'L,*.>^:;v ..'*.■;•* ?^^>^" CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY BOUGHT WITH THE INCOME OF THE sag:^ endowment FUND GIVEN IN 1 89 1 BY HENRY WILLIAMS SAGE CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY 3 1924 092 228 422 1=^' Cornell University Library The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924092228422 MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY NEW YORK VOLUME I BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL ILLUSTRATED NEW YORK- BUFFALO THE GENEALOGICAL PUBLISHING COMPANY 1906-8 THE WINTHEOP PEESS 419-421 LAFAYETTE STREET NEW YORK PKEFACE History, as the word was once understood, applied almost exclusively to the transactions of nations. Historical narrative was a panorama, wherein the details were lost in the general effect. As history has become less of an art and more of a science, there is an increasing tendency to dwell on local environment, and to amplify the intimate, personal relation of men to events. This is a significant truth. It shows that the advanced intelligence of mankind cannot rest content with the worn-out notion that any existent condition of affairs, any given state of civilization, is due to a few great men, and to a small number of important episodes. Just as the victories of war are won by the rank and file, rather than by the generals, so the triumphs of progress are gained by the many. As the family is the unit of the town, so the individual is the unit of the family. So widely are these considerations accepted, and so firmly have they become established, that a large share of the most careful current historic research is devoted to locali- ties. Specialization of this character logically leads to emphasis on the influence of persons. Thus the boundary line between history and biography disappears, and the dry bones of facts are vitalized by human interest. The purpose of the Memokial and Family History of Erie County, New York, is concisely expressed by its title. In the scheme of narration, the publishers have not circumscribed the plan of the work by any sharply defined limits. While the sketches of individuals are, it is hoped, terse enough to preserve the quality of readability, they are more than a mere statement of facts and dates. Living characterization has been kept in view, and it has been sought, in each instance, to grasp the salient traits of the subject and to show, in a clear light, the chief points of his career. A special feature of these volumes, is the genealogical department, giving condensed accounts of ancestries, which have the uses but not the cumbersomeness, of works purely devoted to genealogy, and may serve as a basis for genealogical research. It is believed that, apart from the natural interest individuals have in preserving some reliable history of their families, these volumes may often be profitably consulted by the lawyer, the conserver of public records, the examiner of titles, the editor and the general business man. Exceptional pains have . been taken to ensure accuracy. Data have been compiled from original sources, by personal interviews, from manuscripts, correspondence and other authoritative records. In many instances broken links in the chain of ancestral descent have been supplied, and current errors rectified. In its memorial feature the work embraces a more or less distinct department devoted to memorial sketches of men of the past. In commemorating the virtues of the departed who have lived honorable and useful lives, and in rendering honor to whom honor is due, we believe we are performing a public service and inculcating the most valuable lessons of veneration and good citizenship. The illustrative feature not only comprises one of the most interesting and attractive departments of the work, but helps to a quicker and better comprehension of the history and per- sonality of the subject portrayed. No similar work ever issued probably was more representative or possessed a higher artistic merit in its portrait feature. Such a collection of pictures, a large proportion of which are steel engravings, of the repre- sentative men of the locality, cannot help but prove of much interest and enduring value to the present and succeeding generations. THE PUBLISHERS. BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX OF VOLUME I PAGE Afcbott, Frank A 373 Adam, Robert Borthwick 151 Babst, Frank L 385 Bardol, Frank V 256 Bartlett, Eugene M 182 Beals, Edward Preble 43 Beals, John Wilkenson 43 Beals, Paseall Pratt 48 Bennett, Lewis J 216 Benson, Morris 161 Biden, John D 341 Birge, George Kingsley 126 Birge, Martin Howland 124 Bissell, Amos A 331 Bissell, Herbert P 331 Borzilleri, Charles R 366 Brendel, Henry W 181 Butler, Edward H 113 Chapin Family, The 51 Chapin, Cyrenius . . . . ; 51 Chapin, Louise Marie 53 Chpate, Isaac W 155 Choate, Rufus Mortimer 154 Cleveland, Grover 156 Clinton Family, The 16 Clinton, Charles 17 Clinton, DeWitt 18 Clinton, George 24 Clinton, George W 22 Clinton, James 18 Clinton, Marshall O 26 Clinton, Spencer 23 Coatsworth, Caleb 185 Coatsworth, Edward E 185 Colton, Charles Henry 338 Conners, William J 297 Connery, Michael Patrick 345 Cooke, Walter P 351 Cuddeback, William H 173 Daujf orth, Frederick L 290 Danser, Earl George . . . 273 Dark, Samuel John 324 Dark, Thomas Jr 324 Dark, Thomas, Sr 322 Desbecker, Louis Eugene 288 Dodge, Leonard 231 Dolson, Charles Augustus 368 Douglas, William A 2?8 EUicott, Joseph 15 Emery, Edward K 278 Esenwein, Carl Augustus 196 Parrar, Chillion M 223 Falk, Eugene Lawrence 313 Falk, Sansom 311 Feqhter, Loui? 380 Pilmore, Millard 49 Fleischmann, Simon 254 Pox, George C 263 Getz, Reuben Joseph 306 Gibson, Thomas Morton 159 Gopdyear Family, The 97 Gqpdyear, Bradley 98 Goodyear, Charles W 98 Goodyear, Frank Henry 102 Greene Family, The 82 Greene, DeWitt Clinton 85 Greene, Joseph C 83 Greene, Walter D 84 Haffa, George Jacob 300 Hammond Family, The 205 Hammond, Cltarlgs 207 Hamniond, Clark Hurd 209 Hammond, William W 207 Hefford, Robert Rodman 326 Hingston, Edward J 362 Hodson, Devoe Pell 212 Hotchkiss, William Horace 334 Houck, William Charles 355 Howard, George 56 Howard, George R 56 Howland, John David 292 Hubbell, Mark Sibley 251 Huntley, Charles Russell 198 Hutchinson, Henry Howard 220 Hutchinson, John M 220 Hynes, John Joseph 320 Jewett Family, The 68 Jewett, Edgar B 72 Jewett, Frederick A 74 Jewett, John Cotton 72 BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX OF VOLUME I PAGE Jewett, Sherman S 69 Kirkover, Henry Donly 214 Keating, Robert 195 Kenefick, Daniel 389 Kingsley, Silas 275 Kingsley, Speneer Silas 275 Kraft, Harry Nelson 249 Larkin, John D 79 Larkin, Levi H 80 Laveraek, George Edward 193 Laverack, William 191 Letohworth, George Jedediah 187 Letchworth, Ogden Pearl 189 Lewis, Loran L 107 Mack, Norman E 308 Marshall, Charles De Angelis 33 Marshall, John Ellis 32 Marshall, Orsamus Holmes 32 Matthews, George Edward.' 77 Matthews, James N 75 Mayer, Joseph B 241 Meldrum, Alexander 242 Meldrum, Herbert Alexander 243 McNaughton, Pliny Barton 304 MeWillialns, John J 165 Mc Williams, S. N 167 Montgomery, Ezekiel 245 Montgomery, George B 247 Montgomery, Henry 245 Moot, Adelbert 210 Morey, Norris 170 Morse, Charles Miller 379 Morse, David R 376 Noble, Horace A 365 Norton, Charles Davis 66 Norton, Nathaniel Willis 282 Norton, Porter 56 Patch, Maurice Byron 314 Persons, Henry Hamilton 317 Persons, Henry Ziba 318 Pierce, Henry J 218 Pomeroy, Robert W. 375 Pooley, Charles A 280 Porter Family, The 37 Porter, Peter Augustus 40 Porter, Peter Augustus 41 Porter, Peter Buell 37 Pratt Family, The 1 Pratt, Pascal Paoli 6 Pratt, Samuel 2 Pratt, Samuel Jr 3 Pratt, Samuel Fetcher 5 Rich, Andrew Jackson 29 Rich, Gains Barrett 27 Rich, Gaius Barrett 28 Rich, Gaius Barrett 31 Ricker, George Alfred 234 Sawyer Family, The 117 Sawyer, George Pliny 119 Sawyer, James Dennison 118 Sangster Family, The 370 Sangster, Amos W. 371 Sangster, Arthur J 372 Sangster, James 370 Scatcherd, James Newton 201 Seatcherd, John Newton 200 Sehaefer, Philip G 294 Schreiber, A 259 Schwartz, John Leo 352 Schoellkopf, Arthur 134 Schoellkopf, Alfred 138 Schoellkopf, C. P. Hugo 140 Schoellkopf, Henry 131 Schoellkopf, Jacob F 127 Schoellkopf, Jacob F 136 Schoellkopf, Louis 132 Seibert, Simon 302 Sidway Family, The 142 Sidway, Franklin 142 Sidway, Frank St. John 144 Sidway, James 142 Sidway, Jonathan 142 Sigman, Albert J 269 Sill, Henry Seymour 249 Sill, Seth Ely 248 Smith, T. Guilford 89 Snyder, Ole Lynn 265 Sprague Family, The 109 Sprague, Carlton 112 Sprague, Eben Carlton 110 Spratt, Maurice 271 Steul, Henry Christian 328 Stoddart, Thomas 286 Strangmann, Carl Augustus 168 Taylor, Harry L 358 Timon, John 64 Tindle, Thomas 229 Towusend, Charles 10 Townsend, Charles H Trefts, George Martin 285 BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX OF VOLUME I PAGE Trefts, John 284 Turgeon, Newton Ernest 261 Urban, George 120 Urban, George Jr 120 Urban, William Charles 123 Walbridge, Charles B 86 Walbridge, George Brush 86 Walker, William H 145 Wallenmeier, John George 178 Waltz, Hiram 204 Warren, James D 147 Warren, William C 149 Weber, John B 162 Webster Family, The 382 Webster, George Buell 383 Weed Family, The 53 Weed, Hobart 54 Weed, Thaddeus 54 Weimert, Orson J. . . 360 Wendt, Henry William 347 Wendt, William Franz 349 PAGE Wheeler, Albert J 225 Wheeler, Charles Barker 175 White, James Penfield 62 White, James Piatt 60 White, James Piatt 63 White, Seymour Penfield 63 Wickser, John George 236 Wilkeson Family, The 12 Wilkeson, John 13 Wilkeson, Samuel 12 Wilkeson, Samuel 14 Wilkeson, Maria Louise 14 Williams, Charles Edwin 257 Wilson, Guilford R 35 Wilson, Thomas William 295 Wilson, Walter T 35 Worthington, Charles Gadd 227 Worthington, Dan L ; 227 Zimmerman, George Michael 356 Zipp, Henry 387 BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL THE PEATT FAMILY. For more than a century the Pratt family with which this slietch is concerned has held a place of central prominence in the annals of Buffalo. In that community the distinctions attaching to the name of Pratt are multifold, and include the honors which belong to pioneer hardihood, soldierly courage, industrial enterprise, civic service and social leadership. • The name Pratt is derived from the Latin Pratum, a meadow, its etymology being referred to in the motto "Rident Florentia Prata" — -"The flourishing meadows smile" — found in the emblazonry of Pratt of Ryston Hall, Norfolk, England. With changes due to the difference of languages the name appears as that of several persons in France and the south of Europe, notably of one possessing the barony of Pratella, near Rouen, France, whose lord, in 1066, is found on the Roll of Battle Abbey as accompanying William the Conqueror at the battle of Hastings. In 1096 Le Sire De Preaux, whose arms were gules, an eagle d'or, followed Duke Robert Compte Hare of Normandy in the First Crusade, and John and William De Pratelles, brothers, were companions of Richard Coeur de Lion. The records of the Pratt family appear in almost every county in England, but are particularly identified with those of Hertford and Norfolk. In the former, about 1538, lived Thomas Pratt of Baldock. His son Andrew was the father of the Rev. William Pratt, whose son John was the founder of the Pratt family in America. The date when John Pratt came to the Puritan Colonies is not settled, but he was in this country 2 MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. as early as 1639. He was one of the original proprietors of Hartford, Conn.; his sons were John and Daniel. John Pratt (2d), eldest son of John and Elizabeth Pratt, was born about 1638. He was several times chosen for public office. He was twice married, his first wife having been Hannah Boosey, and his second Hepzibah Wyatt. Jonathan Pratt, son of John Pratt (2d) and Hepzibah Wyatt, was born in Hartford, Conn., in 1683, and died there in 1755. Aaron Pratt, son of Jonathan and Mary (Benton) Pratt, settled in Westminster, Vt. In 1757 he married Mary Clark, Of East Hartford, by whom he had six children. Aaron Pratt died in Buffalo, Feb- ruary 9, 1807, and his widow died in the same city, November 20, 1809. CAPT. SAMUEL PRATT, fourth child of Aaron and Mary Pratt, was an important figure in the pioneer epoch of Buffalo, having been one of the founders of the city. Capt. Pratt had an interesting and eventful career. He was a typical fron- tiersman, a gallant soldier of the Revolutionary War, an able business man. Capt. Pratt was born in East Hartford, Conn., and was still a child when his parents removed to Westminster, Vt. At the outbreak of the Revolutionary War he responded to the call to arms and on July 10, 1775, enlisted in the 3d Company, 8th Regiment, Huntington's brigade. Originally stationed on Long Island Sound, the brigade was ordered by General Washington to Boston Camps, where Capt. Pratt accompanied his com- mand, taking post at Roxbury, Mass., with Gen. Spencer's brigade. Here he remained until the expiration of his term of service, being honorably discharged December 14, 1775. Capt. Pratt again enlisted July 2, 1777, in Capt. John Har- mon's Company, 4th Regiment, Connecticut Line, and went into camp at Peekskill. In September the command was ordered to join Washington's army in Pennsylvania. The regi- ment marched in the Connecticut brigade under Gen. MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY, 3 McDougal, and Oapt. Pratt participated in the battle of Grermantown, and tooli part in the defense of Fort Mifflin. In 1801 Capt. Pratt went to Montreal, and as the head of an expedition there organized made his Way through the Cana- dian forests to Buffalo. With rare foresight he immediately became convinced of the future greatness of this Western town. In 1804 he journeyed to his former home in New Eng- land in a coach which was the first carriage ever seen in Erie County. Capt. Pratt brought his family to Buffalo and threw himself heartily into the life and interests of the place. He was a man of boundless energy and business enterprise, and he established a store, built extensively and took a leading part in all matters of public improvement. For many years his store was the principal rendezvous of the Indians, and there they did a large share of their trading. From them Capt. Pratt received two significant titles, " Aegurrigu " — " honest dealer," and " Hohamdoah " — " merciful man." About the year 1785 Capt. Pratt married Esther Wells, who was born in Hatfield, Mass., April 20, 1766, and was the daughter of Samuel and Lucy (Evans) Wells. Mrs. Pratt came of one of the oldest and best families in New England. After the burning of Buffalo in 1813, Mrs. Pratt, who was then a widow, returned to Westminster, Vt., with her children and lived in the old homestead, later, returning to Buffalo, where she died in 1830. The death of Capt. Pratt occurred August 31, 1812. He was beloved and respected by all and his name stands high in the roll of those who laid the foundations of civic life in Western New York. He was one of the first to introduce public worship in Buffalo and was among the pio- neers in the cause of education. SAMUEL PRATT, JR., eldest son of Ckpt. Samuel Pratt, invites comparison with his father by his high ideals of citizen- ship, his military service and business pursuits and his close 4 MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. identification with the material welfare and. the mental and moral interests of Buffalo. Samuel Pratt, Jr., was born at Hartford, Conn., in 1787. Early in life he went to Westminster, Vt., where he engaged in commerce, and when his parents removed to Buffalo he did not accompany the family, being at that time occupied in mer- cantile pursuits at Townsend, Vt. In August, 1807, he came to Buffalo with his wife and child, where with his father he engaged in business. However, the son soon retired from commerce that he might be able more satisfactorily to dis- charge his duties as Sheriff of Niagara County, to which oface he was appointed in 1810. Later he formed a partnership with Elijah Leech, his brother-in-law, the firm name being Pratt & Leech. Upon the outbreak of the War of 1812, Mr. Pratt joined the army and was appointed Adjutant to Gen. Porter. December 13, 1813, when Buffalo was attacked by the British and Indi- ans, Adjutant Pratt removed his family to a place of safety and then went to assist so far as possible in the defence of the town. At the risk of their lives he and Judge Wilson extin- guished the fires which had been lighted by the savage foe in many buildings, but only to see them rekindled. Mr. Pratt's watch in the neighborhood of the village lasted for several days and nights, and some exciting incidents of that perilous time have come down to us. One night during the season of burning and pillage, as Mr. Pratt was going to his mother's farm on horseback, with a Mr. Tredwell, he caught sight of two Indians skulking behind trees. Mr. Pratt shouted to his companion to run for his life, but before he could obey the Indians fired and Tredwell fell dead. Before the savage marksmen could reload Mr. Pratt made his escape. In 1806, Samuel Pratt, Jr., married Sophia Fletcher, daugh- • ter of Gen. Samuel Fletcher, who was one of the most distin- guished of the early residents of Vermont, a veteran of the French and Indian War and the War of the Revolution. He MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 5 fought at the battle of Bunker Hill, in 1777 marched to the relief of Ticonderoga, participated in the battle of Bennington, and continued to serve in the army till the defeat of Bur- goyne. From Orderly Sergeant he rose to the rank of Major- General, also serving in many civil offices. The children of Samuel Pratt, Jr., were Samuel Fletcher, born May 27, 1807; Lucius Hubbard, born January 6, 1809; Sophia Charlotte, born January 1, 1811, and Pascal Paoli, born September 15, 1819. The death of Samuel Pratt, Jr., occurred in Buffalo in 1822. Mrs. Pratt died March 19, 1862. Samuel Pratt, Jr., vras a man of rather delicate appearance, and polished address. He was of a retiring disposition, yet had abundance of the spirit of enterprise. He was greatly esteemed for his integrity, and was a man of marked benevo- lence and public spirit. SAMUEL FLETCHER PRATT was one of the representa- tive members of his family, and for more than forty years his name was among the most notable in the business life of Buffalo. He was born in Townsend, Vt., May 28, 1807, being a son of Samuel Pratt, Jr., and Sophia Fletcher. Soon after his birth, he came with his parents to Buffalo, where his early life and education were typical of the conditions of a frontier town. When he was twelve years old, he went to Canada as a clerk in a store, where he continued for the next three years. Returning to Buffalo, in 1822, he entered the hardware store of George and Thaddeus Weed. In 1828 Mr. Pratt, George Weed and Lucius Storrs formed a partnership as George Weed & Company. Mr. Weed died in 1828 and in 1829 his brother Thaddeus succeeded him in the business, which was continued as Weed & Pratt. In 1836 Mr. Pratt purchased the Weed interest and conducted the business till 1842, when with his brother Pascal P. Pratt, he established the well-known hard- ware house of S. F. Pratt & Company, with which he was for so many years identified. In 1845 Mr. Pratt and Mr. William P. 6- MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. Letchworth founded the firm of Pratt & Letchworth, manu- facturers of saddlery hardware. In 1848 Mr. Pratt was a leading factor in the organization of the Buffalo Gas Light Com- pany, and he served as its President to the time of his death. Mr. Pratt shunned public office and though often urged to be- gome a candidate for Mayor, always declined. However he accepted the ofiflce of Alderman in 1844 and served the city faithfully. Throughout his career his influence was strongly, felt in civic affairs. During the War of the Rebellion he was Treasurer of the Citizens' Committee of Three, and rendered valuable assistance to the Union cause. In 1851 he was one of the founders of the Buffalo Female Academy, was elected its first President and for many years served as one of its Trustees. Mr. Pratt preserved a devout faith in the truths of religion, and when eighteen years old joined the First Presby- terian Church. He was a man of musical culture, and for many years was a member of the church choir. In 1835 Mr. Pratt married Mary Jane Strong, of Paterson, N. J. Their children were two daughters, Jeannie (Mrs. Wil- liam J. King, Jr.), who died September 24, 1872, and Helen (Mrs. Frank Hamlin), whose death occurred January 27, 1873. In 1866, Mr. Pratt made an extended European tour, and in 1868 he again went abroad. ii Mr. Pratt died April 27, 1872. In him the community lost one of its pillars. He was typical of those solid elements of citizenship which go to the upbuilding of commerce, morals and patriotism. PASCAL PAOLI PRATT, who died June 18, 1905, was one of Buffalo's a,blest business men and foremost citizens. As a banlcer he was a tower of financial strength in the community; as a manufacturer he stood in the front rank of those whose strong initiative has made Buffalo a manufacturing center, and in mercantile enterprise his name was known and i^espected throughout the country. In civic interests he was a /^^6o6 (y , MEMORIAL AND I'AMILY HISTORY. 7' leading factor, and his well-directed munificence made him a central figure in the furtherance of religion, culture and moral progress. Mr. Pratt was the youngest son of Samuel Pratt, Jr., and. Sophia Fletcher, and was born in Buffalo, September 15, 1819.: He was educated in the Buffalo piiblic schools, at Hamilton, Academy, now Colgate University, Madison, N. Y., and at Amherst Academy. In 1836 Mr. Pratt began his business career by entering the hardware store of his brother, Samuel F. Pratt, in Buffalo. After six years' experience as clerk he was admitted partner in the business, the concern assuming the firm style of S. F. Pratt & Co., which in 1846 became Pratt & Co. The business, originally retail, widened its scope as the years went on, and from modest beginnings developed into a large and prosperous wholesale hardware enterprise whose trade extended to various sections of the country and beyond the Mississippi Elver. In 1848 Mr. Pratt became a member of the firm of Pratt & Letchworth, which was founded by Kim and his brother Samuel F. Pratt and William P. Letchworth and grew to be one of the principal iron and steel industries of Western New York. The Buffalo Iron & Nail Company was founded by Pascal P. Pratt in 1857, and the same year he established the Fletcher Furnace Company at Black Rock and the Tonawanda Furnace Company, both of which concerns he" successfully operated till 1885, when he leased the former and' exchanged the latter for other manufacturing properties. Mr. Pratt was a signally progressive and public-spirited manufacturer, and his different enterprises gave employment to large numbers of men, and were the means of causing many families to settle in Buffalo. They also drew attention to the advantages presented by Buffalo as a location for manufac- tures, and the sentiment thus created was sedulously fostered by Mr. Pratt. He had faith in the future of Buffalo, and not only unhesitatingly ventured his own capital there, but encouraged his friends to make similar investments. He 8 MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. became a powerful force in the industrial advancement of the city, and many of Buffalo's successful manufacturing, concerns owe their inception to his example, advice and substantial assistance. Mr. Pratt believed that the employment of labor at fair and remunerative wages was both business good sense and the capitalist's duty, and without any sentimentality or affectation — without ever posing as a champion of labor inter- ests — nobody was more truly a friend of the workingman than Pascal P. Pratt. His employes were well paid, justly treated and contented, and as an employer he made a splendid record. In 1856 Mr. Pratt founded the Manufacturers' & Traders' Bank, now the Manufacturers' & Traders' National Bank, one of the strongest financial institutions in the country. When the bank was incorporated, Mr. Pratt was made a director and its Vice-President, and in 1885 he was elected its President, an office which he held until 1901, when he retired on account of advancing years, being succeeded by his son-in-law, Robert L. Fryer. He was also one of the founders of the Bank of Buffalo and a director of the Bank of Attica. He was among the original trustees of the Fidelity Trust & Guaranty Com- pany, now the Fidelity Trust Company, and for some years a director of the Buffalo Street Railway Company. He was a director of the Buffalo Gas Company, and a director and stock- holder of the Western New York & Pennsylvania Railroad Company. In politics Mr. Pratt was originally a Whig, but allied him- self with the Republican party as soon as the latter was organ- ized, and continued to be its loyal adherent for the rest of his life. During the Civil War he was a strong Union man, gave liberally of his money to the National cause, and was active in movements for the relief of sick and wounded soldiers. In 1869 he was chosen a member of the Park Commission of Buffalo, and was the first President of that body, serving till 1879. He took an intense interest in the park system, and under his administration the plans for the Buffalo parks were MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 9 prepared, the land bought and a great proportion of the work of embellishment carried on. He was repeatedly tendered nomi- nations for high oflicial places, but refused them, consenting, however, to allow his name to be placed upon the Republican electoral ticket in the Presidential campaign of 1872, and casting his vote in the Electoral College for President Grant. In 1883 Mr. Pratt, Luther R. Marsh of New York and Matthew Hale of Albany were appointed Commissioners to appraise the land taken by the State for the Niagara Falls Reservation. Mr. Pratt's expert judgment of real estate values and his unassailable integrity enabled him to render services of great worth to the commonwealth, and awards amounting to about 11,500,000 were made by the Commission, whose findings were approved by the Supreme Court, the Legislature and the State Executive, and were most favorably received by the public. Mr. Pratt was one of the strongest friends of the Buffalo Young Men's Christian Association, serving as the first Presi- dent of the organization and President of its Board of Trus- tees. He was the largest contributor toward the erection of the old Y. M. C. A. structure at No. 19 Mohawk street, built at a cost of |120,000, and also gave generously toward the Asso- ciation's present home. For twenty years he was President of the Buffalo Seminary, and in 1862 he was one of the founders and became a life member of the Buffalo Fine Arts Academy. He was a connoisseur of art and a liberal patron of artists, his walls being hung with many fine canvases. He served as trustee of the Buffalo Orphan Asylum, trustee of Forest Lawn Cemetery, and Vice-President of the Civil Service Reform Association, was President of the Board of Trustees of the North Presbyterian Church, and Vice-President of the Presby- terian Union of Buffalo. He was one of the charter members of the Buffalo Club, and was also connected with the Bllicott, Country and Falconwood Clubs. In his early days he belonged to the old Eagle Engine Company No. 2, later became one of the original members of the Volunteer Firemen's Benevolent Asso- 10 MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. ciation, and was a member of the Buffalo Exempt Volunteer Firemen's Association. Always a man of strong patriotism Mr. Pratt was an active member of the Sons of the American Revolution, and his solicitude for the well being of its sister organization, the Daughters of the American Revolution, found expression in many generous acts. He was a member of the Bankers' Association and for many years served as President of the Buffalo Clearing House Association. September 1, 1845, Mr. Pratt married Phebe Lorenz, daugh- ter of Frederick Lorenz, a prominent iron and glass manufac- turer of Pittsburg. The children of the union are Katherine Lorenz, now Mrs. John Miller Horton, of Buffalo; Frederick Lorenz, married to Jeannie Williams; Annie Lorenz, wife of John S. Chittenden; Melissa Dodge, wife of Robert Livingston Fryer; Samuel Fletcher Pratt, of Buft'alo; Emma, wife of Dr. Charles Sumner Jones, a well-known Buffalo physician, and Edward Pascal Pratt, of Kansas City, married to Annette Perrine. Pascal Paoli Pratt was of that rare type of individuality which stamps a lasting impress on the events and conditions with which it is brought in contact. No man did more for Buffalo than he, and his name is permanently enshrined in the annals of that city's progress. HON. CHARLES TOWNSEND, son of Nathaniel Townsend, was born in Norwich, Conn., January 22, 1786, and came to Buffalo in 1811. In 1814, with his partner, George Coit, he engaged in ship-building and lake transportation, the firm of Townsend & Coit being until 1821 the only Buffalo house fol- lowing these lines of business. In 1813 Mr. Townsend was appointed Judge of Niagara County, an office which he held |;ill 1826. As a jurist he showed an impartiality and good sense which went far to supply the place of a technical training in the law, and were amply sufficient for the needs of the com- munity. Judge Townsend took a leading part in securing a MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 11 harbor for Buffalo. In 1821 lie with his partner, Mr. Coit, and other citizens mortgaged their private property to the State and obtained a loan of |12,000 for the purpose of building the harbor. The work was accomplished, and on its success the project was taken up by the State and later by the Federal Government, the outcome being the rebuilding of the harbor in its present form. In the courageous and disinterested act of Judge Townsend and his coadjutors in pledging their own prop- erty for the benefit of the public, was the germ of the greatness of the port of Buffalo. The Townsend name is also identified with the origin of tha,t standard financial institution, the Buf- falo Savings Bank. The bank was organized May 9, 1846, Judge Townsend being elected its first President, an office which he continued to hold until his death. Judge Townsend married Jane Corning at Albany, N. Y., June 5, 1819. Their children were Anna M. (Stone), born April 23, 1820; George C, born September 25, 1821, died January 30, 1852; Jane C. (Wilson), born November 30, 1823; Mary W. (Kich), born December 5, 1826, died February 11, 1896; Charles, born April 12, 1831; Frances H. (Rosseel), born July 25, 1835. The death of Judge Townsend occurred in Buffalo, September 14, 1847. He survived his wife by six years. CHARLES TOWNSEND, son of Judge Townsend, was born in Buffalo, April 12, 1831, and was educated at Andover, Mass., and Yale College, graduating from the latter in 1853. Return- ing to Buffalo he became cashier of the Bank of Attica, and continued in this capacity till 1872, when failing health obliged him to resign. After this he made several trips to Europe, in the hope of regaining his health by travel. His life was pro- longed several years, but he died September 1, 1877, at Has- lach, Germany. Mr. Townsend was a man of brilliant literary attainments and enjoyed the friendship of many scholars and artists. His religious convictions were deep and he was a devout member and a ruling elder of the North Presbyterian 12 MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. Church. Of pure life and kindly nature, genial and possessing a keen vein of wit, he was a charming companion and was beloved by a large circle of friends. June 10, 1856, Mr. Towilsend married Martha S. Eich, daugh- ter of Gains Barrett Rich. Their children were Charles, Har- riet, Edward Corning and Cora. THE WILKESON FAMILY. The founder of the American branch of the Wilkeson family was John Wilkeson, who, with his wife, Mary Eobinson, came to this country in 1760, and settled in Delaware. Upon the outbreak of the Eevolutionary War, John Wilkeson entered the Patriot army with the com- mission of Lieutenant, and served until the end of the war. SAMUEL WILKESON, son of John and Mary Eobinson Wilkeson, was born in 1781, at Carlisle, Pa., and in his infancy he accompanied his parents to Washington County, Pa., where his education was obtained in a log school-house. After his father's death, Samuel Wilkeson settled in Southeastern Ohio. Later he removed his family to Chautauqua, N. Y., and engaged in boat building. During the War of 1812 he built a fleet of transports for the Government, and took part in the defense of Buffalo. At the close of the War of 1812 he removed to Buffalo, where social and civic conditions had become unsettled to a degree that threatened the total disruption of law and order. It was to Samuel Wilkeson that the people turned to defend the rights of honest citizenship in this crisis, and in 1815 he was , induced to accept the then important office of justice of the peace. Up to the time he was elected a magis- trate he had probably never opened a law-book, yet he rose to the situation in a manner which made his record as a justice, and later as a judge, memorable in the annals of jurisprudence in Buffalo. In February, 1821, he was appointed First Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Erie County. In 1824 Judge Wilkeson was elected to the State Senate, and in 1836 he was MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 13 elected Mayor of Buffalo. He was among the leading advocates of the Erie Canal, and in 1822 he successfully argued before the Canal Commissioners the claim of Buffalo to be chosen as the canal's western terminus in preference to Black Eock. Among the many episodes of Judge Wilkeson's eventful life, his con- nection with the building of Buffalo Harbor has won for him the most accurately defined place in local history. While Judge Wilkeson was occupied with public services, his business activity was undiminished. He was a merchant, warehouse- man, vessel owner and lake forwarder. He built the first iron foundry ever erected in Buffalo, and a section of the Erie Canal. The death of Judge Wilkeson occurred in July, 1848, in his 67th year. Judge Wilkeson was married three times. His first wife was Jean Oram, daughter of James Oram, who was of Scotch- Irish extraction and served through the War of the Revolu- tion. The second wife of Judge Wilkeson was Sarah St. John, of Buffalo. His third wife was Mary Peters, who was famous as an educator of girls. Judge Wilkeson was the father of six children, all issue of his first marriage. They were Elizabeth, John, Eli, William, Louise and Samuel. JOHN WILKESON, eldest son of Judge Samuel Wilkeson, was born October 28, 1806. When a young man he went to Central America, and on returning to the United States in 1840, he became secretary to his father. Two years afterward, President Tyler appointed him United States Consul to Turk's Island, in the West Indies. After he resigned from his con- sulship, Mr. Wilkeson spent many years in iron manufacture. In 1858 he built one of the first elevators on the Buffalo lake front. He was a strong Republican and a personal friend of Millard Fillmore, with whom he made a trip to Europe in 1866. In 1832, Mr. Wilkeson married Maria Louise Wilkes, of Portsmouth, England, a daughter of ' William David Wilkes and Elizabeth Pry. Mr. Wilkeson was the father of three chil- 14 MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. « dren, John Wilkes, Col. Samuel H. and Maria Louise Wilkeson. The death of John Wilkeson occurred on the 4th of April, 1894. COL. SAMUEL H. WILKESON, second son of John Wilkeson, was born in 1836. With the outbreak of the Civil War he en- listed in the 21st New York Volunteer Infantry, as First Lieu- tenant of Company H. On February 22, 1862, Col. Wilkeson was mustered into the 11th N. Y. Cavalry (Scott's 900) as Captain of Company C. He was promoted to Major June 24, 1862, Lieut. Colonel December 24, 1862, and Colonel March 15, 1865, and was discharged March 27, 1865, at Memphis, Tenn. In the Davidson raid in the far South, he was Inspector General in the field, and was the commanding Lieutenant-Colonel in the Ripley raid. In addition to his services in Maryland and Vir- ginia, he served in Louisiana, Mississippi, and West Tennessee. His official stay in the Gulf Department lasted eighteen months. In August, 1864, he participated in the Mobile expeditiouj as an officer on the staff of Gen. Gordon Granger. His total time of active service lasted about four years. In 1868, Col. Willieson married Matilda Gertrude Franks. Mrs. Wilkeson was born on Mackinac Island, November 4, 1849, and died in Buffalo, February 24, 1903. She was promi- nent in the affairs of the Protestant Episcopal Church, for many year^ was a member of the managing board of the Church Charities Foundation, and was actively interested in the chari- ties of her own church, St. Mary's on the Hill. Mrs. Wilkeson is survived by her husband and six children, John, born Sept. 11, 1869; Edward Samuel, born in August, 1871; Marv Juana. ^ Elizabeth Wilkes, now the wife of John K. Freeman; William, born in 1885, and Margaret Livingston. MISS MARIA LOUISE WILKESON, sister of Col. Wilkeson, was a lifelong resident of Buffalo, where her death took place on the 24th of March, 1903, in the 66th year of her age. Miss MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 15 Wilkeson was one of the representative women of Buffalo, being noted for her wealth, culture, benevolence and social distinction. For many years she occupied a brilliant and distinctive position in the social world of Buffalo. Miss Wilkeson was keenly interested in the fine arts, of which she was a liberal patron. Her collection of paintings, bric-a-brac and other articles of vertu was a notable one. The patriotic spirit so conspicuous in her family was also a marked charac- teristic of Miss Wilkeson. She was an honorary member of Bidwell-Wilkeson Post, G. A. K., which, after her death, paid her memory an honor said to be unprecedented in the history of the G. A. E., the Post attending her funeral in a body. In her will. Miss Wilkeson left generous endowments to the Children's Hospital and the Buffalo Fine Arts Academy. JOSEPH ELLICOTT was the founder of the city of Buffalo. He selected its site, designed its plan, prevailed upon the Indians to surrender their title and, upon the Holland Company to secure possession, and used his resources and influence to induce immigration and settlement. He was the central figure of early Buffalo, a pioneer of pioneers. Born in Bucks County, Pa., Nov. 1, 1760, Joseph Ellicott gained the rudiments of knowledge in the common schools, but he was practically self-educated. The son of a farmer and miller, in earlv life he worked on his father's farm and assisted him in his milling business. Meantime he began the study of surveying and mastered that profession. His elder brother was also a surveyor and young Ellicott became his assistant. He was chosen to survey the disputed line between South Caro, lina and Georgia, and later became the chief surveyor of the Holland Purchase. In the fall of 1797, Mr. Ellicott came to Western New York, being accompanied by several assistants. To determine the number of acres in the Holland Purchase a preliminary survey was made, but the real surveying campaign began in 1798. 16 MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. Besides Mr. Ellicott eleven surveyors were employed, each having a corps of assistants, the whole force being under his direction. He himself surveyed the east line of the purchase, usually called the East Transit, and the others worked at dif- ferent points. It was a task of toil and critical negotiation to preserve the site of Buffalo, there being reason to apprehend that the State and Buffalo Creek Keservations would be so bounded as to interfere with the future city's building and growth. The danger was obviated by Mr. Ellicott's skill as a surveyor and diplomat, and through his efforts the Indians were persuaded to leave the city site out of the reservation. In the spring of 1798 Mr. Ellicott opened the first wagon track in Erie County by improving the Indian trail from East Tran- sit to Buffalo. The first map of Buffalo was made by Mr. Ellicott in 1804, the place being then called the village of New Amsterdam. For many years and throughout the rest of his active career Mr. Ellicott continued to be the local agent of the Holland Company. He energetically furthered the settlement of Buffalo and the building up of the place along broad lines of commercial advancement. He was also an earnest pro- moter of the Erie Canal and one of the first Canal Commis- sioners appointed by the Legislature. About 1824 Mr. F^Uicott's health failed, his mind being seriously affected, and at last he became a hypochondriac. He entered the Bloomingdale Asy- lum at New York, but his malady was hopeless, and August 19, 1826, he died by his own hand. Mr. Ellicott never married. THE CLINTON FAMILY in America is descended from one of the most ancient families of Great Britain. Geoffrey de Clinton, the founder of the house, was Lord High Chamberlain and Treasurer to King Henry I., who reigned from 1100 to 1135, and received from that monarch immense grants of land. Geoffrey de Clinton built Kenilworth Castle, whose ruins are still to be seen near Warwick, and which became famous, not only through its historic association, but because it was chosen MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTOEY. 17 by Sir Walter Scott as the scene of one of his most celebrated romances. From Osbert, the brother of Geoffrey de Clinton, descended Edward Clinton, first Earl of Lincoln, who became Lord High Admiral of England. His son Henry, second Earl of Lincoln, was the father of Sir Henry Clinton, who was born in 1587 and whose death occurred in 1641. Sir Henry's son was William Clinton, who in the struggle between King and Parliament espoused the Cavalier side and became an officer in Charles the First's army. His son, James Clinton, married Elizabeth Smith, a daughter of one of Cromwell's officers. Charles Clinton, son of James, was the founder of the American branch of the family. He was born in the county of Longford, Ireland, in 1690. In May, 1729, he sailed from Dub' lin in a ship called the George and Anne, himself paying the passages of ninety-four persons, and settled in the Massachu- setts Colony. Mr. Clinton remained in that colony till 1731, when he removed to Little Britain, Ulster County, New York. He took an active part in the wars with the Indians and the French, and in 1758 was Colonel of a regiment of provincial troops, and was present at the capture of Fort Frontenac. Col. Clinton was a man of mathematical attainments, and his ser- vices were much in demand in land surveys. He was judge of the Court of Common Pleas in Ulster County. Col. Clinton died November 19, 1773. At that time the Revolutionary conflict was distinctly foreshadowed, and Col. Clinton in his last moments told his sons to espouse the cause of liberty. Col. Clinton's wife, Elizabeth Denniston, whom he married in Ireland, was an accomplished woman who earnestly shared the patriotic spirit of her husband. She died December 25, 1779, being then in her 75th year. Of the four sons of this marriage, Alexander, Charles, James and George, all attained distinction. The two first-named were prominent physicians. George Clinton, the youngest, participated in the French and Indian War and the Kevolution, was the first Governor of J. 8 MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTOEY. the State of New York and was continued in that office for twenty-one years. At the time of his death he was Vice- President of the United States. James Clinton, son of Col. Charles Clinton, was an ensign, first lieutenant, and captain in the provincial army. After the war he became Lieutenant Colonel of an Orange County regi- ment. Upon the outbreak of the Revolution he entered the Patriot service, in 1775 being appointed Colonel of the Third New York Regiment. In 1776 he was made Brigadier General and took part in the attack on Quebec. The next year he was stationed at Fort Montgomery, on the Hudson, and bravely resisted the British advance under Sir Henry Clinton. In 1778 Gen. Clinton was stationed at West Point. After the discovery of Arnold's treason, Washington ordered Gen. Clinton to assume command at Albany, at. which important post he con- tinued until August, 1781. After the close of the Revolution, Gen. Clinton was a member of the convention called to ratify the Federal Constitution. He also served in the convention to revise the Constitution of New York, was chosen a commissioner to determine the New York and Pennsvlvania boundarv, and was elected State Senator. The wife of Gen. Clinton was Mary De Witt. She was a daughter of Egbert De Witt, and came from an excellent family of Holland extraction. Four sons — Alexander, Charles, De Witt and George — ^were the issue of this marriage. Gen. Clinton died at Little Britain in 1812. DE WITT CLINTON, third son of Gen. James Clinton and grandfather of Spencer and George Clinton of Buffalo, was born March 2d, 1769, at the family home in Little Britain, Orange County. His early education was gained at the gram- mar-school in Little Britain and at the Kingston Academy. His studies were rudely interrupted by the Revolutionary War, but in the spring of 1784 he entered the junior class of Colum- MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 19 bia College. An address delivered by him in later years to the Columbia alumni contains a vivid description of the college building as it was at the close of the war. Young Clinton was one of the most systematic and careful of students. His cus- tom was to read pen in hand, and he continued the practice to the end of his life. In 1786 he was graduated at the head of his class. Shortly after his graduation he began reading law with Samuel Jones, a noted lawyer of New York City. At this time an event occurred which marked an epoch in the life of De Witt Clinton, and had much to do with determining his career. This was the assembling of the convention which formulated the Constitution of the United States. The youth- ful law student assiduously read the publications relative to the proposed Constitution, and his attention to Constitutional subjects was intensified by his attendance, in 1788, at the New York convention which met at Poughkeepsie to ratify the United States Constitution. About 1789, on the death of his brother Alexander, De Witt Clinton succeeded him as private secretary to Governor George Clinton, his uncle, and he held this situation till 1795. In 1797 he was elected Member of Assembly, and in 1798 became State Senator, becoming very prominent in the political controver- sies and legislative measures of the day. In 1802 Mr. Clinton was elected to the United States Senate. At this time he was only thirty-three years of age. In Febru- ary, 1803, Mr. Clinton took a leading part in the Senate debate on Mr. Ross's resolutions authorizing the President to take possession of New Orleans. The summer of the same year Mr. Clinton succeeded Edward Livingston as Mayor of New York, and with the exception of a year or two, continued in that office till 1815. By his acceptance of the mayoralty, Mr. Clin- ton was obliged to resign his place in the United States Senate, but he was elected to the State Senate and served as State Senator for several years of his mayorality, his name becoming- identified with a large amount of State legislation. 