general welfare, and his most conspicuous services to the municipal- ity have been as member of the school board. He holds membership in the Second Presby- terian Church, and is a Mason in fraternal affiliation, belonging to Petrolia Lodge No. 363. F. & A. M .; Oil City Chapter, No. 236, R. A. M .: Talbot Commandery No. 43, K. T .: Ve- nango Lodge of Perfection ; Pittsburgh Con- sistory, and Zem Zem Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S. Mr. Reed married Fanny Perkins, and they are the parents of three children, Fred- erick L. (deceased), Kenton C. and Truman P.

JAMES DENTON HANCOCK, now the senior member of the Venango county bar, has led a busy life, well varied with the duties of his profession, the management of his business interests, the obligations of numerous social and political connections, and the responsibil- ities he has assumed voluntarily as his share in the promotion of progress, local or general, which he has aided in many ways. Endowed with the faculty of broad comprehension and great executive talent, Mr. Hancock has han- dled his complex problems with consummate ability. But their magnitude has never les- sened, for him, the importance of local enter- prises, of any nature, to which he has given just as generously of his time, means and at- tention. His interests have expanded, yet he has never found it necessary or desirable to sever the ties which bound him to his home community, and the community has been prop- erly grateful. Having completed his eightieth year, he has had the reward which many who plan well for the future never reap, the pleas-

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James Denton Hancock

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ure of witnessing the fruition of the early ac- and at first located in Boston, for about two tivities in which he put his faith.

This Hancock family has been in Pennsyl- vania for one hundred and twenty-five years, Jonathan Hancock, the grandfather of James Denton Hancock, having come to Wilkes-Barre about 1790-91, when twenty-three or twenty- four years old. He was born at Snowhill, Md. Coming north he stopped at Harrisburg and married Catharine Young, a descendant ma- ternally of the Foster, Redsecker and Mont- gomery families. In his early days he was a school teacher, but later became a business man, engaged in various undertakings, being a director of the Branch National Bank at Wilkes-Barre (the first of its kind in the United States ). a director of the Bridge Com- pany there, and at one time postmaster. He was a large landowner, and an extensive dealer ( for the time) in real estate. The character of his activities would indicate an energetic and progressive temperament. He died at Wilkes-Barre in 1830. He was the father of thirteen children, and we have record of the following: By first wife: (1) John died un- married. (2) Catharine married Hon. David Scott, of Wilkes-Barre, judge and member of Congress. (3) James. (4) William, who served as judge of the Luzerne County courts, married Laura Smith. of Wilkes-Barre. and (second) Elizabeth Denison. (5) Nancy married James Denton Haff, of Wilkes-Barre and New York. By the second wife, Mary, daughter of William Wright, of Wilkes-Barre. there were: George, Charles, Frederick. John. Martha (wife of James Perkins Atherton, of Wyoming ), and Mary, who died unmarried.

James Hancock, born at Wilkes-Barre in 1793, lived there until 1827, at which time he removed to the farm at Plains, in the Wyom- ing Valley, previously owned by his father. who purchased three farms for him. This property was located about two miles from Wilkes-Barre, and was underlaid with valuable coal deposits. He resided there a number of years, all his children being born at that place. After his second marriage he removed to Wilkes-Barre, and later to Wyoming, Luzerne countv, where he died in 1880 at the advanced age of eighty-seven years. He had lived in re- tirement for twenty years previously. Mr. Hancock first married Mary Perkins, daughter of Squire David and Sarah ( Ferrier) Perkins, of Wyoming, and after her death wedded Elizabeth Hibler. There were no children by the second union.

John Perkins, emigrant ancestor of this Perkins family. came from England in 1630 29

years. He made his permanent residence at Ipswich, Mass. His family settled in different parts of the East, the son from whom the mother of J. D. Hancock was descended set- tling at Hartford, Connecticut.

David Perkins, father of Mrs. Hancock, was a son of John Perkins, from Plainfield, Wind- ham Co., Conn., who was a member of the first school committee of Westmoreland (Pa.) and a Revolutionary soldier. He was killed about the time of the Wyoming massacre, under conditions which are noted in Miner's History. David Perkins was for many years justice of the peace in Kingston township, Luzerne county, and reputed to be the largest landowner in Wyoming Valley, where the fam- ily were pioneer settlers. His house, by some believed to antedate the massacre, and com- monly called the oldest house in the Wyoming Valley, is still standing opposite the intersec- tion of Tenth street, at Wyoming avenue, Wyoming-Wyoming borough being located on a part of Squire Perkins's estate. His wife, Sarah ( Ferrier), was a descendant of Thomas Ferrier, who came to America with a com- pany of his relatives under the leadership of their kinsman, Colonel Clinton, ancestor of George Clinton, vice president of the United States, and DeWitt Clinton, governor of New York, as well as James Clinton, major gen- eral in the Continental army. Thomas Ferrier. born of French Huguenot stock, lived on Long Island and later in Orange county, N. Y. Through Sarah ( Ferrier) Perkins's sister he is the ancestor of descendants of Benjamin Carpenter. Among the other children of David and Sarah (Ferrier) Perkins were: David, captain in the United States army ; James, who removed to New York; Zibia, who married Elisha Atherton, of Wyoming : Martha, wife of Giles Slocum; and Jane, who married Balsas Carpenter. Aaron Perkins, brother of Squire David. was a colonel in the Revolu- tion.

