Vincent Leo Werling

On December 5, 1925, Vincent Leo "Vince" Werling was born in Kokomo, Howard County, Indiana. His mother, Marian, was 20 years old, and his father, Vincent, was 22. His parents returned to Tiffin, Seneca County, Ohio, when he was nine.

Following in the footsteps of his older brother Richard, Vince played football for Calvert High School. He wore his brother's number, #15, on his jersey.  Vince enlisted in the military after high school and served as a Corporal in the US Marines. During World War II, he was stationed in Guam and was honorably discharged. Vince learned the linoleum trade through the GI Bill and became a skilled craftsman at his work. Those that worked with Vince said his ability to do inlaid work was exceptional.

At a Bellevue football game, Vince and Marie first met. During the war, they became pen friends, and after Vince returned to the United States, they were soon engaged. On May 8, 1948, in Sandusky, Erie County, Ohio, he wed Marie Therese Freitas [1927-2023]. Marie was born on July 16, 1927, in Sandusky, Erie County, Ohio. Vince and Marie relocated to Columbus, Franklin County, Ohio, where they raised their four children (Kathleen, Michael, MaryBeth and David) in Columbus, Franklin, Ohio. 

At church he became known as the ‘Mr. Lifesaver Man’ because he always passed out lifesavers to the children at his church. He would always remind them of how Jesus is our lifesaver. Vince was a laid-back individual who always kept his word. Vince (known as “Vinnie” to Marie) was well known for his “Vinnie Burgers” – many a late night snack to family and friends.

Vince passed away at the age of 66 on March 19, 1992, in Columbus, Franklin County, Ohio. He was buried in Sunset Cemetery (Galloway, Ohio). On April 10, 2023, Marie passed away and was laid to rest in Sunset Cemetery with her spouse. 

Captain John Joseph Lattimer Freitus

John Joseph Lattimer Freitus was born on May 27, 1873, in Buffalo, New York. He was the third-oldest child. John followed in his father's footsteps by becoming the captain of several tugboats. He was a colorful figure in the maritime world. It wasn't easy work, as Capt. John experienced broken ribs when helping a tug break ice in Buffalo. He suffered a bruised spine and even survived being thrown into the lake by a tugboat explosion. In 1911, Capt. John and his team raised Commodore Perry's flagship, the Niagara, from the bottom of Misery Bay near Erie, Pennsylvania. This flagship sank during the War of 1812. He continued his salvage business as the President of the American Towing Company, which included raising both sections of the steamer Francis Widlar, which went aground on Pancake Shoals in Lake Superior, tearing away 72 feet of its bottom and finally breaking into two. John was the captain and owner of the tugboat Alva B, which saved the lives of several crew members. The Alva B was wrecked near Avon Lake, Ohio, where the bell of the tug is displayed today at a local park. John insisted that the family's surname was spelled Freitus and could be heard arguing this with his older brother, Capt. George, who insisted it was spelled Freitas. John divorced his first wife, Eva Orr Freitas, in 1917, after which she sued him for non-payment of alimony. An arrest warrant was issued, and a local judge would mediate between the two parties. In 1931, he became the director and vice president of Midland Steamship. John died on May 12, 1947, in Lakewood, Ohio, at the age of 73, and is buried in Sandusky, Ohio.

Isabelle (Freitas) Roller

Isabelle 'Belle' Freitas was born in September 1869 in Buffalo, New York. Her father, John, was 24, and her mother, Mary, was 15. She was the oldest child. Isabelle married John George Henry Roller on November 28, 1889, in her hometown. George was a grocer by trade. They had 10 children (6 boys and 4 girls). Family memories were shared of the children coming home from school and getting to choose anything they wanted for their lunch. Grace picked tomato soup, and George Jr. would pick a can of beans. On Sunday afternoons, the family would take a buggy ride through the country, where they would pass by a gypsy campsite. George would always stop to barter, pretending he would sell them his horses. When economic times were tough, Isabelle (known affectionately as ‘Ma Belle’) would accept the few pennies that were left on the counter by her customers in exchange for the supplies they needed. Isabelle's family (including her mother, Mary Ann) lived at 193 Hamburg Street (original house on the Seawall strip). She died on February 18, 1937, in Buffalo, New York, at the age of 67, and is buried at Forest Lawn Cemetery.