20 .. MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. In 1810 Mr. Clinton took tJie first step in the enterprise which was destined to link his fame with the greatest artificial waterway of the continent and to give him for all time the popular appellation of "Father of the Erie Canal." In the summer of that year he and the first Canal Commissioners, his associates, made a journey through the Mohawk Valley and Western New York in order to ascertain the practicability of constructing a canal from the Hudson to the Lakes. The fol- lowing year Mr. Clinton was elected Lieutenant-Governor of New York. In 1811 he received the nomination for President of the United States. His opponent was Mr. Madison, who was elected, obtaining 128 electoral votes, the number received by Mr. Clinton being 89. In December, 1811, Mr. Clinton read be- fore the New York Historical Society his discourse on the Iroquois Indians. This dissertation is a notable example of deep research and eloquent style. The period immediately after the War of 1812 was marked by a revival of public interest in the project of a canal from the Hudson Eiver to the Great Lakes. Mr. Clinton was insist- ent in bringing the subject before the people and the Legisla- ture. He prepared on behalf of canal construction a most able memorial, which was adopted at a meeting held by representa- tive citizens of New York, in 1816. April 15th, 1817, the Canal Bill was passed, the work of construction being begun on the 4th of July. In the fall of the same year Mr. Clinton was elected Governor of New York by a nearly unanimous vote. This triumph was all the more signal because of the fact that two years before, Mr. Clinton's political adversaries had suc- ceeded in depriving him of the Mayorality of New Yoi'k City. In 1820 he was re-elected Governor. During both of these terms the canal enterprise was pushed with energy. In 1822, the year of the new Constitutional Convention, Joseph C. Yates was elected Governor, but in 1824 Mr. Clinton was again elected to that office, in which he was continued, by successive re-elections, to the day of his death. In October MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 21 1825, the Erie Canal was completed. Mr. Clinton made a tri- umphal journey from Lake Erie to the Hudson, and in his message o.f January, 1826, he referred in characteristic and appropriate terms to the consummation of the canal enter- prise. Governor Clinton's last message to the Legislature was delivered Jan. 1st, 1828. Its opening sentences were strikingly expressive of gratitude to the Providence which had guarded the destinies of the young State and nation, and it may be observed in this connection that Mr. Clinton was the first Gov- ernor who -recommended the observance of days of public thanksgiving by the people of the State. De Witt Clinton died February 11th, 1828. Maria Franklin, the wife of De Witt Clinton, was a daughter of Walter Franklin, of New York. Through her mother, Mary Bowne of Flushing, she was a direct descendant of Adam Winthrop, founder of the Winthrop family. GEOEGE WILLIAM CLINTON, son of De Witt Clinton and founder of the Buffalo branch of the family, was born in 1807. He adopted the profession of the law, first practicing in Canan- daigua, N. Y., where he lived for several years, his law partner at the time being John C. Spencer, son of Chief -Justice Ambrose Spencer, of Albany, Laura Catherine Spencer, John C. Spen- cer's daughter, becoming about this time Mr. Clinton's wife. Shortly after his marriage, in 1836, George W. Clinton removed to Buffalo, where he spent most of the active portion of his life. Mr. Clinton was soon recognized as one of the leaders of the Western New York bar. When thirty-five years old he was elected Mayor of Buffalo, serving in that capacity during the year 1842. He served as Judge of the Superior Court of the City of Buffalo, from the time of its organization in 1846 until he arrived at the age limit in 1877. He was also for some years Collector of Customs and for many years was a Eegent of the University of the State of New York, furthermore acting as Vice-Chancelloi' of that body. 22: MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. During the Civil War, Mr. Clinton was an ardent supporter of the Union cause. Being one of the leading Democrats of the State, his speeches had a powerful influence in holding the State Democratic party loyal to the support of President Lincoln and the prosecution of the war. Mr. Clinton was an accomplished naturalist, devoting him- self more particularly to botany, in which science he had a national reputation. He was the leading spirit among the founders of the Buffalo Society of Natural Sciences, being chosen its first President and continuing in that office for many years until he voluntarily declined to serve longer. The death of Mr. Clinton took place in Albany in 1885. He was considered one of the most illustrious citizens Buffalo ever had. The children of George W. Clinton were four sons, De Witt Clinton and Charles Clinton, now deceased, and Spencer Clin- ton and George Clinton, of Buffalo; also three daughters, Elizabeth Spencer, now Mrs. Henry S. Clinton of New York City; Catherine, afterwards Mrs. Albert J. Wheeler, now de- ceased, and Mrs. Abram H. Baldwin of Albany. SPENCER CLINTON, the elder surviving son of George William Clinton, and the brother of George Clinton, was born in Buffalo June 29th, 1839. He was educated in public and private schools in Buffalo, Albany and Brockport. Early in- clined toward the legal profession, Mr. Clinton began reading law in the office of Solomon G. Haven, afterward pursuing his studies with William Dorsheimer. In October, 1860, Mr. Clin- ton was admitted to the bar, he then being twenty-one years of age. For the next two years he practiced law in New York City, in partnership with his brother-in-law, Henry L. Clinton. A few years after his adniission to practice, Mr. Clinton was appointed Assistant United States District Attorney under his former instructor Mr. Dorsheimer. In this office the young lawyer served with marked ability from 1866 to 1868. In the ^-^^ ^/ ^^^^uy e.e/- ''Z^-. MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 23 latter year Mr. Clinton formed a law partnership with Charles D. Marshall, the firm being styled Marshall & Clinton. Later Eobert P. Wilson was admitted, the firm becoming Marshall, Clinton & Wilson. It continued to be so designated till 1893, when Adolph Rebadow was made a junior partner and the firm name was changed to Marshall, Clinton & Rebadow. Both in its. original personnel and as subsequently enlarged, the asso- ciation attained a distinguished success, being held one of the strongest combinations of legal talent in Western New York. The well-known connection of Mr. Clinton with the Buffalo Savings Bank began in 1866. September 6, 1892, he was elected a director of the bank. In 1898 he became its president, a post he still holds. Upon his election Mr. Clinton retired from the active practice of law. Three years previous to his election as president of the bank, Mr. Clinton was appointed chairman of the building committee for the new bank. The old structure, occupied many years, was at Broadway and Washington street. The new building was begun in 1898 and was finished and occupied March 11, 1901. It is a superb edifice, made of granite, and admirably lighted and equipped. Its cost was 1583,000. It is one of the finest bank buildings in the world. Financier and lawyer, Mr. Clinton's business relations are very extensive. He is a director of the Third National Bank. As executor of two large estates, he represents the Bennett and C. J. Wells elevators in the Western Elevating Association, Mr. Clinton's absorption in business has caused him to avoid public office. But he has, from time to time, been active in Democratic politics. In 1887 he was the Democratic nominee for State Senator, and the National Democratic State conven- tion held in Brooklyn in 1896 nominated him by acclaim for Associate Judge of the Court of Appeals. The only civil office Mr. Clinton has ever held is his present one of attorney for the Grade Crossing Commission. Before the Grade Crossing Com- mission was constituted, Mr. Clinton, in association with the 24 MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. late B. B. Adam, worked Jiard to get the bill constituting it througli the Legislature. The first Act, of 1888, did not give the commissioners power enough to compel the abolition of grade crossings, and Mr. Clinton was of great service in bringing about the Acts of 1890 and 1892, which were passed to invest the commission with authority to carry out its plans. Mr. Clinton was chosen attorney for the commission on its organization in 1888, and has ever since continued to conduct for it a vast amount of difficult work, including the drawing of contracts, the furnishing of legal advice and the management of critical and delicate negotiations with the railroads. To the commis- sion and the public, these services are of very great value. Mr. Clinton enjoys a high social position. He is a leading member of the Buffalo Club, and in 1885 was its president. He is a member of St. Paxil's Episcopal Church. In 1870 Mr. Clinton married 'Sarah Riley, daughter of Wil- liam A. Riley and Frances A. Stillman of Berlin, Conn., mem- bers of old New England families. The children of this union are De Witt Clinton, Dr. Marshall Clinton, Anne, who is Mrs. Urquhart Wilcox, of Buffalo, and Nathalie, who is married to Dr. Thew Wright, and Ethel, who is the wife of Dr. N. G. Russell. "In 1895 Mr. Clinton married again, his bride being Cora Caldwell of North East, Pa. The children are Spencer Clinton, and Catherine Clinton. GEORGE CLINTON, son of George W. Clinton, was born in Buffalo, September 7, 1846. He spent his boyhood, and gained his earlier education in this city, graduating from the Buf- falo Central High School in 1865. In 1866 he entered the Columbia College Law School, graduating two years later with the degree of LL.B. He practiced for about a year in New York City. He then removed to Hudson, Wis., where he fol- lowed his profession for five years. In 1874 he returned to Buffalo, "whei'e he has since resided, continuing the practice of his profession. MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 25 Mr. Clinton was early recognized as a strong personality in politics and public affairs. In 1883 he was elected to the Assembly on the Eepublican ticket, and served with high credit, being characterized for independence and conscien- tious care for the interests of the people. He was chosen chairman of the Assembly Canal Committee, and through- out his civic career has been noted for his attention to the subject of canals and for the Aveighty responsibilities he has borne in connection with both State and national waterway questions. As a leading mem- ber and second president of the Union for the Improvement of the Canals, Mr. Clinton has been instrumental in bringing about the extensive improvements made in recent years on the Erie Canal. In 1898 he was made chairman of the Commission ap- pointed by Governor Black, pur- suant to an Act of the Legisla- ture, to investigate and report on the expenditure of the |9,- 000,000 appropriated for the im- provement of the Erie and other Canals. The same year the Commission made its investigation and submitted its report, the result being the purification of the State Engineer's Department and the adoption of a much better system of administration in that Department and the State Department of Public Works. In 1902 President Eoosevelt appointed Mr. Clinton a member of the American section of the International Waterways Com- mission for the purpose of settling various questions arising relative to the water boundaries between the United States and Canada and to consider and report on the advisability of con- GE0E6E CLINTON. 26 MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. structing a dam at the oastern end of Lake Erie for the purpose of regulating the lalie level. On this commission he is still serving. Mr. Clinton enjoys an international reputation as an authority on admiralty law and is retained in cases of the greatest importance. Mr. Clinton shov^^s a practical interest in all matters relating to the welfare of Buffalo. He helped prepare the present City Charter, and worked hard to secure its adoption. He has been Park Commissioner, and was a member of the trunk-sewer commission during the building of the Genesee and Bird Ave- nue branches of the sewer system. He helped establish the Buffalo Law School, and for several years was its professor of admiralty law. He is a firm friend of the public schools, and has been active in the endeavors to raise their standard and remove them from political influences. He is an active mem- ber of the Chamber of Commerce, was for many years a member of its predecessor, the Merchants' Exchange, and in 1893 was the president of that organization. Mr. Clinton belongs to the Episcopal Church, and is a mem- ber of the Masonic order. He is connected with the Buffalo Society of Natural Sciences, the Buffalo Historical Society, the Ellicott Club and other social and charitable organizations. The marriage of Mr. Clinton took place in Trinity Church, Buffalo, on the 17th of January, 1872. The maiden name of Mrs. Clinton was Alice Thornton. Her parents were Thomas F. and Jane Parker Thornton. The children of the marriage are George Clinton, Jr., born Jan. 18, 1877, Laura Catherine and Elizabeth Spencer. The daughter last named was married June 5, 1901, to Chester D. Richmond. George Clinton, Jr., is his father's partner in the practice of law, the firm name being Clinton & Clinton. January 25, 1908, he married Sophie Klein. DR. MARSHALL CLINTON, one of Buffalo's leading physi- cians and surgeons, has practiced his profession in this city since 1895. Born in Buffalo July 22, 1873, he was educated in MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 27 the public schools, Heathcote School, and graduated from the Medical College of the University of Buffalo in 1895. He spent a year as resident physician at the Erie County Hospital, and for the succeeding two years was house surgeon at the Pitch Accident Hospital, of Buffalo. In June, 1898, he was appointed Assistant Surgeon of the 202d Regiment, United States Volunteers, for service during the Spanish- American War. In this capacity he accompanied the command through the campaign, being stationed with the regiment at Camp Black, N. Y., at Camp Meade, and in Cuba until the troops returned to the United States. In April, 1899, he was mustered out with the regiment at Savannah, Georgia. Upon returning from the war Dr. Clinton began the private practice of his profession in Buffalo as a general surgeon. He is attending surgeon at the Buffalo Hospital and the Sisters of Charity and Erie County hospitals, the Buffalo Chil- dren's Hospital and the Fresh Air Mission Hospital at Athol Springs. He is Instructor in Surgery at the University of Buffalo, is Assistant Surgeon of the 65th Regiment, N. G. N. Y., with the rank of Captain, and is surgeon for the Pennsyl- vania Railroad Company. Dr. Clinton is a member of the Erie County Medical Society, the Buffalo Academy of Medicine, the State Medical Associa- tion, the American Medical Association, and the American Association of Military Surgeons, and the Saturn Club. December 12, 1900, Dr. Clinton married Miss Alethe Evans, daughter of Edwin T. Evans and Josephine (Hewes) Evans, of Buffalo. The children of the union are three sons, De Witt, born October 29, 1901; Karl, born May 10, 1903, and Geoffrey, born July 13, 1906. GEN. GAIUS BARRETT RICH, former President of the Buffalo Commercial Bank, and for many years President of the Bank of Attica, has long occupied a leading place among the financiers of Western New York. 28 MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. The Rich family, long numbered among the leaders in Buf- falo's business and social circles, are purely English in origin. Among their ancestors are counted Richard Rich, Lord Chan- cellor of England in the reign of Henry the Eighth, Robert Rich, Earl of Warwick, and Robert and Henry Rich, Earls of Holland, all sprung from one common stock. The American branch of the family traces its lineage back to Massachusetts, where the name first appears in 1625, this being the year of the earliest settlement of the family, on Cape Cod, in the town of Eastham. Here lived Thomas Rich, who married Mary Taylor at Springfield, Mass., March 29, 1696. They resided in Brookfield, Mass., where were born to them four children, of whom the eldest, Thomas, married Ruth Nichols in that part of the town now called Warren but in- corporated as Western. This Thomas Rich, the second of the name, was a deacon in the Congregational Church and a man of substance in the .community. To this day the legal title to the village common of Brookfield belongs by descent to his heirs, barring the possibility that the claim may be outlawed by lapse of time., Thomas Rich was the father of six children, of whom the second son was Solomon, born August 2, 1726, and whose house in Brookfield still stands as an interesting memorial of Colonial days. At Western, in September, 1753, Solomon Rich married Phoebe Weeks. There were eight chil- dren of this marriage, of whom the fifth child and the second son was Solomon, born November 23, 1766. This Solomon Rich married Sophronia Barrett, thus bringing into the family a name which has been handed down to the present generation. About 1800 Solomon Rich removed to the northern part of the State of New York, and settled at De Kalb, St. Lawrence Co. His children were three. Gains Barrett, born September 26, 1790; George H., born in 1802, and Sophronia, born in 1816. GAIUS BARRETT RICH, grandfather of Gen. Rich, about the year 1806 removed from Richville, near De Kalb, N. Y., MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 29 to Rome in this State. Thence he went to Rochester, where he built the first frame house in that city. Later he removed to Attica, and in 1842 to Buffalo. Gains Barrett Rich was the founder of the Bank of Attica, in both its Attica and Buffalo branches. October 14, 1816, he married Alphia Salis- bury at Western, Oneida County, N. Y. He died in Buffalo, October 25, 1861. His wife survived him several years, dying Feb. 15, 1868. The children of their marriage were seven: Jane Antoinette, Sarah Randolph, Andrew Jackson, Harriett Rock- well, Frances, Edward Salisbury and Martha Sophronia. Andrew Jackson Rich, the eldest son, was the father of Gen. G. Barrett Rich. ANDREW JACKSON RICH was born in Attica, N. Y., Sep- tember 21, 1823. In the spring of 1841 he came to Buffalo, entering the dry goods store of Marvin & Bennett. The follow- ing year he left their employ and entered the Bank of Attica. Here he served first as clerk, later as cashier, and on the death of his father succeeded the latter as President, an office which he administered with signal ability till his death, which took place in New York City, December 15, 1870. Mr. Rich was married in Buffalo, August 12, 1846, to Mary Winslow Town- send. The children of this marriage were Charles Townsend, born November 23, 1847; Gains Barrett, born May 5, 1849; Alfred Stone, born December 10, 1851, and Andrew Jerome, born July 26, 1854. Alfred Stone died September 12, 1853. Charles Townsend died May 1, 1878. Gains Barrett Rich, the second of the name, was the second son of Andrew J. Rich, and was born in Buffalo, May 5, 1849. His early education was gained in this city, where he graduated^ June 28, 1867, from the old Buffalo Classical School. The years 1863 and 1867 were spent in foreign tours and study, Mr. Rich's journeyings including not only Europe but Egypt and the Holy Land. On his return from his second European tour, the young 30 MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTOEY. man resolved to obtain a knowledge of banking in all its de- tails and entered the Bank of Attica as a messenger. He exhibited great natural aptitude for the business and during several years successively filled different offices in the institution. At the annual meeting of the Board of Directors in July, 1879, Mr. Kich was elected President, thus becoming the head of the old- est bank in Western New York. In this capacity he succeeded, with a few years' interregnum, his father, Andrew J. Rich. Thenceforward for many years, Gen. Rich's business career was identified with the prosperity of the Bank of Attica, and of its Buffalo successor, the Commercial Bank, as well as with other important banking enterprises. He was one of the in- corporators of the Commonwealth Trust Company, of which he has ever since been a director, and is also a prominent trus- tee of the Erie County Savings Bank. In 1892, when the Bank of Attica was succeeded by the Buffalo Commercial Bank, Gen. Rich was elected President of the latter, and continued in that office till his retirement in 1896. Since that date he has found ample occupation in attending to his numerous and extensive banking and investment interests. On the 1st of November, 1871, began Gen. Rich's connection with the National Guard of the State of New York, he at that time entering the Thirty-first Brigade as First Lieutenant and Aide-de-Camp. June 15, 1872, he was commissioned Captain and Quartermaster, and Marcli 21, 1873, was made Major and Engineer, August 4, 1875, he was promoted Lieutenant Col- onel and Ordnance Officer of the Eighth Division, being made an officer of the staff of General Rogers; and on the 1st of January, 1883, was appointed by Governor Cleveland, Brigadier General and Paymaster General, which important and respon- sible commission he continued to hold till January 1st, 1886, serving on the staffs of both Governor Cleveland and Governor Hill. For many years Gen. Rich was a member of the Executive MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 31 Committee of the Buffalo Public Library, and has held numer- ous positions of trust and responsibility on the various com- mittees. He is also a life member of the Y. M. C. A., and a trustee of the North Presbyterian Church. Since 1871 he has been a member of the Masonic fraternity, in which order he has held many high positions. He is a Mason of the 32d Degree, and is connected with Ancient Landmarks Lodge, 441. Gen. Rich is also a member of the Society of Colonial Wars, the Sons of the American Revolution, and of the Buffalo Club, of which organization he was President during the Pan-American year, which was a notable epoch in the club's history. On the 1st of October, 1873, Gen. Rich married Cornelia Perrine, daughter of the late Henry E. Perrine, a prominent Buffalonian who died in 1901. Their children were Gains Bar- rett and Harold Perrine, the latter of whom died in 1894, at the age of 16. GAIUS BARRETT RICH, the only surviving son of Gen. Rich, was born August 11th, 1875. He received a thorough education, graduating from Yale University in the Class of '97. Mr. Rich's business interests are identified with the Fron- tier Telephone Company. He has served five years in the Sixty-Fifth Regiment, National Guard, rising to the rank of First Lieutenant of Company A, with which he served in the Spanish-American War, being for six months in the United States service at Camp Alger, Va. October 1st, 1900, Mr. Rich married Grace E. Danforth, daughter of the late Frederick L. Danforth, the well-known President of the Commercial Bank, and a sketch of whose life appears elsewhere in this volume. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Rich are Gains Barrett, fourth of the name, Danforth Rich and Harold Perrine. Mr. Rich belongs to the United Spanish War Veterans, and is a member of the University Club, and the Buffalo Canoe 32 MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. Club. He is also a Mason, being connected with Ancient Land- marks Lodge 441, F. & A. M. JOHN ELLIS MAESHALL was born at Norwich, Conn., March 18, 1785. He began the study of medicine with Dr. Philemon Tracy, of Norwich, being licensed to practice in 1808. Soon afterward he opened an office in Oxford, N. Y., and the following year removed to Mayville, Chautauqua County. He was Clerk of Chautauqua County in 1811, and in 1812, and Surgeon to the Second Eegiment of the New York State Militia. He served five months with the army defending the Niagara Frontier, and later served through, the campaign of 1814. In 1815, he removed to Buffalo. He was corresponding Fellow of the Medical and Philosophical Society of New York City, a member of the Medical Society of Geneva College, and President and Treasurer of the Erie County Medical Society. During the cholera epidemic of 1832, he was Health Physician. He was Clerk of Niagara County from 1819 until 1821. He was a prominent Mason and a ruling elder of the First Presbyterian Church, of Buffalo. September 12, 1810, Dr. Marshall married Ruth Holmes, daughter of Orsamus Holmes, of Sheridan, N. Y. The issue of this union was one son, Orsamus Holmes Marshall. Dr. Mar- shall died in Buffalo, December 27, 1838. ORSAMUS HOLMES MARSHALL M^as born in Franklin, Conn., February 1, 1813, and came with his parents to Buffalo in 1815. He was educated in Buffalo schools, at the Polytech- nic School at Chittenango, N. Y., at Col. McKay's Military Academy and at Union College, whence he graduated in 1831. On his return to Buffalo, Mr. Marshall entered the law office of Austin & Barker, with whom he remained till 1833, when he went to Yale College for a course of law lectures. In 1834 he was admitted to practice as an attorney, and soon after- ward was admitted solicitor in Chancery. His first law part- MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 33 nership was with William A. Moseley, and later lie was suc- cessively associated with the Hon. Horatio J. Stow, and the Hon. N. K. Ball, and after 1841 practiced by himself for several years, then becoming the partner of Alexander W. Harvey till 1863, when he admitted his son, Charles D. Mar- shall, to partnership. He retired from active practice in 1867. Mr. Marshall was a distinguished writer on historical sub- jects. He was President of the Buffalo Historical Society, of which he was one of the founders; trustee and one of the or- ganizers of the Buffalo Cemetery Association; member and President of the Board of Trustees of the Grosvenor Library, and member and President of the Board of Trustees of the University of Buffalo, of which he was elected Chancellor in 1882. He was a trustee of the Buffalo Society of Natural Sciences, President of the Thomas Orphan Asylum for Indian Children, and a member of the First Presbyterian Church, of Buffalo. In the early 50's he was offered the post of Commis- sioner to China, and was tendered the appointment of Assist- ant Postmaster-General, but declined both offices. In 1868 he was appointed United States Commissioner for the Northern District of New York, which position he held for many years. February 20, 1838, Mr. Marshall married Millicent Ann De Angelis, daughter of Judge Pascal Charles Joseph De Angelis, of Holland Patent, N. Y. Their children were : John Ellis Mar- shall, born August 5, 1839, graduated from Yale College in 1861, and in 1862 was First Lieutenant of U. S. Volunteers, also serving as Aide-de-Camp to Brigadier-General William F. Barry; Charles De Angelis Marshall, born November 14, 1841; and Elizabeth Coe Marshall, born June 4, 1847. Orsamus H. Marshall died July 9, 1884. CHARLES DE ANGELIS MARSHALL is a leading lawyer of Buffalo. He was born in Buffalo and was educated in the local public schools, at Springside Academy, near Auburn, 34 MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. N. Y., and at the Hopkins Grammar School, of New Haven, Conn. He then entered the Albany Law School, from which institution he graduated, being admitted to the bar in 1864. He then entered into partnership with his father, under the firm style of 0. H. & C. D. Marshall. In 1868 he formed a co- partnership with Spencer Clinton, the firm name being Mar- shall & Clinton. In 1873 Robert P. Wilson was associated with Messrs. Marshall & Clinton, the style being changed to Mar- shall, Clinton & Wilson. In 1892 this partnership was dis- solved, Mr. Marshall and Mr. Clinton for some time practicing together as before. In 1893 Adolph Rebadow was admitted, the firm becoming Marshall, Clinton & Rebadow. Mr. Clinton retiring in 1899, the firm was styled Marshall & Rebadow, and in 1905, Ulysses S. Thomas was admitted a partner, with the firm style of Marshall, Rebadow & Thomas, an association which still continues, and has a large and valuable practice. During his long experience at the bar, Mr. Marshall has at- tained a sterling legal reputation, notably in connection with the law of real property and the management of trust estates. From 1878 to July, 1906, he was the attorney of the Buffalo Savings Bank. Mr. Marshall was one of the founders of the Buffalo Society of Natural Sciences, and is Treasurer of its permanent fund. He has served as Trustee, Vice-President and Treasurer of the Thomas Orphan Asylum for Indian Children, and holds life memberships in the Buffalo Historical Society, the Fine Arts Academy and the Young Men's Association. He has served as a director of the Buffalo Library, the Buffalo Society of Artists, the Buffalo City Cemetery and the Third National Bank, and is a member of the Buffalo, Beaver Island, Falcon- wood, Saturn, Launch and Canoe Clubs. In 1885 he was adopted into the Seneca Indian nation in recognition of his interest in the study of Indian antiquities. He is a member and trustee of the First Presbyterian Church, of Buffalo. In politics he is an independent Republican. MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 35 WALTER T. WILSON. In tlie life of Walter T. Wilson is presented a career consistent in its devotion to large business interests and notable for the ability displayed in the conduct of important enterprises. Mr. Wilson is not only a superior man of affairs but a strong and valuable type of citizen. The Wilson family is of English origin. Walter Wilson, the great grandfather of Walter T. Wilson, at an early period came from England to America and settled in Baltimore, Maryland. He was the father of Walter Wilson, the second of the name, who vpas born in Baltimore and who in 1846 became a resident of Burlington, New Jersey. By occupation he was a West India trader. He died in 1846. He was the father of Guilford Eeed Wilson, who was born in Burlington, N. J., October 19th, 1813, and was the father of the subject of this sketch. While yet a youth, Guilford R. Wilson went to Penn- sylvania and afterward to Corning, N. Y., engaging in the lumber business and also becoming interested in the Bless- burg coal mines. In 1842 he removed to Buffalo and embarked in the coal and iron business in which, under the firm style of G. R. Wilson & Co., he continued on an extensive scale until his death in 1877. He was a director in several banks and a member of the Board of Trade and the Buffalo Coal Exchange. Mr. Wilson was originally a Whig, and later a Republican. He was a member of the Episcopal Church, but attended Pres- byterian worship, and during the last years of his life was President of the Board of Trustees of the First Presbyterian Church of Buffalo. He was among the early members of the Buffalo Club. March 31, 1846, Mr. Wilson married Jane Corning Townsend, daughter of the late Judge Charles Townsend. Their children were: Walter T.; Gertrude Corning, who married William C. Francis of Buffalo; Jennie Clifton, who died in youth, un- married; Guilford Reed, who was engaged in the planing mill business and who died in 1898 as the result of illness contracted while serving during the Spanish-American War in the Com- 36 MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. missary Department, with the rank of Captain in the 65th Eegiment; Charles T., who married Stella Granger; Arthur W., who died in youth; Clarence W., now deceased; and Edward E., also deceased. Guilford E. Wilson died in Buffalo, February 18, 1877. His widow's death occured in 1898. Walter Townsend Wilson was born in Buffalo, March 28th, 1847. He attended the public schools of that city and finished his education at the school of Prof. Briggs. Leaving school at the age of eighteen, Mr. Wilson became a clerk in his father's office. Subsequently he engaged in the coal and iron business, and in 1868 was admitted partner in the firm of G. E. Wilson & Co., located at the corner of Ohio and Elk Streets. In this association he continued to the time of the death of his father, Guilford E. Wilson, when he closed up the affairs of the firm, and since then has been engaged in the leather belting business, being one of the proprietors of the well-known enter- prise known as the Bickford & Francis Belting Company. This firm is one of the leading houses of its kind in the United States. Mr. Wilson is a director of the Commonwealth Trust Com- pany, secretary and manager of the Buffalo Planing Mill Com- pany, and is identified with various other industrial and finan- cial undertakings of importance. In politics he is a Eepublican. In 1886 he was elected Alder- man from the 16th W^ard. He is a member of the First Presbyterian Church, belongs to the Historical Society, the Saturn Club, and other organiza- tions of a social or scientific character. In January, 1875, Mr. Wilson married Miss Jennie Morse, daughter of David E. Morse. Their children are Walter Morse, who is associated with his father in the belting business and who is a 1st Lieutenant in the 65th Eegiment N. G. N. Y. and served in the Spanish-American War; Gertrude, wife of the Eev. John Stockton Littell, pastor of St. Luke's Episcopal MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 37 Church at Brockport and whose children are John, Margaret and Gertrude; and Margaret. THE PORTER FAMILY. Illustrious in the annals of the Niagara Frontier the name Porter has also a distinguished place in Colonial history and in that of the Revolutionary epoch. The well-known Porter family of Western New York is of Norman-English ancestry. Its descent is traced from William de la (Jrande, a Norman knight, who acquired land at the time of the Conquest, near Kenilworth, England. His son Roger (or Ralph) was "Grand Porteur" to Henry I., and from that ofiflce the name of Porter is derived. John Porter, sixteenth in descent from William de la Grande, was the founder of the Porter family in America. He came to this country from England in 1637 and settled in Windsor, Conn. His son Samuel, was a merchant and lived in Hartford; Conn., and afterward in Hadley, Mass. Nathaniel Porter, son of Samuel, joined the army in the expedition against Canada in 1708-9. He was the father of Nathaniel Buell Porter, who was a merchant in Lebanon, Conn. Col. Joshua Porter, son of Nathaniel Buell Porter, graduated from Yale College in 1754. Early in life he settled in Salisbury, Litchfield County, Conn. He served for more than forty sessions as a member of the State Legislature, was Judge of Common Pleas thirteen years, and Probate Judge thirty-seven years. As Colonel of the 14th Con- necticut Regiment, he participated in the battles of Long Island, White Plains, Saratoga, Monmouth and other engage- ments in the Revolution. GEN. PETER BUELL PORTER, son of Col. Joshua Porter, was one of the greatest military leaders of the War of 1812. He was as eminent in civil affairs as in soldiership and in the perspective of history, stands forth as the central figure of the memorable military and civic dramas enacted on the Niagara iFrontier during the first three decades of the last century. 38 MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY, Among the dauntless, indefatigable toilers of that formative epoch none left a deeper impress on this section of the State than Peter Buell Porter, soldier and statesman. Gen. Porter was born in Salisbury, Conn., August 14th, 1773. He was educated at Yale, College, graduating in 1791, and studied law with Judge Keeves in Litchfield, Conn. In 1795 he removed to Canandaigua, N. Y., and the same year was ad- mitted to the bar. In 1797, he was elected Clerk of Ontario County, and in 1802, was chosen a member of the State Legis- lature. When later elected to Congress he was Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Relations, and in this capacity he advocated with great force and eloquence the necessity of war with Great Britain, also presenting a report in favor of a declaration of war. In 1810 Jie removed to Black Rock, and the same year he was a member of the committee to investi- gate the route of the proposed Euie Canal, of which project he was always an able and earnest supporter. Upon war being declart^d, Mr. Porter left Congress and re- cruited a brigade of New York and Pennsylvania troops. In 1812 he was appointed Quartermaster-General of the New York State Militia, and upon the election of Governor Tompkins he was commissioned by the latter Major-General of New York State troops. General Porter's part in the campaign of 1813 began with the occupation of Fort George, when he acted as volunteer Aide-de-Camp to the American commander. Gen. Lewis, later being placed in command of the troops and Seneca warriors gathered at Buffalo. Afterward in several engage- ments he led the Indians to victory. He was known among the red men as "Conashustah," and they had a current saying, "Where Conashtustah leads we follow." Gen. Porter was one pf the principal officers of the American army which, after the btyning of Buffalo by the British and Indians in 1813, reoccu-' pied the place and in 1814 prepared for the invasion of Canada. When the march on Canada began. Gen. Porter was in com- niand of a volunteer brigade, reconnoitered Fort Erie and MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 39 assisted in concerting the i^lan wliicli resulted in its surrender. The battle of Chippewa was the first, during the War of 1812, in which a large force of British regulars was defeated in the open field, and was one of the most decisive engagements of the war. The next act of the great drama of the Niagara Frontier was the siege of Fort Erie, and to General Porter was com- mitted the formidable task of relieving the fortress. He ac- complished it, and the achievement was the crowning one' of his military career, there being no other case in history where a besieging army had been routed by one sortie. The raising of the siege of Fort Erie practically closed the war on the Niagara Frontier. To Gen. Porter's skill and valor high honors were accorded. In 1814 Congress voted him a gold medal, and the State of New York presented him a sword. The Governor of New York brevetted him Major-General, and in 1813, Presi- dent Madison commissioned him Major-General of the United States Army, also appointing him (3ommander-in-Chief, but the latter position he declined. In 1815 Gen. Porter was made Secretary of State, but de- clined the place, desiring to serve out the rest of his term in Congress. In 1816 he was appointed one of the Commissioners, under the treaty of Ghent, to determine the boundary line be- tween the United States and Canada. In 1824 he was< chosen one of the Eegeuts of the University of the State of New York. In 1828 he became Secretary of War in President John Quincy Adams' Cabinet^ his administration of the affairs of the War Department being marked by the strong practical efficiency characteristic of the man. Besides his military and public life, Gen. Porter has an important share in the business devel- opment of Western New York. He was senior member of the firm of Porter, Barton & Company, of Black Eock. In 1818 Gen. Porter married Laetitia Preston Breckenridge, who was of Scotch and English ancestry, being a daughter of John Breckenridge, a descendant of Alexander Breckenridge, who was among the early settlers of the Blue Eidge Eegioh of 40 MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. Virginia. The children of Gen. Porter were Elizabeth L., who was born April 19, 1823, and died January 28, 1876, and Peter A. Porter. Gen. Porter removed to Niagara Falls in 1839, and lived there during the rest of his life, his death occurring March 10, 1844, OOL. PETER AUGUSTUS PORTER, son of Gen. Peter Buell Porter, in a brief but heroic career nobly maintained the tra- ditions of patriotism and valor which were his by inheritance, and sealed with his life his devotion to his country. Col. Porter was born in 1827 at Black Rock, Erie County, N. Y. After a careful preparatory education he graduated from Harvard College in 1845, later going to Germany where he studied at the universities of Heidelberg and Breslau till 1849. On his return to the United States until the beginning of the Civil War, he took an active part in the business and social life of Niagara Falls. In 1861 he was elected a member of the New York Legislature, and the same year, after he had joined the army, was tendered the nomination of his party for Secretary of State. A brilliant political career was opening before him, but the national crisis was with him a consideration paramount to all others, and he declined the civic honors with- in his grasp. The military career of Col. Porter began in 1861, when he raised a regiment which was organized as the 129th New York Volunteer Infantry. In 1863 it became the 8th New York Heavy Artillery, of which he was commissioned Colonel. At his earnest solicitation he was sent with his troops to the front in 1864, the regiment being incorporated with the Army of the Potomac, under General Grant, and took part in all the battles of the Wilderness campaign, and Cold Harbor. In this terrible battle Col. Porter met his death. He fell pierced by six bullets, while gallantly leading his regiment up to the rebel entrench- ments. For two days Col. Porter's body lay in front of the MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 41 •enemy's works, and could not be recovered. On the second night five brave soldiers of his command bore back his remains to the Union lines. Col. Porter was married March 30, 1852, to Mary Cabell Preston Breckenridge, daughter of Rev. John Breckenridge, and Margaret Miller. The issue of the marriage was one son, Peter A. Porter, born, October 10, 1853. Mrs. Porter died August 4, 1854, and on November 9, 1859, Col. Porter married for his second wife Josepliine M. Morris, daughter of George Morris, of Charleston, S. C. Their children were Laetitia H. Porter, born February 16, 1861, died October 17, 1864, and George M. Porter, born on the 7th of July, 1863. HON. PETER AUGUSTUS PORTER, son of Col. Peter A. Porter, is one of the leading men of the State, and has long been a central figure in the political, industrial and civic affairs of Western New York. Mr. Porter has the incentives to achievement which are the natural possession of the descend- ants of so illustrious a line, and has worthily maintained the prestige of the distinguished name he bears. Public spirit is one of his salient characteristics, and he is signally identified, both as a legislator and a citizen, with the development of the power resources of Niagara Palls. Mr. Porter was born at Niagara Falls, N. Y., October 10, 1853. He was educated at St. Paul's School, Concord, N. H., and at Yale College, graduating from the latter in 1874., His college course was followed by extensive foreign travel. On returning from abroad Mr. Porter actively identified himself with the business and municipal interests of Niagara Palls, his enterprise and initiative soon making themselves manifest as factors in the upbuilding of that city. In 1886 Mr. Porter was elected a member of the Legislature, and the following year was reelected. As Assemblyman- he introduced and brought al^out the passage of the celebrated Niagara Tunnel Bill, which gave the sanction of the State to 42 MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. the utilization of the cataract for the development of electric power. The effect of this legislation has been far-reaching, the law and its outcome marking a memorable epoch in the industrial world. In the fall of 1906, Mr. Portej* was nomi- nated for Congress in the 34th District on an independent Re- publican ticket, being indorsed by the Democrats and the Inde- pendence League. His adversary was James W. Wads worth, who for many successive terms had been returned to Congress from the distict, and the normal majority w^hich Mr. Porter would be obliged to overcome was estimated at from 7,000 to 13,000. Mr. Porter was elected by heavy pluralities, the result being a significant tribute to him as a leader and a decisive in- dorsement of his policy. Mr. Porter has always taken a deep interest in the wonder- ful conquest of nature at Niagara Falls. He was a prime mover in the negotiations incident to the establishment of power plants at the Falls, and his tact and counsel materially aided to reconcile conflicting interests. As an author he did much to place the project in a correct light, to enlist capital and to supply the public with accurate information. Mr. Porter has been a lifelong student of the antiquities of the Niagara Frontier, and is a distinguished contributor to the literature of that topic. His library relating to the subject is the most extensive of its kind in the country. Mr. Porter is a prominent member of the Buffalo Historical Society and belongs to many other organizations. February 3, 1877, Mr. Porter married Alice Adele Taylor, daughter of Virgil Corydon Taylor and Harriett C. (Dunlap). Mrs. Porter is of an ancient family of English and Puritan lineage, being descended from Richard Taylor, who came from England to Massachusetts Colony in 1648. The children of the marriage are Peter A. Porter Jr. born November 16, 1877; Cabell Breckenridge Porter, born April 8, 1881, and Preston Buell Porter, born March 13, 1891. -^c. MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 43 EDWARD PREBLE REALS, wlio died on the 9th of April, 1903, was a pioneer of the iron manufacturing and hardware business in Buffalo and one of its most representative citizens. Mr. Beals was connected with a wide sphere of xiseful activi- ties outside of business lines. He was a citizen of sterling patriotism, deeply mindful of civic obligations, earnest in the furtherance of municipal progress and a zealous supporter of religion and charity. The Beals family originally came from the County of Devon, England. In the seventeenth century members of the race emigrated to the American Colonies, settling in Boston, Massa- chusetts. The great-grandfather of Edward Preble Beals was Dr. Laz- arus Beals, who was born in Cohasset, Mass., in 1725. He was the father of Samuel Beals, who in 1778 married Rebecca Wil- kerson, of Newton, Mass. JOHN WILKENSON BEALS, son of Samuel Beals, was born in Boston, Mass., in 1795. Prior to 1820 he settled in Can- andaigua. New York. In 1826 he came to Buffalo. Here he was a partner of Judge Samuel Wilkinson and Jonathan May- hew, in the copper and tinsmith trade, till 1840. In that year he engaged in the insurance business, with which he remained identified till his death, in 1857. Mr. Beals was one of the most prominent of the early residents of Buffalo. He was a zealous Unitarian and one of the seven founders of the Unitarian Church in this city. He was the owner of the large brick dwell- ing at Washington and South Division streets, where he lived until he built a house in Swan street, where he resided during the rest of his life. In 1815 John Wilkenson Beals married Julia Romney, of Boston, Mass., daughter of Edward Romney, a veteran of the Revolution, who rendered distinguished services in that war as Lieutenant in Captain Popkin's company of a Massachusetts regiment of the line. Edward Romney's ancestor Robert, the 44 MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. founder of the family, came to England with William the Con- queror. He received from that king's half-brother, Otto, large grants of land in Kent, including the town of Eomney, and was knighted as Sir Eobert de Eomney. His descendant was John Eomney of Sutton- Valence, whose wife Amy is supposed to have emigrated to America in 1702, and whose son, Edward, was the founder of the Eomney (or Eumney) family in this country. Beginning with the early part of the 18th century the gene- alogy of the Eumney family is as follows. Edward Eumney, who was born in Great Britain, married Elizabeth Vaughan, February 12, 1718. Their children were: Edward, born in Bos- ton, Mass., August 19, 1720, married Abigail Pierson, Septem- ber 27, 1744, died in Boston; Elizabeth, born in Boston, Mass., February 24, 1721; David, born in Boston, Mass., November 14, 1723; John, born in Boston, Mass., July 21, 1725; Samuel, born in Boston, Mass., August 21, 1727; Joseph, born in Boston, Mass., December 26, 1729; Mary, born in Boston, Mass., May 28, 1732; George, born in Boston, Mass., February 24, 1733, married Eliza Williams, April 3, 1755; Benjamin, born in Bos- ton, Mass., September S, 1735, married Lucy Burnham, Decem- ber 10, 1767; Lydia, born in Boston, Mass., March 20, 1736. The children of Edward and Abigail (Pierson) Eumney were: Ed- ward, born in Boston, Mass., August 22, 1745, married Seeth Beath, May 13, 1771, died April 6, 1808; and Joseph, who died in South Carolina. The children of Edward and Seeth (Beath) Eumney were: Betsey, born in Boston, Mass., April 25, 1772, married John H. Belcher, July 25, 1793, died in Wilmington, N. C, September 27, 1808; Sallie, born in Boston, Mass., Jan- uary 24, 1774, married Luther Cole, died in Canandaigua, N. Y., May 15, 1827; Abigail, born in Boston, Mass., Feb. 19, 1776, died July 22, 1777; Nabbie, born in Boston, Mass., June 1, 1778, married John B. Hammatt, January 29, 1805, died in Boston, May 24, 1856; Joseph, born in Boston, Mass., March 0, 1781, married Amy Griswold Downs, July* 8, 1801, died at MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 45 Jamaica, W. I., July 8, 1801; Mary, born in Boston, Mass., April 6, 1783, died in Hanover, Mass., March 25, 1866; Susan, born in Boston, Mass., May 19, 1785; Edward, born in Boston, Mass., June 3, 1786, married Eliza Wilson in 1816, died in 1823; John, born in Boston, Mass., July 22, 1787, married Lydia H. Barrett, February 18, 1814, and Martha B. McKnight, February 8, 1824, died at Alexandria, Va., April 29, 1836; Sophia, born at Boston, Mass., March 22, 1789, married Benjamin Wells, September 18, 1808; and Julia, born at Boston, Mass., August 28, 1791, married John W. Beals, February 5, 1815, died at Buffalo, N. Y., April 8, 1857. The children of John B. and Nabbie (Rumney) Hammatt were: John B., born in Boston, Mass., June 4, 1807, married Mary Mclntyre, May 7, 1829, died Sep- tember 4, 1838; Abigail E., born in Boston, Mass., April 8, 1809, married Nathaniel Barstow, July 20, 1837; Benjamin H., born in Boston, Mass., July 19, 1811, married Martha Ferris, June, 1833, died December 23, 1838; Edward R., born in Boston, Mass., August 18, 1814, married Marietta P. Worth, August 29, 1843, and later Elizabeth Phelps; Sarah, born at Alexandria, Va., December 22, 1817, married Lewis G. Richardson, March 17, 1842; and Andrew S., born at Alexandria, Va., January 4, 1821, died August 27, 1823. The children of Edward and Eliza (Wilson) Romney were: Mary Eliza, born in 1820, married Horatio Bevan in 1844; and Adele, born in 1822. The children of John and Lydia H. (Barrett) Rumney were: Elizabeth R., born at Alexandria, Va., November 22, 1814, married Joseph Snelling, January 15, 1852; Lydia R., born at Alexandria, Va., August 22, 1816; John E., born at Alexandria, Va., March 22, 1818, died August 1, 1819; John, born at Salem, Mass., January 16, 1820; and Sarah, born at Salem, Mass., March 3, 1822, died November 6, 1822. The children of John and Martha B. (Mc- Knight) Romney were: Martha B., born at Alexandria, Va,, January 15, 1825, married Nathaniel Hooper, August 15, 1853; Mary, born at Alexandria, Va., May 14, 1826, died July 8, 1827; Catherine P., born at Alexandria, Va., December 25, 1827, 46 MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. married Edward S. Hall, October 24, 1850; Charles B. Mc- Knight, born at Alexandria, Va., December 25, 1829, died June 12, 1833; Joseph E., born at Alexandria, Va., November 9, 1831, died November 12, 1837; and Charles W., born at Alexandria, Va., September 8, 1835. The children of Benjamin and Sophia (Eumney) Wells vi^ere: Catherine, born March 19, 1810, married Samuel Hastings, October 10, 1830; Francis, born November 15, 1812, and Sophia K., born in 1814, married John Man, Octo- ber 26, 1837. The children of John W. and Julia (Rumney) Beals were: John Wells, born at Canandaigua, N. Y., November 16, 1815, died September 13, 1853; Joseph R., born at Canan- daigua, N. Y., February 24, 1817; Susan E., born at Canandai- gua, N. Y., February 22, 1819, married on April 21, 1844; Ed- ward Preble, born at Canandaigua, N. Y., March 16, 1821, mar- ried Mary Lorenz, January 11, 1848; Samuel, born at Canan- daigua, N. Y., July 4, 1823; George, born at Canandaigua, N. Y., August 10, 1825, married Jane M. Cook, January 21, 1851 ; Julia, born at Buffalo, N. Y., September 24, 1827, died March 27, 1833; Sarah Cole, born January 19, 1830, died August 15, 1831; Sarah Cole (2d), born May 21, 1832, married Calvin H. Allen, February 11, 1862; and Julia Rebecca, born October 31, 1835. As indi- cated above, the name Rumney is spelled Romney in certain branches of the family. Edward Preble Beals was born at Canandaigua, N. Y., on the 16th of March, 1821. Five years afterward he came with his parents to Buffalo. He was educated at the Buffalo Military Academy and the Academy of Canandaigua. On leaving school, young Beals became a clerk in the hard- ware store of Samuel F. Pratt. Here he remained as an em- ploye ten years between 1836 and 1846, his talents, industry and fidelity winning for him a place of constantly increasing importance in the concern. In 1846 was foimded the firm of Pratt & Co., in which Mr. Beals was a partner. Under this name, widely known throughout the Middle and Western States, the business continued to be conducted for forty years. MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 47 Mr. Pratt died in 1872, and in 1886 the firm of Beals & Brown was organized. This association lasted until the death of Mr. Brown in 1892, and was marked by notable prosperity and a large extension of the trade, which was of both wholesale and retail character. In 1893 Edward P. Beals, his son Pascal P. Beals and W. E. Gass established the great and representative business of Beals & Company, wholesale dealers in hardware, iron and steel,, and under the style then assumed the house exists at the present time, being the oldest and largest enter- prise in its line in Buffalo. The business, founded in 1818, has had upwards of seventy-eight years of continuous success, and stands an enduring monument of the sagacity, foresight, reso- lution and persistence of those identified with it. About 1857 the firm of Pratt & Co., consisting of Mr. Beals, Mr. Pascal P. Pratt and Samuel F. Pratt embarked in the iron manufacturing industry. Purchasing the iron rolling mills at Black Rock, some years later they developed the Fletcher blast furnace. The enterprise thus originated developed into one of the largest manufacturing firms of Western New York, giving employment to thousands of men and sending forth an immense output of iron products. Toward the close of his life Mr. Beals disposed of his inter- ests in the iron industry and devoted himself to his wholesale hardware concern. He also became prominently connected with banking, serving as a Director of the Buffalo Savings Bank and exhibiting as signal ability in finance as he had in commerce and manufactures. His intellect and, energies were proof against advancing years, and living to the age of eighty- two he was to the last a leading factor in the community and the business world. In 1848 Mr. Beals married Mary Lorenz, daughter of Fred- erick Lorenz, a prominent manufacturer and banker of Pitts- burg, Pa. The surviving children are Col. Pascal Pratt Beals, Catherine Lorenz Beals, Mary Lorenz Beals, Julia Lorenz Beals and Grace Komney Beals, all residents of Buffalo. Two 48 MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. other children, Edward P. Beals and Ii"'rederick L. Beals died in infancy. Mr. Beals was a strong Presbyterian and for many years a member of the old North Presbyterian Church. In his church relationships as in those of his secular life, he was an example of noble consistency and unfaltering uprightness of opinion, speech and conduct. Endowed with a fine intellect, he was a great reader, kept intelligently in