Erie County PA Archives History.....100 Years of North East, PA by Admah Irwin Loop, May 28, 1934
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Thomas J. Golab tom@thegolabs.com 30 July 2024
Note: My great-grandfather, A. I. Loop, was asked by the
city fathers to document the history of North East, PA for
their centennial celebration. The following is a copy of
the history prepared by my great-grandfather.
The history was distributed via serializing in the North
East Breeze Newspaper in the 1930’s. I believe A.I. owned
the copyright. Our family also talked to the paper’s last
editor, Roger Coda, who said the paper’s copyrights had been
abandoned around 2002, and that the responsible people have
passed away.
CONTENTS
Aborigines, The Lake Shore 4
Ackerman Family 165
Allison, W. F. 36
Archer Family, The 197
Applebee, W. T. 67
Battle of Lake Erie 65
Beatty, John 35
Bingham Family, The 142
Birch (Burch) Family in England, The 317
Blaine, George W. 42
Bogenschutz, NW. J. 24
Borough Business, Miscellaneous 78, 82, 87, 90, 94, 98, 101,
104, 112, 114, 115, 118, 119 Borough Elections 217 Borough
Records, Notes From the 221, 229, 230, 232, 234, 244, 246,
249, 253, 255, 260, 262, 264, 272, 274, 278, 280, 282, 284,
286, 288, 290, 292, 294, 296
Bort, L. D. 36
Bostwick, D. C. 32.
Brainerd, 5. Me. 125
Brown Family, William, Jr. 192
Burch Family, The 319, 321
Burch Family, The Amos 190
Burgettstown 53
Burnley, William 6
Burrows, Hamilton 94
Butt Family, The 73
Butt, G. Will 71
Campbell Family, The Chauncey 257
Chambers, HE. E. 126
Churches, Early 59
Churches of North East, The 298, 299, 302, 304, 307
Churchill, Horatio 95
Clearing the Land 44
Cole Family, The HE. 8. 312, 313
Cole Family, The Leon A. 316
Colt, Judah 27, 30
Crawford, B. F. 127
Crawford, F. B. 38
Crawford, William T. 39
Cushing, Dr. Frank Hamilton 112
Dill, Robert 124
Farm Implements 109
Farnsworth Family, The 210
Felemeden, He. Be 13
Force Family, The 181
Fire Control 94
French and English 7
French Family, The John 201
Gibsonville 68, 70,72
Gough Family, The 16
Graham Family, The William W. 203
Greenman Family 16
Griffin Family, The Uriah F. 194
Hall, L. G. 9
Hammond, John 8S. 122
Hampson, G. A. 120
Haynes, James H. 142
Heath Family, The 186
Histed, Thaddeus 141
Holland Land Company, The 21, 73
Indian Troubles 10, 25
Industries, Early 77
Jameson, Clark D. 92
Johnson, James 8S. 92
Jones, Levi (autobiography) 88
Kidder, 0. 8S. 15
King, Z M. 26
Kingsbury, Sarah Allen 29
Lake Shore Seminary 307
Land Affairs, Early 17
Land Legislation 25
Land Transactions, Early 67
Land Troubles 301
Loomis Family, The 53, 213
Loomis Family, The Dyer 133
Loop Family, The 175
Luke Family, The Henry 215
Lyon, F. K. 96
Marshall, Robert 10
McClintock, Mrs. S. A. 26
McCord, W. F. AT
McLaughlin, John M. 139
Meehl Family, The 267, 268, 270
Merrill Family, The 123 Mills Family, The 110 Moorheads, The 131
Moorhead Family, James Robinson 218
Moorhead, Robert J. . 29
Nash Family, The 206
Newton Family, The John L. 195
Norris, Nathaniel 30
North East, A Few Reminiscences of (D. BR. Cushman) 150
North East Electric Railways 276
North East Fire of 1884, The 250
North East, Incorporation of 76
North East, Location of 67
North East Water Works 236, 238, 240, 242, 297, 322
Old Maje 314
Old Ned 129
Orton Families, The 324, 324a, 324b
Page Family, The John William 327
Pease Family, The 183
Pennsylvania Population Company 17, 22
Perry's Fleet Built 57
Peters Family, The 325, 326
Pettit Family 3
Phillips, Archie D. (ancestors) 18
Pierce Family, The 106, 109
Pioneer Life 33, 40, 76 Preface 1
Putnam, Dr. B. He. 136
Railroads 105, 108, 111
Raymond, J. Ross 144
Reed, J. H. 51
Remington Family, The 182
Roads and Coaches 51
Roads, Old 145
Ross Family 79, 81
St. Mary's College 308
Saw Mills, Early 48
Settlers, Early 56
Shadduck, Joseph (first settler) 37
Sheridan Family, The 208
Short, Alfred 60
Silliman Family, The 63
Silliman, Dr. J. BE. 113
Six Nations (Indian) 4
Skellie, W. A. 156
Soldiers of 1812 62
Spacht Family, The 149
Sparrow, Lydia 80
Spoffords, The 23
Stage Coaches 52
Stetson Family, The W. Aw 156
Stockton, Dr. R. W. 116
Street Names, Early 114
Taber Family, The 99
Taylor Family, The 69
Temperance Pioneer, A (Christiana Dickson) 146
Towne, B. F. 46
Train Wreck 173
Triangle, The 2
Tuttle Daybook ‘77
Tyler, N. C. 113
Underground Railroad 146
War of 1812 56
Wass Family 66
Water System, Improving 297
Wayne, Anthony 13
Wells, John D. 54
Weyerhaeuser, Frederick 166
Wheeler Family, The 199
Willert, William J. 137
Wing Family, The 102
Wolf, Henry 157
Wolf, Isaac 158
Woodruff, Ancestors of N. S. 138
Woodruff, N. 5. 50-
Youngs Families 160
1OO YEARS OF NORTH EAST
PREFACE
In the course of human events in the New World after
discovery by Columbus and still later after the
philanthropic foresight of William Penn had made a
commonwealth of Pennsylvania, a section of country
consisting of about 315 square miles and known as the
Triangle was in dispute as to ownership, being claimed
variously by the states of Mew York, Massachusetts, and
Connecticut. The south boundary of this Triangle was a
continuation of the east and west dividing line of New York
and Pennsylvania beginning at the point where the north
and south dividing starts and running on an even course with
the east and west line westerly along the south border of
the borough of Wattsburg, on through the center of the
borough of Girard and reaching Lake Erie at a point in
Springfield township about four and one-half miles east of
the Ohio state line.
The need of a Lake Erie port was so apparent to General
Irvine, who had been sent out at about the close of the War
of the Revolution by the commonwealth of Pennsylvania to
examine the quality of its western lands, that negotiations
for the purchase of the Triangle were instituted. This
resulted in a release of claims by the eastern states and a
purchase by Pennsylvania of the Triangle from the United
States upon payment to it of $141,740.25. Pennsylvania also
paid the Six Nations (Indian) claims amounting to $2,000.00
in January, 1789. ‘The Indians were dissatisfied with this
last payment, so on February 3, 1792, Pennsylvania made a
further payment of $800.00 to Chiefs Cornplanter, Big Tree
and Half Town for a quit—claim forever to the Triangle. On
April 2, 1792, one month after the purchase had been
consummated, the general assembly passed an act for the
encouragement of immigration to this newly acquired
territory.
Soon after this act was passed The Pennsylvania Population
Company was formed at Philadelphia, the avowed purpose of
which was to settle the lands of the Triangle. This company
was a private institution. The Holland Land Company did not
own or control lands in the Triangle. Extensive
advertising in eastern Pennsylvania, New York and the New
England states started a stream of immigration westward as
early as 1794-'5, and by 1800 little communities had been
established in the Triangle. One of these near Lake Erie
after being known under two or three names was in 1834
incorporated under the name of North East, and now 100 years
later its people have decided to hold a centenary
celebration in honor of this event of in corporation. As a
part of this celebration I have been asked to prepare a
historical story of this community from its beginning up to
the present time. My idea of the story or history requested
is that it should not be a fanciful tale, but should be, as
near as possible to ascertain the facts, a true narrative
of the events leading up to the establishment of this
community and its progress up to date, together with
biographies of its people, those whose efforts made this
community possible, their origin, their comings, their hard
ships and accomplishments. I have put forth my best efforts
in my attempt to do this, and as an aid in this effort I am
happy to acknowledge the wholehearted assistance of the
people of North East Borough and Township.
North East, Pa., May 28, 1934 ADMAH IRWIN LOOP
1
(Thursday, May 31, 1934) History of "100 Years of North East"
Early progress of civilization was slow in our little spot
in the New World. Three hundred years after Columbus, though
it had been under three flags, the country hereabout was
scarcely known to white man and was still covered by its
dense primeval forest inhabited by Indians, bear, deer and
other wild life, practically undisturbed. It is true that
under French occupation a fort at Presque Isle (Erie) had
been built and a portage opened up from there to Le Boeuf
(Waterford) and that a young British officer named George
Washington had visited a French Commandant at Le Boeuf but
our section was unmolested.
. . . . . . . . . . . .
The Triangle
A name that was familiar to everyone in these parts at and
for many years after settlement began here was the Triangle.
This referred to 315 square miles of the north part of Erie
county, lying along the shores of Lake Erie. This territory
had been in dispute and had been claimed by New York,
Massachusetts, and Connecticut. The charter of New York
defined its western boundary as extending from the south
shore of Lake Erie to the forty- second degree of latitude,
on a line drawn from the western extremity of Lake Ontario.
In determining this line it became necessary to agree
whether the "western extremity of Lake Ontario" included
Burlington bay, or was at the peninsula dividing the latter
from the lake. Andrew Elliott and Frederick Saxton, the
surveyors sent out to establish the boundary, decided on the
peninsula as the point from which to draw the line, and the
western boundary of New York was therefore fixed twenty
miles east of Presque Isle. This left a triangular tract,
which was not included in the charter of either state, and
which was variously claimed by New York, Massachusetts and
Connecticut. The southern boundary of this Triangle begins
where the dividing line between New York and Pennsylvania
turns north and goes west along the south borough limits of
Wattsburg, through the center of the borough of Girard
and reaches Lake Erie in Springfield township about four and
one-half miles east of the Ohio state line.
During or some time after the Revolution, Gen. William
Irvine was sent to the Northwest by the authorities of
“Pennsylvania, to examine into the quality of its lands and
report on the best manner of putting them into the market.
While upon this tour he was. struck by the fact that the
state had no harbor on the lake, and the great desirability
of securing one at Presque Isle. On his return to the east
he interested a number of intelligent and progressive
citizens in the project of purchasing the Triangle. After a
protracted negotiation, New York, Massachusetts and
Connecticut re leased their claims to the United States
government, and the latter in turn conveyed the tract to
Pennsylvania. The deed of cession by New York was made on
March 1, 1781, and that of Massachusetts on April 19, 1785.
In the release by Connecticut she reserved 120 square miles
west of Pennsylvania's western boundary, within the
present limits of Ohio, which became known as "The Western
Reserve," and retains the title to this day. The contract
for the sale of the Triangle made between the
representatives of the United States and Pennsylvania was
ratified by congress on the 4th of September, 1788, On the
18th of April, 1791, the governor was authorized
2
by the legislature to complete the purchase. On March 3,
1792, a patent was issued to the state, signed by George
Washington as president, and Thomas Jefferson as secretary
of state. The consideration was $151,640.25. In addition to
the above Pennsylvania paid the Six Nations (Indians) in
January, 1789, the sum of two thousand dollars for a deed of
their interest in the Triangle, this deed being signed by
twenty-four Indian chiefs. A further sum of twelve hundred
dollars was also paid the Indians by the United States
government for extinguishment of their titles. This sale of
the Triangle gave great offense to a portion of the Indians,
who claimed they were not fairly treated and there was a
good deal of talk about resisting its occupancy by the
state. Matters had a serious look, but good judgment
prevailed and a settlement was reached whereby a final and
complete relinquishment of claim was secured by the
payment to Cornplanter, Half Town, and Big Tree of an
additional sum of eight hundred dollars, but it was several
years after this before the Indians, became sufficiently
quieted for settlements to be made with safety.
The Pettit Family
Elisha Pettit, a native of France, came to this country soon
after the Revolution, settling at Galway, N. Y., where he
married Miss Hannah Rowe. To them was born the then
conventional number of children, a family of fourteen in
fact. In 1831 Elisha, accompanied by one of his sons named
Seth, who was born in Galway June 22, 1806, came to North
East township, where he bought a piece of dense forest land
about three miles south of Lake Erie, and had the deed made
to Seth.
After Justice Irvine had completed the papers ready for
signature Elisha asked for his overcoat which he had handed
the justice on arrival. From one of its pockets he took a
heavy bag and counted out to the justice seven hundred and
eight dollars, in gold coin. "Well," said the justice, "I
thought that was a remarkably heavy coat."
There were no roads in this part of the township — only a
bridle path — and to quote Seth, "The only way I could see
out was to look up at the sky." He was however possessed of
a strong body and a real pioneer spirit, and soon had a plot
cleared and a cabin built on almost the exact spot where the
home of a grandchild and her husband, William Marshall, is
located on the Side Hill road today. In those days it was
often necessary to blaze trails from one point to another so
that one might not lose his way in the forest.
One such trail led from the cabin of Seth to the home of
another pioneer named Mellin, where the Seth Haskell farm is
now located, across the rail roads, on the road running
south from the Brawley school. This trail also led in
September, 1833, to the marriage of Seth Pettit and Nancy M.
Mellins, a daughter of this pioneer. To this union eleven
children were born, all of whom, excepting one, grew up. A
fact worthy of note-is that the five oldest boys of this
family were soldiers in the Civil war.
Seth Pettit in clearing his land, like other pioneers used a
yoke of oxen, and one day needing a whip, pulled up a
hickory sapling. On reaching home he noted that a small
piece of root was still attached to the sapling, so on the
impulse he planted it. The Giant Sweet Hickory that now
shades the lawn of the old Hillside Farm home is the ox whip
of years ago.
Children of the Pettit-Mellin union were Charles H., born
July 7, 1834, died at Kalispell, Montana, June 3, 1916;
Sally A., born Feb. 12, 1836, died June 2, 1836; S. Alsina,
born Feb. 12, 1837, married Capt. C. R. Culver of St. Paul,
Minn., died May 30, 1929; Henry R., born May 5, 1839, died
at Memphis, Tenn., Oct. 7, 1867; Marvin D., born Jan. 18,
1841,
3
killed at the battle of Wauhatchie, Tenn., member Co. F,
111th, P.V.I.; Dewitt Clinton, born Jan. 11, 1842, lives at
Seward, Neb.; Dudley M., born July 2, 18455 died July 4,
1871; Thomas, born Jan. 21, 1847, died at North East, Sept.
23, 1921; Lillie, born Nov. 27, 1848, died at North East,
March, 1897; Martin, born May 5, 1850, died May,: 1908; and
Cassius M., born Sept. 14, 1853, died Nov. 20, 1881. Elisha
Pettit and his wife died at their home in Galway, N. Y. Seth
Pettit died at his home in the borough of North East, June
30, 1886, seven days short of 80 years of age. His wife
(born June 2, 1812,) died March 15, 1894. Thomas Pettit grew
up on the old home place and lived there until 1920, when he
moved to the borough of North East. His chief occupation was
farming, and he was well and favorably known to everyone. He
was married Dec. 29, 1870, to Miss Kathryn, daughter of
Clark and Angelina (Custerd) Bliss, the former a native of
Genesee, N. Y., and the latter of Erie Co., Pa. Mrs. Thomas
Pettit lives on the old home farm with her only child, a
daughter named, Jessie A., and her husband, William E.
Marshall, a native of North East township, to whom she was
married on March 28, 1906. Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Marshall have
one son, Roger Pettit Marshall, born Jan. 9, 1907.
(Thursday, June 7, 1934):
The Lake Shore Aborigines
With this bargain of Cornplanter, Half Town and Big Tree,
the Red Man bade a last farewell to the ancestral forest
home where for ages he had been ushered into the world, and
had lived and died much as other human beings. His nature,
his joys and sorrows were probably the same but his
livelihood and his crude unrefined cruelty could not merge
with the White man's Civilization. Accurate information
relative to the Indians of this region does not reach very
far back, so it seems proper at this point, the end of the
Indian dominion of this Lake Shore country, where North East
is now located, to give an account of what little is really
known of his occupation of it.
Old French maps on file at Harrisburg printed in 1763 and
1768 state that the "Eriez" were exterminated by the
Iroquois 100 years before. Records of French missionaries
show that in 1626 the Eriez were in peaceful possession of
this lake shore country, living on terms of amity with the
surrounding warlike tribes. The Eriez were then governed by
a queen called in their language Yagowania and in Seneca
language Gegosasa. They were designated by the French "The
Neutral Nation." This queen was regarded as "the mother of
nations," whose office was that of "keeper of the symbolic
house of peace." The chief warrior of the tribe was
Ragnotha, who had his principal location at a point where
Buffalo now is. It seems that Indians had misunderstandings
or poor diplomacy, the same as whites, for in 1634 Gegosasa
got into trouble with the Senecas. In attempting to put in
force one of her decrees and in the ensuing encounter she
left six hundred dead Eriez on the field of battle.
After that for about sixteen years more or less peaceful
times were had but in 1650 trouble broke out anew, and a war
of extermination raged between the Eriez and the Six
Nations, (five at that time.) It was the most cruel and
relentless struggle in aboriginal history, resulting in
victory to the Six Nations and the merciless destruction or
dispersion of every man, woman and child of the Eriez. It
gave the Six Nations possession of the whole South shore of
Lake Erie, and must have been in effect, equal to what a
modern gas attack might be. Lake Erie gets its name from the
Indian name Eriez.
4
The Six Nations, as the tribes were known to the English,
were called Iroquois by the French. They were originally a
confederacy of five tribes - the Onondagas, Cayugas,
Senecas, Oneidas and Mohawks — and were then styled the Five
Nations. In 1712 the Tuscaroras being expelled from the
interior of North Carolina and Virginia were adopted as a
sixth tribe. Their territory stretched from Vermont
nearly to the western end of Lake Erie, embracing the
headwaters of the Allegheny river, near the line between New
York and Pennsylvania. The peculiar location of the Iroquois
gave them an immense advantage. On the great channels of
water communication to which their territories were
contiguous, they were enabled in all directions to carry war
and devastation to the neighboring or to the more distant
nations.
Nature had endowed them with height, strength and symmetry
of person which distinguished them at a glance among the
natives of other tribes. They were as brave as they were
strong; but ferocious and cruel when excited in savage
warfare; crafty, treacherous and overreaching, when these
qualities best suited their purposes. The proceedings of
their grand council were marked with great decorum and
solemnity. In eloquence, in dignity and profound policy,
their speakers might well bear comparison with statesmen of
civilized assemblies. By an early alliance with the Dutch on
the Hudson they secured the use of Firearms, and were thus
enabled not only to repel the encroachments of the French,
but also to exterminate, or to reduce to a state of
vassalage, many Indian nations. From these they exacted an
annual tribute, or acknowledgment of fealty, permitting them
however, in that condition to occupy their former hunting
grounds. The humiliation of tributary nations however was
tempered with a paternal regard for their interests with all
negotiations with the whites, and care was taken that no
trespass should be committed on their rights, and that they
should be justly dealt with. Jean de Lambertville, a French
officer in the Indian territory, writing under date of
January 10, 1684, said: "Presents, conjoined with kindness,
are arms which the Iroquois can scarcely resist; on the
other hand threats, or even war, would be fatal to the
colony”.
When the French and English began to extend their
settlements westward, the lake region was under full
dominion of the Iroquois, with the Senecas as the immediate
possessors of the soil. Both civilized nations appreciated
the importance of having the good will of the Indians, but
the adroit French were more successful in winning their
friendship than their blunt and less politic competitors. As
far back as 1730, the French Indian agent, Joncaire,
penetrating this section, adopted the habits of the natives,
became one of their number and won them over to the French
interest. The French built up a considerable trade with the
Indians, which yielded an immense profit. It consisted
largely of beads, knives, trinkets and other articles of
small value which were exchanged for skins, and the latter
sent to Europe. The English viewing the projects of the
French with jealousy and alarm, sent out numerous agents and
succeeded in some quarters in estranging the Indians from
their rivals, but not to any extended degree. Some of their
traders were located at LeBoeuf (Waterford) when the advance
troops of the French reached there in 1753.
Friendly as the Six Nations were to the French in a
commercial sense they did not take kindly at first to the
occupation of their country by armed bodies of the latter.
The expedition of Sieur Marin (or Morong) in 1753, and the
erection of forts at Presque Isle and LeBoeuf, worked them
up to a spirit of bitter resentment. A delegation of Senecas
waited on that officer at LeBoeuf to inquire of him "by a
belt" whether he was 'marching with a banner unlifted or to
establish tranquility." He answered that his purpose was to
support and assist them in their necessities, and to drive
away the evil spirits that encompassed them and disturbed
the earth, (meaning the English.)
5
His manner and conduct appeased them, so that the Allegheny
River Senecas zealously assisted the French with horses and
provisions. During the fall of the year, the chiefs of the
several tribes bordering on the lake and the Allegheny River
were called together at LeBoeuf, told by the French
commander that he could advance no farther on account of the
winter, but would be on hand in the spring with a large
force, and threatened them with vengeance if they took sides
with the English. On Washington's visit to LeBoeuf, in 1753,
he learned that in addition to the Senecas, the Chippewas,
Delawares, Ottawas, Chaunans and Orandeeks tribes of the
interior, were all in league with the French. Six hundred
Indians took part with the latter at Braddock's defeat. The
Indians of Western Pennsylvania were generally favorable to
the French throughout the war. M. de Vandreil, in a letter
from Montreal dated Aug. 8, 1756, wrote that "the
domiciliated Massassaugies of Presque Isle had been out to
the number of ten against the English. They have taken one
prisoner and two scalps and gave them to cover the death of
M. de St. Pierre," This was the officer who commanded at
LeBoeuf when Washington was there, and who was killed in a
battle near Lake George in 1754. A large body of Indians was
gathered at Presque Isle in the same year. The smallpox
breaking out among them caused so much alarm that they made
haste to return to their homes. In 1757 the English seem to
have won some of the tribes over to their side, for we learn
from the Pennsylvania Archives that the French kept "100 men
in garrison at Presque Isle, being apprehensive that the
English and the Indians might attack them there," and by
1759 the nation had reached the conclusion that they could
very well disperse with the presence of both. M. de
Vandriel, writing from Montreal, on March 31 of that year,
stated that "there is reason to presume that the Indians
would wish that there were neither French nor English at the
beautiful river," (Allegheny. )
William Burnley
Among those who have stood high as distinguished types of
the world's workers, and who have introduced new eras of
thought by inventions of great utility, is recorded the name
of Wm. Burnley.
Mr. Burnley was a native of old England - born at
Eckelshills, Bradford, December 22, 1845, a son of Benjamin
and Elizabeth (Snowden) Burnley, and a grandson of Joseph
and Mary (Jennings) Burnley. ‘
Coming to the United States, Benjamin and Elizabeth Burnley
established their home in the city of Erie in July, 1884,
and there he followed his trade of a woolen manufacturer for
several years. From Erie he located at Delhil, Greenfield
township, Erie county, where he purchased a large farm, and
spent the remainder of his life there. He died in 1896. His
wife followed him to the home beyond the following year.
William was the fourth son of a family of ten children. He
attended high school at Waterford, Pa., and began teaching
at an early age. He married Annie C. Hitchcock, daughter of
Myron D. and Sarah (Wright) Hitchcock of Oswego, N. Y.,
January 1, 1869. Their children are: Elizabeth, who died in
1896 at the age of twenty—six years; Nellie, who died in
1895 at the age of twenty-five; Jennie, wife of F. B. Heath,
of North East, Pa.; Nettie, wife of John G. Kline of
Miamisburg, Ohio; Myron, who resides in Meadville, Pa.; and
Grace, the wife of C. M. Gravel of Painesville, Ohio.
Mr. Burnley was raised on a farm, but having an inventive
mind, his thoughts and mind turned that direction with the
result that he invented the dry battery; secured a patent on
a telephone transmitter, and was granted a patent on a
soldering flux, in paste form.
6
In the early history of his dry battery it was manufactured
on a royalty basis by a large electrical company in New
York. The soldering paste was manufactured by himself in
Painesville, Ohio, until 1894, when a new company was
formed, The Burnley Battery & Manufacturing Company, and F.
B. Heath, his son-in-law, was made secretary and manager.
The business was conducted in Painsville until the year
1907, when it was moved to North East, Pa., where it is now
located on Clay St., and the New York Central railroad.
Mr. Burnley endorsed the principles of the Republican party;
was a member of Masonic Lodge, No 399, of North East, Pa. He
died at North East , Pa., August 16, 1913.
(Thursday, June 14, 1934):
The strife between the French and English came to an end in
1760, leaving the whole Western country under the domination
of the English. Presque Isle was the last of the French
forts south of Lake Erie to be abandoned. The parting of the
French and Indians was very affecting. The Indians called
them their "brethren" and invoked the aid of the Great
Spirit to give them a speedy return. Matters went along in
comparative harmony between the Indians and the English
for some time, but the Indians were never hearty in their
friendship. They liked the French better than the English,
had been told that they would soon come back, and awaited
this event with unconcealed anxiety. This feeling was
encouraged by their French agents, and at last led to one of
the most widespread, successful and diabolical conspiracies
on re cord.
The most powerful and influential of the Western chiefs was
the renown ed Pontiac, head of the Ottawa tribe. When the
English assumed domination of the country he was at first
distant and sullen towards them, but in time his prejudices
seemed to be conquered, and he even rendered them some
service that led them to believe that they could rely
upon his cooperation. His friendship proved however to be
assumed, and he was quietly at work fomenting a spirit of
hostility among the several tribes, and organizing them for
concerted action. His plan included all the tribes west of
the Alleghenies, including the Six Nations. The
conspiracy was conducted with such secrecy and planned with
so much skill, that almost before the English knew that
hostile measures were on foot nine of the thirteen western
forts had been captured, among the number being Presque
Isle, LeBoeuf and Venango. Niagara, Pittsburgh and the other
two forts were invested, but withstood the attacks until
relief arrived from the Eastern settlements.
Fort LeBoeuf was assaulted on the 17th of June, 1763. It was
command ed by Ensign Price, who had a force of thirteen men.
Finding it impossible to hold the post, they crept out at
night, managed to elude the savage enemy and escaped to
Pittsburgh. From LeBoeuf the Indians, consisting of about
200 Senecas and Ottawas, marched immediately to Presque
Isle, which surrendered on the 22nd of the same month. This
fort stood upon the bank of the bay, on a point of land just
west of the mouth of Mill Creek, that has been mainly dug
away for railroad purposes. The following account of its
capture is from Parkman's History of the "Conspiracy of
Pontiac":
"There had been hot fighting before Presque Isle was taken.
Could courage have saved it, it would never have fallen. At
one of its angles was a large block-house, a species of
structure much used in the petty forest warfare of the day.
It was two stories in height, and solidly built of massive
timber; the diameter of the upper story exceeding that of
the
7
lower by several feet, so that through openings in the
projecting floor of the former the defenders could shoot
down upon the heads on an enemy assailing the outer wall
below. The roof being covered by shingles could be easily
set on fire, but to guard against this there was an opening
through which the garrison, partially protected by a
covering of plant, might pour water upon the flames...And
now the defenders could see the Indians throwing up earth
and stones behind one of the breastworks; their implacable
foes were laboring to undermine the blockhouse, a sure and
insidious expedient against which there was no defense.
There was little leisure to reflect on this new peril, for
another, more imminent and horrible soon threatened them.
The barrels of water always kept in the block-house were
nearly emptied in extinguishing the frequent fires; and
though there was a well in the parade ground, yet to
approach it would be certain death. The only recourse was to
dig one in the blockhouse itself. The floor was torn up, and
while some of the men fired their heated muskets from the
loopholes to keep the enemy in check the rest labored with
desperate energy at this toilsome and cheerless task. Before
it was half completed, the cry of fire was again raised,
and, at the imminent risk of life they tore off the blazing
shingles and arrested the danger. By this time it was
evening.
"The little garrison had fought from the earliest daylight
without a minute's rest. Nor did darkness bring relief, for
the Indians' guns flashed all night long from the
entrenchments. They seemed determined to wear out the
obstinate defenders by fatigue. While some slept, others in
their turn continued the assault, and morning brought fresh
dangers. The block—house was fired several times during the
day, but they kept up their forlorn and desperate
resistance. The house of the commanding officer sank into
glowing embers.
"The fire on both sides did not cease till midnight, at
which hour a voice was heard in French, calling out that
further defense was useless, Since preparations were made to
burn from above and below at once. Ensign Christie, the
officer in command, asked if any one spoke English, upon
which a man in Indian dress came forward. He had been made a
prisoner in the French war, and was no. fighting against his
own countrymen. He said if they yield ed they would be saved
alive, if not, they would be burned. Christie resolved to
hold out as long as a shadow of hope remained, and while
some of the garrison slept, the rest watched. They told
them to wait till morning. They assented and suspended their
fire. When morning came they sent out two per sons, on
pretense of treating, but really to learn the truth of the
preparations to burn the block-house, whose sides were
pierced with bullets and scorched with fire. In spite of the
capitulation, they were surrounded and Seized, and, having
been detained some time in the neighborhood, were sent as
prisoners to Detroit, where Ensign Christie soon made his
escape and gained the fort in safety."
There was another and altogether different account of the
taking of the fort of Presque Isle written by H. L. Harvey
about ninety years ago, and it appeared in several
historical sketches of the country but it is now believed
that story of Parkman is correct and that Mr. Harvey's
account was a story of what happened at Venango. After the
capture of these forts the whole lake country north of
Pittsburgh and all but the eastern part of New York state
was for some time the scene of a reign of terror. A covenant
with the Indians of New York and western Pennsylvania was
made in the fall of 1763, but hostilities, though not on an
extended scale, were soon renewed.
Early in 1764, a British force of three thousand men under
command of General Bradstreet, passed up the lake in canoes.
It stopped at Presque Isle and the men dragged their canoes
across the neck of the peninsula to avoid paddling several
miles around. After relief of Detroit, Bradstreet
8
returned to Presque Isle, where on August 12, 1764, he made
a treaty with the Delawares and Shawnees. This treaty which
was broken as soon as made, was probably the last act of the
English or any other white force for more than twenty years
in this region, then known as the Indian country, a section
which took in the whole south shore of Lake Erie, and many
miles west, south and east. Pittsburgh on the south and
Cherry Valley, N. Y., on the east were the nearest white
settlements. Soon thereafter the troubles between the
British and Colonists which led up to the war of the
Revolution, and the prosecution of the war itself, gave the
whites plenty to think about, outside of the Indian country.
The forts seem to have been abandoned and there is no record
of any intercourse with Indians here, except perhaps, by
some venturesome trader. The war of the Revolution being
ended, a treaty of peace which secured the independence of
the United States, was made with Great Britain in 1783, By
the terms of this treaty the British government abandoned
all claims to the territory of the United States, and agreed
to withdraw its troops and yield up possession of the forts,
block—houses and other military structures. In the following
year, October, 1784, by treaty with the Six Nations the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania secured release by the Indians
of all their claims against territory of Pennsylvania, that
had not previously been released. This treaty embraced the
Whole of what is now thirteen of Pennsylvania's
northwestern counties, and parts of eleven others, but did
not include the Triangle of Erie County, which was at that
time territory of the United States. Five years later, on
the 9th of January, 1789, another treaty was made by
Pennsylvania, with a part only of the Six Nations, whereby
"the right of soil and jurisdiction to and over" the
Triangle "was vested in the State of Pennsylvania."
L. G. Hall
L. G. Hall, physician, deceased, was born in Saratoga
county, N. Y., June 6, 1820, son of Justus and Rachel
(Gibbs) Hall, who moved from Sara toga county to Genesee
county, N. Y., about 1825 or 1826. They remained in Genesee
county until the winter of 1834, at which time they moved
into Cattaraugus county, N. Y. Very much of this county
was at this time a wilderness.
Our subject remained with his parents six years, helping
them to clear the farm, undergoing the hardships and
privations incident to pioneer life. At the age of twenty
years he left home and went to Lodi, near Gowanda, a village
partly in Cattaraugus and partly in Erie county, N. Y. Most
of the following three years were spent in attending school
summers and teaching winters. The doctor commenced the study
of medicine with Dr. Seth Fields in Gowanda, N. Y., in 1843,
remaining in office one year. In 1844 he entered the office
of S. G. Ellis, M. D., as a student and attended for a time
medical lectures in Geneva, N. Y. In the term of 1845 and
1846 he attended a full Tidioute On May 14, 1846, he
commenced the practice of medicine and surgery in
Tidioute, Warren county, Pa., where he remained until the
fall of 1849 and then went to the University of Buffalo
(medical department ) here he graduated in February, 1850.
In the spring of that year Dr. Hall located in the city of
Meadville, Pa., remaining until fall, when he moved to
Wattsburg where he practiced his profession for ten years.
Then he moved to North East, where he remained, save a few
years during and following the war of the Rebellion when he
was in the city of Dunkirk, N. Y.
Here he was employed by the government to care for the
wounded as they arrived from the battlefields. He converted
the Selew and Popple iron works into a military hospital and
barracks. He also examined the drafted recruits
9
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
before they were sent to the front.
Our subject was married Sept. 13, 1848, to Miss Mary Ann
Graves, daughter of Lester and Sophia (Ransford) Graved of
Perrysburg, Cattaraugus county, N. Y. To this union were
born three daughters and one son. The first was married to
Wattson Leslie, Lawrence County, Pa.,; the second daughter
to J. J. Graham, farmer in North East, Pa.3 the third to F.
J. Smedley, North East, Pa.; and the son, Dr. C. G, Hall, is
a graduate of Baltimore College of Physicians and Surgeons,
University of Michigan and University of Maryland, and
succeeded his father in the practice of medicine in North
East.
Robert Marshall
Robert Marshall, born in Brookend, Londonderry Co., Ireland,
March 12, 1804, and Martha Johnston, born in Alugh, Tyrone
Co., Ireland, May 2, 1806, were married April 2, 1827, and
in 1829 sailed for America. When a few miles out the
steamboat had engine trouble and returned to Londonderry
until repairs were made, when they again set sail and after
six weeks landed in New York, and from there they went to
Aurora, O., where they remained until 1833 when they went to
Solon, O., and lived there until 1836, when they decided to
re turn to Ireland. They got as far as Buffalo when Mrs.
Marshall was stricken with the cholera and before she was
able to sail a friend, Ed Graham, persuaded them to come
to Erie with him. From there they came to North East and
bought fifty acres of land which is known as the old
Marshall homestead on the Findley Lake road. They bought
around 200 acres more of land that adjoined the fifty acres,
part of which is now the George Marshall farm. Mn Marshall
spent the balance of his life on this farm, purchased when
they came here. He passed away Dec. 25, 1875. The widow
remained on the farm for several years more, She passed away
Nov. 9, 1894. To them were born seven Children: Jane C.,
Marie J., Elizabeth, Margaret, Robert W., George N., and
Thomas O., now all deceased.
Descendants living here now are William Marshall, Roger
Pettit Marshall, Mrs. Minnie Marshall Rater, Margaret
Marshall, Frank Marshall, Adgate Marshall, Ruth Anna,
Miriam, David, Donald and Leah, Joan Marshall. Descendants
now living in Erie, Pa., are Mrs. Grace (Marshall) Walling,
widow of the late Hon. Emory A. Walling, their six children,
all married, and several grandchildren.
Thursday, June 21, 1934:
Some of the Seneca tribe were dissatisfied with the treaty
of Jan. 9, 1789, and were inclined to make trouble, so the
Pennsylvania legislature, showing good judgment in the
matter, empowered the governor to draw a warrant for eight
hundred dollars in favor of Cornplanter, Half Town and Big
Tree, in trust for use of the tribe and in full satisfaction
of all demands, in consideration of which the said
chiefs, on the third of February, 1791, signed a release of
all claims against the state for themselves and their people
for ever. On the third of March, 1792, as before stated, the
Triangle was purchased from the United States by the
commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and a month later an act of
assembly was passed to encourage its settlement by white
people. State troops, to facilitate this purpose, were
stationed at LeBoeuf early in May, 1794.
It was the intention to establish a post at Presque Isle,
but on account of the Indian situation it was thought best
to wait. The treaties and deed above referred to were not to
the liking of a considerable part of the Six
10
Nations, and even some of the Senecas raised objections,
charging that Cornplanter and the other chiefs had been
bribed to give the documents their signatures. The Indians
were also greatly opposed to the presence of state troops,
and determined, if possible, to prevent the settlement of
the territory. They were urged to this course by British
sympathizers, who hoped that a rising of the Indian tribes
might cripple the new weak government of the Union, and
perhaps restore the western territory to the British crown.
Among the leaders in this idea of uprising was the notorious
Brandt, chief of the Mohawk tribe, who still cherished the
idea, originated by Pontiac, of building up a great
Indian confederacy and restricting the control of the Union
to the country east of the Alleghenies. The following letter
written by Brandt on July 19, 1794, to Governor Simcoe, of
Upper Canada, gives an idea of how aid was being extended to
the hostile Indians by the British authorities: "In regard
to the Presque Isle business, should we not get an answer at
the time limited, it is our business to push those fellows
hard . . Should those fellows (the Americans) not go off and
O'Bail (Cornplanter) continue in the same opinion, an
expedition against those Yankees must of consequence take
place. His excellency has been so good as to furnish us with
a cwt. of powder and ball in proportion, which is now at
Fort Erie, opposite Buffalo Creek; but in the event of an
attack upon LeBoeuf people, I could wish, if consistent,
that his excellency would order a like quantity in addition
to be at Fort Erie, to be in readiness; likewise I would
hope for a little assistance in provisions."
It was owing to the influence of Cornplanter that the Six
Nations were kept from joining the western Indians in
opposing the Americans. Cornplanter without doubt averted a
terrible, bloody struggle between the United States
government and the Indians, but his course, though it saved
the useless sacrifice of hundreds of lives on both Sides,
partly lost him the confidence of his people. He Was however
rewarded by the thanks of the United States government
and by several liberal donations of land.
Cornplanter was a distinguished chief of the Seneca tribe, a
member of the Six Nations. He was a half breed, the son of
John O'Ball (or A'Beel,) a trader in the Mohawk Valley and
an Indian mother. His English name was the Same as his
father's, and his Indian name was Gyantwachia or
Cornplanter. At the age of twenty, he was a warrior fighting
with the French at Braddock's defeat, and he participated in
various Indian campaigns that occurred during and after the
Revolution, always against the Americans. As Cornplanter
advanced in years, he grew to realize the strength of the
Union, and from being its relentless foe, became its
admirer and fast friend. His influence largely brought about
the treaties of peace at forts Stanwix and Harmar, in
consequence of which he partly lost the confidence of the
Senecas, and was supplanted by the more artful and eloquent
Red Jacket, who had long been his rival.
In return for his services upon these and other occasions,
the state of Pennsylvania granted him a fine reservation on
the Allegheny river above Warren, where he spent the
balance of his years. Although he participated in the
councils at Buffalo Creek, to take measures for preventing
the establishment of settlements at Presque Isle, it is
claimed by his biographer that he was at heart friendly to
the Americans and had pledged himself that the Senecas
should not "take up the hatchet." His death occurred Feb.
18, 1836 after his one hundredth birthday. He was a man of
more than ordinary eloquence though not equal to his rival,
Red Jacket. His manner of speech is shown in the following
brief extract: "I thank the Almighty that I am speaking this
good day. I have been through all nations of America, and am
sorry to see the folly of many of the people. What makes me
sorry is, they all tell lies,
11
and I have never found truth amongst them. All the western
nations of Indians, as well as the white people, have
told me lies. Even in council I have been deceived, and have
been told things which I have told to my chiefs and young
men, which I have found not to be SO, which makes me tell
lies by not being able to make good my word; but I hope they
will all see their folly and repent. The Almighty has not
made us to lie, but to tell the truth, one to another; yet,
when two people meet together, if they lie, one to the other
these people cannot be at peace; and so it is with nations,
and that is the cause of much war."
In 1866 the legislature of Pennsylvania appropriated $500.00
to build a monument to Cornplanter at Jennesedaga,
Cornplanter Town, Warren county, the place of his last
residence. The monument was erected in 1867, and dedicated
on October 18 of the same year. Respect for the memory of
Cornplanter is due from people hereabouts, many of whom, but
for this old peacemaker's efforts, might never have been
born. The Indian general council, to formulate plans for
preventing settlement of this part of the country, was held
at a Seneca village at Buffalo creek, several weeks before
the letter of Brandt, before referred to, was written to
Governor Simcoe. Cornplanter, as an invited chief to this
council, was able to delay matters. It was the delay on both
Sides that saved the day for peace. Soon after this council
an Indian was killed by a drunken state soldier near
Pittsburgh. -
This incident gave the hostiles an excuse for their
incendiary conduct, but the state officials "settled" this
trouble by paying $100.00 to "replace" the dead Indian, and
it is quaintly stated in the chronicles of the day that
"many of his tribe were sorry that he was not their
relative, that they might have got a share of the money."
Soon after this two canoes were fired upon by the Indians as
they were floating down the Allegheny river, and four men
were killed and three wounded. The officials of the general
government were fearful of an extended war, and urged
Governor Mifflin to suspend operations at Presque Isle,
while the state authorities, on the contrary, were confident
that the best way to avert the strife was to garrison the
place with a respectable force. After considerable
correspondence, including a personal letter from President
Washington, operations were sulkily suspended by order of
Gov. Mifflin, who was harshly criticized for it by the
leaders of public opinion in the West who were highly
indignant at the suspension of the proceedings for
settlement, and, without knowing the reason that prompted
Gov. Mifflin, hotly condemned what they called his timidity.
The governor, however, soon righted himself by spreading the
intelligence abroad that he had acted in pursuance of a
special request from President Washington.
The council at Buffalo Creek was also attended by:Gen.
Israel Chapin, U. S. superintendent of the Six Nations, who
wrote to the secretary of war: "I am afraid of the
consequences of the attempt to settle Presque Isle at
present. The Indians do not acknowledge the validity of the
Cornplanter sale to Pennsylvania." By request of the
council, he went to LeBoeuf on or about June 26, 1794,
accompanied by Mr. Johnson, British Indian agent, and
twenty— five chiefs and warriors, to remonstrate with the
state officers at that post against placing: garrisons in
the northwest. The representatives of the Six Nations
claimed to be anxious to live at peace with the United
States, but pretended to be much disturbed by the presence
of the troops, fearing that it would involve them in strife
with the hostile Indians. They were assured by Ellicott and
Denny, the state officers at LeBoeuf, that the soldiers
could not be moved from there till ordered, and that they
would have to await the commands of their superiors in
authority. This council adjourned with out accomplishing
anything of a definite character. During its continuance, it
was reported that two armed British vessels were lying off
Presque Isle,
12
evidently for the purpose of intimidating the state
officials,
Another Indian council was held at LeBoeuf on the fourth of
July, 1794, at which the chiefs reiterated their purpose of
preventing a garrison being established at Presque Isle. The
Savages were sullen and threatening for some months and many
people looked upon war as imminent. Raids were made upon the
southern settlements, among others on Cussewago, near the
Crawford county line. A Mr. Dickinson, living near there,
was fired upon by a party of Indians on the 10th of
September. Twelve soldiers, sent from Le Boeuf for
protection of the settlement were fired upon, and the
Indians drove off several horses.
Matters remained in this alarming condition ‘till October,
when news of Wayne's victory on the Maumee had a wonderful
effect upon the Indians of this vicinity. A number of
warriors of the Six Nations had taken part in the fight, and
the reports they brought back of Wayne's daring had a
disheartening effect upon their comrades, The Senecas who
had been strongly urged to go into the War, gave the
messengers a preemptory refusal. Notwithstanding this
decision, disturbances broke out on several occasions, which
continued to delay the establishment at Presque Isle. On
Saturday, May 29, 1795, four men who were journeying from
LeBoeuf to Presque Isle were attacked (at a point which is
now State St. and the New York Central R. Re, at Erie,) by a
party of Indians in retaliation, it is supposed, because
some of their friends had been fired upon by whites along
the Allegheny. Ralph Rutledge, one of the number, was killed
and scalped, and his body being afterwards found was buried
in a piece of rising ground on what is now the west side of
State St., near its junction with Turnpike.
ii. Be. Felmeden
Mr. E. B. Felmeden who resides at his home, 42 South Pearl
street, in North East, was born in Germany on November 9,
1870. He came to America in 1891 stopping in Springville, N.
Y., where he remained until 1898 when he came to North East
and started a high class shoe store in August, 1899. While
in Springville, N. Y., he was united in marriage with Miss
Elizabeth Goesswein, who was born in Buffalo, N. Ye, in
1875. They have one daughter, Elsie, who is now associated
with her father in the shoe store. Since starting
thirty-five years ago, Hr. Felmeden's store has been in
continuous operation and has helped to give the depot end of
our town a prosperous appearance, His is one of the few
business places that can show a record of 35 years of
increasing business here, The store at 12 Clinton Avenue has
a permanent and prosperous appearance such as the town may
well be proud of.
Thursday, June 28, 1934:
Another member of the party, a son of Mr, Rutledge, was also
shot and scalped, but was still alive when found. He was
taken to LeBoeuf where he died soon afterwards. In another
account of this affair, it is suggested that there was
probably an error in the statement of location of the attack
and burial. The men were coming from LeBoeuf to Presque
Isle. At that time there was only one traveled road, the old
French road, which was about where Parade street now is. The
region of Turnpike street was at that time covered by a
dense hemlock forest, and quite a distance off the traveled
road. It is also stated that this was the last Indian
difficulty known to have taken place in the county.
13
Other information is to the effect that during and before
the war of 1812, there were, at times, as many as fifty
soldiers stationed near McCord's Point, to safeguard
settlers against wandering Indians, who passed up and down
the lake in canoes, or through the country afoot. Most of
these Indians were classed as friendly, but it is of record
that Thomas Grier, a settler, and soldier of the war of
1812, was killed on his own farm, near this place in 1813,
by a marauding Indian. Much of the intercourse between
Indians and settlers was carried on by a sort of "sign
language." For instance, if a wandering Indian opened
your cabin door and set his rifle inside, you could there
after depend upon his friendship.
As previously stated, the beginning of a real peace with the
Indians came in October, 1794, after Major General (Mad
Anthony) Wayne's victory over what were known as the western
Indians, on the Maumee, in Ohio, in August, 1794. Anthony
Wayne was born in the township of Eastown, Chester County,
Pa., January 1, 1745. He was never a resident of our little
section of the Triangle, but what he did for it in the way
of preventing an Indian uprising entitles him to a place in
this history. General Wayne died in one of the block houses
at the Garrison tract, of Presque Isle, Dec. 15, 1795, while
on his way from Detroit to his home in Chester county, Pa.
General Wayne acquired his nickname "Mad Anthony," from
his impetuous, almost fanatical, bravery in action,
Anthony Wayne was a son of Isaac Wayne, who had served
several terms in the provincial legislature and had taken
part in one or more Indian expeditions. After receiving a
good education, Anthony took up the profession of surveyor,
at which he worked for a short time in his home county, In
1765- '66, he visited Nova Scotia as the agent of a
Philadelphia land association, and on returning home he was
elected to a number of county offices. He formed an early
friendship with Benjamin Franklin, and, like him, was one of
the first to work for American independence. He was a member
of the Assembly in 1774, and of the provincial convention in
the same year, to consider the troubles with Great
Britain. He became one of the committee of safety in 1775.
He believed war inevitable, and so resigned his civil office
in September, and after some time spent in military study
and practice, raised a regiment, of which he was
commissioned colonel. His first service was with General
Sullivan in the spring of 1776, and he took a brilliant
part in the battle of Three Rivers, Canada, When the
expedition returned, he was placed in charge of the posts of
Ticonderoga and M%. Independence. In February, 1777, he was
commissioned a brigadier general, and served with Washington
in the New Jersey and Delaware valley campaign. On
September 20, 1777, while stationed at Paoli, near his
Chester county home, with a detachment of fifteen hundred
men, his position was betrayed by some tories to the enemy,
who fell upon him during the night and killed and wounded
one tenth of his command. By Wayne's coolness and bravery,
his little army was rallied and retreated to a place of
safety. This affair was generally known as the "Massacre of
Paoli." "A court martial called by General Washington, at
Wayne's urgent request, decided, after minute investigation,
that he did everything that could be expected from an
active, brave and gallant officer under the orders which he
then had."
He led the attack of the American right wing at Germantown,
and received the especial applause of Washington for his
conduct at Monmouth. His surprise and capture of Stony
Point, one of the strongest British possessions on the
Hudson, was among the most gallant events of the war, and
elicited resolutions of thanks from Congress and the
legislature of Pennsylvania. After other valuable services
in the North, Wayne was transferred to the South, where he
cooperated with great skill with the operations which led to
the surrender of Cornwallis. His last sphere of duty during
the Revolution
14
was in Georgia, from which he succeeded in driving the
enemy. He was distinguished in all councils of war for
his support of the most energetic measures.
At the close of the Revolution, he retired to his farm in
Chester county. He was called in 1789 to serve
in/Pennsylvania convention, and in that body advocated the
adoption of the United States Constitution with all his
old-time earnestness and patriotism. In 1792, Wayne was
commissioned a major general, and assigned to the
Northwestern frontier, for the purpose of forcing the
Indians into Subjection. After various minor engagements, he
gained a signal victory over the Indians on the Maumee in
Ohio, in August, 1794. His skill, promptness and bravery
made a strong impression among the hostile tribes, and they
hastened to sue for Peace. Wayne was soon thereafter
appointed sole commissioner to deal with these Indians on
the part of the Unites States, and effected a treaty of
peace at Greenville, Ohio in 1795, (to be continued next
week)
O. S. Kidder
John Kidder, father of our subject, was born at Wendell,
Mass., Feb. 20, 1814, a son of Johnathan and Patience
(Potter) Kidder. Johnathan was a son of David Kidder, who
was one of two brothers, David and Jesse, who came to this
country prior to the Revolutionary war. David settled in
Massachusetts and his brother in Vermont. David was a sailor
and was employed on the coast wise service between Boston
and Maine. He died at the age of 30, leaving three sons,
David, Johnathan and Jesse. Johnathan was born at Dudley,
Mass., March 10, 1770, and was twice married, second time to
Patience Potter, living in Roxbury and Wendell and in 1844
moved to Sherman, N. Y., where he died May 18, 1863, aged
93. He made farming the chief occupation of his life. His
wife died in Sherman at the age of 94. They were the parents
of six Children: Mary Ann, John, Jesse, Samuel Ke, Jane P.,
(deceased) and Luther B. (deceased.) John Kidder learned the
carpenter and joiner's trade when he was a young man, and
followed this until 1851, then farmed until 1875, at this
time moving to North East township and purchased a farm a
mile or two southwest of the borough. This is one of the
oldest farms in the township, having been under cultivation
about 130 years.
John Kidder married Maria E..Gates in 1842 at Wendell, Mass.
They had two children, Harriet Jane and Ann Isabel, born
Sept. 30, 1844, the latter being the wife of Benj. H. Ross
of North East. Maria E. died in 1850 and Mr. Kidder
remarried in 1853 to Mrs. Almira (Ross) Barley. They had one
son, O. S. Kidder, born in 1861. In 1890 he married
Henrietta, daughter of Henry Fuller of North East. They had
three children: Ruth May, John Henry and Maurice Scott. John
Kidder and his wife have passed on, and 0. S. has been
managing the farm alone for a number of years. Mr. and Mrs.
O. S. Kidder are prominently identified with the Grange and
other farming and fruit growing activities.