John P. Freitas

John P. Freitas was born on 28 March 1845 in Santa Beatriz, Agua De Pena, Funchal, Portugal.  He is the son of Florencia and António de Freitas. 

John arrived in America in 1860 and became a naturalized citizen on 10 February 1868.  Captain John was a master of a whaling ship and even made a trip around the world.

During the Civil War, John was part of the Union Merchant Marines. These men were responsible for obtaining control of the inland waterways along with the sea lanes. It is told that his ship was captured by the CSS Alabama, a Confederate warship.

After the war, John married Mary Ann Lattimer on 23 December 1867, in Buffalo, Erie, New York. They had twelve children with two set of twins (one set died in infancy).  

John lived on a piece of land which was known as the seawall strip ~ the land of the 'squatters' or 'beachers.' Eventually the city of Buffalo 'acquired' the land in order to give it to the railroad. The 1868 Buffalo City Directory displays John's address as "across the creek, north of the salt dock."  

It was told that John's wages were paid in gold and he never banked it. His wife Mary Ann kept a large amount of the gold in her apron pocket.

He died on 28 July 1899, in Buffalo, Erie, New York, at the age of 54.  His cause of death was of an intussusception of the bowel - a rare condition at the time.  John was buried in Holy Cross Cemetery in Lackawanna, Erie, New York.

Mary Ann (Lattimer) Freitas

When Mary Ann Lattimer was born on 6 December 1853, in Buffalo, New York, her father, John, was 26, and her mother, Jane, was 33. She was the third oldest of seven children. Mary Ann's father was born in England and her mother was born in Clones, Monaghan, Ireland.  

Mary Ann's father was one of the first to settle on the seawall strip of Buffalo, Erie, New York in 1844.  By the early 1900s, this piece of land was known as the seawall strip ~ the land of the 'squatters' or 'beachers.' Eventually the city of Buffalo 'acquired' the land in order to give it to the railroad.

In 1916 Mary Ann testified before the city commission of how her parents made a home for their family.  When describing the railroad actions in bullying her family and neighbors, Mary Ann had this to say:  "Imagine a silly woman brought a pail of tar into the kitchen and left it on the stove.  It caught fire and burned up the house.  It was a great while later that a big blow took the barn completely away."  Mary Ann was given $3,000 for her seawall home.

At the age of 14 years old, Mary Ann married John P. Freitas on 23 December 1867 in her hometown of Buffalo, Erie, New York at Grace Episcopal Church. John was 22 years old at the time of their marriage. Mary Ann lived with her parents during the first six months of her marriage. They had twelve children with nine of her children living through adulthood. She told of her husband being paid in gold, never banked it and could hardly hold it in her large apron. She would give food to the needy and at her "wake" so many people told of the good she did.

Mary Ann died on 26 January 1937, in Buffalo, New York, at the age of 83, and was buried at the Holy Cross Cemetery.

Emma Elizabeth (Knight) Freitas

When Emma Elizabeth Knight was born on 16 October 1869, in Buffalo, Erie, New York, her father, John, was 36, and her mother, Bridget (nee Brennan), was 21. She was the third oldest among six children. Her father, John, was born in England and her mother, Bridget, born in Ireland which made her generation the first to be American born.

Emma's father died in 1887 when Emma was just seventeen years old. This led to her seeking work to help her mother and younger siblings. Emma became the house maid for John and Mary Ann (nee Lattimer) Freitas family on the 'island' known as the seawall strip. According to daughter-in-law, Madeline (Ritzenthaler) Freitas, Captain George gave Emma a diamond ring which she wore on a chain around her neck. One day the chain fell out of her dress where it was made known of their engagement.