touch with current events and had a wide fund of useful information. His disposition was profoundly benevolent, his deeds of generosity were many, and his modesty, unaffectedness and sunny nature endeared him to all who knew him. The life of Edward P. Beals exem- plified in pre-eminent degree the sterling qualities of the man, the Christian and the citizen, and his rewards were peace of conscience, serenity and length of days and the approval and love of his fellow-men. COL. PASCAL PRATT BEALS. Among men conspicuously connected with the business life of Buffalo, one of the fore- most is Col. Pascal P. Beals, who as head of the leading hard- ware, iron and steel house of Beals & Company holds a place of distinctive prominence in the commercial affairs of Western New York. He is a man of liberal instincts, progressive ideas, and is actively interested in social, educational and benevolent institutions. Pascal Pratt Beals is a son of the late Edward P. Beals and was born in Buffalo July 31st, 1850. After preparing for col- lege in the Buffalo Classical School, he entered Yale University in 1868 and was graduated with honors in 1872. Shortly after his graduation, Mr. Beals engaged in business, becoming connected with the firm of Pratt & Company, in Buffalo. He remained with the firm until its dissolution in 1886. When the house of Pratt & Co. was succeeded by Beals & Co., of which Edward P. Beals was the head, Pascal P. Beals became a partner in the new firm, and from 1893 to the present MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTOEY. 49 time has been a leading factor in it, after the death of his father becoming the senior partner. The duration of the business has given it the prestige which peculiarly attaches to mercan- tile houses of long standing, and the management, throughout all its changes of personnel, has never swerved from the prin- ciples of high commercial honor and the practical illustration of progressiveness. Ool. Beals joined the National Guard of the State of New York in 1879 and served till 1892. In this connection his rec- ord is one of meritorious services which received recognition by successive promotions. Commissioned Captain and Aide, Eighth Division, he was later made Major both in the Eighth and Fourteenth Brigades. This was followed by promotion to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel of the Fourth Division and Colonel in Staff, Department of the Commander-in-Chief. With the latter rank, Col. Beals was retired at his own request in 1892. Col. Beals is a life member and Director of the Buffalo So- ciety of Natural Sciences, a member of the Fine Arts Academy, holds a life membership in the Young Men's Association, now the Buffalo Library, of which he was also a Director, and was a Director of the Young Men's Christian Association. He was for many years a member of the City, Saturn and Ellicott Clubs, of Buffalo, and is a member of the United Service Club, of New York City. MILLARD FILLMORE. Buffalo has given the United States two Presidents. The first of these illustrious citizens to attain the office was Millard Fillmore. Mr. Fillmore was born in Locke, Cayuga County, N. Y., January 7, 1800, being the second child and eldest son of Nathaniel Fillmore and Phoebe Millard. His father was born in Bennington, Vt., and his mother was a native of Pittsfield, Mass. His parents were among the pioneer settlers of the so-called Military Tract, and removed from Locke to Sempro- 50 MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. nius, Cayuga County. Nathaniel Fillmore was a farmer who cleared his land and built his own home, and like not a few other distinguished Americans, Millard Fillmore was reared in a log house. Till he was fifteen years old young Fillmore worked on his father's farm and attended the district schools. As a lad he was apprenticed to Benjamin Hungerford, a carder and cloth-dresser of Sparta, N. Y., and in 1815 was re-appren- ticed to the same business with Zaccheus Cheney and Alviu Kellogg of Newhope, N. Y. While in their employ Mr. P^'illmore began a system of self -education, reading every st-andard work to which he had access. When eighteen years old he taught school for a term in the town of Scott. In 1818 he visited West- ern New York and later attended school at Canandaigua. Meantime he had become ambitious to study law, and returning to Cayuga County, he entered the law-office of Judge Walter Wood, at Martville. In 1821 he went to Aurora, Erie County, taught a winter school at East Aurora and obtained some practice in justice's courts. In the spring of 1822 he came to Buffalo and taught a district school, and the same year became a student in the law office of Asa Eice and Joseph Clary. In the spring of 1823 he was admitted to practice in the Court of Common Pleas, and opening an office at East Aurora he prac- ticed there till 1830. In 1827 he was admitted attorney of the Supreme Court, and became counselor in 1829. In May, 1830, he removed to Buffalo where he formed a law partnership with Joseph Clary. He acquired a large and successful practice, which was continued till 1848, when his duties in public life obliged him to relinquish his professional pursuits. Mr. Fillmore was elected to the Assembly in 1828 and was twice re-elected. In 1832 he was elected to Congress and was re-elected for three successive terms, declining a fifth nomina- tion. In 1843 the Whig National Convention at Philadelphia nominated Mr. Fillmore for Vice-President. He was elected, and by the death of General Taylor, July 9, 1850, succeeded him as President of the United States. He attained the presidency MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 51. at a critical period in national affairs, and administered its duties with great ability and unswerving conscientiousness. However others might differ from him in matters of party- principle or governmental policy, no fair-minded man ques- tioned his purity of motive or his sterling patriotism. In 1856, Mr. Fillmore was nominated for the Presidency by the National American Convention, but the party which chose him for its leader was in the decline of its power and the Democrats carried the country. At the close of the campaign Mr. Mllmore retired from public life. The rest of his days he passed in Buffalo in the pursuits of a scholar and the activities of the citizen. He died March 8, 1874. Mr. Fillmore was married twice, his first wife being Abigail Power, of Moravia, N. Y., whom he wedded February 5, 1826. She died in 185-3, and February 10, 1858, Mr. Fillmore married Mrs. Caroline C. Mcintosh. THE CHAPIN FAMILY. The Chapin lineage is Puritan. Samuel Chapin of IVtassacliusetts Colony took the freeman's oath in Boston in 1641 and removed to Springfield, Mass. Japhet Chapin, son of Samuel, was in the great Indian fight at Twiner's Falls on the 19th of May, 1676. Samuel Chapin (2d), son of Japhet, had a son, Caleb Chapin, who was killed in the French War. Caleb Chapin {2d), son of Caleb, was an ofilcer in the Eevolutionary War. DK. CYRENIUS CHAPIN, son of Capt. Caleb Chapin, was a man whose career fills a memorable chapter in the pioneer history of Buffalo. Physician, soldier and frontiersman. Dr. Chapin was a typical American of that stern epoch when hard- ship and peril developed the latent resources of character. Cyrenius Chapin was born in Bernardston, Massachusetts, on the 7th of February, 1769. He studied medicine with his brother, Dr. Caleb Chapin. He practiced for several years at Windhall, Vermont, later removing to Sangerfield, Oneida 52 MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. County, N. Y. In 1801 he came to Buffalo. In 1803 he went to Fort Erie, but later returned with his family to Buffalo. Dr. Chapin's life was full of the hardships of the frontier physician, and he went on horseback to his patients, making hundreds of perilous journeys through the wilderness. He founded the first drug store in Buffalo, and often supplied gratuitously not only medicine but food to his needy patients. He wielded a great influence, and was highly esteemed by the Indians, who were accustomed to speak of him as "The Great Medicine Man." When the War of 1812 broke out, Dr. Chapin raised a com- pany of volunteers and offered his services, both as officer and surgeon. He was successively commissioned Captain, Major and Lieutenant-Colonel. He served with the American van- guard in the occupation of Fort George in May, 1813. In June he organized a body of mounted riflemen which he commanded in the fight at Beaver Dams, Canada, on the 24th of June, 1813, under Lieutenant-Colonel Boerstler, whose force was compelled 'to surrender. On July 12 Col. Chapin and his men were sent as prisoners toward Kingston, in two boats, under a heavy British guard. Col. Chapin had laid a carefully concerted plan of escape, and when the boats were a few miles from their destination, the Americans, at a signal, rose, overpowered the guards, steered for Fort Niagara, and after a night of rowing delivered their erstwhile captors to the commander of the fort as prisoners of war. When the British attacked Buffalo in December, 1813, Col. Chapin made a daring stand at Black Eock and defended the place till he had only five men left. He then retreated to Buffalo, where he found a dismounted six-pounder cannon. Hastily mounting it on wagon-wheels, he gathered a few men and boys whom he drew up at Niagara street, where he i^ught the British till his cannon was disabled. When fur- ther resistance was useless, he mounted a horse, tied a white handkerchief to his sword, and riding to the enemy held them by parleying till the inhabitants of Buffalo had time to escape. MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISXOKY. 53 He also obtained from the British officer in command advan- tageous terms, for the surrender of the village, but the plighted word of the foe was shamefully violated. Col. Chapin was made a prisoner and taken to Montreal, where he was held nine months. On his return to Buffalo he was appointed surgeon of the military hospital. When he retired from this office he removed to Geneva, N. Y., but returned to Buffalo in 1818, and here he continued to reside, practice his profession and take an active part in public affairs till the close of his life. On the organization of the Erie County Medical Society in 1821, Dr. Chapin was made its first President. In 1836 the citizens of Buffalo presented him a service of silver plate as a testimonial of their admiration of him as a citizen and soldier. In 1793 Dr. Chapin married Sylvia Burnham, of Bernardston, Mass. He died on the 20th of February, 1838, and was buried with military honors. The cemetery where his remains were laid to rest is now the site of the City and County Hall. LOUISE MAEIE CHAPIN (Mrs,. Thaddeus Weed), third daughter of Dr. Cyrenius Chapin, united intellectuality of a high order with rare loveliness of womanly character. Mrs. Weed held a distinguished place in the social circles of Buffalo and was one of the most interesting of those persons who through length of days and remarkable powers of observation and mem- ory form a bond between the present and the past. Mrs. Weed was born at Port Erie, Canada, on the 19th of March, 1803. As a child she came with her parents to Buffalo, which was the city of her residence during the rest of her life. On the 9th of October, 1823, she was united in marriage to Thaddeus Weed. The lamented death of Mrs. Weed occurred on the 20th of July, 1894. THE WEED FAMILY. The Weeds are of English and Puritan ancestry. Jonas Weed emigrated from England to Massachusetts in 1630. Jonas Weed (2d), son of the foregoing. 54 MEMORIAIi AND FAMILY HISTORY. had a son, Benjamin, who had a son, Benjamin, who married Sarah Hait. Ananias Weed, son of Benjamin Weed (2d) and Sarah Hait, was born in Stamford, Connecticut, in 1752. At the outbreak of the Eevolution he joined the Continental army, and served through the war. He fought at the battle of White Plains, crossed the Delaware with Washington and took part in the famous surprise of the Hessians at Trenton. From 1779 till the peace of 1783 he was in the Commissary Department, and participated in expeditions against the British in New York and New Jersey. THADDEUS WEED, son of Ananias Weed, was born in Stamford, Connecticut, in 1791. He was for some time a resi- dent of Troy, N. Y. He came to Buffalo September 23, 1818, where he and George T. Weed opened a hardware store under the firm style of G. & T. Weed. The business prospered, becoming one of the leading mercantile houses of Buffalo. Thaddeus Weed married Louise Marie Chapin, daughter of Dr. Cyrenius Chapin. Their children were three sons, De Witt Chapin, George Thaddeus and Hobart Weed, and a daughter, Mrs. Sylvia Louise Stevens. Louise Marie (Chapin) Weed sur- vived her husband by many years, dying on the 20th of July, 1894, being then in her ninety-second year. After an honorable and successful career Thaddeus Weed died in 1846. No Buffalonian of his day was held in higher estimation. Eminently public-spirited, he was one of the founders of Buffalo's first regular fire company. He was also a vestryman of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, of which he was one of the most active supporters. A man of sterling ability and probity, he left a deep impress on the life and institutions of the city. HOBAET WEED, son of Thaddeus Weed, head of the great wholesale and retail hardware house of Weed & Co., stands in the front rank of Western New York merchants. He was born MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 55 in Buffalo, and received a thorough education at schools in Buffalo and Toronto, and the Percival Classical School in Fre- donia, N. Y., and Kev. H. D. Noble's School at Brookfield, Conn. After finishing his studies, Mr. Weed returned to Buffalo, where he gained his first experience in business in the store founded by his father, then being conducted by his brother, De Witt C. Weed. After he had learned the business Mr. Weed with his brother formed the copartnership of De Witt C. Weed & Co. On the death of Mr. De Witt C. Wefed, in 1880, the firm became Weed & Co., with Mr. Hobart Weed as principal owner. In 1903 the house was incorporated as Weed & Company, with Mr. Hobart Weed as President. The concern is one of the fore- most wholesale and retail hardware houses between New York City and Chicago. It celebrated its seventy-fifth anniversary in, 1893. One of Mr. Weed's most noteworthy activities has been in advancing musical culture. The musical career of Mr. Weed began in his youth. While a student at school he organized and trained a chpir. When he was only seventeen years old, the vestry of St. Paul's Episcopal Church placed the entire direction of the churcli music in Mr. Weed's hands, and he has had charge of it ever since. He sang in the choir of St. Paul's as early as 1870, was made member of the Music Com- mittee in 1873, and was chosen Chairman of that body in 1881. From early in life he has been interested in procuring for the Buffalo public the best vocal and instrumental talent for con- certs, and has had an important part in, educating the popular taste in music in the Queen City. Among the more notable musical organizations and artists brought to Buffalo by Mr. Weed and his associates were the Theodore Thomas Orchestra, the Boston Symphony and New York Symphony Orchestras, the Pittsburg Orchestra and the Damrosch Opera Company; Melba, Nordica, Sfembrich, Gadski, Christine Neilson and the great artists of the last generation. Connected with St. Paul's Episcopal Church all his life, Mr. Weed is a vestryman and one of its most prominent members. He is an active member 56 MEMOEIAL AND FAMILY HISTOEY. of the Buffalo Chamber of Commerce, holds life memberships in the Fine Arts Academy and the Young Men's Association, and is a member of the Buffalo, Bllicott and Country Clubs, and of the Hardware Club of New York City. In 1870 Mr. Weed married Miss Harriett Monteath, daughter of William and Rhoda Monteath of Buffalo. Mr. and Mrs. Weed have three children, Emily M., Shelton and Walter Irving Weed. GEOEGE E. HOWARD is one of Buffalo's leading capital- ists, who aside from his connection with financial affairs and his management of numerous and important vested interests, is prominent in the social and philanthropic life of the city and supports notable responsibilities relating to organized benevo- lence and to other institutions having the public well-being for their aim. Mr. Howiard's father, George Howard, was born in Charlotte, Chittenden County, Vermont, June 25, 1810, and was a descendant of English parents who came to America in the 17th century. His father, John Howard, was a tanner, and also carried on the business of farming. The wife of John Howard was Electa Penfield. In boyhood George Howard attended school in winter and worked on the farm and in his father's tannery summers. His schooling ended when he was thirteen years old. When young Howard was eighteen, his father met with business disaster that resulted in the loss of nearly all his property, and caused him to decide to leave Vermont. John Howard obtained an "article" entitling him to 115 acres of forest land, a few miles from Westfield, in Chautauqua County, N. Y. With one son he came to Western New York in 1828, and settled on the pur- chase. In two or three years the father and his sons cleared about 100 acres and began to cultivate the farm. In 1831 George Howard came to Buffalo and shipped before the mast at $12 per month. The next year he agreed to work at Westfield in the tannery of Aaron Rumsey for 15 months, for flOO. Six months later he came to Buffalo as foreman in Mr. Rumsey's (k^^iTlfJ^X, MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 57 Buffalo tannery at a salary of |280 a year with board. By the closest economy he lived for two years on |80 a year, thus saving |200 annually, and the third year his salary was increased, his savings for the whole time amounting to |700. At that period this was a considerable cash capital, and it was the corner stone of the large financial structure he afterward reared. After the failure of Mr. Rumsey, Mr. Howard leased the tannery, which he managed for six months. In 1837 he formed a partnership with his former employer, under the firm name of Rumsey & Howard. Four years later, Aaron Rumsey was succeeded by Payette Rumsey, with whom Mr. Howard continued two years. In 1844 Mr. Howard and Myron P. Bush entered into partnership in the tannery business, the firm style being Bush & Howard. A tannery was built in Chicago street, the concern doing a business of from |20,000 to 130,000 a year, which increased to from |700,000 to |800,000 annually. Messrs. Bush & Howard continued in partnership for thirty-five years. In time their sons succeeded to the busi- ness, which was carried on in the old firm name, Besides his tannery enterprise, Mr. Howard engaged in other lines of business and was a trustee of the Buffalo Gaslight Company, and the Buffalo Savings Bank. In politics Mr. Howard was originally a Jackson Democrat. Later he became a Whig, and then a Republican. Mr. Howard was President of the Buffalo Cemetery Association, and served as a trustee of that body to the time of his death. The impos- ing and attractive features of Forest Lawn Cemetery are largely due to his fine taste and sound judgment. In the Buffalo General Hospital and the Buffalo Orphan Asylum he was actively interested, serving as the president of the execu- tive boards of both institutions. To these charities he con- tributed liberally, on one occasion giving |5,000 to each. He was also a trustee of the State Insane Asylum. He was a member and trustee of Westminster Presbyterian Church, President of the Falconwood Club and a member of the Young 58 MEMOEIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. Men's Association, tlie Fine Arts Academy, the Buffalo Histori- cal Society, and the Society of Natural Sciences. Among his many gifts to the cause of education should be mentioned his contribution of |5,000 to Hamilton College. He was one of the chief supporters of the Young Men's Association, in one instance contributing |5,000 in its aid. In 1835 Mr. Howard married Miss Ellen Martin, of Warsaw, N. Y. The issue of this marriage was one daughter, who died in infancy. Mrs. Howard died in 1846. In November, 1848, Mr. Howard married Louise Corley, of Ithaca, N. Y., who died March 28, 1851. On the 9th of November, 1852, Mr. Howard married Amelia Flagler, of Lockport, N. Y. The children of this union were Frank King Howard, born April 21, 1854; Anna Maria Howard, born February 6, 1856, died August 26, 1879; Nellie Louise Howard, born Seiitember 20, 1859, and died in infancy, and George Eumsey Howard. Though a business man of strenuous activity, Mr. Howard knew how to enjoy recreation. At one period of his life he made an extended foreign tour, visiting all important points in England and on the Continent. Among his favorite (Jiversions were yachting and lake fishing. He was a noted yachtsman, being the owner of the famous steam yacht "Orizaba," which after Mr. Howard's death was purchased by the late Dexter P. Rumsey. The death of Mr. Howard occurred on the 30th of August, 1888, and was the occasion of widespread and deep regret, both of friends and the public. His death came closely home to the people because he was in an unusual degree a representative American — a type of the man who begins life under disad- vantages, who struggles with courage and resourcefulness against grave handicaps, who wins success by his own abilities, but who preserves his warmth of heart and his charity for those less fortunate than himself. Mr. Howard had the respect and admiration of the entire community. He was a generous giver, a true friend, a considerate employer whose subordinates knew MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 59 that he kept their interests in constant view, a devoted husband and father, and a lover of right and justice. GEOEGE EUMSEY HOWARD, the second son of Geqrge Howard, was born in Buffalo May 27th, 1861. After completing his education at the Buffalo Classical School, he gained his first business experience as a clerk in the tannery firm of Bush & Howard, later becoming a partner in that enterprise and continuing in this connection for four years after his father's death. In 1890 Mr. Howard disposed of his share in the concern and since then has been engaged in the field of finance and in the management of various large vested interests, hav- ing his office in the Erie County Bank Building. Mr. Howard is a trustee of the Erie County Savings Bank and a director of the Cary Safe Company. He is. a capitalist of solid and extensive resources. Distinctively a strong man of affairs, Mr, Howard has the advantage of wide experience and the prestige which attaches to a business career unmarred by errors of judgment and signalized by the prosperous outcome of a great variety of undertakings. The social and other connections of Mr. Howard are many and important. He is a member of the Country, Ellicott and Park Clubs, and has served for many years as a director of the Y. M. C. A., and a trustee of the ' Westminster Presbyterian Church and the Buffalo General Hospital. He is also a director of the Provident Loan Associ- ation, trustee of the Christian Homestead, and trustee of Forest Lawn. October 3, 1882, Mr. Howard married Miss Griffin, a daughter of the late John B. Griffin. They have three daughters. Mr. Howard is an accomplished man of the world, practical, thoroughly in accord with the spirit of the times, and having a keen appreciation of the refinements and amenities of life. He resides in a pa,latial home on Delaware avenue, and in the domestic circle finds needed relief from the urgencies of busi- ness duties. As financier and citizen his standing leaves 60 MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTOKY. nothing to be wished, and he may be appropriately character: ized as one of those deserving men who, in the prime of their days, have attained tlie consummated results Avhich are, as a rule, only to be looked for with advanced years. JAMBS PLATT WHITE, M.D., was born in Austerlitz, Columbia County, N. Y., March 14, 1811. He was a direct descendant of Peregrine White, the first male child born in Plymoutli Colony. His grandfather was a soldier of the Eevo- lution, and his father, David Pierson White, served in the War of 1812. In 1816 the parents of James Piatt White set- tled in East Hamburg, Erie County, N. Y. The son acquired an English and classical education and began the study of law, but soon abandoned it for medicine. He at- tended medical lectures at Fairfield, N. Y., and later Jefferson Medical College, graduating in 1834. During the cholera epidemic of 1832, Dr. White, then a medical student, came into notice by his creditable services at Black Eock. In 1835 he began practice in Buffalo, and for the next ten, years devoted himself largely to surgery. Later he abandoned general surgery and made a specialty of gynaecology, in which he was an expert. Dr. White was one of the founders of Buffalo Medical College, being appointed to the DK. JAMES PLATT WHITE. MBMOKIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 61 chair of Obstetrics and Gynaecology in 1846. A man of inventive genius, he added to the scientific resources of his profession, and had to endure persecution on this account. His reputation far exceeded local limits, and many patients came from great distances to avail themselves of his skill. He was a voluminous contributor to medical and surgical literature, and assisted in the establishment of the Buffalo Medical Journal. Dr. White was President, Secretary and Librarian of the Erie County Medical Society, President and Vice-President of the New York State Medical Society, President and one of the founders of the Buffalo Medical Association, and corresponding secretary and later honorary Fellow of the New York Academy of Medicine. He was one of the chief factors in bringing the Buffalo State Hospital to Buffalo, served as manager and President of that institution, was one of the founders of the Buffalo General Hospital, and was the coadjutor of Bishop Timon in establishing the Buffalo Hospital of the Sisters of Charity, the Maternity and Foundling Hospital and the Provi- dence Insane Asylum. During the Civil War he was Govern- ment Medical Inspector of Military Hospitals in the West and Southwest. In 1876 he was one of the Vice-Presidents of the Medical Congress at Philadelphia, and in 1877 was elected First Vice-President of the National Medical Association. He was a member of the Protestant Episcopal Church, President of the Board of Managers of the Church Charity Foundation and one of the founders of the Buffalo Historical Society, the Young Men's Association and the Academy of Fine Arts. He was active in the development of Buffalo's park system, and toward the close of his life he erected the White Building, in that city. In 1836 Dr. White married Mary Elizabeth Penfield, daughter of Henry F. Penfield, of Penfield, N. Y. The death of Dr. White occurred September 28, 1881. His widow survived him less than four months. 62 MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTOEY. JAMES PENFIELD WHITE was born in Hamburg, Erie County, N. Y., July 6, 1844, being tlie son of James and Mary (White) Bo wen. The father of James Penfleld White dying before the latter's birth, the boy was adopted by the maternal uncle, Dr. James P. White, and was educated at Walnut Hill School. His foster father intended him to study medicine, but partial failure of the young man's eyes compelled the abandon- ment of this plan. Dur- ing his early manhood Mr. White engaged for ten years in the litho- graphing business in Buffalo, later having the care of Dr. White's estate, whose management con- tinued to devolve upon him for the rest of his life, and the White Block was built under his direction. Mr. White was a promi- nent member of the National Guard, and for several years served on the staff of Gen. Howard. In politics, he was an in- dependent Democrat. He was a member of Trinity Church, was for some years its Treasurer, and served on- the Board of Managers of the Church Home. He was a leading member of the Buffalo Club, and enjoyed an enviable social position. September 24, 1872, Mr. White married Mary Anna Dobbins, daughter of Capt. DaAid P. and Mary (Richards) Dobbins of Buffalo. He died August 10, 1894, being survived by his widoAV and two sons, Seymour Penfleld and James Piatt White. JAMES PENITELD WHITE. MEMOKIAL AND FAMILY HISTOEY. 63 Mr. White was a man of distinguished appearance, being one of those men whose presence commands respect. Of courteous manners and kindly disposition, he won friends without effort and retained them by the influence of a character in which amiability and trustworthiness were happily blended. SEYMOUR PENB^IELD WHITE, elder of the sons of James Penfield White, was born in Buffalo August 2, 1873. He received a good education and had just taken his final examination for Yale when he was compelled by the death of his father to forego a full University course. Leaving his studies, he assumed full charge of the affairs of the White estate, taking personal control of the erection of the White Building. He is a trustee of the Buffalo Savings Bank and is a man of strong executive ability and sound business principles. As a National Guardsman, Mr. White has a highly creditable record. Entering the 65th Regiment as Second Lieutenant, he rose to the rank of Captain, and was a member of Governor Odell's staff. During the Spanish-American War he partici- pated in active service with his regiment at Camp Alger. In 1905 Mr. White, on account of pressure of business, resigned from his regiment. During his period of service with the 65th, he was for a number of years Inspector of Rifle Practice, being himself an expert marksman. He is also a lover of sports and a well-known clubman, being a member and Treasurer of the Saturn Club, a member of the Country Club and President of the Buffalo Automobile Club. May 26, 1898, Mr. White married Annie Dunbar, daughter of George H. Dunbar, of Buffalo. They have two children, Marion and Emily. i JAMES PLATT WHITEj second son of James Penfield White, was born in Buffalo December 22, 1878. He was educated at Harvard and was one of the editors of the Harvard Monthly, winning for himself a high place in college jourualism. 64 MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTOKY. Mr. White is a man of brilliant qualities, of intellectual tastes, and a linguist of unusual acquirements. He is devoting himself to a literary career, being well-known in the field of dramatic literature. RT. REV. JOHN TIMON, D.D. That brilliant intellectual gifts may be dedicated to the highest and holiest uses is a truth which has been exemplified within the memory of many living BufEalonians by the career of the late Rt. Rev. John Timon, D.D., first Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Buffalo. Bishop Timon was the son of James and Margaret (Leddy) Timon, natives of Ireland, who came to this country and settled at Conevago, Adams County, Pa., where John Timon, afterward Bishop Timon, was born February 12, 1797. In 1802 the family removed to Baltimore, Md., where the father opened a dry-goods store in which the son served as clerk. In 1818 the senior Timon removed with his family to Louisville, Ky., where for a short time he resumed business, in 1819 going to St. Louis, where he conducted a dry-goods establishment till 1823. In 1823. the subject of this sketch joined the community of Lazarists, and the next two years he spent in study at the seminary of St. Mary's, at Barrens, Mo. In 1824 he was ordained sub-deacon, and in 1825 was ordained to the priesthood. For a number of years he was professor at the Barrens seminary and served as a missionary in the neighboring counties. Meantime he joined the order of St. Vincent de Paul. In 1835 Father Timon was appointed Visitor by the General Assembly of the Congregation of Missions at Paris. He served in this capacity till 1840, when he was appointed Prefect Apostolic of Texas, which of&ce he filled for seven years. Sep- tember 5, 1847, he received his bulls as Bishop of the new Diocese of Buffalo, and on October 17 of the same year was consecrated in that office. He assumed the duties of his new position October 22, 1847. Bishop Timon's field of labors comprised all of the State of New York west of Cayuga, Tomp- MEMOUIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 65 kins and Tioga counties. The December after his installation he consecrated St. Louis' Church, and this event was the precursor of others of kindred character, so numerous that they can here be indicated only in outline. Throughout his large field Bishop Timon founded churches, missions and educational and benevolent institutions. It was he who intro- duced into Buffalo Diocese the Franciscan Fathers, the Brothers of the Holy Infancy of Jesus, the Christian Brothers, the Sisters of Charity, the Sisters of St. Joseph and the Nuns of the Society of the Good Shepherd. ' Bishop Timon was characterized by great fervor, power and effectiveness as a preacher. He was the spiritual father of his flock, profound in his knowledge of human nature, charitable in his judgments, broad in his beneficence and tender in his sympathy. A scholar and a man abreast of the best thought and culture of his day, Bishop Timon's intellectual powers were broadened by wide knowledge of men and affairs. He traveled extensively and several times visited Kome. The death of Bishop Timon occurred on April 16, 1867. POKTER NORTON. This distinguished lawyer and citizen has all his life been a resident of Buffalo and for more than thirty years has practiced his profession in this city. Mr. Norton comes of an ancestry prominent in Colonial affairs and in the Eevolutionary period. In the records of the New York State Society, Sons of the American Revolution, his descent is given as follows : " Son of Charles D. Norton and Jeanette Phelps; grandson of Joseph E. Norton and Lucretia Huntington; great-grandson of Joseph Huntington and Elizabeth Hale; great-grandson (2d) of Capt. Jonathan Hale, great (3) grandson of Jonathan Hale and Sarah Talcott, great- grandson (4) of Samuel Hale and Mary Wells, great-grandson (5) of Samuel Hale (1st), who came to Watertown, Mass., in 1852 and moved to Connecticut. The Samuels were both soldiers and honored civil officers of their day." 66 MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. CHARLES DAVIS ISIORTON, father of the subject of this sketch, was identified with the highest wallis of the legal pro- fession of Western New York. Notable as an example of the scholarly type of lawyer, the elder Norton was also an eminent advocate and a powerful orator both in forensic and other fields. Few men of his time were of similar prominence in the civil administration and the social life of Erie County. Charles Davis Norton was born at Hartford, Connecticut, November 20th, 1820. He was the son of Joseph G. Norton, a well-known shipping merchant of Hartford. The mother of Charles D. Norton was Lucretia (Huntington) Norton, daughter of Dr. Joseph Huntington, a Congregationalist minister of Coventry, Conn., and niece of Samuel Huntington, Governor of Connecticut and one of the signers of the Declaration of Inde- pendence. A brother of Mrs. Norton was Samuel Huntington, who became second Governor of Ohio and afterward Chief Justice of that State. In 1827 Charles D. Norton accompanied his family to Black Rock, where his father engaged in the dry- goods business with Judah Bliss. Three years afterward the family removed to Buffalo, where Joseph G. Norton died in 1844. Charles D. Norton was prepared for college under private tutors and schools, and graduated from Union College with honors in 1840. In 1839 he entered the law office of Horatio Shumway, with whom he continued his legal studies until 1841. In October, 1842, he sailed for B'lorida, seeking rest and a mild«r climate. He returned to Buffalo in 1843, and resuming his law studies was admitted to .the bar that year. Mr. Norton was an ardent Whig. He earnestly espoused the Presidential candidacy of Clay. His power and eloquence on the rostrum were among the noteworthy facts of his time and continue to be living traditions in our day. I© 1849 Mr. Norton was elected City Attorney of Buffalo. In 1851 he was elected Surrogate of Erie County. In 1865 Presi- dent Johnson appointed Mr. Norton Collector of Customs for the port of Buffalo, an honor which fell to him without solici- MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 67 tation and wholly in recognition of Ms fitness for the place, and he continued to fill the position until his death, April 11, 1867. Mr. Norton was one of the most active members of the Young Men's Association, and in 1851 was chosen its President. Among its founders, he was also the first Recording Secretary of the Buffalo Historical Society. The wife of Mr. Norton was Jeanette Phelps, whom he married in October, 1851, and who was a daughter of Oliver Phelps, of Canandaigua, N. •¥. Two sons. Porter and Charles, were the issue of the union. Porter Norton was born in Buffalo, on the 9th of July, 1854. His elementary education was received in private schools. Later he graduated from Prof. Briggs' Classical School. After leaving school he entered the employment of Martin Taylor, a well-known book dealer. At the age of seventeen he became a law student in the oifice of E. Carlton Sprague and George Gorham. In 1875 Mr. Norton was admitted to the bar, shortly after he assumed the position of managing clerk in the offices of the Hon. Loran L. Lewis and William H. Gurney. With the firm of Lewis & Gurney he remained from two to three years, and then began practicing alone. Early in 1880 he formed ao association with Henry W. Box, under the firm style of Box & Norton. With changes in the personnel, this connection continued until 1891, the successors of the firm of Box & Norton being Box, Hatch & Norton, and Box, Norton & Bushnell. In the summer of 1891 Mr, Norton formed with Thomas Penney and Charles B. Sears the still existing copartnership of Norton, Penney & Sears. As a lawyer Mr. Norton is at once erudite and practical. Since 1901 he has acted as counsel for the Bell Telephone Company of Buffalo. His present firm and its predecessors have for more than twenty-five years been counsel for the Inter- national Railway Company, Mr. Norton being the only lawyer who has served continuously as the Company's counsel during 68 MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. that period. Messrs. Norton, Penney & Sears are also local counsel for various leading corporations, industrial and otherwise. Mr. Norton is a director of the Crosstown Street Railway, the Bell Telephone Company of Buffalo and the Niagara Falls Electric Railway. He is a director of the Fresh Air Mission, a Trustee of De Veaux College of Niagara Falls, a member of New York State Chapter, Sons of the American Revolution, and of the Society of Colonial Wars. He also belongs to the Buffalo, Ellicott and Country Clubs, and » is a vestryman of Trinity Church. On the 9th of July, 1878, Mr. Norton married Miss Jennie H. Watson, a daughter of the late S. V. R. Watson and Charlotte A. (Sherman) Watson of Buffalo. The children are: Porter Huntington Norton and Gertrude V. D. Norton. THE JEWETT FAMILY, for many years one of the representative families of Buffalo, belong to a race which traces its lineage to the days of the Puritan settlement of Massachu- setts, and to the latter years of the reign of Queen Elizabeth. Patriotism has been a marked characteristic of the family, and from the period of the Colonial Wars, down through the Revolution to the present time, bearers of the name have, by reason of military ser^dces, deserved well of their country. William Jewett, eldest son of Edward of Bradford, England, was the father of Joseph Jewett, who, with his uncles, Maximilian and Joseph, came to America from Rowley in Yorkshire, England, landing in Boston on the 1st day of December, 1638. They settled in Massachusetts Colony and were the founders of Rowley, Mass. Joseph, son of Joseph, had a son, Capt. Nathan Jewett, who had a son, Capt. Joseph Jewett, who was a hero of the Revolution. After the siege of Boston, Capt. Jewett and his troops accompanied Gen. Wash- ington to New York, where he took part in the battle of Long Island. During the engagement. Col. Huntington's force was MEMOEIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 69 surrounded by the British, and Capt. Jewett received bayonet wounds which he survived only two days, his death occurring on the 29th of August, 1776. Josiah Jewett, son of Capt. Joseph, was born in Lyme, Conn., and removed to Moravia, Cayuga County, N. Y., in 1814. The first wife of Deacon Jewett was Elizabeth Smith, of Durham, Middlesex County, Conn. Their children were: David Parsons, George Washington, David Parsons, Eliza Smith, Martha, Josiah Parsons, Samuel Parsons, Clarissa, and Guernsey. The second wife of Deacon Josiah Jewett was Sophia Skinner, daughter of Cotton and Prudence Skinner of Moravia, N. Y., formerly of East Hartford, Conn. The children were: Sherman Skinner, John Cotton, Joseph, Caroline Matilda, Charles Carroll, and James Harvey. SHERMAN S. JEWETT was born at Moravia, N. Y., January 17, 1818. His early life was passed on his father's farm, attending district school in the winters-. In 1834 he came to Buffalo, where his uncle, Isaac Watts Skinner, owned a small foundry, and with him Mr. Jewett learned the moulder's trade, also attending Silas Kingsley's High School one term. In 1836 Mr. Jewett formed a co-partnership in the foundry business with Franklin Day and Francis H. Root, under the name of Day, Root & Co., and a few years later a new firm was organized, composed of Thomas J. Dudley and S. S. Jewett. After two years Mr. Dudley withdrew and the business was continued by Mr. Jewett alone until 1843, when Mr. Jewett and Francis H. Root formed the firm of Jewett & Root, which con- tinued for thirty-five years. In 1878 the widely known house of Sherman S. Jewett & Co. was formed, composed of Sherman S., Henry C, and Josiah Jewett. The Bank of Buffalo owes its origin to Mr. Jewett and his friends, and he was President of that institution from its beginning until 1892. He was one of the originators of the Manufacturers' and Traders' Bank, a director of it for over thirty years and of the Marine Bank for 70 MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. more than twenty years. He was a director of the Columbia National Bank from the time of its foundation until his death and was also a director of the Bank of Niagara Falls. Mr. Jewett was one of the earliest promoters of the Buffalo, New York & Philadelphia Kailroad, and a director from 1867 to 1881. In 1867 he was called to the presidency. His management of this property was so skillful that the stockholders were repaid every dollar of capital and the $700,000 of bonds held by the city of Buffalo were sold at par. Mr. Jewett was an, originator of the Buffalo Mutual Insurance Co., which had a most success- ful career, until it was compelled to retire, owing to losses sustained in the Chicago fire of 1871. Then the three principal insurance companies of Buffalo, the Western, the Buffalo City and the Buffalo Fire and Marine, were forced into bankruptcy and Mr. Jewett was appointed assignee of all. This was one of the most important works of his life, and he discharged it with admirable fidelity and success. Mr. Jewett's liberality was notably seen in his relations with the Young Men's Association, the Public Library and the Iroquois Hotel properties. In 1863 a meeting of nine gentlemen was held to discuss the project of buying St. James Hall and St. James Hotel to improve the facilities of the Association, and Mr. Jewett subscribed |3,000. He headed the list of subscrip- tions for the erection of the present fireproof Library building and was one of the founders of the Buffalo Fine Arts Academy, which he endowed with a permanent fund of fl0,000, now known as the Jewett I"'und. Mr. Jewett served as Curator of the Academy for eight years and. was its President in 1865. Rochester University profited by his benevolence, and he did his full share toward the establishment and development of Forest Lawn Cemetery. Mt. Jewett was one of the original members of the Republican party and a stanch supporter of President Lincoln and the Union cause. He was elected to the Buffalo Common Council in 1845 and served during that year, 1846 and 1849, being also MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTOEY. 71 several times chosen Mayor pro tern. During his term of office occurred the fight between the advocates of the Ohio Basin and the Erie Basin. Mr. Jev^^ett took the position that the city needed both, and through his influence this course was a;d6pted;to the vast benefit of the city of BufEalo. In 1878 Mr. Jewett received the Eepublican nomination for Representative in Congress, but owing to poor health he declined this unsolicited and unanimous honor. In 1880 he was elected Eepublican Presidential Elector. Mr. Jewett was one of the founders and a director of the Buffalo Club, served as its President in 1874, and was also one of the organizers and the first President of the Falconwood Club. He was appointed a Park Commissioner in 1871, was President of the Board from 1879 until a few years ago. He was a strong believer in and supporter of the Christian religion, and among the Biiffalo churches which benefited by his helping hand were the Washington street Baptist Church, the Prospect avenue Baptist Church, the Delaware avenue Baptist Church, and some churches of other denominations. . August 14, 1839 Mr. Jewett married Deborah Dusenbury of Buffalo. Their surviving children are Henry Clay Jewett, Josiah Jewett, Emma Alice Jewett (Mrs. Charles H. Williams) and Jennie Matilda Jewett (Mrs. Henry C. Howard). The death of Sherman S. Jewett occurred February 28, 1897. JOHN COTTON JEWETT, who died at Los Angeles, Cali- fornia, on the 18th of February, 1904, was one of the most distinguished of the pioneers of. industrial Buffalo. He was born in Moravia, Cayuga County, N. Y., February 2nd, 1820., In his boyhood John C. Jewett led the life of a typical, farmer's lad.. When about seventeen years old, he went to Ann Arbor, Mich., where his. brother Samuel was engaged in mercantile business. Entering his brother's store, young Jewett showed such talent for his occupation that he was soon made a partner. 72 MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. February 2, 1843, Mr. Jewett married Priscilla Boardman of Ann Arbor. At the time of her marriage Miss Boardman was only in her seventeenth year. Her strong, womanly character was, however, clearly manifest. She was a woman of noble Christian attributes and of unusual mental powers. The chil- dren of this marriage were: Edgar Boardman, Carrie Amelia, Matilda Caroline, Ella, Frederick Arthur, and Mabel. Mr. Jewett later removed from Ann Arbor to Albion, Mich., where he conducted a mercantile business. In 1849 he came to Buffalo, beginning with a small manufacturing concern, which steadily grew to be one of the great manufacturing industries of the land. Today the John C. Jewett Manufacturing Com- pany sends refrigerators to every section of the United States and to many foreign countries; For forty years, dating from the inauguration of his first factory in Buffalo, the history of John C. Jewett was the history of the immense industry he had reared. His efforts were ably seconded by his sons, Edgar B. and Frederick A. Jewett, and by his son-in-law, Eisley Tucker. GEN. EDGAR B. JEWETT, ex-Mayor and ex-Police Commis- sioner of Buffalo and head of the John C. Jewett Manufacturing Company, enjoys the triple distinction of military, civic and business achievements of a very high order. As a soldier. Gen. Jewett has a brilliant record of service and promotion. Elected Mayor of Buffalo by the largest majority up to that time ever given a candidate for the office, he proved the power of a strong personality in municipal affairs. His administration was char- acterized by the large number of difficult and important ques- tions that arose and by the able way they were met. Edgar Boardman Jewett was born at Ann Arbor, Mich., December 14, 1843. While still a child he came to Buffalo with his parents and was educated in the public schools of that city. In 1860 he entered the John C. Jewett establishment. A year later the Civil W^ar broke out, and he enlisted as a private in Company C, 74th Regiment N. G. S. N. Y. In May, 1863, he G^^ajyA.-^atel of Lansing, Mich. The elder Wallenmeier came to Buffalo in 1853 and settled in Black Rock. Mr. Wallenmeier was a baker in Germany and followed the same business in this country. In 18(>5 he removed to Tonawanda and there continued in the bakery business until 1875. He died on March 24, 1904. His wife died Dec. 20, 1879. John G. Wallenmeier, Jr., was born in Buifalo October 10, 1862, but at the age of three was taken to Tonawanda, when the family removed there, and has always made that city his home. He received his education in the public schools, and at the age of fourteen became a driver on the Erie Canal. It was not long before he and a brother owned a canal boat of their own, but when eighteen years old Mr. Wallenmeier sold out his interest and went to work at the black- smith's trade. May, 1883, found him in the grocery business, to which he sub- sequently added a meat market and conducted both until the spring of 1894, when he disposed of his interests. He has been active in other business enterprises in Tonawanda, promi- nent among them being the Niagara Savings and Loan Asso- ciation, of which he was one of the founders in 1890. He served JOHN Q. WALLEKMEIBE. 