There is an interesting story connected with the home of Mr.
O. S. Kidder. One of the early pioneers who came here in
about 1798 was a Dr. Tristram Brown, who settled upon the
land, now the Kidder farm on the Law road in North East
township. As a part of his medical activities he soon built
a brick sanitarium (which remodeled is now the Kidder home)
with bricks made from a clay bank on the south side of the
road. Soon thereafter, a young man, a printer, came to the
sanitarium for treatment of a sore leg. The doctor took him
in, cared for him during the winter, and in spring time the
lad went his way. Human nature in Dr. Brown was same as
human nature always has been, so he soon forgot the young
man and his inability to pay for the treatment given.
15
Several years later, but before Uncle Sam began to sell
postage stamps, a letter postdated New York, came for Dr.
Brown. The doctor objected to paying the fifty cents due for
postage, that the P. M. was supposed to collect upon
delivery of the parcel, on the grounds that there must be
some mistake, as he knew of no one in New York city that
would be writing him.
The P. M. assured the doctor that it must be all right, and
that there was money in the package, also that he would pay
half the bill if the doc tor would open it then and there.
Well, Dr. Brown opened it and found one hundred dollars in
money, and a letter Signed by Horace Greeley, in which he
apologized for the long delay, thanked the doctor for the
treatment given him and offered free subscription to the New
York Tribune as long as the doctor cared to receive it. Dr.
Tristram Brown was the great-great grandfather of Mrs.
Eoline (King) Grenat who resides at 101 East Main St., North
East.
Greenman Family
Job Greenman and wife, natives of Massachusetts, who left
their home state for the then wild west with a two-horse
team and wagon containing a few household goods, were among
the earliest pioneers of North East, Stopping for a short
rest at a little settlement of a few houses that is now
Buffalo, Mr. Greenman was offered a house and a lot in trade
for his team. Thinking favorably of the deal he went to
inspect the property, but on finding the owner's wife
desperately ill with "fever and ague," decided such a swampy
location was no place for him and proceeded westward by what
is now the Buffalo road. Arriving at the State Line gulf
he turned south to find timber land. At what is now known as
Greenman hill he bought a full quarter section of land. We
cleared the land and built a house at the top of the hill,
living in a log house near the New York—Pennsylvania line
until the new home was completed. It was a large house,
having fireplaces in five of the rooms. This "Halfway
House," as it was called, often accommodated travelers
through the sparsely settled country. One part of the house
still stands.
He was the father of six boys and five girls. All of his
children settled near their father's home. One day as two
of these small children: were playing in front of their home
a man on horseback stopped, talked with them a few moments,
gave each one an apple and passed on. Two weeks later the
two little ones were down with the smallpox.
One son, Nathan S. Greenman, (born Dec. 28, 1825, ) bought a
part of his father's farm, built a house and was married to
Eledta R. Cole, (born Aug. 28, 1828) Nathan Greenman died
Feb. 14, 1899. Mrs. Electa Greenman died Sept 20,1913. To
this union was born one son, Coleman D. Greenman, who now
lives in the borough of North East. He was born Nov. 14,
1855. He married Miss Clara J. Ottaway, (born May 25,
1858, died July 10, 1922.) To them were born two sons and
one daughter: Bert N. Greenman, Conneaut, 0.3; Harl J.
Greenman, North East, Pa.; Mrs. Grace BE. Chapman, North
East, Pa.
Fifty descendants of Job Greenman are living in North East
borough and township.
16
Thursday, July 5, 1934:
Early Land Affairs
On April 3, 1792, just one month after the Triangle matter
was settled, by the issue to the commonwealth of
Pennsylvania of a patent, or bill of sale, signed by George
Washington as president, and Thomas Jefferson as secretary
of State, for the territory embraced by the celebrated
Triangle, the general assembly of Pennsylvania passed an act
for the encouragement of emigration to the newly acquired
territory. This measure generally known as the "actual
settlement law," was about as follows:
"The lands north and west of the Ohio and Allegheny rivers
are to be sold to any person who will cultivate, improve and
settle the Same, or cause to be improved and settled, at
about thirty-eight dollars for each one hundred acres,
with an allowance of six per cent for roads, etc. On
application to the secretary of the land office, giving a
description of the land applied for, a warrant is to be
issued to the applicant for any quantity not exceeding 400
acres. The lands to be divided into districts and one deputy
surveyor to be appointed for each district. No title shall
vest in the lands unless the grantee has, prior to the issue
of his warrant, made or caused to be made, or shall, within
two years next after the same, make or cause to be made an
actual settlement thereon, by clearing, fencing and
cultivating at least two acres for every hundred in one
survey, and erected a house, and resided or caused a family
to reside on the same for five years immediately followings;
and in default thereof new warrants will be issued to actual
settlers; provided
that if any such actual settlers or grantee "shall, by force
of arms of the enemies of the United States, be prevented
from making such settlement, or be driven therefrom, and
shall persist in his endeavors to make such actual
settlement, the} in either case, he and his heirs shall be
entitled to have and to hold such lands in the same manner
as if the actual settlement had been made.
"The lands actually settled and improved are to remain
chargeable with the purchase money and interest, and if the
grantee shall neglect to apply for a warrant for ten years
after the passage of this act, unless hindered by death or
the enemies of the United States, the lands may be granted
to others by warrants reciting the defaults. The lands
settled under this legislation are to be free from taxes for
ten years."
The Pennsylvania Population Co... .
Soon after the "actual settlement law" was enacted, the
Pennsylvania Population Company was formed at Philadelphia,
the avowed purpose of which was to settle the lands of the
Triangle, John Nicholson, the famous land speculator, was
elected president, and Messrs. Cazenove, Irvine, Mead, Leet,
Hoge and Stewart, managers. The stock of the corporation
consisted of 2,500 shares, each of which represented or was
supposed to represent 200 acres. The title of the lands
purchased was to be vested in trustees, to be held in common
and the proceeds were to be divided, prorata, among the
stockholders. Previous to the organization of the company,
Mr. Nicholson had applied for 390 warrants in the Triangle,
and 250 on the waters of Beaver River, to be located in his
own name. These he transferred to the corporation, which
paid for them and perfected the title. The company also took
up about 500 additional warrants in Erie and Crawford
counties. The lands located by the Population Company
embraced the whole of the Triangle except the Erie and
Garrison State Reserves and Irvine's Reservation. The
corporation was dissolved immediately after the War of 1812,
and the remaining lands and unsettled contracts for the sale
of lands passed into the hands of individual members. John
Nicholson
17
according to the author of the Historical Annals of
Pennsylvania, was comptroller of the state from 1782 to
1794, and during his term of office twenty— seven million
dollars of money of the state passed through his hands under
circumstances of peculiar complication and difficulty,
arising from the then state of paper money and the
government credit. He became the object of political
persecution, and resigned his office. His private land deals
were on an immense scale, and at the time of the formation
of the Pennsylvania Population Company his personal
holdings amounted to one-eighth of all the land in the state
of Pennsylvania, besides large holdings elsewhere. His
affairs became embarrassed; he was committed to prison and
died there insane in 1800.
Ancestors of Archie D, Phillips and Some Other North
Easters: by Sabra Phillips
After the Revolution was over and the peace treaty signed
with England, rumors of wonderfully fertile lands in the
western wilds of New York and Pennsylvania began to reach
Granville, Conn. In 1796 two daughters of Seth Loomis,
residents of Granville — Sarah, wife of Ephraim Williard and
Nancy, wife of Lemuel Brown — came with their husbands to
what is now North East. Lemuel Brown took up land, some of
which is now a part of North East and in 1806 Brown's Hotel
at what is now the southeast corner of Lake and Main
streets. This hotel later became one of the popular stopping
places on the Erie and Buffalo stage route. Hiram Brown, son
of Lemuel, assisted his father and later went to Erie and
built Brown's Hotel, which he conducted for a number of
years, Hiram Brown was the progenitor of some of Erie's most
respected citizens, notable among whom was Col. Hiram Brown,
a distinguished hero of the Civil War.
Ephraim William, husband of Sarah Loomis, took up a tract of
land about two miles west of what is now North East, built a
log house of two rooms, in one of which he opened a school
for children of a few scattered families of settlers, This
was the first school in Erie county. Later when the
Presbyterians of North East built the little log church in
what is now Oak Hill cemetery, they constructed a room at
one end for school purposes, and Ephraim Williard moved his
school there.
Fired by the glowing reports of his children, Seth Loomis,
Revolutionary soldier, himself alone came to this wild
western land to a place called Colt's Station, headquarters
of the Pennsylvania Population Company, where he took up two
hundred acres of land from the company in the name of his
two sons, Oliver and Joel, who were to follow.
Building him a little shack on the line between the two
properties he busied himself cobbling shoes for his
neighbors. Seth Loomis, Judah Colt and Timothy Tuttle signed
the first call for a minister which was ever issued in Erie
county.
Meanwhile back in Granville, Conn., the two families of
Oliver and Joel prepared for the long winter journey to the
western country. Oliver and Joel were married to two
sisters, Hannah and Susanna Beard, Oliver and Hannah at this
time had two children, Amanda and Lester. Joel and Susanna
had one child, Fanny. Their equipment consisted of two
saddle horses, upon which the women were to ride; a sledge
loaded with bedding, provisions, etc., and drawn by a yoke
of oxen. They also had a pig. As the little cavalcade passed
through the wilds of Genesee county, it was found necessary
to make a change and get to Buffalo with all speed possible;
so Oliver Loomis, his wife and their two children left the
party and hastened to Buffalo, which then boasted of two
white families and twelve white citizens.
There was no place called Buffalo at that time. The
settlement was
18
really a trading post called New Amsterdam by the Holland
Land Co. The name was changed to Buffalo in 1808. The large
stream at this point had been called Buffalo Creek for some
time.
Here Mr. Loomis secured a log cabin and on January 17, of
the year 1800, a son was born to Mrs. Hannah Loomis, this
being the third white child born in Buffalo and it increased
the population to a baker's dozen of white people. The
Indians were greatly excited about the birth of this white
baby, and receiving permission to name him, had a pow-wow
and a dance around the cabin and bestowed the name of Tishua
(Chief of His People), This child was Harry, second son of
Oliver Loomis. A strange coincidence is this — one hundred
years later in Buffalo at the Pan American Exposition, Vice
President Roosevelt formally named an Indian baby born on
the grounds, calling her Pan—Anna.
The rest of the party with the ox team arrived in due time
and the whole group remained till the ice should freeze upon
the lake, the shore being impassable. On the 5th of March
the little company started their westward journey on the
ice. The first night they camped at Silver Creeks; the
second day out the family pig started for Canada with the
usual perversity of pigdom, continuing to go until a
convenient hole in the ice swallowed her up. Fare well to
all hopes of bacon, ham or Sausage for the new settlers. The
second night they encamped at Chautauqua Creek and the third
day at noon they ar rived at the mouth of the Sixteen Mile
creek, where grandfather and Seth met them and escorted them
over the hills to their new home.
In 1806 Oliver Loomis, finding he had made a mistake
locating upon the high land, removed with his family to what
is now Ripley, N. Y., and took up about five hundred acres
of land of the Holland Land Company in what is now the
village of Ripley and westward of it. This he proceeded to
divide up in to farms, distributing them to his sons, all of
whom, except Walter and Ira, very soon removed to Indiana}.
Wisconsin and Illinois.
We have also quite a collection of facts and incidents
handed down from the Duncans. James Duncan, his wife, Nancy
Beatty Duncan, her brother John Beatty and wife and, we
believe, another family, came up on the ice in 1797. James
Duncan settled on the farm where we now lives and the
Beatty's on what is now the Ralph Heard farm, and the other
family on the farm now owned by Henry Stetson. James Duncan
built a log cabin about 100 feet east of our home. The
stones from the fireplace are still there. In 1819 James
decided to build a frame house, and all his neighbors
gathered to have a good old-fashioned house raising. The
affair was, I understand, more or less of a picnic, the
women preparing a good "feed" while the men hewed timbers
and fitted them together into bents with oaken pins.
According to Archie Duncan, son of James, this was the first
frame house in the section and "people came from miles about
to see Jimmy Duncan's frame house." The house is now 115
years old and has been inhabited continuously by James
Duncan's descendants, my brother, sister and myself being
the fifth generation. How it happened that James Duncan
settled on this "worthless" flat I don't know. As you
probably know most of the early settlers had learned in
Connecticut, that oak and chest nut land was, poor, while
maple and beech land when cleared was rich, so they passed
through these oak and chestnut flats, on up to the maple and
beech lands of Greenfield, only ignorant ones taking up the
lower land. However it was not long before many of them,
discovering as Oliver Loomis did, their mistake, moved down.
Jimmy Duncan was quite a man of m9ment, for was he not the
proud possessor of a gold watch? A gold watch must have been
as fascinating to the adults at that time as to modern
children, for the one and only thing my grandmother could
remember of James Duncan was female members of the family
saying in their Scotch brogue, "Jimmy, and what time will it
be by your gold watch?" Game was plentiful in the early days
and Jimmy Duncan had some little trouble with bears. One
night hearing a great commotion in the sheep
19
fold the men going to see what was wrong, found a bear had
gotten in, but he was not harming the animals. He had been
attracted by the salt left out for the cattle. This happened
several times. Another time one of Jimmy's hired men started
for State Line, which at that time was larger and more
prosperous than North East. On the trail through the
Twenty—mile gulf he came face to face with a huge bear. He
was unarmed, his only possible weapon being his pocket
jack-knife, but as retreat was out of the question, he
closed with the bear, killed it and returned home. It was
found necessary to use an ox team to get the bear to the
house. James also kept several head of partially tamed deer
— until one day a fine buck leaped the fence attacking a
peddler, jumping on him with his hoofs and injuring him so
badly that he had to be kept all summer before he recovered.
Jimmy Duncan was a strict; stern man who took his religion
very seriously SO seriously, in fact, that when the younger
generation suggested using a bass viol in the singing
instead of "lining up" as they had done previously, he
considered the idea to be irreligious and with his entire
family rose and stalked out of the church. It seems a number
of the older members felt the Same, including the minister.
When at last the matter was arranged, Rev. West is said to
have announced the song, I imagine, with quite a bit of
disgust, on the first Sunday, saying "We will now fiddle and
sing to the 111th Psalm."
On nights when the south wind blew Archie Duncan used to
reminesce and remind the folks of things the south wind
meant to the early settlers. It meant a break up, their
butchered meat would spoil, any trip, no matter how
necessary, would be out of the question, etc.
One of Archie Duncan's favorite stories was that of a trip
to Pittsburgh with Uncle Tom Teed, who seems to have been
quite a character, and about whom many stories have been
told. This trip was made in the winter and on the way home,
the day being Christmas, they stopped at an inn for dinner.
The inn keeper had a houseful and told them they would have
to go on, that he could not serve them. They pleaded, saying
that it was Christmas, and that they were hungry, etc., but
in vain. However Tom Teed was not to be downed. He told
Archie Duncan to take the teams up the road and wait. Tom
Teed then returned to the banquet room, where a long table
had been set and trimmed. He crawled under the table and
waited till the guests were seated and the dinner,
especially the turkey, had been served. He then began to
growl and snarl most horribly, grabbed the nearest guest by
the leg. Cries of "Mad dog" immediately arose and the guests
lost no time in leaving in a body, forgetting the turkey in
their haste. Tom Teed thereupon grabbed up the turkey and
what ever else he could carry, jumped out the window, ran to
the teams, and according to Archie Duncan lost no time
whatsoever in getting away from that place. An old gentleman
from Pittsburgh - Randall, I believe was his name — who
lived in the neighborhood as a boy told us a story of a
happening at State Line when it was at its height. It seemed
that some old peddler was in the store there showing a large
roll of bills. He was on his way west. About two weeks later
the Randalls, who then lived on the Charles Hirtzel farm,
noticed a strange odor and upon investigation found the body
of this peddler where it had been thrown over their fence.
He had obviously been murdered for his money and so far as
we know this is still an unsolved mystery.
Archie Duncan also used to speak of the "year without a
summer " which I believe was 1816. He told of planting corn
while wearing mittens and over coat. There was a killing
frost every month in the year, so nothing grew and the next
winter they had to cut boughs and haul. them up from the
woods to feed the cattle. Archie Duncan was an interesting
character. He was often called "Gentleman Farmer." He always
wore a derby and carried a cane. Al though a bachelor, he
was known to everyone far and near as "Uncle Archie." He
owned and built the Duncan block in North East. I understand
that the
20
first three-story building had just been built in Erie, and
thinking that North East should have one as high, he built
the brick building on the north east corner of Lake and Main
streets. James Duncan and most of his sons, besides working
the farm spent some time working on canals. Quoting from the
Duncan Geneology: "About the year of 1825 a great interest
was aroused about internal improvements, and in this they
took great interest, entering into a number of contracts for
such work, Hugh Duncan, a son, had surveyed part of the Erie
canal, between Rochester and Buffalo. They all took
contracts on the Penn canal, between Pittsburgh and
Kiskiminetas, and the Cross—Cut canal between New Castle and
Youngstown, O. They built the first house at Lowellsville,
O., occupied until it burned a few years ago by Calvin
McComb. They built a large part of "French Creek" canal near
Franklin. Bids on other canals were taken, but the
competition had become so keen that they were unprofitable."
The names of James and Nancy (Beatty) Duncan's children
were: James, William, Alexander, Nancy, Robert, Johy, Jane,
Sarah and Archibald, Robert died young. All the other sons
Save Archie went west, all save Archie settling on the
Western Reserve,
Alexander was, for a number of years, engaged in the "woolen
business" near North East, until the year of 1849-'50, when
he sold out and with other adventureres went to California.
He lost his way in the "Great American Desert," barely
saving: his life, reached there, and like many others,
became discouraged and returned home broken in health and
spirits. The daughter, Jane, married Dr. Porter and lived in
North East. Sarah married Amaziah Phillips and lived in the
old red house just north of the Jones Mill school until her
husband, going west, was murdered for his money, soon after
which she died and Archie Duncan, the old bachelor, raised
their three children — Velonia, Sophronia and James H.
Phillips. Amagiah's father and uncle came here together and
took up the tract of land from the Buffalo road north
along the Orchard Beach road. Amaziah's uncle was an
ancestor of the Webb-Scouller family.
James Harrison Phillips, the son of Amaziah and Sarah
(Duncan) Phikthips, was born at the old red house north of
the Mottier school on Nov. 11 1837. Becoming an orphan when
but a small child, he with his two Sisters, were cared for
by their uncle, Archie Duncan, and at Mr. Duncan's death
became his heirs. In the meantime Mr. Phillips had completed
his education at Poland Seminary, Mahoning Co., Ohio, in
1857, and soon became one of the most prominent and
influential citizens of North East township. On Jan. 7,
1869, he was united in marriage with Miss Louisa, daughter
of the late Ira Loomis of Ripley, N. Y. To them were born
three sons — Archie Duncan Phillips, who having assumed its
responsibility and labors, has taken the place in this
community left vacant by, his father, is living with his
family at the old home place, which has been in possession
of the family for one hundred and thirty-four years. The
other two sons, Edward L. and Harold Deane, after completing
their college education, have been engaged in business
elsewhere.
Thursday, July 12, 1934:
The Holland Land Company
The Holland Land Company did not own land in the Triangle,
but did own the northwest part of the commonwealth of
Pennsylvania, lying to the south of the Triangle, and the
Lake Erie country of western New York, bounding the Triangle
on the east. Though the Holland Land Company did not have
any part in the ownership or settlement of the Triangle, the
fact that it was an adjoining
21
neighbor, whose people were faced with the same problems,
and who, in many cases, were relatives of the Triangle
settlers, entitles it to mention here.
This company was an organization composed of twelve wealthy
men of Holland, who, during the war of the Revolution, had,
through the influence of Robert Morris, advanced several
millions of dollars to aid the American government. After
independence was established the United States government
repaid this debt by transfer to the Holland Land Company in
1792—'3 of several million acres of land in western New York
and northwestern Pennsylvania. The Holland Company also took
up by warrant a good many thousand acres in Crawford and
Erie counties, Pennsylvania, in 1793-'5. The headquarter&S
of the Holland Company was at Philadelphia, with branch
offices at different points. One of these was at "Lake
Erie," the Indian trading post of Cornelius Winney, where in
1801 it laid out a town, calling it New Amsterdam. In 1808
New Amsterdam was made the county seat of Niagara county and
its name changed to Buffalo.
The Holland Land Company was noted for its liberal
progressiveness and for its choice of agents, one of whom, a
young man by the name of William H. Seward, with offices at
Westfield and Mayville, was its agent for western New York,
and who was later famous as secretary of state under
President Lincoln, and for his Alaska purchase,
The Population Company's Plan of Settlement . . . .
On March 8, 1793, the Population Company offered, through
its agents, as an inducement to settlers in Erie county, a
"gift of 150 acres of land to each of the first twenty
families that shall settle on French Creeks" a similar
gift to the first twenty families that should settle in the
Lake Erie territory; a gift of 100 acres each to the next
fifty families (after the first twenty) who should settle in
the Lake Erie territory. These settlers were privileged to
locate on any of the lands of the company they chose, and if
they cleared at least ten acres, and erected a comfortable
house thereon, in which they resided, were to have a deed
after two years.
In case they were driven off by the Indians, no part of the
two years was to run against them, and no title was to vest
in any person or his heirs who abandoned the lands before
receiving his deed. Thirty thousand acres were offered for
sale to actual settlers, in tracts not exceeding 300 acres,
at $1.00 per acre, payable at the option of the purchaser,
in three years, with interest the last two years. The
surveys were to be made under direction of the company, at
the expense of the grantee or purchaser. There were four re
serves in Erie county, but none of these were for any part
of North East town ship. Under act of Pennsylvania
legislature of 1792, the territory north and west of the
Ohio, Allegheny and Conevango rivers was divided into five
districts, each of which was assigned to a deputy
surveyor. District No. 1 was bounded as follows. "Beginning
at the northeast corner(which is now the northeast corner
of North East township) of the Triangle, on the bank of Lake
Erie, thence due south to a point ten miles south of the
southeast corner of the Triangle, thence west to the state
of Ohio, thence north along the Pennsylvania- Ohio state
line to the bank of Lake Erie, thence along the shore of
Lake Erie to the place of beginning. On May 16, 1792, Thomas
Rees was appointed deputy surveyor for this district, "with
full power to execute all warrants and surveys" to him
directed by the land department of the state. He started for
this section at once, but on learning that the Indians along
Lake, Erie were unfriendly, stopped in Northumberland
county, and opened an office there. During his stay at this
point, warrants for the whole of the Triangle were filed by
the Pennsylvania Population Company. He resumed his journey
in the spring of 1793. On reaching the mouth of Buffalo
Creek he was met (either at the trading post, or the Seneca
Indian village, - they were only 2 or 3 miles
22
apart) by a delegation of Indians, who refused to let him go
further, telling him that he would be killed if he made the
attempt. After a long delay, a number of warrants were
surveyed for the Population Company in 1794, but the
attitude of the Indians was so hostile, and reports of
Indian murders so frequent, that Mr. Rees abandoned the
field and returned to the East.
The Spoffords
Few families in America have a more authentic record of
their European ancestry than the Spoffords. The name occurs
in the Doomsday Book, which is the record of the lands of
England parceled out by William the Conqueror to his Norman
adventurers in 1066, and we find the name mentioned in
various chronologies, histories and the like, all down the
centuries since that time. There is also an earlier mention
of the name in the Saxon times in England.
There is a tradition that the name originated from Spa — a
mineral spring, and the "ford" is obvious. According to the
History of Yorkshire, England, Spofforth, or Spofford, is a
small tow near Wetherby where there are several mineral
springs. This town, supposed to be the original home of the
family, contains an interesting ruin which still bears the
name of Spofford's Castle. The name has varied much in
spelling, and especially in the older generations, the name
of the same person is spelled in several different ways. The
family has a coat of arms and a motto — "Rather death than
false of faith."
A member of this family, one John Spofford, emigrated to
America in 1638, and settled in Rowley, Massachusetts, where
he lived for thirty years. He moved to Spofford's Hill in
1669, and was, without doubt, one of the first settlers of
Georgetown, Mass., and the ancestor of all families of that
name in the United States.
Calvin Spofford, the subject of this sketch, was born in
Herkimer county, New York, in 1807, and was a lineal
descendant of the aforementioned John. He moved to North
East about 183 0, and settled on a farm on the Side Hill
road near Twelve-mile gulf, where he lived for several
years.
Calvin Spofford made the first commercial cheese in Erie
county, and this was sold to a butter and cheese buyer who
came all the way from Providence, R. I. It was about 78
years ago, and the cheese was made in a large pine trough.
Later the vats were so built that the milk during the
critical minutes in making curd could be heated by
kindling a little wood fire under them. The building that
was used for the cheese factory is still standing on the
Judge Walling farm on the Sidehill road, the farm upon which
Mr. Spofford settled when he first came to North East.
Mr. Calvin Spofford was twice married, first to Polly
Rundell of Herkimer, New York, to whom were born three
childrenyJohn K., Phebe and Helen. His son, John K., had six
children, Jay M. Spofford, the eldest, married Ella Burgess,
and to them were born two daughters, Hallie and Ethel, all
of whom are now deceased. The second son, John D., married
Clara Boxstaller at Mr. Vernon, Iowa. They have no children,
and now reside in Clinton, Iowas. Mr. Spofford has recently
been retired after thirty years of service with the Chicago
and Northwestern railroad. Charles T. Spofford, the third
son, married Hlizabeth Stauffer at St. Joseph, Missouri,
where they made their home until their deaths. To them were
born Gladys Adelia, who married Charles Wurtzgler, both of
whom are now deceased, leaving two children, Charles
Wurtzler, Jr., and Elizabeth Ann Wurtzler; Charles B.
Spofford, single; and Lois Frances, who married Thomas Owen,
also of St. Joseph, Missouri. John K. Spofford and his wife,
Adelie McCann Spofford, had three daughters. The eldest,
Gertrude, died soon after her marriage to Clarence Shaws;
Josephine C., unmarried, lives in North East with the
youngest daughter, Mary R., who,married T. Alton Bemus.
To them were born two daughters, Gertrude Carrie and Mary
Elizabeth,
23
who live in North East with their mother and aunt. Calvin
Spofford's two daughters by his first marriage, Phebe and
Helen, both lived in North East until their deaths.
Leaving his son, John K., in possession of the original
property, Calvin Spofford bought another farm one-half miles
east on the same road where he resided until his death in
1886, Mr. Spofford's second wife was Eliza Lambertson of
Herkimer, New York, to whom was born one son. James L., in
1851.
He married Alice Hitchcock in 1878, and to them were born
four Children, Edith married William Hummer of Virginias
Calvin is now deceased; James graduated at the University
of Michigan in 1908 as a civil engineer and married Agnes
Aikman of Boise, Idaho, to whom were born three children,
Mary Alice, James and Thomas; and the youngest Thomas We,
graduated at the University of Michigan in 1908, in the law
department. He practiced for some time in the firm of
Richards, Richards & Ferry in Salt Lake City. Returning to
Erie, he was appointed an assistant in the Legislative
Reference Bureau at Harris burg. Having resigned from this
position, he entered the law firm of Reed, Waite & Spofford
in Erie, Pennsylvania. After some years, Mr. Waite retired,
having been elected judge of the orphan's court of Erie
county, the firm continuing at the present time as Reed &
Spofford. Thomas W. Spofford married Isabelle Pancake of
Harrisburg, Pa., and they have one son, Thomas Edwin.
The Spoffords were pioneers in the Methodist Episcopal
church of North East, and always stood for the right in
church and state. They gave largely of their means for many
benevolent Causes, and tried to make the world better for
their having lived in it.
N. J. Bogenschutz
Nicholas J. Bogenschutz, furniture dealer, was born in
Buffalo, N. Y. June 6, 1862. He is the son of John and
Sophia (Strack) Bogenschutz, natives of Germany. Miss Sophia
Strack came to this country with her parents, who located at
Buffalo, where she married John Bogenschutz, then a
shoemaker of that place. He was a soldier and served through
the Civil war, serving in a regiment of the N. Y. V. I. and
is buried at Oak Hill cemetery, North East. His wife died in
1876.
Nicholas J. Bogenschutz, completed his schooling at the
normal school, Fredonia, N. Y. He learned furniture
finishing with G. W. Blood of Fredonia, and on the evening
of July 29, 1878, came to North East, walking from Brocton
without dinner or supper, lodged at Knapp's restaurant at
the depot and next morning went to work for J. S. Paden,
where he worked at cabinet making. In August, 1879, he
established a furniture repair shop at North East, and from
that very modest beginning added gradually to his business
until, in 1893, he was able to erect the commodious
structure now occupied by his son, Orville. Here he
continued in business until the time of his death. He was
married April 11, 1883, to Clara, daughter of John Ehmka, of
North East. Mr. and Mrs. Bogenschutz have six children: Guy,
Ruth, Pearl, Rilla, Ruby and Orville. Mrs. Bogenschutz
resides at South Pearl street and attends the English
Iutheran church, Mr. Bogenschutz was a member of the
Royal Arcanum and the Masonic order. He also served a term
as mayor of North East and during his term of office, as
well as through his whole life he gave to the full extent,
serving and living with so great a measure of success that
his record is written for years to come. Mr. Bogenschutz
died on Feb. 27, 1934
24
Thursday, July 19, 1934:
The fear of an Indian uprising had brought land matters to a
standstill. It will be noted that it was on July 19 of this
year, 1794, the Mohawk Indian Chief, Joseph Brant had
written to Governor Simcoe of Upper Canada, asking for
supplies and suggesting an expedition against the Americans
at Presque Isle.
Brant was one of the most remarkable Indians that ever
lived. He was probably one of the first of his race to
receive a high grade education. He was a college graduate;
had learned all the arts and graces of civilization; but
when he had received the highest point that school education
of the day could give him, he gave it up, and, putting on
his dress of buckskin returned to the woods and ways of the
tribe in which he had been born,
The little that Mr. Rees accomplished this year, he did
without a helper. He saw no white man in the Triangle
country, and, working in constant fear of the savages,
hurried through to Fort LeBoeuf. Early the next year, 1795,
Deacon Hinds Chamberlin of LeRoy, N. Y.,; in company With
Jesse Beach and Reuben Heath, made a journey along the south
shore of Lake Erie. He reported: "At Presque Isle we found
neither white nor Indian - all was solitary."
More Land Legislation.
There were several land companies operating in Erie county.
The Pennsylvania Population Company however was the only
company in this part of the Triangle. These companies were
in more or less trouble with their contracts. It was
discovered that the unimproved land in the Triangle was not
sufficient to supply the warrants issued to the Population
Company, it appeared that the Actual Settlement act had,
perhaps inadvertently, been nullified. This necessitated the
passage of an act by the legislature in 1794 to provide that
no further applications should be received by the land
office for any unimproved land in the Triangle. This act
directed that no warrant should issue after the 15th of June
that year, for any land within the Triangle except in favor
of persons claiming by virtue of some settlement or
improvement having been made thereon, and that all
applications remaining in the land office after that date
for which purchase money had not been paid, should be void.
It was stipulated, however, that applications might be
"received and warrants issued before the 29th of March,
1792, for such quantities of land as might be sufficient to
discharge such balances;""provided that the acts should not
be "so construed as that any warrants, except those wherein
the land is particularly described, should in any manner
affect the title of the claim of any person having made an
actual improvement before such warrant was entered and
surveyed in the deputy surveyor's books." Another act,
passed in September of the same year, made it unlawful for
any application for lands to be received at the land office,
after its passage, "except for such lands where a settlement
has been or hereafter shall be made, grain raised and a
person or persons residing thereon."
The Indian difficulty was finally settled in the spring of
1795. Mr. Rees then came on again, and, putting up a tent at
the mouth of Mill Creek, resumed his duties as a surveyor.
About this time he was also appointed agent for the
Population Company, which renewed its plan of 1793. The
Rutledge murders happening soon after his arrival, kept
immigration from the Triangle for a while, but by fall
people were coming again. Mr. Rees employed several
surveyors during the season, among whom were George Moore
and David McNair, and before winter had made company sales
of 74,790 acres to some two hundred different persons. Most
of these, however, did not make immediate settlement on
their lands, fear of Indians holding them back.
Mr. Rees resigned both as deputy surveyor and agent for the
Population
25
Company at the end of the year, and from that date until the
spring of 1802 served the state as commissioner for the sale
6f lots. He was succeeded as deputy surveyor by John
Cochran, and as agent for the Population Company by Judah
Colt. Mr. Colt, who had been appointed as agent to succeed
Mr. Rees in the Population Company's affairs, came the first
of July, 1795. Settlers were arriving in considerable
numbers by this time, and, as Mr. Colt had a very large part
in the settlement of what is now North East his work here
deserves notice. This is probably best done in part, at
least, by an abstract of his autobiography, which follows:
"I was born at Lyme, Conn., July 1, 1761. In August, 1795,
in company with Augustus Porter, came to Erie to purchase
land. At Presque Isle found a number of men encamped, United
States troops erecting a fort, and commission ers for the
state, General William Irvine and Andrew Ellicott, laying
out the town of Erie. They had about 100 militia troops in
their employ."
Z M. King
Harl and Percianna (Brown) Kine, (latter a daughter of Dr.
Tristram Brown ) who came from Rhode Island 1n 1798, lived
on a farm in North East township; they had a family of
eleven children. Now all of them have passed on to the great
beyond.
Zenas M. King, one of the oldest children, was born on a
farm in North East township May 30, 1825. He lived in North
East all his life. On March 23, 1854, he married Elizabeth
Rice, daughter of the late Horace and Hannah Rice. They
started housekeeping in a home he had purchased in 1853,
which is now 101 East Main St., They lived there the
remainder of their lives. J. M. King was a blacksmith and
wagon maker then a produce dealer, and in 1872 started a
grocery store (where McCord store now is) which he managed
for a few years, then he went to farming, which pursuit he
followed until his health failed, then the end.
Mr. and Mrs. King had two children, a son, Horace Rice King,
and a daughter, Holine King. Horace R. King was married to
Agnes M. Barrett of Ridgefield Park, N. J. Horace passed on
to the other world January 21, 1893.
Holine King was one of the class of eight girls who
graduated on June 2s 1881, which was the first class to
graduate from the North East High School, and the only one
of the class who has always lived in North East. Eoline King
was married to Edward H. Grenat on October 2, 1905. She now
owns and has always lived on the old home place. Mr. Grenat
passed away July 7, 1933, at the age of 87 years, and a life
well spent. Boline King Grenat is the only surviving
descendant of this old family now living in North East, Pa.
Mrs. 5S. A. McClintock
My father, David Pulman, came to North East township and
bought a farm about a mile from the gulf, which was then
called Washington hollow. The farm had been owned by a man
named Wooster. Do not remember ever hearing the price he
paid for it, but was told he made his last payment in
Mayville, N. Y. There was an old unused log house on the
place and a small frame house.
Some of the prices received for farm products at that early
day were six cents a dozen for eggs, and six cents a lb. for
butters; two-year-old heifer brought seven dollars. From 50
to 75 cents was paid for a day's work in hoeing, with dinner
and supper, and a dollar in harvesting. Cattle and sheep
were kept and the usual farm crops; also flax was raised and
spun into yarn for the weaver to make into towels. There was
sugar making in my young days.
Other families in the neighborhood when my father came were
Edmund Orton,
26
George Hall, Kimble, Smith Terry. Helon Hopper kept tavern
in Washington hollow. A Burrows family lived south of S.
Terry's on the place now owned by Jos. Orton. Some places
changed tenants very often. One of these was the Camp place.
In 1852 Henry Dudley bought it and remained for a number of
years. In a year or two after he left Orin Camp bought it.
What was known later as the Nickel Plate house also had many
tenants; those that I remember best were the Jewetts and the
A. K. Wing family, also Pat Cahill.
On the corner near my home stood the old log church — the
first Baptist church in the township. My earliest
recollection of church going was at the Old Baptist church
near the Sidney Smith house, on the Main road. People went
with ox teams and took their dinners and stayed for two
sermons. This church had a wonderful pulpit reached by
winding stairs. The last man to preach there was Elder
Thomas. The first school house in the neighborhood was about
half way between where the two railroads now are and was
later changed to its present location nearer the center of
the district. Down in the gulf, south of where the arch now
is, was an old woolen mill and two houses that were occupied
a number of years after the mill was abandoned. The road led
down from the east side before the railroad shut it off, and
came up on the south to the present road at the road arch.
This may have been the earlier crossing but do not know.
In Washington hollow was the tavern, grist mill, (the miller
was an old negro known as old Black Joe,) a blacksmith shop,
a saw mill and later a cider mill.
In the summer of 1851 they were building the first railroad
bridges it was in sight from the school house, and the
scholars were anxious to see the first train over and when
the teacher saw an engine coming she let us leave our seats
to look, but the engine backed up and Isaac Crocker came
across with his ox team.
Some of the teachers I remember were Deloss Mills, Olive
Fuller, Benjamin F. Johnson, Esther Macomber, two terms;
Charlotte Peer, two terms; Mr. Bush, EH. J. Pulman, Mary
Force, three terms; DeEtte Phillips, Sarah Porter, Hb Ely.
The earliest of my recollections of North East people was of
Jimmy Haynes, Sr., who on his return from New York city with
dry goods bought to both my sister and myself dolls, sent by
an aunt in New York. I was then 35 years old. One of the
dolls remains, looking very much as she came, despite her 86
years.
Another time I recall walking with my mother on the south
side of east Main street and mother stopping to speak to a
woman near the sidewalk in front of her home, and callings
her Aunt Lydia Sparrow, and she replied, "Yes, I am aunt to
all the Lord's creation, and I haven't a chick nor a child."
Of course in my mature years I knew many of the business
people and had personal friends in the town but can remember
little of general interest of those early years. Something
my father told me may be of interest to some. He said that
his cousin, Louis Pulman, invented a machine to move brick
houses and moved the John Silliman house back from the road.
The Silliman house and the Heath house and the Smith house,
were all taverns in stage coach days. I think the house
moving was in 1859.
Thursday, July 26, 1934:
Continuing Judah Colt's autobiography…
"Thomas Rees was ac ting as agent for the Pennsylvania
Population Company in the survey and sale of lands. Porter
and I took two certificates of 400 acres each at $1.00 per
acre, payable in five annual installments. We made
27
but a brief stay. On the 3rd of March, 1796, went to
Philadelphia for the purpose of getting the lands purchased
of Mr. Rees at Erie confirmed. The principal proprietors of
the Population Company resided there. Offered to buy thirty
thousand acres at one dollar per acre, but they declined to
sell in so large a body. Col. Aaron Burr, who was one of the
proprietors, informed me that they were in need of a more
active agent, and offered me the position. A contract was
entered into by which they agreed to pay me $1,500.00 a
year, besides board, traveling expenses, etc. This was
raised to $2,500.00 in 1796. Money was advanced with which
to procure supplies and hire laborers, and in the month of
April I started to return to my home in the Genessee
country, New York.
"At New York city I laid in provisions, sundry kinds of
goods and farming utensils, such as were needed in a new
country. They were shipped in care of Enoch Marvin up the
river to Albany, across the portage by wagons to the Mohawk,
up the latter by batteaux, then by wagons again to Oswego,
and from there by wagon and lake to Presque Isle. Mr. Marvin
arrived at the latter place on June 22, 1796, but the boats
did not reach Presque Isle till July 1. He found a captain's
command station there in a garrison laid out and built in
1795. His tent or marquee was erected near the old French
garrison. During the season he met with considerable
opposition from the advance settlers, a company known as
Dunning MaNair & Co., from the neighborhood of Pittsburgh.
Leaving the agency in charge of Hlisha and Bnoch Marvin, I
set out on the Ath of November for Philadelphia, returning
to the mouth of the Sixteen-mile creek, May 31, 1797. June 1
I rode to where Elisha Marvin was stationed, who had charge
of the men employed by the agency, nine miles south of Lake
Erie, known afterward as Colt's Station. Made this my
headquarters until the 10th of November. The season was one
of much business. The opposition of advance settlers made me
much trouble. J had to keep from forty to one hundred men in
service to defend settlers and property. More than once mobs
of twenty to thirty assembled for the purpose of doing
mischief. Went to Pittsburgh with witnesses and had a number
indicted by the grand jury of Allegheny county. (The reader
will note the reason for going to Pittsburgh then was that
the whole northwest part of Pennsylvania was still embraced
in the county of Allegheny, with Pittsburgh as the county
seat. and what is now Erie county was the township of
Meade.) On my return, loaded a boat with stores to take to
Sixteen-mile creek, and put it in charge of four men. On
their way, a storm up set the boat and three of the men were
drowned. During the season, the building of a vessel of
about thirty-five tons was commenced at the mouth of
Four-mile creek, The Lowrys and others were the indicted
parties. Their disturbances took place in the months of June
and July.
"Went in the fall and set out to return to Erie in April,
1798. At New York purchased suppl&es which were sent forward
in charge of B. Saxton and Eliphalet Beebe. Arrived at
Presque Isle on the 3lst of May, and at Greenfield on the
third of June. Brought my wife along for the first time.
Resided at Colt's Station with my family until the 7th of
November. The vessel begun the year before at the mouth of
Four-mile creek, was completed in time to make a trip to
Fort Erie. It was named the sloop Washington. On the 10th of
October, I accompanied sixty-five settlers to Erie to attend
an election, all of whom voted in favor of a federal
representative. On the seventh of November, with Mrs. Colt,
set out for Pittsburgh, on horseback. Our baggage was taken
down French Creek in boats. Arrived at Pittsburgh on the 9th
of January, 1799. Shortly after our arrival the weather
became very warm, the frost came out of the ground, and the
farmers began plowing.
"Did not return to Erie county till May, 1801. During a part
of 1800 and 1801, the peace of the country was much
disturbed by the adversaries of the company. In the summer
and fall of 1800, the settlement was visited by a
28
number of clergymen who were sent out by the Ohio and
Redstone Presbyteries, who preached in a number of places
and took much pains to establish churches. Among them was
Rev. Mr. McCurdy. During 1801, some progress was made in
organizing the militia of Greenfield. Elisha: Marvin was
chosen captain. He had about eighty men in his company."
Sarah Allen Kingsbury
In 1801 my grandfather, John Allen, with a family of ten
children, came from Lancaster county to Erie county and
bought 300 acres of virgin forest in the southwestern part
of North East township, paying the Erie office $1.25 per
acre. They cleared part of the land and grew an orchard from
seeds and pits which they brought with them. In my childhood
we thought the fruit wonderful. While the cherries were
rather poor quality, the peaches were especially fine, the
pears fair and apples extra good for the times. They also
raised grain and flax, From the flax and from the wool of
the Sheep they made their clothing, blankets, etc. They
kept cattle and hogs; so had their butter, milk and meat.
Grandfather died in 1816.
At the time they settled here my father, William Allen, was
three years old and he lived to be eighty-nine. As a boy of
fourteen years he helped hew logs for Perry's ships and
helped in the building of them. The day the British fleet
went up the lake he, with some other boys, watched it from
the shore but kept behind trees for fear the British might
fire on them. Later, when the Lawrence and the Niagara were
up for repairs he worked on them. A cane made from a beam
removed from the Lawrence was a valued possession. He also
worked in the shipyards of Philadelphia and New York when
not needed on the farm.
Samuel Kingsbury and wife Mary (Nutting) Kingsbury came from
Massachusetts in 1829 and settled in the southwestern part
of North East. He was a general farmer - dairying and grain
raising. They lived there until 1871. The farm is now owned
by Herbert Burch.
Samuel B, Kingsbury, son of the pioneer, married Sarah Allen
in 1870 and they resided on the farm north of the old
Kingstry home. He also was a general farmer. He died in
1894. His wife came to the borough in 1809. She is the last
of her generation of both the Allen and Kingsbury families.
Robert J. Moorhead
Robert Joseph Moorhead, now deceased, familiarly known as
"R. J.", was born in Harborcreek township, April 2, 1852, a
son of Joseph Byers and Eliza (Hampson) Moorhead. He passed
the most of his days in North East and passed away Feb. 2,
1930, at his late residence, corner of Main and Pearl
streets, which had been his home for many years. The site of
this residence is of historic memory in the annals of the
Presbyterian church as the spot where the first communion of
that church was served in Erie county.
Mr. Moorhead completed his schooling in the North East
Academy in 1869, and was early prominent in banking and
other business affairs, was bookkeeper in North East at
eighteen, was in charge of the books of the Second National
Bank of Erie at nineteen, and was placed in full charge of
the Savings Bank of Foxburg, Pa., at twenty. He entered the
oil brokerage business at Parkers Landing and Oil City in
1885. Receiving appointment as Pennsyvania Bank Examiner in
1896; resigned a few years later to organize the Security
Savings and Trust Company of Erie, Pa., of which institution
he was a prominent official at the time of his death. He was
looked upon by his friends as a square shooter, it being
understood that in his lifetime he had assumed and
liquidated the
29
obligations of his deceased father for which he was in no
way legally liable. He was a bachelor.
Nathaniel Norris
In 1816 Alexander Davidson Came to North East from
Connecticut. He had two sons — Alexander and Edmund. Edmund
Davidson at one time was proprietor of the "Half-way House,"
on the south side of West Main street. This old tavern was
the scene of many a party and ball. Elizabeth, daughter of
Edmund and Laura Davidson, was born in 1828; married to
Nathaniel Norris in 1847.
Nathaniel Norris was born in New Jersey, moving later with
his parents to Broad Alban, New York, and came to North East
in the early 1830's and worked with Chapel and Davidson
(undertakers) as cabinet maker, making coffins and
furniture. From an old Erie newspaper under the date of 1838
we find the name of Natianiel Norris in the list of jurors
drawn for a special session of the grand jury. Shortly after
their marriage they left for Wisconsin, where they made
their home for eight years. Returning to North East, he
again turned to his old trade, cabinet making, going into
business with Clark Jameson, making furniture and coffins.
They had a shop in the vicinity of the present Presbyterian
church, near the creek.
They also directed funerals and just as a comparison with
today; A girl of twelve years died at her home in South
Ripley. Her body was prepared for burial, the coffin built
from finished cherry lumber and lined with satin, hearse and
carriages furnished and funeral directed, everything
attended to, for the large sum of ten dollars.
After several years in business he turned to farming and at
one time had the land along the west side of Pearl street
from the railroad to the creek into fields of oats, corn and
barley. The land belonged to William Selkregg.
They had eight children, four of whom are living in North
East today. They are Frank P. Norris, Mrs. Mary Seeley, Mrs.
Elizabeth Hildum and Alfred H. Norris. Mrs. Harriet Tefft,
Dorothy and Donald Tefft are descendants,
Thursday, August 2, 1934:
"During 1802 considerable progress was made in the county -
military, Civil and religious. In the month of June, 1803,
aided by a deputy marshal of the United States court,
removed sundry intruders against whom ejectment had been
brought, some of whom were obstinate and gave much trouble.
During the same month, Mary Marvin arrived in company with
her brother Elisha, September 24, purchased of James
Wilson four lots, on which was a small house, in the town of
Erie, for the sum of $490.00. On the 26th set out for Pitts
burgh by way of the new state road. Returned to Greenfield
Feb. 24, 1804. During the month of April, 1804, was again in
Philadelphia as a witness in the United States court
relating to lands of the Population Company, and in which
the company was successful.
"On the 6th of August, 1804, began to improve my Erie
property, to which I removed my family on the 21st of
November. The country was still far from tranquil in 1805.
People continued to take unlawful possession of lands
claimed under warrants and were encouraged by others for
political purposes. The company bought sundry ejectments.
During the summer we were called upon by a number of
clergymen. In the month of December, James and Hzekiel
Grahan, who had unlawfully settled on the tract of the
Population Company, purchased
30
10 acres each at $3.00 per acre, payable in installments."
Mr. Judah Colt continued as agent in the management of the
affairs of the Pennsylvania Population Company here in the
Triangle until the company's dissolution in 1814, and died a
wealthy, influential and respected citizen of Erie in 1832.
From a 1934 viewpoint, it seems strange that Mr. Colt should
have attempted to purchase forty square miles of the eastern
central portion of the Triangle, and as agent for the
Population Company, should have established its
headquarters and center of settlement at the point still
known as Colt's Station. If, however, one considers the
state of travel and transportation at that time, 1796, it
must be admitted that Mr. Colt's establishment of
headquarters at Colt's Station was a wise, farsighted move.
Transportation and travel (mostly) in 1796 were by water and
portages over land between water points.
Such a thing as a railroad had not even been dreamed of.
There were no roads in this part of the country, excepting
the Old French road, which was hardly more than a trail
between Presque Isle and LeBoeuf. It was cut through the
forest in practically a straight line by the French forty
years before. No grading was done and few if any stumps were
removed. There were rough timber bridges over two of the
larger streams, and the swamps were corduroyed.
Transportation in those days, from central New York and New
England states was up the lake to the mouth of Sixteen-Mile
creek, on water in summer, on the ice in winter. From
central Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia it was via
Pittsburgh, up the Allegheny and French creek to LeBoeuf,
and the Old French road to Erie. To the minds of most of the
easterners the heavy beech timber growth a few miles back
from the lake indicated the most fertile land for
settlement. everybody, Every reasonable business
proposal and every scheme for the welfare of North East
always had his earnest support, financial and otherwise,
He was a remarkable man, his business intuition was almost
uncanny, but he never did understand men, and so trusted
them all, both in financial and business ways. Later, as his
thousands began to fade, he learned that Mark Twain's
statement of a human trait was true. Mark Twain said: "If
you take a poor, starving dog from the gutter. feed him, and
make him prosperous, he won't bite you, and that is the
principal difference between a man and a dog."
Mr. Short's death occurred Oct.19, 1913, in Tallahassee,
Fla. Mrs. Short died January, 1934, in Erie, Pa. Miss Alice
I. Short died in Lumber City, Ga., shortly after her
marriage to Mr. Thomas Day of that place. The living
children are Mrs. Ida (Short) Heard, who lives in Erie and
who has two children; Mrs. Gladys (Short) Kelly, who also
lives in Erie; and Mr. A. Lee Short, who married, Florence
Loop of North East. They have three children and live in
Westfield,
N. Y., where for many years Mr. .....
61
Thursday, October 4, 1934:
To the readers of these serial publications:
A history of North East should contain at this point a list
of the names of its citizens who so freely volunteered their
services to the government in the serious crisis of 1812
-1814. It is much to be regretted that no such list is
available. In an effort to obtain such a list,
correspondence with the War Department at Washington has
brought the following reply:
"The War Department has never undertaken the task of
classifying by counties or lesser political subdivisions,
the entire number of men who served in the United States
military forces in any of our wars, or during any other
period, and appeals for compilation of data similar to yours
have become so numerous that it has long since been found
imperative to establish a definite rule to refrain from
compiling and furnishing data involving a considerable
amount of labor and denial has uniformly been made,
principally on the ground that, although the granting of
one such request would not appear to impose any great
additional burden on the office, it should be borne in mind
that compliance in one case would necessitate compliance in
all future cases of a similar nature, or otherwise the
department would lay itself open to the just criticism as
having shown preference.
"However, it is proper to add that the state of
Pennsylvania, has published the records of the veterans who
served in the war of 1812 and the Civil war, copies of which
publication can no doubt, be found in any large public
library, or information relative thereto may be obtained
from the librarian, Pennsylvania State Library, Harrisburg.
A statement of all men who served during the World war from
the state of Pennsylvania has been furnished the adjutant
general of that state. It is suggested that information
desired may possibly be obtained from that official.
