In a story about an old home, with photos...
Smethport's McCandless Residence
...."  Unusual Scottish themed carved detail were carved in hemlock to enhance the exterior Victorian image of the home.  ...
 Heat and lights were supplied by natural gas, a commodity readily available in Smethport prior to the turn of the century..."

..."The owner and last surviving member of the original firm of
S. H. Elder & Company, Robert A. Digel, is one of the important oil men and public-spirited citizens of Smethport, Pennsylvania.
He is not only prominently identified with the production of petroleum and natural gas in the Bradford and Allegany fields,
but is a leader in the financial, civic and fraternal affairs of Coleville and McKean County.

He was born at Coleville, Pennsylvania, March 19, 1900, son of Herman and Grace (Elder) Digel.
His father, an oil man, was born in Farmer's Valley, Pennsylvania.  His mother was a daughter of
Silas H. Elder and his wife, Mary C. Snyder, of Butler County.
Mrs. Digel died when her son was eight years old and he was reared thereafter by
Grandfather Elder who was a firm believer that a boy could not begin learning some business too early in life.
 Thus it was that Robert A. Digel did odd jobs on oil properties while he was acquiring an education
in the local public schools and private academies.
 As he grew more experienced heavier responsibilities were placed upon his shoulders.

In 1922, Grandfather Silas H. Elder organized S. H. Elder & Company, consisting of himself,
his wife, Mary C. Elder, Robert A. Digel and younger brother, Howard M. Digel, the latter of whom died in 1929.
Mr. Elder passed on March 5, 1934, and his wife died August 25, 1936.
Since the latter year, 1936, Robert A. Digel has operated the company as its sole owner.
Out of respect to the memory of his grandparents the name of the concern has never been changed.
The firm is interested in gas and oil in the Bradford field.

Mr. Digel is a member of the board of directors of the Bradford District Pennsylvania Oil Producers Association
and member of the Pennsylvania Grade Crude Oil Association.  He is vice-president and a director of the
Smethport Water Company; a director of the Hamlin Bank & Trust Company, of Smethport, since 1933,
and of the First National Bank of Port Allegany, since 1934.  Although an influential figure in the Republican party,
his only office is member of the Smethport Board of Education.  Following in the footsteps of his grandfather,
he is a director and vice-president of McKean County Fair Association.
Mr. Digel is a member and past president of the Smethport Rotary Club, and fraternally is affiliated with the
Duke Center Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, the Coudersport Consistory, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite,
and Zem Zem Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, of Erie, Pennsylvania.
Other connections include membership in the Smethport Country Club and the Valley Hunt Club.
He is active in the Seventh Day Adventist Church.

On February 6, 1923, Robert A. Digel married Mirabel McCoy Hamlin, daughter of Orlo J. Hamlin, of Smethport.
Mr. and Mrs. Digel are the parents of five children, the four oldest attending Smethport public schools:
1. Hannah Catherine, named after her two great-grandmothers who were living at the time of her birth;
she attends Smethport High School.
2. Mirabel Grace, named after her grandmothers.
3. Anne Hamlin.
4. Robert A., Jr.
5. Howard Elder.

History of Northwestern Pennsylvania; by Joseph Reisenman, Jr.; Lewis Historical Publishing Company, Inc.; ©1943.

*********
Ella MAE ELDER,
 b 1 Jan 1893, Butler Co PA,
 d 23 Apr 1997, Oil City, Venango Co PA.
Buried Perryville Cem, Clarion Co PA.
  "She served first as office mgr for S.H. ELDER & Sons Oil Co. at
Perryville;
in 1950 she mvd to Clarion to live with bro & wife & assist with
operation of Elder Tourist Home.
 From 1970 to 1996 she resided with her sister-in-law, Leda R. ELDER,
mvg in 1996 to Oil City Presbyterian Home.
According to her obit, the following niece and nephews were her only
survivors:
Mary Elizabeth "Libby" and husb Arthur R. WILLIAMS of Oil City;
Arnold Gerald ELDER of Parker and
Robert Howard ELDER of Oracle AZ.
She never married.

Her brother: JOSEPH CLAIR ELDER was born 18 Jun 1895,
Fairview, Marion Co WV, in an oil drillers tent.
 He was killed 10 Nov 1964 by an automobile...

ROBERT's son SILAS HUGH ELDER....
established S.H. ELDER & Sons OIL Co.
 He was the owner of the Farmers' Valley Gas Co.,
 Vice-President of First National Bank of Fort Allegany,
Director of Producers Bank & Trust Co. of Bradford
and had an active interest in the McKean Co. Fair of which he was
Vice-President.
Children: EVA GRACE ELDER, b 1881
          FLOYD ELDER b 1887 d 1911
          FRED ELDER, b 1893 d 1898
          FRANK ELDER, b 1895 d 1920

WorldConnect - ROBERT ELDER family -( buried in Perryville Cemetery)
by Diane Miller <Dixiebells@aol.com>
http://wc.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=dixiebell&id=I10541
# ID: I10541
# Name: Ella Mae Elder
# Given Name: Ella Mae
# Surname: Elder
# Sex: F
# Birth: 1 Jan 1893 in , Butler, Pennsylvania
# Death: 23 Apr 1997 in Oil City, Venango, Pennsylvania
# Burial: Apr 1997 Perryville Cemetery, Perry Township, Clarion,
Pennsylvania

Father: Samuel Butler Elder b: 9 Aug 1864 in , , Pennsylvania
Mother: Mary Villinger b: 8 Jan 1863

*******