180 MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTOKY. as its President for several years, retiring in 1896, and the same year became its Treasurer, wMch office he holds at the present time. Since the organization under the laws of the State of New York of the Buffalo Burial Park Association in 1901, which founded the Elmlawn Cemetery in the town of Tonawanda, Mr. Wallenmeier has been actively interested in it, having been one of the founders and ever since one of the Directors, and at the present time its Secretary and General Manager. Mr. Wallenmeier is recognized as the Republican leader in the Northern part of Erie County. lie was a delegate to the Republican National Convention at St. Louis in 1896, which nominated McKinley for President, and in 1904 at Chicago that nominated Roosevelt, and since 1895 has been a delegate to all the State Conventions. At the Saratoga Convention in the fall of 1904 he received the nomination for State Treasurer.. His election followed, and he filled the duties of this important office with signal ability and success. Renominated in the fall of 1906, he was defeated with all the other candidates on the state ticket excej^t the 'Governor. Prior to his election as State Treasurer, Mr. Wallenmeier had long been active in Republican politics and had more than once been honored with local offices. In 1894, when the office of police justice was created in Tonawanda, Mr,, Wallenmeier was appointed to that office by the Tonawanda Council. The following year he was regularly elected to the Police-Justiceship, for a four year terin. In 1898 he was appointed Postmaster of Tonawanda and held the office for six years. Both city and town of Tona- wanda were formerly Democratic by large majorities, but of late years, largely through Mr. Wallenmeier's activities and popularity, the figures have been reversed. November 14, 1883, Mr. Wallenmeier married Hattie May Koch, daughter of Robert L. and Elizabeth (Kibler) Koch of Tonawanda. Mr. Wallenmeier is a member of Tonawanda Lodge, No. 247, F. & A. M., and served as its Master for three years. He also MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 181 is a member of Tonawanda Chapter, No. 278, Royal Arch Masons, of which he served as High Priest for two years, and of Lake Erie Commandery, No. 20, Knights Templar, which in 1908 chose him its Generalissimo. He also is a member of Ismailia Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, and of Zuleika Grotto. From 1878 until 1880 he served as a Volunteer Fire- man, and in April, 1897, he was elected a member of the Tona- wanda Firemen's Benevolent Association and by unanimous vote was made the Secretary of that body. From his youth Mr. Wallenmeier has been a member of the German Evangelical Church. CAPTAIN HENRY W. BRENDEL, former Collector of United States Customs of the Port of Buffalo, is also an able lawyer. Of German extraction, his father, Peter Brendel, was born in Bavaria in 1835. Peter Brendel came to Buffalo in the 50's, where he learned the cooper trade, which he followed for a number of years, later engaging in farming. Henry W. Brendel was born in Buffalo December 10, 1857, and was educated in the public schools. He then entered the law office of Hawkins & Fischer, remaining one year, when he became a clerk in the office of Delavan F. Clark. He was admitted to the bar in January, 1879, and the same year he formed a law partnership with Gen. James C. Strong. When later this copartnership was dissolved, Mr. Brendel practiced alone until he became associated with ex^Assemblyman Frank W. Standart. After his retirement from the Collectorship in the spring of 1906, Mr. Brendel resumed the practice of law, entering into partnership with his former associate, Mr. Stan- dart, and with Francis Bagot, under the present firm name of Brendel, Standart & Bagot. April 1st, 1878, he enlisted as a private in Company D, of the Seventy-Fourth Regiment, in the N. G. N. Y. Subsequently he was transferred to the Sixty- Fifth Regiment, being commissioned Second Lieutenant in Company I, and later as Captain. He saw active service during 182 MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. the railroad strike in East Buffalo in 1893, in the Tonawanda lumber strike of '93, and in the Spanish- American War. In August, 1895, he received a gold medal for twenty-five years of continuous service in the National Guard. When the Spanish- American War broke out. Captain Brendel, then in command of Company I, C5th Eegiment, volun- teered and accompanied his regiment during the campaign, serving from May 1, 1898, until mustered out November 19th of the same year. During the decade from 1885 to 1896 he vpas one of the recog- nized Republican leaders in Erie Coimty, and is at the present time among the most prominent members of the party. For a number of years he served as a member of the Republican Excutive Committee, and Treasurer for three years. October 7th, 1897, Mr. Brendel was appointed by President McKinley Collector of Customs for the port of Buffalo. Mr. Brendel is interested dn several leading Buffalo business enter- prises. He is a Mason of the 32d degree. Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, a member of Modestia Lodge of Masons and of Lake Erie Commandery, Knights Templar. He is a Director of the Buffalo Orpheus, and a member of the Saengerbund, the Teutonia Maennerchor, and other singing societies. On the occasion of the Saengerfest of the North American Saenger- bund, in 1901, Mr. Brendel was a member of the Board of Directors, served on the Finance Committee, and was Treasurer of the organization. He belongs to the Harugari, the Buffalo Society of Natural Sciences, Treasurer of the German Society of Buffalo, Treasurer of the German Alliance of Buffalo, and St. Stephen's Evangelical Church. December 6, 1891, Mr. Brendel married Augusta Haupt, daughter of Frederick and Henrietta (Fuchs) Haupt. They have two daughters, Freda H. and Elsa Brendel. EUGENE M. BARTLETT, one of the leading lawyers of Buffalo and Western New York, comes from a long line of MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 183 distinguislaed English ancestors, who trace their descent back to one of the sturdy warriors who followed William the Conqueror from Normandy to England in the Eleventh Century, since which time, in the more peaceful, but equally stirring- world of politics and pxiblic affairs, the family has been promi- nent in England and later in America. Curiously enough one of the descendants of a lieutenant of William the Conqueror of England, signed the American Declaration of Independence. The family from which Mr. Bartlett is directly descended traces its lineage back to Adam Bartlett, who accompanied William the Conqueror from Normandy and fought under his banner at the decisive battles at Hastings in 1066. When the Norman Chieftain rewarded his victorious followers with tracts of English land, Adam Bartlett was given five thousand acres in Sussex, which have been held by the family from that day to this. The family mansion, still standing, was built in the thirteenth century. Another ancient edifice on the estate is a Norman stone church, built in 1309, and which is still in use. The present owner of the estate, which in accordance with the English law descends to the eldest male descendant, is Sir Walter G. Bartlett, 24th in the line from Adam Bartlett. The first Bartlett to come to America was Kichard Bartlett, who came from Sussex and settled at Newbury, Mass., in 1636. His descendants have played stirring roles in the history of the nation they helped to found. Among these, the most dis- tinguished was Josiah Bartlett, whose elder brother, Stephen, was the great-great-great-grandfather of the subject of this sketch. Josiah Bartlett headed the New Hampshire delegation to the Congress of 1776, and as such signed the Declaration of Independence, his name following immediately after that of John Hancock, President of the Congress. In later years Josiah served New Hampshire as Governor and also as United States Senator. Mr. Bartlett's father is Hon. Myron E. Bartlett, whose father removed from Vermont to Wyoming County, N. Y., in 1824; 184 MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. There Myron E. Bartlett was born seven years later. He married Cordelia Elvira McFarlan of Twinsburg, Ohio, where he completed his education in the Twinsburg Institution. Through this union Eugene M. Bartlett was born at Warsaw on March 11th, 1855. In early life, recognizing its educational value, he learned the printer's trade in the office of the Western New Yorker, of which William H. Merrill, later the managing editor of the New York World, was then the proprietor. In after years Mr. Bartlett frequently contributed articles to papers and magazines. He received his education in the Warsaw and Geneseo Academies, and finished in Cornell University, and following his father in the study of law, was admitted to the bar in 1880. In the following year he formed a partnership with his father, under the name of M. E. & B. M. Bartlett, which continued until 1896. During its existence the firm was engaged upon one side or the other in nearly every important case in the county. The senior member of the firm was appointed County Judge by Governor Black in 1896. Eugene M. Bartlett early took a prominent place at the Wyoming County Bar, and also became an active worker in the ranks of the Republican party; the combination of Republican- ism and legal ability resulting in his election of District Attorney of the County in 1887. This office he filled with ability and success, until 1889, declining a re-nomination. On January 23rd, 1895, Mr. Bartlett married Grace M. Sheldon of Hornellsville, and on June 1st of the following year removed to Buffalo, in order that he might enter upon a wider field in the practice of law. Since his removal to Buffalo, Mr. Bartlett has taken a prominent place at the Erie County Bar^ and has been engaged in the trial of some of the most important civil and criminal actions arising in that section of the State. Mr. Bartlett has been connected with many business enter- prises; he is a member of the New York State Bar Association, of the Erie County Bar Association, the Lawyers' Club, the Buffalo Historical Society, CorneH Alumni Association, Batavia MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 185 Commandery, Knights Templar; Adytum Chapter, F. & A. M.; Lodge of the Ancient Landmarks, No. 441; Batavia Club, the Buffalo Club, Park Club of Buffalo, and the Empire State Society of the Sons of the American Eevolution. EDWARD EMERSON COATSWORTH, former District Attorney of Erie County, and a noted practitioner at the Buffalo bar, is a lawyer of wide experience and excellent record, and in civic, political and social connections commands the esteem of all who know him. Mr. Coatsworth is of English ancestry, being a grandson of Thomas Coatsworth, who with his wife, Jane Graham, and other members of the family, came to Buffalo in 1817. In 1830 he purchased thirty acres of land in the South Side of Buffalo, thus becoming one of the principal land-owners of the city. Upon his death this property descended intact to his sons, Caleb and John. CALEB COATSWORTH, son of Thomas, was born in England in 1811. When six years old he came with his parents to Buffalo, and was educated in the public schools of that city. In his youth he learned the hatter's trade, later engaging in that business for himself. After the death of their father, Caleb Coatsworth and his brother, John, erected build- ings on the real estate which became theirs by inheritance, and otherwise developed the property. During the later years of his life Caleb Coatsworth retired from mercantile business and devoted himself to the care of his extensive land interests in Buffalo. In politics he was a Democrat, but supported Lincobi during the Civil War. In 1846 Mr. Coatsworth married Jane Coatsworth, his cousin, who died in 1850. Their only child was a daughter. Prances A., who died in 1883. In 1862 Mr. Coatsworth married again, his wife being Jane Webb, a native of England. The children of . the marriage were Reuben H. and Edward E. Coatsworth. The 186 MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. death of Caleb Coatsworth occurred August 10, 1870. Mrs. Coatsworth died January 19, 1899. Edward Emerson Coatsworth was born in Buffalo IS'ovember 5, 1866, and was educated in the public schools. Immediately after his graduation he entered upon a course of legal study, beginning as a student and clerk in the law office of Tabor & Sheehan in 1884. Jamiary 6, 1888, he was admitted to the bar, and the same year became junior partner in the law firm of Tabor, Sheehan & Coatsworth. In 1890, wlien John Cunneen became a partner, the firm name being Tabor, Sheehan, Cunneen & Coatsworth, an association which lasted until Mr. Sheehan removed to New York, when the firm of Cunneen & Coatswortli was formed, continuing until October, 1897. In 1898, the firm of Fisher, Coatsworth & Wende was organized and existed till the death of Mr. Theodore Wende in 1902, when the firm became Fisher, Coatsworth & Wende, being composed of Messrs. Fisher and Coatsworth, Charles Diebold, Jr., Harry N. Kraft and Frederick Wende. This partnership continued until 1903, when the firm of Fisher, Coatswortli, Diebold & Kraft was organized. Mr. Fisher retiring April 5, 1905, the firm became Coatsworth, Diebold & Kraft. Mr. Coatsworth is attorney for the Western Savings Bank, and the Lackawanna National Bank, and his firm is counsel for the receiver of the German Bank. The firm has a large general practice, is widely known and as widely respected. Mr. Coatsworth has always been a Democrat, and his interest in politics is active. In the fall of 1902 he received the Demo- cratic nomination for District Attorney and was elected by a plurality of 3,600, a very large vote for the Democracy to poll in Erie County. He served as District Attorney for three years, retiring January, 1906. He administered the affairs of the office with ability, fidelity and zeal, and made an admirable record. In January, 1906, Mr. Coatsworth accepted the office of Chairman of the Democratic General Committee to which position he had been elected by an unanimous vote, having the MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 187 support of all factions in the party. He was re-elected to that position in 1907. Mr. Coatsworth is well known as a lover of aquatic sport. He is a member of the Buffalo Canoe Club, having served, as Commodore from 1899 to 1902 and again in 1906, and belongs to the Buffalo Yacht Club. He is also a member of the Buffalo and Ellicott Clubs, a 32d degree Mason, a Noble of the Mystic Shrine, a member of Hugh de Payens Commandery, Knights Templar; also a member of Buffalo Consistory, Zuleika Grotto, and of the Acacia Club. He is an Episcopalian, and was christened and confirmed in old St. James Church. June 25th, 1891, Mr. Coatsworth married Emma M. Blacking of Buffalo, daughter of Charles B. and Ella Thomas. The chil- dren of the marriage are: Helen, born April 24, 1892, and Emerson E., born February 15, 1894. GEORGE JEDIAH LETCHWOKTH. In George J. Letch- worth, who passed from this life on the 24th of May, 1887, were blended in equal degree the qualities of the strong, capable man of affairs and the broad-minded philanthropist. Gifted with rare practical abilities, Mr. Letchworth was a man of exceptional power and initiative. From an early period of his life he was identified with large manufacturing enterprises, and he won a distinguished name in the business world. But amid all the activities of his busy career he was ever mindful of the higher meaning of existence. Few men have so well exempli- fied the principles of honor and Christian benevolence. His character was singularly gentle, frank and sincere. The Letchworth family is of English descent, and the ancestors of the subject of this sketch were well-known resi- dents of Philadelphia and its vicinity, being prominent mem- bers of the Society of Friends. Later representatives of the family removed to Central New York. The parents of George J. Letchworth were Josiah and Ann (Hance) Letchworth, who in the early part of their married life resided at Burlington, N. J. Thence in 1820 they removed to the Black River region 188 MEMOKIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. of Northern New York, settling first at Chaumont, afterward at Brownville. In 1828 Mr. Letchwortli removed to Moravia, Cayuga County, and later settled at Sherwood, where he became established in the saddlery business for many years. He finally removed to Auburn, N. Y., where he lived until his death in 1857. Guided in his principles and conduct by the teachings of the Society of Friends, Josiah Letchworth was a man of consistent Christian life. He was prominent in the anti-slavery move- ment, a leading advocate of temperance reform, and took a keen interest in political affairs so far as they bore on vital necessities of morality and justice. George Jediah Letchworth was the third son of Josiah Letchworth and was born in Brownville, Jefferson County, N. Y., on the 14th of August, 1827. As a youth he displayed remarkable ingenuity and mechanical skill in the success with which he constructed an apparatus for developing electricity. When seventeen years of age he left home to enter the service of Messrs. Hayden & Holmes at Auburn, N. Y., and in 1849 was admitted to partnership, the firm style becoming Hayden, Holmes & Co., and later, Hayden & Letchworth, of which con- cern he continued to be the managing partner for about twenty- two years and up to 1872. Mr. Letchworth became closely identified with the public life of Auburn. He was among the foremost in all good works, civic, benevolent or religious. During the Civil War he was a prominent member of the Sanitary Commission. Mr. Letchworth removed to Buffalo in 1876. He came here at the suggestion of his brother, Mr. Josiah Letchworth, with which Mr. George J. Letchworth afterwards became associated as a partner. The firm, widely known as proprietors of the Buffalo Malleable Iron & Steel Works, were also extensively engaged in the manufacture of saddlery hardware. The connection of Mr. Letchworth with the house of Pratt & Letchworth lasted till the close of his life. The engrossing cares of the great enterprise which he had in ^clj^yy ^JJ(s/u^V^^/T MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 189 charge absorbed Mr. Letchworth's time and strength, yet he took a keen interest in the advancement of Buffalo. His benevolent nature found a still larger sphere than before, and he became notably identified with the charities of the City. He was a particularly active member of the Society for the Preven- tion of Cruelty to Children, and was elected its President, an office which he continued to hold till his death in the month of May, 1887, at Manchester, England. His remains rest in the beautiful cemetery of Auburn, the city which he so loved and where he so long resided. Mr. Letchworth was married on the 21st of August, 1850, at Sherwood, N. Y., to Charlotte Pearl, only daughter of Dr. Denison and Maria (Ogden) Pearl, of Scipio. The children of the union were Ogden P., and Anna M. Letchworth, the latter of whom is since deceased. OGDEN PEARL LETCHWORTH. One of Buffalo's leading citizens, and a man who stands in the front rank of industrial leaders in this State, is Ogden P. Letchworth. As head of the Pratt & Letchworth Company and other enterprises of national reputation, Mr. Letchworth is widely known as an executive of first-class ability and as a large-minded, sagacious business man who exemplifies the principles of progress and is in the van- guard of the march of modern improvement. Mr. Letchworth is as eminent in citizenship as in the business world. Ogden Pearl Letchworth was born in Auburn, N. Y., on the 23d of August, 1851. As a boy he attended the public and- high schools of his native city, later entering the Williston Seminary at Easthampton, Mass., from which institution he graduated. In the later '60's Mr. Letchworth began his business career, becoming office assistant in his father's saddlery manufac- turing establishment at Auburn, finally being admitted to part- nership in the firm of Hayden, Letchworth & Smith. In 1876 Mr. Letchworth removed to Buffalo, where he became connected with the well-known firm of Pratt & Letchworth, manufacturers of steel and malleable castings. While in this 190 MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. employ he was at different times salesman, stock-keeper, cor- responding clerk, purchasing agent, and general manager, which position he continued to hold till 1886, when, on the death of his father, he became a partner. The copartnership existed till the 1st of January, 1896. The firm was then incorporated under the laws of New York State as the Pratt & Letchworth Company, with a paid-up capital of |300,000, Ogden P. Letch- worth being chosen President and Josiah Letchworth Secretary and Treasurer. The Pratt & Letchworth Company has the prestige of long standing, for its foundation dates from the establishment of the firm of Pratt & Letchworth in 1848. Originally the concern manufactured saddlery and carriage hardware. Later was added the production of malleable iron and steel castings. The concern controls the Buffalo Malleable Iron Works, the Buffalo Steel Eoundry, the Malleable Iron Works at Brantford, Ont., and the United Hame Company, of which Mr. Ogden P. Letchworth is also President. The plant at Black Rock covers twenty acres, twelve acres being under roof, and includes about fifty buildings. Some 1,400 persons are employed. Mr. Letchworth is a loyal citizen of Buffalo, to whose inter- ests he is greatly devoted. Not a holder or seeker of public office, he is so closely identified with the vital interests of the community and the general cause of progress that he is in the genuine meaning of the term a public man. His infiuence and his substantial support are thrown into the scale of right, liberality and justice in all movements having for their objects the civil, social or intellectual welfare of the city. Generous by nature and with a keen sentiment of sympathy for those less organized charities and is equally noted for private benevo- lence. In politics Mr. Letchworth is a Republican. His ambitions do not lead him to become what is commonly called active along |)olitical lines, but he is a firm believer in good government and in the doctrine that public office is a public trust. He has served his party as a member of the Republican League, and is rigidly observant of his duty as a voter and his obligations as an American citizen. MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 191 Mr. Letchworth is a member and former president of the National Founders' Association, trustee of the Gowanda State Homeopathic Hospital, appointed by Governor Black in 1898, trustee of the Queen City Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, the Buffalo Historical Society, and the American Scenic and Historic Prevention Society of New York, and belongs to the Buffalo, Park, Ellicott, Country, Buffalo Yacht, and Liberal clubs of this city, the Transportation Club of New- York, and the Koyal Canadian Yacht Club of Toronto. On the 18th of June, 1878, Mr. Letchworth was united in marriage to Miss Laura C. Strong of Buffalo. WILLIAM LAVERACK, whose death occurred in 1888, was a pioneer merchant of Buffalo and one of the most widely known and successful of our city's representative men in his day. To his memory belongs an honorable page in the annals of those men of enterprise and capability to whose labors are due the development of Buffalo from a provincial town to a large commercial city. The family from which Mr. Laverack was descended was of Scotch origin, having removed from Scotland to Yorkshire, England, many generations ago. Edward Laverack, the father of William Lavei'ack, was a ship owner and timber merchant of Hull, who imported ship and building timber from the Baltic region. William Laverack was born in Hull, England, in 1815. He followed his father's business until he was eighteen years old, when he came to this country, landing in New York City. He soon went to Pittsfleld, Massachusetts, where he entered the employ of Theodore Pomeroy, a manufacturer of carpets and woolens. Mr. Laverack came to Buffalo in the spring of 1833, entering the drug store of Eobert Hollister, which was located at the Southeast corner of Seneca and Main streets. He formed a partnership with Mr. Hollister under the firm name of Hollister & Laverack. The association, which was very prosperous, existed till 1864, when Mr. Hollister retired and 192 MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTOEY. Mr. Laverack admitted as partners his two sons, William A. and George E. Laverack, under the style of Wm. Laverack & Co. This firm continued until. 1877, when William A. Laverack died. In 1884 Joseph L. Hunsicker became connected with the business. Upon the death of William Laverack in 1888, the firm was dissolved, Mr. Hunsicker withdrawing. In the early days of the firm its business was almost wholly in the West, and some reminiscences of the time give an inter- esting picture of how commerce was carried on in the '40*s. On the 2d of January in each year Mr. Laverack would start on a horseback tour, settling up accounts of the previous year and journeying as far West as Chicago, the trip occupying three months. These horseback journeys continued till 1850. In 1854 the store at Main and Seneca streets was rebuilt, and Mr. Hollister established there the Hollister Bank. The drug and grocery business being removed to No. 230 Washington street, where it has been conducted for half a century. A man of quiet habits and domestic tastes, as a general rule he divided his time between his store and his home. But when it was proposed to erect the first headquarters of the recently organized Buffalo Club at No. 210 Delaware avenue, next to his residence, he became a charter member of the Club. He also was actively concerned in various institutions for the further- ance of education, culture and benevolence, and held life memberships in the Buffalo Historical Society, the Fine Arts Academy and the Society of Natural Sciences. He was also a zealous member and a liberal supporter of the Young Men's Association. William Laverack was a man of high principle and strong religious belief. He was one of the organizers of Trinity Parish in 1836, and served as Vestryman and Warden of the church for a great many years. In 1840 Mr. Laverack married Mary Eadcliffe, daughter of Jerry Radcliffe and Ariadne Webster, and was the sister of Mrs. Robert Hollister and Mrs. Walter Jay. Mrs. Laverack died in 1877. The children of the union now surviving are MEMOKIAL AND B^AMILY HISTORY. 19S George E. Laverack and Mary A., now the wife of Dr. H. C. Frost. Few lives have so well exemplified as did that of William Laverack the qualities of the capable business man, the con- scientious citizen and the consistent Christian. A man without pretense or display, his existence moved in a current which, though serene, was strong and steady and which brought abundant benefits to his fellow-men. His was a well-rounded character, true to itself and to principle. His life was one of pre-eminent usefulness and his death was felt as a severe loss to the community with whose growth and prosperity his career had been so closely identified. GEORGE EDWARD LAVERACK. Among Buffalonians of our day who have attained a prominent place in the world of business and the sphere of citizenship, one of the most noteworthy is George E. Laverack. Mr. Laverack was for many years identified with the wholesale drug and gro- cery business. During his active career Mr. Lave- rack was connected with other extensive interests, notably in transportation and banking affairs. He is well known in social life, and is an earnest supporter of movements in aid of civic and general improvement. Mr. Laverack was born in Buffalo on the 10th of October, 1845, and is a son of the late William Laverack. In GEORGE LAVERACK. 194 MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTOEY. 1864, when only nineteen, he became his father's partner in the wholesale drug and grocery trade. He remained continuously with his father until the latter's death, and for several years previous had practically the entire charge of the business^. On the death of the elder Mr. Laverack in 1888, George E. Laverack bought the interest of J. L. Hunsicker as well as that of the Laverack estate, and became sole proprietor, and conducted the business- until 1900. During the years of his control he developed the business greatly, making it one of the largest houses in its line between New York and Chicago, being known throughout New York State, the Middle West and Penn- sylvania. Meantime Mr. Laverack became identified with transporta- tion affairs. In 1877 he was elected a Director of the Western Transportation Company and served until that corporation passed over to the New York Central Railroad in 1883. He was also a Director in the old American Exchange Bank. Mr. Laverack has been for many years an active member of the Chamber of Commerce and its predecessor, the Merchants' Exchange. He is a life member of the Buffalo Historical Society, the Fine Arts Academy and the Society of Natural Sciences. He is well-known in the Masonic fraternity, being- affiliated with Ancient Landmarks Lodge of Masons and Hugh de Payens Commandery, Knights Templar. He is a member of the Buffalo Club, and was one of the founders of the Country Club, of which he served as President during the first three years of its existence. Like his father, Mr. Laverack was a Volunteer Fireman, serving with Taylor Hose Company for eight years. Since childhood he has been a member of Trinity Church. On the 5th of September, 1871, Mr. Laverack married Miss Mary Rumrill, daughter of Levi H. Eumrill and Frances (T^weedy) Rumrill. The children of the union are Belle Rad- cliffe Laverack; Gertrude, now the wife of Andrew N. Winslow of Boston; Howard Cowing Laverack; William Harold Laverack, and Miss Jean Laverack. MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 195 EGBERT KEATING. To that representative business man and citizen, Robert Keating, two provinces of enterprise have afforded the opportunities of success. In the earlier part of Mr. Keating's long residence in Buffalo he won distinction and acquired wealth in manufactures. At the present time he devotes himself to his important banking interests. Robert Keating is a native of Ireland. The family to which he belongs lived for generations in County Carlow, near Dublin, and later in the County of Wexford. Tradition says that the Keatings originally came to Ireland from France. Robert Keating, the father of Robert Keating of Buffalo, was a resident of the County of Wexford, where he was well- known as a land-owner and as the agent of a large estate. In 1827 he married Eleanor Langford, who, like her husband, was a member of the Church of England, and belonged to a very old Irish family. Robert Keating, the subject of the present sketch, was born in County Wexford on the 30th of September, 1834. He was educated at public and private schools. In 1854 he came to America to visit his brother, George Keating, of Brooklyn, N. y. Mr. Keating liked this country so well that he decided to remain here. In less than a year after his arrival he came to Buffalo and entered the employ of Jewett & Root, stove manu- facturers. W^ith that firm he remained about eleven years. He rose to the positions of cashier and buyer, and in 1866 formed a partnership with Henry C. Jewett, son of S. S. Jewett, in the tannery business. The enterprise was very successful, having plants in Glean, N. Y., and in Port Allegany, Pa. With this industry Mr. Keating was connected until 1892, when the business was sold to the leather trust. Thereafter Mr. Keating retired from manufacturing, and has since devoted his time to banking, being identified with some of the most important financial institutions in Buffalo. Since 1866 he has served as a Director of the Third National Bank; is Secretary of the Standard Savings & Loan Association, and has been Vice- 196 MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. President and trustee of the Buffalo Savings Banli since 1894. He is a trustee of tlie Buffalo Orphan Asylum and for twenty-five years served as a trustee of the Buffalo General Hospital. He is a life member of the Young Men's Association, and the P^ine Arts Academy, and belongs to the Historical Society. He is President of the Board of Trustees of the Dela- ware Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church, and has been a member of the board ever since its organization thirty-five years ago. In 1858 Mr. Keating married Caroline W. Root, daughter of Francis H. Root. The only surviving child of the union is Robert Keating Root, who was adopted by Francis H. Root, who wished an heir to perpetuate the family name. Mrs. Keating died in 1866. In 1868 Mr. Keating married a second time, his wife being Anna J. Putnam, a daughter of the late Hon. James O. Putnam. The children of the marriage are: George P. Keating; Jeannette P. Keating, now Mrs. Roger C. Adams, and Harriett Keating. AUGUST CARL ESENWEIN, senior member of the firm of Esenwein & Johnson, as an architect and designer stands in the front rank of his profession. Mr. Esenwein comes of a German house of great antiquity, the Esenwein family-, which belonged to the knightly order, having lived for more than 500 years on its ancestral estates called Esenwein-Yirnsberg, in the Kingdom of Wuertemburg, South Germany. The last of the race to use the antique von Esenwein- Virnsberg name was Carl August Esenwein- Virns- berg, grandfather of August Carl Esenwein of Buffalo. His only son was August Carl Esenwein, the father of the subject of this sketch. He was born in 1819, and as a young man lived on rthe family estate. In 1861 he came to America, and after spending ten years in this country, returned to Germany, where he died in 1869. He married Caroline Glessing of Weinsberg, who died in Vienna in 1884. MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 197 August Carl Esenwein was born November 7, 1856, at Eseu-^ wein-Virnsberg, near Weinsberg, in Wuertemburg, Germany. His rudimentary education was obtained at private schools, and later he entered the Gymnasium at Stuttgart, and was there prepared for the University of Stuttgart. In 1874 he became a student in the Stuttgart Polytechnic University, where he remained for five years, also serving a year in the German army. While at Stuttgart he pursued courses in architecture and engineering, graduating in 1879. He then went to Paris, where for two years he worked in an architect's studio as a draughtsman. In 1880 Mr. Esenwein came to America, and settled in Buffalo, where he first found employment as a draughtsman, afterward spending two years in the engineering office of the Delaware & Lackawanna Railroad. While there he won the first prize for a design for the iirst Music Hall, which was built under his supervision. On leaving the employ of the railroad he began the practice of his profession for himself, and seven years ago formed a partnership with John Addison Johnson, with whom he has ever since been associated. Among the buildings designed by Mr. Esenwein are the Buffalo Public Library, the Gowanda State Hospital, the Iroquois Hotel, as remodeled, the Tower Hotel at Niagara Falls, the Gluck office building and the German-American Brewery and Hall. The firm of Esenwein & Johnson designed the Temple of Music, the Administration Building and Alt Nurnberg at the Pan- American, the Providence Retreat, the West Side and Lafayette High Schools, the Statler and Tourajne Hotels, six Buffalo grammar-schools, some of the Buffalo State Hospital buildings, the Saturn Club, the Teck Theater and Cafe, St. Agnes Church in East Buffalo, and many fine residences. In the erection of the fireproof store building at Main and Mohawk streets, Buffalo, in 120 days, the firm made a world's record for a building of this size and construction. Mr. Esenwein is a member of the American Institute of 198 MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. Architects, the Buffalo Chapter of Architects, and the Buffalo Society of Artists. He belongs to the Historical Society, the German Young Men's Association; is a life member of the Turn Verein and of the Buffalo Library, and a member of the Buffalo Orpheus, and is also a member of the Buffalo, Ellicott, Park and Country clubs. He is a 32d degree Mason, and belongs to Ancient Landmarks Lodge, F. & A. M., and to Buffalo Consistory. In May, 1892, Mr. Esenwein married Katherine Haberstro, daughter of Philip L. Haberstro and Barbara Scheu of Buffalo. The issue of the union is one child, August Carl, born July 28, 1906. CHAELES RUSSELL HUNTLEY, President of the Buffalo General Electric Company, is one of Buffalo's leading business men and in the field of electricity applied to industrial and commercial uses, ranks among the foremost men of the time. Mr. Huntley is of English and Puritan lineage. The immi- grant ancestor came from England to the Colonies during the Puritan emigration and settled in New Bedford, Massachusetts. His eldest son was James Huntley, who settled in Exeter, Otsego County, N. Y. His eldest son was Phineas Huntley, who was a farmer in Exeter, and whose sons were James, Charles, Elisha, Lester, Orrin, Porter, and Loren. James Huntley, son of Phineas, was, like his father, a farmer. In 1850 he retired from farming and removed to the town of West Winfield, Herkimer County, N. Y., where he died in March, 1879. He was a Major in the State militia and a Justice of the Peace of the town of Exeter. He was survived by his sons, Russell, James, Alonzo, George, Porter, and Carlos. Russell Huntley, son of James Huntley and father of Charles R. 'Huntley of Buffalo, was born in West Exeter, N. Y. January 10th, 1818. He began life as a farm boy, taught school' and later became a merchant in Durhamville, Oneida County' Afterward he removed to West Winfield, Herkimer County, MEMOEIAL AND FAMILY HISTOEY. 199 where for many years he kept a general store. Later he removed to Ilion, N. Y., a year afterward going to Utica, N. Y., where he engaged in a mercantile business. At the close of the Civil War he went to Newberne, North Carolina, where he carried on business until 1867, when he returned to Ilion and engaged in the hardware trade. He died January 4, 1901. The wife of Eussell Huntley was Clorinda Talbot, who was born in Manlius, Onondaga County, in this State, and who died in 1898. Charles Russell Huntley was born in West Winfield, Herkimer County, N. Y., October 12th, 1854. Until fifteen years old he attended public schools. He assisted his father in business until twenty years of age. He then entered the employment of the Remington Arms Company of Ilion, N. Y., for three years, when he entered the employ of the Standard Oil Company, at Bradford, Pa., afterward becoming the company's agent in that city, until 1883, when he resigned and went into the brokerage business in Bradford, remaining there till 1888. In that year he came to Buffalo as Secretary and General Manager of the Brush Electric Light Company, which positions he held until 1903, when the Brush and other com- panies were merged into the Buffalo General Electric Company, of which Mr. Huntley became Vice-President, and General Manager, and later President and General Manager, ofQ.ces which he now holds. He is also Vice-President and General Manager of the Cataract Power and Conduit Company; Presi- dent of the Cataract Electric Supply Company, and President of the Niagara Tachometer Company and of the Ramapo Iron Works. He is a Director of the Western New York Water Company and of the International Acheson Graphite Company; Treasurer of the Niagara Falls Electric Light & Power Com- pany, and a Director of the George Urban Milling Company. He is Vice-President of the People's Bank, a Director of the Ger- man-American Bank, and is interested in the Mexico & Orient Railroad. In politics Mr. Huntley was formerly a Democrat, but in 200 MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTOKY. 1896, when the Democratic party advocated the free coinage of silver, he became a Republican. While in Bradford, Mr. Huntley served one term as Select Councilman. He was twice elected a member of the Bradford Board of School Control, serving two years. He was api)ointed Park Commissioner of Buffalo by Mayor Jewett, serving three years. When the late John M. Brinker first projected the Pan- American Exposition, Mr. Huntley was made one of the original Board of Directors and later served as a Director and a member of the Executive Committee. In 1905 he was Commis- sioner of the State of New York to the Lewis & Clark Expo- sition at Poi'tland, Oregon. In 1890 Mr. Huntley was elected President of the National Electric Light Association, a body composed of 800 members and representing vast electrical interests throughout the United States. A sequel to this event was the assembling of the Association's Annual Convention in Buffalo in 1892. Mr. Huntley is a member of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers, and frequently contributes to electrical Journals. He is a member of the Chamber of Com- merce, and belongs to the Buffalo, Ellicott and Country clubs, in all of which he has served as Director. He is also connected with the Republican Club of New York City. He is a 32d degree Mason, and a member of Ancient Landmarks Lodge. In religion he is of the Episcopal faith, and attends the Church of the Ascension. In June, 1878, Mr. Huntley married Miss Ida Richardson, a daughter of William and Ann (O'Day) Richardson. The chil- dren of this union are : William Russell, now Assistant General Manager of the Buffalo General Electric Company; Walter Wood, who is engaged in the electrical business in Buffalo; Mary, now Mrs. Robert W. Chapin, and Robert Richardson. JOHN NEWTON SCATCHERD. No man is more strongly identified than John N. Scatcherd with the business, civic, and social life of Buffalo. The English family of Scatcherds, from MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 201 whom John IST. Scatcherd is descended, is of Yorkshire stock, the lineage dating back to feudal times. Thomas Scatcherd, the great-grandfather of John N. Scatcherd, was born in Beverly, near Hull, England, in 1750. He was one of the great merchants of Hull, and a leading supporter of the famous English philanthropist and reformer, William Wilberforce. John Scatcherd, son of Thomas Scatcherd, was born at Beverly, Yorlishire, in 1800. In 1821 he sailed for America. After arriving in Canada he went to Little Yorli, now Toronto; later he removed to Nissouri, the site of the present city of London. He became a leading citizen of that section and served in the Canadian Parliament many years. JAMES IS^EWTON SCATCHERD, son of John Scatcherd, was born at Wyton, Ont, December 4, 1824, and passed his youth upon his father's farm. His education was gained at the common schools. Lumbering was an important industry of the neighborhood, and the young man soon entered that business. In the spring of 1S52 he located in Buffalo, as the agent of Farmer, de Blaquiere & Deeds, lumber manufacturers, dealers and shippers at Woodstock and other points in Upper Canada. In 1857 he succeeded to the Buffalo branch of the business, which he continued with signal siiccess, being up to the time of his death one of the principal lumber dealers of the United States. In 1879, his son, John N. Scatcherd, was admitted to partnership, the firm being thenceforth known as Scatcherd & Son. The specialty of the business was the expensive hard woods. Mr. Scatcherd was connected with various Buffalo business organizations and projects. In the autumn of 1884 he was elected Vice-President of the Third National Bank, and was also a stockholder in several of the local banks. The only public offtce ever held by Mr. Scatcherd was that of Chairman of the Board of Water Commissioners for four years. Mr. Scatcherd married November 7, 1855, Miss Annie Belton 202 MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. of Tairfield, Canada. lie died January 18, 1885. He is survived by Ms son, John N. Scatcherd, and by a daughter, Mrs. Seward Gary. Mr. Scatcherd was one of the founders and a trustee of the Delaware avenue M. E. Church. He was a liberal contributor to charity; and the Buffalo General Hospital especially profited exceedingly by his benevolence. John Newton Scatchherd, son of James Newton Scatcherd, was born in Buffalo September 12th, 1857. His education was obtained in the public schools, Prof. Briggs' Classical School, and Hellmuth College in London, Ontario, graduating in 1872. After leaving college Mr. Scatcherd became con- nected with Scatcherd & Belton, remaining until 1879, when he was taken into partnership, the firm becoming Scatcherd & Son. The firm is one of the largest hardwood lumber concerns in the country. Mr. Scatcherd is Presi- dent of the Batavia-New York Woodworking Com- pany, whose plant is at Batavia, N. Y. From 1892 to 1896 he was President of the Bank of Buffalo, and is yet a Director. He is also Director of the Third National Bank, the Buffalo Loan & Trust & Safety Deposit Company. He was one of the projectors of the Ellicott Square Company, and acted as its President from 1894 to 1906, being now its Vice-President, and one of its Directors. JOHN tq". SCATOUEED. MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 203 He was formerly a Director of tlie Buffalo Eailway Company, and has since served as a Director of the International Railway Company. He is also a Director of the Buffalo, Lake Erie and Niagara Railroad, and is a Director and one of the promoters of the proposed Buffalo, Rochester & Eastern Railroad. From 1886 to 1888 Mr. Scatcherd was President of the Buffalo Lumber Exchange, and for two years was President of the Merchants' Exchange. When the Pan-American Exposition Company was organized in 1899 Mr. Scatcherd was elected a member of the Board of Directors and Chairman of its Execu- tive Committee; The committee was given the entire manage- ment of the Pan-American enterprise, except in the question of finance. For the two years, 1900-1901, Mr.- Scatcherd gave prac- tically all his time to the work. The task was enormous, and was ably and successfully performed. Mr. Scatcherd is one of the most prominent Republicans of Erie County. Elected President of the Buffalo Republican League, he held the ofl&ce two years, afterward serving another year. He also served seven years as member of the Republican State Committee for Erie County. During this period Mr. Scatcherd was the offtcial leader of the Republican party in Erie County, a position which he filled with rare tact and ability. In 1897 he received the Republican nomination for Mayor, but that year the whole Democratic ticket was elected. Mr. Scatcherd occupies a distinguished social position. He is a member of the Buffalo, Country, Ellicott, and Park clubs, and belongs to the Tennessee Club of Memphis, and the New York and Republican clubs of New York City. He is a member of the Delaware Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church, and has also served as its trustee. For some years Mr. Scatcherd was a trustee of the Buffalo General Hospital. He is a member of the Fine Arts Academy. September 9th, 1879, Mr. Scatcherd married Mary Eunice Wood, granddaughter of the late O. G. Steele of Buffalo. Their children are a daughter, Madeline Steele Scatcherd, and a son, James Newton Scatcherd. 204 MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. HIRAM WALTZ, of the live-stock commission firm of Swope, Hughes, Waltz & Benstead, is known throughout the country as the controller of immense live stock interests in East Buffalo and Cleveland, and not only stands in the foremost rank of Buffalo business men, but is one of the leading business men of the United States. Mr. Waltz is of Swiss ancestry, being descended from an ancient family. In the twelfth century the name Waltzer was ap- plied to a small com- munity of farmers who sought refuge from Gothic dominion in a mountain valley of the Alpine range, near the Rhine Glacier. These people have a well defined place in the annals of Switzer- land, being referred to by at least three Swiss his- torians. Born at Bluflton, O., in 1850, he early became en- gaged in the dry-goods, and grain and live stock business, continuing for twelve years. In 1881 Mr. Waltz removed to Buffalo, there becoming connected with the live stock commis- sion business, with which he has remained identified to the present time. The importance and the general relationships to the community of the great live stock commission house of ST%ope, Hughes, Waltz & Bens,tead, in which the subject of this sketch is a partner and a leading factor, are matters too well known to require extended comment. The transactions of this firm are on a vast scale, including interests co-extensive with HIRAM WALTZ. MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 205 the United States, and whose ramifications include foreign trade in many countries. The firm controls great capital and has unbounded banking credit. The position held by Mr. Waltz in relation to the live stock commission interests which center at East Buffalo is due to his mastery of the details of the busi- ness and to his possession of executive ability and grasp of general affairs. The growing importance of East Buffalo as a business center and the financial requirements of the enterprises in that locality, led to the organization of the Union Stock Yard Bank of Buffalo, November 10, 1904. Of this bank Mr. Waltz was one of the founders, and he is also its President. This, the latest addition to the banking institutions of Buffalo, is also among the strongest. Mr. Waltz is a Democrat and once received the Democratic nomination for City Con)ptroller, but declined to become a candidate. As a citizen of Buffalo, the standing of Mr. Waltz is as high as is his rank in the business world. He is the most prominent man connected with the interests of East Buffalo and wields a strong influence in all movements relating to the develop- ment of that section. THE HAMMOND FAMILY is of origin so ancient that the name may be traced to the conquest of England by William the Conqueror in 1066, and to France of a period indefinitely preceding that epoch. Burke's " Landed Gentry " says that the race was probably derived from a branch of the Norman house of St. Amand, far more ancient and of Norman origin, granted to the "Sirname of Hammond," with the motto: "Tentanda Via Est "— " A Way Must be Tried." In America the Hammonds date to a period nearly contempo- raneous with the earliest Puritan settlement of Massachusetts. The branch of the Hammonds with which this sketch is con- cerned consists of descendants of William Hammond of 206 MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. London, County Kent, England, who in 1620 married Elizabeth Penn, sister of Admiral Sir William Penn, and aunt of William Penn. The children of William Hammond were: Benjamin, Eliza- beth, Martha, and Eachel. After her husband's death the widow of William Hammond, with her children, left a good estate in London, and in 1634 came to New England. Mrs. Hammond lived in Boston and in Watertown, Mass., till 1638, when she removed to Scituate, becoming a member of the Eev. John Lothrope's church. She died in Boston in 1640. Benjamin Hammond, son of William and Elizabeth, w^ent to Sandwich, Mass., and in 1650 married Mary Vincent. Samuel Hammond, eldest son of Benjamin Hammond (1st), was born at Sandwich in 1655. About 1680 he came with his brother, John, to Eochester, Mass., -where he lived to an advanced age. He was a large landholder, and a leading member of the First Congregational Church. He married Mary Hathaway. Thomas Hammond, fourth son of the preceding, was born September 16, 1687. He lived at New Bedford, Mass. In 1721 he married Sarah Spooner. William Hammond, second son of Thomas Hammond of New Bedford, was born at that place on the 17th of August, 1724. From Wales, Hampden County, Mass., he removed to Northern New York, settling in or near Pittstown, Rensselaer County, In 1745 he married Elizabeth Sheperd. Paul Hammond, son of William, was born December 27th, 1757, probably at Wales, Hampden County, Mass. In 1780, at Pittstown, Rensselaer County, N. Y., he married Mary, also called Polly, Fuller. He was a soldier of the Revolution, was crippled in the Patriot service, and received a pension from the Gq,vernment. He was a farmer. In 1785 he moved to North- ampton (Northville), Fulton Co., N. Y. Between 1815 and 1820 he removed to Penfield, afterward Webster, Monroe County,' N. Y., where he died in 1838. MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 207 Benoni G. Btammond, son of Paul Hammond, Sr., was born February 16, 1784. He was a farmer, surveyor and school teacher. He lived at Brant, Erie County, N. Y., where he resided till his death in 1866. May 1, 1803, he married Euth Lobdell. CHAELES HAMMOND, third son of Benoni G. Hammond, born 1807, was the first of the family to settle in Erie County, arriving here in 1823. When he came to Erie County, Charles Hammond was still a boy. When sixteen years old he took up a piece of land in Hamburg, where he followed farming, later pursuing the same occupation in Brant, where most of his life was spent. He was an extensive land-owner, possessing several farms. He was also a contractor on public works, and had charge of the building of a section of the Erie Canal. He died in 1875. Charles Hammond's first wife was Clarissa Clark, whom he married August 19, 1830. She was born December 4, 1807, and died at Brant February 12, 1844. Their children were: William W., George W., Marthaline and Sarah Ann Hammond. June 12, 1844, Mr. Hammond married Emeline Eice. Their children were Philip Harvey, and Anna Maria Hammond. WILLIAM W. HAMMOND, eldest son of Charles Hammond, was born at Hamburg, Erie County, N. Y;, on the 4th of Novem- ber, 1831. He was brought up on his father's farm and attended the district schools at Brant and a select school at Irving, Chautauqua County. In order to go to school at Irving, young Hammond was obliged every day to walk six miles through the forest tract known as the " Indian Woods." He supplemented his rudimentary training by a course in the Fredonia Academy, and at sixteen began teaching school at Columbus, Pa., after which he went to Kentucky, where he taught school, and went from there to Jefferson County, Miss., a few miles from Louisville. Ill health obliged him to return 208 MEMORIAL AND FAMILY ftt^— ORY. County. Mrs. Hammond died in 1860, leaving one daughter, to his native State, where he again toolc up his residence in Brant, and Hamburg. While teaching school he began to read law. In 1856 he opened a general store at Brant, and also began to practice in Justices' Courts. When twenty-nine years old he came to Buffalo, entering the law office of Albert Swain and Judge Stephen Lockwood. Here he read law a short time, and was admitted to the bar May 16, 1861. Shortly afterward he opened an office in Angola, N. Y. In 1863 he was ordered with his regiment, the 67th National Guards, to Harrisburg, Pa., where he was stationed when the battle of Gettysburg was fought. He was for fourteen years a member of Company G, 67th Regiment, rising to the rank of Captain. In 1864 Mr. Hammond removed to Farnham. Here he engaged in farming and the lumber business and conducted a general store. He also served one term as Justice of the Peace, and was a member of the Board of Supervisors for ten out of the twelve years he spent there. In 1877 Mr. Hammond was elected County Judge of Erie County, and was twice reelected, serving from January 1, 1878, to January 1, 1890. Since 1878 Judge Hammond has resided in Buffalo. Since retiring from the bench, he has engaged in the practice of law here, the name of his present firm being Hammond & Hinkley. Judge Hammond ranks as a lawyer of large experience, excellent abilities and scrupulous integrity. ~ He is a safe and trusted legal adviser, and enjoys a large practice. Judge Hammond was one of the incorporators of the Angola Congregational Church, and one of the original members and trustees of the first Congregational church organized in Buffalo. For the past twenty years he has been Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Niagara Square Congregational Chjirch. In 1854 Judge Hammond married Amy Ann Hurd of Evans, the bride's parents being among the oldest settlers of Erie MEMORIAL AND FAMILY. HISTORY. 