(Signed) James F, McKinley, Major General
The Erie Public Library has a list of the five hundred and
thirty-four officers and men who served under Commodore
Perry in the Battle of Lake Erie, but there seems to be no
way of finding where they came from. The library also has
complete lists of many hundreds of Pennsylvanians who served
elsewhere in the Var of 1812. vice, $133.80: sold to Stephen
Wolverton, Aug. 4, 18153 to Susan Burros, Jan. dey 1820.
Lot No. 5, which was the northeast corner of Lake and Main
Sts., was divided and one-half, containing 3a. and l02r.,
was sold to Judah Colt, Dec. 5, 1811, for $36.37. The other
half containing the same amount was sold to Alexander
MeClosky, Jan. 30, 1815, for $100.37. Lot No. 6, which was
west of Lake St., and north of the park and contained 10a.,
124r., was sold to Nancy Dunlap, June 27, 1815, for $120.37.
It appears from the map that the park was laid out at the
time that the village was, Lot No. 7, which was west of the
park and contained 10a. and 20r., was Sold Aug. 4, 1815, to
William Hall, who built thereon the hotel or tavern that was
later called the Brawley House. This lot was sold to Mr.
Hall for $230.00. Lots Nos. 8 and 9, containing 19a. and
80r., were sold to Henry Burgett July 30, 1815, for $224.00.
These lots were west of what is now Pearl St., and it was on
what later became lot No. 8, that William Dundas had built a
log house, the one in which the first sacrament of the
Lord's supper was administered in Erie county, on Sept. 27,
1801, this house being the one that Mr. Burgett made into a
tavern. Lot No. 10, containing 9a. and 60r., was sold to
James M. Reed, July 14, 1815, for $93.75; later sold to
Jonathan Metcalf, Jan. 1, 1820. and still later to John
Ryan, June 20, 1823. Lot No. ll, containing 9a. and 20r.,
was sold to Mark Baldwin, May 7, 1816, for $91.25. Lot No.
12, containing 8a. and l4r., was sold to Henry Burgett on
July 1, 1815, $177.62. Lot No. 12, the west line of which
was the west line of tract 155, contained 13a. and 122 re,
and was sold to Josiah Coolege, July 22, 1815, for $155.88.
These thirteen lots occupied what was later the north end of
the borough of North East, north of Mein St.
The borough as incorporated Feb. 27, 1834, did not extend as
far west along Main St. as the village of Gibsonville did.
The village of Gibsonville reached from the east line of
tract 155 to the west line of tract 156, a distance of about
318 rods as measured along the tract lines, whereas the
distance called for in the article of incorporation is 275
rods.
There were twelve lots on the south side of Main St. in the
plan of the village of Gibsonville. They were numbered from
1 to 12 inclusive, from Washington St. to the west line
of tract 156.
Lot No. 1, on the south side, containing lla. ard 72r., was
sold to Cotton Mather on Dec. 5, 1811, for $114.50, and Jan.
1, 1820, to Hexekiah Brown. Lot No, 2, on the south side was
sold to Hezekiah Rrown Dec. 5, 181i, for $93.75, and it
contained 9a. and 60x. Lot No. 3 on the south side
containing 9. and 100r., was sold to Amos
68
Tuttle Dec. 5, 1811, for $96.25,
Lot No. 4, on the south side, containing 10a. and 140r. was
sold Dec. 5 1811, to Judeh Colt for $108.75. * Lot No. 5,
which was a large lot occupying the southeast corner of Main
and eke street, on which Mr. Brown built his hotel, and
where later the Haynes house was built, contained 17a. and
139r., and was sold to Lemuel Brown April 25, Lot No. 6 on
the southwest corner of Lake and Main streets was also a
good-sized lot. It contained 13a. and 105 rods, and was sold
to Jared Tittle on Dec. 31, 1811, for $136.56, Lot No. 7 was
sold to William Allison Dec. 4, 1811, for $106.28, and it
contained 8a. and 100r, Lot No. 8, containing 8a and 140r.
was sold to Peter Lake Dec. 4, 1811, for $88.75. Lot No. 8,
that had been sold to Peter Lake, was later, Jan. 1, 1820,
sold to Cyrus Robinson. and still later, March 22, 1831, te
Hiram and C. Robinson. Lot No. 9, containing 9a. and 20r.
was given to Alexander T. Blaine as a gratuity for
relinquishing lot No. 7 on the north side to William Hall.
The record does not show what claim Mr. Blaine had, nox does
it show into whose possession the lot passed from Mr.
Blaine. Lot No. 10, containing 9a. and 60r, priced $93.62,
was sold to Mr. Alexander T. Blaine on a verbal agreement
at the same time that lot No. 9 was given to him. This lot
No. 10 was later, Jan. 1, 1820, sold to John McCord and
Thomas Robinson, and still later to M. B. Mills, Aug. 6,
1829. Lot No. 11 containing 9a. and 100r. was sold to Wyran
Newton, Jan. 1, 1811, for $96.25, and on Jan. 1, 1820,
transferred to Rev. Hatton. Lot No. 12, the last lot on the
south side of Main Ste, was sold to Josiah Coolege, or the
same date as lot No. 13, its opposite lot, on the north side
of Main St. It contained l4a. and 7lr. and the price was
$181.96.
The Taylor Family
Deriel R. Taylor was born March ?, 1812, in Greenfield
township, Pa., and died at North East on the first day of
December, 1885. He was a son of James and Anna(Reed) Taylor,
natives of Virginia, who came to Erie county, settling in
Greenfield township in 1803. In 1812 they removed to
Chautauqua county, N. Y., near the Pennsylvania line, where
they died, the former Dec. 14, 1840, and the latter March
27, 1836.
Daniel R. Taylor received a common school education and from
early youth until his arrival at maturity assisted his
father in farming. On March 13, 1834, he married Phoebe
daughter of John and Lucinda (Otis) Meyers, natives of New
York, who died respectively Jan. 22, 1829, and April 10,
1867., Shortly after his Marriage Daniel R. Taylor purchased
a farm in North East township, Pa., where he continued to
reside until his father's death, when he purchased the
interests of the remaining heirs in the homestead farm,
where he lived until his removal to North East, Pa., in
1875. In his early life in North East township, Mr. Tay lor
filled a number of positions of trust. The duties of all of
which he ful filled with ability and fidelity, but in his
latter years of residence in North East his failing health
prevented his devoting himself to public services. He was a
Christian gentleman and from 1836 a consistent member of the
Methodist Episcopal church, contributing liberally to
several local churches with which he was identified. Mas,
Daniel Taylor has long since’ passed to her reward, but
their two sons, W. P. and Clarence D. Taylor, are still
living though past three score and ten.
W. P. Taylor, several years the older, when a mere baby
started to learn
69
to be a telegraph operator. In the short space of thirteen
years, he had not only succeeded in this but had advanced
through all the regular channels of railroad telegraph
operator, station agent and train dispatcher, and had become
superintendent of the Buffalo and Erie division of the Lake
Shore and Michigan Southern railroad. He held this position
for several years before going to. Canada, where he accepted
the position of General Manager of the Canada Southern
Railroad. Several years later before resigning his position
with the Canada Southern Mr. Taylor established the
Buffalo Storage and Canning Co., to the interests of which
he devoted his time exclusively from 1883 to 1889. Since the
latter date his time has been given to Clinton Iron Works of
Buffalo, a partnership in which he purchased at that time.
Thirty years ago the Taylor brothers', in memory of their
parents, gave a pipe organ to the new M. HE. church which
was being erected here at North East. later, a dozen or so
years ago, when it seemed advisable to exchange that organ
for one more up to date, they paid the two thousand dollars
necessary to make the change, and gave a fund for its
maintenance. The first organ is now in the Cascade Methodist
church at Erie.
Mr. WV. P. Taylor married Augusta, daughter of the late
Alexander Davidson of North East. They had one child, Alice
M., wife of Henry Chase an attorney- at-law, Buffalo, N. Y.
Mr. and Mrs. Chase have one child, Stanley. Mrs. W. P.
Taylor passed away several years ago.
Clarence D. Taylor was a number of years in the employ of
the West Shore Re. R. and was manager of the Buffalo Storage
and Carting Co. He married Irene, daughter of Henry
Ellenwood, a farmer of Clyde, N. Y. Mr. and Mrs. Clarence D.
Taylor have one child, Daniel R. Taylor.
Thursday, October 25, 1934:
As before stated, the exact date of naming of the village of
Gibsonville does not seem to be certain. One thing however
is certain, and that is that it was previous to 1811. The
records left by Judah Colt state that the north ends of
sections 155 and 156 were set aside as a village allotment,
and that lot number one on the south side of the Buffalo
road was sold to Wyram Newton January 1, 1811.
These records seem to upset the commonly accepted version
that, "The land upon which North East is located was bought
from the state by a man named Brown, who sold it to a man
named Gibson, who donated the park, etc." The records of the
state of Pennsylvania show that all of this part of the
Triangle was sold to the Pennsylvania Population Co.
previous to 1800. Judah Colt's records show that he was the
resident agent and manager of the Pennsylvania Population
Company from March 3, 1796, till the dissolution of the
company on May 3, 1812.
In addition to the lands of the Triangle, the Population
Company purchased acreage of Erie county land outside the
Triangle and also large tracts of land in Crawford county.
Judah Colt established a headquarters for the company
fifteen miles west of Meadville and put his brother,
Jabez Colt, in the position of manager for that part of the
company's lands. The landed property of the company was
placed in the hands of three trustees who were given the
authority to manage and sell it as they saw fit. Judah Colt
was resident manager for these trustees, and was given power
of attorney to sign their names to contracts and deeds, All
deeds and contracts between the settlers and the Population
Company bore the signatures of John Field, Wm. Crammond
and James Gibson. trustees for the company, and were written
in the documents by Judah Colt, as per his power of
attorney.
70
There is no question that the settlement was for a time
called Burgetts town, and in all probability James Gibson,
one of the trustees, gave the land for the park, but there
is some question as to the rest of the common story. It will
be noted from the map and description herewith that Mr.
Burgett did buy lots 8 and 9 on the north side of the
Buffalo road and that the Durdas house was probably on the
west side of lot No. 8. The record however shows that Mr.
Burgett bought these lots on July 30, 1815, three or four
years after the Population Company had been calling the
village Gibsonville, and three years after the dissolution
of the company. Previous to his purchase of lots 8 and 9,
Mr. Burgett had bought lot 12 on the north side of the road.
The uncompleted contracts and the lands that were unsold at
the dissolution of the Population Company were divided
among its stockholders in the settlement of its affairs,
One of these stockholders, Robert Bowne, received in hes
settlement, the uncompleted contracts for a good many
thousand acres of land in Gibsonville, North East township
and south ard west of Erie. Mr. Bowne retained Judah Colt »s
his manager, so many of the deeds given after the
dissolution were signed by Mr. Colt with power of attorney
of Robert Bowne. Mr. Bowne died in 1818, and Mr. Colt
continued as agent and manager of the properties under his
sons, Robert H. and J. L. Bowne.
G. Will Butt
G. Will Butt, Worth East, a son of Alonzo W, Butt, was born
November 26, 1850, on the farm his grandfather settled in
1817. He was educated in the common schools and the North
East and Ripley high schools. At 18 he left home and engaged
in clerking in North East, where he remained a little over a
year. He then went to Corry in the same capacity, remaining
about nine months. He then followed lumbering a short time
and went to Rouseville, Venango county, and engaged in the
furniture business, running a branch store in Petersburg and
one in Hdenburs.
In 1875 he engaged in the oil business, which he followed
until 1880. In that year he went to Bradford and engaged in
the manufacture of nitro-glycerine, manufacturing about
1,600 pounds daily. He followed this for four years, when he
returned to the oil business, with headquarters in Warren,
Pa.
In 1892 he returned to North East and engaged in farming,
which occupied his attention till his death. He had a fine
farm, well adapted to fruit and grape growing, situated
about a mile from the borough.
Mr. Butt was married February 18, 1874, to Miss Lily,
daughter of H. R. Fullerton of Parker's Landing, Armstrong
county, Pa. They had three children: Rose Harriet, George
Alonzo and Blanche Lillian. Rose Harriet married F. K.
Dawdy, and they now live in Welland, Ontario, Can. George
Alonzo is married, has three children and lives in
Wesleyville, Pa. Blanche Lillian married Robert J. Dill, and
they live on the famous Dill Park farm, a part of which was
also e part of the 300—acre section of tract 170 of the
original Triangle survey.
Mr. G. Will Butt passed to his reward five years ago. He was
twice married, there being no children of the second
marriage. Mrs. Addie Butt, his second wife now resides at
South Huclid, 0. He was a very friendly, popular and
well-liked citizen. He served in an official capacity in
several of the communities where he lived, and also in the
township of North East. At one time he was burgess of
Petersburg, Pa. He was a supervisor of North East township
and a director in the Keystone Co-operative Grape
Association at the time of his death.
71
Thursday, November 1, 1934:
The village allotment of Gibsonville embraced practically
all the territory covered by the incorporation of the
borough of North East on February 27, 1834. Its west, north
and east boundaries were identical. Its southern boundary
was the same, except that North East borough's south
boundary line was a straight line throughout, and parallel
with the north boundary. The south boundary line of
Gibsonville was identical with that of the borough for about
half its length, that is, from the southeast corner of the
allotment to a point about 100 feet east of what is now the
east line of Pearl street. At this point, as shown by the
original map, it turned due north for two hundred feet. From
here it ran parallel with its north line to the western
boundary.
As the names of the first purchasers of the first
Gibsonville lots have been given, it might be interesting to
give the names of the first purchasers of lands about the
village of Gibsonville. Tract No. 155; containing 400 acres
of the original survey of the Triangle, was warranted to Dr.
David Jackson. The south 200 acres of it was sold to Stephen
Hazelton for $200 May 3, 1798, and the north end was laid
out in village lots. Later it was sold to Alexander T.
Blaine. The north boundary of this tract (155) is the north
line of North East borough today. The east boundary is the
line of Washington street. The south boundary is slightly
north of the Law road, and the west line a continuation
of Pearl St.
Tract No. 156, containing 334 and a fraction acres, adjoins
155 on the west. The south 200 acres of this tract was sold
to Enoch Marvin Nov. 71, 1797, fox $200, the record stating
"Residue of Tract laid out in Village Lots." Tract No. 154,
adjoining the village on the east, was warranted to Dr.
David Jackson in 1798. 100 acres of the west side of this
tract south of the Buffalo road was sold to Dyer Loomis,
Sr., in about 1799. The remaining 200 acres south of the
Buffalo road was sold to Aros Tuttle. Heirs of Amos Tuttle
later sold the East half of the 200 acres to Stephen Spear,
and Spear sold his rights to Bester Town, April 12, 1824.
Tract No. 172, directly north of the east part of
Gibsonville, and extending to the lake, was warranted to
Samtel Ralston, Esq. It contained 382 acres and was sold to
William Hall June 7, 1816, for $3,262. Sixty-six acres of
the south end of Tract 173, which adjoined the west half of
Gibsonville on the north, was sold to William Hall, Mark
Baldwin and Charles Allen. Tract 174 which cornered
Gibsonville on the northwest and which contained 353 acres,
was sold to Henry Hurst June 1, 1796, for $353. Tract No.
1°7, directly west of the village of Gibsonville, containing
418 acres was warranted to Dr. David Jackson, and its north
100 acres was sold to George Burst June 1, 1796, for one
dollar per acre. On July 21, 1815, 200 acres more of this
tract were sold to Roswell Newton, William Hamilton and
Amaziah Everlet at five dollars per acre.
The records in Erie show that on October 31, 1811, John
Field, William Cramond and James Gibson, trustees of the
Pennsylvania Population Co., deeded to Robert Bowne,
trustee, all property of the said company in trust for its
stock holders, This deed is recorded in Deed Book F. page
317.
A deed dated April 23, 1813, recorded in Deed Rock B, page
543, recites: Robert Bowne, trustee of the Pennsylvania
Population Co., and James Gibson, Henry Drinker, Thomas
Astly, William Griffith, Tohyn PR, “allace and William
Cramon‘., managers and agents of the stockho’cers of the
said Company to Paul Busti, sell (with others.) allotment
No, 9%. including tract 174 in North East township.
A deed dated Nec. 10, 1813, recorded Deed Book B, page 558,
recites: Paul Busti to Villiam Griffith, and ir trust for
undivided $ t> John B. Wallace, sell as above including
Tract 173 in the 9th allotment. The Registers Docket, A. P.
18, estate of Robert Bowne, deceased: Robert H. Bowne and
John L. Bowne qualify
72
as executors with will annexed. Exemplification of will,
Will Book A, page 317, authorizes ard empowers executors to
sell and dispose of real estate and give deeds. Power of
attorney dated Oct. 31, 1818. Deed Book 5, page 661. Robert
H. Rowne and John L. Bowne, executors, Robert Rowne,
deceased to Judah Colt, power to sell and convey lands
situate in the county of Erie,
The above recordings show Judah Colt's right in the land
transactions in the county of Erie. In the above named
transaction in which the trustee and managers and the agents
of the Pennsylvania Population Co. sold the lands to Paul
Busti,: the consideration named was seventeen thousand
dollars, In the trans action wherein Paul Rusti sold the
lands back to Robert Bowne, "a competent sum" was named as
the price given.
Paul Busti was a Hollander, one of a number of wealthy
citizens of Holland who had advanced several million dollars
to help finance the war of the Revolution. At the close of
that war the new government of the United States, though
unable to repay the debt in money, did have millions of
acres of land. This land without settlers was of no value. A
trade was made with the Hollanders. They formed the Holland
Land Company, took over the larger part of seven counties
in western New York state and a great many thousand acres in
western Pennsylvania, and sold the land to settlers. No
portion of the Triangle however was included in the transfer
to the Holland Company.
A number of the members of the Holland Land Company came to
this country to manage their holdings, Psul Rusti one of
these. It seems as if this sale of land in the Triangle to
Paul Busti and its resale by him back to Robert Bowne, must
have been a "wash sale" to strengthen or perfect Mr.
Bowne'ts title.
The Butt Family
The ancestors of the Butt family were natives of Holland.
Wendell Butt and Christiana Shank were born in Holland March
7, 1782, and Dec. 25, 1784, respectively. They came to
this country and settled in Rockingham, Virginia, where they
were married on July 17, 1802. Seven of their twelve
children were born in Virginia. They came to North East
township in 1817. On arriving here with their family,
Wendell and Christiana took up 300 acres of the south part
of Tract 170 of the original Triangle survey.
They spent the remainder of their lives on this property,
where their five younger children were born and where
Christiana died March 2, 1843, and Wendell, Oct. 10, 1850.
They were buried in a family plot on the old homestead in
the original 300 acre farm, and later were moved to Oak Hill
cemetery, North East
Their children were —- John, born in Virginia, Oct. 23,
18033 died at his home on Sidehill road, North East, March
10, 1879. Jacob, born in Virginia May 1, 18063; died at his
home on the original 300-acre tract. William, born in
Virginia June 11, 1808; died May 28, 1850. George, born in
Virginia Aug. 27, 1809. Mary, born April 13, 1811, in
Virginias married Harry Ross; died in North East, April 24,
1830, Sally, born in Virginia Auge 273 18123 died in North
East, Feb. 8, 1831. Bligabeth, born in Virginia June 7,
1814: married William Durand of Fond du Lac, Wis. Kate, born
on the 300-acre tract Dec. 5, 1817: died Jan. 16, 1818.
James, born on the 300—acre tract, May 15, 1819: died July,
1819. Rosanna, born on the 300-acre tract Aug. 10, 1820:
married Louis Beldwin of Racine, Wis, Jane, born on the
300-acre tract June 11, 1825; married William Ostrander:
died March 12, 1879. Alonzo, born on the 300-acre tract Aug.
11, 1827, where he spent his whole life. He died May 16,
1914. At this writing all the above have passed away.
John Butt, oldest of the above children, came here with his
parents and later bought a farm as above noted. He was twice
marrieds first to Rebecca
73
Stafford, who died at their home Feb. 18, aged 65 years; the
second time to Rebecca's sister, who at that time was
Mrs. Nancy Betts, March, 1875. Nancy, his second wife, died
Jan. 17, 1879.
Four children were born to John and Rebecca (Stafford) Butt:
Daniel S. Butt, born Aug. 24. 1827: died March 18, 1884.
Mary Jane Putt, born May 22, 1830: died May 2, 1903. William
S. Rutt, born Feb. 22, 18323 died June 27, 1857. Matilda I.
Butt, born Nov. 28, 18403; died July 5, 1867.
Daniel S. Butt married liza A. Law July 20, 1853, who died
Aug. 2, 1875, aged 47 years, and was buried at their home in
Poplar Bluff, Mo. To them were born three children: Charles
¥. Butt, born in 1859; married Madge Bell of St. Louis, Mo.,
in 2884, and died in Alexian Bro's. Hospital, Mo., in 1899.
Rose M. Butt, who married L. H. Morton of Jackson, Mo., in
Oct. 1283. (Mr. Mor ton died at Longview, Texas, Oct. 9,
1921. To this union was born a daughter, Marion A., who on
Dec. 27, 1921, married John BE. Taylor. The Taylors, with
whom the widow, Rose M., now resides, have their home in
Marshall, Texas. Miss Carrie Butt, who since the death of
her parents has resided in North East, Pa
Thursday, November 8, 1934:
The Butt Family (continued)
Mary Jane Butt, first daughter of John and Rebecca, married
T. W. Applebee. As noted in the Applebee biography, they had
one daughter, Wlla A., who died May 2, 1903.
William S, Butt, second son of John, married Louise M. Couse
March 17, 1857, and died three months later as above stated.
Matilda I. Butt, born Nov. 25, 1840, married John Hart, June
9, 1864, and died at her father's home July 5, 1867. Mr.
Hart, her husband, a locomotive engineer, died in Buffalo
Feb. 17, 1875.
Jacob Butt, second son of Wendell and Christiana, and who
came here with his parents in 1817, married Emmaline A.
Wyllis, who was born August 5, 1812. They spent their whole
married life and died at their home on the original 300 acre
farm, Jacob as above stated, and Hmmaline Jan. 29, 1899.
There were four Children born to this union.
Elias Whitney Butt, who went west, was married and made his
home at Hiawatha, Kansas, and died at Vinita, Indian
Territory, Dec. 7, 1893.
Their second son, George Wyllias Rutt, was born June 11,
1836, on the old homestead, where he lived his entire life.
On Feb. 1, 1866, he was married to Miss Jenette Fuller, Miss
Fuller was born in 1842, married Feb. 1, 1866, and died June
5, 1871. To them was born a daughter, Nellie, in 1868. In
1891 Nellie Butt was married to Fred 0. Davis, and them were
born seven children: Marie &. Davis, May 14, 1894; Caroline
A. Davis, April 7, 1896; Fred 0. Davis, June 29, 1899:
Rosalyn Davis Oct. 9, 19003; Geo. W. Davis, Nov. 8, 1902;
Payson Davis, Sept. 15, 19123 and Jean Davis, Jo~. 23, 1914.
Of these children Marie Ae married B. We MacFarren, they had
one child, Mary Louise, born Jan. 24, 1919. Mrs, McFarren
died Jan. 29, 1919. Carohine J. Davis married W. Webb
Scouller, and they have one daughter, Patricia A., born July
23, 1931. Frederick 0. Davis married Miss Esther Collyer,
and they have a daughter, Nancy “2ne born Oct. 8, 1928.
Rosalyn Davis married Phillip WN. Phillips: have a daughter,
Nancy. born July 19, 1931, and a son Charles, born August
10, 1928. Geo. ¥. Davis married Hazel Swanson; they have a
daughter, Dolores Ann, born Aug. 4, 1933.
Henry H. Butt, third son of Jacob, born May 11, 1841, lived
practically all his life on the old homestead, dying Dec. 2,
1926, unmarried.
Mary M. Butt, daughter of Jacob, also lived and died on the
homestead.
William Butt, third son of Wendell, was ordained a minister,
married Miss
74
Olean Shipstead in 1836, Miss Shinstead was born ir 1807,
the first white child born in the neighborhood of what is
now Olean, N. ¥., and the city of Olean was named for her.
She died at Perry, N. Y., April 16, 1882, There were three
children - Jennie A., Elizabeth R. and J. Emory.
Mary Butt, daughter of “endell married Harry Ross of North
East, and died April 24, 1830. Sally Butt, daughter of
Wendell, died Feb. 8, 1831, age 18. Hlizgabeth Putt,
daughter of Wendell, married William Durand, who was born
March 17, 1807. They went to Fond du Lac, Wis., where she
died in 1886. They left eight children. Kate, daughter of
Wendell, born Dec. 5, 1817, died Jan. 15. 1818,
Alonzo W., the twelfth child of Wendell Butt was born August
11, 1827, and spent his whole life on his farm, which is
part of the original 300-acre purchase. He received his
early education in the township schools of North East, and
as he grew to manhood he engaged in general farming and
fruit growing. He was married Nov. 4, 1846, to Leira J.,
daughter of Stephen and Mary (Gay) Peahody. a native of New
Lebanon, N. Y. To them were born seven children: Melissa,
born August 11, 1847, now Mrs. Henry IM. Burdick, of
Huntington. W. V.3 Alonzo ¥., Jr., born Oct. 25, 1848, who
died ter months later: Villiam, born Nov. 26. 1850, whose
biography appeared last week; Ela M. born April 10, 185°:
Leroy S., born June , 1854: Charles A., born Aug. 28,
1856; and Tennte H., born Nov. A, 1866,
Mr, and Mrs. Alonzo Butt and all their children, except
Melissa and Jennie have passed away.
Melissa, Mrs. M. A. Burdick, has two daughters, Mrs. William
Mills of Mobile, Ala., and Mrs. Frank H. Tyree of Tytingtor,
W. Ve. Mr. and “rs. Mills have a son, Alonzo B, Mills of
Columbus, 0., and a daughter, Mrs. Clarence Strain of
Mobile, Alabama. Mr. and Mrs. Frank H. Tyree have one son,
Herold Trree, Grosse Pointe, Mich,
Jennie H. married. Tames D. Clark of Pittsburgh. They have
one son, Earle A. Clark, who is married and has two
daughters, Barbara and Eloise.
Ella M. Butt had two children by her first marriage, °
daughter, Mdna, and a son, Steward, Edna married James S,
Whitehill. To Mr. and Mrs. Whitehill two daughters and a son
were born. The son, Lewis B., died in early manhood. One of
the daughters married Virton Black and the other married
Dodd McHugh. The Whitehills now own about half of the
original 300 acres that was taken up by Wendell Butt, Mrs.
Whitehill's great-grandfather, in 1817, and this has been in
continuous possession of some member of the family for 117
years.
J. Steward Wilcox, the son, was born March 7, 1876, and died
May 21, 1827. J, Steward Wilcox married Margaret Frisbee,
who survives him, March 22, 1899. To them were born five
sons and one daughter. Harold, born April, 1900, die from
injury by a runaway team nine months later, Harley W¥., born
Dec. 31, 1901, married Grace Bagley Aug. 20, 1924, and they
have one Child, Doris Irene, born March 14, 1927. John S.,
born Aug. 1, 1903, married Connie White June 2, 19263 they
have one child, J. Stewart. Ella M., born July 21, 1905.
Lewis A., born Dec. 9, 1908, and the twins, Alexander H. and
Alonzo, born Aug. 18, 1912. Alonzo died at the age of
three weeks.
LeRoy S. Butt, who passed away April 8, 1929, lived the
greater part of his life in the borough of North East. He
was for several years a member of the borough council end
was prominent in borough and social affairs. He was married
to Ida Jones Nov. 17, 1875. To this union was born a
daughter, Hthel C., April 13, 1881, who married Dr. R. F.
Thompson of Orangeville, Ont., Can., on June 1, 1°04. The
Thompsons make their home et North East, where the Doctor
has enjoyed a very successful dental practice for
thirty-five years. They have a son, LeRoy S. Thompson, born
June 28, 1908, and who married Miss Jeanette Forsyth of
North Tonawanda, N. ¥., Dec. 23, 1933.
Charles A. Butt, youngest son of Alonzo, married Minnie
Parker, They had no children and Mr. Butt passed away Jan.
7, 1917. Mrs. Charles A. has also passed on,
75
To describe the every-day lives of our forefathers here in
North East 100 years and more ago would be an impossible
task, So many of the conditions they had to face are now
removed. and co many different tasks that required skillful
labor are not now necessary and their art of accomplishment
forgotten, that we are unable to imagine ourselves in their
place.
From what information we have of those times it appears that
a larger percentage of the people were dependent on their
own efforts for a livlihood than at present. Practically all
farmers then had a large acreage of woodland, and there was
hardly an able-bodied male over sixteen who could not fell a
tree and score and hey therefrom timber for building
purposes. It is safe to say that not one in a hundred could
do this today, and many of these would not know what a broad
axe was used for, This art, an absolute necessity a hundred
years ago, is today useless and forgotten.
The construction of a frame house in those days required
several weeks of the most exhausting labor in the planing by
hand of all of the finishing lumber. Cutting to size,
planing, grooving and fitting ell the pieces required for
the doors and window sash, planing,tonguing, grooving and
sizing all of the boards used in the floors. All of this was
of necessity the hand work of skilled work men. Today all
this lumber comes dressed to exact sizes for the purpose
needed, and all finished and put together where possible.
In haying time the meadows all had to be mowed with a hand
scythe — a back breaking job that is also forgotten today.
Cutting the grain crops with 2 cradle, raking and binding it
by hand and flailing out the grain on the barn floor in
winter are other useless and forgotten arts of our
forefathers.
The carpenter of the good old days was supposed to make
everything that could be made of wood, from the cradles in
which the baby was rocked to sleep: in, to the coffin in
which the last sleep was taken. A day took kept by Rruce
Tuttle in North East township from around 1825 to 1850 shows
that he, as a carpenter of those days was sometimes the
undertaker also. In Mr. Tuttle's book there is recorded the
making of many coffins. This however was in the earlier days
of his activities. Tater his time seemed to be occupied with
the erection of buildings almost entirely.
The undertaking business of our forefathers was certainly as
far removed from the practices and price levels of today as
any other known pursuit. ‘The price according to his records
was rarely more than six dollars for a coffin, and often
four dollars or less. The practice then was also very
different from today. Then no undertaker could carry any
made up stock, nothing but rough, dry lumber in the shape of
boards and framing strips. A variation from this custom
would be considered as 8n offense against decency sufficient
for his being run out of town. Upon receipt of an order
after the death of a person, the undertaker was supposed to
take his rough seasoned cherry or walnut lumber, plane and
shape it by hand, and to continue the work night day or
Sunday, without let up till the coffin was complete.
Among Mr. Tuttle's items are: Allen Adkins to building
house, %27.60, Oct. 1830; and on Nov. 11, #. W. M. Rlaine to
making coffin, $6.00. On December 29, 1830, he charges
Lemiel Brown 6.00 for a breakfast table. Tn addition to his
other business Mr, Tuttle seemed to be a general trader. On
March 22, 1831, he charges Wendell Butt with a dining table.
$8.00, and credits him with a rifle gun, *14.00. On July 14,
1831, Lyman Loomis is charged $29.50 for finishing house. On
Aug. 5, 1834, there is a charge against Jacob Butt of$153.00
for building house, probably for the old house that used to
stand where the Middle road turns north. On Feb. 5, 1835,
there is a record of Mr. Tuttle's settlement with Alfred
M. Judd, administer of the estate of Freeman Judd, for
building the Franklin Paper Mill. This item probably shos
the date of first building that plant. Mr. Tuttle's contract
price was $1,500.00. On Oct. 5, 1835, a bill is receipted
for building a house for Harmon Hnsign, $314.66.
76
The name of the carpenter assisting Mr. Tuttle most
frequently mentioned is Nathaniel Norris. It seems also that
Earl Pierce worked for him on many occasions. The names of a
large number of citizens of those times appear in many
transactions.
Thursday, November 15, 1934:
The act of the Pennsylvania legislature erecting the Borough
of North East and defining its boundaries, powers and
limitations, was passed February 27, 1834, It was a rather
lengthy document of nearly five thousand words. Several of
its provisions have been changed by acts of assembly since
that time. The number of councilmen, however, still remains
the same as was provided in the original act.
There were six sections in this act, to which were extended
sections 41, 42, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56
and 57 of an act passed the 8th day of April, 1833, entitled
an Act to alter an "Act to erect the town of Erie in the
county of Erie into a borough, and to erect Waterford and
Wattsburg in the said county into boroughs, except that the
corporate year shall commence on the Friday before the third
Saturday in April, instead of the Friday before the third
Saturday in May". Waterford and Wattsburg were incorporated
a year earlier than North East, and Erie was incorporated
into a borough nineteen years earlier than North East.
Section 1 of the Act incorporating North East reads as
follows; "An Act: Po erect the town of North East in the
county of Erie into a borough passed this 27th day of
February, 1834. Section 1, That the town of North East, in
the county of Erie, shall be called "The Borough of North
East," and shall be bound ed and limited as follows, to wit:
Beginning at the northeast corner of the village and running
south one hundred and sixty-four rods by lands of Dyer
Loomis and Widow Phillips to a stake: then south,
sixty-four degrees west, two hundred and seventy~five
perches; thence north one hundred and sixty-four perches:
thence north sixty-four perches: thence north sixty-four
degrees east two hundred and seventy perches to the place
of beginning: including the original survey of the village."
It will be seen that there is a mistake in this boundary as
given. Two hundred and seventy-five rods from the east
borough line only reaches a few rods west of Mill St., but
the actual distance in the original survey of Gibsonville
and the accepted west line of the borough is actually
forty-five rods farther west, The east boundary line of one
hundred and sixty-four rods agrees with the original survey
of Gibsonville and shows the south line of the borough to
have been several rods north of the present Clay street.
Section 41 of the act incorporating North "-st provided,
"That the inhabitants of the said borough entitled to
vote for members of the general assembly, and who shall have
resided in the same six months immediately preceding the
election hereinafter mentioned shall on the Friday preceding
the third Saturday in April next, meet at the school house
in the said borough and the “re there, between the hours of
one and six in the afternoon, elect by ballot one citizen
who shall be styled burgess, six citizens to be a council,
and one citizen to be a high constable, all of whom hell be
inhabitants of the said borough."
The borough of North East was therefore incorporated in
1834, but the first borough election was not held until
Friday, April 17, 1835, when the citizens met as per the act
at the school house. For this election Augustus E. Hell was
chosen inspector, Navid Histed and “illiam W. Loomis judges,
and Enoch Brown and William Sillimen, clerks.
At the close of this election a count of votes gave: for
burgess - Clark
77
Putnam, 55 votes. For council - William L. Hall, 353 Hugh
Cochran, 353; William Allison, Jr., 353; Reuben Barker, 61;
Lemuel Brown, 363; William Graham, 33; Alexender Cochran,
263 Bester Town, 253 David Allison, 273; James Smedley, 26;
and Truman Tuttle, 29. The vote for auditors was as follows:
William B. Dickson, 32: Rufus S. Loomis, 353 Lewis S. Boren,
593; John H. Mills, 33; Albert Tuttle, 293; Samuel Malick,
263 William L. Hall,24. For constable — Edmond H. Davidson,
43; Robert P. Hurd, 17. For high constable - David Histed,
35. For overseers of the poor - Theodorus Parker, 553;
Alexander Davidson, 353 and Lemuel Brown, 23. The winners of
this first election and the first officers of the North East
Borough were — Clark Putnam, burgess; William and Reuben
Barker, council for one year; Lemuel Browr end William
Graham, council for two years; and Hugh Cochran and William
Allison, Jr., council for three years.
The elected burgess, council and high constable took the
regular oath of office April 24, 1835, before John Brawley.
There seems to be no record of any of the other of those
elected being sworn in. The first meeting of the first
borough council was on April 24, 1835. Organization and
appointing John Brawley clerk were the only actions taken
before adjournment, to meet at the house of W. Be. Dickson
Thursday, April 30. At the adjourned meeting there being
only three councilmen present, adjournment was had to May 9,
at one p.m.
At the meeting May 9, the burgess, clerk and councilmen
Hall, Allison, Barker and Brown were present. At this
meeting James D. Dunlap was appointed treasurer and Samuel
Malick and &, ¥. M. Blaine, street supervisors. No other
business appearing, adjournment was moved.
The borough council met the fourth time on June 20, 1835,
and still only four members — Hall, Allison, Brown and
Graham - were present but they started something by passing
ordinance No. 1, which reads as follows:
"Section 1 — Be it ordained and enacted by the burgess and
town council of the borough of North East, and it is
ordained and enacted by the authority of the same, That from
and after the fourth day of July next, all persons in
tending to exhibit any shows, plays, mountebanks, jugglers
or any other exhibitions within the limits of said borough
shall, previous to the opening of any such shows as above
mentioned, obtain a warrant from the burgess and pay a
license to said burgess of not less than two dollars nor
more than five dollars, at the discretion of the burgess,
which license the burgess shall pay over to the treasurer of
the said borough, to be added to the general fund for
defraying the expenses of the said borough.
"Section 2 — And be it ordained by authority aforesaid, That
from and after the fourth day of July next no horses,
cattle, sheep, Boats, swine, geese or other animals shall be
permitted to run at large within the limits of the said
borough, under penalty of being forfeited for the use of
said borough: provided, that if the owner or owners of
any horse or other said animal aforesaid shall, after notice
given to him by the high constable or some other fit person
refuse forthwith to take care of any such horse or other
animal, then, in such case only, the burgess shall issue his
warrant directed to the high constable commanding him to
seize such horse or other animal and after five days! public
notice given by written or printed advertisements put up in
at least five of the most public places in said borough of
such seizure, he shall expose the same for sale to the
highest bidder, the proceeds of such sale to be added to the
general fund of said borough. And, provided further, that if
any horse shall be seized by virtue of the above ordinance,
the owners of such horse, by paying to the high constable
for the use of said borough the sum of five dollars and all
costs which have been made, shall have his or their horse
restored; provided further, that the owner of any cow or ox
which shall have been seized under the provision of this
act, shall have them restored on payment of three dollars
and all costs previous to the day of sale.
"Section 3 — From and after the fourth day of July, if any
person shall
78
suffer any wood, boxes, barrels or other obstructions to
remain on any of the public roads, streets, sidewalks or any
of the public grounds *n the said borough, the same shall be
considered a nuisance, and shall be liable to seizure and
sale in the same manner as directed in the second section of
this ordinance. Provided, that the owner of any such
nuisance shall have the privilege of removing the same
within twenty-four hours after notice given him by the high
constable or some other fit person.
"Section 4 — From and after the fourth day of July next, any
person exhibiting any shows, plays, mountebanks, jugglers
or any other exhibition within the limits of said borough,
who shall not have previously obtained a license according
to the provisions of the first section of this ordinance,
shall forfeit for the use of said borough, the sum of ten
dollars, to be recovered before the burgess as debts of
similar amount are recovered before a justice of the peace.
"Ordained and enacted this twentieth day of June, A. D., one
thousand eight hundred and thirty-five.
"Attest: John Brawley, T. Clk. ("Signed) Clark Putnam,
Burgess. June 24, 1835, "I certify that the above and
foregoing ordinance was this day published, according to
law. (Signed) John Brawley, T. Clk."
Two more meetings of the council were held during the year
of 1835, one on July 15, and the other on Dec. 17, upon
which dates ordinances No. 2 and No, 3 were passed.
The Ross Family
In 1659 nine men by the name of Ross came to America from
Ross-shire, England. They were the first of the Ross name to
land in this country. One of these, John Ross, first settled
in Ipswich, Mass., and later in Windham, Conn. He was
married while living in Ipswich and raised a family of
twelve children. The family later moved to Wilkes-Barre, Pa.
One of the descendants of this family was Lieutenant Perrin
Ross, who married Marcie Otis, a lineal descendant of John
Alden. Perrin Ross was one of the victims of the Wyoming
massacre on July 3, 1778. Mrs. Marcie (Otis) Ross was one of
the few who escaped with their lives, and on the following
Christmas gave birth to a child who was named Perrin Ross,
Jr. Perrin Ross grew up end married a Hartford, Conn., girl
and moved to Lower Greenfield some time before 1800. He is
mentioned as one of the customers of the Pennsylvania
Population Company at its store at Colt's Station in the
spring of 1799.
Twelve children were born to the family of Perrin Ross, Jr.,
here in North East township. The first child, Halsey Ross,
was born in 1801, and was married to Jane R Peatty, who came
to North East township from Union county, with her
father, John Peatty. sister Eleanor and brother Hugh in
1819. In 1825 Perrin Ross, Jre, had 50 acres of land, two
horses and a cow.
Harry Ross, the second child, was born June 11, 1804. Harry
was married twice. His first wife was Mary Butt, an elder
sister of Alonzo W., and daughter of Wendell Rutt. Mary
lived but a short time after her marriage. She died April
24, 1830, at the age of 19 years. Later Harry Ross married
Miss Eleanor Beatty, sister of Hugh Reatty, who came from
Union County. Wine children were born to Harry and Eleanor,
the first three in their log house, which was on the Middle
road, on what was the Page place, just east of the Whitehill
place.
Their lot, incident to all early settlers, would today be
called a series
79
of unendurable hardships, Their home at first had no
stairway, so at bed time Mrs. Ross used to tie her babies in
her apron and climb a ladder to the loft where they slept on
corn husk mattresses. Later they raised geese and then had
feather beds. When they first settled, the Middle road was
little better than a bridle path. They soon, however, had a
better home built. the house that still stands at the
location above noted. At first Mr. Ross used to take corn
and wheat to Conneaut to be ground into flour and corm meal.
While he was absent on one of these trips a little son, John
Ross, died of diphtheria and was buried before he returned.
Six of their children were born in their new house.
Harry Ross made brooms during the winter months and peddled
them through the country, taking paper rags in exchange.
Herry Ross died in 1853, and at that time he owned the farm
where he first built his home. He also owned the Most of the
west half of lot five (as of the town of Gibsonville) a
small farm on the side hill and one on the Lae road. Harry
was much interested in all affairs pertaining to the welfare
of North East, holding different offices in the bororgh
during the years from 1841 to 1851, and was a captain in the
militia. He gave the land now occupied by the Methodist
church and went horseback all over the country to raise pert
of the money with which the old white church was built. He
was gifted with a fine tenor voice and for many years led
the choir of the church.
He built the old Ross homestead at 52 N. Lake street (Ross
Manor): cut the trees, hauled the logs for lumber to the saw
mill, and piled the lumber for seasoning. This was in the
days when heavy timber frames were common for houses, and
many of the timbers in this venerable home are a dozen or
more inches square, hewn out by hand with the broad axe, and
fastened to each other with heavy oak pins. The plaster in
this house is almost an inch thick. The stair-way is
mortised together, no nails being used. There were
fifteen rooms and seven outside doors. Cooking was done in
iron kettles hung on a swinging crane over long log
fireplace. The building was completed July 4, 1846, having
been under construction for two years.
"Aunt" Lydia Sparrow, celebrated for her natural wittiness
and kindly life, lived the last years of her widowed life in
this home with her nephew, Harry Ross. She was pleased with
the name "Aunt Lydia," and often remarked:"Yes, I am aunt to
all of God's creation but mother to none." Her husband,
Stephen Sparror, died May 28, 1830, leaving a will that
gave his entire possessions to Lydia for use without
molestation during her life time. Among the possessions of
Stephen at his death was the west half of lot No. 5 in
the village of Gibsonville. This was a narrow strip the
whole length of lot 5 from the Buffalo road to the north
village line, and contained a little over three acres.
Tradition has it that Lydia Sparrow gave to the borough of
North East the land on which the grade school now stands. It
is probably true that she gave the school board permission
to build the first school on the site where the grade school
is located, but it must have been merely 2 permit, as there
is no record of any deed of this property to the borough or
to the school. board. The transaction, however, was
virtually a gift, the first school being built years before
lydia's death. The use of this property being willed to
Lydia for her use during her life time, and after her death
1-10 of what remains to Stephen Sparro: Robertson and all
the rest and residue to Harriet Meigs, would not seem to
allow Iyvdia to give deed or deeds of the property. It did
not, however, prevent Harriet Meigs (who became Mrs. Harriet
Irwin) and her husband John B, Irwin, from deeding their
rights to Harry Rosr, which was done June 22, 1846.
Stephen Sperrow died May 28, 1830, nearly four years before
Gibsonville was incorporated as North East borough. Lydia
died Aug. 31, twenty-one years after incorporation, at the
ripe old age of 91 years. Perrin Ross, Jr., and
80
his wife both spent their last days in the house beyond the
last store on North Lake St., about half way from Main St.
to the Methodist church. This couple and Stephen Sparrovy
and lydia are buried in the little cemetery on the Martin
farm, on the road east of Orchard Beach,
Thursday, November 22, 1934:
The Ross Family
The nine children born to Harry Ross and Bleanor (Beatty)
Ross were Rufus M. Ross, born Aug. 15, 1831, and died Oct.
3, 1898; Mary E. Ross, born Sept. 7, 1832, and died June 27,
1842; Warren 1. Ross, born Sept. 29, 1835, and died Feb. 14,
1898: Byron C. Ross, born Dec. 12, 1837, and died April 24,
1864, in Harris burg hospital: Wilber Fisk Ross, born Aug.
1, 1839, and died July 28, 1906; William Henry and Mary Ella
Ross, born April 14, 1843 -— William Henry Ross died Nov.
20, 1918: Mary Ella died Nov. 14, 1914; George LeRq - Ross,
born Aug. 20, 1845, died June 6, 1915.
Rufus Ross, first child of Harry Ross, lived nearly his
whole life in North East. He was a veteran of the Civil war
and was for many years engaged in business here. On Oct. 15,
1854, he married Miss Marian Northup of Geneva, Ohio. For
several years Rufus and Marian made their home with Mr. and
Mrs. Edward Watts, on the corner of Washington and Main
streets. Mrs. Watts was a sister of Mrs. Ross, They had two
children, Ervin Mason Ross, born Dec. 8, 1856, died 1907,
and Elmer Ellsworth Ross, born Sept. 4, 1862.
Ervin Ross married Allie Chase of Ripley, N. Y., May 8,
1879. To them were born sever children, Mabel Garfield Ross,
at Ripley, N. ¥., Sept. 30, 1880; Walter Henry Ross, Feb.
23, 1884, at Ripley; Edith Bllen Ross, Aug. 5, 1888, at
Toronto, Canadas; Norman Stewart Foss, Aus. 19, 1889: Ralph
Holmes oss, Sept. 7, 1891; Marion Lucy Ross, Reb. 28, 18943;
and Dorothy Adaline Roses, June 6, 1898. The last five were
born in Toronto. Mrs. Ervin Ross died Feb. 15, 1907.
Elmer H. Ross married Cora Loomis June 19, 1886, and died
Aus. 4, 1930, in New York city. Mrs. Cora (Loomis) Ross died
April 12, 1915.
Warren L. Ross, fourth child of Harry Ross, married Frances
Downer Palmer Nov. 7, 1865. They had a son and a daughter —
the son, Harry W. Ross, born Sept. 5, 1869. Mrs. Frarces
Downer Ross died May 27,°1897. The son, Harry W. Ross
married first Miss Minnie M. Burton, Syracuse, N. Y., Sent.
28, 1892; sec ond, Ellvanne Janoswashe, in New Jersey, Aug.
8, 1907. wo children were born of this marriage —- Warren
Downer Ross, born Oct. 9, 1908, who married Alice Crayton,
June, 1932: and Francis H. Ross, Nec. 17, 1913, who married
Alice Gay jlowd, June 16, 1934. Warren L. Ross! daughter,
Katherine Downer Ross, born Aug, 25, 1873, married first
Joseph L. Acrian, Nov. 5, 1894; second, James Banks, Oct. 6,
19153 third, Lorain D. Rice, Jan. 10, 1927. Mr. Rice died
Oct. 1%, 1927.
Wilber Fisk Ross moved to Plano, Ill., before the Civil war
and married Miss Amelia Rurnham of Plano on Nov. 12, 1861.
Mrs. Ross died there on Nov. 26, 1907.
William Fenry Ross lived his whole life in North East, most
of it in the old Ross homestead on North Lake St..On March
29, 1870, he married Sarah Green, a descendant of the Green
Mountain Greens of Vermont, from which came Nathaniel Green,
the celebrated Revolutionary general. Four children were
born to this union, Mary Eleanor Ross, born Oct. 6, 1871,
and three others, all of whom died in infancy. Mary Hleanor
(Ross) Stone lives at the old Ross homestead, where she was
born. On Oct. 28, 1896, Mary Bleanor married Guy M. Stone.
Mr. Stone was born Aug. 20, 1870, and died Nov. 2, 1919. He
was well known here and was for a time engaged in the drug
business with Wm. H. Ross.
Two children were born to this union, Wilbur Henry Stone,
born April 24,
81
1899, and Adrien Ross Stone, born Feb. 21, 1906. Wilbur
Stone married Rereta M. King of Lakewood, Ohio, Feb. 16,
1924. They have two children: Richard Man nering Stone, ees
Nay 18, 1927, and Margueen Rerenta Stone, born Aug. 2, 1928.
Adrien Rose Stone ageried Alice Rohring of North East, June
16, 1926. They have three children: Beverly Janis Stone,
born July 19, 19293; Bonnetta Joan Stone. born Oct. 24,
1932, and Adrian Ross Stone, Jr., born Oct. 21, 1933.
Mary Ella Ross, twin of William H. Ross was married twice.
Her first hus band wes Amon Spier. Mr. Spier was born in
1841 and met his death in the horrible Angola disaster
Dec. 18, 1867. Two children were born to Amon and Mary.
Frank Ross Spier, born in 1859, and Myrtle Blizabeth Spier,
born March 7, 1865.
Frank Ross Spier married Ella Magill at North East, Pa.,
Sept. 9, 2884, on her birthday, she being born on this date
iv 1863. They have just recently celebrated their 50th
wedding anniversary at their home in Glendale, Cal. Frank
and Ella had two children: Amon Spier, born Aus. 12, 1885,
who lived a year and 13 days, died Aug. 25, 1886, and
Charlotte Spier, born July 15, 1890.
Myrtle Elizabeth Spier married Edward Franklin White of
St..Thomas, Ontario, Feb. 22, 1888, and died Feb. 11, 1929,
in Seattle, Yash. Four children were born to Myrtle and
Fdward: Warne Robert White, born Dec. 17, 1888, at Kamloops,
Weshineton, and died Aug. 4, 1933, at Seattle, Wash.3; Mary
Ella White, born Jan. 25, 1891, at Yakima, Wash., and
married Harry Jones Allen Sept. 4, 1919, at Seattle, Wash.;
Frank Edward Fhite, born April 2, 1895, at North Yakima,
Wash., served in the U. S. navy throughout the World war,
and married Ruth Ferguson, Feb.22, 1925, at Sea Preeze,
Oregon; Ross Spier White, born Jan. 24, 189°, at Spokmee,
Weahi, served in the U. S. navy through the World war, and
married Georgie May Tucker June 29, 1929.
Several years after the death of Amon Spier, Mary Ella
(Ross) Spier married her second husband, Wallace Green.
Mr. Green was born Aug. 7, 1847, and died Nov. 14, 1°74.
George LeRoy Ross, the ninth child of Harry and Hleanor
(Beatty) Rors, married Rosilla Knowles of Findler Lake, WN.
Y.
As before noted, Harry Ross did not reach old age, being
only 49 at his death, but in accomplishment his energy made
up for his lack of years. He was foremost in all things for
the good of the community in which he lived. Grand ma Ross,
his widow. occupied the old Ross homestead for many years
after the death of Harry and was highly respected and well
liked by the people abort her. She, like her husband,
experienced the pioneer hardships in the early years of
North East township. She came here with her sisters and
father, Johy Beatty from Monroeton. Pa., when a young girl,
traveling several hundred miles through the woods, and
having to walk most of the way.
