The Collner Family of St. Petersburg, Pennsylvania

The founder of the Collner family in St. Petersburg, Pennsylvania, was Lewis Collner, born in Germany about 1810, the only one of his family to come to the United States. He died in St. Petersburg in 1893. He was educated in the State school and learned the shoemaker’s trade. He was a soldier in the German army and at the age of twenty-two, he so disliked the idea of compulsory service, that by the influence of friends and officials he took passage for the United States. The voyage consumed sixty days from port to port, but ended in safety. He worked at his trade in New York City for a time, then located in Allentown, Pennsylvania. He then came to western Pennsylvania, and became a traveling salesman in the counties of Mercer, Crawford and Venango. He was a careful buyer and shrewd salesman, and his traveling business was made very profitable. He abandoned travel and in 1846 settled in Richland township, Clarion county, within half mile of the present borough of St. Petersburg. Here he opened a small store, and although at that time there were only two houses in the settlement, yet he prospered, and a few years later erected a store building on the tract on which St. Petersburg now stands. There he conducted a general store, and although as the village increased in importance, other merchants coming in, he retained his position of “leading merchant” until his retirement.

In 1871 he practically retired, turning the business over to his son, who continued under the firm name H. Collner & Brothers. He was active in all departments of village life, and business acumen, wide experience and thrifty nature combined to make this old pioneer merchant a leader. His eighty-three years were well spent, successful ones, made so by his industry and perseverance. He was a member of the German Reformed church; his wife was a Lutheran. In politics he was a strong Democrat. This thrifty merchant did not confine himself to the buying and selling of merchandise. He purchased a large farm near St. Petersburg, and when Pennsylvania “struck oil,” he sold the oil right for a generous royalty. Timber lands were also a favored investment and he made large purchases in favorable localities. In all his dealings he was upright and honorable, but always secured a profit. He was honored and respected by all and truly mourned when his long, useful life ended.

He married Sarah Fry, born near Alum Rock, Richland township, about 1818, died in St. Petersburg, 1894, daughter of Samuel and Anne (Neely) Fry, of Richland township, their farm including Alum Rock. Samuel Fry was a soldier of the War of 1812, serving in the company raised in Richland township by Captain Henry Neely, his brother-in-law. Captain Neely and his company saw active service in the war and are commemorated in histories of that period. Children of Samuel Fry:

1. Samuel (2) Fry, a farmer of Clarion county.
2. Paul Fry, lived and died on the Richland township homestead farm.
3. Fannie Fry, married Henry Weter, a farmer of Salem township, both deceased.
4. Sarah Fry, of previous mention; married Lewis Collner.

Children of Lewis and Sarah Collner:

1. Levi Collner, now a farmer of Richland township, Clarion county; married Sarah Ashbaugh.
2. William F. Collner, deceased; was a veteran of the Civil War, enlisting at the age of sixteen years, serving until the end; later was sheriff and prothonotary of Clarion county; after retiring from public life he engaged in the insurance business; he married Cecelia Brannon.
3. Samuel Collner, became a successful merchant of Franklin, Pennsylvania, where he died May 12, 1912.
4. Harrison Collner, associated with his brother Lemuel in business at St. Petersburg; he married Elizabeth Caldwell.
5. Joseph Collner, now a retired merchant of Clarion.
6. Lemuel Collner, of whom further.
7. Calvin Collner, died aged twenty-three years.

(II) Lemuel Collner

Lemuel, sixth son of Lewis and Sarah (Fry) Collner, was born in St. Petersburg, Clarion county, Pennsylvania, February 1, 1854. He was educated in the public school and when but a boy began working in his father’s store. When the father retired in 1871, and the brothers, Harrison, Samuel and Joseph, succeeded to the business as H. Collner & Brothers, Lemuel continued in their employ. Later he was admitted to the firm, Samuel and Joseph retiring. In 1875 the firm began the erection of a double two-story brick store, which was finished in 1876 and has since been occupied by H. Collner & Brothers, the firm name remaining unchanged, although the present owners and proprietors are Harrison and Lemuel Collner.

The firm has continued, as always, the leading business house of the section and now transacts a very large volume of business. During the “oil boom,” when St. Petersburg was the center of a population of ten thousand people, the firm prospered mightily, those being the years of their heaviest business as merchants. Both brothers inherit the admirable traits of the old pioneer merchant, their father, and have lived up to the high standard of honorable dealing, upon which the business was founded. The Collner brothers are both Democrats in politics. Lemuel Collner is unmarried.

See: Genealogy of the Allegheny Valley Pennsylvania

Source

Jordan, J. W. 1840-1921. (1913). Genealogical and personal history of the Allegheny Valley, Pennsylvania. New York: Lewis Historical Pub. Co.

This genealogy is based upon the source cited above. Only the structure and formatting have been changed for clearer presentation; the genealogical and biographical content has been preserved.