209 Kosa Belle, now Mrs. Charles Koepka of Angola, Erie County. Later Judge Hammond married Louisa A. Hurd. Their children are: Lillie M., now Mrs. Edward J. Newell of Buffalo, and Clark Hurd, now one of the Municipal Court judges of this city. CLARK HURD HAMMOND was born in the town of Brant, Erie County, February 23, 1875. When three years old he came with the family to Buffalo, where he attended the public schools and Angola Academy, graduating in 1895. He had in the meantime become one of the managers of the Buffalo Rubber Type Foundry, of whose financial department he had charge for a year. In the fall of 1895 he registered as a student in the University of Buffalo, devoting his attention to law. While pursuing his studies he became a clerk in the office of Hammond, Hatch & Ackerson, with whom he continued until he was graduated from the Buffalo Law School in 1897. After his admission to the bar he was for a year managing clerk in the offices of Hammond & Brown, and later he formed a part- nership with his father, under the firm name of Hammond & Hammond, the connection continuing until the younger Hammond became Judge of the Municipal Court. In the fall of 1903 Clark H. Hammond, who was then only twenty-eight years old, received the Republican nomination for Judge of the Municipal Court for the term of six years, and was elected by about 3,000 plurality. In January, 1904, Judge Hammond entered upon the duties of his office, being the youngest man who ever held the position of Municipal Court Judge in the City of Buffalo. Judge Hammond has done excellent work on the bench, presiding with justice and fairness and bringing to his judicial task a thorough knowledge of the law. He is now the senior Judge of his Court. In 1906, when the Law Department of the University of Buffalo added municipal court practice to its regular course, Judge Hammond was asked to deliver the lectures, and gave such satisfaction that he has been asked to regularly fill that chair. 210 MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. Always a Kepublican, Judge Hammond prior to his elevation to the bench was actively interested in the affairs of his party, serving for two years as District Committeeman of the Second District of the old Twentieth Ward, and in 1902 and 1903 repre- senting the same ward on the Republican General Committee. The latter position he relinquished after taking the bench. Before receiving judicial honors. Judge Hammond was attorney for the Master Plumbers' Association, and the Business Men's Protective Association of East Buffalo, connec- tions from which he resigned when he became Judge, in accord- ance with his pledge made during the campaign to give his entire time to the office. He has for many years been Grand Attorney of the Gamma Sigma ■ fraternity, a High School organization, and is also a member of the Delta Chi legal fraternity. He is a Mason, being affiliated with De Molay Lodge, No. 498, F. & A. M., with Keystone Chapter Eoyal Arch Masons; Hugh de Pay ens Commandery, Knights Templar; and Ismailia Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, and he is Past Monarch of Zuleika Grotto, No. 10. Judge Hammond also belongs to the Red Men, Fraternal Order Eagles, I. O. O. F., the Acacia Club, Sons of Veterans, and several other fraternal and social bodies. He is also a member and trustee of the First Congregational Church of Buffalo. June 6, 1899, Judge Hammond married Susan E. Valentine, a daughter of James and Phebe A. Valentine of Buffalo. ADELBERT MOOT is one of the leading lawyers of the Buffalo bar, and occupies a recognized place among the ablest lawyers of the State. Mr. Moot has all his life been an independent Republican. He is actively identified with the Civil Service cause and was one of the earliest supporters of the Good Government Club movement. When a Citizens' Association was formed to prose- cute the perpetrators of the election frauds of 1892, Mr. Moot was one of the principal counsel for the Association. He has MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 211 always been a potent influence for honest politics, sound citizen- ship and high standards in the legal profession. Adelbert Moot was born in Allen, Allegany County, N. Y., November 22, 1854. His father was Charles D., and his mother Mary Eutherford Moot. He attended the district schools, the village school at Belmont, Nunda Academy, and the State Normal School at Genesee. Mr. Moot read law with the Hon. D. P. Richardson of Angelica, Hon. Wilkes Angell of Belmont, and with Isaac Edwards, the author of several standard legal works. He then entered Albany Law School, from which he received the degree of L.L.B., and on November 22, 1876, was admitted to the bar. In 1877 Mr. Moot began active practice in Nunda, N. Y., forming a partnership with George M. Osgoodby, with the firm style of Osgoodby & Moot. In 1879 Mr. Moot removed to Buffalo. Soon afterward he entered into partnership with Mr. Osgoodby and Judge Titus, under the firm name of Osgoodby, Titus & Moot. This association continued till January, 1882, when Mr. Moot withdrew to become a member of the firm of Lewis, Moot & Lewis. This copartnership lasted twelve years, being dissolved when Hon. Loran L. Lewis, the senior partner, was elected to the Supreme Court bench. On Judge Lewis's withdrawal the new firm of Moot & Lewis was formed. In 1894 this connection was dissolved, and Mr. Moot became a member of the firm of Sprague, Moot, Sprague & Brownell, which, in June, 1897, was changed to the present style of Moot, Sprague, Brownell & Marcy. Mr. Moot has been connected with many important cases to which great legal interest attached. As an all around lawyer he is often counsel against corporations, although he is more frequently found defending important corporate interests of his clients. Since 1904, he has been associated with Messrs. A. J. Rodenbeck, William B. Hornblower and John G. Milburn, in consolidating the statutes of New York, a great task that has been completed. 212 MEMORIAL AND ITAMILY HISTORY. ■ July 22, 1882, Mr. Moot married Miss Carrie A. Van ISTess of Cuba, Allegany County, N. Y. They have three children, Rich- mond D., Welles V., and Seward A. Moot. Mr. Moot finds time to do much reading and study outside of professional fields. His pursuits are clearly indicated by certain of his club affiliations. He belongs to the Liberal and Thursday clubs, the Society of Natural Sciences and the Buffalo Historical Society, and the Saturn Club. He is a member of the American and New York State Bar associations, and is one of the Faculty of the Buffalo Law School, an institution in which he takes a strong interest. In religious belief Mr. Moot is a Unitarian, being a member of the Church of Our Father. He is among the most prominent members of the Civil Service Reform Association. DEVOE PELL HODSON, one of the two judges of the Municipal Court of Buffalo, has won high legal and civic honors, and prior to his elevation to the bench was known throughout Western New York as an able practitioner of the law, an effective forensic and platform speaker, and a man of great popularity, political and social. Judge Hodson is of English and French descent. His grand- father, Joseph Hodson, was a gentleman of Upwell, England, who married Mary Wiseman. Early in the last century Joseph Hodson, with his wife and six sons, came to the United States, and about 1820 settled in Chenango County, N. Y., later removing to Ithaca. Horatio Hodson, father of Devoe P. Hod- son, was born May 12, 1818. He still survives and resides in Ithaca, where he was for many years a prominent landscape gardener. He married Harriet Ward Pell, daughter of Fred- erick Devoe Pell, who was of French ancestry. They had seven sons and two daughters, of whom the survivors are: Dr. J. P. Pell Hodson of New York City, Mary Hodson Berry, AvidoAV of James W. Berry, late of Ithaca, and Devoe P. Hodson. Devoe Pell Hodson was born at Ithaca, N. Y., March 23, 1856. MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 213 He was educated in the public schools of Ithaca, in the academy at the same place, and in Cornell University. He began reading law in the office of Samuel D. Halliday and that of Judge Marcus Lyon, both of Ithaca, and in September, 1879, at Sara- toga Springs, was admitted to the bar. He began the practice of law in Ithaca, where he successfully followed his profession for the next eight years. In 1887 Mr. Hodson bought a half interest in the Ithaca Eepublican, a paper then published by Walter G. Smith. The partners decided to engage in a publish- ing enterprise in Southern California, and in San Diego they established a large printing office, and also published the Morning Telegram. After some months Mr. Hodson sold his share in the business, and returning to Ithaca, resumed the practice of law. In February, 1889, Mr. Hodson left Ithaca and opened a law office in Buffalo, where he practiced alone four years. In 1893, with George B. Webster, he formed the law partnership of Hodson & Webster. Mr. Hodson made his special work the contested cases of the firm, and was very successful as a trial lawyer. Judge Hodson has held several official positions. In 1882-83 he was Clerk of the Tompkins County Board of Supervisors. In 1885-86 he was Corporation Counsel of Ithaca. Soon after coming to Buffalo the authorities of Niagara Falls elected him non-resident Corporation Counsel of that municipality, which office he held two terms. Some years after he was tendered the place of City Attorney of Buffalo, but declined. In 1893 the State Comptroller appointt>d him a commissioner to report on the accounts of New York State surrogates in matters rela- tive to the collateral inheritance law, and in the same year was nominated by the Democrats for delegate to the Constitutional Convention. May 16, 1900, Mayor Diehl appointed Mr. Hodson a member of the Buffalo Board of School Examiners for the term of three years. He declined a further appointment at the hands of the Eepublican Mayor Erastus C. Knight. In the fall of 1905 Mr. Hodson received the Democratic nomination 214 MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. for Judge of the Municipal Court, and was elected. At the time he took his seat on the bench he was the only Democratic Judge of a civil court in Western New York. Judge Hodson is a member of Ancient Landmarks Lodge, No. 441, F. & A. M., and several other fraternal societies. December 23, 1888, Judge Hodson married Mariette Wood, daughter of Barry C. Wood of Painted Post, Steuben County. Mrs. Hodson is very much interested in every thing pertaining to the American Revolution, and looks back with justifiable pride to the fact that her great-great-grandfather, Jedediah Wood fought at the battles of Lexington and Concord. HENEY DONLY KIKKOVER, one of Buffalo's most exten- sive real estate owners, and a leading member of the Grade Crossing Commission, is a man who throughout his career has borne weighty responsibilities, both personal and public, and has in every instance acquitted himeself with signal credit. Mr. Kirkover's father, Oliver Kirkover, was born in Baden- Baden, Germany, in 1797. In 1833 he came to America with his wife, whose maiden name was Maria Prambach, and five chil- dren, Mary, Katherine, Louis, August and Oliver. Settling in Buffalo, the elder Kirkover became a lumberman, operating in New York and Pennsylvania. To his lumber business he added the manufacture of brick and the quarrying of stone. He lived in Buffalo till his death, which took place in 1876. Four chil- dren — ^William, John, Henry D., and Louise— were born to him in this country. His children now surviving are: Henry D., Louis, August, and William. Henry Donly Kirkover was born in Buffalo Februai^y 16, 1838. In his boyhood he attended the public schools. When about sixteen years old he went to work, assisting his father in the brick and lumber business. Later he engaged in the contracting business, furnishing brick, stone and other materials for building purposes. About this period Mr. Kirkover began to deal extensively in real estate, investing mostly in what were then the outlying properties in Buffalo. As the city's popula- MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 215 tion expanded, these lands advanced in value and Mr. Kirkover's wealth grew greater in proportion. Of later years he has devoted his attention almost exclusively to his real estate properties. Mr. Kirkover was an early advocate of the extension of the Buffalo street railway system. In 1891-2 he drew up a plan for the extension of the lines in all directions, and the system, first conceived and projected by Mr. Kirkover, is in operation today. When the agitation for the improvement of the local telephone service was begun, Mr. Kirkover led the movement which resulted in the building of the Frontier Telephone system. He was a director of the Frontier Company until the consolidation of the independent companies. Mr. Kirliover was actively and efficiently concerned in securing the appropriations for the Stony Point breakwater and the North breakwater, of Buffalo harbor. For a few years Mr. Kirkover lived in West Seneca, and was four times elected to represent that township in the Board of Supervisors of Erie County, and rendered valuable service. While Mr. Kirkover was a member of the Board of Supervisors, several important reforms were instituted, in all of which he was active, notably in that whereby homes were found for thousands of orphans, the county expenses were reduced $25,000 a year. Another reform was the inauguration of competitive bidding for the public printing. Another field of energetic and conscientious work in the public behalf was afforded Mr. Kirkover by his connection with the State Lunacy Commission, to which he was appointed by Governor Hill, and subsequently reappointed by Governor Tlower, serving seven years in all. With no cause has Mr. Kirkover been more prominently identified than with the abolition of railroad grade crossings. Since 1892 he has served as a member of the Grade Crossings Commission, without compensation, for upward of fourteen years. 216 MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. September 26, 1871, Mr. Kirkover married Emma J. Barnard, daughter of Eobert Barnard of Buffalo. The one child of this union is Harry D. Kirkover. For the last twenty years Mr. Kirkover has been a member of the Chamber of Commerce, and is a trustee of the Fidelity Trust Company. LEWIS J. BENNETT, President of the Buffalo Cement Company, is one of Buffalo's representative men and a potent factor in the welfare and progress of that city, of which he has been a prominent resident for more than forty years. Mr. Bennett comes from a long line of sturdy Scotch-English ancestry, his descent being traceable from John Bennett, Sheriff of Wiltshire, England, in 1266, who was the ancestor of John Bennett, Bailiff of Leicester in 1433 and 1435 and Mayor of that city in 1446. In 1599 Henry, one of the English Bennetts, removed to Scotland, and in 1695 his descendant, James Bennett, a captain in Lord Jedburgh's troop, was made burgess of Dunfermline. Ebenezer Bennett, son of James Bennett (2d) and great-great-grandfather of T-ewis J. Bennett of Buffalo, was born in 1700 and died in 1775, and was a land-owner of Fife- shire, Scotland. His son, Amos, born March 26, 1739, and five brothers, came to America in 1770 and took an active part in the Revolutionary War. Amos Bennett settled in Rensselaer County, N. Y., and later at Scotch Bush, in the Mohawk Valley, where he was burned out by the Tories and Indians. He served through the Revolution as a private in the 14th Albany County Regiment, one of the most thrilling incidents of his military career being his capture of John Parker, the famous Tory spy. After the war Amos Bennett was commissioned First Lieu- tenant in Col. Frederick Fisher's regiment of light infantry, four years later being promoted Captain in Col. Abram Vedder's regiment. In 1797 Capt. Bennett removed to Herkimer County, N. Y., and subsequently settled in the town of Locke, Cayuga County, where he died in 1834. MEMORIAL AND FAMILY , HISTORY. 217 Amos Bennett, Jr., son of Capt. Amos Bennett, was born June 2,1, 1770, and died August 8, 1840. He lived in the town of Duanesburg, Schenectady County, and was a farmer. In the War of 1812 he was a Captain in Lieut.-Col. Lawrence School- craft's regiment, and in 1821 was commissioned Major in the 188th Regiment of Infantry. His son, William Bennett, father of Lewis J. Bennett, was born May 26, 1794, and died October 12, 1873, in the town of Mohawk, Montgomery County, N. Y. Throughout his life he was a prominent farmer. He married Elma Strong, daughter of Solomon Strong and Lois Prisbee. Lewis J. Bennett was born in the town of Duanesburg, Schenectady Countj^, N. Y., July 7, 1833. When he was four years old his parents removed to Glen, Montgomery County, where he received a public and High School education. When sixteen years of age young Bennett became a clerk in the general grocery store of Chapman & Smith, in Fultonville, N. Y., and two years later he was admitted to partnership in the firm of Chapman, Peek & Co. In 1856 he became a partner of William R. Chapman and William W. Kline, under the firm style of L. J. Bennett & Co., which association existed till 1866, when Mr. Bennett sold out his interest and removed to Buffalo. There he engaged in general contracting in city. State and Government work, including the building of iron bridges, his partners being Andrew Spalding and John Hand. In 1877 Mr. Bennett organized the Buffalo Cement Company, of which he has ever since been President, and which has for many years been a leading concern in the manufacture of hydraulic cement. Nowhere in Buffalo will Mr. Bennett be better known or longer remembered than in the Central Park district. He is the founder of this important section of the city, whose develop- ment he began in 1889, the work taking nearly four years and costing nearly |300,000 in improvements alone. Only a man with clear business judgment added to strong faith in the future of Buffalo could have carried such a comprehensive project to successful completion. 218 MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. Mr. Bennett has been a steadfast Republican since the days of Fremont, for whom he voted for President. He was Canal Collector at Fultonville, N. Y., in 1861-62, and in 1865 he repre- sented the town of Glen in the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors. In his religious faith Mr. Bennett is a Univer- salist, and he has long been a Mason, being affiliated with Fultonville Lodge, No. 531, F. & A. M., Johnstown Chapter, No. 78 and Apollo Commandery, No. 15, Knights Templar of Troy. He is a member of the Buffalo Historical Society and the Buffalo Society of Natural Sciences, serves on the managing boards of both those bodies, and belongs to Buffalo Chapter, Empire State Society, Sons of the American Revolution. October 6, 1857, Mr. Bennett married Mary F. Spalding, daughter of Andrew Sjtalding of Johnstown, N. Y. Their sur- viving children are: Leslie J. Bennett, Vice-President, Secretary and Assistant Treasurer of the Buffalo Cement Company, and Louisa A., widow of the late James P. Wood, who was identified with the same company as Vice-President and Treasurer. Mr. Bennett has ever lived an active life, devoted to business, to his family and to the welfare of the community. His busi- ness career has been varied by only one vacation of any note, this being taken in 1894-95, when he made a tour of the world, chronicling his impressions in a series of letters, which have been published. HENRY J. PIERCE, President of the International Railway Company, is identified with electric railroad enterprises in Buffalo and elsewhere, and is besides connected with important undertakings in the fields of finance, manufacture and general business. In electric transportation matters Mr. Pierce is fav- orably known both as an organizer and executive head. In other phases of business he has been equally successful in initiative and management. He has always taken an active interest in the advancement of Buffalo, and has borne a leading part in many projects having for their aim the municipal MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 219 ■vvelfare and especially the coiiimercial and industrial progress of the city. Mr. Pierce was born in Bath, Maine, August 29th, 1857. In 1876 he came to Buffalo and in 1882 established the Wood Products Company, refiners of wood alcohol, whose plant is situated at the foot of Pennsylvania street. Mr. Pierce is President of the company, which is one of the largest enter- prises in Buffalo, refining about 80 per cent, of the entire wood alcohol product of the United States. The enterprise has branch concerns in different parts of the country, but its prin- cipal plant and offices are located in this city. Mr. Pierce was one of the organizers of the Buffalo & Niagara Falls and of the Buffalo & Lockport electric railroads, and served as a Director of the International Eailway Companvjrom the time the latter corporation was formed, and in 19ft5ibecame its President. The International Railway Company was organized under the laws of this State in February, 1902, for the object of acquiring and combining the street railway lines in Buffalo with the lines extending to and into Niagara Falls, Lockport, Olcott and Onawanda, including the lines on the Canadian side of the Niagara Eiver at Niagara Falls, and the bridges connecting the trolley lines. Numerous and valuable properties were included in this consolidation. The united length of the lines of the International Railway Company is about 360 miles. The company has three power houses, about 970 cars, and a com- plete modern equipment in all departments. It gives employ- ment to over 2,000 persons. The contract between the com- pany and the City of Buffalo provides that when the gross receipts of the electric railway corporation reach |2,000,000 it shall pay 3 per cent, of the amount to the city — a provision which has been the means of realizing heavy sums to the municipality of Buffalo. A foreign electric railroad company of which Mr. Pierce is also President, is the Netherlands Tram- ways Corporation, which owns a system of electric railways in Holland. Mr. Pierce is a Director of the Marine National Bank 220 MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. and of the Security Safe Deposit Company of Buffalo; also a Director of the Lumber Insurance Company of New York City, and of J. C White & Company, New York City. He was one of the Directors of the Pan-American Exposition, also serving on the Executive Committee and as Chairman of the Conces- sions Committee. He is a member of the Chamber of Commerce and in 1905 was elected President of that body. During Mr. Pierce's term of office, work on the new Chamber of Commerce Building was begun. In the club life of Buffalo Mr. Pierce is well-known. He belongs to the Buffalo, Saturn, Ellicott and Country clubs, and in 1900 was elected President of the Buffalo Club. EDWAKD HOWARD HUTCHINSON, real estate man and capitalist, occupies a prominent place among Buffalo's business men. Mr. Hutchinson comes of the New England family of that name Avhose descent is derived from Bernard Hutchinson of Cowland, Yorkshire, England, a knight in the time of King Edward I., later representatives of the family being Col. John Hutchinson, the Lieutenant of Oliver Cromwell, and Lord Hutchinson, who in 1801 defeated the French army in Egypt. William Hutchinson, who caifie to Massachusetts in 1634, was one of the founders of Portsmouth and Newport. The Buffalo branch of the family traces its descent from Daniel, son of Elisha and Eunice Hutchinson, who was born in Lebanon, Conn., November 22, 1767, and who married Susannah Treep. John Hutchinson, son of Daniel, was born October 28, 1792, came in 1815 to Williams ville, Erie County, Avhere he engaged in the tannery business, and died August 28, 1865. In 1818 he married Harriett Martin, their children being John M. and Helen. JOHN M. HUTCHINSON was born in Williamsville, Erie County, N. Y.,- March 25, 1820. In 1838 he came to Buffalo, MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 221' where he engaged in the leather business till 1867, from then until his death devoting himself to his real estate investments and other interests. He vras a Director of the Marine Bank, the Suspension Bridge Co., at Niagara Falls, and the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railroad. Mr. Hutchinson was a strong Democrat, and was frequently chosen for offices of trust. In 1881, Mayor Brush appointed him one of the Fire Commission- ers, and in 1885 he was reappointed by Mayor Scoville. He was one of the trustees of the City and County Hall, a member of the Board of Managers of the State Asylum for the Insane, and a trustee of Buffalo City Cemetery. He was formerly President of the Young Men's Association, and one of its real estate com- missioners. He was also a promoter of the Buffalo Driving Park Association. November 13, 1850, he became a charter member of Taylor Hose Company, No. 1, and served with that company until 1857. In January, 1851, Mr. Hutchinson married Eunice A. Howard, sister of Gen. R. L. Howard. Mrs. Hutchinson died in 1852. The only child of the marriage was Edward Howard Hutchinson. John Martin Hutchinson died August 17, 1886. He was a man who left a permanent and beneficial impress on the business and civic life of Buffalo. He was charitable and a generous giver. Edward Howard Hutchinson was born in Buffalo March 7, 1852. He received his education in Public School No. 10, and in Central High School of that city. While preparing to enter Harvard University, his studies were interrupted by failing eyesight. In 1870 Mr. Hutchinson became a partner in the firm of L. W. Drake & Co., wholesale and retail provision dealers in Elk street market. In 1875 the firm's packing house in East Buffalo was burned, and the partnership dissolved. In the fall of 1875 Mr. Hutchinson founded the first newspaper advertising agency ever established in Buffalo. In 1877 a printing depart- ment was added and the business was continued successfully 222 MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. for eighteen years. In the meantime Mr. Hutchinson had invested largely in Buffalo real estate, which he improved by the erection of some of the most important structures in Buffalo. In 1887 he built the well-known business block called "The Hutchinson," consisting of four stores and twelve flats. In 1889 he erected "The Strathmere " at Main and Carleton streets. Mr. Hutchinson is a Director of the Marine National Bank, is President of the Board of Trustees of the Buffalo City Cemetery (Forest Lawn), and Chairman of the Finance Com- mittee of the Vestry of St. Paul's Episcopal Church. He was formerly a member of the Board of Managers of the Church Charity Foundation of the Protestant Episcopal Church in Buffalo, and in 1895,- in memory of his parents, he erected and presented to the Church Charity Foundation the Hutchinson Memorial Chapel. Mr. Hutchinson is a Democrat, and in 1887 his party nomi- nated him for Alderman in the former Tenth Ward. This was then the strongest Repu.blican Ward in Buffalo, yet Mr. Hutchinson was elected, running nearly 1,000 votes ahead of his ticket. Mayor Charles F. Bishop appointed him a Fire Commissioner in 1891, and in 1900 he was appointed by Mayor Diehl a member of the first Union Station Commission, serving two years, and after his reappointment by Mayor Knight, still another year. September 25, 1872, Mr. Hutchinson married Jeanie Blanche Ganson of Buffalo. Mr. Hutchinson is an honorary member of the Exempt and Veteran Volunteer Firemen's Associations; a life member of the Buffalo Historical Society, the Buffalo Library and the Buffalo Orphan Asylum, and a member of the Church Home League and the Y. M. C. A. He is a life member of Ancient Landmarks Lodge, No. 441, F. & A. M.; Adytum Chapter, No. 235, R. A. M.; Keystone Council, No. 20, E. & S. M.; Hugh de Payens Commandery, No. 30, K. T.; Ismailia Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., and of the Associate Society of Chapin Post, No. 2, G. A. E. <^.^. MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 223 Personally Mr. Hutchinson is of a retiring disposition, but exceedingly energetic and very positive in Ms opinions. He has legions of friends, and is at all times ready to assist in advancing the interests of Buffalo. CHILION M. FAKRAK, who died on the 17th of April, 1907, was one of Buffalo's most highly esteemed citizens. During the more than fifty years of his residence in Buffalo, Mr. Parrar was prominently identified with the iron industry, and as head of the firm of Parrar, Trefts & Knight, and later that of Farrar & Trefts, he was one of the recognized industrial leaders of the community. Mr. Farrar was a fine type of the American business man, characterized by vigor and concentration of pur- pose, strong practical acumen, and rugged integrity. Mr. Parrar was born in Detroit, Mich., in 1829. He was educated in his native city and there he sijent his youth and a portion of his early manhood. When seventeen years old he came to Buffalo and entered the old Shepard Iron Works, now known as the King Iron Works, and gained a thorough tech- nical training as a machinist. He was soon advanced to the position of Superintendent, which he held for several years. In 1870, in association with the late John Trefts and Theodore C. Knight, father of ex-Mayor Erastus C. Knight, Mr. Farrar founded the firm of Farrar, Trefts & Knight. Shortly after- ward Mr. Knight retired from the business, and the concern was thereafter known as Farrar & Trefts. Mr. Trefts died about six years ago, his son, George M. Trefts, succeeding to his interest in the business. The firm of Farrar & Trefts prospered from the outset, and in the progress of time became one of the representative iron manufacturing industries of Buffalo, occupying the foremost place in its special field, that of the manufacture of steam engines, boilers and machinery. Mr. Parrar was the patentee of an engine which proved of great value to those engaged in the oil business, and Farrar & Trefts constructed nearly all the engines used in the development of 224 MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. the Pennsylvania oil fields twenty yeal's ago. Within the few years preceding his death, Mr. Farrar advanced the firm to a place which has been aptly described as "one of the highest positions possible in the iron industry in this country," and his far-sighted and progressive management showed its fruits in the steady extension of the enterprise and the development of a very large domestic and foreign trade. Mr. Farrar was a prominent Mason, and at the time of his death was Treasurer of Hiram Lodge, F. & A. M., an office he held for twenty-five years; he was also a Past-Master of the lodge, and filled other positions of trust and responsibility in the Masonic order. He was a member of the Buffalo Club, and took an active interest in that organization. In 1845 Mr. Farrar was married to Almira Siver of Buffalo. He is survived by his wife and one daughter. Mr. Farrar was in eminent degree a man of practical philan- thropy. He made no boast of his generosity, and even those who were close in his confidence did not know the number and value of his benefactions. But his gifts were many and liberal, and were inspired by a genuine sentiment of love for his fellow- men, a spirit of helpfulness for all worthy causes, and a true sympathy with the needy and unfortunate. Devoted to his family, a loving husband and father, his domestic life was happy and he found his deepest joys in the home circle. His death was an inestimable loss to the community, and his virtues elicited many tributes from which we quote the following editorial utterance from a leading Buffalo paper: " Mr. Farrar was an industrial leader, never a seeker for public honors, always on the side of honesty and justice in civic affairs, a good citizen, a kindly, estimable man. ' You could not put your finger on an act of his life that would not bear inspection,' said one who knew him. An honorable, well- ordered life like this is an answer to much current pessimism. Death reveals what is overlooked in life. Such men as Mr. Farrar exert an influence for good that lives after them, and the world is better for their living in it." MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 225 ALBERT JOEL WHEELER, President of the Western Savings Bank, is one of the leading business men of Buffalo, and has for many years been prominent in elevator and malting industries. The Wheeler family came from England during the early Colonial period, first settling in Connecticut, and later at Smithtown, L. I. Wickham Wheeler, great-grandfather of Albert J. Wheeler, was born at Smithtown in 1740, and was a farmer. His son, Ebenezer, was born at Smithtown in 1776. and spent the last twenty years of his life in Buffalo, where he died in 1857. He married Susan Gehrard, who was born in France and who died in Buffalo in 1853. Joel Wheeler, the father of Albert Joel Wheeler, was born in Smithtown, L. I., in 1814, and died May 7, 1892. Coming to Buffalo in 1832, he engaged in the provision trade, and also in the manufacture of soap. Afterward he carried on a grain commission business, and later became connected with the elevating and malting business, taking his son into partnership. For fourteen years prior to his death, Joel Wheeler was President of the Western Savings Bank. During the early '60's he served several terms as Alderman from the old Second Ward. In 1840 he married Mary Jane McElvaney, who was born in Orange County, N. Y., in 1821, and was a daughter of Charles and Catharine McElvaney. The McElvaney family came to this country from the north Of Ireland about 1800. Mrs. Wheeler died in Buffalo June 22, 1905. The children of Joel Wheeler were twin brother and sister, Albert J. and Mary Frances. Albert Joel Wheeler was born in Buffalo August 3, 1841. He received his early education at the public schools, afterward graduating from W. S. Smith's Military High School. When nineteen years old he entered his father's oifice on the old Central Wharf, and in 18G4, in partnership with his father, embarked in tli'e elevating business. Purchasing the old Wells Elevator on the " Island," the firm built an extension, re-christened the elevator "The Wheeler," and did a general 226 MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. grain elevating business. When the elevator was destroyed by fire in 1888, a new one was erected on the same site. This too was burned, in 1906. The Ontario Elevator on the Evans Ship Canal was built by the Wheelers in 1888. It was burned in October, 1904, and was replaced by the Monarch Elevator, a splendid structure made of concrete and steel, and having a capacity of 600,000 bushels. In 1870 Messrs. Wheeler estab- lished a malting business, in Perry street, Buffalo, where they built a plant which has ever since been in operation. Both the grain elevating and the malting enterprises were attended with great success. After the death of his father, Albert J. Wheeled continued to conduct the business which they had controlled m common, upon the same lines which their joint experience had tried and approved. In 1892 Mr. Wheeler was elected a trustee of the Western Savings Bank, in 1896 was chosen its President, and has ever since remained the head of the insti- tution, which is one of the oldest and most reliable of its kind in Western New York. When the German Bank failed in December, 1904, Mr. Wheeler was selected by the Attorney General as the Eeceiver of the defunct bank. He closed up its affairs in such a skillful and careful manner that the depositors received a much greater proportion of their money than was at first thought possible. Mr. Wheeler is a member of the Buffalo Chamber of Com- merce, and has served as one of its trustees. He has been a member of Ancient Landmarks Lodge, P. & A. M., for the last forty years. He is a member of the Delaware Avenue Metho- dist Episcopal Church, the Young Men's Association, and the Buffalo Club. In September, 1864, Mr. Wheeler married Catharine Clinton, a daughter of Judge George W. Clinton, and sister of George and Spencer Clinton. Mrs. Wheeler died in January, 1881, leaving three children, George Clinton, Joel Howard, who died in 1893, and Mabel. June 3, 1888, Mr. Wheeler married his second wife, Kate K. Barton, daughter of Peter Porter Barton MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 227 and Mary C. Whitney of Lewiston, N. Y. The children of the union are two daughters, Mary and Catharine Barton. CHARLES GAD WOETHINGTON, senior member of the insurance firm of Worthington & Sill, is one of the best-known men in Western New York in his field, having been for forty years prominently connected with fire and marine insurance interests in Buffalo. The Worthington family is of ancient English lineage. The founder of its American branch was Nicholas Worthington, a landowner who lived near Liverpool, England, and fought in the Cromwellian wars. Later he came to New England, settling at Saybrook, Conn., in 1649, and afterward removing to Hartford. He died September 6, 1683. His son, William, was born in 1670, lived in Hartford, Conn., and about 1717 removed to Colchester, Conn., where he died in 1753. He was the father of Elijah Worthington, who was born in Hartford in 1710, lived in Colchester, Conn., where he married Mary Welles, and died in 1764. His son, Capt. Dan Worthington, was born June 11, 1749. He resided in Colchester, Conn., and afterward in Lenox, Mass., where he died October 24, 1821. He married in 1771 Lois Foote. Gad Worthington, son of Capt. Dan Worthington, was born in Lenox, Mass., May 28, 1786. In early life he was a merchant in Lenox, whence he removed as a "young man to Batavia, Genesee County, N. Y., where he con- tinued to follow mercantile pursuits until his death, March 10, 1861. In 1812 he married Fannie Belden of Lenox, Mass. Their children were: Dan Leander, Gad Belden, Samuel K., John, Robert, Fannie, and Mary Ann. DAN L. WORTHINGTON, father of Charles Gad Worthing- ' ton, was born at Lenox, Mass., August 14, 1813, and was educated in the public schools. In early manhood he removed to East Bethany, Genesee County, N. Y., where he established a general mercantile business, which he conducted for sixty 228 MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. years. He was a prominent Republican, was one of the Supervisors of Genesee County, and was Postmaster at East Bethany for over thirty years. Ijike the rest of the Worthing- tons in America, Dan L. Worthington was a staunch Episco- palian, being one of the pillars of that church in Genesee County. Mr. Worthington Avas one of the best known men of Genesee County, and was as widely respected as he was known. He was of kind and charitable nature, and found pleasure in doing good for good's sake. June 26, 1836, Mr. Worthington married Indiana Louisa Pearson, daughter of Richard and Indiana Pearson of East Bethany, N. Y. Their children were: Charles Gad, Richard P., Robert Cone, George, and Dan. Charles Gad Worthington was born at East Bethany, Genesee County, N. Y., November 6, 1841. He was educated in the public schools at Batavia, N. Y., and at a private school in that village. At the age of sixteen he began work as a clerk in his father's store in East Bethany. When he was twenty- two years old he removed to Buffalo, where he entered the employ of the Buffalo Mutual Insurance Company, continuing four years. In 1868 the firm of Worthington & Sill was formed, the partners being Charles G. Worthington and Henry S. Sill. The firm engaged in the fire and marine insurance business, and has existed continuously with the same partners up to the present time. It is the oldest agency for fire and marine insurance in Buffalo, having been in existence for four decades. From small beginnings the volume of business has grown until now a vast amount of insurance is written up by the firm annually. Worthington & Sill is one of the best-known insurance concerns in Western New York. Mr. Worthington has always been a Republican, but has nev,er desired to hold public office. He has confined his atten- tion to his insurance business, making it a rule not to engage in outside enterprises, the only exceptions being his connection with the Western Savings Bank, of which he has been a trustee oZhJ^ iZ^^j^^i-c^Z.^^^ MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 229 since 1901, and with the Frontier Elevator Company, in which he has served as a trustee since 1900. Mr. Worthington is a member of Washington Lodge, F. & A. M.; of Keystone Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; Hugh de Payens Commandery, Knights Templar, and the Consistory. He belongs to the Ellicott and Acacia Clubs, and has been a member of the Trinity Episcopalian Church ever since he came to Buffalo. July 19, 1869, Mr. Worthington married Ella Maria Whitaker, daughter of Chauncey G., and Delia W. (Stafford) Whitaker of Buffalo. Their children are: Fannie B., born January 5, 1873, who is now Mrs. F. B. Ailing of Buffalo, and Mabel S., born January 5, 1873, who is the wife of E. R. Davis of Buffalo. Mr. and Mrs. Ailing have two children, Worthington P., and Cath- erine L. Ailing. THOMAS TINDLE. To no citizen of Buffalo can the appel- lation of industrial captain be applied with more propriety than to Thomas Tindle, of the firm of Tindle & Jackson, who are believed to be the largest operators of their kind in the world. In the vast enterprises built uj) by Mr. Tindle, Buffalo is utilized as a distributing center and an executive point from which to direct the commercial end of the industry. Mr. Tindle comes of a family well known in Yorkshire, England, where his ancestors were farmers for several genera- tions. William Tindle, his grandfather, was the father of eight children: Thomas, John, William, Francis, Eleanor, Elizabeth, George, and Robert. Thomas Tindle, Sr., the father of Thomas Tindle of Buffalo, was a farmer. He married Mary Scutt, a daughter of Jonathan and Ann Scutt, of whom the latter was of Holland ancestry on her father's side. The children of Thomas Tindle, Sr., were: Frances, William, George, Thomas, Ann, and Marmaduke. Thomas Tindle was born at Broomfleet, Yorkshire, England, April 7, 1836, and was educated in the common schools. When 230 MEMOEIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. fourteen years old he began working on his father's farm, where he remained until he was nineteen. In 1855 he came to this country, settling in St. Lawrence County, N. Y., and later going to Western Canada, where he was engaged in farming from 1856 to 1859. On returning to New York, he bought a farm in St. Lawrence County, N. Y., where he resided till 1865, when he removed to Oswego, N. Y., where he engaged in the forwarding business. On the removal of the firm to Buffalo, Mr. Tindle became its manager. Two years later the concern was dis- solved, and Mr. Tindle obtained employment with Toles & Sweet, canal forwarders, who were also among the largest deal- ers in cooperage stock in this section of the State. With this firm Mr. Tindle remained twelve years, as purchasing agent and salesman, the connection terminating January 1, 1880. In the winter of 1880 Mr. Tindle began business for himself, as a jobber, a few months afterward purchasing a stave mill in Canada, and beginning the manufacture of cooperage stock, but having the headquarters in Buffalo. Soon he extended his interests to other Canadian mills. His enterprises prospered, and he continued to conduct them till 1886, thereafter for some years devoting himself wholly to the jobbing industry. In 1888 he associated with him as partner his son-in-law, Willis K. Jackson, under the firm style of Thomas Tindle & Co. This period was an important era in Mr. Tindle's affairs, the busi- ness growing so rapidly that it became necessary again to engage in the manufacture of the stock dealt in by the concern. The steps taken to meet this necessity formed the beginnings of the great mill system now controlled by the firm of Tindle & Jackson in Michigan. To utilize the timber supply, the part- ners erected stave and saw-mills in several towns of that State, including Saginaw, Bellaire, Thompsonville, Gaylord, Nessen City, Freeland, Pellston, and Munissing. The firm have their own railroad to convey timber from the forests to the mills, and cut the greater part of the lumber sent to the saw-mills to be made into lumber, staves, heads, and other stock. Waste is MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 231 avoided by every device known to the modern economics of manufacture. The combined industries furnish employment to about 1,000 hands, and the annual trade amounts approximately to 11,500,000. Aside from its central office at Buffalo, the firm has a branch office for marketing purposes at Minneapolis. Mr. Tindle is a member and trustee of the Asbury Methodist Episcopal Church, and a member of the Executive Committee of the Methodist Union. For over thirty years he belonged to the A. O. U. W. April 5, 1856, Mr. Tindle married Harriet Braithwaite of Ogdensburg, N. Y. Mrs. Tindle was born at Broomfleet, York- shire, England, which was also Mr. Tindle's birthplace. The surviving children are: Annette, now Mrs. Willis K. Jackson, who was born in 1861, and Prank T., born December 16, 1869. Mr. Frank T. Tindle is connected with his father's firm. In 1893 he married Clara M. Boyce, daughter of C. W. Boyce of Buffalo. Their children are: Harriet M., Mildred A., Clara F., and Frank W. LEONARD DODGE occupies a distinctive place among Buffalo men of business. Local history can show few citizens who in equal degree with Mr. Dodge have united the care of large personal interests with the maintenance of a high stand- ard of public spirit. The ancestors of the Americaji branch of the Dodge fainily were among the early settlers of Rhode Island and Connecticut. John Dodge was born in 1644, in Northern England. In 1667, with his brothers, Israel and Truxton, he emigrated to this country, and settled in Rhode Island. He died in 1729. His children were: John, Jr., and David Britain, of whom the latter was born in 1691 and died in 1764. Jonathan Dodge, son of David Britain, was born at Block Island, R. I., in 1721, and died in 1794. Jonathan Dodge, Jr., son of the preceding, was 'born in 1747, in Colchester, Conn., and died in 1794. Alvan Dodge, son of Jonathan Dodge, Jr., was born in Colchester, Conn., May 232 MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 8, 1782. He removed to Warren, Herkimer County, N. Y. He married Mary Blount, by whom lie had six children: Sarah, Cemantha, Alma, Alvin Leonard, Jonathan Wayne, and Mary Eliza. The family became residents of Lowville, Lewis County, N. Y.,,and from there in 1810, Mr. Dodge removed to Buffalo. He prospered in farming, and became an extensive land owner. He held many civic offices in Buffalo and Black Rock, and was appointed Magistrate of the County of Niagara. He died in January, 1846. Jonathan Wayne Dodge, son of Alvan Dodge, was born November 9, 1812. He was educated in the schools of Buffalo, and as a young man was a teacher in one of the first high schools in that section. He inherited a part of his father's land holdings, and was a farmer in Lancaster and Clarence. In 1864 he purchased a grist mill in Williamsville, where he settled in 1870, and where he died in November, 1889. Mr. Dodge was a Democrat and held many offices in the town of Clarence. In 1846 he was Supervisor of Lancaster. March 29, 1838, Mr. Dodge married Charlotte Hull of Tona- wanda, who was born in Canada October 3, 1817. Their children were: Alma, born March 8, 1839; Alvan, born June 1, 1840; Leonard, born May 18, 1844; Henry Wright, born Novem- ber 30, 1850, and Martha Eliza, born March 13, 1855. While the family were living in Clarence, Mrs. Dodge died. February 26, 1865, Mr. Dodge married his second wife, Marie A. Strickler, daughter of Jacob and Catherine H. (Correll) Strickler of Clarence. The issue of this union was one son, J. Arthur C. Dodge, who was born April 2, 1871. Leonard Dodge was educated in the public schools, at Clarence Academy and the Genesee Wesleyan Seminary at Lima, N. Y. After leaving school he learned the milling busi- ness in the old Erie Mills at Black Rock, where he remained four years. In 1864 he went to Williamsville and engaged in milling, continuing until his mill was burned in 1894. In 1872 Mr. Dodge removed to Buffalo, where he engaged in the whole- MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 233 sale provision trade, carrying on this business and his Williams- ville milling enterprise. In 1885 he relinquished his provision business to devote himself to grain and elevating interests. In 1886 the Frontier Elevator was built by a stock company of which Mr. Dodge became Secretary, Treasurer and General Manager, offices which he has held continuously ever since, and in 1907 he was elected President of the Western Elevating Association. Since 1896 he has served as trustee of the Western Elevating Association. Since 1896 he has served as trustee of the Western Savings Bank, and has been its Vice- President since 1901. He is one of the charter members of the Commonwealth Trust Company, of which he was for several years a trustee. Mr. Dodge's connection with the Buffalo Board of Trade began in 1864. As a member of the old Merchants' Exchange he did such valuable Avork that when, in 1903, that body became the Chamber of Commerce, he was elected its first President. In the movement for improving the canals he was one of the most efficient workers, and it was during Mr. Dodge's term of office that the act for the improvement of the canal system was passed. As a member of the Charter Revision Commission, he gave many months of gratuitous service for the benefit of the City of Buffalo. A life-long Democrat, Mr. Dodge has with one exception never accepted any political office. In 1869 