At the age of twenty years old, Emma married Captain George Francis Freitas on 17 March 1890, in her hometown. A devout Catholic, they married at St. Joseph Catholic Church. Their first child was born later that year. They had six children within 15 years. 

Captain George moved their family from Buffalo, Erie, New York to Sandusky, Erie, Ohio in 1903. Emma was an active worker of St. Brigid's parish. She was an avid gardener and could be seen walking through her yard taking care of each of her flower beds. Emma loved playing cards and would often enjoy an afternoon with the ladies in the "Five Hundred Club." Emma had a kind heart and always willing to lend a helping hand to anyone in need. 

Emma died on 28 February 1924, in Sandusky, Erie, Ohio, at the age of 54, and was buried at the Oakland Cemetery.  Emma's death certificate stated her cause of death as "organic head disease" which typically meant having a form of dementia.

Captain George Francis Freitas

When Captain George Francis Freitas was born on 12 February 1870, in Buffalo, Erie, New York, his father, John, was 24 years old and his mother, Mary Ann, was 16. He is the second oldest of twelve children.

George, along with his siblings, grew up on what was known as the seawall strip ~ the land of the 'squatters' or 'beachers.' George's maternal grandfather built his homestead on this seawall strip in 1844. Eventually the city of Buffalo 'acquired' that piece of land in order to give it to the railroad.

George followed in his father's footsteps in making his career on the waters. In 1886 he started his career as a deck hand at the age of 16. George later advanced to fireman then engineer and then on to Captain.

George married Emma Elizabeth Knight at the Saint Joseph Catholic Church in Buffalo, Erie, New York. Emma was the house maid at the Freitas homestead. They had six children together.

In 1903, George moved his family to Sandusky, Erie, Ohio as the Captain of the tugboat Croidy (Great Lakes Towing Co.) and then on to captain the tugboat General. He was later placed as Captain to the big tug Anson M Bangs (Hughes Bros and Bangs).  The Anson M Bangs was an ocean-going tug and was the first one on the Great Lakes.

One of the worse gales on the Lake Erie occurred in April 1907. A stone scow owned by the Lime & Transport Company (Kelleys Island) broke from its mooring and drifted into the center of the storm carrying five crew men. A determined Captain George along with fourteen equally determined crew men faced the storm and saved the barge with his tug, towed the scow back to the Sandusky port saving the lives of the crew.

What isn't shared about the above mentioned rescue is that Captain George at the age of 30 years old had just recovered from being gravely ill with typhoid fever from January through March 1907.

Captain George always rooted for the common working man which led him in becoming the Grand President of the Licensed Tugman's Association of the Great Lakes in 1914.  With at least 2,000 members, Capt. George immediately began fighting for a boost in pay for the tug men. With a charismatic personality, George was able to negotiate several strikes and employee disputes throughout his years in this role.

Never having held a political office before, Capt. George ran for city commissioner in 1919 and received the largest vote ever cast for any one candidate for a municipal office during this era. In just five short months of serving, a couple city commissioners challenged Captain George's loyalty to the city versus the tugman's association. They claimed he traveled too much which caused him to be absent from too many counsel meetings. His seat was declared 'vacant' which forfeit his rite to vote on decisions.  "The fight has only begun." emphasized Captain George as he declared the actions illegal. Captain George explained that he notified the counsel in advance; however the secretary was told to not mention the fact; therefore, declaring his seat vacant and actions wrongfully taken to remove him from the seat that the people appointed him to. There was such an uproar from the people of Sandusky that the commission reverted their initial decision bringing him back to complete his commission.  The 1921 and 1925 elections gave Captain George additional four-year terms in office.

Captain George's wife, Emma (Knight) Freitas, died in 1924.  Captain George retired and settled in Cleveland,Cuyahoga, Ohio.  He died on 28 March 1948 at the age of 78 years old. He was buried in Sandusky, Erie, Ohio.