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Biographies - Surnames beginning with O


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OFFERLE / OFFERLEE surname

On the 1860 census for Warren county are 5 families, listed as follows by just the head of household, age, date and place of birth, and current location:

All but Jacob Offerle, born in 1811, were also listed on the Warren County census of 1850.

 

OFFERLE, Adam - Warren p. o., Warren Borough (page lxxiii, Brief Personals *)

Adam Offerle was born in Alsace, France, February 20, 1842. He was a son of Jacob and Salome (Yaegle) Offerle, who settled in Pleasant township in 1855. In 1865 he removed to Illinois, and died there. They had a family of three children—Adam, Jacob, and Adolph. Adam Offerle has been a resident of Warren county since 1855. He was married in 1876 to Elizabeth Zeigler, a daughter of William Zeigler, of Warren. They have had a family of four children born to them—Margaret S., Ada E., Ethel C, and Merton A.

[Warren County coordinator's note: on the 1880 census for Warren Borough, Warren county:

Adam Offerlee, 38, mill hand, unemployed for 3 months, b. Alsace
Ann E. Offerlee, 35, wife, keeping house, b. Pennsylvania
Margaret S. Offerlee, 13, daughter, at home, b. Pennsylvania
Addie E. Offerlee, 11, daughter, at home, b. Pennsylvania
Carrie E. Offerlee, 5, daughter, at home, b. Pennsylvania
Andrew M. Offerlee, 4, son, b. Pennsylvania

Living right next door:
William Zeigler, 62, widower, laborer, b. Pennsylvania
Eliza Zeigler, 27, daughter, single, keeping house, b.Pennsylvania

One Maggie F. Offerle married Chester C. Chipps, Marriage Book 1 (1885-1889), page 449; Addie E. Offerle married Fred A. Lesser, according to Marriage Book 1 (1885-1889), page 645; and Carrie Ethal Offerle married Chas M. Folkman per Marriage Book 3 (1893-1901), page 446.]

 

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OFFERLE, Jacob - Warren p. o., Glade twp (page lxxiii, Brief Personals *)

Jacob Offerle was born in Alsace, France, on February 21, 1825. He was drafted in the French army under Louis Philippe, but did no service. He came to this country in September, 1846, and settled in Warren. He learned the trade of carriage-making, a trade which he worked at for twenty-eight years, his shop being on the west side of Conewango. In 1876 he built the greenhouses near his residence, and has since then engaged in the florist business. Recently, however, he sold this business to Charles G. Offerle, his son, and the business is now managed by him. Jacob Offerle married Maria Spengler, by whom he had a family of seven children— Daniel, Jacob B., Mary M., Salona A., Louisa, Charles G., and Philip H.

[Warren County coordinator's note: interestingly Jacob (occupation, florist) and wife "Mary" list their birth country as Germany on the 1880 census.]

 

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O'GORMAN, Michael - Sugar Grove twp (pages lxxiii-lxxiv, Brief Personals *)

Michael O'Gorman was born in Limerick, Ireland, in 1830. He was a son of Michael and Ellen Hedderman O'Gorman, who died in Ireland. One sister—Mary—and two brothers—Michael and Dennis— came to America. Michael settled in Sugar Grove in 1856, having married, in 1855, Mary O'Hearn, who died June 18, 1885. They adopted a child, of Swedish parentage—William—who has become a celebrated teacher, and who married Ida Thorp in 1878. Michael purchased his homestead of seventy-six acres in 1858. His brother—Dennis—died leaving one daughter —Ellen—who now resides with her uncle Michael.

[Warren County coordinator's note: It may be that Michael's real name was O'Gorman, but he's listed simply as Gorman on the 1870 census for Sugar Grove township. At that time, his reported age was 46 - which would make his birth year 1824. Living with him on the farm are his wife Mary, 48, adopted son William, 17, and Ireland native Thomas Shay, 45, and farm laborer.]