he was elected Supervisor of the town of Amherst, and served four years, being Chairman of the Board of Supervisors in 1871. Mr. Dodge is a 32d degree Mason. Since 1865 he has been a member of Hiram Lodge, and he is also affiliated with Buffalo Chapter, No. 71, Royal Arch Masons; Buffalo Council, R. & S. M.; Lake Erie Commandery, Knights Templar; Buffalo Consistory, and Ismailia Temple. For many years he has been a member of the Young Men's Association. May 5th, 1869, Mr. Dodge married Emily P. Hotchkiss, daughter of Hiram Hotchkiss of Buffalo. Mrs. Dodge died 234 MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. December 31, 1872, leaving one daughter, Mamre E., who married Charles H. Bailey of Buffalo, and whose children are: Leonard H., and Mamre. September 20, 1876, Mr. Dodge again married, his second wife being Emilie P., daughter of the late Col. Richard Flach of Buffalo. GEORGE ALFRED RICKER is of New England ancestry. George and Maturin Ricker, brothers, came from England to Denver, New Hampshire, in 1670, and in 1672 respectively. Both were killed by Indians on June 4, 1706, at Garrison Hill in Dover, N. H. George Ricker married Eleanor Evans. Ephraim, son of George, was a soldier in the Colonial and French wars, taking part in the Crown Point expedition in 1748. Moses Ricker, son of Ephraim, was a soldier, serving in the French and Indian War, and also in the Revolution. Henry Ricker, son of Moses, had a son, Charles, grandfather of our subject, and who served in the navy in the War of 1812. He had a son, Charles Clement Ricker, father of George A. Ricker, who at an early age entered the United States Navy, and served with distinction throughout the Civil War, and for several years thereafter, as Acting Master's Mate and Acting Ensign on the U. S. frigate, Santee; Acting Master on the U. S. ironclad, Nahant, during which time he took part in all the fights in which the ironclads of the South Atlantic Squadron were engaged. He later served on the ironclad, Passaic, and di,d special duty off Charleston. After its evacuation he com- manded the U. S. ship, F. A. Ward, and the same year was promoted Acting Volunteer Lieutenant. He later served on the U. S. ship. Supply, in the East India Squadron in the China and Japan seas, and received from President Andrew Johnson a commission as Acting Volunteer Lieutenant. The succeeding year, returning to the United States, on August 30, 1868, he received his honorable discharge from the service. For many years after leaving the Navy, Lieutenant Ricker continued to follow the sea as a profession. In 1880 he retired and came to Buffalo, becoming Superintendent of the Erie Elevator. MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 235 Charles Clement Kicker married Sarah M. Joy of Ports- mouth, N. H. The children were: George A., and Charles William. George Alfred Joy Ricker was born in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, June 30, 1863. When seven years old he began to go to sea with his father, and continued a sea-faring life until he was fifteen years of age, during which period he made thir- teen voyages across the Atlantic and lived for two years in Liverpool, England. In the eight years which he spent mostly in following the sea, young Ricker studied at Vernon Academy, Liverpool, and with some instructors at Portsmouth. In 1880 he came to Buffalo. In February, 1881, at the age of sixteen, he joined the engineer corps of the Erie Railroad. In 1882 he entered the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, taking a special civil engineering coxirse for three years. In 1885 he became Division Engineer of the Erie. In 188G he went to Montana as a member of the engineer corps of the Northern Pacific Railroad. Returning to Buffalo in 1887, he opened offices for private practice. Since that time Mr. Ricker has attained high standing in his profession. Among the positions held by him may be mentioned that of Second Assist- ant to Roadmaster, Buffalo & Rochester Division of the Erie R. R. (1885-1S86); Assistant Engineer, Helena & Red Mountain Railroad (1886); First Assistant to Roadmaster, Buffalo Division of the Erie R. R. (1886-1887), and Engineer of the Buffalo Creek Railroad. In 1890 he located and surveyed the line of the Niagara Gorge Railroad, which was built under his direction; of this road he is Chief Engineer. He built the lines of the Buffalo Traction Company, the Buffalo and Depew Rail- road, and projected its extension to Rochester; and is Chief Engineer and a member of the Board of Directors of the Buffalo & Rochester Traction Company. At the time of the agitation of the grade crossings issue, Mr. Ricker was employed by the Lumber Exchange to examine the engineering questions involved. He was Chief Engineer of the first Pan-American 236 MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. Exposition Company, and accompanied President McKinley and Gen. Alger, then Secretary of War, on the occasion when Mr. McKinley drove the first stake on Cayuga Island, which was originally intended for the site of the Exposition. He is also President and General Manager of the Buffalo Testing Laboratory. In politics Mr. Ricker is a Democrat. He has three times served the city as a member of the Civil Service Commission, and for twenty years has been a member of the Civil Service Reform Association. Mr. Ricker was one of the organizers and second President of the Engineers' Society of Western New York, is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, a member of the Institute of Engineers of the Republic of Chile, the Historical Society, trustee of the Charity Organization Society, and for six years trustee of the Unitarian Church. He is a member of the Buffalo, Ellicott and Technology clubs, and President of the last named. November 24, 1887, Mr. Ricker married Bessie H. Turner, daughter of Frederick M. Turner and Agnes Cutler of Buffalo. JOHN GEORGE WICKSER, former State Treasurer, Republican State Committeeman, and President of the Buffalo German Insurance Company, is a typical example of a man who owes his rise in life to his own abilities. Mr. Wickser is one of Buffalo's leading business men, and has also enjoyed high political honors. Mr. Wickser is the only son of John Jacob Wickser, who was born in the Canton of Glarus, Switzerland, in 1828, came to Buffalo in 1850, and died in 1888. He was in mercantile busi- ness in Buffalo for many years, and served three years in the army during the Civil War. In 1855 he married Eva Catherine Becker, daughter of Frederick Becker, and sister of Philip Becker, formerly Mayor of Buffalo. Mrs. Wickser was born in Germany in 1834 and died in 1905. John George Wickser MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 237 was born in Buffalo October 17, 1856. He attended Public School No. 1, and Central High School, and when sixteen years old went to work for the Forest Lawn Cemetery- Association, and afterward for Smith & Mixer, lumber merchants. Later he entered the employ of the Buffalo German Insurance Company in a clerical capacity. After three years with this corporation, he began business for himself, at the age of 20 becoming a partner in the firm of Becker & Wickser, the senior member being Henry Becker. The firm was engaged in the saddlery business at No. 555 Main street, remaining there until 1880, when the business was removed to No. 9 Court street, where it now is conducted. In 1896 Mr. Wickser became a member of the firm of Philip Becker & Co., which was afterward changed to a corporation of which he became Vice-President, which oflce he now holds. The company conducts an extensive wholesale grocery business at Nos. 266-271 Pearl street. Mr. Wickser has also dealt in real estate to a large extent, and is President of the Buffalo German Insurance Company. Mr. Wickser's first service as a public man was in 1903 and 1904, when he was State Treasurer, to which office he had been elected in the fall of 1902, running far ahead of his ticket in Erie County. Owing to his numerous business interests, he was not a candidate for reelection. Early in 1905 he was appointed by Governor Higgins President of the State Prison Commission for a term of four years. Both as State Treasurer and as head of the Prison Commission, Mr. Wickser displayed administra- tive ability of a very high order, and brought to his work the same fidelity and care which he bestows on his private business. The result has been a notably creditable public record. In the fall of 1905 the substantially unanimous wish of the Repub- lican party in Buffalo was that Mr. Wickser should take the nomination for Mayor, and great pressure was brought to bear to induce him to do so. But personal reasons made it impossible for him to accept the proffered honor. April 13, 1886, Mr. Wickser married Katherine A. Houck, deceased 1907, daughter of the late Philip Houck of Buffalo. 238 MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. The children of this union are: Phjlip J. Wickser, a graduate of Cornell University, class of 1908, and Ruth Houck Wickser. WILLIAM ALEXANDER DOUGLAS is of Scottish ancestry, belonging to one of the most ancient and honorable houses in Scotland, and one which is connected with many of the most interesting events in Caledonian his- tory. His grandfather, Alexander Douglas, was born in the Parish of Foss on Loch Tummel, Scot- land, in 1781, and came to America about 1800. He first settled near Johns- town, Fulton County, N. Y., and there married Elizabeth Macbeth. They removed to the town of Fenner, Madison County, where they lived till 1830, when they removed to Covington, Wyoming County, N. Y., where Mr. Douglas resided till his death. His children were: John A.; Susan, who married Daniel Cameron and afterward lived in Mt. Vernon, O. ; Isabella, who married Duncan Stewart, and was a resident of York, N. Y.; Ellen, who married Charles Stewart, and lived in Stewartville, Minn., and Alexander, who married first Isabelle Stewart of York, N. Y., and after her decease married Margaret Campbell of Wheatland, Monroe County, N. Y. , John A. Douglas, son of Alexander Douglas and. father of William A. Douglas of Buffalo, was an esteemed and influential resident of York, Livingston County, N. Y. He was a farmer WILLIAM A. DOUQLAS. MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 239 all his life, and in 1824 purchased an interest in the 300-acre tract taken up in the town of York in 1812 by the brothers, Daniel, John and James McNab. Mr. Douglas was a man of quiet life who devoted himself to his family, his church and his farm. He was of strict religious ideas, a Presbyterian of the old school, being connected with the United Presbyterian branch of that denomination, and for many years was a deacon of the church. His standards of morals and conduct were of the highest, and he exemplified them in his own career. October 27, 1842, he married Christia McNab, born May 2, 1818, a daughter of Daniel and Isabella Armstrong McNab. The Armstrongs and the McNabs came as a part of an emigra- tion movement, about the beginning of the last century, toward the land West of the Genesee River. Christia McNab Douglas was a woman of noble character. Mr. and Mrs. Douglas were the parents of six children: Watson, born February 1, 1844, died 1875; Isabella, born in December, 1850, died 1851; Eliza- beth, born March 7, 1854, died 1858; William A., born April 4, 1859; John F., born June 9, 1861, and Annabel, born January 30, 1863. Of the above children, John A. Douglas died Decem- ber 7, 1881. Christia M. Douglas died in 1884. William A. Douglas was born at York, Livingston County, N. Y., April 4, 1859. He received his education in the common schools, and the State Normal School at Geneseo, N. Y., gradu- ating in 1882. He then went to Des Moines, Iowa, and for the succeeding three or four years was principal of schools in that locality. In 1886 he entered the University of Columbia Law School and School of Political Science, in the City of New York. At the end of two years he graduated with distinguished honors, receiving the degree of Bachelor of Laws, cum laude. While attending law school he studied in the ofiflce of Wetmore & Jenner, in New York City. After his graduation in 1888 Mr. Douglas came to Buffalo, where he held clerkships in various law offices for a time. In 1889 Mr. Douglas was admitted to the bar, and the fol- 240 MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. lowing year began practice by himself in Buffalo. Many important interests are entrusted to his care, and he is a prominent figure in various industrial enterprises in Buffalo, Chicago and elsewhere. In 1896 he was appointed Receiver of the Springville National Bank. In politics Mr. Douglas has always been a Democrat. In November, 1894, he was appointed a member of the Board of School Examiners by Mayor Bishop, serving two years. In the early '90's Mr. Douglas became actively interested in the examination of tenement house conditions in Buffalo, and with others succeeded in having passed stringent ordinances regulating tenement conditions. The rules proposed by Mr. Douglas and his associates are those which exist today as modi- fied by the Tenement House Act of 1901, and were the model followed by the Tenement House Commission, of which Mr. Douglas was a member, appointed by Governor Roosevelt, and which framed laws for Greater New York and Buffalo. Mr. Douglas was also a powerful factor in causing the Common Council of Buffalo to adopt an ordinance providing for the licensing of employment agencies. Before the present State law on the subject was enacted, Mr. Douglas, with Dr. Wende, Dr. Pryor, and Mr. Williams Lansing, induced the Common Council to make an appropriation of |6,000 for a free bath- house on the Terrace, which was built. In recognition of his many services in the cause of public health. Governor Higgins appointed Mr. Douglas a member of the New York State Tuberculosis Hospital in the Adirondacks. This ofiice he resigned in 1905. In 1908 he was appointed one of the Board of Managers of the Craig Colony for Epileptics at Sonyea, N. Y. He is a member of the Charity Organization Society, and for many years a trustee. He belongs to the Civil S^vice Reform Association, a charter member of the Municipal League, a member of the Chamber of Commerce, the Historical Society, the Natural History Society, the National Geographical Society, and the State Bar Association; belongs to the Buffalo, MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 241 Saturn, EUicott and Country clubs and a charter member of the Liberal Club. October 3, 1892, Mr. Douglas married Alice Charlotte Hedstrom, daughter of Eric L. and Anna M. (Klampfer) Hedstrom of Buffalo. They have two children, Anne, born October 5,, 1893, and Eric, born April 16th, 1895. JOSEPH B. MAYER is one of the foremost men in the country in traction interests and electric development, and to give an account of his career is to tell the story of signal achievements in the business world. Mr. Mayer was born in Freiburg, Baden, Germany, January 4, 1850, graduated from the Freiburg Gymnasium in 1866. In 1868 he came to the United States and settled in Buffalo, where for four years he was employed as a bookkeeper. In 1872 he began importing diamonds, forming with Louis Weill a part- nership which lasted till 1876. Thereafter up to 1892 Mr. Mayer carried on the business alone. From 1892 to 1895 he devoted himself to real property inter- ests, becoming the organizer and manager of syndicates which purchased large tracts of land in Buffalo and vicinity, made improvements and put the property on the market. In 1895 he organized the Buffalo Traction Company, of which he was Vice- President, Treasurer and General Manager until the corpora- tion was absorbed by the Buffalo Street Railway Company in 1899. Throughout the mergers, whose outcome was the Inter- national Railway Company, Mr. Mayer continued to hold his interests in Buffalo traction enterprises, and he retains his stock in the present company. At Lima, O., he organized the Lima Railway Company and the Lima Electric Light and Heating Companies; at Louisville, Ky., he established the Louisville Lighting Company, and in Indiana was organizer of the Fort Wayne Lighting Company. Meanwhile in co-operation with the Widener-Elkins Philadel- phia syndicate Mr. Mayer was concerned in a gigantic consoli- 242 MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. dation of properties controlling 600 miles of railroad in Ohio. Another great merger engineered by Mr. Mayer was the consolidation known as the Western New York & Pennsylvania Traction Company. But what is probably Mr. Mayer's crowning achievement thus far is the organization and financing of the Buffalo & Lake Erie Traction Company, which has established a through line of electric road communication between Buffalo and Erie, Pa. Mr. Mayer is a Democrat, and he has often been urged to become a candidate for elective ofl9.ce, but has always declined. In 1895 he accepted the appointment of Civil Service Commis- sioner, and filled that position with efficiency and credit. Mr. Mayer is affiliated with Washington Lodge of Masons, is an active member of the Chamber of Commerce, a life member of the Gerlnan Young Men's Association, belongs to the Council of the Charity Organization Society, and is deeply interested in the Free Kindergarten, and many similar societies. He is a member of the Buffalo, Country, Ellicott and Liberal clubs, and the Manhattan and Lawyers' clubs of New York City; is a former President of the Temple Beth-Zion, and a prominent member of that organization. He has traveled extensively in this country and Europe. July 15, 1874, Mr. Mayer married Belle Falck of Buffalo. ALEXANDEE MELDRUM. For almost twenty-five years Alexander Meldrum was one of Buffalo's leading merchants. He was a pioneer of the broader development of the dry-goods trade in Western New York. Alexander Meldrum was of Scottish birth. He came of an ancient and esteemed Fifeshire family. His parents, Thomas and Janet Meldrum, were well- known residents of Kenoway, Fifeshire. ^Alexander Meldrum was born near Kenoway, November 3d, 1833. He was early apprenticed to a dry-goods house in Markinch. When twenty-two j^ears old Mr. Meldurm came to MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTOEY. 243 the United States, locating in Boston, where he entered the employ of Kinmonth's store, afterward Hogg, Brown & Taylor. He was soon promoted from salesman to the responsible post of buyer, and remained with the firm until 1867, when he came to Buffalo, being accompanied by the late Eobert B. Adam, and Albert Whiting. Immediately after his arrival in Buffalo, Mr. Meldrum and his associates formed the copartnership of Adam, Meldrum & Whiting, doing a general dry-goods business. In 1869 Mr. Whiting retired, and the concern became Adam & Melidrum. In 1875 William Anderson was admitted partner, the firm style being changed to Adam, Meldrum & Anderson. The connection of Mr. Meldrum with the business lasted until his death in 1891. He also held a controlling interest in the Dayton Drygoods Company of Dayton, Ohio, and was the sole owner . of the Queen City Underwear Company of Buffalo. Mr. Meldrum was a member of the Lafayette Street Presby- terian Church, the Buffalo Club, and of St. Andrew's Scottish Society, as well as of other Scottish-American bodies. February 27th, 1859, Mr. Meldrum married Ann Elizabeth Webster, a daughter of Elizabeth Story Hackett and Benjamiu Franklin Webster of Boston, Mass. Mrs. Meldrum came of distinguished IsTew England ancestry and was a grand-niece of Daniel Webster. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Meldrum are: Arthur R.; Alice M., wife of Thomas P. Daniels of New York City; Thomas Alfred, who was drowned when twenty years old; Herbert A.; Jessie Pollock, now Mrs. F. P. Vandenburg, and Florence Jeannette Meldrum. The death.of Mr. Meldrum occurred in Buffalo on the 21st of October, 1891. HERBERT ALEXANDER MELDRUM, President of the American Savings Bank, and Secretary and Treasurer of the H. A. Meldrum Company, is one of the foremost business men of Buffalo, holding a position of equal prominence in commercial enterprise and financial affairs. As head of the great Meldrum 244 MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. department store, Mr. Mel drum represents modern mercantile development in its broadest and most progressive sense. Herbert Alexander Meldrum was born in Buffalo, February 15, 1870, and educated in the grammar-scliools and Central High School. When tvi^enty years old Mr. Meldrum entered the employ of Adam, Meldrum & Anderson to learn the dry-goods and depart- ment store business from the foundation. He remained with the Adam, Meldrum & Anderson firm till 1897, when he became one of the organizers and the executive head of the H. A. Meldrum Company. Though one of the youngest of Buffalo's big department houses, the firm stands in the front rank in point of business done and in general reputation. A notable instance of the initiative and enterprise which characterize Mr. Meldrum as a business man was furnished by the airship flight, which took place in Buffalo in the summer of 1906, under the auspices of the H. A. Meldrum Company, by A. Eoy Knabenshue. It was one of the most interesting events of the season, attracted tens of thousands of spectators and was widely commented upon by the press. It was the first and thus far the only occasion on which the airship has made its appear- ance in Buffalo, and commanded public attention, not only as a most original and novel method of advertising, but as an event uniting both scientific and spectacular interest. The flight was very successful, and Mr. Meldrum later, for the experience, made a balloon ascension with Mr. Knabenshue, traveling about forty miles, crossing the Niagara River and landing at Silver- dale, Ontario. Mr. Meldrum is a member of the Chamber of Commerce, Manufacturers' Club, Buffalo Historical Society, Buffalo, Saturn, Country, Park and Automobile clubs of Buffalo, and the Aero Club of America, New York City. He is a member of Lafayette Avenue Presbyterain Church. September 23, 1895, Mr. Meldrum married Miss Louise ^^^^-c^ c ^^^^^^^^i^'^^^^f^li^ /'^ MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 245 Hingston, a daughter of Edward J. and Mary (Eeese) Hingston of Buffalo. They have three children: Herbert Alexander, Jr., Alan Hingston, and Esther Louise Meldrum. THE MONTGOMERY FAMILY has for upwards of three- quarters of a century been well-known in Western N.ew York. The family is of Scotch-Irish origin, and the founder of the branch of it now under consideration was Ezekiel Montgomery, son of John Montgomery. EZEKIEL MONTGOMERY was originally a resident of Port Edward, Montgomery County, N. Y., and removed with his family to Silver Creek, Chautauqua County, N. Y., about 1833. He was a millwright, and in 1852 he established in Silver Creek, N. Y., the noted Eureka Smut Machine Works, in which his sons, Henry and Martin E., were partners. HENRY MONTGOMERY, son of Ezekiel Montgomery, was born in Fort Edward, Montgomery County, N. Y., February 17, 1827. When four years old he came with his parents to Silver Creek, N. Y. Leaving school at sixteen, he learned the mill- wright's trade, and for a few years, in company with W. R. Grunleaf, manufactured steam engines. When the Eureka Smut Machine Works were founded he was admitted to part- nership and soon became the acknowledged head of the firm. In 1867 he sold out his interests in Silver Creek, and a year later came to Buffalo, entering the firm of Clark, Holland & Co., afterward Lee, Holland & Co., the well-known lumber dealers, the association thus begun continuing until his death. Mr. Montgomery was a strong Republican, and in 1882 and 1883 he sat in the Common Council as Alderman from the 10th Ward. He was one of the most faithful and energetic members of the city legislature, and served on many important commit- tees, but the most notable feature of his public record was as Chairman of the Committee on Schools. He gave close atten- tion to the betterment of the School Department, and during his 246 MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. term of office many school buildings were erected and an exten- sive system of improvements was inaugurated. Mr. Montgomery was a leading member of the Lumber Exchange of Buffalo, and was for many years Chairman of its Board of Directors and Transpoi'tation Committee. He was a member and Chairman of the Transportation Committee of the Merchants' Exchange, and a member of the North Presbyterian Church of Buffalo. In 1858 Mr. Montgomery married Helen Lee, daughter of Oliver Lee of Silver Creek, N. Y. He is survived by his widow and two sons, George Brewster and Henry Ernest Mont- gomery. Another son, Nelson Lee Montgomery, died April 6, 1881. The death of Henry Montgomery occurred October 5, 1887. In him Buffalo lost one of her best citizens, and the estimation in which he was held cannot be better indicated than in the following, taken from the memorial resolutions adopted by his associates of the Merchants' Exchange. " Henry Montgomery was known and acknowledged among his associates as a strong man — a strong man mentally and physically — a man of strong will, of strong convictions and of unflinching courage in maintaining his convictions— a man of quick perception, projnpt decision, energetic action, a strong, true man living in and guided by the highest, purest principles. " In all his relations as a man of business his reputation was exactly what should be expected of the man whose character has thus been faintly portrayed. "Into the more secluded paths of private life we will not here intrude, save briefly to honor his memory as a true Christian gentleman, a consistent member of a Christian church, a gen- erous, open-hearted contributor to many charities and benevo- lent institutions — one whose sympathizing help was ever alert in responding to the cry of the poor and the distressed; in fine, one of those men who, when the summons comes which calls MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 247 him hence, is missed and mourned far and beyond the circle of family and friends wherein his daily life has centered." GEORGE B. MONTGOMERY, son of Henry Montgomery, is one of Buffalo's success- ful business men and ^^^^^^^^^^ progressive As .^^^^^Hl^^^^^ President of Montgomery ^^^^^^Hl^^k!^^^^^ Bros. &■ Company, sue- ^^^^^Bi^^^ ^^^^^^L eessors in business of ^^^^^K^^ ^^^^k Lee, Holland & Company, ^^^^^^HK^Mb , ^^^^ Mr. Montgomery is head ^^^^^^^HH^S| I JWfe. i^^^^^ of one of the leading ^^^^B^^MS^^^KL ~~' ^^^^H lumber manufacturing ^^^^HH|H^^^r ^; ^^^^^| concerns in the country, ^Kii^^^^ - ^KESWH^ ^^^^^^k and he is also identified ^H^^V ^ijlj^^Bt '^^^^^^^m with extensive outside ^^^^^^^ ^^VIBh^B^Sif^a lumber interests, chiefly ^^^^^^^^^^^ I^IHgHiV the ^^^^^^^^B^^ w^^^^m Mr. Montgomery ^^^^^^^^BIA ^^^^^ born at Silver Creek, ^. , ^^^^^^^^^B ^^^r Y., on the 2d of Ju^y, ^^^^^^^^H ^r 18 62. In childhood he ^^^^^ accompanied his parents "^"""^^ ^- montgomeet. tq Buffalo, where he received a grammar and High School education, which was supplemented by a course at the Michigan Military Academy. On leaving school Mr. Montgomery became a bookkeeper and clerk in the employ of Nelson Holland, and later was connected with the firm of Holland, Graves & Mont- gomery, at Black Rock, with whom he continued from 1885 to 1897. The business of which Mr. Montgomery is the head holds a position second to none in its field. He has an immense plant equipped with the best modern appliances, and gives employ- ment to 500 people. The specialties of the concern are doors, sash, blinds, mouldings, veneered doors, packing cases, boxes. 248 MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. and a great variety of other articles. Mr. Montgomery is Treasurer of the National Lumber Insurance Co. of Buffalo; Treasurer of the A. B. Cramer Company, manufacturers of Southern pine at Suffolk, Va., and Treasurer of the Mont- gomery Lumber Company at Spring Hope, N. C. Mr. Montgomery is a member of the Chamber of Commerce, the Buffalo, Saturn, EUicott, Westminster, and Buffalo Canoe clubs, and of the Westminster Presbyterian Church. June 30, 1885, Mr. Montgomery married Mary Frances Jewett, daughter of the late James H. Jewett of Buffalo. SETH ELY SILL, Justice of the Supreme Court, who died September 15, 1851, in his forty-third year, during a relatively brief career attained distinguished honors as a lawyer. Judge and citizen. Judge Sill was born in Moreau, Saratoga County, N. Y., June 3, 1809. After finishing his lay education he began reading law with the Hon. Orville Clark of Sandy Hill, N. Y. Later he came to Buffalo and entered the office of Sherwood and Hawley, with whom he completed his law studies, being admitted to the bar in 1836. Immediately afterward he engaged in practice as a member of the firm of Hawley & Sill, to whose personnel was afterward added the Hon. George P. Barker, subsequently Attorney General and later Justice of the Supreme Court, the firm style becoming Barker, Hawley & Sill, and finally Barker & Sill. After Mr. Barker was elected Attorney General, Mr. Sill continued the practice of law alone, until he himself was elected Supreme Court Justice of the Eighth Judicial District, in 1849. The death of Judge Sill limited his career on the bench to two years, but he gained in this time a notable name as a jurist. In erudition he was recognized as ranking with the first of New York Judges, and this at an epoch when the bench of the Empire State 'was adorned by many illustrious men. In 1840 Judge Sill married Harriet E. Allen, daughter of Ethan B. Allen and Harriet Seymour of Batavia, N. Y. The MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 249 children of Judge Sill were: Fanny Sill of Buffalo; Charles B. Sill, who died in 1888; Henry S. Sill of Buffalo; Florence, who died in infancy, and Mary, who became Mrs. Frank Dorr of Buffalo, and who died in 1873. HENRY SEYMOUR SILL, son of Judge Sill, was born in Buffalo, and educated in the public schools, and Spencertown Academy. He studied law two years' in the office of Judge N. K. Hall of Buffalo, but di-scontinued his legal studies to enter the employ of the Mutual Insurance Company of Buffalo. In 1868 he established with Charles G. Worthington the present insurance firm of Worthington & Sill. During the thirty-eight years of its duration, the copartnership of Messrs. Worthington & Sill has grown from small beginnings to the first rank among similar agencies between New York, Chicago and Duluth. The firm has charge of the general management of several leading marine insurance companies, and is one of the largest fire insurance agencies in Buffalo, being excelled by none in volume of business. He is actively interested in the Gilchrist Trans- portation Company, which owns a fleet engaged in lake transportation, and one of the Company's finest steel steamers, the Henry S. Sill, is named after him. He is also connected with the Norton Transportation Company, owner of the new- steel steamer, D. Z. Norton. In politics Mr. Sill is a Republican. He is a member of the Chamber of Commerce, a life member of the Buffalo Public Library, and belongs to the Buffalo, Country and Park Clubs. He is a member of the Episcopal Church. He was a vestryman of old Christ Church before it was merged with Trinity, and since that time has been connected with the latter congregation. HARRY NELSON KRAFT, who during the last decade has been successfully engaged in the practice of law in Buffalo, though still a young man, occupies an assured position among the leading members of the Erie County bar. Mr. Kraft is the 250 MEMOKIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. son of Henry Kraft, who was born in Germany in 1831 and came to this country at the age of fifteen, settling in Buffalo, where he learned the tinsmith's business and later engaged in the hardware trade, in which he was very successful. He is still living in Buffalo, but has now retired from business. He is actively interested in Masonry, and is Past Master of Harmonie Lodge. In May, 1856, he married Rosina Holser, whose parents came from Switzerland to the United States about 1830, and settled in Buffalo. The children of Henry Kraft are: George H., Ida (Mrs. Edward A. Dreher); Charles F., Carrie, Edward, and Harry N. Kraft. Harry Nelson Kraft was born in Buffalo September 12, 1873. He was educated in the grammar schools and Central High School. When nineteen years old he entered the Buffalo Law School, from which he graduated, and in 1896 he was admitted to the bar. He then became a clerk in the law oflSce of William C. Bryant, and later entered the office of Fisher, Wende & Coats- worth. On the death of Theodore Wende, in 1901, Mr. Kraft became associated in the business, under the firm style of Fisher, Coatsworth, Diebold & Kraft. In 1905 the firm was reorganized as Coatsworth, Diebold & Kraft, an association which still continues. The firm represents the interests of many leading corporations and business concerns, and recently acted as attorneys for the receiver in the German Bank case. In court practice the firm is one of the foremost in Buffalo, and also enjoys a high reputation as counsel. Besides being an exceptionally able lawyer, Mr. Kraft is an Up-to-date man of affairs, well informed as to the events of the time and the conditions of the business world of today. He is identified with several industrial and commercial enterprises. Mr. Kraft is a member of the Bar Association and of the Lawyers' Club. He has many Masonic affiliations, being a mem- ber of Washington Lodge; Keystone Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; Hugh de Pay ens Commandery, Knights Templar, and Zuleika Grotto. He is a member of the Buffalo Orpheus, and MARK S. HUBBELL MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 251 of the Otowega and Canoe clubs. He is a member of the Holy Trinity English Lutheran Church. November 25, 1905, Mr. Kraft married Jennie Allen, daughter of James T. and Mary Allen of Buffalo. MAEK SIBLEY HUBBELL, editor and proprietor of " Truth," newspaper man, lawyer and litterateur, is a unique personality, and has had a varied and most interesting career. Many men make a success of journalism. Few men leave on it the unmistakable stamp of an individuality. Mark S. Hubbell is one of the few. He has been identified in many capacities with the newspaper world, but whether he has worked for himself or for other people, his work has always borne the indubitable mark of an original mind. In some respects it does not seem amiss to call Mr. H ubbell the Voltaire of Buffalo. He is Voltairean in his wit and incisiveness. He is Voltairean in his fearlessness and his hatred of shams. But.he differs from Voltaire in being a builder up instead of a puller down. He has preserved his faith in men and things. TiiQ superstructure of his humor and satire is built on the foundation of a healthy optimism. In journalism Mr. Hubbell occupies a field wholly his own. His paper is run by nobody but himself. " Truth " is an independent newspaper if there ever was one. As its editor, Mr. Hubbell has done a monumental work in righting wrongs and exposing abuses. He has done a work no less important in leavening the intellectual life of the community. He is a man who gives zest and sparkle to the dull commonplace of every- day. He is also a man who stands for high ideals in morals, journalism and literature. Mr. Hubbell was born in Buffalo on the 5th of February, 1857. His father, John Hubbell, was for many years a prominent lawyer and citizen of that community, was for twenty years general counsel of the Western Transportation Company, and served as City Attorney in 1854 and 1855. Mark S. Hubbell's education was begun in the public schools of Buffalo and was 252 MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. completed at tlie military academies at Montrose and Newark, N. J. Like his brothers he was destined for the legal profession, and when seventeen years old entered the law office of Bangs, Sedgwick & North of New York City. In 1878 he was admitted to the bar. For about a year he practiced law in Buffalo. But his native bent toward literature and journalism was too strong to be turned aside by the attractions of his profession. He engaged actively in newspaper life, his first work being done for the Buffalo Morning Express. He then went to New York, where he was employed as a writer for the New York Times,. World and Telegram. His experience in metropolitan jour- nalism covered a period of four years. In 1881 he made a tour of the world, via Australia and the Orient. To Mr, Hubbell this was a time fruitful of intellectual enrichment. All that he witnessed found lodgment in a keen and receptive mind, and much of Mr. Hubbell's cosmopolitanism — the " savoir faire " of the true citizen of the world — is due to his extensive travels. While abroad he perfected his knowledge of the leading Conti- nental languages, particularly of French, of which he is a master. Eeturning to Buffalo, Mr. Hubbell served for some time in an editorial capacity on the Buffalo Courier. Later he was man- aging editor of the Buffalo Times for two years, and was for six years a member of the staff of the News. This part of his career was a period of steady increase of his reputation both as a practical newspaper man and a brilliant writer. Mr. Hubbell is a Republican. He is a staunch adherent of the fundamental principles of his party, but has always reserved the right of independent opinion, and as to municipal issues regards fitness rather than party lines as the determining factor. He was elected City Clerk in 1894, and was reelected three times. He was a popular and efficient city official. He did much to systematize the workings of his department, per- fected the methods of keeping records, and won the hearty commendation of the press, the Common Council and the public. MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTOEY. 253 He compiled the best manual of the city government ever pub- lished, and prepared a valuable annotated edition of the Charter and Ordinances. ^ On retiring from office Mr. Hubbell engaged again in news- paper work. His contributions as a special writer to the Times attracted wide attention and were among the leading features of that paper. Under the nom de plume of " Jan Schimmel- penninck," he conducted a column which was one of the most famous that ever appeared in Buffalo journalism, abounding in sparkling wit, quaint humor, vivid word-painting and shrewd practical suggestions. Later, for a year or two, he furnished a, similar column to the editorial page of the Buffalo Enquirer. In 1903 Mr. Hubbell established the now well-known weekly paper " Truth." Its inauguration marked a new departure in Buffalo journalism. " Truth " followed no precedent, was patterned after no model, and won its way to the front by sheer merit of a unique kind. It went straight to the hearts of the people and demonstrated the nature of " independent jour- nalism " as a fact instead of a name. A paper for the masses, it also had the literary and intellectual tone that appeals to the thinking public. From the hour of its first issue " Truth " has steadfastly confirmed its original prestige of honor and courage. It has nobly justified its bold motto: "The Paper that Dares." But its daring has never degenerated to license. " Truth " is signally a journal clean-cut, bright and pure. Its championship of honesty and a square deal, its contempt for the arts of the demagogue and the knave are equally outspoken. Mr. Hubbell and his paper are the friends of the weak and the oppressed. Through the columns of " Truth " many a private wrong has been redressed, many a covert public menace has been dragged from its lurking ambush to the light of day. The paper is the tangible expression of the individuality which controls it, and through its lively and up-to-date columns breathes not a little of the aroma of belles lettres — the charm of the scholar and literateur. "Truth" has constantly increased 254 MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. in circulation and advertising patronage. It is today, one of the assured and brilliant successes of the latter-day journalism of Western New York. Mr. Hubbell is widely known in social life and is identified with many of the societies and institutions of Buffalo. He is a Mason, being affiliated with Ancient Landmarks Lodge, No. 441, F. & A. M. He belongs to the Buffalo Historical Society, the Orpheus Society, the Buffalo Republican League, the Society of Natural Sciences, the Press Club, and the Ellicott Club. On the 3d of January, 1883, Mr. Hubbell married Mrs. Eliza- beth J. Oliver of Buffalo. SIMON FLEISCHMANN, an eminent lawyer of Buffalo, has also won distinction in public and social life. Emanuel Fleisch- mann, son of Ezekiel, and father of Simon Fleischmann, was born in Aufsess, Bavaria, August 14, 1825, and educated at Bay- reuth, and Bamberg. In 1849 he came to America, and after a short stay in New York, went to Col ambus. Miss., and thence to Perryville, Mobile, and New Orleans, respectively for short periods of time. In 1850 he went to San Francisco, where he engaged in the cigar business. In 1855 he married Eliza Des- sauer. Their children were: Samuel, who died in infancy; Simon, and Bianca. In 1871 he came to Buffalo, where in 1872 he was appointed Chief Clerk of the Department of Education. In 1873 he was appointed teacher of music in the public schools, contin- uing till 1876. The death of Mr. Fleischmann occurred April 17, 1903. His wife died December 25, 1890. Emanuel Fleischmann was a man of superior intellect and estimable character. He was a prominent Mason, being a member of Alden Lodge, No. 594; Adytum Chapter, No. 235; Buffalo Council, No. 17, and Queen City Council, No. 259. He was Recording Secretary of Montefiore Lodge, No. 70, Independent Order B'nai B'rith, and a charter member of Eagle Lodge, No. 69, Knights of Pythias. Simon Fleischmann was born in Iowa City, la., September 11, 1859. When three years old he removed with the. family to MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 255 New York City, and afterward to Meadville, Pa., and later to Dunkirk, N. Y. In 1871 he came to Buffalo. He attended the public schools of Meadville and Buffalo, and at Grammar School No. 13 won the first Jesse Ketchum gold medal. On his gradua- tion from Central High School in 1879 he was again awarded a Ketchum Medal. He began the study of law in 1899 with William C. Bryant. A year later he entered the liaw office of William H. Gurney, and in 1881 became connected with the office of Cleveland, Bissell & Sicard. In 1882 he was admitted to the bar, and during 1883 was Managing Clerk for Cleveland, Bissell & Sicard. In 1884 Mr. Fleischmann opened a law office for him- self. For several years he was in partnership with the late Emory P. Close, and latterly he has had for his associate William R. Pooley. The legal practice of Mr. Fleischmann has been confined entirely to high-grade civil litigation in the courts of this and other States, as well as before the Federal tribunals, and he has acted to a considerable extent as counsel for other lawyers in the trial of cases and the argument of appeals. Mr. Fleischmann is a Republican. In 1897 he was elected Supervisor from the old 21st Ward on the Good Government ticket, being indorsed, by the Democrats. In 1899 he was elected Councilman on the Reijublican ticket by 5,000 majority. He served for two years as President of the Board of Councilmen, and made an excellent record. Mr. Fleischmann possesses great musical talent, and for more than twenty years was organist in a number of Buffalo's prin- cipal churches, retiring from church organ work in 1898. In 1904 he was appointed official organist of Buffalo, and in 1905 inaugurated at Convention Hall a service of free Sunday after- noon organ recitals. From 1882 to 1889 he was dramatic and musical critic and editor for the Buffalo Courier.^ Mr. Fleischmann has been a trustee of the Erie County Bar Association, served as its President in 1903, and for some years was Chairman of its Laws and Legislation Committee. He is a member of the New York State Bar Association, and is on its 256 MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. most important committee, that of Law Keform. He is also a member of the American Bar Association. In 1904 he was designated by the New York State Bar Asso- ciation as a delegate to the Universal Congress of Lawyers and Jurists held in St. Louis. He is a member of the Buffalo Club, of Temple Beth-Zion, and of the Society of Natural Sciences, and a life member of the Buffalo Library. June 29, 1898, Mr. Tleischmann married Laura Justice, daugh- ter of William G. and Anna (Gillam) Justice of Buffalo. Their children are: Edwin, born in August, 1899; Justice, born in August, 1902, and Dudley, born in May, 1905. PEANK V. E. BARDOL, former Chief Engineer of the City of Buffalo, is today one of the leading civil engineers of this part of the State. He was born in Erie, Pa., June 12, 1869. When he was three years old his parents removed to Buffalo and here he attended Grammar School No. 31. Later he entered Cornell University at the age of sixteen, where he pursued a course in civil engi- neering, graduating with the class of 1889. After his graduation Mr. Bardol was employed by the Lehigh Valley Railroad Company as a draughtsman and on field work. He assisted in the Company's engineering enterprises at the Tifft farm at South Buffalo, and in terminal work at East Buffalo. He continued with the Lehigh Valley Railroad two years and a half, at the end of this time being appointed by the Board of Public Works Assistant City Engineer of the City of Buffalo. For five years he served in this capacity, rendering such excellent service to the municipality that on the 1st of January, 1898, he was appointed by the Board of Public Works Chief Engineer of the Bureau of Engineering. The position was one of arduous responsibility, Mr. Bardol having charge of all public improvements, such as the laying out of streets, and the construction of sewers, bridges, and viaducts, and all similar works carried on by the city. During his administra- MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 257 tion Mr. Bardol was officially and in fact the supervisor of engineering undertakings involving an outlay on the part of the city of |1,000,000 a year. His official record was among the the ablest, most economical and successful of any to be found in the history of the city. It reflected credit on the administration and did equal honor to himself. When Col. Francis G. Ward, the Eepublican Commissioner of Public Works, took charge of that department at the beginning of 1902, Mr. Bardol resigned, and began the private practice of his profession, locating in the D. S. Morgan Building, where he has had his offices ever since. Mr. Bardol is also engaged in general contracting, in which he has an extensive and valuable business. / He belongs to a number of engineering and other societies. He is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers and the Western l^ew York Association of Civil Engineers, also of the Cornell Alumni Association, and the Buffalo Orpheus, and a member of Washington Lodge, F. & A. M. CHARLES EDWIN WILLIAMS, senior member of the firm of Williams, McNaughton & Bapst, and President of the Ger- man Rock Asphalt & Cement Company, the Buffalo Expanded Metal Company, the Lake Erie Dredging Company, and the Continental Engineering & Contracting Company, is one of the foremost contractors and industrial executives of Western New York. Mr. Williams comes of a family which has been identi- fied with Buffalo since the pioneer period of tha,t city. William I. Williams, the father of the subject of this sketch, was born near Fort Niagara in 1823, being the son of Daniel Williams, an army officer stationed at the fort, who later con- ducted a hotel at Black Rock and Utica. As a young man he learned the tobacconist's trade, and that of carpenter and joiner. In 1849 he went to California and accumulated enough money to enable him to start in business. Returning to Buffalo in 1850, he purchased a lumber yard, and later bought a lumber 258 MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. yard in Main street, conducting a lumber, contracting and building business for the next fifteen years, and admitting to partnership his son, Charles E. Williams, under the firm style of William I. Williams & Son. Mr. Williams erected many large buildings, and upwards of 2,000 houses, stores and other structures in Buffalo were of his construction. He retired from business in 1884, and died November 7, 1885. In 1845 Mr. Will- iams married Eliza C. Uamsdell, daughter of Capt. Alexander Ramsdell of Buffalo. Their children were: Charles Edwin, and Cora E. (Mrs. Reuben J. Getz). Charles Edwin Will- iams was born in Buffalo February 21, 1852, and was educated in the pub- lic schools and at Heath - cote School. On leaving school he became his father's bookkeeper, con- tinuing in that capacity for three years. He then went to Germany, and entered Stuttgart Polytechnic Institute, where he pursued a two years' course In architecture, engineering and similar subjects. Returning to Buffalo, he entered into partner- ship with his father, and in 1884 became associated with D. W. McConnell. The firm of Williams & McConnell being dissolved by the death of the junior partner, Mr. Williams organized the fi'rm of Williams, McNaughton & Bapst, which soon .stood in the front rank of the general contracting business. CI-IAELES E. WILLIAMS. MEMOEIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 259 Mr. Williams is a Eepublican, but has never held office. In the military affairs of Buffalo he has a creditable record, having served as a member of the old Company D, City Guard, and also as Quartermaster of the 74th Regiment, National Guard. He is of high, standing in the Masonic order, being a Scottish Rite Mason of the 32d degree. He is a member of the EUicott and Press clubs, the Chamber of Commerce and the Historical Society, and is connected with various other organizations. June 6, 1906, Mr. Williams married Jeanette J. Hodges, daughter of the late Edw^ard Hodges. A. SCHREIBER, President and founder of the A. Schreiber Brevping Company, Civil Service Commissioner, and Censor of the Polish National Alliance of the United States of America, is one of the foremost Polish- American citizens of Buffalo, an industrial leader and a man of an exceptionally vpide range of activities, including business, civic and social pursuits. Mr. Schreiber was boi"n in Poland January 12, 1864. He received a High School education in his native country, and then came al6ne to the United States, being eighteen years old when he arrived in New York City. Mr. Schreiber's early career was typically that of a self-made man. For a number of years he maintained himself by following various pursuits. He became office boy in a large chemical company, and rose by a rapid series of promotions. He was successively shipping clerk, city salesman, traveling salesman in New England and later general salesman, his territory including all of the United States and Canada. Resigning in 1899, he came to Buffalo, where, with one of his employees, Mr. F. Rawolle, he formed a partnership, and the same year he established the A. Schreiber Brewery, which in 1899 was incorporated under the Laws of the State of New York as the A. Schreiber Brewing Company, with Mr. Schreiber as President and General Manager, the concern having a paid-in capital of $100,000. Under Mr. Schreiber's able 260 MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. direction the business was extended with unexampled rapidity, and soon built up an immense trade. When running to its full limit the establishment has a capacity of 100,000 barrels annually. It now produces 70,000 barrels every year, all of which is disposed of in the city of Buffalo. The plant originally occupied 140 feet front; today it has a frontage of 477 feet on Fillmore avenue, extending back to Wilson street in the rear. The business is steadily growing and is destined to be one of Buffalo's greatest brewing industries. The company has a large and increasing family trade, and its delivery wagons are con- stantly kept busy. Of commensurate magnitude is its hotel and general trade, and for sound policj^, purity of product, improved methods of manufacture and financial trustworthiness, the house enjoys a reputation unsui'passed in Western New York. Though his business pursuits leave little time at his disposal, Mr. Schreiber takes an intelligent interest in the civic welfare of the community and has rendered excellent service as Civil Service Commissioner. Staunchly American in his loyalty to his adopted country and in his assimilation of its customs and progressiven'ess, Mr. Schreiber has never ceased to take a living interest in the welfare and history of his native land, and he is a representa- tive figure in the movement to bring about unity among Polish- Americans and to perpetuate the traditions and sentiments of Polish nationality. That his efforts in this field are appreci- ated is convincingly shown by the fact that to him has been accorded the high honor of being chosen Censor, or Supreme Master, of the Polish National Alliance, an organization of over 100,000 members. Mr. Schreiber is also a member of the Elks, the Eoyal Arcanum as well as various other societies. He devotes con- scientious thought and attention to the welfare of all organiza- tions with which he is identified, and in the prosperity of Buf- falo and the plans for the furtherance of his home citv's inter- MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 261 ests, he takes such a part as becomes a loyal citizen and a prominent factor in the business world. Mr. Schreiber is married and has two daughters. A man of genial personality, Mr. Schreiber has the popular qualities which belong to a true man of the people. He has made his own way in life, and no one is better aware than he of the difficulties which are to be overcome before the goal of business success is attained. His modesty, courtesy and ster- ling qualities of mind and heart have won him many friends, and his career is an admirable illustration of what may be accom- plished by zeal, honesty and ability. NEWTON ERNEST TURGEON, Major of the Seventy-Fourth Regiment, is among the best-known of the younger business men of Buffalo, and has to his credit a long record of capable and frequently distinguished service in the National Guard of the State. Maj. Turgeon is of French and New England descent. His grandfather, Jean Francis Turgeon, came from France early in the nineteenth century, settling in the province of Quebec. He was a farmer by occupation. His son, Joseph Turgeon, the father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Quebec in 1839, and when thirteen years old came to Vermont, where he married Harriet Atwood Johnson, August 16, 1868. The Johnsons were one of the oldest families of Vermont. Members of the family served in the Revolutionary army. Newton Ernest Turgeon was born at Shrewsbury, Vermont, July 3, 1869. Young Turgeon was educated in the public schools of his native place. Black River Academy, at Ludlow, Vt., and Bryant & Stratton's Business College in Boston, Mass. He then entered the employ of the Pope Manufacturing Company of Boston January 1, 1889, by whom he was sent to Chicago, where he proved himself so efficient that for five years he was continued in that field, when he came to Buffalo to take charge of its business here for four years longer. He then 262 MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. resigned to represent the interests of tlie George N. Pierce Company, whose business he managed for two years, then severing the connection in order to engage in insurance. July 1, 1899, he formed a copartnership with Augustus H. Knoll, under the firm style of Knoll & Turgeon, an association which still exists, the concern having the agency in the territory of Western New York for the accident and liability department of the Aetna Life Insurance Company. December 30, 1889, Maj. Turgeon joined Company F of the First Infantry, Illinois National Guard, as a private. He remained with Company F three years, during which time he attained the rank of Corporal and Acting Quartermaster Ser- geant. He then went into the regimental Signal Corps of the First Infantry, serving two years as Corporal. Coming to Buffalo he joined the Seventy-Fourth Regiment, N. G. N. Y., and on the 20th of December, 1896, was elected Second Lieutenant of Company H. A year later he was com- missioned, in 1897, First Lieutenant, and in 1898 Captain, serving until July 13, 1904, being in command of Company H for five years and a half. At that time Maj. Robert M. Harding, of the Second Battalion, resigned his commission, and Captain Turgeon was chosen Major to succeed him. When Governor Odell officially attended the opening of the World's Fair at St. Louis, Maj. Turgeon, then Captain of Com- pany H, was chosen to select a body of 103 picked men to form a part of the provisional regiment detailed from the National Guard of the State of New York to act as escort to the Governor on that occasion. Out of the many bodies of troops available, the same regiment was selected as escort for the President of the United States. Another notable military affair in which Maj. Turgeon partici- pated was the mobilization of the National and State forces at Manassas, Va., in September, 1904. On this occasion the Major accompanied the 74th Regiment, and during the ensuing maneu- MEMORIAL AXD FAMILY HISTORY. 