CHILDREN
17. Edward John, Jan. 26, 1881 -
m. Myrta McClelland ( 1888- ) Dec. 15, 1910
18. William Ephraim, Aug. 28, 1884 -
m. Frances Hughes ( 1885- ) Jan. 1, 1905
19. Della Isabel, July 27, 1886-Sept. 26, 1938
m. Carl Brundage Jan. 20, 1917. Divorced June, 1917
20. Neff Smith, May 23, 1894 -
m. Audrey Dayger ( 1896- ) Apr. 26, 1919
21. Mabel Carrie, May 1, 1896-
m. Walter Shaner ( 1895- ) Jan. 15, 1919

Ephraim Cass was born at Fallston but spent the first few years of his life on his grandfather's farm in Mercer County, Illinois When he was about four years old his parents moved to Erie County, Pennsylvania where he spent the rest of his life.

He attended the local rural school, and at an early age he became a valuable helper in the Cass woolen mill. He was an alert lad, quick and nimble, and being mechanically inclined like his father, made a very capable workman in the mill.

After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Ephraim Cass lived in a house in Factory Gulch for several years, later moving to the house now occupied by his son Edward, and located about a mile north of the Gulch. After the death of his wife, and the marriage of his daughter Mary, Edward Cass lived with his younger son, George. At that time, under the supervision of their father and with some hired help, these men farmed an extensive acreage of four farms, they and their help living on three of them.

Ephraim Cass was a competent cabinet maker and carpenter having made several pieces of furniture that are still in general use by members of the Cass families.

His death was quite sudden and unexpected, from pneumonia following measles which he caught from his children, and was the only time in his life he had been sick. After his death his widow carried on the management of their large farm very efficiently.

Like most of his family, Ephraim Cass was a hustler who abhorred lost motion and slackness. He was an expert horseman, controlling his stock with persuasion rather than force. One time when returning home from Erie in his wagon after delivering produce he was the winner in a road race of several miles when he declined to be passed by a driver who had an expensive, fast team hitched to a light buggy. This race was witnessed by many of his Harbor Creek neighbors returning from an event in the city, who cheered him on as he passed them. The point that Ephraim Cass stressed about this encounter was that he did not touch his team with a whip while his challenger lashed his horses unmercifully and still failed to pass. One of the horses of the Cass team that day was "Old Fred", noted for his unwillingness to tolerate another rig ahead of him on the road.

At one time in their youth Ephraim Cass had his younger brother, George, in front of him on a sled coasting down into the Factory Gulch. One of the sled runners struck an obstruction causing the sled to swerve and instead of going across the bridge they went off the side to a twelve foot fall into the water. The younger boy was stunned and shocked by the plunge and quite probably would have drowned but for the alertness and ability of his brother Ephraim in pulling him out.

From the time of his marriage, Ephraim Cass was a member and regular attendant of the South Harbor Creek M. E. Church. He was a devoted church worker, and was also Superintendent of the Sunday School for many years. Mr. Cass was a leading member of the Harbor Creek Grange No. 385, being Master for several years, and was a delegate to the State Grange meetings at Harrisburg in Dec. 1891 and 1892. He was registrar of voters and assessor of Harbor Creek Township for four years ( 1889-1892), and for the next six years (1893-1898), he was road supervisor of Harbor Creek Township.

Mrs. Ephraim Cass was the daughter of John and Caroline (Giddings) Neff. John Neff owned and worked a farm adjoining the one owned by Ephraim Cass. After her husband's death and her subsequent struggle to keep the farm going and get her children an education, Mrs. Cass moved to Harbor Creek when the two youngest were ready for High School, and continued to live there until shortly before her death.

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