Mrs. Mary (Perkins) Hancock died when about forty years old. the mother of the fol- lowing children: (1) Jonathan, born 1829. died 1891. married Elizabeth Reynolds, of Peoria, Ill., where he was engaged in business, being a member of the grain shipping firm now known as Hancock & Co., of which his younger brother, Col. Elisha A. Hancock, was the head. (2) William, born at Plains, Pa., Aug. 2, 1831. died in Wilkes-Barre Feb. 8. 1906. During his early manhood and until middle life he lived in California, and later resided in Wyoming. where he was engaged in various business

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enterprises, being one of the founders of the Wyoming Shovel Works and of the Wyoming terra cotta works. He was also interested in lumbering and as proprietor of a foundry and plow factory, and of general supply stores. He was the first burgess of Wyoming borough and .later a member of the borough council. On Sept. 25. 1873, he married Isabella Brown Barker, daughter of Rev. Abel Gum Barker by his second wife Phoebe Ann ( Brown), and they had children, Anna Mary, William James and Louise Barker. (3) David Perkins, born 1833, died May 21, 1880. He graduated from West Point Academy in 1854, and on July Ist of that year was made brevet second lieutenant, 2d Infantry; second lieutenant, March 3, 1855; first lieutenant, April 20, 1858; captain, May 27, 1861; major, 2d Infantry, July 2, 1863, and brevet lieutenant colonel, U. S. A., March 13, 1865, for gallant and meritorious service in the battle of Gettysburg, during which engagement he acted as general. He married Maria Madison, of Florida. (4) Sarah Perkins, born 1833, died 1881, was the wife of Dr. Benjamin Fullerton Miles, of Peoria, Ill. (5) James Denton, born June 9, 1837, is men- tioned below. (6) Elisha Atherton, born 1840, married Julia Reichard, (second) Lydia Woodward and (third) Rose Grier Simonton. He was captain and later major in the Cam- eron Cavalry, U. S. V., Pa., 1861-65. He lived and died in Philadelphia, where he was in the grain business.

James Denton Hancock, born June 9, 1837, in the Wyoming Valley, in what was afterward Plains township, Luzerne county, grew up there and acquired his early education in the common schools and Wyoming Seminary. In 1855 he entered Kenyon College, at Gambier, Ohio, graduating therefrom in 1859 with the degree of B. A., and subsequently having con- ferred upon him the degree of M. A. and the honorary LL. D .: he delivered the Phi Beta Kappa address in 1872 and the alumni address in 1899. Becoming a tutor in the Western University upon the completion of his college course, he became the professor of mathe- matics until 1861, and while engaged in teach- ing took up the study of law with William Bakewell, of Pittsburgh. Having gained ad- mission to the bar in Allegheny county in 1862 he practiced in Pittsburgh for about three years, in 1865 removing to Franklin, where he made a permanent location. He applied im- mediately for permission to practice at the Ve- nango county bar, which he received the fourth Monday of January. For ten years he was solicitor for the Allegheny Valley Railroad

Company, appointed in 1877, and in 1878 he was appointed attorney for the Pittsburgh, Titusville & Buffalo Railroad Company, serv- ing as such until 1888, when he became gen- eral solicitor for the Western New York & Pennsylvania Railroad Company, with head- quarters at Buffalo, N. Y. He resigned the latter in December, 1891. Mr. Hancock has had cases in almost all of the courts of western Pennsylvania, as well as in many in the eastern portion. Although he retired from active busi- ness in 1896 he still retains a number of im- portant associations, owning valuable oil lands in Venango county and being a director of the Fayette Gas Company and of the Pittsburgh, Youngstown & Ashtabula Railroad Company ; for some years he was a director of the Ex- change Bank of Franklin. He is the owner of the Hancock block, located at the corner of Twelfth and Liberty streets, Franklin, origin- ally known as the Plumer block and later as the Savings Bank block until it came into Mr. Hancock's possession. He was the first tenant in that block, having his law offices there for many years.

In 1881 Mr. Hancock was appointed by Gov- ernor Hoyt one of the trustees of the State Hospital for the Insane at Warren, Pa., and served thirteen years, being president of the board in 1888. He has been a loyal Democrat since 1861, and in 1892 was nominated by the party for Congressman from his district, los- ing that year by a small number of votes, as he did also in 1894, when nominated for Con- gressman-at-large. In 1896 he was nominated for elector-at-large, but declined to be a can- didate then on account of his opposition to the policy of the party on the silver issue. After- ward he went as a delegate to the Indianapolis convention of 1896, which nominated Palmer and Buckner.