263 vers and other events of field service, was in personal command of his battalion. Maj. Turgeon has little leisure, but he nevertheless finds time to attend to social obligations and has a large circle of acquaint- ances. He attends the Lafayette Avenue Presbyterian Church. October 19, 1892, Maj. Turgeon married Gertrude M. Chap- man, a daughter of David and Hannah Whitcomb Chapman of Ludlow, Vermont. They have one child. Ford Wesley Turgeon, born September 5, 1900. GEORGE C. FOX, for fifteen years commanding officer of the 74th Regiment, N. G. N. Y., and for more than a quarter of a century a member of the National Guard of the State of New York, has a military record which, measured by the standards of length of service, promotion and soldierlike efficiency of conduct, is excelled by that of no National Guardsman in the State. Gen. Fox was born in Buffalo June 18, 1860, being the son of Christopher G. Fox and Rhoda Potter. He attended Public School No. 1 of Buffalo, the private school of H. C. Williams, and Central High School. On leaving school he entered the employ of Isaac HoUoway, a paving contractor, as office assistant, con- tinuing until 1882, when he became connected with the office of Fox & HoUoway, a firm consisting of his father, Christopher G. Fox, and Charles W. HoUoway, and engaged in dealing in sand, gravel and builders' supplies. In 1889 he Avas admitted partner, and is still a member of the firm. In 1876, Mr. Fox joined the Tifft Zouaves. In 1878-79 he was a member of Company D, Buffalo City Guards, serving as a private and later as Corporal. In 1879 he was commissioned Second Lieutenant of Company D, 65th Regiment. Afterward he was transferred to Company I, and in 1881 was promoted to First Lieutenant of Company G. In May, 1882, he was com- missioned Captain of Company F, of the 74th Regiment, which company he commanded until December 9, 1889, when he was 264 MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. commissioned Major. In April, 1891, Col. U. S. Johnson, then in command of the Regiment, resigned, and on April 13, of that year, Maj. Fox was commissioned Colonel to take his place. Prom that time to the present, Gen. Fox has continued to be the commanding officer of the Regiment. Col. Fox was brevetted a Brigadier General by Governor Odell in December, 1904, the honor being conferred as a reward for twenty-five years' service in the National Guard. On the same occasion he received a solid gold medal awarded by the State for twenty-five years of continuous service. Since Gen. Fox has commanded the 74th, the Regiment has been greatly strengthened and improved. When he was elected Colonel, the Regiment consisted of seven companies with an aggregate strength of 370 men. Later the organization was increased to eight companies, with 451 men. In 1893 the Regiment was divided into two battalions and given an additional Major, Adjutant, Quartermaster, and Surgeon for each battalion, in 1906 another company was added, making nine companies and 670 officers and men, which is the present strength of the organization. As Colonel of the 74th Regiment, Gen. Fox saw active duty during the switchmen's strike of 1892, when the Regiment was called out for fifteen days to preserve order. In 1891, 1893, 1895 and 1897 the Regi- ment participated in the State Camj) held at Peekskill. In September, 1899, it took part in the New York City parade in honor of Admiral Dewey, also going on a tour of field service, and in 1902 it saw field service at Grand Island. It also partici- pated in the mobilization of the Regular Army and the National Guard at Manassas, Va., in 1904, and in 1905 visited Toronto as guest of the Queen's Own Regiment. The 74th is considered one of the finest regimental organizations in the State, and under Gen. Fox has received praise wherever it has appeared. In, 1894 an agitation was begun for the erection of a new armory, and in 1895 the State granted an appropriation of 125,000 for the foundations of the building. In 1897 another appropriation of |375,000 was granted to complete the building. MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 265 On the 4tli of July, 1898, the corner stone of the armory was laid by the Grand Lodge of Masons of the State of New York, the edifice being finished in the fall of 1899. The first official occupation of the building took place January 15, 1900. The armory is a superb structure of brown sandstone, and is one of the handsomest military buildings in the State. The property is valued at |700,000. Gen. Fox was the originator of the plan to build the armory, and more than any other individual, he is entitled to credit for securing for the 74th Eegiment the splen- did edifice which is one of Buffalo's chief architectural adorn- ments. Gen. Fox served in 1894 as President of the National Guard Association, and ex-ofificio is now a member of that organization. Gen. Fox is a member of Queen City Lodge of Masons, of which he was Master in 1894 and 1895, and District Deputy Grand Master in 1900 and 1901. Since 1896 he has served as Secretary of Keystone Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, and he is a member of Keystone Council, Royal and Select Masters; of Hugh de Payens Commandery, Knights Templar, and of the Acacia Club, of which he has for two years acted as Secretary. November 18, 1891, Gen. Fox married Matilda Inman of Buffalo, daughter of Henry Inman and Mary Summerfield. OLE LYNN SNYDER is the senior member of the law firm of Snyder & Cook, but to the average Buffalonian Mr. Snyder is better known for the immense business undertakings in which he is a leading factor than in his capacity as an attor- ney. He is an able lawyer, a business man of remarkable grasp and breadth, and a brilliant orator. Mr. Snyder is descended from an ancient French family that left France with Bernadotte and settled in Sweden, eventually going to Norway, becoming identified with that country and ranking among the most prominent residents of the cities of Christiania and Bergen. The family name was LaMoe. James O. T^aMoe, the great-grandfather of the subject, was field mar- 266 MEMOEIAL AND FAMIT.Y HIvSTORY. shal on the staflf of Marshall Ney and served Avith Napoleon dur- ing his numerous campaigns. When Bernadotte became King- of Sweden, James O. LaMoe was appointed by Bernadotte Commander - in - Chief of the Swedish Army. The LaMoe family were mili- tary men, and to this career Jens LaMoe, father of Ole Lynn Snyder, was destined. Jens LaMoe was educated in the Mili- tary University of Nor- way, and upon graduation was appointed Orderly Sergeant and Despatch Officer to the King. In the War of 1848 between Denmark and Germany he served as First Lieuten- ant. Jens LaMoe was married in Norway to Sirene Bronken, daughter of Samuel Bronken, who served as Captain in the War of 1812-14 between Sweden and Norway, and was given a gold medal by the Government for bravery. When Ole Bull, the great violinist, came to America in 1852, Mr. LaMoe, the father of the subject of this sketch, his warm personal friend, accompanied him. Together they founded a Norwegian colony in Potter County, Pennsylvania, and the town of Oleona, in that county, was named after Ole Bull. When the Civil War broke out, Mr. LaMoe went to the front as Lieutenant in the 3d Wisconsin Regiment. He was also recruiting officer and Drill Major of the Regiment, and later commissioned Captain. He died from wounds received at the Battle of Gettysburg at forty-nine years. OLE L. SNYDER. MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 267 * Mr. LaMoe was married in Norway to Sirene Bronken. They had three sons, Peter J. LaMoe, a resident of Springiaeld, Minn., who served through the War of the Rebellion in a Minnesota Regiment; Seward J. LaMoe, who lives in Minnesota, and who served as Postmaster of Jackson, Minn., during Cleveland's first administration, and also as Sheriff of Jackson County in that Statte; and Ole L. Snyder. The latter's mother dying at his birth, the infant was adopted by Mr. and Mrs. Michael Snyder of Sweden, Potter County, Pa. He was a prominent farmer, and for their devotion and kindness, Mr. Snyder chose to retain the surname of his foster-father. Ole L. Snyder Avas born in Potter County, Pennsylvania, in 1852. He graduated from the Pennsylvania Central Normal in 1878, and the Law Department of the University of Michi- gan in 1880. Mr. Snyder first practiced in Pennsylvania for six years, when he removed to Buffalo. Here he became a member of the firm of Snyder & Stoddard, an association which continued until the latter's death. Bot^i legal acquirements and executive ability have combined to identify Mr. Snyder with industrial enterprises carried on upon a large scale. No Buffalonian is better known in big financial circles throughout the country. One of the chief enterprises with which Mr. Snyder is con- nected is that of the Denver and Salt Lake Railway Tunnel Company, which is building a tunnel tlirough the Rocky Moun- tains at the base of Mount Kelso, cutting through the Conti- nental divide. The tunnel is to be four miles and a half long, and its completion means that the traveling distance between Denver and Salt Lake City will be shortened by 220 miles. Up to the present time the cost of the undertaking has been one million. To finish the task will cost two million and the expense oi equipping the tunnel for railway use will be two million more. The tunnel is cut through the solid rock. It is a labor collossal in conception and accomplishment and is destined to be one of the classical examples of American engineering. 268 MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. Mr. Snyder is also deeply interested in coal and timber lands in Wyoming and Logan Counties, West Virginia. He is the founder of the Niagara Storage Company and of the Adirondack League Club. The admission fee to this celebrated club is |1,000. The League owns in fee 86,000 aci^es of land, and the properties it holds under lease amount to 25,000 acres more. It is said that the Club is the owner of the largest hunting and fishing preserves in the United States. Mr. Snyder owns a beautiful Swiss chalet situated upon the League's preserves on the shore of Hennedager Lake, in the wilderness. Always a Democrat, when Cleveland ran for President the first time, Mr. Snyder took the platform for him, speaking in New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio throughout the campaign. In the Bryan campaign of 1896, Mr. Snyder spoke under the auspices of the Democratic National Committee, for Mr. Bryan, in New York, Pennsylvania, South Dakota and Colorado. In the State campaign of 1897 he supported Van Wyck for Governor, and spoke throughout the State in his behalf. He later received the Democratic nomination for Congress to oppose Col. D. S. Alexander in the Western District of Erie County. In the ensuing contest Mr. Snyder made a splendid showing in this strongly Republican district. Upon the organi- zation of the Independence League in Erie County in 1906, Mr. Snyder was its first President. Mr. Snyder belongs to High- land Lodge of Masons, to Buffalo Consistory and Ismailia Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He is also Past .High Priest of Arnold Chapter, No. 254, of Port Allegany, Pa., and has been a member of St. John Commandery, Knights Templar, of Olean, N. Y. He is a Mason of the 32d degree. In 1888 Mr. Snyder married Miss Ora L. Lillibridge of Port Allegany, Pa., daughter of Alvah N. Lillibridge, son of Lodwig Lillibridge, one of the first settlers of Port Allegany. Mrs. Snyder's mother was Leora S. Viner, a daughter of Isaac Viner, whose father served in the Revolutionary War. Mr. and Mrs. Snyder have one daughter, Olga Leora, who was born in Buffalo in 1897. MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 269 ALBERT JAY SIGMAN, a successful lawyer of Buffalo, is one of the best known attorneys in Erie County. For thorough- ness of preparation of cases and zeal for the interests of his clients, Mr. Sigman has no superior at the Buffalo bar. The Sigman family is of German origin. The first of the stock in America came from Baden, Germany, about 1840. The grandparents of Albert Jay Sigman settled at Tobyhanna, Sus- quehanna County, Pa. They were survived by three children, Martin, Elizabeth, and Catherine. Martin Sigman, the father of the subject of this sketch, was married to Hannah Elizabeth Beck in the year 1838, Mrs. Beck, being then a widow with one child by name Catherine, who was married to one William Pfleuger, on July 4th, 1858. There were born to Martin and Hannah Elizabeth Sigman, six chil- dren, to wit: Martin P. Sigman, who died at Little ^''alley, N. Y., on August 24, 1905, and Belinda M. Sigman, who died at Cattaraugus, N. Y., on August 20, 1880. The following children are still living: Andrew F. Sigman and John J. Sigman, who reside at Cattaraugus, N. Y., and Albert J. Sigman and Lewis W. Sigman, both of Buffalo, N. Y. The present grandchildi^en of the Sigman family are as follows, to wit: Irving ¥. Sigman, Euth M. Sigman, Cora B. Sigman, and Sylvia Sigman, children of said John H. Sigman, and Alberta H. Sigman, now the wife of Philip J. Griffiths of Buffalo, N. Y., and Carrie B. Sigman, now the wife of Arthur Lee White of San Antonio, Texas, being the children of the said Lewis W. Sigman. The only great-grandchild living is Catherine Sigman Griffiths, daughter of said Alberta H. Griffiths and Philip J. Griffiths. Martin Sigman resided the greater part of his life near the village of Cattaraugus, Cattaraugus County, New York, where he settled over sixty years ago. He was a stone mason by trade, but soon took up farming as a business, which occupation he followed until his death in 1872. During the construction of the Erie R. R. from Hornellsville to Dunkirk, the senior Mr. 270 MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. Sigman had the contract for a portion of a section of such work. In politics, Martin Sigman was a Democrat, held a number of town offices, and was A\idely known in 'Cattaraugus County. Albert Jay Sigman was born in Cattaraugus, N. Y., August 8, 1853. He attended the public schools in his native town and village, later completing a classical course at Chamberlain Institute, Randolph, N. Y. When seventeen years old he began teaching school in Cattaraugus County, teaching ten terms in all, ultimately becoming principal of an important school at Otto, N. Y. While engaged as a teacher he devoted his spare time to reading law. Entering the law offices of Col. E. A. Nash and the late Hiram Herrick of Cattaraugus County, he studied law for three years, and at Buffalo, in June, 1877, was admitted to the bar. January 1st, 1878, he came to Buffalo, where he has built up a large clientage and established an excellent reputa- tion, both as an office lawyer and as a pleader at the bar. At the close of a murder trial some years ago, wherein Mr. Sigman represented the defendant and saved the life of his client, Hon. Truman C. White, one of the Justices of the Supreme Court, remarked: " Mr. Sigman has defended his client with rare skill and care; he was persistent in his search for witnesses, and in fact, did his work most thoroughly, and I do not believe I ever witnessed a similar case where there was less display on the Ijart of the counsel for the prisoner and more real, hard work." Such an ex cathedra tribute is as rare as it is impressive, and might well satisfy the ambition of any lawyer. Formerly a Democrat, Mr. Sigman was a charter member of the Cleveland Democracy, and belonged to the Executive Committee of that organization. Eesigning from the Cleveland Democracy, he joined the Buffalo Republican League, and from that time cast his lot with the Republican party, and is a staunch protectionist. For many years Mr. Sigman has been prominent in Masonic circles. A member of Hiram Lodge, No. 105, F. & A. M., he is also twice Past Master. He is a member of Buffalo Chapter, MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 271 No. 71, Eoyal Arch Masons, and is also a Mystic Shriner, and a Mason of the 32d degree. In Odd Fellowship Mr. Sigman is at the present time Grand Master of the State of New York, having previously served as Grand Warden and Deputy Grand Master. He is a Past Noble Grand of Red Jacket Lodge, No 238, Independent Order of Odd Fellows; Past Chief Patriarch of International Encampment, No. 131; Past District Deputy of Erie District, No. 1, for two terms, and Past Priesident of the Erie County Memoi'ial Association, I. O. O. F., for three years. For three years he has been a Director of the Odd Fellows' Home Association at Lockport, N. Y., and is a Trustee of his lodge. In 1906 the Grand Lodge met in Buffalo out of compli- ment to Grand Master Sigman. In the Improved Order of Red Men, Mr. Sigman is Past Sachem of Erie Tribe No. 315. His opportunities for observation of men and conditions have been enlarged by extensive travel, both in this country and iu Europe. MAURICE C. SPRATT, of the firm of Hoyt & Spratt, is one of the ablest lawyers of the New York bar. Mr. Spratt has attained special distinction in the field of corporation law, being counsel for several of the most important railroad, telegraph and other corporations of the country. The public records of Somerset and Devonshire Counties, England, show that the Spratt family were active in political and ecclesiastical affairs as early as 1500. The branch from which Maurice C. Spratt descends was established in Southern Ireland, 1640, by the Rev. Devereux Spratt, who was a graduate of Magdalen College, Oxford University and a clergyman of the Church of England. In 1641 he was obliged to leave Ireland because of the Rebellion which broke out in that year, and on his return passage to England, while in the Irish Channel, thii ship that bore him was captured by an Algerine Corsair and he was taken to the City of Algiers and sold as a slave. During 272 MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. his captivity he ministered to the English prisoners at Algiers, and although ransomed at the end of one year, he preferred to remain in bondage and continued for two years his ministra- tions to the captives of his own nationality and faith. He was then appointed Chaplain of the Channel Squadron and after serving one year with the fleet he returned to Ireland, having received grants of land in Mitchellstown, County of Cork. Many of his descendants have served with conspicuous bravery both in the British Army and Navy, and have held and now hold high rank in both branches of the service. Maurice Charles Spratt was born April 4, 1865, at Rossie, St. Lawrence County, N. Y., his father being Patricli Spratt and his mother Margaret Vaughan Spratt. He was educated in the public schools of his native town, graduated from Ogdensburg Academy in 18S4: and from Georgetown University, D. C, in 1888, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. He then became a student in the law office of his brother, Hon. Thomas Spratt, and Hon. Daniel Magone, in Ogdensburg, and in 1890 was admitted to the bar. He remained with that firm till 1893, when he came to Buffalo, and entered the office of Messrs. McMillan, Gluck,. Pooley & Depew, a leading law firm at that time. Later Mr. Spratt was admitted a partner of the firm which became known as McMillan, Pooley, Depew & Spratt, later Pooley, Depew & Spratt, and afterwards Pooley & Spratt, an association which continued up to 1907, when Mr. Spratt became associated with W. B. Hoyt, in the present firm of Hoyt & Spratt. Messrs. Hoyt & Spratt are now counsel jn this territory for the New York Central Lines, including the Lake Shore, the New York Central, the New York, Chicago & St. Louis, the West Shore, the Michigan Central, the Rome, Watertown & Qgdensburg, the Terminal Railway and other Vanderbilt prop- erties. Among the firm's clients are also included the Western Union Telegraph Company, the Aetna Life Insurance Company, the Western Transit Company and the New York State Realty MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 273 & Terminal Company, • with siicli extensive Buffalo concerns as the George N. Pierce Automobile Company, the Buffalo Dredging Company, the German Rock Asphalt Co., the M. H. Birge & Sons Company, and the Buffalo Sanitary Company. Mr. Spratt is, in the best sense of the phrase, an all-around lawyer. His experience is wide, his capacity for research marked, and his instincts practical. He is an eifective and suc- cessful court advocate, a safe and sound counselor, and strong in the presentation of arguments before appellate tribunals. Mr. Spratt is independent in politics. For several years he has been a prominent member of the Civil Service Reform Asso- ciation, and in 1906 was chosen a member of its Executive Committee. He is a member of the Buffalo Historical Society, the Buffalo, Saturn, University and Country Clubs and the Transportation Club of New York City. DR. -EARL GEORGE DANSER, Medical Examiner for Erie County, is a man who has won distinction both as a member of the medical profession and as a public official. Dr. Danser's ancestry is derived from New England. His grandfather, Nathaniel Danser, came thence to Western New York early in the last century, and was one of the pioneers of Erie County. George Danser, the father of Earl G. Danser, was born on his father's farm in the town of Clarence in 1824, and died in 1871. He was a farmer; also owned one of the first threshing machines operated in Erie County. In 1850 George Danser married Esther Cummings, born 1835, a daughter of Simeon R. Cummings of Clarence. The surviving children are: Aletha (Mrs. Clark D. Bosworth) of Clarence; Anna D. (Mrs. Henry H. Hewitt) of Kenyon, Minn.; and Dr. Earl G. Danser. Earl George Danser was born at Mansfield's Corners in the town of Clarence, Erie County, N. Y., December 18, 1857. He 274 MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. ^ attended the public schools and the Parker Union School at Clarence, graduating in 1879. Prior to and after his graduation he taught school. Later he became a clerk in the Canal Collec- tor's office under Charles M. King, for one year. In the meantime Mr. Danger took up the study of medicine with Dr. Henry Lapp of Clarence. BLe later entered the College of Medicine of the University of Buffalo, from which he gradu- ated in 1884. He engaged in practice at Wilson, Niagara County, until 1885, when he removed to Elba in Genesee County. In 1887 he came to Buffalo. In 1901 Dr. Danser was elected Coroner of Erie Count}'. After he had served three mon-ths and a half, the State Legislature passed a bill abolishing the office and creating that of Medical Examiner, Dr. Danser being selected for the place. January 1, 1906, he was again appointed by the Supervisors for the regular term of three years. Under the provisions of the law there was committed to Dr. Danser the organization of the office. The importance of the task can hardly be exaggerated when one takes into account the fact that so large a city as Buffalo comes under the Medical Examiner's jurisdiction, and when it is further considered how far-reaching are the relations of that official with questions of order, public safety and even of criminal jurisprudence. Dr. Danser set about his work with a scientific thoroughness worthy of all praise. The law of Massachusetts furnished some valuable precedents, and Dr. Danser proceeded to organize his own department on a similar basis, with the result that in econ- omy, precision of method, and completeness of the records preserved, his administration has far excelled anything accomplished under the old system. Under Dr. Danser's administration the exj)enses of the offiice of Medical Examiner are almost precisely one-half of the amount incurred under the law providing for Coroners. Dr. Danser is among the leading members of the Erie County Medical Society. He is prominent both in the Masonic frater- MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 275 nity and in the ranks of Odd Fellowship. He is affiliated with Hiram Lodge of Masons, Buffalo Consistory, Adytum Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, and Ismailia Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He belongs to Bailey Lodge, No. 553, I. O. O. F., and Lake Erie Encampment, of which he is i'ast Chief Patriarch, being also Past District Deputy of District No. 4, and he is besides a member of Canton Perch of the uniformed rank of Odd Fellows, and attends the Presbyterian Church. On the 15th of August, 1894, Dr. Danser married Miss Rose Bleiler of Buffalo. Kingsley country settled County, SPENCER SILAS KINGSLEY is a representative citizen of Buffalo. The Kingsley family is of English origin. John came to this in 1624, and in Hampshire Mass. Silas Kingsley was descended from John Kingsley, a Baptist clergyman of note. His mother was a daughter of Dr. Samuel White, a descendant of Peregrine White, the first child born to the Pilgrims on this side of the ocean. Silas Kingsley was one of the pioneers of Buffalo and stood in the foremost rank of its. citizens. He was born May 21, 1800, in the town of Peru, Hamp- shire County, Mass. His early educational advantages were meagre, but were supple- mented by self -culture. He taught at Ballston Spa, N. Y., for six SPENCEB S. KINGSLEY. 276 MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. years, and in 182G came to Buffalo. The same year he went to Michigan, where he was engaged in the laying out of military roads and the organization of Washtenaw Countj'. In 1828 Mr. Kingsley returned to Utica, N. Y., where he resumed teaching. In 1833 he again came to Buffalo, where he founded the first classical and military school ever organized in Buffalo. Eventually he resigned his prihcipalship to accept the offices of President and Treasurer of the proposed University of Western New York. For two terms he served as Superintend- ent of Schools, and was also commissioned by Secretary of State Spencer to investigate the public school system. He was for three terms Superintendent of the Poor of Erie County, and was sole commissioner for locating and building the County Almshouse and Insane Asylum. The Almshouse site which he selected is now the proposed site of the greater University of Buffalo, an outgrowth of the University of Western New York, of which Mr. Kingsley was first President. He was one of the commission to furnish the Erie County Penitentiary, and supervised the discipline of that institution. He was Presi- dent of the organization to prevent street begging, and with Millard Fillmore and Mrs. John C. Lord, he founded the Buffalo Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and was its first President. He was the first President of the Old Settlers' Festival Association, and was a ruling elder and one of the oldest members of the First Presbyterian Church. He was a trustee of the Buifalo Savings Bank, and was concerned in several other financial enterprises. He settled a number of estates, on many occasions acted as guardian for heirs and orphans, and was widely known for the capability and scrupul- ous integrity with which he acquitted himself of fiduciary responsibilities. In 1833 Mr. Kingsley married Julia Cozzens, daughter of Levi Cozzens of Utica, N. Y. Their children were: Spencer S.; Edward A., who died in 1881; Mary C, now Mrs. Edward W. Ordway, of Brooklyn, and George W., who died in 1890. MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 277 Silas Kingsley died in JBuffalo, April 5, 1886. He is remem- bered as a grand exemplar of Christian manliness and sterling citizenship. Spencer Silas Kingsley, son of Silas Kingsley, was born in Buffalo June 21, 1849. His education was obtained in the grammar schools of his native city, the Central High School, the Buffalo Academy, and the Heathcote private school. When sixteen years old he became a clerk in Titus' Tea and Spice Store in Buffalo. He attended school for three years more, then entering the store of C. E. Walbridge, where he remained ten years, and became manager of the wholesale department. He then engaged in the book business with Otto Ulbrich, in the firm of Ulbrich & Kingsley. In 1888 he engaged in his present real estate business. He is a trustee of the recently organized American Savings Bank. Mr. Kingsley is a member of the Chamber of Commerce, and formerly of the Merchants' Exchange. For three years he was Chairman of the Real Estate Committee of these organizations, and has also served on other committees. Of the Real Estate Association Mr. Kingsley is a leading spirit, and was one of the chief factors in the erection of the Mutual Life Building by the former Real Estate Exchange, of which he was President for three years. He has been a Director of the Y. M. C. A. for over twenty-five years, and for twenty years has served as Chairman of the House Committee. Since boyhood he has been connected with the First Presbyterian Church, and since 1888, has served as deacon and elder. June 20, 1876, Mr. Kingsley married A. Xiouisa McWilliams, daughter of John A. and Susan A. McWilliams of Elmira, N. Y., and sister of John J. and the late Joseph E. McWilliams of Buffalo, and of Daniel W. McAVilliams of Brooklyn. Mr. and Mrs. Kingsley have two children, Silas Eugene Kingsley, who is engaged in the real estate business in Pittsburg, and Louise Kingsley of Buffalo. 278 MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. HON. EDWARD K. EMERY, Justice of the Supreme Court, has won distinction at the bar, elevation to the bench and legislative honors. Of intellectual poise and judicial caliber, the moral and civic standards of Justice Emery are of the kind vi^hich commend themselves to the sterling elements of a com- munity. Justice Emery comes of excellent New England stock. John and Anthony Emery, sons of John and Agnes Emery of Romsey Hants, England, came to America in 1635, and settled in Nevs^bury, Massachusetts, the saaie year. Jonathan Emery, son of John Emery, Sr., was a soldier in King Phillip's War and participated in the great Narragansett battle fought on the 19th of December, 1675, where he was wounded. He had a son, Edward Emery, who was killed by the Indians in 1719. He had a son, William, who had a son, Josiah Emery, who had a son, Josiah Emery, grandfather of Judge Emery, who was born July 1st, 1784. He was a man of great enterprise and a representa- tive pioneer. In 1808 he was part owner of a store ana saw- mill at Barre, Vermont. In January, ISll, he moved his family and portable effects in a four-horse sleigh to Western New York, settling at Caledonia, and finally at Willink, South of Buffalo. In his new home Josiah Emery was a man of influence and was held in high estimation. When the War of 1812 broke out he entered the army, with the rank of Lieutenant. In the conflict on the Niagara Frontier he served gallantly, partici- pating in several engagements, including the Battle of Lundy's Lane. Later he became a Colonel in the State militia. His death took place August 14, 1873. Josiah Emery, son of Colonel Josiah Emery and Susannah Little Emery, and the father of Judge Edward K. Emery, was born at Aurora, N. Y., October 29th, 1819. He was a man of great intellectual power, filled an important position in public affairs, and while con- diicting the homestead farm at Aurora almost continually held County office and was frequently consulted in legal matters. July 11th, 1847, Mr. Emery married Miss Elizabeth C. MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 279 Kellogg, a daughter of Alexander and Mary (Ingersoll) Kellogg, formerly of Bethlehem, Connecticut. Mrs. Emery died December 12, 1884. The children of the union were: Ella Frances, Edward Kellogg, Josiah Albert, who became a promi- nent lawyer of Buffalo and was connected with the District Attorney's office; Mary Elizabeth, and Asher Bates, now a well-known legal practitioner of Buffalo. Edward Kellogg Emery was born in East Aurora, Erie County, N. Y., July 29th, 1851. The self culture which is a characteristic fact of Judge Emery's career, began while he was still in his boyhood, his education being chiefly due to his own efforts. He taught school winters and did farm work in summer time, thus acquiring enough means to begin a course of legal study. Coming to Buffalo, he read law, his preparatory work being marked by rare diligence and research. In 1877 he was admitted to the bar, immediately thereafter engaging in the practice of his profession in Buffalo. Judge Emery's early experience in the active labors of his profession was accompanied by struggles and self-denial. He soon became known as one of the hard-working and reliable young attorneys and steadily grew in the public confidence, building up a valuable practice. As time passed his position became fully confirmed, and in the later years of his active practice he was recognized as one of the ablest of Buffalo lawyers. Always a Republican, in the fall of 1886 he was elected Assemblyman to represent the old Fifth District of Erie County and reelected in 1887. On retiring from the Legislature, Mr. Emery resumed the active duties of his profession. He was elected County Judge in 1895 and reelected for a second term of six years in 1901. In 1907 he was elected an additional Supreme Court Judge from the Eighth Judicial Dis- trict, in which position he is serving at the present time. An able lawyer and jurist. Judge Emery is also prominent in 280 MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. social life. He is a Mason, a merober of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and of the Royal Arcanum. October 7, 1886, Judge Emery married Miss Clara B. Darbee, a daughter of Jedediah and Mary A. Darbee of Aurora, N. Y. They have one child living, Mary Elizabeth, born July 31, 1888. CHARLES A. POOLEY is one of the foremost lawyers of the State and has for many years been known as the legal repre- sentative of large business interests and as a prominent citizen of Buffalo. Mr. Pooley is of English ancestry. His father, the late William Pooley, was born in Cornwall, England, and was a son of Richard Pooley, a considerable land holder in that part of the country. William Pooley as a young man came to America about 1845 and five years later settled in Buffalo. For a number of years he successfully carried on a lumber and planing mill industry here. Retiring from that business in 1876, until his death in 1902, he devoted himself to the care of his prop- erty. He was a man of strong traits of character and sterling- citizenship, and was held in high esteem in the community. William Pooley married Mary A. Menary, of Scotch-Irish parentage. Her family settled in Canada about 1845. The sur- viving children of the marriage are: Elizabeth J. (Mrs. Charles W. HoUoway), Charles A., and George C. Pooley, and Minnie M. (Mrs. George C. Finley), all of whom live in Buffalo. Charles A. Pooley was born in Buffalo November 17, 1854. He gained his elementary education at Public School No. 1; afterAvard attending Central High School, graduating in the class of 1873. On leaving school Mr. Pooley engaged in the lumber business, which he followed three years. This occupa- tion he found not wholly congenial to him and he began the study of law on the 1st of January, 1876. His studies were completed in the office of the late Senator A. P. Laning, and in April, 1879, he was admitted to the bar. He began practice MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 281 with the firm of Laning, McMillan & Gluck, later becoming a member of the firm of McMillan, Gluck & Pooley. Subse- quently was formed the well-known law partnership of McMillan, Gluck, Pooley & Depew, which was one of the fore- most legal firms in the State and handled the business of some of our largest corporations. On the death of Mr. Gluck, the firm became McMillan, Pooley, Depew & Spratt, and when Mr. McMillan retired the association was continued as Pooley, Depew & Spratt, later Pooley & Spratt, which firm was dis- solved in February, 1907, and Mr. Pooley has continued his practice alone. Mr. Pooley has for many years been one of the prominent legal advisers of the New York Central lines, which he now represents in Genesee and Orleans Counties, as well as in special proceedings before the Public Service Commission, and in other matters in Western New York. It speaks well for the esteem in which Mr. Pooley is held by his fellow members of the bar that he has been prominently mentioned for judicial honors. When by the elevation of Judge Albert Haight to the Court of Appeals on the 1st of January, 1895, a vacancy occurred on the Supreme Court bench of the Eighth Judicial District, Mr. Pooley was strongly endorsed for the appointment, the petition to Governor Morton being signed by a great number of repre- sentative lawyers without regard to political affiliation. It would be hard to conceive a higher compliment to a member of the legal profession than to be so emphatically endorsed to succeed a jurist of the standing of Judge Haight. In the summer of 1895 Mr. Poolej^'s name was again prominently brought forward as that of a desirable candidate for the Republican nomination to the Supreme Court bench. Typically a lawyer, Mr. Pooley has always been closely devoted to his profession. He is a progressive citizen, taking a keen interest in the welfare and institutions of Buffalo, and keeping himself in line with civic advancement and the general interests of the community. He is a trustee of the Law 282 MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. Library of the Eighth Judicial District and served for three years as a Director of the Buffalo Library. He has received high Masonic honors, being a Mason of the 32d degree, a mem- ber and Past Master of De Molay Lodge, No. 498, F. & A. M.,. and a member of Buffalo Chapter, E. A. M. He has also served, a term as District Deputy Grand Master of the State of 'New York for the 25th Masonic District. On the 4th of June, 1884, Mr. Pooley married Carrie Adams,, daughter of Hon. S. Cary Adams of Buffalo. Their children are: Harriet A., born in 1885, a student at Vassar College; Charles W., born in 1886, a student at Harvard University, and Margaret H. Pooley, born in 1895. NATHANIEL WILLIS KOKTON. The Norton family of Buffalo is of New England lineage. Nathaniel Norton, grand- father of Nathaniel W. Norton, was born in 1762 near Portland, Me., and was descended from the early Puritans of Plymouth Colony. He was a farmer, a soldier of the Eevolution, and fought at the Battle of Bunker Hill. He died in 1831. He married Hannah Sawyer. Their son, Ebenezer Norton, was born in 1814 at Limington, Me., and died in 1886. He was educated in the public schools and grew up to be a farmer and mechanic. When a young man he removed to Oxford County, Me., where he cleared a large farm and built a sawmill. He was a Repub- lican, an influential citizen, and a man of strict probity of life. He married Martha Sargent of Brownfield, Me., whose mother. Mothsheba Edwards, was descended from the famous minister, Jonathan Edwards. The surviving children of Ebenezer Norton are: Harriett Maria (Mrs. Freeman H. Chadbourne of Everett, Mass.); Hannah Abbie (Mrs. Charles B. Davis of Hiram, Me.); Nathaniel Willis Norton and Rosewell Messenger Norton of Bjiffalo; Richard Fremont Norton of Porter, Me.; Sarah Eiliza- beth Norton; Mary Alice (Mrs. Frederick W. Sargent of Everett, Mass.); Elmer Ellsworth Norton of Norwood, Mass.; MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 283 Herbert Franz Jean Norton of Buffalo, and Florence Ethel Norton of Porter, Me. NATHANIEL WILLIS NORTON, a leading lawyer of Buffalo, is known not only as a legal practitioner, but for his identification with civic, educational and benevolent interests. He was born at Porter, Oxford County, Me., on the 3d of March, 1853. He attended district schools, worked on his father's farm, and as a young man taught school for five years. He was prepared for college in the Nichols Latin School at Lewiston, Me., and entered Bates College, where he spent his Freshman year. In 1875 he joined the Sophomore class of Dart- mouth College, and was graduated from the classical course in 1878. Five years later he received from Dartmouth College the degree of Master of Arts. After leaving college, Mr. Norton became principal of the High School at Ware, Mass., and registered as a law student with Henry W. Davis of Ware. He graduated from the Law School of Union University in 1880, was immediately afterward admitted to the bar, and located in practice at Buffalo. In 1885 Eosewell M. Norton, and in 1894 another brother, Herbert F. J. Norton, became associated with him, the present firm style being Norton Brothers. Mr. Norton is a Eepublican, and served in 1889 and 1890 as Assistant United States District Attorney under Col. D. S. Alexander. He also served four years as County Attorney, from 1902 to 1906. Mr. Norton is a life member of the Young Men's Association, has served as one of its trustees, and was President of its Executive Board for three years. He is one of the trustees of the Buffalo Library, and has been a life member and trustee of the Buffalo Orphan Asylum for more, than fifteen years. He is a member of the Chamber of Commerce, the Buffalo, Saturn, and University olubs, and the Delta Kappa Epsilon college fraternity, and is a life member of the Buffalo Historical Society. 