 

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ORR, Richard S. - Warren Borough (pages 678-679 *)

Richard S. Orr was born in Halifax, Windham county, Vt, on the 7th day of June, 1810. He was of Irish descent, his grandfather, Isaac Orr, being born of Irish parents in Boston, and emigrating to Halifax a short time previous to the Revolution. His father, Isaac, jr., was a native of Halifax, where he passed his life, dying in 1818, aged forty-five years. Susan (Sumner), wife of Isaac Orr, jr., survived him a few years. The subject of this sketch attended the excellent common schools in his native place, and finished his education in a high school at Wilberham, near Springfield, Mass. After leaving school he took a partner and opened a hotel in Hartford, Conn., but this enterprise proved ephemeral. A short time previous to 1835 he went to Black Rock, Erie county, N. Y., where he engaged again in the hotel business. Not liking the place he soon removed to Jamestown, N. Y., where he passed a brief period as clerk in a hotel. After visiting Ohio City for a few months, he made Jamestown another abiding place pro tempore. At the solicitation of his brother, Henry Orr, who was in Warren then and is here now, he came to this borough to inspect some property for sale, and ended by renting the Mansion House, which is described in the history of Warren. This was in 1839. The owner of the property was the well-known Archibald Tanner, one of the largest property owners ever in the county. Mr. Orr remained the lessee of this hotel for a little less than ten years. Meantime he had become somewhat interested in the lumber trade, which then formed so prominent an industry in northwestern Pennsylvania, and in the spring of 1849 he severed his connection with hotel life, and devoted more attention to the lumber trade. He did not allow that to absorb his sole attention, however, but formed a partnership with Frank Henry, and opened a store between the Mansion and Carver Houses, under the firm style of Orr & Henry. Mr. Orr continued his interest in the lumber trade until his death, on the 10th of January, 1860. The mercantile establishment was abandoned one or two years previously.

Richard S. Orr was one of nine children, who were born in the order named—Abner, the first born, died in infancy; Annis, Lydia, Lurancy, Eunice, Henry, Elizabeth, Richard S., and Thomas. Of these only two are now living—Henry, who was born in 1806, and now resides in Warren, and Elizabeth, who was born in 1808, married Robert Barber in 1831, and has resided in Warren since 1846.

Mr. Orr was at first a member of the old Democratic party, but when the Republican party was formed he gave it his allegiance and support. He was actively interested in politics, keeping himself well informed upon all thequestions of the day, and entertaining opinions which he fearlessly expressed, and which evinced his intelligence. He was a regular attendant at the Presbyterian Church, though not a member of any denomination. The most prominent trait in his character, probably, can be described only by the statement that "he was a lovable man." He was the soul of geniality. He was openhearted and had the faculty of everywhere and always winning friends.

He was especially felicitous in all his domestic relations, and was a kind and affectionate son, brother, husband, and father. He was very public spirited and charitable, contributing generously to the material, and no less to the moral prosperity of the community in which he lived. He was always ready to help those who needed help and were worthy of it. He was never morose. Although he possessed a temper somewhat impetuous, he learned before attaining manhood to keep it well curbed. He liked to have the good opinion of his fellowmen, but would never sacrifice his self-respect or a principle on the altar of popularity. Finally, he was faithful in every relation of life. When he was a young man in the employment of others, he was remarkable for his unrivaled fidelity. He would perform every duty with punctilious promptness and completeness, and this faculty seemed to increase with the approach of years, rather than moderating.

On the 8th of January, 1839, he married Jane, daughter of Alexander and Lucinda Bostwick, who lived near Jamestown, N. Y. His widow now resides in Warren. They had five children, only three of whom are now living—Richard B. Orr was born July 11, 1841, and now in Warren; Sumner E., now in Warren, was born December 11, 1842; Henry S., born May 11, 1844, died May 27, 1845; George P., now in Warren, was born on the 25th of September, 1846; Frank Henry, born September 15, 1855, died April 16, 1856.

 

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OSGOOD, James T. - Warren p. o., Sheffield twp (page lxxiv, Brief Personals *)

James T. Osgood was born in Rockingham county, N. H., in the year 1808. At the age of twenty-two years he came to Elk township and was married in 1832 to Jane Cole (a daughter of Jacob Cole), by whom he had eleven children, eight of whom lived to be men and women. Mr. Osgood's occupation through life has been that of a shoemaker, and for the last thirty-two years he has held the office of justice of the peace of the town of Sheffield, in which town he has resided for thirty-eight years. He has never amassed a fortune but has always lived comfortably. In political life he has always been a Whig and Republican.

[Warren County coordinator's note: James Osgood died February 16, 1887, and was buried in the Barnes Cemetery, Sheffield Township, Warren County.]

 

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* Source: History Of Warren County Pennsylvania with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of Some of Its Prominent Men and Pioneers, edited by J.S. Schenck, assisted by W.S. Rann; Syracuse, N.Y.; D Mason & Co., Publishers; 1887.

 


 

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