At the meeting on July 15. it was resolved to levy a tax of
twenty-five per cent on the adjusted valuation. Ore would
think from the next resolution passed at this meeting that
most people traveled on foot. It was "Resolved, That Clark
Putnam be authorized to lay out the Main street running east
and west through said borough. sixty-six feet wide with
sidewalks twelve feet wide, and the cross streets fifty feet
wide with sidewalks ten feet wide included."
The second ordinance of the borough of North East was also
passed at this meeting and recorded as follows: "That the
owner of anv swine or sheen which shall hereafter be seized
in pursuance of the second section of the ordinance to which
this is a supplement, passed the 20th day of June, 1835,
shall have them returned on the payment of twenty-five cents
for each head of swine or sheep, and all costs; provided the
payment be made before the day of sale.
"Section 2. If any person or persons shall without
permission from the burgess, discharge and fire off any hand
gun, pistol or other fire arm, or shall
82
cast, throw or fire any squibs, rockets or other fire works
within the limits of said borough, every person so as
aforesaid offending and being thereof leg ally convicted by
the confession of the party so offending, or on the oath of
affirmation of one or more credible witnesses before the
burgess, shall for every such offense, forfeit and pay for
the use of said borough, the sum of one dollar, to be
recovered by the burgess, as debts of a Similar amount are
recovered before a justice of the peace,
"Section 3. This act shall take effect on and after the
twenty—seventh day of July, A. D., one thousand eight
hundred and thirty-five." Following is the notation: "I
certify that the above ordinance was published according to
law, this 15th day of July, A. D., 1835. John Brawley, T.
Clk." The next meeting of record of the borough council was
Dec. 17, 1835, five months later, at which the passage of
the third ordinance of the borough of North East seemed to
be the only business before the council. This ordinance is
recorded as follows:
"Be it ordained, etc., That the penalties imposed on horses
and cattle by the end section of the ordinance enacted the
20th day of June, 1835, for running at large, be reduced and
the same is hereby reduced to seventy-two cents for every
horse and twenty-five cents for every head of horned cattle,
and so much of the ordinance aforesaid as requires the
constable to give notice to any own er or owners of any
horse, or horses, cattle, sheep, swine, goats, dogs, geese
or any other animals before seizure, be and the same is
hereby repealed.
"Sec. 2, If any geese shall be found running at large
contrary to the provision of the 2nd section of the
recited act or ordinance, they shall be seized and sold
forthwith by the high constable without advertising.
"Sec. 3. All warrants hereafter issued by the burgess
directed to the high constable for the seizure and sale of
any animals, shall be good and valid for the term of four
months from the date thereof, to seize and sell all such
animals as shall be found running at large in said
borough.
"Section i, This ordinance shall take effect from and after
the 28th day of December, 1835, and so much of any ordinance
as is hereby altered or amended, is hereby repealed."
These borough ordinances were enacted under the authority
given by the state of Pennsylvania in its act of
incorporation, passed Feb. 27, 1834.
Newspapers were not as plenty in those days as now, so the
Incorporation Act of Feb. 27 provides: "That no by-law
ordinance rule or regulation of the said corporation shall
be repugnant to the constitution or laws of the United
States or of this Commonwealth, and that no by-law,
ordinance, rule or regulation shall be carried into
operation until ten days have elapsed after the publication
thereof,by at least five advertisements, set up in five
public places in the said borough, which publication shall
be certified at the time in the record books of the
corporation by the town clerk, at the foot or margin of such
by-laws, ordinances, rules or regulation. And such
certificates shall be good evidence in all trials arising
from or touching the said by-laws, ordinances, rules or
regulations."
Being a councilman in those early days of North East
evidently did not take much of one's time in attendance at
its meetings, or labor in attending to its duties. The
meeting of December 17, 1835, was adjourned to meet the
25th, a week later, There is no record of this adjourned
meeting being held, nor in fact or any other council meeting
during the entire next year, 1836, and worse yet, not until
July 6, 1839.
In the mean time at the regular election, held in the brick
schoolhouse April 15, 1836, Albert Tuttle was elected
burgess; Edmund HE. Davidson, constable, and also high
constable: Theororus: Parker and Alexander Davidson, poor
masters; James Smedley, John Brawley, BH. W. M. Blaine and
David Allison, auditors. At a special election on July 11,
1836, at which 19 votes were cast, Lewis S. Bowers was
elected burgess to fill vacancy, Mr. Tuttle having removed
or resigned. 83
At the next election, held in the brick schoolhouse, April
14, 1837, Bester Town was elected burgess: James Smedley
and H. W. M. Blaine, councils George Robinson, constable and
high constable; Samuel Malick and Cyrus Robin son, auditors;
William Graham and Theodorus Barker, poor directors. James
L. Bliss was clerk at this election,
There is no record of any other business being done by any
borough officer during the year 1837. At the regular time,
April 20, 1838, the election was held in the brick
schoolhouse. Bester Town was again elected to the office of
burgess, Mark Baldwin and Cyrus Robinson were elected
council, Amos Gould, constable and High constable; Philo
Barker, Alexander W. Blaine, Robert Ramsay and Samuel
Malick, auditors; Theodorus Barker and Cyrus Ro»*nson, Poor
directors. This election was certified by James L. Bliss,
clerk.
The next regular election took place in the brick school
house April 19, 1839. B. R. Tuttle was elected burgess
without opposition having 51 votes. The successful
councilmen this year Were Thomas Teed and James H. Haynes,
both receiving 43 votes. Alexander Davidson was chosen
cons:able and William E. Ward, high constable. Auditors were
R. 5. Loomis, W. W. Loomis, I. T. Blaine and Henan
Robinson.. Poor masters this time were David Allison and
Alexander W. Blaine. This was certified by A. ¥. Blaine,
clerk. This year the borough council seeming to have
survived the hardships of its nearly four years! vacation,
and came to life on July 6, 1839, at which time it held a
meeting, present at which were BR. R. Tuttle, burgess: James
Smedley, James H. Haynes, Thomas Teed, Mark Baldwin and
Cyrus Robinson, councilmen. A. ¥. Rlaine was appointed
clerk: ¥. W. Loomis, treasurer; and M. ~. Town ard Reuben
Barker, Street super visors. Council then adjourned to meet
Saturday, Aug. 1, at 5p. m It, hows ever, did meet July 13,
and then at the house of Mark Baldwin.
Thursday, November 29, 1934:
At this meeting three resolutions were passed, one to levy 3
tax of twenty-five percent on the adjusted valuation for
the purpose of leveling the public square, and the
overplus, if any, to be used in repairing sidewalks as the
council may direct. The second resolution was, "That the
ordinance respecting exhibitions, plays. etc., to be so
altered as to authorize the burgess to grant license from
two dollars and fifty cents to fifteen dollars." The third
resolution was to the effect that it shall be the duty of
the clerk at all subsequent meetings to read the minutes of
the previous meeting. This seems to have been the last
meeting of the borough council in the year 1839.
On April 17, 1840, the regular election of the trough was
held in the brick school house. noch Brown was elected
burgess without opposition, having received 42 votes. W. ¥.
Loomis and Mark Baldwin were elected justices of the peace;
Amos Gould, high constable, Georre Nelson and B. R. Tuttle,
councilmen; John K. Greer, high constable: William Silliman,
assessor, with B. K. Town and Stephen Histed as assistants.
“There were nineteen other candidates for the six offices to
be filled, more than half as many candidates for offices as
there were votes & the election. The matter of a pore house
was up but it received scant attention, there were 8 for and
6 against it. This election was certified by A. W. Blaine.
The first council meeting of record this year, 1840, was on
June 2. The business of the meeting was the appointment of
¥. W. Loomis, treasurer; A. W. Blaine, clerk: David Histed
and BF, ¥. M. Blaine, street supervisors. This meeting was
adjourned to June 6, At the meeting of June 6 it was
resolved to levy a tax of fifty cents on every one hundred
dollars on the adjusted valuation and that the burgess
should furnish the street supervisors with a duplicate of
84
the assessed valuation of the property. It was also resolved
that no cattle be allowed to run at large in the limits of
the borough between the hours of 8 o'clock pm and four
o'clock a.m. The council adjourned to meet Saturday, June
22, but there is no record of any meeting at that date.
On April 16, 1841, the regular election was held as usual in
the brick school house. W. W. Loomis was chosen burgess.
William Griffith and J. A. Curtiss were chosen Coucilmen;
EH. H. Davidson, high constable; Bester Town, constable.
Bester Town was also elected poor masters; Powell Harper,
assessors William J. Force, inspector; Shubal Atkins, judge
of election; Palmer Pierce and S. Malick, supervisors. At
this election there were sixty votes cast, and thirty-four
candidates for the sixteen offices to be filled.
The first council meeting of record this year was held April
21, 1841. Mark Baldwin was appointed clerk, and John M.
Conrad, treasurer for the ensuing year. Palmer Pier6e’and
Samuel Malic!, were appointed street supervisors. On motion
a resolution was passed that the burgess be authorized to
purchase a book or docket to be kept by him for the use of
the borough; "to be similar to the one in which this entry
is made." Adjourned to meet at the office of W. W. Loomis,
April 26, at 9° a.m. Council met as per adjournment. A
resolution was passed that a tax of fifty cents be levied on
the last adjustment of valuation, for the repair of streets,
etc. It was also resolved that the burgess be authorized to
employ the county surveyor to survey and establish to
boundaries of the streets in North East borough. The council
then adjourned, but it reconvened the same evening to
pass ordinance No. 4 which was as follows:
"Be it ordained, etc., That from and after the tenth day of
May next no animal of the horse or cattle type shall be
permitted to run at large in the said borough between the
hours of eight o'clock ir the evening and six o'clock in the
morning under the penalty already provided in the ordinance
to which this is a supplement, enacted on the twentieth day
of June, 1835.
"Sec. 2, And be it enacted by the authority aforesaid that
no geese shall be permitted to run at large in the said
borough under the penalty of one shilling for each goose.
It shall be liable to seizure and sale by the high constable
after five days published notice, put up in five of the
most public places in the borough. The overplus (if any) of
such sale after the payment of the penalty aforesaid, and
all reasonable costs of such seizure and sale to be returned
to the owner or owners thereof: provided, nevertheless, that
if the owner or owners of any such geese shall previous to
the sale thereof pay the above penalty together with the
reasonable costs of such seizure, it shall be the duty of
the officer having charge of them to deliver them forthwith
to the said owner or owners — and so much of the aforesaid
ordinance to which this is e supplement and the subsequent
supplements thereto enacted the 17th Jay of Dec., 1835, and
the sixth day of June, 1840, as are hereby altered and
hereby repealed. Ordained and enacted the 26th day of April,
1841.
"Mark Baldwin, Clerk. ¥W. W. Loomis, Burgess." Adjourned to
meet April 30. No quorum. Council met May 8. Resolved that a
tax of fifty cents on the $100 adjusted valuation be levied
in cash, provided the consent of a majority of the
taxable inhabitants of the borough be obtained in voting. A
resolution was passed authorizing the burgess to erect a
pound in the said borough, costing not to exceed fifteen
dollars at some convenient place to be selected by himself.
A secial election was held in the brick school house May 17,
1841, for the purpose of electing a high constable for the
borough. Isaac Folwell, receiving twenty-five votes, was
elected. Council met June 15 and 17 and adjourned: no
business. No other council meetings was held in 1841.
Council met March 12, 1842; no quorum. It met again March
15, adjourned to meet the 17th, at which meeting there
seemed to be an effort to make up for lost time.
85
The Cushman Family
Robert Cushman, the Plymouth pilgrim, was the ancestor of
all the Cushmans in the United States. He was born in Kent,
England, 1580, and died in England, . 1625. With John Carver
he was instrumental in effecting the emigration of the
Puritans to Holland, where he joined them after they had
been in Leyden several years. He and Carter chartered the
Mayflower. Robert, with the office of assist ant governor,
embarked with his family on the Speedwell, August 5, 1620,
when the two ships began their voyage together, tut when the
Mayflower sailed again alone September 6, with only part of
the company, he remained behind to act as the financial
agent of the Pilgrims in England and send supplies. In July,
1621, he sailed for New England on the Fortune, arriving
Nov. 21. He was accompanied by his only son, Thomas. Robert
returned to England to continue as the agent of the colony,
leaving his son Thomas in the family of Governor Bradford,
While at Plymouth, Robert Cushman preached a sermon on the
"Sin and Danger of Self-Love." This was December 9, 1621,
and the discourse is noted as the first delivered in New
England that was thought worthy of publishing in London.
December 13, 1621, he returned to England, Two years later,
with Edward Winslow, he obtained a grant of land on Cape
Ann, where a new band of Puritans made a settlement. The
largest and finest monument erected at Plymouth in honor of
the Pilgrims, is that of Robert Cushman.
Robert's son, Thomas, subsequently became very prominent as
a Pilgrim. For 43 years Thomas Cushman, prayerful,
practical, true-hearted, ruled and governed the church at
Plymouth and sometimes was the only preacher. A quarter of a
century after his death Plymouth church erected a monument
to his memory at Burial Hill, Plymouth. He lived to be 90
years old, dying in 1699, the last survivor of the Mayflower
band.
Leverette Cushman, a direct descendent of the Pilgrim,
Robert Cushman, and father of D. R. Cushman of North East,
was born Feb. 14, 1817, at Stafford Springs, Conn. He was a
son of Iuke and Hannah (Rockwell) Cushman, natives of
Connecticut, who were the parents of eight children. He and
Murdock Cushman of Plymouth, N. ¥., were the last survivors
of the family. Leverette was married to Anna Wilson of
Stafford Springs, where they lived until 1855, when they
sold their farm for $6,000 and came to North East.
Transportation of money was not as safe and convenient in
those days, so they sewed the $6,000 in Mrs. Cushman's
clothing for the journey.
They lived here until 1860, hen he bought a farm of 163
acres in McKean township, near Sterrettania, with good
buildings and in an excellent state of cultivation.
They had eight children: Eliza(deceased); Emma, wife of Fred
Brockway of Ripley, N. Y¥.3; Georgia, wife of Harry Gardner
of Jamestown, N. Y.3; Dr. Bertha Satterlee, wife of Dr. M.
Satterlee of Ohio; D. R., attorney at laws; who came back to
North East and started the North East Star, later the Sun,
and who more than sixty-five years has been a successful
attorney and a man prominent in the affairs of our town; L.
B., (deceased,) one of the former editors of the North East
Sun: Clayton, (deceased) for many years a resident of
Tacoma, Washington, and Herbert F. of Ripley, N. Y. Mr. and
Mrs. Leverette Cushman and three of their children, as above
noted, are dead. Mrs. D. R. Cushman has passed on, as has
also their son, Carlton R. Their sons, Leverett and Ford,
daughter Cora and Lola (Goodwin) Cushman, widow of Carlton
R., all now reside at North East. Leverett is married and
has a son, Danford Carlton Cushman, and a daughter,
Charlotte Alice Cushman.
86
Thursday, December 6, 1934:
The first business of this meeting was the appointment of E.
C. Davidson as collector, after which the following
ordinance was passed: "Be it ordained etc., That all fences
standing in the public streets of the said Borough shall be
removed therefrom by the respective owners thereof on or
before the fifteenth day of April next; provided that ten
days' previous notice so to do shall be given by the street
supervisors; and that all building of whatever kind standing
in said streets also shall be removed by the respective
owner or owners thereof on or before the first day of July
next.
"Section 2. And be it further ordained and enacted that the
owners of lots in said Borough shall erect substantial posts
with one rail framed in, to be set in the street at such
distance from the line as to leave a sidewalk including the
posts of nine feet, and to be erected on or before the first
day of June next under the direction of the Burgess and Town
Council.
"Section 3. If the owner or owners of any such fences shall
on such notice as aforesaid, refuse or neglect to remove the
same for the space of six days from and after the said
fifteenth day of April next, or if the owner or owners of
any such buildings as aforesaid, shall neglect or refuse to
remove the same for the space of fifteen days from and after
the first day of July next, or if the owner or owners of
lots as aforesaid, shall neglect to set such posts and rails
for ten days after the first day of June next, that then and
in either of the above cases, the Burgess and Town Council
shall cause such fences and buildings to be removed and such
post and rails erected at the expense of the owner or owners
thereof. Said posts and rails to extend from the east line
of said Borough as far west as the road leaving the Buffalo
road at David Histed's to Scouller's Mill, as far north as
the brick schoolhouse and as far south as the creek near B.
Town & Son's Ashery."
This ordinance was attested and posted March 17 by Mark
Eahdwin, T. Clk. A resolution was passed directing the
supervisors to build a sidewalk in front of the public
square, out of moneys not otherwise appropriated, and under
the direction of the burgess and town council .
There is also the first record of an auditors' meeting.
There were two tax collectors, David Histed, whose duplicate
was for $71.10; and HE, W. M. Blaine whose duplicate was for
$72.73. Their report showed — Dr. $143.73, and the following
credits: M. Blaine, labor, $13.20; exonerations, $2.00; bal.
due, $1.59. EB. W. M. Blaine, labor, $13.20; exonerations,
$4.03; bal. due, $55.40; making a total of $143.73. Quite a
difference from present conditions, under which the like
payments amount to several thousand dollars per month. The
auditors were David Histed, B. R.Tuttle and Shubal Adkins.
On April 15, the regular election was held in the brick
schoolhouse, resulting in the reelection of ¥. W. Loomis
as burgess; A. E. Hall, council for one year; John Braden
for two years; and John Greer and Amos Gould for three
years.
On April 21, 1842, it was resolved by the council that the
supervisors be required to ascertain whether any public
lanes or other grounds were fenced up or occupied by private
individuals, and if so to notify such individuals, or
occupants, to remove such fences or other obstructions
therefrom forthwith.
Another resolution which today seems queer, was that "The
burgess draw his warrant on the treasurer for five dollars
in favor of Mark Baldwin as payment in full for his services
as town clerk for the past year."
This seems to have covered the borough business for the year
of 1842, as the next entry on the record is of the regular
election, held in the brick schoolhouse April 14, 1843, at
which Aaron Kellogg was chosen burgess; E. H. Davidson
and Rufus S. Loomis, council. A. He Blaine was elected
constable.
Council met April 21 and resolved that the supervisors be
directed forthwith to clear off all wood, timber, lumber
and other obstructions and nuisances
87
from the streets and public grounds within the limits of the
borough.
Council met again the next day and resolved to pay Mark
Baldwin five dollars for another year services as town
clerk: it also appointed him clerk for the coming year.
Council met again April 25 and resolved that the burgess
draw his warrant on the treasurer for $18.30 to satisfy a
judgment in favor of D. Allison. It was also resolved that a
road tax of one-fourth of one per cent on the last valuation
of property, be assessed for repairing the public streets,
and that the burgess give immediate notice to all former
officials of the borough of North East who have unsettled
business with the said borough to present their respective
accounts for settlement at the brick school house Saturday,
the 29th day of April, at one p.m.
The business of those connected with the borough school 90
years ago seems hardly worth mentioning, as compared with
today. There is nothing in the borough's record book to
indicate the attendance, or of the teachers, at that time,
but there is a record of the account of Mark Baldwin,
treasurer of the North East borough school fund for the year
of 1843. This shows balance in treasury April 1, 1842,
$37.46; state treasury draft, $113.00; cash from North East
town ship as per contract, $50.00; from S. Mallick, Coll.,
$79.95; making a total of $281.13. This is offset by amount
disbursed as per vouchers, $178.02; balance in treasury,
$103.11; making $281.13.
The borough auditors met on July 7. With the street
supervisors went over the business of the past year and
found that the transactions had amounted to 3394.80, and
that there remained a balance on the duplicates in the hands
of S. Mallick of $64.86,
On. July 17, 1843, council met at the store of A. Kellogg
and ordered that the bill of EH. H. Davidson of $10 for
building a pound be paid, and also ordered that the
supervisors grade the hill at R. Barker's,
On April 25, 1843 there is a record of a transaction at the
borough pound. It is in the form of a bill presented to the
borough as follows: Borough of North East to G. ¥. Brown,
taking up hogs, 75c; to keeping hogs, $2.04; to selling
hogs, 38c; to advertising hogs, 75c; use of pound, $3.00;
advertising election, 50c - a total of $7.42, amount
received from sale of hogs, $5.82. Order on treasurer to
balance account, $1.60.
Council met on May 11, 1843, and levied a tax of 20 cents on
the one hundred dollars of the last Valuation for the
purpose of paying debts and such other purposes as the
burgess and council may direct.
Levi Jones’ Autobiography
(Autobiography written by Mr. Levi Jones at the home of his
daughter, Mrs. J. ©. Loomis, 33 Blaine St., North East, Pa.,
thirty-nine years ago last June. The granddaughter he refers
to is Mrs. Frank Smith. Mr. and Mrs. Smith now live at
Ripley, N. Y., on West Main St. This reviews at first hand
some of the conditions faced by our forefathers here: :
know all men in these presents that I, Levi Jones of North
East, Erie county, and state of Pennsylvania, was born in
the town of Bennington, Genesee county, state of New
York, Aug. 19, 1812; and in 1812 or 1813 my father enlisted
in the army of the War of 1812 as a teamster and took with
him his own team, a nice yoke of oxen, and he moved his
family (consisting of himself and wife and myself) to
Buffalo, N. Y. There we remained until the night before
Buffalo was burned by the British, when he loaded us into
his wagon and
88
took us back to where we moved from when we went to Buffalo.
He landed us there in the care of a brother; then he
returned to Buffalo and found it ell in ashes except two or
three small buildings left standing. The above is what I
remember by hearing my father tell about it so often.
After the War of 1812 in the month of March, 1819, we moved
to the town of Greenfield, Erie County, Pa. We stopped at
Colt's Station, and the citizens living there at that time
were as follows: Elisha Marvin, father of our fellow
townsman, (Wm. #. Marvin, Esq.,) George Addison and Andrew
Jackson, and they gave us the privilege of living in the log
schoolhouse which was then standing idle. We remained until
some time in April. That gave my father, Abijah Jones, time
to build a little pole shanty.
I will try and give you a little description of it. When we
moved into it, it was made of poles that two men could
handle. It was about 12 x 15 ft. on the ground. It was 8
feet high on the back side, 12 feet on the front and it was
covered with troughs dug out of basswood logs split apart,
then dug out into troughs. In order to make the roof shed,
the troughs were laid side by side right side up and then
another was turned the other side up covering the crack
between the two laid right side up and, so on until the roof
was complete. The cracks between the poles of the shanty
were chinked with bits of wood fitted for the purpose and
then corked with moss that we picked from the trees in the
woods, which were right there within 20 feet of the shanty.
There was no floor, no door, no window and no chimney to or
in the shanty, except a hole left in the roof for the smoke
to escape. Even the leaves had not been scraped from off the
ground. My mother and myself (only in the seventh year of my
age) performed the little task - we scraped up the leaves
and burned them in the fireplace to keep us warm, it being
in the month of April with plenty of snow on the ground. In
order to close the door at night the best we could do was to
hang up a bed guilt for a door to protect us from the cold;
and the wild beasts which were plenty in those day, such as
wolves, deer, wild cats, hedge hogs or porcupines and a
variety of other small animals.
Our family at that time consisted of my father, mother, two
sisters and myself. Our stock of cattle consisted of one cow
and a yoke of oxen, and these we had to browse by felling
trees and letting them eat the twigs from off the tree tops
in order to keep them alive, as there was no hay in the
country to be had at any price. We even had to empty our
straw beds to save their lives.
In the fall of 1820 the first Monday mn October the snow was
plump 18 inches on the level, and the ground was not
entirely clear of snow until the next April. We could get no
potatoes to eat only as we dug them out of the hills, where
they grew until spring, when we dug them with but very few
frozen.
It was pretty snug times those days. About the only way we
had of raising money was by saving the ashes we made in
clearing up the land of its heavy forests of timber and
then we had to leach out the strength of those ashes and get
the strong lye, then boil the lye down into what is called
black salts, which would bring from 52.00 to $2.50 per 100
lbs. Your humble servant has boiled these salts (when a boy)
day after day and thought I was doing a big business, and so
it was. These salts were then made into potash, then into
perlash and into saleratus, etc. This was a very slow way of
making money of which we had to have a little every year to
pay our taxes and a few little articles of clothing that
mother could not manufacture. Such was the state of affairs
when I was a boy in Greenfield and in the beech woods
generally.
When in my 30th year of age I married a very estimable young
lady by the name of Melissa Cornell, April 2, 1842. By her I
had one child, a daughter, who now is the wife of Mr. J. C,
Loomis and is the mother of five children - one daughter and
four boys. The granddaughter has a daughter, making four
generations now living. My wife, Melissa, died May 13, 1861.
Then I remained single until December 7, 1876,when I married
another very estimable lady, Mrs. Jane Barley. With her I
lived until October 6, 1889,
89
when she died; and that left me alone again, (but thanks be
to God, I feel that I have one friend left that sticketh
closer than a brother,) and in the spring of 1891 I went to
live with my daughter, Mrs. J. C. Loomis, and am still
living with her at present. It is now June 20, 1895, and I
will be 83 years old the 19th day of August, if I live to
reach it.
Thursday, December 13, 1934:
From the following one can readily see that financial
matters with the borough ninety years ago, like other
things, were on a smaller scale than those of today. On May
8, 1841, a tax of fifty cents per $100 adjusted valuation
was levied, to be collected if consent of a majority of the
taxable inhabitants be obtained in writing.
This consent must have been obtained, though there is no
record of it. There is however a record of collection by
Samuel Malick of this tax at the meeting of May 11, 1843.
His account is as follows: To duplicate, $47.40; Cr.
Exonerations, $5.41. Paid for two plows and two scrapers,
5123 order to David Allison, $18.30; order to M. Baldwin,
$5.00; order to G. W. Brown, $1.60; 5% on $41.99, 32.093
balance, $2.99.
Another bill, that of John Greer, was settled at this time.
It appears that Mr. Greer had charge of a borough suit in
Erie. It was to amount paid E. H. Davidson for going to
VYilson's to attend suit, $6.503 six days self to Wilson 's
and Erie, 54.503 M. Greer, self and wagon to Wilson's,
$1.50: for transcript, 38c; to D. Allison as council $2.00.
Mr. Greer must also have had charge of the borough pound at
that time, because there follows in the bill: Keeping hogs,
$1.25; fees for selling hogs, 75c, making a total of $16.88,
with a credit of $3.13, for proceeds from the sale of hogs,
leaving balance due $13.75. It was resolved by the burgess
and town council that the bill be accepted and that the
burgess draw an order for the amount to wit: $13.75.
On May 11, 1843, council adjourned till next day at 4 p.m.
Present at the adjourned meeting were Burgess Aaron Kellogg,
EH. H. Davidson, John Greer, William Griffith, R. S. Loomis
and A. Gould, councilmen, and Mark Baldwin, clerk. The first
business at this meeting was an account of ¥. ¥. Loomis
against the borough. Mr. Loomis had received as license fees
in 1842, $5.00, and had bought from J. Scouller for the
borough, a book for which he had paid $2.00. The burgess
and town council accepted Mr. Loomis' note for $2.00 in
settlement of the account,
Another account settled at this meeting was quite different
in amount from similar accounts of today. It was the bill of
John Brawley, several years over due, for two years services
as town clerk, including the organization of the borough in
1834, By resolution of the burgess and town council this
account was accepted and the burgess was instructed to draw
his order on the treasurer for the balance due. The entire
bill totalled $17.00. The council then adjourned to meet May
19.
At the adjourned date there were present Aaron Kellogg,
burgess; John Greer, Amos Gould, John Braden, E. H. Davidson
and Rufus S. Loomis, councilmen, and Mark Baldwin, clerk. It
was resolved by the burgess and town council of the borough
of North East that the owners of lots in the said borough,
who had not set posts and rails according to an ordinance of
the 17th of March, 1842, be notified by the street
supervisor to do so within thirty days. It was also re
solved by the burgess and council that the town clerk
forthwith make out the tax duplicate for the tax as
authorized by the resolution of the 11th day of May, 1842,
and that M. C. Town be appointed collector of the said tax.
Mr. Town was given the duplicate on June 12, 1843, and the
amount was $99.22.
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The regular election was held in the brick schoolhouse on
Friday, the 19th of April, 1844, and Samuel Malick was
chosen as burgess. A. W. Blaine, David Allison and S. 8.
Hammond were elected as auditors; J. HM. Conrad and
Alexander Davidson, councilmen. Borough affairs were rather
quiet the rest of the year.
The regular election of 1845 was held in the brick
schoolhouse as usual on Friday, the 18th day of April, at
which time Samuel Malick was reelected burgess}; Bester
Town, Enoch Brown and Powell Harper, councils; John M.
Conrad and Alex Davidson, inspectors; S. S Hammond,
assessor; James H. Haynes, luther P. Cowles and Isaac H.
Case, school directors; Jacob Knapp, ¥m. O. Ross, Hyman
Robinson and John Braden, auditors; Benjamin Histed,
constable; and Hiram F. Flowers, high constable.
The borough council met at the shop of Samuel Malick on
April 25, 1845. At this meeting Mark Baldwin was paid three
dollars for his services as clerk for the year of 1843, and
I. H. Case was paid two dollars and fifty cents for clerk
services for the year 1844.
The council met again May 12, 1845, and passed the
following: "Resolved by the burgess and town council, That
after the 12th day of May the fines shall be as follows on
all animals that shall be taken up: Every head of horses, 50
cents; cows 123 cents; hogs up to three years old, 12$
cents; over that, 10 cents; sheep, 65 cents; geese, 3
cents.”
Several other more or less important resolutions were
passed, one of which was: "That the burgess be authorized to
request Mr. William Griffith to re build the pound, or so
much of it as he caused to be torn down." Council met again
July 1, and passed the following: "Resolved, That Samiel
Malick be authorized to rebuild the pound or see that it is
done." And another: "Resolved, That the burgess, Samuel
Malick, be authorized to commence prosecution against
William Griffith for tearing down the pound."
On December 22, 1845, "Council met by order of the burgess
at the office of A. ¥. Blaine, Esq., for the purpose of
taking into consideration the propriety of making some
arrangement respecting the smallpox, which is now raging in
this borough." It was resolved, "That the family where the
small pox is prevailing be requested to stay at home, and
also that all the children that have been exposed to the
same be requested to stay at home for the present."
"Resolved, That the burgess cause to be put up a sign at
the house where the small pox is, and that a copy of the
above resolutions be sent to the family."
The next regular election was held April 17, 1846. Richard
Brawley was chosen burgess; William Griffith, John Greer and
William 0. Ross, councils; John Braden , judge of election;
J. A. Curtiss and William E. Ward, inspectors; A. W. Blaine,
assessor: Samuel Malick and James H. Haynes, assistant
assessors; B. C. fown, John Greer, Harry Ross and Dr. James
L. Hall, school directors; Heman Robinson, John Braden
and Joseph Johnson, auditors; Joel Loomis, constable; and
Hiram Flovers, high constable.
Council met April 24, 1846, at the office of A. W. Blaine
and appointed William Griffith supervisor of streets for the
west end of the borough and Samuel Malick for the east
end and paid Enoch Brown three dollars for services as clerk
for the year past. Council again met at the office of Mr.
Blaine May 14, 1846, and passed among others, the following
resolution: "Resolved by the burgess and town council,
That posts and rails shall be put on each side of the Main
street running east and west, and the Station and Freeport
streets through the borough of North East, and the same to
be done by the owners of the land by the first of July next.
If not done by the above time, the supervisors shall cause
it to be done forthwith at the expense of the owners of the
land."
Council met next on July 3, 1046, at the room of R. S.
Brawley and passed the following resolutions: "Resolved,
That all hogs after July 6, 1346, found running at large
shall be taken up, and all cattle found running at large
after nine o'clock p.m., until 4 o'clock in the morning,
shall be taken up, and all
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cattle after the fifteenth of November found running at
large, any time, day or night, shall be taken up, until the
first of May, 1847."
John Greer and Powell Harper were appointed a committee to
revise road tax list and drop all those they think best. The
road tax duplicates for 1846 were for William Griffith,
$86.24; and for Samuel Malick, $74,48.
it seems that the date of the regular election had been
changed to March, as it was held on March 19 in 1847. Jacob
Knapp was elected burgess. This election is the first in
which prohibition was an issue. 42 votes were cast "for the
sale of liquors" and 39 votes against the sale.
Nothing of importance other than the regular routine of
business came before the council during the year of 1847. On
Jan. 31, 1848, council met and took the first steps in fire
legislation, by passing the following: "Resolved by the
burgess and town council, That every owner of a house in the
borough of North East shall furnish a ladder suitable for
the said house in case of fire. The same to be furnished by
the first day of April next, and if any shall refuse to
furnish the same, they will be furnished by the borough at
the expense of the owner of the house."
Clark D. Jameson
Mr. C. D. Jameson came to North East in 1841 at the age of
18, and for nearly sixty years thereafter was one of North
East's most substantial and well- liked citizens. Though the
nature of his business had a saddening aspect he was a
kindly, considerate friend to all who knew him.
Clark D. Jameson was born at Hamburg, N. Y., April 5, 1823,
a son of Hugh and Susannah (Moore) Jameson, natives of New
England, the former of Scotch- Irish descent. Clark received
but little schooling, beginning at 12 years of age to assist
in clearing up his father's farm in Brant, N. Y., and
working on the farm until 18 years of age, when he came to
North East and learned cabinet making with Chappell &
Perkstaff.
He embarked in the business of manufacturing furniture and
coffins in 1850, establishing also and maintaining an
undertaking business which he conducted until the date of
his death, February 6, 1908. In April, 1889, he took into
partnership his step-Son, James 3. stull, who after Mr.
Jameson's death, conducted the business until September,
1920, when it was sold to ®. 0. Wilson.
Mr. Jameson was married in 1848 to Eliza, daughter of Manuel
Hershaw of Erie County, NH. Y. Mrs. Jameson died in 1858,
leaving two children, Grace A. (Mrs. James P. Goodrich) and
Lillie Adelia (irs. Byron Munson.) Mr. Jameson married Dec.
11, 1862, Mrs. Lorency S. (Beebe) Stull, who had one son,
James B. Mrs. Lorency Taneson died Feb. 12, 1889.
Those of this family who remain and still live in North East
are Lorency G., daughter of Mr, and Mrs. James P. Goodrich,
who married Mr. W. R. Fraser, and James B. Stull, step-son.
Mr. and Mrs. Fraser live on Pershing Avenue and have a
daughter and married son.
Thursday, December 20, 1934:
James S. Johnson
James S. Johnson, one of North East's prominent early
citizens, was born May 10, 1811, in Chautauqua county, N.
Y., and died at his home on Park street in 1887. Mr.
Johnson's parents were Chautauqua county pioneers, arriving
soon
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after the Indian troubles came to an end. Uriah L. Johnson,
his father, was born in 1784, and died in Chautauqua Co. in
1846. Mehitable (Sprague ) Johnson, mother, was born in
1784, and died at the home of James Se, in North East
township in 1865.
Mr. Johnson, as a boy, decided on paper making as a trade.
At that time paper making was mostly hand work. He later
came to North East and engaged as journeyman with William L.
Hall. He soon became master of his trade and was for several
years foreman in charge of the Franklin Paper Mills at what
is known today as "Paper Mill Hollow," in the Sixteen—mile
creek flats, a short distance northwest of the borough of
North East.
In 1852, the year in which the Erie and North East Railroad
was built, Mr. Johnson bought the Franklin Paper Mills from
dmes Scouller. At that time the Franklin Paper Mills was one
of the large manufacturing establishments of Erie county.
The raw material for paper in those days was mostly rags,
and the product brought three to five times as much per
pound as the present day wood—pulp paper.
In the fall of 1871 a fire of unknown origin completely
destroyed the mills, office and barns across the road, only
the residence being saved. This was one of North East's
spectacular fires, charred fragments of sheet paper being
car ried by the light breeze at the time, sifted down like
bleak mow over an area up to three miles distant from the
fir®. Mr. Johnson immediately rebuilt the mills on a larger
and more up-to-date scale, but the paper-making business at
that time, like many others, was changing. The panic of 1873
and the advent of wood pulp so cheapened the cost that the
days of the little mill were about over.
Mr. Johnson operated the mill until 1883, when he sold to
Cochran & Young of Erie, who operated for a short time until
it fell into other hands. Soon after this fire again
destroyed the property. All that now remains of this mill,
which for more than fifty years was one of the picturesque
places of business round about North East is a ruined,
unused mill-race and a few heaps of broken bricks,
Records left by Bruce Tuttle show that he built the Franklin
Peper Mills for Captain Freeman Judd, Jr., in 1834, the year
that North East was incorporated. Captain Judd died that
year and Mr. Tuttle settled with Alford HM. Judd,
administrator and Easton & Steel, Feb. 5, 1835, for balance
due ©M his contract of $1,500.
Mr. Johnson had seven brothers and sisters, Clarissa, born
March 3, 1805; Esther, born Oct. 2, 1807; died Oct. 22,
1831; William, born April 22, 18093 Horatio N., born May ll,
1811; Marilla, born April 9, 1815; married Joel Day of
Springfield, Pa.; Uriah L., Jr., born Feb. 10, 1819, died
Oct. ll, 1845; Pearl, born April 25, 1812, in Laona, N. Y.
In 1840 Mr. James S. Johnson married Jancy Blaine Childs,
daughter of Theodore Childs, who built the first carding
mill in Erie county. To this union were born six children:
Caroline Clarissa. (Carrie,) born 1841, died 1928; and spent
her whole life in North East, contributing much to its
musical and social activities.
Cassius Uriah, familiarly known to everybody as "Cash," born
in 1845, lately retired, is now living at the home of his
daughter on Division St. The whole of his past life has been
spent in business here in North East and at the Franklin
Paper Mills, with the exception that for a time he was one
of the proprietors of the Erie Daily Dispatch, and that for
the past twenty—four years he has been employed in the
Highway Department at the state capitol, Harrisburg. In 1875
"Cash" married Florence Margaret, daughter of J. M. Mills.
They had one child, a daughter, Maud Haynes Johnson, with
whom he makes his home, Mrs. Johnson having passed away a
year ago.
Hattie Frances Johnson, second daughter of James Sey Was
born in 1847 and
93
died in 1930. Hattie married Frank P. Taylor of Fest
Liberty, Ohio. They had three children - Ralph, Sprague and
Harry. Ralph is deceased.
Helen May, third daughter, was born in 1850, and died in
1926. She was the wife of Mr. J. B, Parker of North East.
Tillie, the fourth daughter, was born in 1853 and died in
1931. She was the wife of Frank Mills, a brother of Florence
Margaret Mills. They had three children —- Bessie, who died
at the age of 10, Blaine who died aged 12, and Boyd Mills,
who resides in Cleveland. Hank and Tillie have passed away.
lulu, the fifth daughter, was born in 1861, and died in
1934. She married Eugene T. Funk, and to them were born two
children, Maurice who was drowned in childhood, and Neil who
is a practicing physician in St. Petersburg, Florida.
Thursday, December 27, 1934:
This was the first step taken by the borough authorities in
the way of fire control. There was nothing more along this
line for the present, though it came up occasionally until
twenty years or so later, when meetings of the citizens were
held, plans proposed for a water works system and the
bonding of the borough for the necessary funds. As usual in
such cases, there was opposition, and it became so strong
that the scheme was abandoned. For another score or so of
years the town got along with hand pumps of a sort, hand
buckets, creek and well water for fire control.
Two or three serious fires occurred meanwhile, but it took
the disaster of August, 1884, to awaken the people. A
church, a hotel, an opera house, two dwellings and
twenty-two business places went up in smoke in a few hours,
the fire stopping only because there was no wind to carry it
further. This fire brought the water works idea to life
again, and it weathered the storm of opposition.
Just fifty years ago this week the borough council had the
town placarded with posters announcing public meetings where
all citizens might come and air their views. The people came
forth, and a majority of the speakers were more or less, and
some violently, opposed to the water works idea, which they
claimed "would ruin the town by increased taxes," "would
benefit only a few in the center of town," and so on. The
war of words pro and con went on till a special election
held in June, 1885, settled the controversy by a vote of 169
to 23.
Fifty years have passed, just half the century of North
East, and time has proved that the old objectors, though
undoubtedly honest in their views, were mistaken on every
point. A special water works election last week by a vote of
1013 to 26 settled another similar move in North East
borough. Let us hope that long before fifty years have
passed the opposition of today will likewise be proved
without foundation.
At the time the borough first began to think of fire
control, the war known as "The Mexican War" was in progress.
It is doubtful if many North Easters had to do with that
conflict. There is, however, a true Mexican war story of one
North East boy that is too good to be lost. His name was H.
H. Burrows. He had been living with his parents, brothers
and sister at their home which still stands near the
borough's Fairchild reservoir, and now is the home of George
Youngs. Hamilton, or "Ham" as he was known to his
companions, was a victim of wanderlust, he had left home and
friends at the age of fourteen, quite an undertaking in
the time before railroads came to this part of the country.
In his wanderings he found himself in Black Rock, which was
than a little town near Buffalo, N. Y. Here he secured a job
driving a team hauling lumber to Buffalo. It is best
probably to tell the story in his own words:
"One evening another teamster took me to a theatre. United
States was
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then at war with Mexico and in one act a small company of U.
S. soldiers in uniform marched out on the stage to martial
music and went through an infantry drill. I was
entranced, I had never seen anything so magnificent. I could
hardly sleep that night. The next day when my team was
feeding during the noon hour I met one of those 'blue coats'
on the street. I halted him with the question, 'Where did
you get that suit?! He replied with the question, "why just
around the corner. Do you want one too?' I assured him that
I did, and followed him round the corner. We went into a
building and into a room where an officer in uniform sat
behind a table. My guide said ‘Here's another.’
‘The officer began asking questions and by that time I began
to sense what it was all about. I did some quick thinking.
When he asked my age I had intend ed to say eighteen, but
instantly it came to my mind,'He will know better,!' so I
straightened up on my toes and said in a loud, clear voice,
“twenty—two." The officer seemed quite amused, and after a
question or two more he said, 'I guess you'll do. Go into
the other room and take your examination." Uncle Sam wan ted
men or boys or anything, so I had no trouble in passing, got
my coveted suit and went to Mexico with other recruits. I of
course had never seen that recruiting officer before and
I only saw him once afterward. I survived without in jury
all the dangers that a soldier faces and at the end, when
the city of Mexico had fallen and our victorious army was
marching in to take possession of the city, a mounted
officer came galloping past, When passing my company he
recognized me, slacked his horse, flipped up my cap with his
saber, and with a smiling face gave a friendly greeting. I
failed to understand what he Said, and never saw him again."
A year or two later the California gold rush began. Quite a
number of North Easters were affected by the gold fever, and
some of them went west and became "Forty-niners." A Swiss
emigrant, a Captain Sutter, had settled on the Sacramento
river, and in September, 1847 a contractor named Marshall,
having built a mill on Mr. Sutter's estate, discovered
particles of gold in the sands in the mill race, and the
whole country went wild.
One person who started for California as a Forty-niner, and
did not get there and who probably as a result of that
failure became for many years one of North East township's
most prosperous and respected Citizens, deserves mention.
His name was Horatio Churchill. As a young man Mr. Churchill
was a resident of Cleveland, He was a fisherman by
occupation. At that time it was not known that there were
lake trout in Lake Erie, and the seasonable migrations of
fish in this lake was not understood. Mr. Churchill used to
take his boats to Thunder Bay on Lake Huron and fish for
lake trout. When winter came on he would return to Cleveland
to spend the winter until the next fishing season.
When the gold rush began Churchill with thousands of others
Caught the fever. His party went to New York, which then was
some journey, there being no railroads in this part of the
country. Arriving in New York, they took a sailing ship
for what is now Colon, expecting to cross the isthmus on
foot. Arriving in Limon bay, off Colon, (where the Panama
canal now starts,) they found a heavy sea running. There was
no breakwater or dock and the only way of discharging
passengers and freight was to swing them out on a rope to a
boom and drop them into small native boats that were bobbing
up and down on the waves. After watching the operation of
unloading cargo and passengers for a time, Mr. Churchill
came to the conclusion that he did not need gold bad enough
to take the risk of being dropped outside of one of those
little boats, especially when he noted several back fins of
sharks, whose owners were scouting about the waves in search
of anything that might fall in the water. Most of the
passengers were lowered safely into the little boats, but he
refused to leave.
A few years later he learned from one of those who went on
to California that after crossing the isthmus they took a
Sailing ship for San Francisco, were becalmed 500 miles out
of Panama, and several of the passengers died of
95
thirst before their ship reached California. Mr. Churchill
also had a bad trip home. Stormy weather delayed the ship,
the larder ran low and the passengers and crew had
nothing to eat for days except dried herring, He ate his
fill of dried herring on that trip, a fill that lasted the
remainder of his life.
On his return to Cleveland there were stories among the
fisher folk of great hauls of lake trout being made at
Barcelona (Westfield). Mr. Churchill immediately decided to
see about that himself. Barcelona was much easier reached
than Thunder Bay. He went to Barcelona, found the story was
true, made his home there, and in a year or two came to
North East. When he began fishing with gill nets off North
East, fish were very plenty. He followed the business for
years and made considerable money at it. He lived quite a
number of years in the brick house now known as the Sprague
place at Freeport.
He finally gave up fishing and planted his farm on the west
side of the road to vineyards. This was the time when grapes
were grown for wine instead of table use, and it was a
profitable business. New varieties were being sought after
and fancy prices were asked for new varieties. An incident
illustrates this. Mr. Churchill had given an order for five
hundred dollars' worth, when one day along came a man who
said: "Mr. Churchill, I have brought the vines you ordered."
"Fine," says Mr. C., "I'll go out and look at them." The
agent. replied: “Oh, that won't be necessary. I have them in
this package under my arm."
Mr. Churchill got the California fever again about 1880, and
went there to live, but it was a disappointment, so he came
back and spent his last days in the home that he purchased
on the west side of the road across from the brick house
where he formerly lived.
F. K. Lyon
"Frank Lyon," as the subject of this short sketch, is known
to everybody in North East, or Francis Kidder Lyon, as he
was christened nearly a century ago, was born at Stockton,
N. Y., a son of Aaronmd Mary Ann (Kidder) Lyon, both of
Massachusetts, the former lineally descended on the maternal
side from John Alden. Aaron was a carpenter by trade but
retired many years ago to Sherman, N. Y., where he and
his wife nearly reached the century mark. before they passed
on.
Aaron E. Lyon, Sr., father of above mentioned Aaron, was
born in 1789, and was one of the pioneers of our adjoining
county, Chautauqua. He made three trips afoot in his early
manhood to the then far west, now western New York, finally
locating in Chautauqua county in 1819. He died June 20,
1870. His sister, Mary Lyon, was the founder of Holyoke
Seminary. Five of his daughters married Baptist ministers
two of whom went to China as missionaries, and the Sixth
daughter married a Methodist minister.
Francis K. Lyon was educated at Stockton and at the age of
14 took charge of his father's farm. At the breaking out of
the Civil war he enlisted, against his parents' wishes, and
as he was a minor they affected his discharge. Upon
attaining his majority he at once re-enlisted in Co. BE,
112th N. Y. V. I. serving until the close of the war.
After the war he operated a saw mill in Sherman for four
years, farmed in Chautauqua Co. for two years and in 1872
moved to North East, where he worked at the carpenter's
trade for one year. He tried farming in Chautauqua Co. once
more and in 1885 returned to North East. He was two years in
the clothing business, Six years in a drug store, after
which he engaged in the grape business and was a
contractor until his retirement a few years ago.
He was married Dec. 26, 1866, to Anna N., daughter of
Stephen Heath, a
96
farmer of Sherman, and one of the pioneer settlers of
Chautauqua county. To Mr. And Mrs. Lyon three children were
born —- Jennie N., (Mrs. V. D. Cook, deceased), Jenny A.,
(rs. A. E. Covey of Los Angeles, Cal.), and Mrs. lucy J.
White of Westfield, N. Y.
Mr. Lyon is a Mason, an Odd Fellow and has been commander of
the G. A. R. post for several years.
Mrs. Lyon passed to her reward some years ago and later Mr.
Lyon married Miss Grace Henderson.
Mr. Lyon is now one of the Grand Old Men of our town, and in
recent years on each birthday, July 27, our citizens help in
the celebration of this occasion with a band concert at his
home on East street.
The Gough Family
Robert Gough was born in Wilshire, Imgland, Dec. 29, 1840, a
son of Richard and Anne (Handy) Gough. Ri¢hard was a son
of Robert, whose grandfather came to Wilshire a stranger.
This is the first paternal ancestor of Robert Gough of when
there is a record, and the first authentic record of him is
a court record of Wilshire where he appeared as a witness
in a murder trial. Richard came to America in 1844, with his
family, consisting of his wife and three children, of whom
Robert A. was the eldest. They had ten children in all:
Robert, Mary, Paul H., Richard, William, Charles H., Sarah,
Ellen E., John F., and Emma E., who died in Manitoba in
1894.
When the family first came to this county they settled on 15
acres of land in Erie about where the Simpson M. EB. Church
now stands. After about a year they moved to North East and
bought a farm in the southwest part of the township,
where the father farmed until 1881, when he went to live
with his son and daughter at Long Prairie, Minn., and died
Nov. 15, 1882. His wife died in 1865.
Robert Gough received his education at the North East and
the Erie academies. At the outbreak of the Civil war he
was teaching at the Remington school in North East township.
He at once resigned as teacher and enlisted with Colonel
McLane's three months’ men. Later he re-enlisted in the
111th P. V. I., and served throughout the war. He was in the
battles of Winchester, Cedar Mountain, Chancellorsville and
Gettysburg. His regiment was then transferred to the Army of
the West under Gen. Hooker, and he took part in the battles
of Wauhatchee, Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge and
Ringold, and the following spring was transferred from the
12th to the 20th corps, under General Sherman, and took part
in the march to the sea, being at the front in the battles
of Rocky Ridge, Dallas, Resaca, Dalton, Marietta, Kenesaw
Mountain, Chattahoochee, Peach Tree Creek and Atlanta. He
was wounded in the battle at Cedar Mountain. He was sent
north to Washington with Sherman's army, where he did guard
duty until July 19, 1865, when he was discharged as
sergeant. He was with his regiment throughout the war,
except for three months spent in Wolf, St. Alexander and
Little York hospitals.
After the war he returned to North East and the following
year went to Michigan and worked at the carpenter trade. He
remained in Grand Rapids until 1871, when he returned to
North East and engaged in farming. He was for two or three
terms elected justice of the peace and also served as
assessor, and is remembered for his devout, upright
character and good citizenship. He was prominent in the G.
A. Re and other organizations.
Mr. Gough was married June 12, 1867, to Miss Alzina C,,
daughter of Luke Southwick, a pioneer of Erie county. Three
children were born to this union - luke L., Frank A. and
Bertha. Frank A. Gough spent his younger days here,
receiving such education as schools hereabout could give,
learned the profession
97
of dentistry and made his home in New York city, where he is
prominent and successful in his profession.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Robert Gough have passed on some years
since.
Thursday, January 3, 1935:
A short time back it was mentioned that the prohibition idea
was injected into the borough election of Friday, March 19,
1847, when 42 votes were cast against and 39 votes in favor
of the sale of liquor in the borough of North East. Though
North East was one of the early towns to hold an election to
oust John Barleycorn, it did not produce the first "Carrie
Nation". It did, however, have as one of its citizens the
lady who undoubtedly was the first "Carrie Nation" —
probably before the Kansas Carrie Nation was born. It all
came about thus: In Wesleyville, which was a small
settlement this side of Erie, there was a hotel saloon which
by its utter disregard of law, order and decency had become
particularly obnoxious to the better class of residents of
that burg. The ladies of the town finally decided that if
the authorities could not do something about it, they, the
ladies, would.
A meeting was called and from it sallied forth a small but
very determined "Amazon army", led by a young lady who for
years afterward was a resident of North East. This attacking
party was armed with hatchets, axes, sledges, clubs and what
have you. On its arrival at the “house of evil", it crashed
the doors, chased the proprietor out of the back window and
proceeded to make match—wood out of the furniture and
fixtures, and flinders of all the windows and glassware.
After emptying the barrels and kegs and reducing everything
about the place to smithereens, the "army" retreated to camp
in good order.
This was a case where prohibition prohibited, and for many
years thereafter no saloon license was granted in the town,
in fact not until the present new ‘hotel was built. To be
sure the next day the ladies were placed under arrest, but
the spectacular, effective, unusual and amusing angles of
the case were such that they were exonerated, and the
constable and those assisting in their arrest, were ordered
to take the offending ladies out to dinner.
At the first meeting of the North East council after the
March 19 election, which was held on April 29, 1847, several
resolutions were passed. One was to draw an order on the
borough treasurer for three dollars in favor of Powell
Harper, for his services as town clerk during the year of
1846. It appears from this that town clerks were not as
plenty, though much cheaper than now.
At the 1848 borough election held Friday, March 17; Jacob
Knapp was reelected burgess, and at the first meeting
thereafter, held on April 4, two resolutions were passed
that would not be permissible under present borough law. Mr.
J- M. Conrad, a councilman, was appointed town clerk and Mr.
L. T. DeLong, also a councilman, was appointed borough
treasurer. The duties of treasurer were not very arduous in
those early borough days, as the yearly transactions
amounted to only a hundred dollars or so. The next year,
1849, Captain John Braden (he did not become captain until
the Civil war) was elected burgess.
The practical joker has been a part of mankind since the
birth of Adam, and at this election he, or several of him,
conspired in the election of the Rev. M. Himebaugh as high
constable for the borough. At the first council meeting
thereafter, held on March 20, it became necessary to pass a
resolution relieving the reverend gentleman from performing
the duties of the office, and to “highly disapprove" the
course pursued in electing him to the office. The council
followed this resolution with another, to proceed according
to law to hold a special election for high constable.
This council seems to have acquired the "meeting habit." I+
met three days later at the shop of John Braden, appointed
street supervisors and resolved
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that the borough treasurer provide wood and lights for the
council for the ensuing year. Four days later it met at the
office of A. W. Blaine, Hisqe, and resolved that a pound
thirty feet square be built and that the street supervisors
build a plank sidewalk, five feet wide, on the south side
of the Diamond. Three days later the council met again and
resolved that the election board for the special election of
high constable be paid from borough funds. The special
election was held March 31, and Nathaniel Norris was chosen
for the office of high constable.
Three days later the council met again and resolved that the
pound be built of inch boards with suitable posts six feet
high, also that J. M. Conrad have two dollars and fifty
cents for his services as town clerk for the past year.
Resolved, also, "That the town clerk be authorized to
procure half a quire of paper". Another resolution was that
a "tax levy of twenty-five cents on the hundred dollars of
state and county assessments be made for road purposes for
the present year." And another, that Joel Loomis and Samuel
Malick be authorized to procure six thousand feet of lumber,
consisting of plank and scantling for sidewalks, and inch
boards for the pound. Council met again April 6, 10, and ll.
At the April 11 meeting it passed an ordinance as follows,
it being ordinance number six, or the sixth ordinance passed
by the council since the borough's incorporation.
"Be it enacted, etc.: "That all owner or owners of land in
the borough of North East, from the east line of the borough
west, as far as Heman Robinson's smith shop, on the south
side of the Main street; and on the north side of said
street west, as far as F. F. Chappell's west corner; and on
the east side of the north and south street, from the south
line of Stephen Griffith's dwelling house lot, north as far
as the north line of the Academy lot, and in front of the
lots on the north side of the diamond, from the west corner
east to Kellogg's corner, thence north, as far as B=. H.
Davidson's north line of house lot on North street (now West
Division) - are required by this ordinance to build
sidewalks, and to erect good and substantial posts and
rails. Said walks to be laid of two-inch plank, brick or
stone. Said posts and rails to be set in the street at such
distance from the line, as to have a sidewalk, including the
posts and rails, of nine feet. The walks if of plank to be
not less than five feet wide, measuring from the posts and
rails laid on string pieces and made fast. If brick or
stone, the whole width of the walk on a level with the plank
secured by a timber or stone curb. And, to be so erected on
or before the first day of July next, under the direction of
the burgess and town council, and if not done by the above
time, the street supervisors shall cause it to be done
forthwith at the expense of the owner or owners of the
land."
Six days later the council met again and authorized Joel
Loomis to purchase one hundred pounds of 40-penny nails
for building sidewalks.
The Taber Family
In the year 1819 three brothers with their families and
relatives left their homes in central New York and came to
the Triangle. Arriving in North East township, they decided
to separate, one brother settling near Edinboro, another
continuing westward into Ohio. John H. Taber, the third
brother in the party, with his brother-in-law, Allen
Dunning, and families, decided that North East was good
enough for them. They examined the soil and timber growth
along the lake shore, on the flat land away from the lake,
and finally decided that the hillside about Chestnut Gove
was most to their liking; so they purchased land and
built their cabins there.
At that early date very little of the immense chestnut and
other timber
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growth had been cut and the present splendid view of lake
and valley was not open to them. Roads were few. Many
changes have been made since then. Their road to Gibsonville
and Findley's Lake was somewhat as it is at the present,
except that instead of following up the creek valley, it
turned slightly left at the beginning of the valley and went
up Clay hill to the side hill. It here turned east as it
does now, and at a point a few rods east of where the Newton
road now is it branched and went straight south up the hills
and past the end of the Grahamville cemetery, turning there
to Grahamville.
On top of the hill, at the corner where the road branched
from the Side Hill road, there was a little log school
house. This was the first Chestnut Grove school house, and
it is probable that the Tabers helped to build it. The late
Captain Dyer Loomis taught school there a few years after
the Tabers came to Chestnut Grove.
John H. Taber was 31 years old when he settled in North East
township. Mrs. Taber's maiden name was Mercy Dunning. The
Tabers had two boys and a girl when they came, and three
more boys and two girls were born to them here. The second
son, Horace D. Taber, born in New York state, Aug. 16, 1817,
and Benjamin Alva Taber, born June 7, 1529, were the only
children who spent the remainder of their lives here. One
other son, Myron S. Taber, died in 1850 at the age of 25
years.
John H. Taber was a straight-work cooper by trade. He
established a cooper shop where he made butter firkins, sap
buckets and other such work for the neighborhood. He was a
carpenter also, and in 1831 built the home at Chestnut
Grove where Fred K. Taber and family now live. John H. and
his youngest son, B. Alvah, also built the house on the Job
Skellie farm at Skellie's Corners, between Findley Lake
and Ashton's walking to work Monday morning and back home
Saturday night. Taber's cooper shop was once destroyed by
fire, and as was the neighborly custom in those times, a
"bee" was called: at which his neighbors built him a new
shop, This “bee-built" shop is today part of the home of
Clyde H. Taber and family. John H. Taber died June 2, 1848,
at the age of sixty years and was buried in Grahamville
cemetery.
On March 8, 1838, Horace D. Taber married Betsey Ann Teed.
To this union were born three sons, Lorenzo Henry, John
Harvey and Riley Florentine Taber. The father, Horace, was a
farmer and never engaged in any other business. Lorenzo,
the oldest son, known throughout the country as "Ren" Taber,
followed his father's occupation until the outbreak of the
Civil war, when he, in company with Billy Watts and a
number of other North East boys, enlisted in the 9th N. Y.
Cavalry. He served during the war. At its close he returned
to the old homestead. He was killed on Thanksgiving day,
1890, by a Nickel Plate train while driving a team that
became unmanageable at the Scouller Mill crossing in North
East.
John Harvey Taber left home at 16 for the oil country, and
was there through the Pit Hole excitement. Riley F, followed
a short time later and together they worked as tool
dressers, and later as drillers. About 1881 John worked as
pumper for Otto Germer, Sr., of Erie, who owned 18 oil wells
on a farm at Dallas City, Seven miles out of Bradford, Pa.
He held this position until his brother "Ren" was killed
when he returned to the 014 homestead, where he spent the
remainder of his life, except for a year or two in
California. He died Oct. 22, 1922. Riley went from driller
to a position in a refinery at Titusville, lLateer he was
transferred to the Atlas Oil Works in Buffalo, where
remained until retired on pension. He later passed away at
the home of a daughter at Conneaut, Ohio.
John H. Taber III in 1880 married Miss Jerinie Baker, and
their family later consisted of two sons and one daughter,
Clyde H., Fred K., and Bessie S. The two sons now have
families of their own and are living in separate homes on a
56-acre section of the old original homestead purchased by
John H. Taber I, one
1OO
hundred and fifteen years ago. Mrs. Taber, the mother, is
living at Los Angeles, Cal. Bessie, the sister, died July 8
of this year 1934, in Los Angeles, Cal,
Thursday, January 10, 1935:
The borough council met two more times in the next week, but
the only business appearing was the settlement with Osee
Selkregg for the lumber bought for the pound and sidewalks.
A committee consisting of John Braden, Samuel Malick and
Joel Loomis was appointed to inspect and measure the lumber,
but there is no record of the price paid for it.
At the next meeting, held June 2, 1849, it was resolved
"That we give the citizens the right to fence the Diamond,
provided the fence be set within the line of sidewalks
around the Diamond." It also resolved "To obtain a lease of
Mrs. Brown of the land the pound stands on and the right of
way to the same and to pay her one dollar a year for the
same." Evidently rents were low in those days, when
sufficient land and right of way for such purpose in town
could be obtained for a dollar a year.
On August 18, 1849, the council ordered the county surveyor
to survey and make a plot of the borough of North East at a
cost of twenty-five cents for each lot. On March 15, 1850,
at the regular election, Wm. E. Ward was elected burgess,
and at the next meeting of the council, April 1, 1850, the
salary of the town clerk was given a substantial raise. His
name was John KM. Conrad, and his salary was raised to five
dollars for the year. A tax of twenty-five cents on each
hundred dollars valuation was levied for road purposes for
the year.
The seventh borough ordinance was also passed at this
meeting. It was as follows: "Be it enacted, etc., That from
and after the first day of May next, any person or persons
leading,riding or driving any horse or oxen on any of the
sidewalks within the limits of the borough of North East,
shall on complaint of any citizen of the said borough, be
liable to a fine of one dollar, to be collected as any other
debts by law are collected for the benefit of the said
borough." Much to the disgust of pedestrians, it seems to
have been a custom to ride or drive on sidewalks rather than
wade through the miry streets in wet times. At the next
meeting on April 8, it was resolved that the burgess, (Mr.
Ward,) furnish room, lights and stationary for use of the
ensuing year, to be paid for at the end of the year. The
council had no established meeting place up to that time. It
was also resolved to employ Wm. Griffith, Esq., as counsel
for the year. This as the first record of a regular borough
attorney. No retainer fee was mentioned; probably that
had not been thought of at the time.
At a meeting four days later it was resolved that the
"ladder act" of January, 1848, be revived, and time limited
to the first of July next to procure Said ladders according
to the ordinance. It seems even in those days many North
Easters had the idea that ordinances were passed to be read,
but not regarded. It was also resolved that the act of April
26, 1841, relating to horses, cattle and swine, be in full
force after the 1st day of May next.
Council met again April 11, and 19, and appointed H. H.
Allison town clerk in place of Joel Conrad, resigned. It
made no cut in Mr. Loomis! yearly Salary. He was paid the
regular five dollars for the year.
The item of "Streets" at that time was rather different from
today. On April 23, 1850, the supervisors, Samuel Malick and
R. S. Brawley, settled their accounts under oath, before
William Griffith, Bsa. The combined sum of their duplicates
was $172,05. On April 26 the council settled with L. 7.
DeLong, treasurer of the borough. The amount involved was
$9.77- On June 6, 1850, and on motion the council proceeded
to examine the public streets and to direct the
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supervisors where to work, in all cases of making or
repairing bridges, and designating such points as shall seem
to require any considerable outlay. On motion the council
agreed to "delay for the present working of the road leading
from the Buffalo road at F. F. Chappel's north, (then
Spring, now Mill St.,) to Scouller's mill, and the burgess
was directed to notify the supervisor in the west end of the
borough.
The eighth borough ordinance, it being also the first health
ordinance, was passed at this meeting. It was as follows:
"Be it enacted, etc., That the following citizens, viz.:
Richard ¥. Stockton,(the older Dr. Stockton, father of the
later Dr. Stockton and grandfather of the late George B.
Stock ton) and William BE. Ward be, and are hereby appointed
a sanitary committee who are hereby empowered to enter
dwellings, cellars or any other places within the said
borough of North East, to examine the conditions of any such
place and:to order and require from the owner or occupant
thereof, the removal of any nuisance, or any cleansing they
shall deem necessary for the health of the inhabitants of
the same; and in case any person owning or occupying the
premises shall neglect or refuse to remove anything declared
by them to be a nuisance or injurious to health, or shall
refuse to clean the same as directed by them, the high
constable shall be and is hereby required, by notice given
by either of them, to cause the same to be done and to make
a good and sufficient cleansing, under the direction of
either of the committee, and shall have the right to sue and
recover from the owner or occupant of any such premises for
the expense of such removal and cleansing."
On June 12, 1850, the supervisors were directed to plow,
scrape and remove the elevation in the road running south
from the Buffalo road at Bester Town's store, where the
stream crosses the road near the said store, and to remove
for repairs at other points as much of the dirt as ¢an be
spared from the said premises.
On Feb. 4, 1851, council ordered that a sidewalk be milt in
front of the Academy grounds as soon as practicable, and
that the said walk be built six feet wide and posts and
rails to be that distance from the line fence. It was
ordered that a contract be let to the lowest bidder for
the work and that the burgess be authorized to give notice
to receive proposals for building said walk with
specifications of material and construction.
On the third Friday of March, 1851, at the regular election
John Scouller was elected burgess. At the first council
meeting thereafter Stephen Griffith, in addition to his
duties as councilman, had wished upon him the offices of
town clerk and borough treasurer, and all for five dollars
per year. The road tax, however, was increased 100%, or from
25 cents on the hundred dollar valuation to fifty cents,
and Wm. Griffith, Esq., received the munificent sum of $2.93
for his services as borough attorney for the year.
These were the days of horse-drawn circuses and shows. The
borough received $52.56 for show licenses during the
year. One $2.00 item was for use of Acedemy by "Burbanks
Pantomime & Ballet Troupe."
The Wing Family
William and Mariam (Mosley) Wing, grandparents of W. Orlando
Wing, who for many years was a prominent and respected
citizen of North East, were born in Hoosic, N. Y. They came
with their family to Erie county in 1835 and lived for a
time in Washington and Girard townships. They finally
returned to New York state and spent the rest of their lives
at Hinsdale, Cattaraugus county. William and Mariam were
parents of seven children.
Fidelia, the first child, was born March 19, 1815. She
married Nelson
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Chapin who enlisted in the Civil war and was killed at Fort
Plymouth, N. C., just before the arrival of an order
promoting him to Colonel. Fidelia died Jan. 4, 1890. Wm. H.
was born Oct, 4, 1818, spent his life in Ohio and died Sept.
12, 1891. Sarah and A. K., the father of ¥. 0., were born
June 27, 1824, Sarah married Calby Chamberlain of Olean, N.
Y. Smith, born Sept. 12, 1830, moved to Indiana and died at
Fort Wayne, April 29, 1875. Mary, born Nov. 8, 1632, married
Seth Warren, Olean, N. Y.
A. K. Wing when a young man learned the tailor's trade at
Hinsdale, N. Y., and in 1844 engaged in the clothing
business in Castile, N. Y., remaining there eight years. He
then came to North East and engaged in farming a few years,
after which he opened a store at State Line (Northville.) In
1867 he bought a farm adjoining the Silliman farm on the
east, where he lived the remainder of his life. He and his
son, W. 0., were engaged in the oil business for several
years, in most of the important centers of the Pennsylvania
oil fields. Mrs. A. K. Wing's maiden name was Ruthama
Sherman, a native of Rhode Island, and they were married
Oct. 5, 1845.
W. O. Wing was their only child, he was born at Castile, N.
Y., was educated at the Ripley high school and Bryant &
Stratton business college in Buffalo. When a young man he
learned telegraphy and was a telegraph operator on the Lake
Shore R. R. for a time. In 1860 he went with his father to
engage in the oil business at Bradford, Pa., and was for
eight years a member of the Bradford Oil Exchange. A story
he used to tell of his experiences in that line illustrates
why some people attain success in business.
The oil business was new, there was practically no
organization of its methods. It came about that there were
differences between the oil operators of the Bradford and
the Pittsburgh districts that needed ironing out. The
Exchange decided to appoint a committee to confer with the
Pittsburgh people. The committee arrived in Pittsburgh in
the afternoon, and owing to their late arrival it was
decided better to delay the meeting till morning, each
member to go his own way for the evening and all to meet at
a certain hotel at 8 a.m. next day. At the gathering in the
morning their speaker said: "Now, gentlemen, we must get
right down to business and decide how we are going to
approach these Pittsburgh people." A young fellow, a member
of the committee, by the name of Rockefeller, spoke up
saying: "Mr. President, I don't think it will be necessary."
"What do you mean?" said the president; "what did we come
here for?" "Oh," said the young fellow, "I got that all
fixed up before I went to bed last night."
Wing was a member of the Masonic and other orders here, was
a prominent member and an official of the M. EH. church,
a member in official capacities of the grape growers
organizations, and a member of the borough council. Both he
and his wife have passed to the great beyond,
Of the children, all of whom are living, Arthur Kyle Wing,
who married Jermmie P. Selkregg of North East, is an
attorney having offices in New York city. They have two
children: Arthur Kyle, Jr., who is a graduate of Yale '
University Scientific School and of the Engineering
Department of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology;
married Phoebe Elizabeth Adams of New Haven, and they have
one child, Arthur Kyle Wing, 3rd and reside at Chatham, N.
J.3 and Martin Selkregg Wing, a graduate of the George
School of Pennsylvania, and at present a senior at the Pratt
Institute, Brooklyn, and residing with his parents in
Brooklyn, N. Y.
George Sherman Ying, an attorney with offices in New York
city, married Nellie Ratzburgh of Shreveport, La. They
reside in Montclair, N. Je, and have two children - George
Sherman Wing, Jr., a junior in the Sheffield Scientific
School of Yale University, and Frederick Charles Wing, a
freshman at Oberlin University, Oberlin, Ohio.
Mable Gertrude Wing married Howard John Jones of Erie, Pa.
They reside
103
in Erie and have three children - William Wing Jones, a
graduate of Colgate University, who married Marie Wanda Argo
of Erie, Pa., home in Cleveland, Ohio; Harriet Crawford
Jones, a senior of Syracuse University; Howard John Jones, a
senior in Erie high school.
Harry Crawford Wing married Georgia B. Horton of Buffalo, N.
Y. They reside in Nutley, N. J., and have one child,
Dorothy Elizabeth Ving, a senior in Nutley high school.
Thursday, January 17, 1935
"Uncle Tom's Cabin" was one of the shows put on in the
Academy in 1854, for which a license fee of one dollar was
collected. Stephen Griffith's account aS treasurer for the
years of 1851, '2, '3 and '4 were itemized on page 152 of
the borough record book, and show receipts and expenditures
to have been $262.60 for the 4-year period.
in those times the matter of sidewalks seemed to be the
principal cause of trouble between the council and the lot
owners along the borough's main streets. At a meeting held
in Stephen Griffith's shop April 7, 1851, it was resolved,
“That the ordinance of April 11, 1849, in relation to
building sidewalks be and is hereby revived with the
following alterations, that no walk be built from the west
end of the Diamond to Kellogg's (Scouller's) corner, and
also changing the sidewalk from the Buffalo road north be
made seven feet wide and to terminate at the south line of
the McFadden lot."
Council met next at Stephen Griffith's shop May 31, 1851,
for the purpose of appointing a street supervisor in the
place of Samuel Malick, resigned. William Griffith was
appointed. It met again October 9 to award job of building
sidewalk and post and railing in front of the Academy
building. The job was given to Dr. VanScooter and the price
was $13.50, borough to furnish spikes. Council met again at
S. Griffith's shop to give an order on the treasurer of
twenty-five dollars to Samuel Rockwell for timber furnished
for road crossings.
The following year the Erie and North East railroad was
completed from Erie, Pa, through North East and across the
Twenty—mile gulf to the New York and Pennsylvania state
line, the first railroad train passing through North East
January 9, 1852. There is no record on the minutes of the
borough council of the building of this railroad nor of the
borough extension which occurred on April 23, 1852.
Following is a copy of the act of the Pennsylvania
legislature, which is pasted in the borough record book: "An
Act of the Legislature of April 23, 1852, recorded laws of
Pennsylvania of the session of 1852, page 407, Sec. 2: That
from and after the passage of this act, the limits of the
borough of North East, in the county of Erie, be, and the
same are hereby extended so as to embrace the territory
included in the following boundaries, to wit: beginning at
the southeast corner of the said borough, thence extending
the east line of the same to the south line, or boundary of
the Erie & North East Railroads then westerly along the
boundary of the said road, including the lands bought of
Osee Selkregg by the Erie, North East Railroad Company, for
the North East station, until it reaches a line drawn
parallel to the west line of the said borough; thence along
that line to the southwest corner of the said borough
including in all about fifty acres of land and being a part
of North East townships; and the territory so included shall
constitute a part of the election and school district of the
borough of North East, and shall be subject to all the laws
relating to the said borough."
The coming of the railroad was a great event in North East.
It changed many of the business activities. The Buffalo and
State Line railroad was completed the same year. The New
York and Erie had been completed from New York
104
city to Dunkirk just a few years previous. The stage lines
between Erie, North East and Buffalo of course had to pass
out, being unable to compete in mail, passenger or freight
service with the steam railroads. The new service was at
that time a great advance in speed and comfort to North East
people, and was so appreciated, but if modern North Basters
had to put up with the kind of service rendered in 1852
they would consider it an almost unbearable hardship.
There was no other railroad in or out of Erie except the
Erie and North East. All freight and passengers had to be
transferred at State Liz for the reason that the —. & N. E..
was of six-foot gauge, while the Buffalo & State Line was
four-eight—and—three—quarter gauge. The running time from
Erie to State Line was one hour. ‘The first freight trains
were usually about ten cars, with a capacity of about ten
tons each. There was one train a day each way. The fare,
however, was about the same as at present.
As to railroad connections for outside travel, one could
leave North East in the morning and reach New York at six
p.m., changing cars several times but passing over only
three railroads. If, however, one so cared he might go by
the way of Buffalo and travel over six railroads with
corresponding changes before reaching New York. Freight
for Buffalo had to be reloaded at State Line, and freight
for any town outside of Dunkirk had to be reloaded twice.
the first passenger cars were built with platforms at each
ends; otherwise they were like freight cars, in that they
had no side steps. To enable passengers to board and
alight from passenger cars it was necessary that all
stations be provided with long wooden platforms built to the
height of the passenger car floors. There were, of course,
no sleeping cars when the railroads first came, they
appeared soon after, though the high platforms remained till
the early sixties.
After the railroad came the name of our South Lake street
was changed from Station road to Railroad street, and our
North Lake street to Portage street. Later it was changed to
its present name.
The railway mail which now requires upwards of a hundred
clerks to "work the mail" in the many cars that pass through
here daily, was along at first handled by a young man from
Westfield. This young fellow had no need for a special car,
two seats (one of which was reversed ) in a passenger car
was all the room required for his work. This early mail
clerk was the father of the late Dr. B. H. Putnam of North
East.
The early locomotives were all wood burners, and would be
queer lookers today —- little low things with their smoke
stacks appearing to be nearly as large as their boilers,
Wood and large quantities of it were necessary for these
locomotives; so the railroads established woodyards every
two miles or less along their right of way. There was one
west of the North East station, one just east of Loomis
street, (called the Findley Lake road then), one at
Remington's one at the west side of the Twenty-mile gulf,
and so on.
The cord wood industry was a flourishing business in North
East and Greenfield townships when it was necessary to
supply the thousands of cords used each year by the
railroad. The wood was delivered in four-foot lengths, piled
in long tiers at the wood yards, and when dry cut to
two-foot length with small circular saws driven by horse
treadmills. A locomotive filled with this wood would last
only a few miles, so the train had to stop often, for all
hands to wood up. Iron rails were used.
The present equipment of steel rails, without which the
present railway business would be impossible, did not come
into use for a number of years after Sir Henry Bessemer
invented his process of making steel, in England in 1856. It
was along about 1870 that railroads began to replace iron
with steel, after sir Henry's process had been so improved
that steel rails were cheap enough to be put to general use.
The use of the iron rail entailed an enormous upkeep
expense. The Erie and North East R. R. was obliged to
operate several blacksmith shops in its
105
little 19-mile railroad. One of these shops was located on
the west side of (now) Pearl street where McDonald and Smith
have their grape office. The business of these shops was
to cut, weld (splice) and true up rails and punch the
necessary new holes for the fish plates. To do this work and
the other work necessary to keeping the road bed in shape,
required two to three times as many meh to a section of that
old-time, single-track road as are required on the present
four—track longer sections of road.
The Pierce Family
Palmer Pierce and Ann Brewster, the latter a lineal
descendant of the famous Elder Brewster of the Mayflower
Pilgrims, were married and living in Connecticut when North
East township was receiving its first settlers. Three of
their children were ‘born in Connecticut before they came
here-two daughters, Caroline and Jane, and a son, A. Y., who
was born in 1815. Palmer and Ann were North East pioneers,
coming to North East township fifteen years before the
borough of North East was named. They and their children
were prominent in the affairs of early North East and many
of their descendants are now living here. Two sons, Earl and
John, were born after the family came here. The daughter,
Caroline, married Franklin. Keeler and made her home in
Girard, where she died in 1900, past the four-score mark.
“he other daughter, Jane, married Abijah Jones of North
East and lived the balance of her life here, dying in 1890.
The Jones family had no children. Caroline had four
daughters, all of whom have passed away. lr. A. Y. Pierce,
the oldest son of Palmer and Ann, lived his whole life in
the neighborhood where Palmer and Ann settled when he was
four years old. When he grew up he married Miss Wealthy
Austin, and their children were three sons and two
daughters. One daughter, Delphine, who was born in Venango
township, married John Higgins of North East. They will be
remembered as well-respected citizens of the town. Mr.
Higgins was long engaged in the boot and shoe business in
the borough, starting when all such work was hand made. He
was prominent in affairs of church and served as burgess of
the borough. They had one daughter, Jennie. All three have
passed away. Two of their grandchildren, Mr. John
Stebbins and Mrs. W. Hewitt and their families remain, well
representative citizens of the Higgins family. The other
sister, Miss Lucina, lives in Corry. She was born in the
borough of North East August 13, 1547, and married E. M.
Putnam. To them a daughter, Cora, was born, who now is Mrs.
Will H. Parker of Waterford, Pa. The following is an
autobiographical sketch written by Mrs. Iucina (Pierce)
Putnam: "My father, Mr. A. Y. Pierce, was born in
Connecticut, Feb. 25, 1815. He was a direct descendant, of
Elder Brewster. His mother was Anna (Brewster) Pierce.
Father was one of the pioneers of this vicinity, having
nearly all his life time resided in this neighborhood where
he died. At one time he worked in Jones't mill. When he gave
up milling he bought the place where my brother's wife (Mrs.
Louise Pierce) now resides and went into an extensive fruit
and trucking business.
"I had one sister, now deceased, Mrs. Delphine Higgins. She
was born in Venango, Erie Co., Pa.3 also one brother Byron.
He died from a wound received in battle at Fredericksburg,
Va. He enlisted in the 145th Reg., Co. H, under Capt.
Loomis. The other two brothers, Sylvador and Ephraim, now
deceased, were born in North East.
"I was born in North East village August 13, 1847. When a
young girl we moved about one mile and a half on the Middle
Road, I attended high school in the village at the time
Prof. Stewart taught. When a young girl Dr. Loop was my
Sabbath school teacher. I have a book he gave me.
"There was an old distillery across from Jones’ mill.
Grandfather Pierce
106
worked in it at one time. It had horse-driven power; a horse
was hitched to one end of a sweep at least 12 feet long, and
some one had to sit on that sweep to keep the horse going.
"When President Lincoln was on his way to the White House
the train stopped at North East and I had the pleasure of
seeing that kindly gentleman. I can remember just how he
looked, and as far as we could see the train as it was
leaving the station he was standing on the platform bowing
and bowing until out of sight. A also saw General Grant on
his way home after the war.
"I can remember when the Presbyterian church stood in the
park.
"Father had a sister, Jane Pierce Jones, who lived in North
East for years before she died."
Sylvadore Pierce was born and spent his life in the
community where his grandfather settled. He married Louise
Schwartz, who still lives at the old home. they had two
sons, Frank A. Pierce, now a prominent, well-known citizen
of the township of North East, who, with his family, have a
home on their fruit and truck farm adjoining the old
homestead; and Ralph E. Pierce, now living in: California.
The youngest son of A. Y., Mr. Ephraim Pierce, known in the
county as "Eph Pierce," was a fruit and truck grower with a
home and farm adjoining the old homestead. He passed away a
comparatively young man, but through his whole life he was
well and favorably known for his participation in the
political and civic affairs of the township and county. Mrs.
B. A. Pierce, his widow, now resides with their daughter.
Mrs. Nellie (Pierce) Palmer, in the borough of North East.
Earl, the youngest son of Palmer Pierce, was born in North
East township Dec. 19, 1820. He was married May 15, 1844, to
Louisa L., daughter of Stephen Histed, a pioneer of North
East township. He was educated in the public schools of the
township and early learned the carpenter's trade.
When first married he and Mrs. Pierce resided for a time in
a little brick house that stood on the west side of Loomis
street, just south of where the Nickel Plate railroad
crosses it. This was several years before the first railroad
was built. The little brick house has long since
disappeared, and nothing remains to mark the spot except a
large bunch of lillies that persist in growing and blooming.
In the pursuit of his trade Earl Pierce built and helped to
build many of the buildings that are still standing in the
borough and township. He built the last three buildings that
compose the east end of the "Wooden Row" on East Main
street in the borough. His name is often mentioned in Bruce
Tuttle's account book as working at carpenter work. Three
sons were born to Earl and Louisa, one of whom died in
childhood.
The oldest, Roice S. Pierce, was born in North East township
May 2, 1846. He completed his education in the North East
Academy in 1864 and for fourteen years thereafter was
engaged in mercantile pursuits in Bradford. Relocating in
North East, he was from 1883 to 1891 acting in the interests
of certain lumber companies. During this period also in
1878, he formed a partnership with his brother,, George E.
Pierce, for the culture of the grape in which business they
were the most extensive cultivators in Erie county, Pa. Mr.
Pierce served successively in the offices of assessor,
mercantile appraiser and member of the North East council,
resigning the latter office during his third term to accept
the postmastership of North East by appointment of President
Harrison. In the spring of 1895 he was elected justice of
the peace for Erie county at North East.
He was married November 17, 1869, to Josephine A., daughter
of the late D. S. Brown, a manufacturer of Girard, Pa. Mr.
and Mrs. Pierce had two children. Bertrand R. Pierce, who
became engaged in grape culture with his father under the
firm name of R. 5. Pierce & Son, and Julia L. Pierce
Nichols, a graduate of North East High School, widow of Fred
Nichols, recently deceased. Hr. and Mrs, R. 5S. Pierce
passed to the great beyond several years since, and both of
the children have married and have children of their own.
107
Thursday, January 24, 1935:
The '40's and '50's might be termed as the railroad building
era. With a realization of the advantages of such
transportation, every community wanted a railroad. Hundreds
of roads were projected all over the eastern states. Many
never got farther than the paper stage, but up to the middle
'50's about four hundred railroads had actually been
constructed. Most of these were comparatively short, less
than a hundred miles, however ~ the Erie, built from New
York to Dunkirk - was four hundred and sixty miles long. The
Erie and North East R. Re. was incorporated in 1842, but was
not actually constructed till ten years later.
In the mean time the Erie had been built as above stated,
with its terminus ah Dunkirk, instead of Erie, where it
should have terminated. It is not entirely clear at this
late date by what manner of short-sighted figuring this was
brought about. Being the terminus of a through line from New
York, is not the only thing that the city of Erie, with the
best natural harbor on the lakes, seems to have lost by the
same method of figuring.
At the time the Erie, North East R. R. was built there were
three other roads surveyed into Erie, and on paper. One,
called the Sunbury & Erie, came from the way of what is now
Corry up through Union City and Waterford to Erie. Another
that appears to have been a survey of the Erie, coming into
the county by the same route as the S. & E., leaving it at
about the vicinity of Corry and coming up through Wattsburg,
and north nearly to Harborcreek, thence southwest into Erie.
The third road, called the Valley Road, came into
Pennsylvania on the flat just north of Greenman hill,
crossed the Findley Lake road a short distance south of
the Burd school, and the Station road at the first corner
south of the Side Hill road, thence keeping back of the
hills to beyond Harborcreek, then turning down into
Wesleyville, and on to Erie.
At the opening of the E. & N. B. R. Rey Chicago had no
railroad connection with the east, and the journey from
North East to Chicago via the different short railroads and
stage lines consumed 24 hours or more, depending on how deep
the mud was on the stage lines.
The census at this time shows that North East had a
population of 4OO and North East township about six times
that number. A map of the borough at the time shows that it
possessed six streets. Main street was the same as at
present. Washington street was known as Oar—Factory road.
Worth Mill street was Spring street. South Lake was Railroad
street. North Lake was Portage street. Pearl street was Race
street. Gibson from Portage to Race was Park Row, and from
Race to Spring street was Brown street. The street west of
the Park, between Main and Brown seemed to be a sort of a
lane, not dignified as a named street. Quite a number of
township roads have been relocated or abandoned, and new
roads opened up in the 80 years since the railroad came.
A backward glance at conditions shows change in nearly
everything pertaining to everyday life since their
advent. Before the railroads came the farmer produced many
things and the raw materials for nearly everything needed
about the home. Railroad transportation cheapened his
luxuries and at the same time brought in goods from the
outside into competition with his farm produce. New
inventions and machinery cheapened his cost of production,
and growth of cities lessened his competitors. The broad
western acres and further improved machinery have so
reduced cost of production that the farmer of today could
not exist if he attempted to carry on farming as his
great-grandfather did. He might not actually starve, but
when taxes were due he would surely be up against it. One of
the first changes in the handling of farm crops came when
the threshing machine displaced the flail.
A North East pioneer named Belnap, who owned and lived on
the farm on the
108
Findley Lake road now owned by R. H. MacBroom, had two sons,
Volney and Stillman. Mr. Belnap was a subscriber of the
"Country Gentleman," a farm paper published at Rochester, N.
Y. An advertisement in this paper describing a machine for
threshing grain caught the eye of Stillman. "Still," as the
young man was nicknamed, was so taken with the idea that he
wrote a letter to George Westinghouse, the manufacturer of
the machine, at Schenectady, N. Y. Mr. Westinghouse (the
father of Geo. Westinghouse of airbrake fame)-with the idea
of selling a machine, came by railroad to State Line, walked
from there to the Belknap home, the same building that is
the farmhouse today, put up for the night with the Bellmaps
and sold Stillman one of his machines. The story has it that
no other member of the family was interested in this new
contraption, and thet when the machine arrived no one would
help "Still" in putting together and setting up the thing.
Their hired girl, however, volunteered as an assistant and
with her help he got the machine assembled and the tread
power ready for operation. When all was ready they started
the horses on the tread mill, broke open a bundle or two and
fed them into the machine. It is said that when a small
stream of wheat kernels began pouring out the spout at the
side of the machine "Still" leaped to the top of the
machine, threw up his hat and gave a series of cheers that
might have been heard nearly to North East. It is said also
that the stream of wheat kernels also had the effect of
changing Volne¥'s ideas and that thereafter the brothers
working together added many a dollar to their income.
This machine would be far out of date for today's operation,
but it was a wonderful thing in its day. The improved
machinery of today has many times the capacity of the
original, but the principle of its operation is the same.
The old grain cradle and the scythe were displaced by the
binder and the mower at about the same, or a little later
date; then came the revolving horse rake where by one man
and a horse could easily do the work of twenty-five men in
the hay field. The people of this age who bemoan the good
old times and compare them, to the disadvantage of the
modern high wage and jobless times, should bear in mind the
old adage, "Distance lends enchantment to the view."
The father and uncle of the late William EH. Marvin came to
what is now North East township with Judah Colt and settled
near Colt's Station. The Marvins were extensive farmers
long before the advent of railroads. They had a goodly
number of acres cleared and grew large quantities of hay,
which was made in the good old way with scythes and hand
rakes, and the good old rate of wages, to which it is said
the Marvins added ten cents per day extra to secure their
pick of men. The good old rate was fifty cents a day and
dinner and the good old day in haying time began when the
sun was high enough to enable one to see, and ended when it
was too dark to see the work.
The Pierce Family
George E. Pierce, youngest son of Earl Pierce, was born in
North East township in 1860. As a boy he attended the Putnam
district school, and later when the family had moved into
the borough he finished his education at the Lake Shore
Seminary. Soon thereafter he went to Bradford, Pa., where
his older brother was engaged in the grocery business. After
a year or two there he returned and engaged in farming
and grape growing. In 1886 he and his brother engaged in
grape growing under the firm name of Griffith & Pierce
Brothers. Pierce Brothers at this time began shipping their
own grapes and grapes for other people. At the death of his
brother he continued grape growing and shipping under his
own name, Geo. E. Pierce, and soon became one of the largest
in- dependent shippers in the Chautauqua—Erie Grape Belt,
shipping as high as five hundred cars of grapes in a single
season. He was also one of the largest dealers in grape
packages in the belt. In 1920-'21 he was engaged in the
manufacture
109
of grape package material and lumber with A. I. Loop.
In 1915 he, in company with his wife and A. I. Loop and
wife, visited the Panama Pacific Exposition at San Diego,
and the World's Fair at San Francisco, going on the S. S.
Great Northern via the Panama canal. This was the first trip
made by a ship carrying passengers through the canal.
Returning by rail, they visited Grand Canyon and other
points of interest.
In 1922 Mr. Pierce was elected burgess of North East. It was
during his term of office that the Smith Reservoir of the
North East water works was built. "George," as he was known
hereabout, passed a busy and successful life and laid by a
comfortable supply of worldly goods. Unfortunately he was
not possessed of a very rugged constitution and suffered
continuous attacks of poor health. Death came to him rather
suddenly in the midst of his activities in 1927.
Soon after returning from Bradford in the early '80's he
married Miss Cora Rogers, who survived him only a few
months. They had one son, Carleton E., born in 1691, who
after finishing school married Miss Helen Barnes. Carleton
for several years was manager of one of his father's farms.
After the death of his mother he operated a farm which she
had willed to him; He seemed to have inherited some of his
father's physical weakness and passed away during a short
attack of pneumonia a year ago. There were no children to
this union, so the George EH. Pierce line is ended.
George E, Pierce was active in church, philanthropic, civic
and business affairs of the community and formed many strong
friendships. Some were not always in accord with his ways,
but all must admit that this community is better for his
having lived in it.
The Mills Family
John Marcellus Mills, farmer, was born in North East
township in 1823, son of James (born Sept. 23, 1789, in New
Jersey) and Margaret (Blaine) Mills, native of Cumberland
county, Pa., who was brought when two years of age on
horseback to North East township, Erie,county, early in
1800. Their family numbered five children + Royal A. B.;
Mary, who married Harley Selkregg; and Margaret, who married
his brother, Wm. A. selkregg; John Marcellus, and James, all
now deceased.
In September, 1847, J. M. Mills was married to Marania,
daughter of James H. Haynes. To this union were born seven
children: Royal James Mills married Elwena Waldorf of
Monroe, Mich. He was with the Adams Express Co. of St. Louis
for many years; died in North East Sept. 13.
Florencec Margaret, wife of C. U. Johnson, just recently
retired after many years service in the state capitol,
Harrisburg, had one child, Maud Haynes Johnson, who resides
with her father at her home in North East. Mrs. Johnson, her
mother, passed away at her home Jan. 27, 1934.
Frank Charles Mills married Tillie, daughter of James S.
Johnsons had three children — Bessie, (died at the age of
10,) Blaine, (died at the age of 12,) and Frank Boyd, at
present living in Cleveland. Frank Charles Mills died in
North East in 1912.
John Marcellus Mills, Jr., married Lizzie Beverson of York,
Pa. They had three children - Florence #lwena and Burton,
both deceased, and John Leslie, who resides in Schenectady,
N. Y. John Marcellus was a physician and surgeon, practicing
in Pennsylvania for many years. He passed away in Schnectady
in 1917.
Anna Josephine married Willis E. Gray, general manager of
the Chicago and Alton railroad. They had two children ~
Marcellus (deceased) and Margaret Mills, who married Mr.
Wilson Rood of Westfield, N. Y. Mr. and Mrs. Gray passed on
several years since.
110
Burton Campbell Mills, youngest son died on his 20th
birthday, Dec, 24, 1884.
Mary Elizabeth Mills, the youngest daughter, who spent her
entire life in North East, contributing much to the musical
and Social success of the town, died June 23, 1923.
John Richard Mills, great-grandson of J. M. and Marania,
lives in Schnectady, N. Y. John Marcellus Mills, familiarly
known as "Ceal" Mills, was a prominent and respected citizen
during his whole life in North East. He was town clerk and
school director for many years and was engaged in the
mercantile business with his father-in-law, James H. Haynes,
for several years. The family were members of the
Presbyterian and Episcopal churches. He died in North East
March 15, 1905. His wife, Marania, died December 15, 1910.
Thursday, January 31, 1935:
The Erie and North East railroad was constructed wide gauge,
the rails being six feet apart, the same as the Erie
railroad. The buffalo & State Line railroad was four feet
eight and three-quarters inches, and the Conneaut& Ere,
later the Cleveland and Erie, was constructed four feet ten
inches. The idea of connecting railroads that could exchange
cars without unloading was considered detrimental to
local business interests in those times. Just a few years
later when the B. & N. &E. railroad had changed to conform
with the Buffalo & State Line R. R, gauge, it was suggested
that in order to better serve the shipping interests it
would be a fine idea to change the Cleveland and Erie gauge
to conform with the railroad between Erie and Buffalo.
The reaction to this idea seems queer to us today. A meeting
of the Erie Chamber of Commerce was called and a delegation
was appointed to visit the Chamber of Commerce of
Philadelphia. The Philadelphia Chamber appointed a
committee, and the two committees went to Harrisburg and
succeeded in having an act passed by the Pennsylvania
legislature prohibiting the change of gauge by the C. & E.
R. R. The argument was that if a car could be shipped from
Cleveland through to Buffalo without reloading at Erie,
it would greatly damage the business interests of Erie.
Better judgment was soon apparent, and the next year this
foolish act was repealed.
The twenty-mile gulf, or Washington's Hollow as it was then
Called, was a serious obstacle in the way of the RB. & N.
BE. railroad. The science of building railway trestles
was not up to what it is today. The builders of this first
bridge had plenty of large trees at hand; so they cut big
long tree trunks, flatted the end and built up towers or
piers, in cobhouse fashion and laid timbers for track
support on their tops. Such construction was necessarily
short lived and had to be replaced in six or eight years,
The next trestle was a timber trestle, made of squared
timbers something like modern trestles are built, only it
did not have the bracing or stability that modern trestles
have, It is said that locomotive engineers were fearful
about taking their little light engines and trains over the
flimsy looking structure.
The late David Pease, grandfather of our townsman, Louis A.
Pease, J. P., was one of the carpenters who helped to build
the new bridge and he used to tell how it was built, and
what was thought of it. He said that the weight of trains
passing over it caused a temporary swaying, or side motion,
so that the track would often be eighteen inches out of line
while the train was passing over. It was thought best to
replace with a fill, so in 1860 a stone arch seventy feet
high was built over the creek with a mach smaller arch over
the railway, and the following year an earth fill was made
from bank to bank.
The making of this fill was a far more expensive affair than
the work would
111
be today. There were no steam Shovels in those days to move
half a Carload at a clip, in fact there was not much use for
any kind of shovels on that job. There was a fair sized rise
of land at the east end, south of the right of way. A sort
of ditch or dugway was made from the track into this land,
high and wide enough for a locomotive and train of dump
carts. Temporary bridges spanned the dugway. In the center
of the bridges and over the center of the track
underneath, a small sized hole, about three feet square
would be left.
A large number of men and teams could work on such a job,
part of them loosening the earth with plows, and part of
them, with slip scrapers, moving the earth and dumping it
down the holes into Cars. Soon as the cars were filled the
engineer would draw the string out on the bridge, where a
crew of men with levers, and to the Sing-song chant of
"he-he-heoo!" would quickly raise one side of the little
cars and send their Loads roaring down to the bottom of the
fill. A dozen years later when building of the second track
made a widening of the fill necessary, practically the same
method was in use.
As before stated, in early days a comparatively large number
of men were required all along the railroads to keep them in
repair, an item of expense that the adoption of steel rails
and better road ballast has greatly reduced. It seemed
better in those times that these men should live near their
work, so rows of board shanties were to be seen every couple
of miles along the railroad right of way. Immigrants from
Ireland seemed to be well fitted for this kind of work, and
so the inhabitants of these humble homes were invariably
Irish. The shanties and their people have passed on, but the
descendants of these people are running the railroads of
the country today.
At the regular borough election the third Friday of March,
1854, John Webb was chosen burgess; E. F. Hessler, D. D.
Loop and George Bothel, council; Russell White, assessor
Joel Loomis and A, ¥, Blaine, school directors,
It appears that the park was at that time used as a sort of
dumping ground, and at a council meeting held June 12 it was
resolved that the burgess be authorized and required to
cause the public square to be cleaned of all rubbish at at
the expense of those persons putting it there.
On June 20 the street supervisor was authorized to grade the
sidewalk to the line in front of the lot owned by Nancy
Loomis, formerly Nancy Allison, and the burgess be required
to notify James Brawley and Shubel Adkins to extend
Sidewalks across their lots and that the same is done in
order according to the ordinance, and that the street
supervisors grade the sidewalks from Griffiths to the
railroad on the east side of the street and that sidewalks
be built immediately.
Volney Belknap was at this time tax collector and S. M.
Beekimap constable. There must have been a mad dog scare
that year. An ordinance was passed on the 25th day of August
ordering the constable to kill and bury all unmuzzled dogs
found running at large in the borough, he to receive fifty
cents for every such dog so destroyed.
At the borough election the 16th day of March, 1855, A. W.
Blaine was elected justice of the peace; John Brawley,
burgess; and BE. C. Heath and Dr. Thomas Cushing were
elected councilmen.
Dr. Cushing was father of the internationally known
scientist, Dr. Frank Hamilton Cushing, who was a North East
boy, born here April 12, 1857 or '59. He discovered Indian
process of making arrow heads when he was fifteen years of
age. He prepared and was curator of the Aboriginal
collection at the Philadelphia Centennial in 1876; was
curator of the ethnological division, National Museum,
Washington; explored the Pueblo of Zuni, New Mexico, 1879:
lived several years with the Zuni Indians, studying habits,
history, language, etc.; explored southern Arizona in the
Hemenway Southwestern Archeological expedition; discovered
the "Seven Cities of Cibola"; explored Florida, finding
remains of lake-dwellers among the Keys; was author of many
pamphlets and reports; and died in 1900.
112
Following are a few of his publications: ‘The Arrow, The
Germ of Shoreland Pottery, The Giant Cloud swallower, Mutual
Concepts, A Study of Influence of Hand Usage on Cultural
Growth, The Need of Studying the Indian in Order to Teach
Him, Outlines of Zuni Creation Myths, A Study of Pueblo
Pottery, Zuni Zuni Folk Tales. Dr, Cushing was not the only
one who could claim North East as the place of his birth or
early residence, and that our tow has reason to be proud of.
It is greatly to be regretted that a person of such ability
and accomplishment should pass out of life so early. The
information obtained by Dr. Cushing regarding the Zunis and
other early inhabitants of the south and southwestern parts
of United States is a priceless historical collection.
N. C. Tyler
N. C. Tyler was born August 18, 1833 in Girard, Erie county,
Pa., son of James S. and Hannah (Cass) Tyler, the former a
native of Vermont (and who was in the War of 1812), the
latter a native of Massachusetts. They came to Erie county
about 1817-'18, settling near Girard, where they died, he in
1869 and his wife some years previous. Their family numbered
nine children, all of whom have passed on.
N. C. Tyler was married in 1856 to Mahala Le, daughter of
William Jones. By this union there was one child — James W.,
who died about 1872. Mrs. Tyler was killed in a railroad
accident at Poughkeepsie, N. Y., in 1868. She was the only
passenger killed or severely injured in that accident. A
strange circumstance occurred the day before this
accident. Mrs. Tyler and Duane Loop were on their way to the
railroad depot at North East to take the “morning
accommodation," (the same train that now, nearly seventy
years later, is to be discontinued,) Mrs. Tyler for a
trip to New York to purchase millinery goods, and Mr.
Loop to go to his wedding at Ripley, N. Y. It seems that
they were slightly late and on hearing the locomotive
whistle, Mr. Loop by a lively sprint managed to make the
train, while Mrs. Tyler laughingly turned back, remarking to
a friend "My business can wait, it is not as important as
Duane's."
Mr. Tyler was again married in 1873 to Eliza McLean Kendig,
a sister of Col. McLean of the famous P. VY. I. of Erie
county. Mr. Tyler, together with Mr. John Scouller of North
East built the extensive tannery known as the Tyler and
Scouller tannery. It was run by steam and did a large
business until destroyed by fire forty or so years ago.
Mr. Tyler enlisted in 1861 under Capt. Hichards and served
in the 6th Ohio Cavalry, under Col. Lloyd, being engaged in
all the principal battles of the Potomac. At the end of two
years! service he reenlisted as a veteran under General
Steadman and was discharged July 18, 1865. After the fire
Mr. Tyler engaged in grape growing until his death 25 years
ago.
Dr. J. BE. Silliman
James BE. Silliman, MN. D., physician and surgeon, was born
in North East, Erie county, Pa., June 10, 1844, son of John
and Minerva (Chapman), Silliman, natives of Pennsylvania.
John Silliman's father was a farmer born in Ireland,
immigrated to America and settled in North East township in
1802, John was also a farmer. He was the father of seven
children, all of whom have passed on, though several
descendants are living here and in California.
Dr. J. E. Silliman acquired his education in Allegheny
College in Meadville, Pa., from which he was graduated in
1871 with the degree of A. B.3 and three years later he
obtained the degree of A. M. He graduated from Jefferson
Medical
113
College of Philadelphia in 1874 in the regular course and
immediately commenced to practice in Erie, In 1878 Dr.
Silliman was married to Hattie L., daughter of the late Hugh
P, Mehaffey, who passed:on several years since.
Dr. Silliman enlisted in 1865 in the 102nd P. v. I., Co. E,
and served to the Close of the war. Later he was brigade
surgeon of the Second Brigade, N.G.P. In 1875 he was elected
coroner and served until 1881. He also for some years was
secretary of the Board of Examining Surgeons of Pensions. He
was a life-long member of the Erie County Medical Society,
of the State Medical Society and American Medical
Association.
Dr. Silliman was married again some years after the death of
his first wife, He was a member of the First Methodist
church of Erie where he was steward and a sabbath school
teacher for many years. Dr. Silliman built up a very large
practice and was one of the most active men in his
profession. He was prominent in the Masonic order and
served in high official capacities in various branches of
that organization. .
Dr, Silliman and his wife passed on several years since. He
was noted fr his "old--fashioned ways" and kindly
disposition. His first thought was to "answer the sick
call," and the question of pay did not enter into the case
at all. He did not join in the hurry and rush of the
automobile age but clung to his horse- drawn rig till he
answered the last summons.
Thursday, February 7, 1935:
A short time back it was noted that the borough council
decided it was time the park was cleaned of rubbish that had
been allowed to accumulate on the grounds. At a meeting
March 27, 1855, a resolution was passed to improve and fence
the park under the supervision of Burgess John Brawley and
Councilman Dr. Cushing and Assessor J. L. Brookins. The
posts for this fence were to be sawn eight inches square at
butt and three by eight at top, set eight feet apart. The
boards were to run lenghthwise, a bottom board ten inches
wide, three other face boards seven inches wide and a cap
board seven inches wide; and they were to be nailed under
the direction of the burgess.
At this same meeting it was resolved, that the fence
committee be authorized to confer with the Presbyterian
society, or the trustees, as to the propriety of moving
their church off the public grounds. It would appear that
the building of this fence was considered an important
matter. At a meeting March 30 it was decided to advertise
for bids for its construction, to be completed by July 15.
The bids were received April 14, and Joel Loomis being the
lowest bidder was awarded the contract.
At this time the nuisance of cattle and hogs running at
large within the borough limits had become so great that
citizens sent a petition to council and council passed
ordinance No. 10, prohibiting such animals running at large,
instructing seizure and naming a fine of fifty cents per
head on all such animals taken. This ordinance was printed,
printed copies were posted and a printed copy placed in the
council record book. The burgess issued a warrant under his
hand and seal to the High constable for the arrest of all
cattle and Swine found running at large.
On May 5, 1855, the burgess and borough clerk were
instructed to arrange and publish in pamphlet form the
borough charter and such by-laws as have from time to time
been passed. This may have been done but there is no record
of any of printed pamphlets. Sidewalks as usual seem to have
been the chief trouble of the council. Ordinances and
resolutions were passed to force lot owners to build
sidewalks.
Early Street Names - At a meeting of council May 19, 1855,
names for the borough.
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streets were adopted by the burgess and town Council, as
follows: The Erie and Buffalo road to be called Main street.
The street from Hain street at Hayne's Hotel to the railroad
(now Lake) to be called Railroad street. From Main street at
Allison's Hotel to the railroad (now Pearl) to be called
Race street. From the Main street at R. S. Loomis! north
(now Mill) to be called Water street, Prom Main street at
Knapp's (now Pearl) north to be called Spring street. From
the northwest corner of the Diamond (now Gibson) to be
called Brown street. The street north of the Diamond (now
Gibson) to be called Park street. The street west of the
Diamond (now Park) to be called Peach street. The street
east of the Diamond north (now North Lake):-to be called
Portage street. From Main street South on the eastern
boundary (now South Washington) to be called Rural street.
From Main street north on the eastern boundary (there was no
street then, now North Washington) to be called Gibson
street,
On the second day of June, 1855, another sidewalk ordinance,
No. 1l, was passed, and on August 29 still another,
regulating the building of sidewalks. The fence around the
Diamond having been completed, a meeting was held Sept. 10,
1855, at which a committee was appointed to measure the
fence. Mr. Loomis presented a bill for a set of steps or
stile he had constructed over the fence at the southwest
corner of the park, This bill was ordered paid.
There are still in existence two or more copies of an old
Daugerreotype print taken of the park at about this time.
These pictures show the fence and the steps at the southwest
corner of the park, and the Presbyterian church at a time of
some important meeting or gathering at the church, quite a
crowd of people and several teams and Carriages being shown
by the pictures but not a Single tree appears in the park,
and but a few small houses. The Greer house looks just the
same as today. This picture establishes the fact that there
were no trees in the park in 1855, and that the Presbyterian
church was not removed until a later date.
It is interesting to note when comparing borough expense of
those times with borough expenses of today, that the park
fence which measured seventy—eight and one-eighth rods, was
built at a contract price of one dollar a rod, Today the
lumber and posts would cost four dollars per rod. I+ is
known also that he paid ten cents per rod for digging the
holes for the posts, and that a young North East boy named
Isaac Dolph dug them. It seems that presentation and payment
of bills was in keeping of prices also. The fence was
measured and accepted on Sept. 17, 1855. There is no record
of when first payment on it was made but on Jan. 15, 1857,
the council passed an order to pay Mr. Joel Loomis forty-two
dollars and thirty-one cents, balance due for building it.
At the same meeting Mr. A. W. Blaine’s bill of $25.00 for
two years' services as borough clerk and treasurer was
ordered paid. Meantime the always present sidewalk trouble
had all along been the most important business of the
council.
At the regular borough election March 20, 1857, several old
well-known names appear as winners: Justice of the peace,
John Braden; burgess, Harmon Ensign; judge of election,
Samuel G. Long; inspectors, Richard Bran and Alexander
Pope; council, Bester Town and Jacob Knapp; constable, Amos
Gould; assessor, Abijah Jones; high constable, Joel Loomis;
auditors, Heman Hobinson, H. G. Morse, Lewis Green and
Shubel Adkins. Joel Loomis refused to serve as high
constable, So a special election was held to fill this
office. Calendar Folwell receiving 26 out of the 37 votes
cast, was declared elected.
On June 29, 1857, another illustration of the times is given
by action of the council in allowing John G: Taylor two
dollars for his services in leveling the Diamond in April,
1655; and on July 24 the election board was paid one dollar
and fifty cents each for holding a special election for
high constable. On Sept. 8, 1857, J. M. Conrad was allowed
two dollars and fifty cents for services as clerk for the
year of 1848; and at the same meeting another sidewalk
ordinance was passed. On Oct. 20 Dr. Loop's fine of fifty
cents for two cows placed
115
in the pound was remitted. The doctor was ill at the time
and unable to take care of the cows. It seems that Dr.
Cushing was a Surveyor as well as a physician. He was
allowed three dollars for two days' surveying and leveling
Race street.
The council was called together Dec. 10, and a committee
consisting of B. Histed, Bester Town and Dr. Cushing was
appointed to report with a resolution expressive of the
feelings of the other members of the council toward Mr.
Jacob Knapp, one of its members, who had just passed away. A
very appropriate and kindly resolution was prepared,
accepted by the council and Spread upon the minutes and a
copy of the same was taken to the family of the deceased,
On Jan. 30, 1858, more sidewalk troubles. This time the
burgess was instructed to obtain legal council as to
procedure in collecting costs of building sidewalks by the
borough. There is record of what proceedings were ordered,
but two dollars per rod was the price assessed for the
building, and the burgess was allowed two dollars for money
paid for the advice. An itemized account of Levi Jones,
treasurer of the borough for the year of 1857, appears on
the record, There are quite a number of items, covering all
receipts and expenditures, The balance footings on each side
are $264.81. It does not appear that such a thing as a
borough debt had been heard of at this time. Among the
receipts was $5.00 for license for Dan Ricets show; $3.00
for grass sold on the Diamond, and $1.50 for pasture of the
Diamond.
At a meeting on April 10, 1858, is the first mention of
trees for the park, Later, on March 30, a resolution was
passed that "On motion the Burgess to appoint a committee
of two for the purpose of expending fifty dollars, and what
other sum the burgess and council may think proper, in
setting out trees in the Diamond. The burgess appointed
Judge Greer and Levi Jones. paid committee was approved by
the council." On motion of Judge Greer the burgess and
council resolved to appropriate fifty dollars the: present
year for the purpose of setting trees on the Public Square.
Dr. R. W. Stockton
Richard Witham Stockton was born Sept. 13, 1785, at Newton,
Long Island; died Sept. 29, 1868, at North East, Pa. He was
a retired physician, the father of Dr. George B. Stockton,
who came to North East about 1858 with his wife in order to
live near their daughter, Mrs. Ebenezer Knapp.
Dr. Re W. Stockton had studied with Dr. Thos. B. Whitmarsh,
a relative, and prominent physician of Walton and Delhi, N.
Y.3 and he then took a course of study at Columbia College,
New York city, receiving a diploma in 1804 permitting the
practice of medicine. He began his practice of medicine in
Delaware Cooy Ne Y. He was appointed secretary of the
Delaware Medical Society and served four years; was
president of the College one term and was curator many
years. In the War of 1812 he served as an army Surgeon on
the northern frontier. He was a physician of excellent
standing in his profession.
On Jan. 15, 1811, he married Elizabeth, daughter of David
and Elizabeth St. John of Walton, N. Y. They had six
children. They resided at Delhi, Fredonia, Sinclairville
and other places in New York state, but Spent the latter
part of their lives at North East. Mrs. Stockton was born
Nov. 29, 1788 at Walton, N. Y.3 died at North East, Pa.,
Aug. 25, 1870. Their children were Erasms Darwin, Julia Ann,
married Otis Stillman; Charles Augustus; Elizabeth, married
Milo Hopkins; George Baylis; Mary Sophia, married Ebenezer
Knapp, has a granddaughter living in North East, Mrs.
Theodore Parker — Theresa (Southwick) (Ford) Parker.
Modes of travel were primitive in the early half of 1800.
streams to ford,
116
Cowpaths through the woods, rough or muddy roads made travel
difficult, and for physicians visiting patients travel was
mostly on horseback. Sulkies and Jenny-linds were later aids
as better roads were provided. On one of his horseback
trips the doctor was thrown and suffered a broken hip.
Hospitals were almost unknown, and cases which now are
rushed by ambulance to the nearest hospital, were then
treated in homes where primitive treatments were applied
without the modern appliances which help to make a
successful recovery. Nurses were inexperienced, untrained,
kindly hearted neighbors. Bandages and lint were hastily
made home productions. Sympathy and kindliness were without
stint, but trained, skilled Service was little known. So the
doctor's broken limb when healed, was shorter than the other
and thereafter he was obliged to walk with the aid of a
cane,
Drug stores were limited in number and in supplies: so the
doctors kept a supply of medicine and with mortar and pestle
compounded some of their own prescriptions, Pills and
boluses were mixed, weighed and made by the doctors
themselves. Distances and travel difficulties made it
necessary for the doctors to carry a well-filled case of
supplies, primitive forceps for an aching tooth, and lances
for boils and carbuncles,
There was little money in circulation as the medium of trade
and rewards of services were mostly farm products. Charges
for medical services were very small, but even so, the
doctor's charge accounts were numerous and often never paid
at all. The difficulties of the doctors in the early 1800's
are now unknown. Paved roads and enclosed automobiles with
bright headlights have removed some of the difficulties.
One of the family says: "TI have much sympathy for those
early doctors. We had seven of them among our relatives,
enduring exposure of all kinds, giving experience, judgment,
Skill, time, medicine, which is often money, and doing it
all gratuitously. It savors of the work done by missionaries
for others without reward and it must receive the same
recognition: ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! ."
Dr. George B, Stockton and family moved to North East,Pa.
from Dunkirk, N. Y¥., in August, 1861. He had taken a
medical course of study at Cleveland, Ohio, also a course of
lectures in Buffalo, N. Y. He had previous studies and
readings with his father, Dr. R. We Stockton, He practiced
medicine for 25 years. Dr. Stockton was one of the early
physicians in North East, contemporary with Dr. D. D.
Loop.
Dr. G. R. Stockton was born in Gerry, N. Yes; which town was
later incorporated with Sinclairville, N. Y., and became
a part of it. Dr. Stockton was postmaster at Dunkirk from
1853 to 1859. At one time he was president of the village of
Dunkirk. Dr. Stockton owned a drugstore at North East about
1869- 1871. He sold it to Mr. Gray. His moving to North East
was in the early days of the Civil war, and he soon left to
join a volunteer regiment headed for the Potomac, Virginia,
which regiment was organized and led by his uncle, a
graduate of West Point Military Academy. Dr. Stockton
returned in a few months from that base of action. Later he
was drafted in as an assistant surgeon, 74th Reg., Penna.
Vol., and was stationed in the military hospital at
Clarksburg, W. Virginia. He remained there until the end
of the War of 1865, when he received his honorable
discharge.
Dr. stockton was born April 28, 1829; died July 5, 1880. He
married Katherine Vassault July 25, 1853. She died June 5,
1894. They had three children: Charles, who died in
infancy; Julia, died in 19343 and George, who died in
California Nov. 19, 1926.
George Baylis Stockton was the son of Dr. G. B. and
Katherine Vassault Stockton, and came to North East with his
parents Aug. 26, 1861, where he lived until 1915, when he
took up his residence in Cleveland, Ohio. Mr. Stockton
learned the jewelry business with Mr. John Inglis, who
later, in February, 1882,
117
Sold out to Dinsdale & Stockton. Later Mr. S. bought and
conducted the business in his own name. On Oct. 8, 1882,
he married Harriet Maria Kendig. On Aug. 14, 1834, occurred
the great fire which destroyed most of the stores in North
East, including Mr. Stockton's business.
In 1886 he was appointed postal clerk on the fast mail and
later became overseer of one of the mail cars containing
thirteen mail clerks. In 1920 he was so broken in health he
was obliged to give up the mail service to which he had
given 34 years of constant, faithful service. There are runs
of eight hours or more, Cleveland to Syracuse, Cleveland to
Utica, Cleveland to Troy - working the mail each way. Six
days' run on the road alternate with six days! rest at home.
The "rests" relieve the mail clerk from eight hours!
Standing while the train is in motion, anc from the din
lighting which causes eyestrain. The eight hours! standing
work developed callouses and eventually blood poisoning
appeared, and that in turn demanded an operation, and then
death demanded toll.
His first wife, Harriet Kendig Stockton, daughter of Cyrus
and Bliga (McLane) Kendig, was born Sept. 16, 1859, in
Moorheadville, Pa. George was born March 10, 1859, in
Dunkirk, N. Y. Geo. B. Stockton was remarried Jan. 95 1922,
at Monroe, Mich., to Beeta 0. Abram. They lived on a chicken
ranch at Owensmouth, now Canoga Park, Cal. No children by
the second wife. His first wife's children were Irene Tyler,
born July 31, 1884, at North East, married Harry Sweet, and
moved to California and later to Oregon; McLane, born March
30, oe died Aug. 10, 1918; Lewis Hamilton, born Dec. 28,
1893, who died Aug. 23 1894.
Mr. Stockton's examinations for his postal work were always
high. Never below 99 and a fraction. The changes in post
offices demand yearly examinations. New post offices are
formed, others are sold or combined with larger towns,
sorting the letters in the cars is rapid and continuous. The
bags are large and very heavy. The storage car is filled to
capacity and is not always emptied at the end of the run,
and then must be finished in the mail room in the station by
the already exhausted clerks.
The writing is sometimes foreign and illegible, but usually
the city or town can be deciphered, and it is passed on.
Sometimes the English address is so imperfect as to be
almost useless. One such letter from Canada fell into Mr,
Stockton's hands, The address following name was Palace
Hotel, U. S., America, Mr. 5S. recalled that there was a
“Palace Hotel" in his home town, so wrote on the envelope
"Try North East." It went to the right party. Another
envelope was addressed to Niagara St., U. S. A. On this he
wrote "Try Buffalo." That, too, reached its destination.
Quick guessing is often necessary.
Thursday, February 7, 1935:
A slight error was made in giving date of first mention of
trees for the park. The first mention was made at a meeting
of the borough council March 20; 1858, when upon motion of
B. Histed, the burgess, Harmon Ensign, Bester Town and John
Greer were appointed to mark out the public square
preparatory to setting out trees, and that Saturday, the
2Tth, be the day on which the trees shall be set out, and
that notice of the same be given out in each of the churches
in this place.
A motion appropriating fifty dollars for the purpose of tree
planting was passed March 30, At a meeting April 2, 1858,
the following bills for trees and labor were allowed: Walter
Seeley, $20.00 for eighty trees; S. Davis $1.00 for trees;
EH. Perry, $2.00 for trees; James Watt, $8.00 for digging
holes; Philo Barker, $2.00 for work on Diamonds I. S.
Griffin, $1.25 for work{y¢ on Diamond; This gives the cost
of the tree planting project in the park at a little less
118
than a hundred dollars.
It is probable that very few, if any, of the shade trees
along the streets of North East are any older than the park
trees, There were trees planted along some of the street
frontage of early North East, but most of them have
disappeared. One large maple at Dr. Adams! residence and a
walnut on the north side of Main street, at Ella May Loomis!
residence, have been removed in the past few years. A few
maples on Main street east of Loomis street and several
locust trees on the west side of South Pearl, south of the
railroads, still remain.
The ever-present sidewalk trouble seemed to need another
ordinance, so on May 11, 1858, ordinance No. 15 ordered
sidewalks on both sides of Main street, Railroad street and
the east side of Race street on or before July 1, under
penalty of three dollars per rod. A special election was
held Saturday, June 19, for the election of a high constable
to fill the vacancy occasioned by the death of Calendar
Folwell. C. H. Merts having received ten votes was declared
elected. Special elections in those days were simple,
inexpensive affairs and only needed a motion passed by
council for their authorization.
The newly-set trees in the park could not have had much care
for according to the record the grass was sold for $4.50
on the day this special election was held.
Levi Jones was appointed street supervisor on June 28, and
was instructed to pay not over two dollars a day for men and
team and one dollar a day for men to work on the streets. He
was also instructed to notify all parties who had failed to
build sidewalks, as per ordinance of May 11, that he would
begin on the 25th day of July to build and repair all walks
according to the terms of that ordinance.
On Oct. 11, the principal business of the council seemed to
be the passing of relief measures for the dairy interests of
the borough. Motions were passed remitting B. Orton's fines
for cattle that had been taken up by the high constable,
after breaking out of his pasture; also a fine against J. M.
Mills for one cow; a fine against Widow Smith for two cows;
a fine against Widow Green for one cow; a fine against Mr.
Bell for one cow; one-half of the fine against A. W. Blaine
for five cows; George Jewett, fine for one cow taken up by
high constable; and Dr. Cushing, a fine for one cow.
On October 1 a warrant was issued to the high constable to
seize and take up cattle, etc., found running at large in
the borough of North East" - warrant to be good for four
months. In those days a large number of cows were kept in
the borough, many of them being driven to and from outside
pastures daily. Since then the limits of the borough have
been extended to around twice its original size, its
population has increased more than 400 per cent, and the
number of cows kept has dropped to nearly zero.
More sidewalk legislation. At a meeting Dec. 24, the burgess
was instructed to remove the plank walk in front of the
lot owned by George Jewett, if the said Jewett will not pay
the burgess and council eight dollars for the said walk. The
council appointed a committee to inspect all houses in town
for fire hazards. This committee found quite a number of
stove-pipes and chimneys in an unsafe condition, and were
ordered paid one dollar a day for their time spent at this
work, a total of three dollars.
March 10, 1859, more dairy relief measures came before the
council, with disastrous results for the dairymen. Motion E.
N. Fuller be released one-half of fine on hogs, lost. Motion
P, P, Clark, James H. Haynes, Ae Le Hall, one-half fine on
cattle, lost. Upon reconsideration it was resolved that for
the purpose of making an end of the applications for the
remittance of fines being brought before the council,
one-half of the fines against BE. N. Puller, H. D. Selkregg,
A. HE. Hall, P. P. Clark and James H. Haynes be remitted.
119
The borough election held in the Academy, March 19, 1859.
Samuel Malick was elected burgess; J. H. Haynes, judge: W.
A. Ensien and &. FP. Hessler, inspectors; J. M. Conrad
and H. H. Allison, councils J. M. Mills, constable; G. J.
Jewett, assessor; John Greer and J. L. Brookins, school
directors; C. H, Merts, high Constable; and A. Pope, A. W.
Green, A. Davidson and S. S. Hammond, auditors,
Sidewalks were the principal trouble, as usual, and on April
4, 1859, the supervisor was ordered to repair the walks that
were ordered repaired last year and to remove the sidewalk
in front of G. Jewett's lot,
At the regular election held in the Academy building March
16, 1860, Philetus Glass was chosen burgess; Levi Jones, H.
D. Selkregg and R. S. Loomis, council.
April 16, 1860, council met, and as usual sidewalks took its
entire attention. The passage of ordinance No. 16,
ordering the building of walks on most of the streets in
town, was the only business before the meeting.
At the June 22, 1860, meeting it was resolved that the
"grass on the Diamond be sold on Monday next at six
o'clock Pe m. at public outcry to the highest bidder."
It would appear from the next motion passed at this meeting
that the growing of both grass and trees on the same land
did not work any better seventy-five years ago than it does
today. Mr. H. D. Selkregg was allowed twenty-five cents a
tree for setting eighty-seven trees in the public Diamond.
This same thing had happened the year previous also, and the
following year the bill was $32.90 for the same purpose.
From a resolution passed by the borough council August 20,
there must have been another mad dog scare. The resolution
was to instruct the high constable to shoot and kill all
unmuzzled dogs found running at large in the borough, and to
pay him fifty cents each for all dogs so shot and killed.
August 20, 1861, council resolved that the clerk be
instructed to publish notice that the burgess and council
will receive sealed proposals until Saturday evening for
furnishing stone and building a stone sidewalk on the Main
street south of the Diamond. There is no record of bids
being received but there was a motion passed at a meeting on
December 7, to pay H. Munger $43.23 in full for building a
stone sidewalk on the south side of the Diamond on the
Buffalo road, It was also resolved that the pathmaster lay
down three street crossings — one at Mrs. Scouller's, one at
the west end of the borough, one at the post office, and at
such points as the council may direct.
G. A. Hampson
George A. Hampson, long an influential representative of the
progressive interests of North East, business, financial and
public, was an honored member of a pioneer and prominent
family whose useful works are identified with both the
founding and development of Erie county.
The paternal grandfather, Robert Hampson, was a soldier of
the war of 1812 and assisted in building and filling out the
boats which formed Commodore Perry's famous fleet and served
under that gallant commander. In his local relations he was
well known as a substantial farmer citizen, and one of the
founders of the First Presbyterian church at North East. He
came from Huntingdon, Pa., and located in the township of
North East in the spring of 1800, purchasing two hundred
acres from the Pennsylvania Population Company, which
tract he improved as his farm and homestead until his death
in 1651. This land remained in the Hampson family for
eighty-eight years, from 1800 to 1888,
Samuel, a brother of Robert, was the first resident of North
East, locating
120
there in 1795 and making it his home until he moved to
Salem, Ohio, in 1815, That place was then the frontier of
western Civilization and remained the home of Samuel Hampson
until his death. The father of these pioneers, John Hampson,
was a British soldier in the Revolutionary war. Robert
Hampson married Miss sarah Fee, and her father, Colonel John
Fee, commanded a patriot regiment in the same conflict,
James Hampson, a son of the couple named and father of
George A., was born in North East township, August 30, 1805,
and in his early life served as captain of a boat on the
Erie canal, later being a contractor at Toronto, Canada, in
association with his brother John. He remained a resident of
that city for many years, attaining standing as one of its
leading business men. Most of his life, however, was spent
in North East. James Hampson was first married in 1832 to
Miss Charlotte Brecht of Fairview, Pa., who died in 1842,
mother of four children.
In 1846 he married Miss Matilda Porter of North East
township, who was a native of Belfast, Ireland, born in May,
1818. When she was two years of age her. parents brought her
to the farm which had been purchased as a family
homestead, two miles east of the borough of North East.
There the father, Robert Porter, spent the remainder of his
life, dying in 1846, at the age of seventy— five years, and
his wife, Sallie Danean, died in March, 1865. The original
Porter a8 remained in the family until sold by the
grandson, George A. Hampson in 1908.
Of the five children born to James and Matilda (Porter)
Hampson one only is now living: Alice, widow of John S.
Towne, and a resident of Erie. Annie, wife of G. W. Blaine;
George Ae, of this sketch, passed away three years ago.
Hattie J. died in July, 1876, aged twenty-one years. James
Hampson died in May, 1898, at the advanced age of
ninety-—three years. He was, like his father, a life-long
member of the Presbyterian church, and like him was
distinguished for his probity and uprightness of character.
George A. Hampson was born in Harborcreek township, Erie
county, in May, 1853, and received his education at the Lake
Shore Seminary. At the age of twenty-two he left home and
after traveling through the western states for a year,
located at North East as cashier of the People's Savings
Institution, remaining in that position for over five years.
During the succeeding four years he was manager of the
office of Samson Short, and after severing this connection
engaged in fire insurance business. Later, Mr. Hampson
purchased the North East Vinegar Works, which he owned and
superintended for twelve years, then sold it to the company
which now conducts it. Mr. Hampson next became the owner of
the Haywood Custom Mills, which he operated for a year and
sold to Blaine & Mackay. From that time he was engaged in
the real estate and fire insurance business. In 1896 he was
appointed receiver of the People's Saving Institution. His
record as a public official is also highly commendatory and
covers a period of seven years as secretary of the school
board and five years as justice of the peace. He was an
active member of the Royal Arcanum, and an attendant of the
Presbyterian church.
In November, 1880, Mr. Hampson married Miss Anna MeCord,
daughter of Joseph and Amanda (Leet ) McCord, and they
became the parents of Helen, Harriet and Alice, the last
named being the widow of B. Forrest Ginder of Philadelphia.
The wife and mother died in July, 1885, and in June, 1901,
Mr. Hampson married Miss Lida Thompson of Ripley, Chautauqua
county, N. Y., a daughter of Hugh and Elisa Thompson, who
passed away soon after the death of her husband.
121
Thursday, February 21, 19353 S. S. Hammond Samuel Smith
Hammond, born at Canandaigua, N. Y., Aug. 31, 1817, a son of
David and Debora (Jones) Hammond the former from New Haven,
Conn., and the latter of Canandaigua. David Hammond was a
farmer who came with his family to Erie county late in the
winter of 1821, traversing the ice of Lake Erie by ox-team
sledge from Buffalo to Barcelona, from there through the
woods to Harborcreek township, where he purchased a farm
and lived until his death in 1825. His widow married Robert
Hampson about 1827 and came to North East township, where
she died. After his mother's second marriage Samuel S. lived
with John McCord, a farmer of North East township. He then
learned the trade of carpenter and joiner at Gibsonville
(now North East) under Benj. R. Tuttle, remaining there
until he was 21. He then entered carpentry business for
himself, until 1856. From that date to 1860 he served
several terms in various borough offices and Was postmaster
at North East and tan a general store in connection
therewith. In 1860 he went to Colorado to the gold regions,
and returning once more to North East was made state agent
and held that position five years. In 1865 he was elected to
office of justice of the peace, an office which he held for
more than twenty years. During this time he, in connection
with his son, John S., was engaged in cattle fattening and
general farming, and also planted a fifty—acre apple orchard
on South Washington street. He was married March, 1839, to
Sena, daughter of John Denton of North East township. Mrs.
Hammond died in 1884. They had four children: John, Cynthia,
Hush and Willian. Cynthia married John S, Paden, and they
had two Children, John and Frederick. All have passed away.
John S. Hammond John S, Hammond was born in North East, Feb.
22, 1840, the eldest child of Samuel Smith Hammond. John was
educated in the public and high school of North East. When
15 years of age he went to Buffalo to learn telegraphy.
After Six months he was given Charge of the telegraph office
of the B. & E. R. R., North East, remaining here until 1857,
and held several similar positions until Oct. 1861, when he
went to Washington and remained until February, 1862, when
he resigned because of ill health. He returned to Dunkirk,
once more in the railroad service until 1868. From here he
went to Buffalo as general agent on the N. Y., L. E. and
Western, remaining until 1885, when his headquarters were
moved to New York, This position he was compelled to resign
on account of ill health, in 1889 he returned finally to
North East, where he had farming interests with his father.
John S. Hammond was killed by cars at the North East depot a
few years later. Mr. Hammond was a man of remarkable ability
in the line of business in which he was engaged as a
telegraph operator when a boy of fifteen, ten or a dozen
years after the electric telegraph was invented by Samuel F.
B. Mase, and. was one of the first to learn to "read by
sound" an accomplishment that Morse did not know was
possible when he invented the machine that marked the
messages in dots and dashes on a paper ribbon. His
connection with the railroad business was before the days of
adding machines and he gained the reputation of being a real
wizard at figures in addition to remarkable executive
ability.
122
The Merrill Family
Edward W. Merrill, who recently passed away at his home on
East Main street, and who for the most part of his life was
an honored and respected citizen of North East, was a native
of the state of New York, and was born September 20, 1850,
in the town of Pavillion, a son of David M. Merrill.
The Merrill family, it is supposed, is of French extraction,
being descended from the Huguenot family De Merle, who
escaped to England after the memorable massacre on St.
Bartholomew's Day, in August, 1572. This family belonged
to the Auvergne nobility and had its ancestral estate near
Place de Dombes, in that province. The founders of the
Merrill family in North America were two brothers, John
Merrill and Nathaniel Merrill, who immigrated to Ipswich,
Mass., in 1633 from Salisbury, County of Wilts, Hngland. In
1634 these brothers settled in Newbury, becoming charter
members of the new town. John Merrill died September 16,
1673, and by his wife, Elizabeth, who died July 14, 1682,
had one Child, Hannah. Hannah, born in Imgland, married May
24, 1647, Stephen Swett, and died April 4, 1662.
Nathaniel Merrill, born in Salisbury, England, about 1610,
died in Newbury, Mass., March 16, 1654. Of his union with
Susannah Wilterton six children were born, namely: John,
born in 1635; Nathaniel, born in 1638; Abraham, Susannah;
Daniel, born August 26, 1642, and Abel, born Feb. 20, 1644.
The line was subsequently continued through several
generations to one David Ferrill, who was great-grandfather
of Edward W. Bargilla Merrill, the grandfather, was born
November 17, 1764, and died April 14, 1850, in Fabius, New
York. He married Electa who was born May 3, 1770, died
August 4, 1840, in Fabius. They had a family of eleven
children, David M., the father of Edward We, having been the
youngest child.
David M. Merrill was born June 4, 1815, in Onondaga county,
New York, about thirty miles south of Syracuse, and died
February 4, 1881, at North East, Erie county, Pa. Coming
with his wife and children to Erie county in 1855, just
after the completion of the railroad in this vicinity, he
settled first at Johnson's Crossing. Three years later, in
1858, he removed to North East, where he continued his
free and independent occupation of farming until his death.
He was a Democrat in politics, active in public affairs,
serving several terms in the borough council. On October 17,
1839, he married Deborah Wallis, who was born April 22,
1820, in Onondaga county, N. Y., and died March 15, 1907, in
Syracuse. They became the parents of four children, namely:
Wallis E., born November 12, 1841; drowned March 19, 1847;
Maria H.3 Edward W., of this sketch; and Evangeline A.
Maria H., the second child born August 8, 1843, married
October 5, 1864, Byron D. Bramer, who died September 26,
1907. Five children were born to Hr. and Mrs. Bramer,
namely: Fred, born May 20, 1866; Mary Eva, born November 30,
1867; Lewis Byron, born June 16, 1870; B. Edward, born Oct.
9s 18733 and. Harry Monroe, born September 5, 1881. Mrs.
Bramer, whose only surviving child is Edward Bramer,
lives in Syracuse, 8. Edward Bramer married Jane A. Pellens
August 3, 1904, and they have one son, William Edward, born
Feb. 9, 1907. They reside in Syracuse. ivangeline A.
Merrill, the youngest child of the parental household,
born May 16, 1855, married in 1882 Frank H. Perkins and now
resides in Detroit. ‘Three children have blessed their
union, namely: Merrill Alongo, born December 24, 1882;
Richard Harold, oe June 5, 1890; and Frank Donald, born Nov.
18, 1893, died December 6, 1897.
Five years of age when he wane with his parents to Erie
county, Edward W. Merrill attended the public schools of
North East, and from his youth up was well trained in the
various branches of agriculture. After attaining his
majority he was variously employed, for three years
running a planing mill in North East, afterwards being
engaged in business as a contractor for four or five years.
He was one of the leading men in North East while a resident
of this place, for
123
Six years serving as supervisor of the borough. Several
years thereafter he changed his residence to Erie, Pa.,
where he became Superintendent and secretary, having
almost full charge of the Scott farms. Mr. Merrill resided
in Erie, occupying the Frontier farm until he retired and
came back to North East after 25 years. A man of much force
of Character, possessing undoubted business and executive
ability, Mr. Merrill met with most Satisfactory success in
the management of the large estate under his care. The
sixteen hundred acres comprising this property included the
Lake View, Algeria, Carter, Roll, McNary, Frontier and
Lawrence farms, all valuable estates. The following tribute
to Mr. Merrill was published several years after he took
charge of the Scott estates:
"Edward W. Merrill is meeting with noteworthy success in his
agriculture operations, and as superintendent of the Scott
farms in Erie, is carrying on general farming after the most
approved modern scientific methods. The spirit of progress
in every direction was never So much in the air as at the
present day, and never was the public so ready to give its
attention to anything and everything that will tend toward
the betterment of the affairs of its people, and of its
interests in general. Agriculture has come in for its full
share of notice in this onward movement, and through the aid
and counsel of such wide- awake, brainy men as Mr. Merrill
is establishing for itself a place of prominence among
the more important industries of the world,"
Thursday, February 28, 1935:
Robert Dill
Robert Dill was a well-known horticulturist of North East.
He was a Canadian, a native of Toronto, born July 8,
1841, son of Alexander and Jane (McCormick) Dill, both
natives of the north of Ireland, who came to Toronto in 1830
and were married in that city. The father became a
prosperous tanner there and continued in that business until
his death in 1852, his wife dying in 1873.
Robert Dill of this sketch was the sixth in a family of
three boys and seven girls and & the age of nineteen,
having obtained a public school education in his native
city, he commenced the trade of a painter and decorator,
Having mastered it he went to New York city and was thus
employed in that city until 1871 when he removed to Buffalo.
After one year at the latter place he located at Erie, his
first important employment being in connection with the
decoration of the mansion owned by Gen. C. M. Reed.
subsequently he established himself as a contractor with an
office at 708 State street and continued in that line until
1889, when he disposed of his business and purchased one
hundred and forty— five acres of land in North East
township, two miles northeast of the borough of North East.
Thereafter he devoted the bulk of his time to the
development of this estate, of which one hundred acres
was devoted to the raising of all kinds of berries and
fruits, sixty acres being given to grapes alone. The balance
of his farm was given up to general farming. Mr. Dill was
recognized as a practical and most expert horticulturist
and was president of the Keystone Grape Company of North
East for several years. He was also for a number of years
vice president of the First National Bank of North East.
His record as an agriculturist and business man was so
substantial that his advice was often sought in such
affairs. He served as school director for a number of years
and was honored with membership in the common council of
Erie for two terms, representing the Fourth ward in that
body. In Masonry he was a member of Keystone Lodge, Temple
chapter and lit. Olivet commandery of Erie.
On June 11, 1861, Mr. Dill married Miss Mary J. Mount, a
native of New York
124
city, daughter of Theodore and Lucretia (Pulhannes ) Mount,
both natives of the Empire state. The children born to Mr.
and Mrs. Dill were Lottie, who died at the age of twenty-two
months; Villian M., deceased; Robert Je, North East; and
Harry H., deceased. The mother of this family died in April,
1907. Mr. Dill passed to his reward in 1924.
The large fruit farm known as Dill Park has since been
carried on very successfully by the son, Robert Je, who in
fact managed it during his father's declining years. He,
with his family, occupy the old Dill Park Homestead and he
is taking the place in horticulture here formerly held by
his father.
S. M. Brainerd
Samiel Myron Brainerd was a native of Erie county and though
he only spent a few years of his life in North East, his
connection with North East makes his name worthy of a place
in this work, He was born in Conneaut township, Erie county,
Nov. 13, 1842, a son of Sammel and Olive l. (Nicholson)
Brainerd, the former a native of Herkimer, N. Y., and of
English descent, the latter a native of Vermont. The elder
Mr. Brainerd was a farmer. He died in January, 1863. His
wife survived him less than one month. Samuel M. Brainerd
received his early education in the common schools and
academy of Conneaut township, and completed it at the
State Normal School, Edinboro,
He began the study of law with the Hon. Geo. P, Cutler of
Girard, Pa., and continued it under the preceptorship of the
late Wm. Benson of Erie. He was admitted to the bar in
November, 1869, and entered upon the practice of his
profession at North East. It was in 1868 that he was
associated with D. R. Cushman in founding the North East
Star, the name of which was later changed to the Sun. In
1874 he removed to Erie to form a law partnership with his
former preceptor, Wm. Benson, which under the firm neme
of Benson & Brainerd, continued to exist until 1883, when
Mr. Brainerd took his seat as a member of the Forty— eighth
Congress,
Prior to his election to the House of Representatives, Mr.
Brainerd served a three-year term as district attorney for
Erie county. On his return from Washington he resumed the
practice of his profession, had for a time a partnership
association with Isador Sobel, and in 1893 formed connection
with Geo. H. Higgins, the firm being known as Brainerd &
Higgins. Mr. Brainerd was one of the ablest advocates of the
Erie bar, and enjoyed a large practice. His election to
Congress was a flattering recognition of his ability, and
evidence of his personal popularity, for, although a
pronounced and uncompromising Republican, he received a
majority of 1,000 votes, while the Democratic candidate for
governor, Mr. Pattison, carried Erie county by a majority of
over 500.
The wisdom of his constituents in sending Mr. Brainerd to
congress was Quickly apparent. During the first session he
obtained an appropriation of $50,000 for Erie harbor, and an
additional appropriation of $100,000 for the construction of
the government building at Erie. He restored the land
lighthouse, and secured an appropriation for the
repurchasing of the property on which it stands. He
introduced a bill for the Soldiers’ and Sailors' home, which
was favorably reported by the House committee on Military
affairs. He introduced a bill to equalize compensation for
letter carriers and offices of the first and second class; a
bill for the payment of unpaid bounties to veterans who were
promoted after the last enlistment, besides a large number
of private bills for securing soldiers their pensions and
back pay. He gave the interests of disabled soldiers his
personal attention, and many cases were determined
successfully which had been long pending and for years
abandoned as hopeless by the persons interested. He obtained
a further appropriation of $30,000 for the Erie harbor. Mr.
Brainard was the unanimous choice of his party in Erie
county for renomination.
125
He was married Dec. 24, 1866, to Lavina Ee, daughter of the
late Philander B. Chapin, a farmer and an old resident of
Erie county. Mr. and Mrs. Brainerd had three children —-
Samuel, Cablton M. and Annie L. Their son, Samel, was a
clerk in the Erie post office, and married to Rosa, daughter
of Herbert Stitt, a farmer and ex-prothonotary of Armstrong
county, Pa. They had one Child, Samuel Herbert Spencer, Mr.
and Mrs. S. Kk, Brainerd passed away several years ago.
E. HE. Chambers
Hgekiel E. Chambers was for years perhaps one of the best
known residents of Erie county, and he was further honored
by being a member of one of its earliest pioneer families.
His paternal grandfather came with his brother to Erie
county in an early period of its history, and located at
Four-—Mile creek, securing a farm of four hundred acres of
timber land there from the Pennsylvania Population Company,
and in time this land was cleared and improved and a portion
of it is yet in the Chambers name, Norman and Rebecca Nash,
the maternal grandparents of Ezekiel E., were another of the
early pioneer families of Erie county. They were of Scotch
descent.
David Chambers, his father, was born in Harborcreek
township, and was a farmer throughout his entire business
Career. He owned fifty acres of the original Chambers
tract, and his landed possessions aggregated one hundred
acres in all, but this entire tract is now out of the family
name. He died in 1871 at the age of seventy-two years, long
surviving his wife, Mabel (Nash) Chambers, who passed away
in 1845. She was a native daughter of North East township.
Ezekiel E. Chambers, the fourth of their six children, was
born in Harbor- creek township, November 8, 1835. He
received a good education in the common schools and in
Allegheny College, which he attended for two years.
Remaining with his parents until the age of twenty-two, he
then began reading medicine with Dr. Moore of Wesleyville,
but putting aside all personal considerations during the
Civil war, he enlisted on the e9th of August, 1361, in
Company C, Eighty-third Pennsylvania Volunteer infantry, and
was assigned to the medical department of the Army of the
Potomac. He participated in all the battles of his regiment
and was honorably discharged on the 20th of September, 1864,
at the expiration of his term of enlistment.
Although he was never wounded throughout this long service,
he was ill for four months after returning to Erie county,
and on recovering went to Oil Creek. This was during the oil
excitement there, and he continued as an operator from 1865
until 1885, returning then to Erie county and locating at
the family home in North East township. He had purchased on
May 31, 1869, a farm of one hundred and twelve acres on
which he planted a vineyard of fifty acres, and was for the
rest of his life an extensive grower of grapes. He was one
of the organizers, a stockholder and a director in the First
National Bank of North East and a prominent real estate
operator in North East.
He married in March of 1866 Louisa Davis, born in North
East, a daughter of William Davis, and they had two
children, Louise, the wife of W. A. Walker of New York city,
and Mary who died in infancy. The wife and mother died in
January of 1900. Mr. Chambers was a Mason and a member of
John Braden Post, Grand Army of the Republic. He was very
active in the business and political affairs of the
community and had a very prominent part in the securing of
the two canning factories for North East in 1899. He passed
away May 21, 1917.
126
Thursday, March Ty 1935:
B. F. Crawford
Benjamin Franklin Crawford was born in North East township,
near Lake Erie, May 25, 1836, and died in North East, May
13, 1923, where he had spent his last years of Quiet, after
a life filled with far more adventure than comes to the
lives of ordinary men. His great—grandfather, James
Crawford, (1730-1817) was a soldier with Washington and was
wounded at the battle of Germantown. His grandfather, Thomas
Carwford, was born at Vest Beach, Northumberland Co., Pa.
March 27, 1769, and married Polly Custard, a native of
Harrisburg.
Thomas and Polly were the parents of twelve Children, and
were among first pioneers. They arrived in 1796, settled a
240-acre section of wilderness on what is now the Lake road,
about half way between the Sixteen and Twelve-mile creeks.
Their first child, born Dec. 3, 1791, died in infancy. The
next two, Jane, born April 5, 1793, and James, born Dec, 17,
1794, were brought here by their parents. William, the
fourth child, father of our subject, was born here Dec. 24,
1796. Jane Crawford married a Mr. Childs and their
descendants now living in North East are Mr. C. U. Johnson
and Miss Maud Johnson. The descendants of James now living
here are Miss Nellie Jones, Mrs, R. FPF. Thompson, her son
and grandchild. Polly, the fifth child, was born here March
18, 1801, and married Harry Rogers. Their living descendants
here are Ernest Corey and children.
Thomas, the sixth child, was born June 11, 1803, Rose Ann,
the seventh child, born June 20, 1805. Susan E., born May
10, 1807, Wancy B., born July 19, 1810; married Miles
Caughey, died in 1895. Sally, born Aug. 10, 1812; married
Wm. Graham of North East, and died in August, 1895.
Descendants of selly now living in North East are Wm. C.
Graham and daughter Virginia. Robert Crawford, last child
was born May 6, 1817. Thomas, the pioneer, after arrival
here, devoted the remaining years of his life to farming,
passing on in 1857 at the age of 88.
William Crawford, fourth child of Thomas, the pioneer, ahd
father of B. Frank, was one of the first white children born
in this section of Pennsylvania, when the northwestern part
of the state was Allegheny county and what is now Erie
county was in Mead township. He spent his entire life here,
principally farming. On June 20, 1820, at the age of e4 he
married Nancy, daughter of Alex T, and Rosanna (McCord)
Blaine, and lived in a house that stood a few rods south of
the present dance pavillion at Orchard Reach.
In addition to farming William was at one time interested in
a pail factory at Freeport and also operated a saw mill
there. Freeport was then a rival of Gibsonville and later of
North East. William also lived for a time on the farm now
owned by William T. Crawford on the Lake road near Freeport.
William and Nancy, (born June 21, 1800,) were the parents of
eleven children: Alexander, James M., (who was the father
of Williem T. and Frank B. Craw ford, and grandfather of
Ruth and Jean,) Rosanna Me, William A., Harriet, Ephrain,
Wu., Benjamin Franklin, Joseph T. and Josephine B., (twins)
and Edwin J. Josephine EB. Crawford married Nelson R. Mills.
Their children are Jessie, Nancy and Beth.
Edwin J. Crawford was drowned in Lake Erie the latter part
of March, 1859 at the age of 17. The story of this sad
incident which cost the lives of three young men is as
follows: At that time, seventy-six years ago this month, Mr.
Horatio Churchill was carrying on a fishing business at
Freeport. One or more, perhaps all three, of these boys had
been in his employ. The season for setting nets had not
opened, but the ice had disappeared and the unseasonably
warm spell that was on prompted the young fellows to take
one of the boats and set
127
a gang of nets, There were four of them - all sons of widows
residing at Freeport. One of the four, however, did not go
on account of the tearful protests of his mother. The
other three set out with the load of nets, and were never
seen nor heard from afterward,
It was a beautiful Warm, Sunny day, with a gentle
zephyr—like breeze off Shore. The boys did not think of a
compass, and two of them did not take their coats. There
were no weather forecasts in those days to give warning,
about the time they arrived at the fishing grounds, (as was
determined thereafter when the nets were recovered and
lifted,) a few miles out, the gentle breeze veered slowly to
the northwest and an impenetrable haze settled on the water.
Not knowing that the wind had shifted, the boys (as
determined by the position of the nets, as found later) must
have started rowing or Sailing into the wind, headed for
Canada instead of Freeport. The gentle breeze Soon became a
gale, which by nighfall was a veritable hurricane, with snow
and the heaviest rainfall ever known at that season. Waves
and spray came clear up into the road at Freeport, and a
frantic crowd of people kept fires burning along the shore
all night. Some pieces of a wrecked boat, thought to be of
their boat, were said to have come ashore at Silver Creek,
N. Y.
B. F. Crawford spent his youthful days at home. At the age
of 18 went to Sandusky, Ohio and learned the machinist
trade. He then drifted out into the west, stopping for a
while in Kansas, and coming back to Warren, Ohio, in 1858,
At the outbreak of the Civil war he returned home and on
Sept. 6, 1862, enlisted in Co. C. 16th Pa, Cavalry, with
which he served till the close of war, when he again
returned home, riding a beautiful black horse that his
company had captured in 1864, in a brush with Gen. Jubal A,
Early's raiders near Washington. Mr. Crawford had ridden
this horse from the time of its capture.
Things about home must have seemed too tame for Mr.
Crawford, for within a year or two he was out in the “wild
and wooly" again, working for the Union Pacific railroad in
its push across the plains and on to the meeting of the
Central Pacific, where the golden spike was driven,
completing the first through transcontinental line from New
York to San Francisco. After this he was with the Canadian
Pacific when it was pushing its way to the Pacific. Later he
was for a time passenger conductor for the Chicago,
Milwaukee and St. Paul. Mr Crawford was of and with the Wild
West when Buffalo Bill was supplying buffalo meat to the
construction gangs of the Union Pacific from the millions of
those animals that were then roaming the western plains, and
when Wild Bill and others like him were keeping peace and
enforcing order with the six points of law carried in their
belt holsters.
Mr. Crawford was married Dec. 26, 1871, to Miss Emma Jaching
of Duluth, Minn. Mrs. Crawford died Dec. 6, 1872, leaving
one child, Miss Emma Joe Crawford, who has for years made
North East her home. Mr. Crawford returned to his old home
in 1892, and spent the remainder of his life in peace and
quiet, passing away May 13, 1923.
At the close of the Civil war Mr. Crawford telegraphed he
was on his way home bringing a horse and darky.
The colored man he brought back was John Washington, who was
a familiar figure in North East for twenty years or so, and
a man of considerable business ability, who for several
years operated a fishing boat at Freeport. The horse he rode
home acquired a state-wide and almost nation-wide
reputation, first on account of his beauty, and later on
account of his age. He was in demand in many parades and
pageants as long as he was able to march with the
procession, He died peacefully in 1898 at the age of forty
three, Following is a sketch written at the time of Ned's
death, also a poem regarding him written a little earlier:
128
Old Ned Dead
Only Surviving War Horse of the Rebellion
"The only living war horse of the late war died a few days
ago at North East, Pa.
"The announcement of the death of Old Ned will cause many an
old veteran to heave a sigh at the thought that another war
veteran has fallen from the ranks of those left after the
civil conflict of the '60's,
"Old Ned was not a pensioner, although he was entirely
dependent. He was acknowledged to be the only surviving
member of the equine race which did service in the late
war,
"The steed lived to the remarkable age of 43 years, and died
this month in the stable of his owner, B. F. Crawford, at
North East, which had been the horse's home since the war
closed. Ned served in the armies of both North and South,
doing his duty as willingly for one side as for the other.
Yet he was not a deserter from either.
"The old horse's history would make an interesting volume,
as he had been exhibited all over the country. His teeth
marks proclaimed him 9 years old when, in 1864, he was a
beautiful black charger ridden by one of Early's raiders,
who was shot from his back in an encounter near Washington,
and the horse fell into the hands of a victorious federal
brigade. After the fight, when those who had lost their
mounts in the battle were supplied with new horses captured
from the enemy, Ned was given to B. F. Crawford, then a
sergeant, who rode him through the rest of the rebellion.
"For several years past Mr. Crawford has paraded his pet
animal in memorial events in different cities of the
country, and the sagacious beast had learned to know a
Decoration day celebration as well as anyone.
"The sound of martial music had a wonderfully rejuvenating
effect on him. When in parades he could not be managed
anywhere except directly behind and next to the band, and in
that location he often marched unattended. Among other
occasions which have been featured by the presence of this
old war horse was the memorial attending the unveiling of
the monument to the unrecognized dead of the Ashtabula
disaster when he was as much of an attraction as was the
monument,"
The bones of Old Ned were set up in the University of
Pennsylvania at
Philadelphia, Pa.
. . . . . .
Old Ned - The Last Surviving Horse of Our Civil War
Have you heard of Ned, the war-horse, Proudest of the equine
race? 'Mong the heroes of our nation, Will his honored name
find place.
When the hosts of General Early, sought our Capitol to raid;
There he lost his southern master, And a contraband was
made.
‘Neath the stars and stripes he 'listed; Served our country
in its need; Shared unflinchingly its hardships; Proved a
patriot indeed.
129
How his coat of ebon darkness, Shone beneath our northern
sun! How his flashing eyes grew tender, When a vict'ry had
been won!
When the dreadful war was over, sergeant Crawford rode him
home; Ne‘er was horse more proudly honored, ‘Neath the arch
of heaven's blue dome.
To the sociable reunions, Of the dear old Army Grand; Comes
Old Wed, the aged war-horse, ‘Mong the honored of the land.
Now his back and tail are grizzled, And his head is nearly
white;
But a grand salute they give him, As fond mem'ries spring to
light.
Ned was with "the boys" at Pittsburg; And at Louisville we
note, Dear Old Ned was gently carried, 'Neath our flag, upon
a float.
In his stable, like a monarch, He receives ovations proud;
North and South vie with each others Old and young around
him crowd.
For a relic of the war-time, Women beg a single hair; And
his fond and watchful keepers, Choose his food with
tend'rest care.
Since "Bell Mosby" died, this hero, Is the last of equines
brave, That our soldiers rode to victory, Or to fill an
honored grave.
Let Old Glory float above him! Crown with laurels green his
head! For in thickest of the battle, With our bravest, he
has bled.
Thursday, March 14, 1935:
A Temperance Pioneer
Some time, not far from 1818, on the present Maasgz farm
west of North East, adjoining the New York Central gravel
pit, on Route 20, formerly owned by John Scouller, Sr.,
there lived a Willian Dickson who was then owner of the
farm. For his second wife he had married Christiana Moorhead
about 1812. She was the third daughter of James Moorhead
who had come to Erie county from Lancaster Co., Pa. They had
a log house with a fire place almost the whole length of it.
They were just ready to raise a barn when the husband was
summoned to Pittsburgh on grand jury duty.
Mrs. Dickson is described as a Slight, fair, blue-eyed,
red-haired woman, below medium height, but capable of
Managing both farm and house, as she often did during the
frequent absences of her husband. She told him to go; she
could attend to the barn-raising. The next day the men came
and began work. Soon they missed something. It was as
much the custom then to serve whisky at such times as it is
now to have coffee for breakfast. Mrs. Dickson's brother
went to the house to inquire for it. She told him she
could not provide whisky to make her neighbors drunk. Two
of her other brothers were sent to remonstrate, and finally
an elder in the church went in.
Our heroine made no reply to him, but taking her bonnet from
the nail went out and stepping on one of the timbers of
the barn, is reported to have said: “My neighbors, this
is a strange scene. Three of you are my brothers; three
of you are elders in the church, and all of you are my
friends. I have prepared for you the best dinner in my
power, but you refuse to work unless I shall provide whisky
for you. This I can never do. If you refuse to
raise the building, so be it; but before I shall furnish
whisky to make my neighbors drunk, these timbers shall rot
where they lie.
Saying this, she went to the house with the heart—ache of
defeat, and spent the afternoon in prayers and tears. The
men had left, but the next morning they came back, put up
the barn, had a bountiful dinner with excellent coffee.
Whisky was not mentioned and all went well. It is said to
have been the first barn in Erie county put up without that
drink. The exact date is not given, but the event must have
occurred some time between 1812, the date of the marriage
of Christiana Moorhead to William Dickson, 2nd, 1836, the
year she died.
Besides other children, she was the mother of Rev. Dr. Cyrus
Dickson, a
130
. . . Mary Whitney Morrison, 1896
well-known preacher in his day and Secretary of the
Presbyterian Board of Home Missions. Mrs. Dickson is the
great-aunt of the Erie Co. Moorheads and step- grandmother
or great—grandmother of Miss Nell Dickson of Washington, D.
C., and of Mrs. Maud Dickson Mottier and daughters of North
East.
The Moorheads
The Moorheads of Erie county are descended from the
Miirheads of Scotland, who settled in the north of Ireland
during the reign of James I of England. Thonas Moorhead,
the first of the family of whom we have personal record, was
born in 1697, and in 1730 married Christiana Robinson in
Donegal, Ulster province, Ireland, In 1732 they moved to
America, and James, their oldest son, was born on the water
coming over, They went first to Philadelphia, then moved to
Lancaster county. In 1761 he took out a patent for a
tract of land about a mile north of the site of Mount Joy»
He died in 1765.
His son, James, had two large farms, but as he had married
Catherine Byers and they had nine children, five of whom
were boys to whom he wished to leave farms, he made a trip
to Erie county in 1801, where he took up a thousand acres of
land. About 1813, with his wife, children and Robert Jacks,
his nephew, he moved to his new home — thirteen in the party
— in five large covered wagons, with twenty horses and
several cows. He had spent much of his time teaming between
Philadelphia and HarPisburg, and on one of these trips he
had bought two coal black negro slaves — "Phoebe" and her
son, "Caesar Augustus,"
In future years the Moorheads became intensely opposed to
slavery and, it is said, the barns of Moorheadville became
hiding places for fugitive slaves. Col. James Moorhead, a
descendant of the pioneer, was an active conductor on what
was called the "Underground Railroad."
Caesar Augustus, a colored man of remarkable intelligence
and ability, is one of the best known characters in Moorhead
family history. Isaac Moorhead, a conductor on the old L. S.
and M. S. accommodation, once took him to Buffalo for his
portrait, and copies of this portrait are treasured
heirlooms in the family.
Barnett Moorhead, the subject of our sketch, was the second
son of George Moorhead, the youngest son of James Moorhead,
the pioneer ancestor, and of Matilda Barnett Moorhead.
The older son, James, had died in early manhood of what was
then called "consumption." It was a time of privation in
those cold, draughty houses, where the face was nearly
scorched at the same time one's back was chilled. The dread
disease took a terrible toll of life.
Mr. Moorhead was born Jan. 17, 1822, on his father's farm in
Moorheadville, a few rods east of the Station road, the road
that crosses Route 20 at Moorheadville, going south. The
house was torn down to make room for the Nickel Plate
Railroad. Mr. M. used to tell that when he was a boy
shoemakers went round from house to house making shoes
for the families, It was sometimes mid-winter before they
would come, and often meanwhile the children went barefoot.
Even candles had to be used sparingly. Sometimes the head of
a household would read the Bible by candlelight at family
wors8hip and then blowed it out for prayers. Once Caesar
blew out the candles which had been placed around the body
of a neighbor killed on the railroad and said: "It's a
terrible waste burnin’ candles in daylight."
The privations, however, were born with courage and pluck,
The story is told that Mrs. Ann Jacks once made the journey
back to Mount Joy with one child in her arms and another
child riding behind her on the horse. Think of it — several
hundred miles each way through the forest and alone! The
Jacks were relatives of the Moorheads who came with them
from the same place and settled nearer the lake,
131
Barnett Moorhead first married Mary Backus of Harborcreek
township and they lived on the east side of the George
Moorhead farm in North East township. The young wife died a
short time after her marriage and left no children.
In 1854 Mr. Moorhead married Cornelia Harvey of Cattaraugus
county, N. Y, She had come to Moorheadville to teach the
school. Her Aunt Deborrah, (Mrs. L. Hough,) was then living
north of Moorheadville, near the lake. It was probably
more of an adventure for the young lady to. come here then
than for a young woman to cross the continent driving an
automobile now. The Erie & North East railroad had just been
built, and was very crude and inconvenient as compared with
its successor the New York Central of today. The young
teacher met her future husband by the good old custom of
"boarding around." They had three children = George Harvey,
Rose Effie and Victor Edward. The first named and oldest was
killed in 1865 by falling from a wagon.
In 1869 the family moved to North East borough and Victor
Edward was torn the next year. Mr. M. worked on his farm
after he had let it to tenants. It was the custom to raise
wheat and then carry a grist to the mill to be ground or
exchanged for flour, and barrels of wheat were kept in a
store-room in the house. William Custard, a neighbor, who
then owned the N. S. Woodruff house on Pearl St., had a
store-room where he kept numerous sacks of flour for his own
use or to give to those in need.
Mr. Moorhead died in the fall of 1891. He was a reserved man
but full of quiet fun; made firm and life-long friends - a
Republican and a member of the Presbyterian church, His wife
followed him in 1897. The daughter continued to live in the
old home at 42 Gibson street until about 1921, when she went
to live with her brother and family on the farm.
In 1893 Victor, the son, married Anna Slemmons, second
daughter of John and Agnes (Kerr) Slemmons of Iowa City,
Iowa. The young couple tilt a house on the family farm and
went there to live. Wine children were born to then, seven
of whom are living.
John Barnett, the oldest, enlisted in the aviation
department of the army soon after our country entered the
World war. He was in training camps in Long Island, Texas,
then in England and in Issoudon and Tours in France. An
attack of acute appendicitis and pneumonia interrupted his
service. As soon as he was well enough he was attached to
construction squadrons in different parts of France. After
the armistice was Signed, he was transferred to the Army of
Occupation in Germany and remained there until the
following year. After his return to America and discharge
from the army he married Myra Brown of Franklin, Pa. They
have two children — a boy, William Victor, and a baby girl,
Theo Margaret. John and family live in Sherman, N. Y., where
he is proprietor of the Moorhead Auto Service.
George, the second son, died in infancy. Agnes Mary, the
oldest daughter, married Emmett Lamont Nichols of
Moorheadville in 1921. They have four children living -
James Lamont, Ellen Marie, Robert Merton and Mary Elizabeth.
Their fifth child, Harvey Hazard died in infancy. Ruth Anna,
the second daughter of Victor and Anna, lives at home. Cyrus
William, the second son living, is a graduate of the North
East High School and of Washington and Jefferson College,
and is now nearly through the course at Western Theological
Seminary, Pittsburgh. William, the third son, died in early
childhood. Margaret Matilda, the third daughter, is a
graduate of Harborcreek High School and of the Sherman
Teachers’ Training School. She is now teaching near Findlay
Lake. James Isaac, one of the twin boys, lives at home, is a
farmer and something of a motor mechanic, Robert Slemmons,
the other twin, is attending Edinboro Teachers' College.
Barnett Moorhead had two sisters younger than he, neither of
whom is living.
132
Catherine, the older, married Montgomery Moore, first a
sailor and later a farmer of Belle Valley. They had four
children who lived - George M.3 William K.; Anna, who
married John Pettit and left no children; Lilly, who married
George Langdon and had five children - Berdenia (Mrs. John
Owen), Lotta, (Mrs. Jos. Patton), Catherine (Mrs. James
Russell), Budd and Clyde.
William K. Moore is a retired railroad man, living in Erie,
and has two daughters — Catharine and Marian.
Eliza Jane, the younger sister, married Joseph McCarter, for
many years president of the Second National Bank of Erie.
They had two children - William Je, who died, leaving no
children. Their daughter, Cora, married John Marshall
Bowyer, afterward Admiral Bowyer. They had two children —
Joseph McCarter, who died in early manhood and Ruth, who
married Douglas Howard, U.S.N., son of Admiral Howard of
Annapolis Academy. Mrs. Bowyer died in Annapolis in Jan.,
1935.
Thursday, March 21, 1935:
The Dyer Loomis Family
Several of the very earliest settlers in this part of the
country bore the name of Loomis - some in what is now North
East and Greenfield townships, Some across the line in New
York state. It is probable that the most of them were more
or less distantly related, Two of these, Henry Loomis and
Dyer Loomis, Sr., bought farms of the Pennsylvania
Population Company. Dyer Loomis built a log house on his
farm a short distance from the present location of the
Electric Materials Co., in North East borough. This was
before the year of 1800 and immediately after peace with
the Indians was secured.
There was no road in this section at that time except the
Portage road cut through from Freeport to Greenfield by
Judah Colt. A forest primeval covered the land, much of it
in this vicinity being immense black walnuts, trees that
today would be worth more than the land and all its
improvements. These trees were of necessity sacrificed to
clear the land for planting. They were split into rails, cut
into fire-wood or burned - anything to get rid of them. The
large frame dwelling built by Mr. Loomis a few years after
he built the log house, and which stood for a hundred years
at the corner of the Buffalo road and Loomis street, was
constructed largely of walnut timbers and with clear walnut
floors.
Dyer Loomis, Sr., and Nancy (Wood) Loomis, his wife were
born and raised, the former in Connecticut, the latter in
Rhode Island. Bight children were born to them here on the
old farm, most of whom passed away or were scattered before
the first half century had passed. One, however, a maiden
lady named Sally, lived here to a good old age, owning the
residence that is now the Ford Garage owned by Mr. A. F.
Smith. Another child, mother of the late George D. Gilman,
returned here with her husband to spend their last days.
Dyer Loomis, Sr., died at the old farm home in 1842,
surviving his wife by four years. Dyer Loomis, Jr., was born
on the old farm in 1810, where he resided continuously until
three years before his death which occurred in 1901 at the
age of 91. He was educated in the common schools and became
a teacher at the age of 18, taught four years during the
winter season the township schools and for one summer in the
borough. He then returned to school, taking a term each at
Worthington and Milan, Ohio, academies. He then returned to
the farm, which he ran, as his father was in ill health. He
was married in May, 1839, to Hliza M., daughter of Thos.
Robinson, one of the pioneer settlers and the first
justice of the peace in this township. She died in November,
1867. Three children were born to this union - Joseph
W.,-Lamartine and Mary. None of them was possessed of the
rugged constitution of their father. Lamartine and Mary
both passed away in their teens in 1862, Joseph W. died
suddenly at the court house in Erie from a heart attack Jan.
20, 1896. Lamartine and Joseph were both volunteers in the
Civil war and it was because of letters written by Joseph
that his father was led at the
133
age of 52 to raise a company of volunteer infantry for
service in that great struggle. He, largely on account of
his personality, succeeded in raising a full company and
twenty extra men in fourteen day's time, This company was
sent to the front as a part of the 145th P. V. I., with Dyer
Loomis as its captain, He was taken prisoner at the battle
of Chancellorsville, spent a term in Libby prison, was
exchanged, parolled and sent home on account of ill health
when the war was a little more than half over. Though Dyer
Loomis served only part of the period of war, he could
truthfully Say that war was everything that Sherman said of
it. He was not wounded, but he suffered privation and ill
health. His son Lamartine sickened and died from exposure.
On the occasion of his daughter's sickness he got a short
leave of absence from the front and came to Erie.
Arriving only three or four hours before he must leave again
for the front, he hired the best team he could find for a
Quick trip to North East, where he found his daughter Mary
dead and his wife ill. He could not stay for his daughter's
funeral. An hour was as long as he dared remain. He must
return on time or face court martial. When taken prisoner
all his personal property was of course confiscated. His
only pleasant reminder of the conflict came years after its
close when his captured sword was returned to him by a
soldier who had worn the "gray"in that great struggle. This
man, seeing Dyer Loomis' name and address engraved on the
scabbard, out of curiosity, wrote him, and the
correspondence that followed led to its return.
Dyer Loomis was one of the best known men of his time in
North East. He was an inveterate joker, always pleasant and
full of fun, had such control of himself as to never appear
as having any sad moments. In his business operations he
used several horses. High strung horses sometimes cause
damage in a runaway. On one occasion his driving horse,
which he had tied to a hitching post at the brick yard,
became frightened, broke its halter and went tearing down
the road with the new top-buggy bottom up bounding from side
to side. Mr. Loomis smilingly watched the galloping horse
for a moment and seeing the road clear of other animals or
people remarked in his ordinary tone of conversation, "Well,
he runs: wells; doesn't he?"
He was possessed of a very retentive memory, a memory which
did not fail with his added years. It was a real treat to
listen to his stories of the happenings in his younger
days. Sometimes his memory was valuable in other ways than
mere entertainment. A neighbor once went to him for advice
and possibly information. A deal on a piece of property the
neighbor had sold was held up on account of a judgment that
had been entered before the neighbor was born and all
parties thereto had passed away. Mr. Loomis, on hearing the
neighbors statement of the case, immediately said: "That
judgment was paid, I know that it was paid." "Well," said
the neighbor, "what good does it do me for you to know the
judgment has been paid." "I'll tell you what good it will do
you," Mr. Loomis replied,"I was administrator of that
estate. I have never filed my final account. I will go to
the court house at Erie tomorrow and discharge the judgment"
— which he did.
One fault, occasional slackness in business affairs, nearly
caused his downfall in 1884, when fire wiped out his three
business places and large stock of goods, without a dollar
of insurance.
In addition to his farming interests, Mr. Loomis has been
identified with both the mercantile and manufactuing
interests in North East. Previous to the war and thereafter
to 1878, he was engaged in the manufacture of brick, and
during this period built many brick dwellings and
structures in North East. He established a harness
manufactury, conducting this for nine years, and had a shoe
store from 1870 to 1884, when the harness shop, a wooden
building on the east side of Lake street, with all its
contents; a three-story brick building on the west side of
Lake street; and the two-story brick shoe store on Main
street were all destroyed in the fire of August 16.
134
He was a justice of the peace for thirty-five years, and was
then appoint- ed notary public. Mr. Loomis was a member of
the Presbyterian church from December, 1531; was long a
member of the board of trustees and one of the elders, He
was also permanent Clerk of the congregation and clerk of
the Session, and for more than:twenty years superintendent
of the Sunday school. In 1830, together with six
associates he formed the North East Temperance Society. In
addition to looking after his own business interests, his
service as administrator of estates and executor of wills
was very frequently called into requisition, he having
acceptably managed about thirty estates.
Joseph ¥, Loomis, like his father, was) very well thought of
by the people of North East. He was much like his father in
Many ways, always a pleasant and friendly person to meet. In
appearance he was the picture of health, but it was in
picture only.
All his life he was a sufferer from organic heart disorder.
When a young fellow he was a volunteer in the Civil war. At
the close of the war in company with Joseph McCord made an
overland trip to California, before the building of the
Union Pacific railroad,
After his return he married Miss L. Almeda Wells, daughter
of Daniel J. Wells of North East, They had no children, They
lived their entire married life and made a home for Joseph's
father at the old big frame house that the grandfather had
built many years before. Joseph operated his father's farm
and brick yard for a number of years until 1884,
He had never aspired to any political office of any
consequence until that year, when he became a candidate for
prothonotary of Erie county. This was a year of political
activity, long to be remembered by all who took part
therein. William L. Scott of Erie county, Democrat, ran
against and badly defeated a Mr. Mackey, Republican, of
Crawford county for the office of congressman. In those
Scott, taking advantage of alleged Shady deals in the
Republican congressional nomination convention, became an
easy winner, not only for that term, but for the next
following also. It was the livliest political campaign ever
held in these parts, special trains with free transportation
for marching parties, and bands galore were of almost daily
(or nightly) occurrence.
Financial affairs with the Loomis family were rather below
par just then. The fire of August 16 had been a hard blow.
Joseph W. had no special trains or fire works and only a
very scant cash account, so he just hitched up his horse and
buggy, drove around and talked to people, called on his old
friends and made new friends of everyone he met. The result
of this political canvass showed what people thought of
"Joe." When the returns were in, it was found that he had
received every vote but two in North East borough and
township, and these two were people who had just moved in.
Joseph W. was entirely capable, well fitted in ability and
education for the office, and performed its duties to the
satisfaction of everyone for the two terms he held it. He
afterward served as deputy two terms for his successor, E.
K. Nason. In those twelve years he managed to save enough to
restore his and his father's financial status and at his
death, left sufficient for his widow and his father during
their life time,
Joseph W. Loomis passed away Jan. 20, 18965; and his widow
followed 24 years later. He died as he had lived, with a
pleasant, joking word and a smile. He was aware of his
physical condition and expected the happening at any time,
For some time he had been subject to heart attacks in which
he would for a time remain unconscious. He had an attack the
morning of his death, when about to take the train at North
East for Erie, but came out of that all right. Later in the
day he had another in his office in the court house. There
was plenty of help at hand, he was carried down stairs where
he could be better attended, and soon came out of the spell.
Immediately after this when the momentary excitement was
over, he became apparently his own self again and remarked,
"Well,
135
boys, it is all right; I'm not going to croak this time." At
that those with him, relieved at the outcome were talking
together for a moment, when one happening to look his way
Saw him sitting in his chair with the smile still on his
face, but the spirit had departed.
Thursday, March 28, 1935:
Dr. B. H. Putnam
Burton H. Putnam was born in Westfield, N. Y., Sept. 12,
1849, a son of Geo. W. and Alpha A. (VanVleet) Putnam. Miss
Van Vleot was a cousin of Gen, Van Vleet, staff officer of
Gen. U. 8. Grant. Geo, Putnam was a native of New Hampshire,
whose ancestral line is traceable in the New England states
to 1634, nearly to the landing of the Pilgrims, and in
England back to the eleventh century at Puttenham, near
Tring in Hertfordshire. The Puttenam cottage and the Norman
church dating back +o the thirteenth century still stand
there,
Five children were born to Geo. ¥. and Alpha A. Putnam -
Lillian Fe, who married Dr. Meeder; Ida, who passed away in
1879, wife of Horace Jones$ Rev. Brandford V., who was
pastor of the First Presbyterian church, Huntington, L.I.;
Mary E., who married H. R. Browns and Burton ¥, Putnam.
B. H. Putnam was educated in the old Westfield Academy at
Westfield, N. Y., and from there entered as a student in the
Buffalo Medical College, where he graduated at the head of
his class in 1876. Dr. B. H. Putnam was married to Flora,
daughter of Harver Blowers in Portland, N. Y., April 17,
1876. ‘They dose North East for their home, coming here to
live the month they were married. Dr. Putnam enjoyed a
successful practice here for more than fifty years, passing
away Fay 8, 1928, at the age of 79, having been in
semi-retirement a few of his last years.
He was a member of the Presbyterian church and of the
Masonic fraternity and other societies, and for several
years served as president of the Erie County Medical
society, also being Lake Shore R. R. physician. He always
took a very lively interest in civic welfare of our town,
serving in several official capacities.
Two children were born to the Putnams: Cleo E., who married
Frank Dawson Neal of Vandergrift, Pa., and George ¥. These
two attended the North East schools and later schools of
higher learning outside. Geo. W. became for a time professor
of English at Beloit College, Beloit, Wis., and later
professor at a Pittsburgh College for women, and was
treasurer of the Pittsburgh Cold Rolled Steel Co. He married
Edith Clark of Longwood, Boston. They are now living in St.
Petersburg, Fla.
Around a hundred years ago four of the old+fashioned long
houses, with a Single wide ornamental front door and central
hall were built on East Main St. One was on the north side
of the street, opposite where Dr. Adams is now located. This
house was moved back on its lot by its owner, E. C. Heath,
in 1869, when he built the house that now occupies the site
of the old house. Another, known as the Smedley house, was
taken away a few years ago, when the Mackay garage was
built. Another, for many years the home of Dr. D. D. Loop,
was remodeled by him sixty-eight years ago into what is now
the home of Miss Alice Pease.
The fourth of these old landmarks stood just a few feet west
of the Loop house until 1892, when Dr. Putnam, to make room
for his new, modern home, sold it to Chas. Green, who moved
it to its present location on Poplar street. Here Flora D.,
first wife of the Doctor, died Oct. 21, 1908. In October,
1910, he married Mrs. Lillian (Wattles) Holden widow of S.
N. Holden of Cortland, N. Y., and daughter of Glover and
Miranda (Mason) Wattles of Ripley, N. Y. Mrs.
136
Putnam and her widowed sister, Mrs. Emmaline (Wattles) Loop
now occupy the home at the corner of Main and Vine streets.
William J. Willert
Among the representative business men of the city of Erie
stands Mr. W. J. Willert, who is one of Erie's leading
business men in oils, gasoline, etc. He is a native son of
the county and a member of one of its honored families, he
has gained success and prestige through his own efforts and
his advancement has been the result of ambition, close
application and integrity of purpose.
William J. Willert was born on a farm in North East
township, Oct. 21, 1879, and is a son of Herman F. and
Frederica (Ohm) Willert, both natives of Germany, whence
they were brought to America when children. The parents of
the latter died in Germany and she came to the United States
with her paternal uncle, who settled in North East township,
this county, where he became a successful farmer and
where he passed the remainder of his life, as did also the
paternal grandfather of William J. Willert. Herman F.
Willert was reared to manhood in Erie county, and during his
life was identified with agricultural pursuits quite
successfully, and died June 24, 1925, at the age of nearly
71 years, his wife, Frederica, having preceeded him in
death on March 15, 1923, at the age of nearly 64 years.
William J. Willert was reared to the discipline of the farm
and his early educational advantages were those afforded in
the public schools of the village of North East. To attend
the village school he walked each day to and from the
village, which is four miles distant from the home farm on
which his boyhood days were spent. When about fourteen years
of age Mr. Willert went to the city of Erie and secured a
position in a grocery store located at the corner of Twelfth
and Chestnut Sts. He received in compensation for his
services the first year the sum of fifty dollars and his
board. Thereafter he continued to be identified with the
grocery business until 1906 when he became manager of the
Erie Wholesale Grocery Co. Here he made a record for careful
and progressive administration. In 1909 he became branch
manager of the Washburn Crosby Co., Covering Erie and
Crawford counties; in 1911 he accepted a position with the
Cleveland Macaroni Co. as territory supervisor, covering
the United States, Canada and northern Mexico; in 1916 he
entered the brokerage business for himself, in which he
continued until 1927, when he entered the oil, gasoline and
accessory business, which he has conducted since then. He
was elected to the Pennsylvania general assembly in 1918 and
served with credit for one term, declining to become a
candidate for re=election. In politics Mr. Willert gives
loyal support to the cause of the Republican party. In 1934
he was appointed district deputy grand master of the Masonic
fraternity, and is now serving Masonry with honor.
in 1901 Mr. Willert was united in marriage to Miss Marie
Grossholg, who was born in Germany, a daughter of Adolph
Grossholzg, who is now one of the representative farmers
of Fairview township, this county. To this wedlock one child
was born, Gertrude. On Sept. 20, 1918, Mrs. Willert passed
away. Surviving her are Mr. Willert and daughter. In
December, 1919, Mr. Willert was united in marriage to Miss
Emilie H. Meehl, daughter of William Meehl, who resides in
the village of North East. To this wedlock one son was born
on May 12, 1926, namely William J. Willert, Jr. Mr. Willert
is well liked and respected by all who have the pleasure of
his acquaintance,
137
Ancestors of MN. S. Woodruff
Thomas Hatch, born in the reign of Queen Bligabeth in 1598,
in Trent county, England, emigrated to America in 1639 from
Burlington, England, and settled in Governor Winthrop's
colony in Massachusetts. On June 1, 1641, he settled in
Barnstable, Mass. He was a member of the Rev. John Lathrop's
church.
Jonathan Hatch, son of Thomac, became landed proprietor. By
virtue of this fact his present day female descendants are
eligible to member ship in the Daughters of the American
Colonists. Jonathan Hatch married Sarah Rowley on April 1l,
1646, at Barnstable, Mase. Their direct line of descendants
to date is as follows:
Joseph Hatch, born March 1, 1654; Joseph Hatch, Jr., born
August 3, 1689; Lemuel Hatch born February 29, 17353 Oliver
Hatch, born February 5, 17553 Tamar Hatch, born Jan. 3,
1794; Heman Woodruff, born April, 18203; Norris Woodruff,
born August 25, 1849; Maude Woodruff, born Mar. 24, 1875;
Joseph ¥. Sterrett, born May 7, 1900; Joseph ¥, Sterrett,
Jr., born April 22, 1925.
The Surname Yoodruff According to records the name of
Woodruff was spelled Woodrove, Woodrofe, Woodroofe, Woodrufe
and finally Woodruff, as we now have it.
The father of Matthew I was a Sir David Woodrove of Pouley,
England, born 1589, was knighted in 1603, and married
Lettice Duncombe of Weston, County Surrey. Sir Davidts
ancestry goes back several centuries to a place called
Wooley, England, near Manchester. Sir David's children are
listed as Matthew, 1612-1682; Thomas, David, George, Robert
ard Nicholas, and also six daughters, names not given, The
early Woodroves lived in the counties of York and Derby.
Matthew WYoodrofe was born in England in 1612 and came to
America with Hannah, his wife, coming first to Boston then
to Hartford in 1640, and later settled in Farmington, Conn.
He was one of the original eighty-four proprietors of
Farmington. He joined the church March 1, 1672, and his
wife, Hannah, was baptized eighteen years previously on
April 2, 1654. Matthew was made constable in 1692.
Matthew II lived in Milford until the death of his first
wife when he returned to Farmington. He was made a
freeman in 1671. Administration of his estate was granted to
his relict, Sarah (North) Woodruff, and his son, John, Dec.
3, 1691, Inventory 73 pounds, 14 shillings and 11 pence.
The Last Will and Testament of Matthew Woodrofe (2612-1682):
"I, Matthew Woodrofe, being at this present very weak and
sick, yet by the good hand of God upon me, have my perfect
understanding, now I doe think meet to set that little
estate God hath lent me, a8 some stay, my will is as
followeth:
"Item: My will is that all my lawful debts shall be
discharged, and my will is that my son, Samuel Woodrofe,
shall have three acres and a half of my plowing land, which
lyeth in the Great Meadow next to my son John Woodrofe's
land, my mind is that for it he shall discharge all my just
debts.
"Item: I give and bequeathe to my son, Samuel Woodrofe, my
house and my homestead, and my meadow land in the Little
Meadow. and one acre and a half of plowing lands, te it more
ore less, which lyeth next to the river in the Little
Meadow, and my horSe and one oxe, and one bullock and five
young cattle, and my cart and plow, "Journey" (2) of my
plow, and chains and harrow, all my tackling belonging to my
team, and all my tools and my arms and ammunition, and my
two tables and two bedsteads and my Chaires, all these I do
give to my son Samuel, with seven swine, upon that
condition, my son doth maintain my loving wife, his dear
Mother, her life time, and after loving wife's decease, my
will is that my son John Woodrofe shall have two acres of my
meadow land next to Thomas Porter's land and one acre of
plowing land over the river, next to his own land, which he
bought of his fathers, and my mind is that my son John shall
pay my daughter Hannah Seymour five pounds. Moreover, my
will is that
138
after my loving wife's decease, that my son Matthew Woodrofe
shall have two acres of meadow and next my son John's meadow
— I give him, moreover, if my son Samuel cannot maintain my
wife with a comfortable livlyhood, if she needs, my will is
that my dear and loving wife shall have power to sell some
of my meadow land for to procure a comfortable livlyhood.
"Item: My mind is that my outland that is layed out or
should be layed out, belonging to me, I give to my son
Matthew Woodrofe and my son Samuel Yoodrofe, to be equally
divided betwixt them both.
"Robert Porter made oath in Court December lA4th that
Matthew Woodrofe did declare the above written was his last
will and testament of Sept. 6, 1682.
Witness: Robert Porter, Attest: John Allyer, Sec.
Inventory of the Estate of Matthew Woodrofe, Deceased
Pds. S.
As to his house and homestead
50 8 acres of Land in the Little Meadow
50 4 acres and a half of land in the Great Meadow
22 All the outland belonging to him
30 All the living stock, meat, hogs, and swine,
corn, hay and flax
19 Tool and cart, plow and oxen, belonging to them
8 19 Bedding and bedstead and furniture belonging to
them
ll Linen and woolen clothes 10 Brass and pewter, jars and
woodenware 6 17 Tables, chests,
chairs, table frame and timber
4 2 Movable
goods and barrels and tubs 15
Tools to manage husbandry, arms and ammunition
2
17 A payre of scales
5 Swarm of bees
10 ___ __ 217
5
This inventory taken by us townsmen, Thomas Hart, Thomas
Porter, Richard Seymour.
A county court held at Hartford Dec. 13, 1682; Matthew
Yoodrofe his last will and testament was exhibited in court,
proved and ordered to be recorded, and foreasmuch as one
daughter is not mentioned in the will, the Court orders
there to be paid to that daughter a portion equivalent to
what the zest of the daughters have had out of the estate,
the remainder of the estate to be disposed according to
will, and the court grants administration upon the estate to
Samuel Woodrofe, with the will annexed. (From a copy of
the original inventory made by Martha A. Woodrofe,
Northampton, Mass. )
Thursday, April 4, 1935: John HM. McLaughlin, Head of
Preserving Works a Man Who Will Be Greatly Missed John M.
MeLaughlin, 65 years of ge, president of the North East
Preserving Works, and one of the most prominent business men
of North East for many years, a former member of the borough
council, died at his home, 65 South Lake street,
139
Sunday afternoon, March 31, after several weeks of ill
health, during which he had been unable to be at his office.
The end came suddenly from a heart attack after he had been
making a seeming improvement.
He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Anna Milroy McLaughlin,
formerly of Youngstown, Ohio, and three children — Thomas, a
recent graduate of Notre Dame University, and Marian and
Jane, both now attending the North East schools. Funeral
services were held Wednesday morning at St Gregory's church.
The following sketch of Er, McLaughlin had been prepared by
Mr. A. I. Loop for publication this week in his series on
"100 Years of North East," without the expectation that it
would be used as an obituary notice;
"John McLaughlin needs no introduction to North East people.
Personally and by reputation, John is one of our best known
citizens. For more than forty years he has been one of our
most active business men, during which time he has furnished
employment to a greater number of North East people than any
man who has ever been in business in our town. He was named
after his paternal grandfather, John McLaughlin, who came
from Ireland to the United States in 1825, and established
his home in Pennsylvania. Thomas Bran, the maternal
grandfather, was a native of old England but came to the
United States and to Pennsylvania in 1820, and ten years
afterward, in 1830, bought land from the government in
Moorgheadville. He. died at the good old age of ninety—three
years. John N. NeLeughlin and Sophia Bran married and
located at Moorheadville, but they had previously resided in
NeKean, this state. He died April 22, 1902, in North East
where he hed lived since 1895, and his wife survived only
until May 15, 1903.
"John M, McLaughlin, the tenth born of their twelve
children, was born in Moorheadville, Pa., April 22, 1870. He
attended in his early life the district schools and when he
had attained the age of twenty-two years he left his
parents! home and with two brothers William J. and George,
engaged in the grocery business in North East, he succeeding
his brother Frank in the business. He continued as a grocery
merchant from the first of January, 1893, until the 1st of
January 1902, when he sold his interest to his brother
George.
"In 1899 several North East people, among whom were
McLaughlin Bros., succeeded in getting two canning
factories located here. The old factory, known as the North
East Canning Factory, located where Max Reid's lumber yard
now is, had not been operated for six or seven years and was
fast going to decay. This factory was bought from a
Pittsburgh man for eighteen hundred dollars, and given to
Jones & French as a condition of a contract with them that
they would repair and operate it for a term of years. An
additional sum of seven hundred dollars was also given for a
new boiler for the factory, each of the above mentioned
citizens giving or pledging one hundred ‘dollars each in
carrying out the deal, A short time later the North East
borough paid the whole amount. This all happened in
April. The first intimation of the affair was on April 2,
and the deed given within a week.
"The other factory, now known as the North East Preserving
Works, had been in negotiation since the first of the year,
and was financed by ten citizens of North East signing a
joint note for four thousand dollars, each becoming
responsible to the amount of four hundred dollars to
Hamilton Bros. of Girard, Pa., who came here and built the
factory. This factory when built was a small affair as
compared with the North East Preserving Works of today.
After a year's operation dissatisfaction arose:between
Hamilton Bros. and the signers of the joint note. A
satisfactory settlement was finally reached, but the factory
failed to operate the following year.
"At this time John M. McLaughlin bought the Hamilton factory
and operated it under the name of Pink & McLaughlin, calling
it The North East Preserving Works, It has been operated and
extended at an ever increasing rate since that time. This
factory belonged to a syndicate for a time and was known as
the Stittville Canning Factory, but since the purchase from
Hamilton Bros. Mr. MeLaughlin has been a large
stockholder or sole owner of the plant. Today the
140
North East Preserving Works is considerably larger than the
two plants combined were thirty~five years ago, and has a
capacity of twice - possibly three times — their output,
often having five hundred people on its payroll.
"As an illustration of the amount of fruit this plant can
handle, cherries can be processed and canned or cold
packed at the rate of seventy tons per day. Twenty-five
years ago this plant received as high as thirty-five hundred
bushels of tomatoes in a single day. That was a lot of
tomatoes for those times and ways of handling, but with the
improved machines in use today, it is just an ordinary
amount. Nowadays many factories grow their own tomato plants
to size for field setting — that is, plants for the growers
with whom they have contracts for tomatoes. Last year the
North East Preserving Works grew, for this purpose, twelve
hundred and fifty thousand plants. This year it is
increasing this amount.
"Mr, McLaughlin has been ill and unable to be at the plant
for a short time back and now, just as this is written, word
comes that he had passed away. In his passing North East
suffers a serious loss. Men of his friendly disposition,
ability and resourceful mind are already too few."
Thaddeus Histed
Thaddeus Histed, farmer, was born in October, 1832, in North
East township, son of J. 5S. and Alzina (Perkins) Histed,
natives of New York and parents of eight children. Esther
B., wife of C. O. Smith, had three children, Jaye, Effie and
Bersille; Henry HE. had two Children; and our subject, who
was married April 18, 1866, to Emma J., daughter of Jeremy
and Amy Bird. To this union were born four children - Flora
M,, Nettie B., John B. and Charles B,
Mr, Histed enlisted September 10, 1861, in Company 1, Ninth
New York Cavalry, went into camp at Westfield, N. Y.,
drilled for a few weeks, then went to Albany barracks, from
there to Washington and went into camp, drilling all winter,
In the spring of 1862 he went to Yorktown, thence to
Washington, where they were mounted and equipped for active
service. They crossed the Potomac, were in some slight
skirmishes and at the second battle of Bull Run. In the
winter of 1862 our subject was detailed at brigade
headquarters at Hall's Hill, Virginia, to carry the mail to
and from Washington. In the spring of 1863 he was detailed
as forage master for the regiment and did his duty in that
capacity until May 7, 1864. When his train lay at
Chancellorsville Mr. Histed found his regiment near Todd's
Tavern, Va. On the skirmish line he asked the colonel when
he should come with the forage. His answer was, "God only
knows."
He remained with the regiment but a short time before they
were ordered to the left to support a battery near the
Wilderness. When they arrived at the battery, the orders
were to prepare to fight on foot, count off by fours, every
fourth man to hold four horses. Our subject had no weapon
except a Colt revolver, so he asked a comrade, William
Shadduck for his carbine and cartridges and went into the
fight. They drove the enemy back to their breastworks in the
woods.
While loading his carbine Mr. Histed received a musket ball
through his right arm below the elbow, breaking the arm in
splinters. His carbine fell to the ground and in stooping to
pick it up he received an explosive ball in the left hand,
badly lacerating the flesh. Before he had time to move he
received a charge of fine shot in the right hand, a revolver
ball in the left arm near the shoulder breaking the bone. He
carried the ball in his arm thirteen months before it was
extracted. He had also a-very bad shell wound in the left
breast, a Slight wound in the neck, and his watch was struck
with buck and ball which
141
badly demoralized the gearing; was taken prisoner, but
recaptured next day; was sent to Washington, thence to
Philadelphia, thence home, where he stayed until December,
then went back to Philadelphia, thence to Washington where
he remained until September 1, 1865. Mr. Histed was
discharged and returned home a mere wreck of his former self
as to health and strength,
Mr. Histed lived thereafter in North East for many years and
when about eighty years of age he was serving on the police
force of North East. He moved to Port Angeles, Washington,
where he passed away several years ago,
James H. Haynes
James H. Haynes was born August 4, 1804, in Pawling,
Dutchess county, N.Y., son of Sanford and Hannah (Gould)
Haynes, who were natives of Connecticut and also parents of
Mrs. Rachel Bentley, Mrs. Sophia Yebb, Mrs. Lucy Harper,
Mrs. Rebecca Ingersoll, Hiram, Huron, Samuel, deceased. In
the winter of 1812 our subject removed with his parents to a
farm near Westfield, N. Y. At the age of fourteen he was
left a homeless orphan and engaged as an apprentice in a
carriage manufactory. Success attended his efforts and he
remained working at his trade at the above mentioned place,
where in 1825 he was married to Miss Elizabeth Bentley.
To this union were born six children - Harriet WM. was born
in Westfield, N. Y., April 3, 1826. She became the wife of
J. M. Mills of North East, Pa., and died Dec. 15, 1910; Ann,
deceased 1863, wife of Burton Campbell, Baltimore, Md.3;
James 5.3; Charles B., who was in the government employ in
Denver, Col., and who in 1861 went to Mexico, was robbed by
Spaniards, then returned to Denver, where he was
appointed quartermaster and served during the Rebellion, was
elected to the lower house and next to the senate of
Colorado. He was drowned by the great flood in Cherry Creek
in 1864, Byron was clerk in his brother-in- law's store,
married Olive Price, and died in 1873. Josephine, wife of W.
W. Pierce, hardware merchant of Erie, Pa., died in Oakland,
Cal.
His first wife dying November 15, 1869, Mr. Haynes married
Januery 12, 1871, Mrs. Eunice Welsh of Plymouth, Indiana.
Mr. Haynes came to Erie county in 1829 and settled in North
East, where he built a flouring mill, to which he
subsequently attached the first smut machine used in this
county. He was engaged in mercantile pursuits for twenty—
seven years retiring in favor of his son, James.S., in 1862.
In 1853 Mx. Haynes built the large hotel on the corner of
Main and Lake streets, long known as the Haynes House. He
also built the Methodist church, of which he was an honored
member for fifty-six years. About the building up of North
East as a town are many enduring testimonials of the energy,
perseverance, self-reliance and enterprising spirit which
was ever characteristic of Mr. Haynes in all his
undertakings, He died Sept. 2, 1887.
Thursday, April 11, 1935:
The Bingham Family
The Bingham family has been well and favorably known in
North East borough and township since the Grandfather
Jonathan came here with his family nearly ninety years ago.
Jonathan F. Bingham and his wife, Mary (Benson) Bingham,
were of Scotch-Irish descent and were born at South Dayton,
N. Y¥. — Johathan in 1797 and Mary in 1802. They were
married May 13, 1827. To them were born seven children:
Sarah Mariah, Dec, 14, 1828; Benson, August 3, 1830; Wesley,
Sept. 27, 1832;
142
Phoebe, June 25, 1834; Wlizabeth, May le, 1537; Mariette,
May 4, 1839; and Franklin, June 22, 1842.
earah Marieh Bingham married Hampton Phillips of South
Dayton, N. Y. To this union were born Olive, Isaac, Hmmet,
Blizabeth and Elmer, all of whom have passed on. Phoebe died
in infancy and was buried at South Deyton,
in 1848 Jonathan F. Bingham with the remainder of his family
moved here and made his home on land west of the
Sixteen-Nile creek. Part of this property is now known as
the John Steboins farm and the Carlton Pierce estate.
In the early days it was the custom to name unusual or
important sections or the new country after prominent men.
Thus the section where Route 20 crosses Sixteen-Mile creek
was called Hamot hollow, in honor of P. S. V. Hamot, a
wealthy land owner who was one of the earliest: settlers in
Erie county. There was a Saw mill located at this point,
which Mr. Bingham rented and with his sons he proceeded to
cut off and make lumber of the heavy log growth on his farm
and the forest on quite a portion of what is now Oak Hill
cemetery. A few years later, before the Civil war, Benson
and vesley purchased and divided the farm.
The father and youngest son, Franklin, deciding to move
south, went to Virginia and purchased a firm near Richmond.
Soon thereafter the war broke out and they being
Northerners, found themselves in a very serious position.
Franklin was conscripted into the Southern army, but with
the aid of a couple of neighbor boys, was able to escape
and make his way back north, traveling as a peddler, After
crossing the Mason—Dixon line he was arrested as a spy. He
was able, however to satisfy the officers of his
innocence and was allowed to proceed to North East, where he
enlisted in Captain Dyer Loomis' regiment and served to the
close of the war.
After the war was over Jonathan and his son Franklin sold
their Virginia farm and moved to Vineland, N. Je, where they
purchased another farm and where Jonathan died, April, 1866,
his wife Mary having died at the home of their son, Benson,
in 1871. Jonathan and Mary were buried in Oak Hill cemetery.
Franklin Bingham did not marry and died at the home of his
nephew, Frank H. Bingham, in North East township and was
buried in Oak Hill cemetery.
Benson Bingham married Emma Poole March 6, 1860. To this
union four children were born. Harriet, born February 8,
1861,.was married to John G. Bagley February 22, 1882, and
they now reside where they began housekeeping on the Bagley
farm on Orton road. To this union four children were born:
Harry, now residing in Sherman, N. Y.; Bessie, at North
East; Nettie, who died in infancy and Grace at North East.
Frank H., second child, born June 18, 1863, married Olive
Bliss Dec. 5, 1883. Two children were born to this union:
Alice, now residing at Barberton, 0., and Halsey B., now a
prominent business man of Erie. Frank H. died August 20,
1924, Fred D., third child, born November 3, 1869, married
Kathryn Averill, April 6, 1898. To this union one child,
Florence was born. They now reside in Erie. John P., fourth
child, born August 5, 1872, married Belk Pattee November 29,
1899. To this union was born Kenneth Jey who died in
infancy, and Dorothy B., who now resides with her parents on
the old homestead at Chestnut Grove. This farm was
purchased by Benson Bingham February 12, 1882. Benson was
married a second time to Emma Stetson, November 8, 1882, his
first wife having died May 17, 1879. Benson died December 9,
1904. His wife Emma followed several years later, Wesley
married Lenora Rice November 1, 1859. To this union one
child was born, Nettie, who died November 17, 1872. Wesley
died September 16, 1898, and was buried in Oak Hill
cemetery.
Elizabeth, third daughter of Jonathan Bingham, died
September 3, 1849. Mariette, fourth daughter of Jonathan,
married Victor Bennett of Wattsburg, Pa., Oct. 15, 1857, and
settled on a farm at Wattsburg where she spent the remainder
of her life, passing away April 1, 1907. To this union there
were three children: lucie; born Oct. 9, 1868; John H. F.,
born Feb. 14, 1874, and Nettie, born Jan. 9, 1877. Iucie
married Bryan Moran Nov. 15, 1882, and to them were born
four
143
children: Victor, Mary, Grant and Bryan. Lucie passed away
Feb. 2, 1934, at her home in the state of Vashington, where
she had lived for many years. John H. F. died in California.
Nettie, the third child of Iucie and Bryan Moran, married
Benjamin W. Sammons in 1887. They had no children, and they
are now living at War Roads, Minn.
The two brothers, Benson and Yesley Bingham, who came here
with the family in 1848 spent the remainder of their lives
in this community, of which they were well known and active
members. Benson was by occupation a farmer. Wesley gave up
farming, moved to his residence on Gibson St., and for quite
a number of years carried on a hardware business at No. 8
Kast Main St., under the name of Bingham & Carpenter. The
two Binghams were life-long Democrats politically.
J. Ross Raymond
No citizen of Erie county enjoyed in a greater degree the
confidence and high esteem of his associates and neighbors
than did J. Ross Raymond in his day. He was born in the
township of Greenfield, October 19, 1842, a son of Silas and
Sarah (Smith) Raymond, natives respectively of Massachusetts
and of New York, and on the maternal side he is a grandson
of James Smith, also of the Empire state.
The family home was established in Erie county, Pa., about
the year 1830 by Silas Raymond, who took up his abode in
Greenfield township and there worked as a shoemaker. Before
coming to this state he had married in New York one of the
commonwealth's native daughters, Sarah Smith, and they lived
both at Albany and in Auburn, that state.
J. Ross Raymond was the sixth born of their twelve children,
six sons and six daughters, and he remained at home with his
parents until his enlistment for service in the Civil war,
October 31, 1861, being assigned to Company A, One Hundred
and Eleventh Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and to the
Army of the Potomac, He took part in many of the hard-fought
battles of the war, including the engagement of Peach Tree
Creek, Georgia, on the 20th of July, 1861, where he received
a gunshot wound in the ankle. This wound proved so serious
that the limb had to be amputated between the knee and the
foot, and in this and many other ways he suffered untold
hardships as a true and loyal soldier.
Returning then to his parents’ home, Mr. Raymond remained
with them until his marriage. After this important event he
was a merchant for two and a half years, selling out at the
close of that period to become a hotel proprietor in Concord
township, Erie county. After three years in the hotel
business he again sold and this time turned his attention to
auctioneering, He was one of the most popular auctioneers in
the county. Many people often attended his sales just to
hear his talk and jokes. During all these years he was
prominently identified with the public life of his
community and as a representative of the Republican party
served as a member of the assembly during the years of
1893-1896 and 1907-1908. He also served several terms as a
township supervisor and as justice of the peace of North
East township.
On the 24th of January, 1866, Mr. Raymond was united in
marriage to Mary Jane Donaldson,. a native of Venango
township, Erie county, and a daughter of William and Hannah
(Yost): Donaldson, who were also born in Erie county. The
only child of this union is Flora M., the wife of Filliam L.
Caswell of Portland, Maine. Mrs. Raymond died on the 21st
of May, 1871. In December of 1882 he married Olive V. Coburn
from Greenfield, Erie county, and a daughter of Stephen
and Susan (Wells) Coburn, natives of the state of New York.
The second wife died August 16, 1905. After his wife's death
Mr. Raymond lived a rather retired life conducting sales
occasionally until his death about twelve years since.
144
Thursday, April 18, 1935:
(This article was prepared by Miss Nellie Jones and was read
before a DAR. meeting several months ago.)
Old Roads
"Straight and white in the hot sunlight, The highroad
stretches far; I hear the beat of the tramping feet Where
the many travelers are. But my thoughts today fly far AWAY,
To a little winding road I knew, For my road is an old road
That my fathers used to climb, And my road is a by-road that
they took In the olden time."
Strange, indeed, it seems to think while we hear the rush
and roar of traffic on our streets, and the zooming of
aeroplanes over our heads, that the first roads in our
township were undoubtedly made by the silent moccasined feet
of the American Indian, of whom Bryant says: "A noble race!
but they are gone, With their old forests wide and deep, And
we have built our homes upon Fields where their generations
sleep."
These trails became more or less marked and defined in the
years preceding the coming of the white man. ‘The opening of
the first road in Erie county was by the French, in 1753,
from Erie to Waterford. This for more than forty years was
the only road in Erie county.
When the first settlers came to the Triangle, in 1795, the
traveled road was in pretty much the same location as the
old French route. The latter was still easily traceable, but
much grown up with trees.
The first road opened by the Americans after peace with
England was established was by Judah Colt, for the
Pennsylvania Population Company in 1797. (This Company was
formed in 1793, in March; the managers were John Nicholson,
John Field, Theophilus Casenove and Aaron Burr, for the
purpose of promoting the interests and increasing the
population of the state.) This road extended from Freeport,
at the mouth of the Sixteen—Mile creek south to Colt's
Station, near Greenfield. This was continued from there to
the forks of French Creek the following year, ending
where Wattsburg now stands.
Another road, east of the preceding one to Wattsburg, was
opened about 1800, from N. &. to Wattsburg, through
Greenfield. In 1804 the road from North East through
Phillipsville to Waterford was opened up.
The Waterford turnpike, completed in 1809, should have more
than casual mention, for this was a particularly important
and useful road, as all the salt for Pittsburgh and even
down to the Falls of the Ohio (Louisville) passed from Erie
to Waterford. Besides this, cargoes of iron, glass, whisky
and flour from the Monongahela, and bacon from Kentucky came
up the Allegheny to Waterford and from there to Erie, which
was then the depot of supplies for the lake country. The
road was from two to five miles wide, diversified with
stumps, logs and deep mud holes.
With such hindrances by the way and from four to six oxen to
guide, it was not unusual for a load of salt or provisions
to be four days crossing the portage of fifteen miles, Often
a part of the load had to be abandoned. An instance is
related of a barrel of whisky having been rolled at least
half the distance by a wealthy and persevering citizen of
Erie.
145
In 1805 James McMahon surveyed the route for a road from
Erie to Buffalo, known as the Buffalo road. It seems to have
been in use in the latter part of that year. In 1806 the
Lake road was opened, its route extending within a few rods
at some points, and at others a mile or more from the shore
of the lake, it extends through the entire length of the
country and swings south into the ridge road just before it
reaches Conneaut.
In 1806 a mail route was started between Erie and Buffalo,
carrying mail once a week.
In December of 1820, a line of stages making weekly trips
began operating between Erie and Buffalo. The stage left
Buffalo every Saturday at noon, and reached Erie the next
Monday at six p.m. The return trip left Erie at six a.m.
Tuesday and arrived in Buffalo at noon on Thursday.
In 1827 a four-horse coach line was installed between Erie
and Buffalo. It carried the mail and made the trip in
eighteen hours. It caused a great sensation at the time
because of its phenominal speed.
To tell of the building of the Erie Canal, and the
construction of the first railroads, which led to the famous
Railroad War would require all the time assigned one, so I
will have to omit them.
But to the mysterious line known as the Underground Railroad
I would like to devote a few moments.
Of this Dr. Francis Newton Thorpe in his Constitutional
History of the American People, says: "From the border
states to the Great Lakes ran the various branches of the
underground railroad. Thousands of fugitive slaves reached
Canada over this line. Its management baffled governors,
sheriffs and constables. The men and women who kept its
stations were among the most respectable and intelligent in
their community. They held slavocracy and its aiders and
abetters in contempt and thought it a virtue to break the
fugitive-slave law. But their work was done in secrecy,
often in fear, and under cover of night; and sometimes when
the fugitive was in sight of safety, the law seized him
and thrust him back into slavery."