Mr. Hancock has been prominent in the tariff reform movement. In 1883 he delivered a lecture on the subject of "Petroleum versus Protection" at Franklin and other places, which attracted wide attention, and was awarded a silver medal by the Cobden Club, of which he was elected an honorary member. He was chairman of the sub-committee and drew the original draft of the resolutions passed at the Tariff Reform Convention at Chicago in 1885, and in 1887 was again chair- man of the committee on resolutions. He is the author of numerous articles upon various economic questions relating to the tariff. In 1893 he wrote a paper entitled "The Evolu- tion of Money," which was adopted and pub- lished under the auspices of the National

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Board of Trade of the United States. He is a member of the Civil Service Reform Asso- ciation. For a number of years he has been an active member of the Pennsylvania Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, has served as president of the State organization, and was national president general in 1904-05. He affiliates with the Foresters. He is a trus- tee of Kenyon College, his alma mater, and has never allowed his interest in educational projects to lapse. In Franklin he was the founder of the public library and made the first contribution given toward its establish- ment. Mr. Hancock was formerly a communi- cant of the Episcopal Church and served as vestryman, but his religious association at present is with the Unitarians.

In 1865 Mr. Hancock married Ella C. Hitch- cock, of Pittsburgh, daughter of Lawrence Peres and Elizabeth (Johnston ) Hitchcock. She died in 1871, and in 1873 he married ( second ) her sister Mary Kate. Mr. and Mrs. Hancock have had five children, namely : Law- rence P., born June 10, 1866, a graduate of Kenyon College, who was admitted to the bar Aug. 26, 1889, and is now a prominent attor- ney of Buffalo, N. Y .; Ella C., born June 21, 1874, who was married Feb. 5, 1903, to Fred- erick L. Williamson and now resides at Frank- lin with her only child, Katherine Hancock (the late Mr. Williamson was cashier of the Lamberton National Bank of Oil City) ; Mary Elizabeth, born July 22, 1876, who lives at home : James Denton, born Oct. 19, 1880, who died Dec. 18, 1885; and Philip Gaylord, born June 11, 1883. who died Dec. 20, 1885.

(I) Matthias Hitchcock came from Eng- land in 1635, landing at Boston in the spring of that year. In Bond's "History of Water- town. Mass.," is a "Record of Matthew Hitch- cock, a townsman then inhabiting." receiving in July, 1636, twenty-three acres of land in the "Great Dividends." This land he later sold to D. Patrick. In 1639 his name appears in the records of New Haven, Conn., where he was among the original signers of the funda- mental agreement made on the 4th of the "fowerth month called June, 1639." He was one of the five purchasers of "South End Neck." now East Haven, Conn., where the five dwelt after 1651. In the Colony of New Haven his name appears in the schedule of planters. prepared before April, 1641. He is reckoned as having an estate of fifty pounds and is given ten acres in the "First Division," two acres in the Neck. four acres in the Meadow, sixteen in the "Second Division." and his yearly

rates for land are put at eight shillings. He died Nov. 16, 1669, and Elizabeth, his widow, died in 1676. His will is dated November, 1669. Children : Eliakim, who married Nov. 4, 1666-67, Sarah Merrick ; Nathaniel; John, who married Jan. 18, 1670, Abigail Merriman ; and Elizabeth, born June 4, 1651, in New Haven, who married in January, 1672, Anthony Howd and (second) John Nash.

(II) Nathaniel Hitchcock was probably born in New Haven. Besides his homestead there he held land at the South End and in Foxing. On Jan. 18, 1670, he married Eliza- beth Moss, who was born Oct. 3, 1650, in New Haven, daughter of John Moss, and died about 1706. Mr. Hitchcock died in East Haven, and the inventory of his estate, taken March 22, 1699, included the "homestead, land and meadow at town, valued at two hundred pounds, the South End farm, and woodland at Foxing, valued at three hundred pounds." His children were : Elizabeth, born March 17, 1672, who married a Bishop, and died before 1731 ; Nathaniel; Abiah, born Oct. 26, 1680, who married Dec. 3, 1703, Samuel Peck ; John, born Jan. 28, 1685, who married March 1, 1707-08, Mary Thompson, and (second) May 29, 1711, Abiah Bassett ; Ebenezer, born April 9, 1689, who married June 25, 1711, Anna Perkins; and Mary, born Jan. 20, 1692, who married Aug. 1, 1710, Samuel Bassett.

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Venango County, Pennsylvania: Her Pioneers and People (Volume 1), Part 88

Author: Babcock, Charles A. Publication date: 1879 Publisher: Number of Pages:

Author: Babcock, Charles A.
Publication date: 1879
Publisher:
Number of Pages: