William John Friggle Family 1917

Submitted by William Cunningham, grandson of William Friggle

Ruth Elizabeth (1909-) is sitting on her father, William John's (1876-1941) knee. Standing in the back is Genevieve (1903-1994) and Anna Lucille (1906-1985) is standing on the right next to her mother, Martha Maud Friggle (1874-1932).

Genevieve is wearing a heart shaped locket that contained pictures of her mother and father. Martha has a lace collar on her dress. Anna is wearing a ring on a chain around her neck. 

This picture appears to have been taken in the parlor room of the Friggle home. To the right behind Anna is a fireplace and to the left behind Ruth is a bookcase. 

William John Friggle was born on the home farm in Cranberry Township, Venango County, and there passed his early years, receiving his education in the neighboring public schools. When eighteen years old, he went to work on a farm near Rochester, NY, where he remained for a year and a half, and upon his return home, he embarked in the business of oil production. This was in 1897, and he has given his attention to that line ever since. He and his brothers having opened forty-eight wells upon the home place which produce regularly. The four brothers, William J., George, Edward J., and Harry B., have been associated throughout this period in the production of oil, and have also built up an extensive business as drilling contractors. When they started to develop the oil on their property, they had their drilling done, but they soon came to the conclusion that it would be more profitable in the end to own an outfit and have it at their command, so they invested in modern machinery and tools, their equipment being complete and up-to-date. Besides the convenience this affords in their own operations as producers, it has enabled them to work up a large patronage as drilling contractors, and they have been busy in that branch ever since taking it up, as the large number of wells sunk by them indicates. Their painstaking methods have gained them the confidence of progressive operators throughout this field, and have no doubt had a salutary influence upon its development along the most intelligent, scientific lines.

Taken from the book "A history of Venango County"

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