(I had hoped to talk with Mrs. Sarah Custard concerning
this, but could not on account of her illness, so will only
relate one incident from Dr. Thorpe's history, giving it as
it stands in his book, with some omissions. ) "At the mouth
of the Sixteen-Mile creek in Erie county, Penna., lived a
Whig farmer, named James Crawford." (He was my grandfather,
and at that time the Lake road passed his home, the road
lying about half way between where the dance hall now stands
and the house. )
"His house stood in a grove of locust trees, a few rods from
the beach of Lake Erie. He was an agent on the mysterious
road whose frightened dusky passengers were moved at night,
secretly from station to station.
One evening in early autumn, at which time the Lake Shore
country of today is radiant with the odor of vineyards and
the Virginia creeper hangs in prismatic hues about the
trunks of the oak and chestnut, a peculiar knock was heard
at Mr. Crawford's door. There stood a neighbor named Cass,
an Englishman who had recently started a woolen mill near
by. Crawford assured him that the family was alone. He gave
a low whistle and a man came timidly out of the bushes. He
was a fugitive slave from North Carolina. He was kindly
received, given his supper and put to bed in a room
containing two beds, in one of which two young sons of the
family were sleeping. About two 6'clock in the morning he
was suddenly aroused.
"Another neighbor of the Crawford's, John Glas by name,
(grandfather of Dr. John Glas,) who had a foundry at the
mouth of the creek, had reported danger. The sheriff was in
the village about a mile to the south and in the morning
would surely search Crawford's house, for he was known to be
an Abolitionist
146
and was suspected of secreting slaves.
‘The men were in doubt what to do, but Mrs. Crawford put one
of her small sons in the negro's bed.
"If the sheriff asked him any Questions he could truthfully
say that he had not seen the negro, and he had a bad cough,
so the separate beds could be explained.
"Early in the morning the sheriff appeared, read his warrant
and began the Search, found the two beds, each containing a
small sleeping boy. He was compelled to be satisfied with
the explanation and went away, turning his horse’s head
toward Erie. Mr. Glas had some five hours start and was
rapidly approaching the city.
"He stopped, as usual, at the half-way house, where he
watered his horses, leaving them for a few minutes while he
got a hasty breakfast. He was about driving on when a
farmer, who lived some miles to the east, now on his way
home from Erie drew up to water his team.
"He had left Erie about the time Glas left his home. As it
became light he noticed here and there posted on the trees
an offer of a large reward for the capture of one Ned, a
runaway slave from North Carolina. The reward was larger
than usual. He mentioned the reward to Glas, and while
talking, his eyes ran over the load of frames and patterns
and he detected the negro beneath them. Knowing that Glas
was an Abolitionist, (he himself being an equally ardent
pro-slavery Democrat, ) he at once took in the situation,
Concealing his discovery he jumped into his wagon and
started his horses rapidly towards his house and the
constable's. Mr, Glas, with equal speed, started for Erie,
to deliver the negro into the hand of a faithful captain who
could be relied on to take him across the lake. He suspected
that the negro had been discovered and that the man would
betray him for the reward.
"Meanwhile, the sheriff was galloping toward Erie, when he
met the informer and news he was seeking, Quickly agreeing
about the payment of the reward, he spurred on after the
foundryman. Glas had reached the dock and driven into a
shed, where concealed from public view, the negro was
quickly handed over to the captain.
"He was put into a dory, covered with a tarpaulin, and rowed
to a little sloop at anchor in the bay. Just as he was
climbing aboard, the sheriff appeared on the wharf, detected
the negro and soon had him in his possession, chained and
manacled. At once the bewildered negro was roughly started
for the south, was returned to his master and lost in
slavery.
"The reward, a small fortune for times, was paid to the
informer, Fifty years after the event its incidents were
related to me by Mrs. Crawford who zealously strove to give
liberty to the wretched African."
"With old age had come blindness, "But," said she, "my Sight
was not taken away before I was permitted to see slavery
abolished. And more - though it is not for me to tell it —
the blood money for that poor negro brought wretchedness to
three generations of the informer's family and strange to
say, was finally lost in speculating in Southern lands.
‘Justice ana Judgment are the habitation of Thy throne;
mercy and truth shall go before Thy face." :
Reverently we call to mind those sturdy pioneers, who toiled
that life might be easier for us, and let us in turn strive
to make our community better and safer for those who come
after.
"An old man, going a lone highway, The sullen stream
had no fear for him; Came at the evening, cold and gray
But he turned when safe on the other side To a chasm vast
and deep and wide. And built a bridge to span the tide.
147
‘You are wasting your strength with ‘There followeth
after me today building here,
A youth whose feet met pass this Old Man,' said
a fellow—pilgrim near, way. ‘You never again will pass
this way. This chasm that's as naught to me, You've
crossed the chasm deep and To that fair—haired boy
may a pit- wide,
fall be; Why build you this bridge at
even— He too must cross in the twilight tide?"
dim.
The builder lifted his old gray head. Good friend, I am
building this ‘Good friend, in the path I have come,
bridge for him'," he said,
Thursday, April 25, 1935:
The Stetson Family (Sanders Stetson Branch)
Several members of the Stetson family came to North East
township in the early days of its settlement. Sanders
Stetson, who was born in Rhode Island in 1805, married Miss
Eliza Lott of Trumansburg, Seneca county, N. Y. They came
here in 1831 and settled in the southeast part of the
township at Sulphur Spring, near the Job Greenman family who
had arrived at an earlier date.
In those days the splendid forest growth which covered the
Pennsylvania Triangle was rightfully regarded mostly as a
liability instead of an asset. It must be removed and burned
at a great labor cost in order that the land might be used
for farms and homes, Today, with the exception of city and
community lime its, there is not a single farm in the county
that has the selling value that its original timber growth
would have, if it could be replaced. One reads of ruthless
destruction of the forest growth of this country, true in
many cases, but not here. Destruction was the price that had
to be paid for the communities, farms and homes of the
Triangle, otherwise it would be a forest still.
Mr. Stetson was fortunate in his selection of a homestead,
for the reason that the forest growth on his property
contained a large amount of large old growth black cherry
trees from which he was able to cut quite a quantity of
large clear cherry logs. Mr. Stetson delivered the logs to a
near-by sash saw mill for six dollars per thousand feet, a
price at which one good~sized tree would pay for two or
three acres of the homestead. A few years earlier there
would have been no market for the lumber from such logs. The
opening of the Erie canal in 1824, however, provided a
market and a way to reach it. At the mill the logs were sawn
into thick wide planks which were taken to the then little
settlement of Freeport, floated out to deep water and loaded
on the small Sailing vessels of that time, taken to Buffalo
and on east to market via the canal.
Sanders and Eliza were the parents of five children -—
Hliga, Aaron.L.,George W.,y Henry and Zephaniah - all of
whom have passed on. They lived on their Sulphur Springs
farm for twenty-five years, or until 1856, when they bought
a small farm on the Middle road near what was the Jones
Mill, where Mr. Stetson died March 25, 1891, at the age of
eighty-six years. Mrs. Stetson lived to a still greater age,
passing away at the home of her son, Aaron, Sept. 10, 1905.
Aaron L. Stetson was born in the home at Sulphur Springs the
year that North East borough was incorporated, and died at
his home near the mouth of the Twenty- mile creek in April,
1911. As a young man he was a wide-awake and venturesome
young fellow, He was not actually a "Forty—niner," but at
the we of 19, in 1853, he set out on his first trip to the
golden west. He went via rail, wagon and river to St.
Joseph, Mo. Here he joined one of the overland emigrant
trains
148
and “hoofed" most of the way to California, arriving at a
point twenty-six
miles from Shasta, on the Sacramento river on October T,
1853. Here he engaged in mining, farming and also became a
contractor, building reservoirs and other works necessary
for placer mining and irrigation. He made three other trips
to California, once via the Isthmus of Panama, once around
"The Horn," and lastly in 1906 via railroad in company with
his son Henry.
On Oct. 23, 1863, he bought the farm of 175 acres at the
mouth of the Twenty-Mile creek of F. B. Smedley, father
of our townsman, F. J. smedley. Soon after this he made his
third trip to the west coast, returning in 1866. He spent
the remainder of his days on the farm. During this period of
his life, he became one of the best known farmers of the
township. He was noted for the fine horses and other farm
animals in which he made a business of dealing. He greatly
improved the farm and it& buildings, and on Feb. 28, 1868,
was married to Miss Annette Eddy, daughter of Alexander
Eddy, of Cambridge, N. Y. To this union were born four
children:
Alice E,, born in 1869, married Dudley Snider, and now
living in Toledo, Ohio. They have two children.
Henry Stetson, born in 1872, married Miss Annie Marshouse.
They have no children and now own and live on the old
homestead near the Twenty-Mile creek.
Leon G. Stetson, born 1876, married Miss Mary Felton. They
live on a fine 50-acre farm of their own, just east of the
St. Barnabas House on the new Lake Road highway. They have
two children, Elizabeth, born in 1903, and Nettie, born in
1908, Eligabeth married James Frederick Wilde and they live
in Erie. Nettie married Clinton Thompson. They have two
children, Ruth, aged 9, and Robert, aged 5. They live in
North East township.
Grace, the fourth child of Aaron and Annette, born in 1885,
married Mr. Homer Ensley. They have two children and live in
Pekin, Illinois.
The Spacht Family
Lawrence and Mary Ann (Gass) Spacht were natives of
Alsace-Lorraine. In 1829 with the hope of bettering their
condition they set out for the New World, as usual in those
times coming across the ocean in a sailing vessel.
M4sfortune seemed to sail with them on this voyage. A
succession of storms lengthened the passage to ninety days,
and just before reaching New York death took their first
child, Anna, from then,
On arriving they first settled in Williamsville, N. Y.,
where the father worked at his trade as stone mason. At this
place they lived several years and here nine of their
children were born, Anthony, born Dec. 22, 1341, and Joseph,
born Jan. 31, 1843 being the youngest.
In 1852 the family decided to move to Erie, coming on the
ice from Buffalo. Soon after arriving in Erie they purchased
a farm in West Green in Erie county, where they lived till
March 16, 1865, when they bought forty-four acres of land in
North East township, on the shore of Lake Erie, about two
miles east of the borough of North East. Subsequent
purchases increased this holding to over two hundred acres.
The father, Lawrence, died at the home on this farm May 13,
1867. In 1872 Joseph Spacht, the youngest child, purchased
fifty acres of land of Thomas Bemiss on the East Middle
road, and made it his home, where his sister, Miss Rose, and
his widowed mother lived, and where the mother died July 19,
1881.
On Oct. 9, 1882, Joesph was united in marriage with Mary
Marguerite Ott of Harborcreek township. Miss Ott's parents
were John and Catherine (von Geschoesser) Ott. To Joseph and
Marguerite Spacht were born nine children - Catherine, now
Mrs. Adgate Marshall of North East township; Frances, now
Mrs. Frank D. Hartman of Wesleyville, Pa.; Marie, now Mrs.
Bruce MacDonald of North
149
East borough; Joseph H. Spacht of West Greene, Pa.; Therese,
now Mrs. Herbert G. Meehl of Erie; Louise, deceased;
Alphonso Spacht of North East; Agnes, now Mrs. Edward Maille
of Harborcreek: and Charles Spacht of North East.
Anthony Spacht the next youngest child of Lawrence and Mary
Ann, was educated in the public schools of North East
township. He made farming and fruit growing his life work
and took over the farm purchased in and after 1865. On March
4, 1870, he was united in marriage with Miss Josephine,
daughter of John and Magdalene (Schwendinger) von
Geschoesser of Millcreek township. Anthony and Josephine
raised a family of eight children - Albert, Helen, Rosaline,
Josephine, rank, Leo, John and Winnifred.
The seven older children of Lawrence and Mary Ann Spacht
were Mary, who became Mrs. Henry Heimly; Gertrude, Mrs.
Andrew Blila, Erie, Pa.; Catherine, Mrs. Benjamin Algier,
West Green; Evaline, Mrs. Peter Rectenwald, Erie, Pa.; Rose,
Magdlyn, Mrs. Jacob Held, and Lawrence.
Thursday, May 2, 1935:
A Few Reminiscenses of North East by D. R. Cushmen
North East in 1867 only had about a half dozen brick
buildings — the Duncan building, Haynes House, what is
known as the Corner Store, on Main and Lake streets, two or
three other blocks west of the Corner Store on Main street,
the Presbyterian church and the Brawley House hotel, on the
site now occupied by the McCord Memorial Library.
There was a long wooden railroad trestle extending for
nearly a mile westward from the Sixteen-Mile creek on the
right of way of what was then the Buffalo and Erie
railroad. At the western end of this trestle there were a
number of small cottages occupied by parties employed by the
railroad.
At this time parties were hard at work in the forests of
Greenfield chopping out homes for their families. They
brought hundreds of cords of four—foot body wood and sold it
to the railroad company, piling it south of the depot.
Two-horse tread-mills were used to saw this wood up into
short pieces which were piled near the railroad track, and
when a train would come in the conductor and engineer and
all the train employees would rush to the wood pile and fill
the tender with wood. This was kept up for quite a number of
years.
In the ravine northwest of town there was erected a sash and
blind factory, operated by Adam Haas; a grist mill, owned by
zara Scouller; a paper mill, owned by J. 5S. Johnson & Son;
a saw fill. There was a brewery located just east of the
Scouller mill on the hill conducted by one Bannister. On the
Orchard Beach road was located the Grimshaw Yoolen Mills,
owned and operated by two brothers, from England. The Jones
grist mill occupied the site of the Mottier farm buildings
on the Middle road. All of these industries were in full
operation and doing a flourishing business in 1867. The
motive power of all of them was water.
Had North East been segregated from the rest of the world at
that time, we think we could have existed on our own
resources. Much of the clothing worn by the men in North
East was made from cloth manufactured at the woolen mill.
Considerable of this clothing was made by Mr. McDonald, the
tailor, father of the NecDonald boys of North East and Erie,
and by the father of the late George Gilman. The Scouller
and Jones mills furnished flour and feed, the tannery
furnished leather for our boots and shoes, considerable of
which was used at North East; the cider mill furnished cider
and vinegar; the saw mill furnished lumber for building; the
sash and blind factory, materials for our buildings and the
brewery furnished beer to make us healthy and contented and
the paper mill furnished
150
paper for printing and wrapping purposes. ‘The North East
Sun was printed for many years on paper made at this mill.
All the above industrial enterprises, except the cider mill,
were long Since swept out of existence by modern
commercialism. They could not compete with the large
corporate industries.
In 1867, as we recollect it, A. W. Blaine was conducting a
bank in the Corner Store, Lake and Main streets, and there
was a little broker's office in the little corner store in
the Duncan block, now occupied as a barber shop. This was
conducted by Mr. Brookins, who was a jovial, good-natured
man, always looking on the bright side of life. Mr. A. W.
Blaine, father of our George W. Blaine, was a tall, well
proportioned man, having no side issues, paying his whole
attention to financial and social matters. He was perhaps
the social leader in North East. At the time the Canadians
came to return a call we had made then in Canada, we noticed
that Mr. A. We Blaine was actively circulating among them
shaking hands and welcoming them to the Grape City.
One of our most prominent men at that time was Col. Amos
Gould. He was a large, fleshy man, walked with considerable
dignity, carrying a fine, large gold-headed cane. He was a
banker and politician. His daughter, Jennie Gould, was well
educated and for years was perhaps the leading belle of
North East. He secured a clerkship for his son, in
Washington.
James H. Haynes was at that time owner of the Haynes House,
a three-story brick building standing on the site of what is
now Murphy's store. At this time he was retired and when he
became somewhat old and feeble we asked him why he did not
go to Florida winters, as it might lengthen his life. In
reply to this he surprised us by stating that he would
rather live in North East and die than go to Florida and
live. That shows to what extent some of the old-time North
Easters were attached to their home town.
Dr D. D. Loop was the old-time family physician, and we
heard the remark that he was present when a majority of the
active North Easters were ushered into existence. He had
absolutely no side issues, and was remarkably successful in
his practice. However, he made one great mistake in his life
by putting his fees on his books and not collecting them.
The man who audited his books informed the writer that if
the doctor had collected his fees, he would have been a rich
man. In his old age he stated to us that he didn't have
money enough to buy a postage stamp to send a letter to his
daughter in Buffalo. He was for a time associated with Dr.
Griffin, who was a brother of the late S. N. Griffin of
North East township.
Dr. A. B. Heard enjoyed a large medical practice for many
years at North fast. He was a plain, everyday man, noted for
his excellent good common sense, and a prominent Democratic
politician. One summer time during a drought, a very
extensive fire in the grass and woodlands south of North
East broke out and threatened to sweep over and burn the
town, as the wind was driving it in that direction. The
burgess appointed Dr. A. B. Heard to employ a large gang of
men to protect the town from destruction if possible. The
doctor decided to make the Lake Shore railroad track the
dead line, not to permit the fire to pass it. The doctor on
horseback rode up and down this track through the town and
through his men placing barrels of water all along the
track. The efforts were successful and the fire kept from
crossing the dead line. It was an extremely exciting time
for the people of North East. By the way, the doctor was the
father of the well-known Heard boys. We shall always
remember that Dr. A. B. Heard once stated to us that his
drugs were not for himself or his family, but for the
public.
Capt. Dyer Loomis was a character. He was very sociable and
attended nearly every funeral that was held in the town and
was appointed executor or administrator of very many
estates. He was justice of the peace for many years, and had
a little frame office on East Main street, about on the site
of the
151
sam Ackerman place at present. Adjoining the office was a
little old one-story, unpainted frame house which might have
been 150 years old and which we think he occupied until a
late date. At the auction sale of the contents we purchased
a pair of andirons and an old bureau, each of which we are
sure were over a 100 years old. In his old age he built a
large summer cottage at Findley Lake, which he occupied for
a few seasons. This cottage is now owned by Dr. Culp of
Cleveland, who had been connected with the Lakeside
Assembly. His son Joseph, who had an army record, served as
prothonotary for several terms. Dyer Loomis was one of the
best-known men who ever lived in North East, was kind to the
sick and very popular.
A. F. Jones was a live wire in the dry goods business, and
quite a politician. Near the end of his career he built the
large brick house on W. Main street which seemed to cripple
him financially.
John F, Oldach was a leading dry goods merchant at North
Mast during all his lifetime, and built the Oldach block on
Lake street. His son, John B., succeeded his father for
some time and has been for some years past conducting a
leading drapery, curtain and rug store in Erie.
N. J. Bogenschutz, who died recently, from small beginnings,
built up a large and profitable furniture business and built
the Bogenschutz block on Lake street. He had the reputation
of attending more closely to his business than any other man
in North East. He seemed to take no recreation and was
everlastingly at his post of business. His son, Orville,
succeeds him in the furniture business and being a chip of
the old block, he will doubtless make a success of it.
B. C. Spooner was a typical banker and managed the First
National Bank successfully for many years.
J. Hoss Raymond was a typical auctioneer, and acted
successfully in that capacity for many years. He was elected
to the legislature, during which time he caused the law to
be passed regarding divorce which was written by the writer.
At the time he ran for office: we were his campaign manager
during which time we printed and circulated many thousands
of extra copies of the Sun over the district. At the end of
the campaign he asked us what our bill was and we told him
we had no bill. It seems that we were so elated over his
election that we didn't have the nerve to make a charge for
what we had done for him, although as we look at it now we
certainly should have billed him for the extra papers that
we circulated.
M. A. Caldwell was one of the greatest characters North East
ever had. He was a poor boy, and by his wits and shrewdness
amassed quite a small fortune. He secured a patent on a
washing machine and made most of his money by selling rights
to market in townships, boroughs and counties. He would go
into the park of a town and commence washing. This would
draw a crowd. Bills stated that rights to make were for sale
and when the people made inquiries he would tell them that
if they wanted a certain county or town they would have to
act quickly as a number of parties were after it. In this
way he sold many thousands of dollars in rights, which was
all profits, traveling over the greater part of Texas and
some of the southern states. Among other property he secured
was some five thousand acres of Texas land, which he owned
at the time of his death.
He built an unique, artistic dwelling and paid something
like $20,000 for the South Shore vineyard and wine cellar,
just north of North East borough. when the Bradford oil
field and exchange was at its height he was perhaps the
leading bear broker, there often selling short any thousands
of dollars. For some years he was a great factor in the
exchange and when he offered to sell many thousands of
barrels of oil short, he often occasioned considerable
excitement among the brokers.
A. K. and W. 0. Wing were large oil producers in the
Bradford exchange.
E. #. Chambers operated for many years in the Bradford and
Oil Creek oil Fields. We remember upon one occasion his
handing us $500 to invest in oil,
152
never asked for any papers or receipts for the same. He
owned a nice residence on Gibson street and traveled to
and from the oil country with a spanking span of horses,
He and his two brothers of Oil City amassed a very large
amount of money, but E. E. lost a large portion of his share
in the Bradford Oil Exchange. This threw him into
bankruptcy, and the writer was appointed assignee. The
estate amounted to some $50,000, largely real estate,
including his fine farm near the North East cemetery.
Subsequently it was reported that by a successful deal in
the Bradford Oil Exchange he made quite a number of
thousands of dollars, using the money to buy back the
bankrupt real estate which had been bid off by his brother
Fesiey of Oil City.
Thursday, May 9, 1935:
D. R. Cushman's Reminiscences (continued from last week)
Geo. A. Hampson had quite a business career at North East.
For a number of years he acted as one of the aides for
Alfred ehort, and managed the People's Savings Institution
successfully for considerable time. His health failed him
and he visited California and Hot Springs health resort, and
his health being somewhat improved, he commenced dealing in
mortgages and loaning money, making considerable money. At
his death it was learned that he had turned over his
mortgage business to his widow, who only survived him a
short time.
J. 5, Johnson was very prominent for many years, He was the
owner of the paper mill in the ravine. He made and sold
thousands of tons of news and wrapping paper.
Alexander Pope was a typical country constable, and one of
the bravest men who ever lived in North East. He had the
reputation of always getting and producing his man. As an
instance of his bravery we well remember having witnessed
the act from a second-story window, of his arrest of the
ring leader of some hundred roughs who came down from Erie
to break up some meeting being held here. After arresting
his man he proceeded towards the lock-up, when. the crowd
surged around him with various statements of disapproval,
but the little man marched the prisoner through the large
crowd which had gathered and landed him safely in the
lock-up. We feared for the safety of the offices but he won
out without assistance, "by Ginger". This was a favorite
expression of the old-time constable,,who was by far the
best officer of the kind North Wast ever had.
John Higgins was one of the oldtime prominent merchants of
North East. He made a small fortune in the boot and shoe
business in a store in a little building just east of the
Haynes House property on Main St. He was noted for his
conservative methods and like the late N. J. Bogensthutz, he
took no recreation and attended everlastingly to his
business. He was so precise in his movements that his
neighbors on Gibson street often determined the noon hour by
his returning home for lunch. Perhaps no other man in North
East was so precise in whatever he did.
Some three decades ago, Charles H. Mottier was one of the
live wires of the township. He was a Civil war veteran and
engaged in the farm trucking business on a large scale,
marketing his products in Erie, where for years he himself
drove a market wagon, starting from North East soon after
midnight. In this way he amassed a small fortune,
John Webb built the ebb block. He was quite a well-known
citizen and drove one of the best horses in this section. We
well remember hunting with him after our pack of hounds,
which were bellowing up and down the ravines and along the
lake shore in this section. He used his fine horse and
cutter in
153
transporting us and the music made by the hounds cheered us
up to follow them.
And now, last but not least, we come to Alfred Short and his
father vamson short. These two men came to North East, we
think, some time in the 70's, and dominated the town for
some 20 or 30 years. They came from Ridgway, Pa., with
approximately a million dollars which they accumulated in
the lumber and oil business. They engaged in the banking
business and commenced buying real estate and loaning money.
It was not many years before most of the citizens of North
East became under obligations to them for borrowed money.
Nearly every industrial enterprise was indebted to them, and
they, especially Alfred, dominated the town as no other
man ever did or perhaps ever will. Alfred furnished the
money to build the North East waterworks, loaning it to the
borough and was very active in that enterprise. A. I. Loop,
who has studied the subject of water works for towns and was
an expert, directed the technical matters connected with
the work, In addition to being connected with the business
affairs of the borough and its citizens, the Shorts operated
extensively in outside oil and lumber enterprises, often
making deals of from five to twenty thousand dollars to the
knowledge of the writer, as we drew some of the papers.
Alfred built a fine residence, now the south part of the
Colonial hotel, and lived there with his family for many
years. Frank L. Bowman bought this property, built on the
north part and conducted a hotel there for quite a number of
years, when he sold it to Mrs. McFadden and another lady,
Mrs. McFadden now being the sole owner and conductor, Alfred
was a prominent Democrat and was elected to the Pennsylvania
State senate.
Samson purchased and resided on a fine farm on West Main
road, a short distance west of Oak Hill cemetery. He built
the Palace hotel, at the depot, and bought considerable
other property there and built the old Short opera house.
Samson vowed that he would make that the center of the
town's business, but he was unable to do so. One of the main
factors against this was the building and operating of the
trolley line on Main street.
Alfred Short was extremely liberal in loaning money from his
bank to parties who were or became irresponsible, and
this led to the financial downfall of the Short regime in
Worth East. On one occasion, we remember that he offered
voluntarily and without solicitation to loan us all the
money we wanted, but we refused the offer.
There was a run on his bank, the Short Banking Co., which
had a very large amount of deposits and in order to keep the
bank above water, he took the bank's and also his personal
assets to New York city which he pledged for cash and
brought home to pay off depositors. But the run still
continued and he commenced using the assets of his father to
stay the raid on the bank and as a last effort to bring the
bank through the trouble, the Shorts advertised that the
father was responsible for the deposits, that the father had
$400,000 of real estate and other property, but the run
resulted in a financial crash and the Shorts lost all their
wealth.
In this effort to save themselves from bankruptcy, the
Shorts made one of the most gallant struggles ever made to
save a bank and we well remember that Alfred Short returned
from New York from his money-getting trips, in a state
bordering on being a nervous wreck, having traveled night
and day. Losing their money, they lost their hundreds of
friends, scores of them whom they had assisted
financially, turning the cold shoulder. The last we
remember of Alfred Short he went to Florida to engage in
the lumber business and that he is now deceased. His
father died some years ago.
There are many men now deceased in addition to those above
noted, who played subordinate parts in making the history of
North East but we have not space to narrate a brief of their
acts.
The writer first came to North East to live in 1867. At that
time we considered North East one of the cleanest and
best places to reside in the country
154
and we have not changed our mind. Attended the State Normal
School at Edinboro for a number of terms, during which time
worked on the farm during the summers. Worked all the
problems in algebra without any assistance from anyone while
on the farm. Worked or dragged for a time and then would sit
down in the fence corner with paper and pencil and work
awhile at a problem. Worked a whole week in solving one
problem in the higher algebra. It came to me after sleeping
over it.
Had an office in my father's farm house at Sterrettania,
this county, where we had on file the old Erie Gazette and
the New York semiweekly Tribune. I was quit a young farm boy
then and I read with great interest the editorial thunder of
Horace Greeley relating to the Lincoln administration and
the conduct of the Civil war and the gallant fighting of our
soldier boys.
At this time read law and was admitted to the bar in 1874. I
practiced law at North East from the time of my admission in
1874 for some fifty years and over.
At the time N. J. Bogenschuty, was elected burgess of North
East, he employed me as attorney for the borough and
directed me to proceed in court, which as I recollect it was
presided over by the late Justice EB. A. Walling, to compel
the trolley company to renew its bond Conditioned to
protect the borough from damages that it might cause by
operating through the borough. I instituted proceedings to
this end and finally succeeded in securing an order from the
court authorizing the trough authorities to tear up the
trolley tracks unless it renewed its bond within a certain
Specified time. The result was that it renewed its bond.
Subsequently this led to compelling the company to pave Main
street with brick in exchange for a double track franchise
through the borough. This was at the time Roscoe Davidson
was burgess and A. I. Loop, as we recollect it, was one of
the leading members of the council.
The first newspaper of any consequence that North fast ever
had, was the Herald, published by S. 0. Hayward in the third
story of the Duncan block, After a few months he decided to
move the material to Westfield, and it was loaded up in a
two-horse wagon which proceeded eastward. A, F. Jones, under
considerable excitement, came to us and insisted that we
proceed to stop the wagon and bring the material back, but
we decided not to do so but to start a paper of our own. We
purchased of the Lyman Type Foundry at Buffalo type and
printing material. Also at Batavia, N. Ye, we purchased
the old Washington hand press upon which the little Star,
which was subsequently enlarged to the Sun, was printed for
a year or two. We understand that this press is now in a
museum as an old printing press relic.
Dan Rice, the old nationally—known clown and circus man,
whose home was at Girard, became financially embarrassed and
his property was sold at sheriff Sale. We bid off the
massive job press that he printed his show bills on, brought
it to North East and set it to trundling in printing the
North East Sun. The Erie Dispatch was one of the bidders for
this press, and the newspapers published in this vicinity
stated that it would be an elephant on our hands, but for
over sixty consecutive years we kept it in motion every
week, printing the Sun without missing a single issue; when
we sold the plant and retired from the newspaper business.
This was a very substantial press and when the purchaser
sold it for junk, he set two men with sledges to break up
the cylinder and after working at it for some time they gave
up the job and the cylinder is now in the basement of the
old Sun building.
During the publication of the Sun, we built the present
Cushman building especially for newspaper and law office
purpose,
For some years L. B. Cushman, brother of the writer, worked
on the paper and had a small interest in it.
When the Sun was first started, S. M. Brainerd had a small
working interest in it for a short time, but never
contributed a single dollar to the plant.
155
W. A. Skellie
At one of the largest attended services held here in recent
years, Walter A, Skellie, Bessemer and Lake Erie Railroad
trainmaster, was honored at funeral services held from
the Methodist Episcopal church at two o'clock Tuesday
afternoon, The large attendance and the hundreds of floral
offering were silent testimony of the respect and esteem
held for the man who has been the leading representative of
the Bessemer in Albion for the past eighteen years.
A severe shock to the entire community, Trainmaster Skellie
passed away at his home on West State street shortly after
nine o'clock Saturday, March 23, as the result of an attack
of acute indigestion. He had apparently been in good health,
having returned from his duties of railroad supervision at
about five o'clock the same morning.
walter A. Skellie was born at Otto, Cattaraugus county, New
York, Feb. 15, 1880, the son of Mr. and Mrs. William
Skellie. He spent his early boyhood in New York state, later
moving with his family to North East, Pa., where he received
his education in the public school.
In 1898 Skellie came to Albion and was employed as a
brakeman on the Bessemer and Lake Erie Railroad. From
this position he successively rose to the work of flagman,
conductor and assistant trainmaster, In 1917, during the
Yorld war, Skellie was named trainmaster of the railroad,
which position he has held since that time. His work covered
operations between Conneaut Harbor and North Bessemer,
In 1905 Walter A. Skellie was united in marriage to Bess
Barns, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Barns, of Albion.
Together with their mother, two sons, Raymond B. and Robert
H., remain to mourn their loss. The deceased’s aged mother,
Mrs. Jennie Skellie of North East, is also left to mourn
the loss of her son. One sister, Verna Hewitt of Albion,
preceded the deceased in death in 1918.
Mr. Skellie was a member of the Traffic Club of Erie, Order
of Railway conductors and the Bessemer Welfare
Association. He also served as a Bessemer representative
on the Federal railroad co-ordinating committee.
He was well liked in the community and gained the respect
and esteem of his fellow employees. He was an ardent and
thorough worker, always striving for the best interests of
his employers. He was devoted to his family and his home, an
ardent lover of flowers and of hunting and fishing.
The Rev. Jones, pastor of the Methodist Episcopal church,
offered the in- vocation at the services. Rev. F, W.
Garthan, delivering the eulogy, reminded his mourners of the
fruitful benefits and blessings of a useful and aggressive
life of work. He cited the many sacrifices the deceased has
made to make possible progress and demands of life.
Honorary pall-bearers, officials of the Bessemer and Lake
Erie Railroad, included W. M, Johnson, F. W. Smith, C. G.
Huber, F. C. Sheparson, Rowe, W. J. MeMannus (did not
attend, account of sickness) §. H. Stansberry, T. C.
Whiteman, H. T. Leehan, J. O. Jones, B. F. Barnhart, T. F.
Williams. Mr. F. I. Snyder, vice- president and general
manager of the Bessemer and Lake Erie Railroad, was detained
from attending the funeral on account of sickness/in his
family.
The active pall-bearers were E. J. McGeary, J. C. Bailey, J.
C. Kendig, F. C.Sahm, J. A. Bynane and Wm. Miles. The entire
center section of the church was reserved and occupied by
railroad officials and employees. Interment was made at the
family lot in Albion cemetery. - Albion News.
156
Thursday, May 16, 1935:
Cyrus and Mary (Platt) Wolf and his wife, natives of
Germany, settled at an early date in Lancaster county, Pa.
They were the parents of six children Henry, Isaac,
Margaret, Maria, Cyrus and Catherine. In 1833, a year before
the incorporation of North East Borough, the then new land
of promise brought the family to the Triangle, where they
settled south of Erie. Cyrus and Mary were farmers, and they
followed that occupation for a livelihood till their death,
Cyrus dying in 1862 and Mary in 1875.
On reaching manhood, the sons, Henry, born in Lancaster
county in 1825, and Isaac, born there April ll, 1827,
married and came to North East township, Henry made his home
on the East Main road, just north of the Phillips cemetery,
while Isaac bought a farm on the same road at State Line, a
mile or so farther east. Both brothers soon became prominent
and well-to-do citizens of the township, honored for
their integrity and business ability. Their large families
and their descendants have upheld their parents’ reputation.
Henry Wolf
Henry Wolf, native of Lancaster county, born 1825, was
married in 1847 to Caroline Hayberger, daughter of George
Hayberger of Erie. Mr. Hayberger was one of the pioneers of
the Triangle, coming here in about 1802. He was a soldier in
the War of 1812, serving as lieutenant under Commodore Perry
in the battle of Lake Erie. The family of Henry and
Caroline consisted of seven children, all but two of whom
have passed on. They were Henry, Hannah, Amanda, Evelyn,
Presley C., Mariam and Ida May. Henry Wolf followed the
business of farming and stock raising for many years, often
buying one or more cars of cattle for winter fattening at
his farm in the township. He was also a stockholder and for
some years director, treasurer and vice president of one of
the North East Savings Banks, and at one time or another
filled most of the elective offices of the township.
Henry, son of Henry and Mary, passed away as a young man
many years ago.
Hannah married William Yoolsey of North East, and moved with
him to Nebraska. Having no child of their own, they
adopted a daughter. All three have passed away.
Amanda married Edward W. Merrill, son of D. M. Merrill of
North East borough, They had one daughter, Nellie. Both
Mr. and Mrs. Merrill have passed on. Miss Nellie married
Lafayette G. French, son of one of the old North East
families. They have a son, Merrill, and a daughter, Mrs. L.
H. Loomis, who are now residents of North East, and another
daughter, Mrs. C. G. Bullock of Seneca Falls, N. Y.
fivelyn married Isaac Coon of North Mast, and they were the
parents of three children, Berniece, Ralph and Hugh. The
parents have passed away. Berniece resides in Erie. Ralph
is married and has four children, three girls and one boy,
all living in North East. Hugh is at York, Pa.
Presley C., known to everybody as "P.C." or "Press" Wolf,
lives on his farm one and a half miles east of North East on
Route 20, still hale and hearty, past 82. He married Miss
Belle Woolsey of North East, who passed away a few years
since. They were the parents of two boys, Carl and Fay.
Carl was twice married, first to Miss Anna Rainey, second to
Miss Cora Terrill, and now resides in Indianapolis, Ind:
Carl had three boys, Harold, Blton and Myron. Harold is
married; they have one daughter, Ethel, and reside with
Presley. Elton is married, has two daughters, Audrey and
Lillian, and a son, Richard. He and his family reside in
Erie. Myron is also married, has a son Myron, and a
daughter, Joanne Carol, all of whom live in Erie.
Fay Wolf, son of Presley, is married and lives at Waterloo,
N. Y. but has no children.
157
P. C,. Wolf was born at the old homestead of his father and
has lived his whole life there and at his present farm about
a mile farther west. He was reared according to his father's
ideas: "Have the best of everything, and work for it." He
began taking a man's place in his father's fields seventy
years ago. He began his school days at the little old red
schoolhouse that stood close to what is now Route 20 on the
south side of the highway, at the east line of the farm he
now owns.
A new school building was erected where the Remington school
is now located, in the winter of 1861-'2. The school effects
were moved to the new location and the little old red
building sold to A. K. Wing, who moved it to the second farm
west, which he owned, where it stands today, as an addition
to the north end of the brick farm house, which is still
owned by the Wing family. Presley continued attendance at
the newly located school, and later attended the North East
Academy. He has a group photograph of four generations,
including himself, a child, a grandchild and a
great-grandchild who have attended the Remington school
since its organization seventy—three years ago.
Township schools had a larger enrollment in the early days
than now, the Remington having at the time of its beginning
a list of sixty-two scholars. There are many changes since
that time. Mr. Wolf is the only one of those sixty-two who
now lives in the district, and in fact the only person now
living between the North East borough line and the Gulf who
was living on that 3—mile section of the Buffalo road at
that time.
Mr. Wolf is the possessor of several relics, valuable on
account of age, among which is a German hay rack, in
serviceable condition, yet, which was built by his father
eighty-three years ago; also a large German Bible printed
several years before the Declaration of Independence by the
American Colonies;
Miriam Wolf, youngest son of Henry and Caroline, moved to
Beatrice, Nebraska, fifty years or so ago, was married and
had three children, two girls and a boy. He passed away a
few years ago, but his wife and children still reside there.
Ida May Wolf, the youngest daughter, married Henry Mosher of
North East; They have no children and they now live on West
Main street.
Isaac Wolf
Isaac Wolf, brother of Henry, was born in Lancaster county,
Pa., April ll, 1827, and came with his parents to Erie
county six years later. He lived with his parents until
1852, when he started farming for himself in Mill Creek
township, Erie county. On Oct. 4, 1852, he married Miss
Eliga Myers, daughter of Samuel and Mary A. (Heiss) Myers,
early settlers of Fairview township, who located there in
1830, where Mary was born in 1832. They were also natives of
Lancaster county. Mr. Myers passed away in 1877 and his wife
followed in 1891.
On March 1, 1860, Isaac and ¥liza moved with their family to
State Line, in North East township, where they passed the
remainder of their lives. Mr. Wolf died Aug. 15, 1903, and
Mrs. Wolf March 7, 1909. Mr. Wolf was brought up a farmer, a
business to which he immediately turned attention on arrival
in North East township. His first purchase was 63 acres, to
which he continued to add until he and his sons owned three
hundred acres of the township's finest farm land. It was all
located in the famous Chautauqua-Erie grape belt and
contained scarcely any waste acres. He was not only a
successful farmer but a dealer in live stock and other
affairs indirectly connected with farming and fruit growing,
On March 1, 1893, he bought the State Line store on what is
now Route 20, and engaged in general mercantile business
until Sept. 9, 1895, a dozen years later, when he sold the
business to his son, Boyd L. Wolf. The store building
158
still stands on the Pennsylvania side of the New
York-Pennsylvania state line For many years before, and up
to the establishment of rural free delivery, this building
housed a U. S. post office. Mr. Wolf was appointed
postmaster when he bought the building. The post office
department ruled that the little community at State Line,
like other similar settlements was entitled to mail
facilities, and so the post office at Northville, Pa., was
established. This office, however, like thousands of others
went out when R. I’. D. came in.
Isaac and Mary were parents of nine children — Clara, Perry,
Willis F., Edward, Frank, Nelson, Mary, Charles and Boyd.
Clara, who was born September 23, 1854, married J. EB.
Moore, May 8, 1875. Two sons and one daughter were born to
this union. The sons, Clyde and Arthur, now reside in
Washington, D. C. The daughter, Betsy, married Mr.
Wainright, and they reside at Sceiford, Delaware. They have
two children, and Clara, the now widowed mother, lives with
them.
Perry Woli', born Sept. 25, 1855, was married to Miss Flora
M. Phear of Ripley, N. Y., Feb. 17, 1890. Three children
were born, one of whom died in infancy. The two others, Ray
and Ross, and the father, Perry, are now living in Ripley,
N. Y. Mrs. ¥olt passed away four years ago.
Willis FP. Wolf, the second son of Isaac, is now a
well-known resident of North East Borough, having retired
from active business life several years ago. He was born
July 16, 1857. Until his marriage March 4, 1880, Willis
remained at home, assisting his father in the management of
the home farm, and for two following years operated the
property on shares. He then purchased 67 acres of land
adjoining the New York state line, which he proceeded to
convert into an up-to-date fruit farm. He built a fine
ten—room residence and other suitable buildings, planted
fifty acres of the place to grapes and the balance to other
fruits, and was rated as one of the most successful
horticulturists of North Kast township. Educated in the
district school, he always had a friendly interest in their
welfare, and always endeavored to advance their interests.
Willis has not been an office Seeker, never having held a
political office, except during the six years that he served
on the township school board. He is a member of the I. 0. 0.
F., Grape City Lodge, 1073, of North East, Heneosis Adelphon
ancampment of Erie, and the Royal Arcanum, Council No.
764, of Ripley, N. Y. On March 4, 1880, he was united in
marriage with Miss Elsie Woolsey, who was born in Blk
Creek township, Erie Co., daughter of German and Ruth
(Francis) Woolseey. Her father was born in Cuyahoga Co.,
Ohio, and her grandparents were of Emglish parentage. Her
mother was a native of Lewis, N. Y., and her parents, Levi
and Ruth Francis, were of New Hampshire stock. The children
of Willis and Elsie were Ford Woolsey, Prank Levi and
Bessie. Frank Levi ¥olf married Miss Bessie Moasn — they
live in Girard, Pa., and have two children, Robert and
Helen. Robert is married and has a daughter. Ford ¥. Wolf
married Miss Allie Heath, daughter of the late Charles T.
and Nina (Smith) Heath of North East. They reside at Ripley,
N. Y. Bessie ¥olf married Harry Grimshaw, son of Craven and
Sarah (Wells) Grimshaw of North East. They have two
children, Donald and Howard, and reside at North Girard, Pa.
Edward Wolf, third son of Isaac and Mary, was born Nov. 1,
1859, and died March 11, 1859.
Prank Wolf, fourth son, was born Jan. 22, 1860, and died May
17, 1879.
Nelson, fifth son, was born Dec. 21, 1860. He was united in
marriage with Alethia Hugg. They have two children, John and
Helen, and all reside at State Line.
Mary B. Yolf, born July 23, 1862, was married to Mr. John
Beatty of State Line, June 20, 1837, Both have passed away.
Charles B. Wolf, sixth son, born Dec. 24, 1863, married
Frances Benson Jan. 28, 1835. They were the parents of six
children, three of whom died in infancy. Mrs. Yolf has also
passed away. The remaining children, Ralph, Elmer,
159
and Clayton and the father, Charles B., are living in
Ripley.
Boyd lL. Wolf, seventh son of Isaac, was born Oct. 21, 1865,
and on May 21, 1391, was united in marriage with Jessie F.
luce of Northville, (State Line.) They have one son, Walter
L., born Jan. 8, 1905, and reside at State Line. As before
noted Boyd L. Yolf bought the State Line store of his father
in 1393. He at this time received the appointment of
postmaster of the office of Northville, which was located in
the store building, He held the appointment until change of
the service to R. F. De, and continued the store till 1919.
Since that time he and his son have been busy with their
farm and fruit growing affairs. In addition to this, he for
the past few years has operated an up-to-date road side
stand and filling station on Route 20, while Mrs. Wolf
manages a first-class tourists! home at their residence on
their lot adjoining the New York side of the state line.
Cyrus and Mary (Platt) Wolf were the parents of six
children. Biographies of two sons, Henry and Isaac, are
given above. The third son, Cyrus, died years ago at the old
homestead in Fairview township. Biographies of the three
daughters, Margaret, Maria and Catherine follow:
Margaret married Henry Gingrich, Erie and lived on a farm
south of where the Erie Academy High School is located. Six
children were born to this union, three boys, and three
girls. Mr. and Mrs. Gingrich and all their children, except
one daughter, have passed away. The daughter still living
is Miss Gertrude Gingrich of Wooster, Ohio.
One of the sons, Walter Gingrich, was for several years
manager of the Erie County Electric Company. The other sons
were William and Louis Gingrich. Their oldest daughter,
Mary, married a minister, Rev. Stupenberger of Berlin,
Germany. Their third daughter , Etta, married a Mr. Ormsby
of Erie. Her death occurred April 24, 1935, at the age of
82. She had spent her entire life in Erie, and was the
oldest Christian Science practitioner in the city. She was
the only living founder of the Erie church and resided at
136 West 9th St. She is survived by one son, J. N. Ormsby
of Erie, and two daughters, Mrs. Agnes 0. Smith of
Bakersfield, Cal., and Mrs. Guy Simon of Niles, Ohio.
Catherine married Joseph Henderson of Erie, Pa. Mr. and Mrs.
Henderson have passed on, as have also two of their sons,
Edward and Ross. Their other son, George, and their daughter
reside at Edinboro, Pa.
Thursday, May 23, 1935: Youngs Families
A hundred years or so ago, two cousins, Philetus and Sears
Youngs, settled in the eastern part of North East township.
They were descendants, two or three generations removed,
from one of the five Youngs brothers who came from England
many years before, Sears Youngs was a son of Thomas Youngs,
who was born in Connecticut. Sears himself was born in
Vermont in 1809. His first wife passed away early in life,
and he married the second time Miss Jane Harper of North
East township. There were two children by the first
marriage, Thomas, who lived many years in the eastern part
of the township, and Daniel, who as a soldier of the Civil
war, died in the Andersonville prison camp. Sears and Jane
were the parents of four children ~ Gaylord L., Cordelia,
Robert and Leonard G. The family lived for some time near
State Line, and later moved to a farm on the cross road
running west from Camp's Corners.
G. L. Youngs, a well known, successful farmer of the
township, spent his early life on his father's farm, where
he was born July 19, 1841. He was married on April 3, 1861,
to Miss Violetta Amanda Thompson of Tidioute, Warren Co.,
Pa. In 1875 he purchased an adjoining farm west of his
father's farm, where he and
160
his wife spent the remainder of their lives. They were
wide~awake people, prominent in Grange and other activities,
and engaged in fruit growing, as well as farming. They were
the parents of two Children, LeRoy and George. Mr. and Mrs.
Youngs have passed away.
LeRoy, who was born March 5, 1862, married on Sept. 10,
1881, Miss Alice Crandall, who was born Dec. 10, 1864, a
daughter of Ira Crandall of Clymer, N.Y. They made their
home in North East township where LeRoy became one of the
well-to- do farmers and fruit growers of the community.
Later in life he retired and took up residence in the
borough. Both LeRoy, and Alice passed on a few years since.
They were the parents of two Children.
Mabel, the oldest child, who was born in 1853, married
Grover Briggs. Mr. Briggs is one of North fast's progressive
fruit growers, Their home is what was known as the Henry
Porter place, three miles east of the borough. It was one of
the farms of LeRoy.
Violetta, the younger child of LeRoy and Alice, was born May
29, 1888, ana on Dec. 26, 1908, was married to Bert Mallick,
a descendant of one of the old pioneer families. They have
one of the finest and best equipped fruit farms, just north
of the borough. Mr. Mallick has a prominent part in the
fruit industry of the community. They are the parents of
four children. Francis, the oldest son, born April 26,
1908, was killed in an auto accident June 10, 1928. The
other children — Marian, born Dec. 9, 19133; Florence, born
July 13, 1915, and Herbert, born May 22, 1919 —- are living
at home.
George Youngs, who was born in 1865, married Miss Eva Hart
of North East township. George and Eva have one son Harry.
George is one of ‘North East's successful farmers and fruit
growers. He owns and lives on what is known as "the old
Fairchild place," a mile southeast of the borough of North
East. This farm is well known for two historical reasons. It
and the home in which they live was years ago owned by
William Burrows. Mr. and Mrs. William Burrows were the
parents of several children, all of whom became prominent
people. Two of them, Jerome Bonaparte Burrows and Julius
Caesar Burrows, who were born in the home still occupied by
George and Eva, became United States senators. J. C. was the
friend and adviser of William McKinley while he was
president of the United States.
This farm is also the site of the first reservoir, the
"Fairchild reservoir," built in 1885 by the North East water
department. This reservoir of four million gallons capacity
is::still the final storage point of the North East system.
It is well kept and sightly, just as good and serviceable as
it was fifty years ago.
Harry, son of George and Eva Youngs, owns and lives in a
fine home on the same farm, a few rods east of his parents'
residence. Harry married Marie Finn, daughter of Mr. and
Mrs. Richard Finn of North East, April 10, 1910. They have a
daughter Hazel, who is married. She and her husband, Donald
Bartlett, live in Erie. Harry has for quite a number of
years been superintendent of the North East water system
outside of the borough, having complete charge of the three
reservoirs, the filter plant and pumping station - a system
valued at above two hundred thousand dollars. He is also the
resident member of the George Pierce Fund Reforesting
committee.
In his care of the water system, it is his duty to see that
all the connected springs deliver their output freely,
that the three receiving pipe lines deliver water to the
filter plant without waste, that the Bull Creek pipe line
keeps water at proper height in the Grahamville reservoir,
that the outlets of the Grahamville and Smith Reservoirs are
at all times kept so adjusted that no released water
intended for pumping will be wasted, that the pumping plant,
together with the other delivery lines, keep the settling
basin of the filter plant supplied without waste, and last,
and most important, that the filter plant will, every minute
in the year, deliver to the Fairchild reservoir the
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proper amount of treated water that will pass all the daily
tests required by the Pennsylvania State Board of Health.
As resident member of the Reforesting Committee, it is
Harry's job to see to it that its work is properly carried
on and the trees so planted and cared for that the result
will add beauty as well as physical value to the property.
This work is now only in its beginning, mt appearances
already indicate that the desired objects are being
attained. A visit to the Fairchild or Grahamville reservoir
will convince one of the fact, and visitors are cordially
welcome.
Cordelia, third child of Sears, married Oliver Harper of
North East and moved to Henry county, Illinois. They were
the parents of three children, Clinton and Edward, who
passed away Several years ago, and Hdith, who married a Mr,
omall and resides in Colorado Springs, Col. Robert, the
fourth child of sears, is married and lives in Geneseo, Ill.
Leonard G., fifth child of Nears, was born Dec, 13, 1853,
and died in April, 1930. Leonard, or "L. G.," as he was
familiarly known here at home, passed his entire life in
North East township. He was educated in the township schools
and the Lake Shore seminary. When a young man he for a time
was a railway mail clerk on the L. S. & M. S. R. R. running
between Cleveland and Chicago. Later he was engaged in fruit
growing and in this connection he owned and operated the
Youngs Nursery in the growing and sale of fruit trees and
plants. He also served several years as County Commissioner
of Erie county. He was a prominent, well known man in the
county and served in several political positions. In 1874 he
was married to Miss Mary Covey of North East township, who
died in 1692. They were the parents of four children,
Arthur F., born May 17, 1875; Leonard Nelson, born Dec. 26,
18763; Allie J., born Oct. ll, 1878; and Anna, born Feb. 26,
1883. A. Fe, the first child of L. G., and Mary was married
on May 28, 1895, to Miss Hattie T. Finn, daughter of Richard
Finn of North East township, who passed away Feb. 21, 1907.
A. F. "Art" Youngs, worked with his father in the fruit and
nursery business until he grew up and nov is one of the best
known fruit growers and dealers in the township. He lives on
a farm he owns on the Findley Lake road at Grahamville,
where for several years he has been operating a chicken
hatchery on a large scale, and a roadside stand for
wholesale and retail fruit and produce.