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FRANKLIN Eighth and Liberty in the late 1800s

W.D. Rider Store

On one corner was a store owned by William D. Rider. His advertisement states "Manufacturer of plain tin and sheet iron ware and wholesale dealer in pressed tin-ware, stoves, brooms and paper makers stock. Also pays the highest market price in cash for hides, pelts, old metals, old rags, etc."

William Douglas Rider was born at Infield, Center County, NY in 1846. He came to Franklin in 1869.

William married Louisa Nock, a granddaughter of Edward Nock , the senior partner of the firm, Nock, Dangerfield & Co., proprietors of the Franklin Iron Works in the 1840s. Mr. Edward Nock may have been one of the first men in the U.S. to puddle iron. Mrs. Rider's maternal grandfather was John Ridgway, a boatbuilder, riverman and early settler of Franklin. When Commodore Perry was building his fleet at Erie, Mr. Ridgway carried supplies up Frenchcreek as far as Waterford.

P.H. Ziegler Store

Phillip H. Ziegler was a dealer in "Groceries, Provisions, Flour, Bacon, Salt, Fish, Nails, Notions, Etc." His store was located at 802 Liberty Street.

Philip Ziegler was born in Bavaria, Germany in 1843, the son of Kasper and Mary Faser Ziegler. When Philip was three years old he made the voyage across the ocean with his parents, a brother and sister in a two- masted sailing vessel arriving in Montreal after a trip of six weeks. That same ship, on its return voyage, broke apart in a storm and all passengers perished.

Philip's father, Kasper Ziegler was a musician and composer. While living near Buffalo, NY, Kasper organized many bands in that vicinity. The love of music was also a part of Philip's life. In 1862 Philip enlisted as a drummer boy in Company K, 116th Regiment, New York Volunteers and served with distinction with the Union Army throughout the remainder of the Civil War. A few months after his enlistment, he kicked holes in his drum so he would not be required to play it and therefore was able to serve as a soldier who could shoulder a gun. He never lost his interest in music and carried his violin with him through all campaigns and at the battle at Tennally Town in which he was wounded.

Philip Ziegler, often detailed to carry government funds from Rochester to Elmira, NY, was also the carrier of special messages to the White House where he had the opportunity of meeting and talking with President Lincoln.

In 1874 he married Helen Owens of Angola, NY. Shortly thereafter they came to Franklin to make their home and establish a mercantile business. After Mrs. Ziegler died in 1903, Mr. Ziegler made his home with his daughter, Mrs. Eva (Charles H.) Sheasley until his death in 1935.

Photos of buildings are plates XIII and XXIX in the 1879 History of Venango County Photo of interior of Ziegler's store was printed in the News-Herald, Aug. 19, 1978. Burt Swan and Helen Shaffer Marks are pictured in the store in 1895.

coordinated and transcribed by Penny Haylett-Minnick