Robert H. Chinnock    

ROBERT H. CHINNOCK, a prominent member of the Erie bar, was born in the First ward of the city on February 22, 1873, the son of Robert H. and Elizabeth M. (Redner) Chinnock. The father was born in Plymouth, England, in 1845; was liberally educated, and when sixteen years of age first visited the United States in company with his tutor. A few years before the Civil war, he returned to this country and located at Charleston, South Carolina. After the war, at the solicitation of the late General Huydenkooper, he came north and engaged with that gentleman in connection with the Meadville (Pennsylvania) Agricultural Works. In 1871, he settled in Erie as general superintendent of the Stearns Manufacturing Company, later becoming its confidential traveling representative. He resigned that position to engage in the manufacture of stationary pumps, tools, etc., which enterprise he conducted until the panic of 1875, which caused the shutting down of his plant. The elder Mr. Chinnock then founded his present business, that of general blacksmithing. The maternal grandfather is Freeman Redner, a native of Geneva, New York, born in 1819, and now in his old age, spending his last days in Erie with his daughter. In the years of his prime, this venerable gentleman, was one of the striking builders of the country, and he was known from ocean to ocean. As general manager of the Keystone Bridge Works of Pittsburg, he prepared the material for the great Brooklyn bridge, as well as for the famous Eads structure at St. Louis, Missouri. In company with General Huydenkooper and Samuel B. Dick, he also built the Bessemer Railroad, acting as its first general manager. In addition, he erected and owned the Kellogg Bridge Works of Buffalo, New York, and was at one time general manager of the Rogers Locomotive Works of Patterson, New Jersey.

Robert H. Chinnock of this biography, was educated in the public and high schools of Erie. He learned the blacksmith’s trade with his father, and while thus engaged, was preparing himself for the legal profession. He registered as a student of law with the Honorable S. M. Brainard, with whom he finished the course, acting in the meantime as that gentleman’s stenographer. Being admitted to the bar March 27, 1897, he has since become qualified to practice in the state and United States courts. He has also held the office of United States deputy marshal for the last seven years, promptly and ably discharging the duties of that office in addition to his practice. Mr. Chinnock is an active member of the I. 0. 0. F., being one of the founders of Fraternal Lodge No. 188. He is also a member of the Moose lodge. Almost since a child he has been an earnest Baptist, and has been identified with the First Church of Erie for many years.

A twentieth century history of Erie County, Pennsylvania : a narrative account of its historical progress, its people and its principal interests, Chicago: Lewis Pub. Co., 1909, pages 444-445. More Erie County History Books   Search Hundreds of 1880s-1890s Pennsylvania County History Books for biographies and historical information on your ancestors.  View the book page images on line and print them out for your genealogy file!  Free Access to the old history books - plus birth & death records, census images and ALL other records at ancestry.com.