284 MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. June 30, 1880, Mr. Norton married Mary Estella Miner, daughter of Dr. Julius P. Miner of BufPalo. Mrs. Norton died in 1889, leaving one child, Martha Miner Norton, who was born in 1882. June 17, 1903, Mr. Norton married his second wife, Mrs. Mary Louise Cilley, daughter of James P. Golding of Buffalo. JOHN TREFTS, whose lamented death occurred on the 5th of October, 1900, was for more than fifty years one of the fore- most men in the iron industry of Buffalo. > He was the son of George and Katharine (Frizel) Trefts, and was born in Alsace, then a province of Prance. He came to this country with his parents about 181 9, the family settling first in Pittsburg, Pa. Later the father placed his family and goods on one of the " prairie schooners " and began the long journey to a farm in Southern Ohio. But he died on the way, and his son, John Trefts, turned the team eastward, and drove back to Pittsburg. There he gained his first knowledge of the iron industry, where he learned the trade of a moulder. In 1845 Mr. Trefts came to Buffalo, where he became a fore- man in the Buffalo Steam Engine Works. He remained with this concern and its successors nearly twenty years, becoming a stockholder of the company and a leading factor in the business. After the panic of 1857 the firm was reorganized under the style of George W. Tifft, Sons & Co. In 1859 Mr. Trefts became interested in the oil business in Pennsylvania, both as an operator and a manufacturer of mechanical appliances for use in oil production. He made the castings for the engine used to pump the Drake well^ the first one sunk in the oil region, and in operating a well in which he was part owner he employed the first engine that ever drilled with a rope, as well as the first set of jars ever used in oil production. Mr. Trefts was successful in various ventures in the oil country, and had an important share in the pioneer oil development of Pennsylvania. MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 285 In 1864, with OMUion M. Farrar and Theodore C. Knight, Mr. Trefts established in Buffalo the firm of Farrar, Trefts & Knight. This was the beginning of the great iron industry of Farrar & Trefts, which name was assumed on the retirement of Mr. Knight from the concern in 1869. With this firm Mr. Trefts was identified up to his death. Mr. Trefts was married first to Catherine Potter in 1848. She was a daughter of Martin Potter of Gowanda, N. Y., and came of the well-known Parkinson family of New England, being a descendant of Capt. Parkinson, who served in the Revolution- ary War. Mrs. Trefts died in 1850 and Mr. Trefts married for his second wife Angeline Siver of Buffalo. George M. Trefts was the only child of the first marriage. A daughter, Evadne, now Mrs. Clarence E. Rood, was the child of the second imion. GEORGE MARTIN TREFTS, son of John Trefts, is one of Buffalo's leading business men and citizens. As a proprietor and acting head of the firm of Farrar & Trefts, he directs the business of a gigantic industry, and has won the reputation of being one of the ablest industrial executives in the country. Mr. Trefts was born at Collins Center, Erie County, N. Y., on September 8, 1850. His boyhood was spent in Buffalo, where he received a public school education. He gained his first practical experience in business selling papers. Later he entered the employ of Mixer & Smith, lumber merchants, on the docks. After the firm of Farrar & Trefts located on Perry street, George M^ Trefts entered the establishment. As a young man he mastered every branch of the business, both in its technical aspects and its broader bearings. He rapidly grew to be an important factor in the industry, and in course of time became general manager. Since the death of both the partners, Mr. Trefts has carried on the business, which is one of the largest of its kind in this section of the country. At the extensive plant of Farrar & Trefts are manufactured stationary engines and 286 MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. boilers, and the concern does a general foundry and machine works business. The hrm also owns the East Buffalo Iron Works, a plant covering seven acres. Mr. Trefts is a member of Hiram Lodge of Masons; Lake Erie Com- mandery. Knights Tem- plar; B u ff a 1 o Council, Eoyal and Select Masons, and Ismailia Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He is socially prominent, and is a mem- ber of the Buffalo and Ellicott Clubs. Mr. Trefts was married to Miss Eva Imogene Jones, daughter of Miles Jones of Buffalo, and Elizabeth Koop. Mrs. Trefts died in 1900, leav- ing two children, George M. Trefts, Jr., and John C. Trefts. GEORGE M. TBEFTS. THOMAS STODDART, of the Arm of Stoddart Bros., pro- prietors of the largest drug and surgical instrument store in the United States, is one of Buffalo's leading business men,' and a public-spirited citizen. John Stoddart, grandfather of Thomas Stoddart, was born in Dumfriesshire, Scotland, and resided there all his life. His son, John Stoddart, was born in Dumfriesshire in 1816, and died in 1888. He occupied the Forgreth farm of the Dalswinton estate, remaining there nearly tM^enty-five years. He was a substantial and very prosperous man. In 1840 he married MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 287 Elizabeth Waugh, daughter of William Waugh. They had «even children, all sons. Of these, live are living, all of vphom were born at the Forgreth farm. They are: Dr. A. C. Stod- ■dart of San Francisco, Cal. ; Maxwell S. Stoddart of Thorndale, •Ont. ; Thomas and Charles Stoddart of Buffalo, and Dr. James -Stoddart. Subsequent to 1864 John Stoddart brought his family to America, settling at Thorndale, Ontario, where he purchased a farm, and lived till his death in 1888. Mrs. Stoddart, at the atge of ninety-eight years, is still living upon the homestead in Thorndale. John Stoddart was a true Scotsman, a man of •strong character and abundant determination. He was a Presbyterian of the " old doctrine," and. one of the leading Tnembers of the East Mssouri Presbyterian Church. Thomas Stoddart was born September 10, 1856, at the Forg- reth farm, Dumfriesshire, Scotland. He attended the Duncow school, until he left Scotland in 1864, when he was eight years ■old. After the family settled in West Nissouri, Ont., young Stoddart attended public school until he was fourteen years of age, finishing his education at the College Institute at St. Mary's, Ontario, from which he graduated at seventeen. He then left Canada and came to Buffalo, finding employment as a clerk in a drug store. He exhibited a strong natural aptitude for the drug business, and in 1877, in partnership with his brother, Charles, established a general retail drug, surgical Instrument and hospital supplies store, which the brothers have •conducted to the present time. The firm maintains the largest ■drug and surgical instrument store in the country, occupying a building four stories high and 200 feet long by 50 feet wide, with a clerical force of 65 employees. Mr. Stoddart is a member of the Erie Coimty. Pharmaceutical Association, of which he was one of the founders, also serving a year as President. During his administration, local phar- macy took an upward step by the formation of the Erie County Board of Pharmacv. Mr. Stoddart is a member of the New 288 MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. York state Pharmaceutical Association, and lias often acted as Chairman of the Executive Committee of that body. In 1901 and 1902 he served as President of the Association. He is also a member of the American Pharmaceutical Association. Mr. Stoddart was First Vice-President of the Scottish Building Association, the first organization of its kind in Buffalo. He takes a keen interest in the people and the lore of his native land, and for a number of years was President of St. Andrew's Scottish Society, of which he is still a member. He also belongs to the Buffalo Historical Society, and the Buffalo and EUicott clubs. Mr. Stoddart is a life-long Republican. In the autumn of 1901 he received the Republican nomination for Councilman and was elected by a handsome majority. He served for four years with credit to himself and benefit to the city. In 1905 he was President of the Board of Councilmen, and during the absence of Mayor Knight, Mr. Stoddart served as Acting Mayor. On the 25th of April, 1881, Mr. Stoddart married Emma B. Peterson, daughter of John and Isabelle Carroll Peterson of Buffalo. Mr. and Mrs. Stoddart have two children, John Thomas, who is a student in Yale University, and Isabelle, who is studying at Holy Angels Academy, Buffalo. Mrs. Stoddart is socially prominent, and is very active in the leading charities of the city. LOUIS EUGENE DESBECKER, whose character and legal ability received so notable a popular tribute by his election to the oface of Corporation Counsel, is one of the very ablest of the rising men of the Buffalo bar, and in learning and other professional qualifications ranks with the foremost of his compeers of the legal fraternity. The high standing Mr. Des- becker has attained in his profession may be regarded as a logical result of native talent finding expression in arduous endeavor. Though still in the early prime of life, Mr. Desbecker MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 289 is a man of ripe experience and a lawyer of unusual acquire- ments, scholastic as well as forensic. Mr. Desbecker is the son of Samuel and Marie (Weil) Desbecker, and was born in Buffalo on the 2d day of April, 1871. He received a liberal education in the grammar schools of this city, the Central High School, and for a year from a private tutor. In 1889 he entered Harvard University, gradu- ating in 1892 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. He then entered New York Law School in New York City, from which he graduated in 1894, with the degree of LL.B., within a month after graduation being admitted to the bar at New York City. Immediately returning to Buffalo, he entered the law ofBce of Marcy & Close, where he continued until December of the following year, when he associated himself with Mr. Simon Fleischmann and Mr. William E. Pooley. The association he continued for ten years, building up a large and lucrative prac- tice of a general nature. On the 1st of January, 1906, Mr. Desbecker formed a partner- ship with Messrs. Irving L. Fiske and James O. Moore, under the firm name of Desbecker, Fiske & Moore. Viewed from the professional standpoint, Mr. Desbecker is considered a sound, energetic, well-grounded, successful lawyer, who keeps close in touch, not only with the work of his profession, but with those things in the community of a general nature, in which a lawyer, as a good citizen, should be interested. A Democrat in politics, Mr. Desbecker has always taken an active interest in the welfare of his party, but was never a candidate for any office until 1903, when ten days before elec- tion he accepted the Democratic nomination for Councilman to fill a vacancy on the ticket. Out of thirty-four candidates, J. N. Adam for Councilman was the only Democratic elected, and Mr. Desbecker received the largest vote of any Democratic nominee save Mr. Adam. In the fall of 1905 Mr. Desbecker was unanimously nomi- 290 MEMOEIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. nated by the Democratic City Convention for Corporation Counsel, and was elected by nearly 5,000 plurality, again running next to Mr. Adam, who was elected Mayor. On the 1st of January, 1906, Mr. Desbecker began serving his four-year term of office as Corporation Counsel, and during the brief time he has held the position has made an excellent record. Mr. Desbecker is ex-officio a. trustee of the Buffalo Public Library and of the Historical Society; is a member of Temple Beth-Zion, and is one of the original members of the University Club, of which he has served as Director and Secretary. He is also a member of the Buffalo Yacht Club, the Buffalo Club, and Park Club of Buffalo, and the Harvard Club of New York City. He is a Mason, being affiliated with the Ancient Landmarks Lodge of this city. FEEDERICK L. DANFORTH. When on September 5, 1897, there passed away that sterling citizen, Frederick L. Danforth, another of a famous coterie of Buffalo's luost capable men of the past was removed. Long identified as one of the leading financiers of the city, his entire life affords an example of dignified yet vigorous effort, crowned with success. Mr. Danforth was born June IT, 1833, in Middletown, Conn., being a son of Josiah and Almira Danforth. His educational training was limited to that of the common schools. In 1854, then a young man, he came to Buffalo, where he became a clerk in the employ of Pratt & Co., at that time the largest mercan- tile house in the city. His industry and fidelity so won the confidence of his employers that he was advanced by rapid promotion to more responsible positions until he was made cashier, and later managed the fiscal affairs of the concern for several years, and throughout the long period during which the business was under the active direction of Mr. Pascal S. Pratt. The operations of this house were of great magnitude and the responsibilities of Mr. Danforth's position were very important. He here laid the foundation for the subsequent high place he MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 291 occupied in the confidence of leading business men and citizens as a careful and painstaking official. On the dissolution of the firm of Pratt & Co., in 1879, Mr. Danforth was elected cashier and director of the Bank of Attica, continuing in that relation up to February 5, 1895, when he was elected to the Presidency of the bank. This position he occupied with distinguished ability as a financier and with credit and honor to himself and the institution up to his death. As head of the Bank of Attica, Mr. Danforth gained a wide reputation as one of the most cautious, clear-headed and sagacious bankers of Buffalo. Devoted to the interests of the bank, he brought to the administration of its affairs great business ability, mature experience and keen foresight. Among other important offices of honor and trust held by Mr. Danforth was that of President of the Buffalo Creek Railroad Company, and President of the Union Terminal Railroad Company. He also held large vessel interests in association with James Ash, and as principal owner of the Hand & Johnson tug line. A man of deep religious sentiment, Mr. Danforth was a mem- ber of the IsTorth Presbyterian Church, which he served for many years as elder and President of the Board of Trustees. One of the predominant attributes of his fine nature was his great devotion to the Church and its institutions. In his rela- tions to his church as in every attitude of his beneficent life, he was sincere, faithful and generous. His home life was singularly attractive. He knew what the joys of a' Christian home were, and to swell the sum of domestic happiness brought his own affluent contributions of piety, culture, fidelity and love. Of broad sympathy and generous impulses, his charities were many and widely bestowed, though so quietly that few ever knew of the great benevolences of this good man's heart save those who were the recipients of his bounty. On September 15, 1859, Mr. Danforth married Grace Long Francis, a daughter of the late Daniel Francis, a former Buffalo citizen, and to them were born the following children: Fred- 292 MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. erick W., Frank L., William E., and Grace L., all of whom survive. Mrs. Danforth has recently placed in the new North Presby- terian Church a handsome window as a memorial to her late husband. JOHN DAVID ROWLAND, M.D., Deputy Medical Examiner for Erie County, is a well-known physician and surgeon of Buffalo, and a recognized authority on military surgery. Dr. Howland holds the rank of Major in the 65th Eegiment, National Guard of the State of New York, and was in active service in Cuba during the Spanish-American War. He is a leading member of the United Spanish War Veterans, and is identified with other organizations, lay and medical. John Howland, the first of the American branch of the How- land family, came over in the Mayflower. His brother, Henry, was a freeman of Plymouth Colony in 1633, and was one of the earliest inhabitants of Duxbury, Mass. At the time of the Quaker controversy in 1658, Henry Howland and his brother, Arthur, were converts to the new faith, and suffered much from Puritan persecutions. Henry Howland's son, Zoeth, was the father of Nathaniel, whose son, James, was the father of Thomas Howland, who was born in 1718 and died in 1798. He was the father of John W. Howland, whose son, John W., Jr., was the father of George William Howland, father of the subject of this sketch. George William Howland was born at Westport, Mass., February 9, 1817, and died October 27, 1901. He was a building contractor, and carried on business at New Bedford and Fall River, Mass. September 4, 1842, he married Lydia A. James, who was born March 24, 1825, and died in 1866. They have had twelve chil- dren. Dr. John David Howland was born in New Bedford, Mass., June 12, 1865. W^hen he was a year old his mother died, and he came to Buffalo to be reared by his sister, Mrs. John H. MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 293 Wilkins. He attended the public schools, and pursued a course in the Central High School. In 1889 he entered the Medical Department of the Niagara University of Buffalo, graduating with the degree of M.D., in 1891. After his graduation, Dr. Howland entered the United States Marine Hospital service in Buffalo, continuing in this connection till January 1, 1898. January 1, 1902, he was appointed physician at the Erie County Penitentiary, serving until April of that year, when he was appointed Deputy Medical Examiner for Erie County, which place he has filled with signal capability. In December, 1905, he was reappointed for a term of three years. In politics Dr. Howland is a Eepublican. In 1884 Dr. Howland became a member of the old Cadet Corps of the 65th Eegiment, and was later advanced through the intermediate grades to the rank of Captain. March 20, 1889, he was commissioned Second Lieutenant of Company D, of the 65th Eegiment. He became First Lieutenant November 27, 1889, receiving the commission of Captain December 28, 1892. On November 10, 1902, he attained the rank of Major, and the command of the Second Battalion, which office he still holds. When the Spanish -American War broke out. Major Howland was commissioned Major of the 65th Eegiment U. S. Volunteer Infantry, and served with the regiment until it returned home. He then became Eegimental Adjutant of the 202d Eegiment, N. Y. V. I., and served in camp and field in Cuba six months, until the command was mustered out at Savannah, Ga., in April, 1899. Maj. Ho.wland was for ten years President of the Delinquency Court in the State military service, and was also the Summary Court Officer in the Volunteer United States Service. He is the possessor of a fifteen-year medal awarded for " long and faithful service," and as a marksman is qualified as " distinguished expert," the highest grade of proficiency attainable. Ever since the organi- zation of the United Spanish War Veterans, Major Howland has been a prominent member of that body, having served as 294 MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY., Chaplain, Commander of Seyburn Camp, Surgeon-General of the national organization, and senior Vice-Commander-in- Chief. Dr. Howland is a member of the Erie County Medical Society, the Academy of Medicine, the Knights of Pythias, and the Heptasophs. He attends the Episcopal Church. In 1895, Dr. Howland married Susan Hibeck, daughter of Zachariah Hibeck, and Eleaza Steele of Erie, Pa. They have one son, Howard H. Howland, born November 21, 1896. PHILIP G. SCHAEFER, President of the Lake View Brewing Company, is one of the foremost brewers of the State and a highly esteemed citizen of Buffalo. Mr. Schaefer is of- German extraction, his father, Alois Schaefer, having been born in Wurtemburg in 1836. Coming to America as a young man, he learned the brewing business, and in 1868 established the Schaefer Brewery in Buffalo. The business founded by Alois Schaefer was successfully conducted by him till 1885, the year of the incorporation of the present company, when lie retired from the active management. Alois Schaefer married Mary R. Whitman, a daughter of Josey)h Whitman of Buffalo. Their children were: Philip G., Mary G, Clara C. (Mrs. Frederick A. Heron), and Madelaine, the latter now deceased. Philip G. Schaefer was born in Buffalo May 29, 1862. After attending the parochial schools he entered Canisius College, from which he graduated in 1876, later taking a course at Bryant & Stratton's Business College. He first entered busi- ness as bookkeeper and collector for the Schaefer Brewery, continuing till 1885, when the Lake View Brewing Company was incorporated, with Mr. Schaefer as General Manager. The company succeeded to the business of the old Schaefer Brewery and was conducted with marked success and a great increase of patronage. Philip G. Schaefer remained general manager and acting executive head of the concern till April 1, 1906, when he became President of the Company, which position he now MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 295 holds. In the different places of trust and responsibility which he has filled, Mr. Schaefer has proved himself a large-minded and capable business man. The industry of which he is now the head is rapidly nearing its half-century anniversary. The out- put of the Lake View Brewing Company is estimated at 40,000 barrels per year. Mr. Schaefer has a thorough practical knowl- edge of the details of the business, and he has also a compre- hensive understanding of it in its relation to the general trade. His management has been signalized by conscientious methods, by progressiveness in the matter of equipment and machinery, and by insistence that the manufactured product be of the best and purest quality attainable by science. Mr. Schaefer belongs to the Brewers Association, and is one of the trustees of that body. He is also a member of the C. B. L. andtheC. M. B. A. November 3, 1885, Mr. Schaefer married Hattie C. Eitt of Buffalo, daughter of M. Leo Ritt (a former well-known insurance man and at one time Lieut. -Colonel of the 65th Regiment) and of Mary R. Germann. Mr. and Mrs. Schaefer have one daughter, Emma P. Schaefer, born September 3, 1886. THOMAS WILLIAM WILSON, General Manager of the International Railway Company, is one of the leading transpor- tation men of the country, has a high reputation and a record of great achievement as an engineer in the field of railway construction, and has also won distinction as a military engi- neer. Mr. Wilson was born in New York City in May, 1872. He is a son of David and Frances H. (Crichtou) Wilson, the former a well-known merchant of New York City. H:e graduated from the Harrisburg High School at Harrisburg, Pa., in 1890, and from Lehigh University in 1894, with the degree of C.E. While pursuing his university course, Mr. Wilson employed the vacations of 1892 and 1893 by working in the drafting room of the Pennsylvania Steel Company at Steelton, Pa. He also 296 MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTOKY. acted as draftsman for the same company from June, 1894, to December, 1896, when he entered the service of the Charleston City Railway Company of Charleston, S. C, as Assistant Engi- neer of Way, in which capacity he continued till February, 1897, when he became Chief Engineer of surveys. He was later con- nected with the Street Railway Department of the Pennsylvania Steel Company as Computer of special work and Engineer of Surveys. When the Spanish-American War broke out, Mr. Wilson joined the army, in May, 1898, enlisting as a private in the 8th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. He was soon detailed as Assistant to Major Pierce, Chief Engineer of the 1st Division, Second Army Corps, and was later appointed Chief Topogra- pher of the Second Army Corps. He was mustered out of serv- ice in December, 1898. After the war, Mr. Wilson resumed his connection with the Pennsylvania Steel Company. He remained till May, 1899, when he came to Buffalo as Assistant Engineer of Way for the Buffalo Railway Company, continuing until February 10, 1902. During the summer of 1899 Mr. Wilson handled about one thousand men and relaid in concrete more than twenty-nine miles of track. When the Buffalo Railway Company was merged in the International Railway Company, Mr. Wilson was appointed Chief Engineer of the latter corporation, assuming the duties of that offtce February 10, 1902. When, March 1, 1905, Mr. Henry J. Pierce assumed the presidency of the Inter- national Railway Company, he appointed Mr. Wilson General Manager, his present office. Mr. Wilson is First Vice-President of the New York State Street Railway Association; is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, of the Engineering Society of Western New York, and of the American Railway Engineering and Maintenance of Way Association. He belongs to the Buffalo Chamber of Commerce, and to the Buffalo, Ellicott and University clubs. He is also a member of the honorary society ^-I^ji^ ^r^^-^-X^^tiil MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 297 of the Tau Beta Pi, and of the general fraternity of Beta Theta Pi. September 19, 1905, Mr. Wilson married Anna Beatrice Levi, daughter of Emanuel Levi of Biiffalo. WILLIAM JAMBS CONNBRS, Chairman of^the Democratic State Committee and proprietor of the Buffalo Courier, the Buffalo Sunday Courier and the Buffalo Enquirer, is one of the country's most remarkable examples of the self-made man. He is a captain of industry, a capitalist and financier, the ovrner of three great newspapers, a leader in Democratic politics, and a representative citizen. Yet Mr. Conners is comparatively a young man, still in the vigor and prime of life, and the results above summarized have been achieved in a relatively short space of time and solely by his own efforts. Mr. Conners was born in Buffalo January 3, 1857. Until he was thirteen years old he attended the local public schools. He then began work as a porter on a lake steamer, and for several years sailed on boats running between Buffalo and. Duluth. Though without capital of his own, his ability and energy enabled him to obtain means to engage in business in Buffalo, and he prospered from the outset. In 1885 he entered into a contract with Washington BuUard whereby Mr. Conners agreed to handle all the Buffalo freight of the Union Steamboat Com- pany. He effected a revolution in the freight handling methods at the port of Buffalo, introducing a system which brought order out of confusion, and the superiority of his methods was so manifest that the managers of other lake lines and carriers hastened to make contracts with him. He acquired the virtual control of the lake freight business at Buffalo and other ports, having contracts for the loading and unloading of cargoes at Buffalo, Chicago, Milwaukee and Gladstone, Mich., of all ves- sels belonging to the Union Steamboat, Western Transit, Lacka- wanna, Lehigh Valley, Union Transit, " Soo," and Northern Steamship transportation companies. Mr. Conners is the 298 MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. largest contractor in the world in this business, employs 3,000 men in the contract branch alone of his enterprises, and his payroll is one of the heaviest in Buifalo. In 1889 he was elected President of the Vulcanite Asphalt Paving Company and carried on the business with great success for a number of years. In 1890 he invested heavily in the property of the Roos (later the Iroquois) Brewery, and conducted the plant for about a year. In 1895 he purchased a lai'ge interest in the Magnus Beck Brewing Company, of which he was chosen President, and his administrative ability increased the output of the brewery one-third. Meantime he acquired a quarter interest in the Union Transit Company, operating a line of steamers between Buffalo and Duluth. He is a Director or stockholder in several banks. He is also a large owner of real estate, and has taken a leading part in the purchase and development of South Buffalo property. In recent years Mr. Conners has become prominently identified with suburban electric railway interests. On the 23d of December, 1895, Mr.. Conners bought a control- ling interest in the Buffalo Enquirer, and his powerful initiative was quickly shown by a threefold inci?ease of the circulation of that paper, of which he presently became the sole proprietor. In September, 1896, he established a magnificent modern news- paper plant with independent light and power engines, linotype machines, equipment for photo-engraving, and a superb Hoe sextuple press. A year afterward he founded the Record, the first one cent morning newspaper ever established in Buffalo. Its success was decisive, and in 1897 he bought the Morning Courier, which he reorganized, merging it with the Record under the name of the Courier-Record. Shortly afterward the paper became the Buffalo Courier, its name at the present time. Besides the Courier and the Enquirer Mr. Conners publishes the Sunday Courier, a splendid example of the modern illus- trated newspaper. Both through his newspapers and by per- sonal infiueuce and leadership, Mr. Conners is a power in the Democracy of Western New York, and a representative figure MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 299 in the Democratic politics of th.e State. In the gubernatorial campaign of 1906, one of the most notable in the history of New York State, Mr. Oonners, because of his political ability and experience, was elected to direct the Democratic forces as Chairman of the State Committee. He established headquar- ters at the Victoria Hotel, New York City, and worked night and day. The result of his work is well known. Although the candidate for Governor was defeated by forces beyond the reach of the Chairman, the entire balance of the ticket was elected by a splendid majority. Mr. Conners' absorbing business pursuits permit him little time for diversions, but he is fond of yachting, and in the summer of 1896 launched the yacht " Enquirer," one of the finest steam yachts ever built. Mr. Conners has been married twice. His first wife was Catherine Mahany of Buffalo, whom he wedded in November, 1881, and who died, leaving a son, Peter Newell Conners, since deceased. On the 2d of August, 1898, Mr. Conners married his second wife, Mary A. Jordan of West Seneca, N. Y. Their chil- dren are: Mary M., Katharine A., Alice J., William J., Jr., and Euth L. Conners. A life of brilliant promise, sadly cut short ere its fruition, was that of Peter Newell Conners, eldest son of William J. Conners. Young Mr. Conners was eighteen years old at the time of his death. He was a youth of fine abilities and rare personality, widely known in Buffalo and beloved by all who knew him. When assailed by the illness which removed him from the world, Peter N. Conners was a student at the Michigan Military Academy, Orchard Lake, Mich., where he died Novem- ber 20, 1906. He was then in his third year at the Military Academy, and would soon have graduated from that institution. He was of high standing in his classes, was regarded with affectionate esteem, by his teachers and fellow-students, and held in the Academy corps the rank of First Lieutenant and Signal Officer. A youth of high aims and serious ambitions, it 300 MEMOKIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. was the intention of Mr. Conners' son to take a course in college and then become associated with his father in the newspaper business. The death of Peter Newell Conners in the dawn of his rich promise of usefulness was one of those myterious dis- pensations of Providence to which man can only bow, trusting in the Divine Wisdom. GEORGE JACOB HAFFA, Superintendent of the Erie County Penitentiary, Lieutenant-Colonel of the 65th Regiment, N. G. N. Y., and a member of the firm of J. G. Haffa's Sons, is a leading citizen of Buffalo and a man well-known in business, civic and military affairs. Col. Haffa is of German descent, being derived from a family which lived for many ygars in the Kingdom of Wurtemburg. John George Haffa, father of the subject of this sketch, was the son of Elias and Catherine Haller Haffa, and was born in Wurtemburg, Germany, in 1828. In the Revolution of 1848 he espoused the Republican side, and was obliged to leave the old country and seek his fortunes in the United States. On reaching America he came to Buffalo, where he worked as a journeyman tailor until 1859, when he became cutter for Bogart & Doolittle. In 1865 he entered the employ of William H. Stuart, and in 1868 was admitted partner. In 1870 he estab- lished a tailoring business, which he successfully conducted until his death in 1886. He was for many years a member of St. John's Lutheran Church. In 1853 Mr. Haffa married Maria Elizabeth Biller of Buffalo, who died in 1891. Their children are: Barbara K., George Jacob, John George, Elias and Fred- erick C. Haffa, all of whom reside in Buffalo. George Jacob Haffa was born in Buffalo, February 23, 1858. He attended the common schools. High School and Bryant & Stratton's Business College. W^hen fourteen years old he entered his father's tailoring establishment, and in 1884 was admitted partner. On the death of their father, George J. Haffa, and his brother, Elias, formed a copartnership as J. G. MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. " 301 Haffa's Sons, which firm continues and is one of the best-known and most prosperous in Buffalo, being among the oldest tailor- ing concerns of that city. Col. Haffa's connection with military affairs began in 1873, when he joined the Buffalo City Guard Cadets, being promoted Second Lieutenant in 1876. The following year he was com- missioned First Lieutenant and served till 1884, when he was made Captain. In 1887 he was commissioned Captain in the 6th Regiment, N. G. N. Y., and placed in command of Company A. In 1896 he was promoted Major, and became commanding officer of the 2d Battalion. At the outbreak of the Spanish- American War, Maj. Haffa volunteered for active service. Greatly to his disappointment he was not accepted on account of defective eyesight, but he served for th^ee weeks at Camp Black. June 13, 1898, Maj. Haffa was commissioned Colonel of the 165th Regiment, N. G. N. Y., and assisted in raising a volunteer regiment. At the close of the war. Col. Haffa resigned his commission as Colonel, and resumed his rank of Major in the 65th Regiment. May 18, 1900, he was promoted Lieutenant-Colonel, which office he still holds. During the rail- road strikes of 1877 Col. Haffa was engaged in active service as First Lieutenant in the Buffalo City Guard Cadets. In the railroad strike riots of 1892 he served with the 65th Regiment as Captain. He has also accompanied his regiment at State camps and field service, and on all other occasions when the regiment has been engaged in active duty. Col. Haffa has always been a Republican, and in 1903 was elected Alderman from the 21st Ward of Buffalo, being reelected by an increased majority in 1905. He has been a faithful and intelligent official, and has served on many important committees. In 1907 Major Haffa was elected superintendent of the Erie County Penitentiary, a position in which he is serving with characteristic ability and fidelity at the present time. Col. Haffa was a member of Citizen Hook and Ladder Com- 302 MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. pany No. 2, Volunteer Fire Department of Buffalo, from Au- gust, 1877, until the department was disbanded in 1880. He is ■ now a member of the Exempt Fireman's Association, and for several years has served as Secretary of both organizations. He is a member of Washington Lodge, No. 240, F. & A. M.; Key- stone Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; Hugh de Payens Comman- dery. Knights Templar, and a charter member of Ismailia Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, He is a member of the Acacia Club, a life member of the Young Men's Association, and a member of the Buffalo and Park clubs, of the Army and Navy Club of New York City. Since 1878 he has been a member of the North Presbyterian Church. January 29, 1880, Col. Haffa married. Hattie Jeanette Gering, daughter of George J. and Rebecca Elliott Gering of Buffalo. Mrs. Haffa died November 23, 1893. SIMON SEIBERT, former Senator and Assemblyman, mem- ber of the Buffalo Board of Fire Commissioners, and General Manager of the Magnus Beck Brewing Company, is a leading Republican, a prominent figure in business and a representative public man. The parents of Mr. Seibert came from Germany to this country in 1853, and settled in Buffalo, where the elder Seibert was for forty-five years one of the foremost German- Americans. Simon Seibert was born in Buffalo September 12, 1857. After attending the public schools and Bryant & Stratton's Business College, he entered his father's coal office as clerk. Later he opened a men's furnishings store at East Buffalo and prosperously carried on the business till 1889, when he retired to accept the appointment' as United States Ganger at Buffalo, a position which he held until 1893, The following year he became connected with the Magnus Beck Brewing Company as a traveling salesman and solicitor. He exhibited marked capability and soon rose to be General Manager, an office which he has ever since retained. MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 303 Always an earnest Republican, Mr. Seibert has for many years been prominent in his party and is one of its pillars of strength on the Buffalo East Side. For sixteen years he has served as Republican Committeeman of the 8th Ward, and for a quarter of a century has represented his district in every important convention, having been a delegate to every Repub- lican State Convention since 1888. In 1893 he was nominated for Member of Assembly, and though the normal Democratic majority in his district was estimated at 600, Mr. Seibert won by a majority of 1,356 votes. In the fall of 1894 he was renomi- nated and elected by a still greater majority. At the end of his second term he was nominated by acclamation for State Senator from the 48th Senatorial District, and was elected by a majority of 2,206. Though under the new ballot law he lost nearly 1,000 votes, he ran ahead of the record of Grover Cleve- land, who in 1892 had carried the same district by a majority of 2,000. In the Assembly and the Senate Mr. Seibert served on many important committees and took an active part in the general work of legislation. Throughout his legislative career he was always mindful of the interests of Buffalo, furthering her welfare in every legitimate way. In 1896 he was chosen alternate delegate to the Republican National Convention at St. Louis, and in 1900 was delegate to the National Convention at Philadelphia. In 1904 he was again honored by his party, which made him a Presidential Elector. In 1903 Mr. Seibert was appointed by Mayor Knight a mem- ber of the Buffalo Board of Fire Commissioners for a term of six years. The duties of this office he has performed with signal ability, being concerned in many measures for the wellbeing of the Fire Department and the protection of the city from conflagration. In 1904 he was oJected President of the Board. Socially as well as politically, Mr. Seibert is widely, popular. He is a 32d degree Mason, a member of Concordia Lodge, a Noble of the Mystic Shrine, and a member of the Acacia Club. He is a member of Mystic Star Lodge, Independent Order of 304 MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. Odd Fellows, Millard Fillmore Lodge, Knights of Pythias, and Buffalo Lodge, No. 23, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He is also prominently identified with various social bodies, among which may be mentioned the Silver King Fishing Club and the Orpheus Singing Society. PLINY BARTON McNAUGHTON, Vice-President of the German Rock Asphalt & Cement Company, the Buffalo Expanded Metal Company and the Continental Engineering Company, and General Manager of the Buffalo Dredging Com- pany, is one of Buffalo's foremost men in the general con- tracting business. Mr. McNaughton comes of a family which lived for many gene- rations in or near Campbelltown, Scotland, where his father, Daniel McNaughton, was born in 1824. In 1834 he emigrated to America, where he first went to Detroit, but shortly afterward came to Buffalo. There he Avas apprenticed to the ship-smith's trade, in the old Vulcan Foundry, afterward forming a part- nership with Charles DeJaney in the general forging business. In 1855 Mr. McNaughton engaged in business for himself, his foundry being located in Prime street, near Evans, where, with other forging he made a specialty of iron work for sailing vessels. In 1865 he removed his establishment to Lloyd street, where he continued in business until his death, which occurred January 8, 1902, at Battle Creek, Mich. Daniel McNaughton was a very successful business man and accumulated a fortune. He was esteemed for his ability and respected for his upright life. He was a member of the Unitarian Church. In 1854 he married Pemela E., daughter of Pliny F. Barton, who owned the Vulcan Foundry, then one of the largest machine shops in Buffalo. Their surviving children are: Pliny B. McNaughton of Buffalo, and Harriett (Mrs. Joseph H. Defrees) of Chicago. Pliny Barton McNaughton was born in Buffalo August 17, 1855. He attended public and private schools in his native city. MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 305 where he was prepared for college. In 1870 he entered the University of Notre Dame, Ind., where he remained three years and pursued a liberal arts course. On leaving college, Mr. McNaughton entered his father's establishment, where he continued three years, and then went to work for his uncle, William I. Williams, a prominent contract- or and builder. In 1881 Mr. McNaughton went into business on his own account, and for three years successfully engaged in general con- tracting. In 1884 he formed, with Frank L. Bapst, a partnership for the purpose of doing gen- eral contract work, under the style of McNaughton & Bapst. This firm was largely engaged in laying stone pavement and in street railroad construc- tion, and also did a great amount of underground work. In 1892 Charles E. Williams was admitted to the firm which became Williams, McNaughton & Bapst, an association identified with many of the principal engineering and general contract enterprises in Buffalo and vicinity. Mr. McNaughton is General Manager of the Buffalo Dredging Company, an important concern which does much submarine work for the Government and State. He is Vice-President of the German Rock Asphalt & Cement Company, one of the leading asphalt paving companies of Buffalo. He is one of the FLINT B. M NAtTGHTON. 306 MBMOEIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. principal officials of the Buffalo Expanded Metal Company, and of the Continental Engineering Company, and a stock- holder in the Buffalo Sanitary Company, all of which concerns do a large amount of public work. Mr. McNaughton is a 32d degree Mason, and is affiliated with Ancient Landmarks Lodge and Ismailia Temple. He also belongs to tlie Elks, and is a member of the Buffalo and Ellicott clubs, and the Fine Arts Academy. He is an exempt fireman, having served -nith old Liberty Hose, No. 1. In 1893 Mr. McNaughton married Mrs. E^ances (Dambach) Iffer, a daughter of John Dambach of Buffalo. Mr. and Mrs. McNaughton have one child, Harriet Ruth, who was born December 18,. 1894. EEUBEN JOSEPH GETZ. The Getz family came from Holland to America about 1670, settling in Pennsylvania. Joseph Getz, grandfather, migrated to Erie County in 1818. He was a miller and lumberman, and a prominent man in the early days of the county. His son, Jacob Getz, father of the subject of this sketch, after whom Getzville in the town of Amherst is named, Avas, like his father, a miller and lumber- man. He removed to Buffalo in 1S61. Jacob Getz, though he never held public office, took an active interest in the politics of his time. He was one of the original members of the Repub- lican party, a strong Union man and an ardent supporter of Abraham Lincoln. His death occurred in 1880. He married Sarah Hoover, who died in 1896. He left three children: Reuben J. Getz, Charlotte (Mrs. Wm. E. Porter) of Detroit, Mich., and Hattie E. (Mrs. Everett E. Buchanan) of Elmira, New York. Reuben Joseph Getz Avas born in the town of Amherst, Erie County, N. Y., July 13, 1853. Dis elementary education was obtained in the public schools of Buffalo, where he graduated from grammar school No. 19. He then attended Dr. Reed's Walnut Hill school at Geneva, N. Y., later entering Clinton MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 307 Liberal Institute at Clinton, N. Y., from which he graduated in June, 1871-. Among the solid business men of Buffalo, a prominent place belongs to Eeuben J. Getz. Mr. Getz has, at different times, been connected with many kinds of enterprises, including manu- facturing, mercantile, the building and contracting industry, and the real estate business. Ou the organization of the Lake Erie Dredging Company in 1902, Mr. Getz became its Secretary and Treasurer, which office he still holds. This company is one of the foremost enter- prises of its kind in West- ern New York, represent- ing a strong consolidation of capital, and in the per- sonnel of its management comprising some of the best business talent of Buffalo. Mr. Getz is one of Buffalo's leading Republi- cans, and though never a candidate for office, has been for many years a potent influence in his party, having represented the 20th, now the 24th Ward, in the Republican General Committee from 1898 to 1901, inclusively, and having served as Treasurer of the Buffalo Republican League during 1895-96 and '97. He is a well-known fraternity man, is connected with various representative organizations, and is held in esteem as a pro- gressive citizen, thoroughly identified with Buffalo and her interests, and actively concerned with aims and movements EEUBEN J. GETZ. 308 MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. tending to the general advancement of the community. Mr. Getz is an active member of the Masonic order, being affiliated with the Ancient Landmarks Lodge, F. & A. M., and with the Buffalo Consistory of Scottish Rite Masons. Through his con- nection with the latter body, he is a Mason of the 32d degree^ He is also an Odd Fellow and an Elk. He is a member of the Chamber of Commerce, the Historical Society and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. He belongs to the Buffalo, Ellicott, Press and Park Clubs, and is a member of the North Presbyterian Chui'ch. June 21, 1882, Mr. Getz married Cora E. Williams, daughter of William I. Williams of Buffalo. The only child of the union was a daughter, Geraldine, who died at the age of eighteen months. '*■ NORMAN E. MACK, editor and proprietor of The Buffalo Times, and Democratic National Committeeman, is equally well-known as a newspaper man and in public life. The success Mr. Mack has won is the logical result of ability.' The news- paper enterprise of which he is the head was built up by him from the foundations. He is so thoroughly identified with The Times that a history of that paper is in a sense a history of his career. Yet he is a man of wide activities. Prominent in the State and National Democracy, he is one of the trusted leaders of his party. He is a progressive citizen of Buffalo, aiding its institutions and furthering its development. As an editor Mr. Mack represents popular principles. His paper has always been a powerful champion of reform movements and sound municipal government. Mr. Mack is independent in his views and has the courage of his convictions. His editorial opinions carry weight and are widely quoted. F'rank in his dealings with the people, he has been conspicuously rewarded by the public trust. His Americanism is of sterling metal. Mr. Mack's per- sonal traits correspond with his career. He is direct of speech, /:J^V^^^t-t-<.<^2-*t X . .r^^'^^Zt^^ MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 309 quick of perception and strong in execution. His position is a representative one, and he has won his way to it by energy, resourcefulness and the practical qualities which mark the able man of affairs. Mr. Mack was born on the 24th of July, 1858. The beginning of his career in Buffalo, however, dates from 1879. On the 7th of September of that year he issued the first number of The Sunday Times. The business was located at a small ' office at No. 202 Main street, and was the modest beginning of a great and successful enterprise. Two years afterwards the headquarters were removed to No. 50. Seneca street. Here was set up the first press. The next year, during Mr. Mack's absence at New Orleans, a fire occurred in the building, necessitating the removal of the plant to No. 271 Washington street. In May, 1883, Mr. Mack bought the mercantile printing concern at No. 191 Main street. Mr. Mack now resolved to embark in an under- taking attended with far greater responsibilities than any he had yet attempted. On the 13th of September, 1883, he pub- lished the first issue of The Daily Times. From the outset the paper made its way. That it was established was due to its proprietor's belief that tliere existed a fair field and a public demand for such a newspaper, and the event justified his judg- ment. The paper was clean, spirited and newsy, and its inde- pendence, liberality and manly straightforwardness took a strong hold on the popular mind. The Daily Times rapidly increased in circulation and advertising. In March, 1906, The Times' plant was destroyed by fire. The disaster was a severe one, and the manner in which it was retrieved is one of Buffalo's most striking instances of indus- trial resource and enterprise. The destruction of the plant did not interrupt even for a day the publication of the paper. Before the ashes had ceased smoking the place of the conflagra- tion became a scene of bustling activity, and like magic The Times establishment rose from its ruins. New presses and 310 MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. linotype machines were procured and they are now installed in a handsome modern building complete in all its mechanical appliances, with admirably appointed editorial rooms and a palatial business office. Mr. Mack not only rebuilt his plant but greatly extended his operations. The Times is the people's paper. It is Democratic in policy and principles, a steadfast supporter of the candidates of the Democracy and an insistent advocate of party unity. It is a friend of individual enterprise and a champion of fair play and the rights of the citizen. It is active in the furtherance of the welfare of Buffalo, believes in honesty in municipal affairs and the application of business common sense to administrative methods and holds that public office is a public trust. Many substantial improvements, many rectifications of wrongs are due to the fearless efforts of this progressive paper. It has brought about the use of free textbooks in the public schools of Buffalo, the enjoyment of free music in the parks, the erection of markets, and the privileges of shorter hours and better pay for our policemen. It has led successful crusades against over- head wires, overcrowding in public schools, and grade crossings. One of its recent enterprises was the rescue of the Buffalo parks and trees from the menace of the tussock moth, which threatened to ruin the natural adornments of our city. As a newsgetter The Times is unexcelled, and its swift and accurate investigations have, in not a few instances, brought criminials to justice and removed the stigma from defenseless innocence. When the 13th Regiment went to the Spanish-American War, Mr. Mack supplied the soldiers daily with copies of his paper, and continued to do so when the regiment was sent to the Philippines, the period of field service being more than three years. In 1903 the regiment, in token of its appreciation pre- sented Mr. Mack with a superb loving cup. The Times has won many municipal and i)olitical victories, notable among which are its defeat of the Board of Police Commissioners, in 1891, in the attempt to superannuate Superintendent Morin, the MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 311 securing of a just count which resulted in the election of Andrew Beasley, Democratic candidate for Assessor, and the local campaign of 1897 in which The Times alone of all the English papers of the city espoused the cause of the Democratic party which proved successful, and was largely the means of electing Dr. Conrad Diehl for Mayor. Personally as well as in his capacity of journalist, Mr. Mack has always been active in politics. In 1884 he was a strong supporter of Grover Cleveland. He has many times been a delegate to Democratic local and State conventions, was dele- gate to the Democratic National Convention of 1892, and served that year as New York member of the Notification Com- mittee. In 1896 he was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention. He vigorously supported Mr. Bryan. For two terms he represented, his Congressional district on the Demo- cratic State Committee, declining a third term. In 1900, and again in 1901 he was chosen National Committeeman, a position which he has ever since continued to fill, and wherein he has won eminent credit as a party adviser and leader. He has for a number of years been regarded as the most prominent Demo- crat in Western New York and is today a figure of national importance in his party. Mr. Mack is identified with a number of representative insti- tutions and societies. Ho has served as a member of the Board of Park Commissioners and served for years on the executive committee of the State Associated Press. He is a member of the Buffalo, Ellicott, Country and Press clubs, the Orpheus and Liedertafel societies and other organizations, and is promi- nent in social life. On the 22d of December, 1891, Mr. Mack married Miss Harriet B. Taggart of Buffalo. Mr. and Mrs. Mack have two daughters. Norma Emily and Harriet Taggart Mack. EEV. SAMSON PALK, D.D. Of this late eminent divine, it may fitly be said that his life was one which radiated the light 312 MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. of learning and breathed the spirit of beneficence, brotherhood and peace. Dr. Falli was born for his vocation. Endowed with superior abilities, he might have won success in many secular pursuits. Dr. Falk deeply felt the obligations of his sacred calling. Gifted with wide scholarship, brilliant eloquence, intellectual acumen and practical capability, all these acquire- ments and characteristics contributed their share to the com- pleteness and consistency of his career. He was a citizen as well as a pastor. His friendships included many men of many creeds. Samson Falk was born in Hochburg in the Kingdom of Wuertemburg, Germany, February 7, 1827. He received his lay education at the State University of Wuertemburg, and afterward studied for the Jewish ministry. Kabbi Falk came to America in 1853. Soon after his arrival he was chosen to minister to a large congregation in Albany, N. Y., his pastorate continuing till 1862. In that year he removed to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he resided until 1865, when he came to Buffalo as pastor of Temple Beth Zion, the Reformed Jewish Synagogue of this city. The relation of Dr. Falk with Temple Beth Zion forms a notable part of local ecclesiastical history. He enjoyed the esteem and friendship of local clergymen without regard to denomination. On several occasions he exchanged pulpits or held union services with a fellow-clergyman of the Unitarian Church. Dr. Falk joined in all movements for the welfare of his fellow-men of whatever race, and his eloquent voice was often heard in this behalf upon the public platform. He was actively identified with various charities and other institutions, being the founder of the Hebrew Orphan Asylum of Western New Y'ork, located at Rochester, filling the post of Examiner in the Hebrew Union College of Cincinnati, and holding the position of Director of the Buffalo Historical Societv. MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 313 EUGENE LAWEENCE FALK is one of the most accom- plished and successful members of the Buffalo bar. His rise in his profession may deservedly be called brilliant. He commands the confidence of the community, stands high in the estimation of his brethren of the bar, and' enjoys a large practice. He has an enviable reputation for success in the conduct of difficult cases. He is eminent alike in the civil and criminal depart- ments of the law. Mr. Palk is a son of the Kev. Samson Falk, the noted divine, and was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, November 3, 1866. His early education was obtained in the grammar schools and Central High School of Buffalo, the University of New York and Columbia University Law School, from which he was gradu- ated in 1887 with the degree of LL.B. The same year he was • admitted to the bar, and returning to Buffalo he began the practice of his profession in partnership with Charles S. Hatchj under the firm style of Hatch & Falk. In 1888 Mr. Falk began the practice of the law by himself and he has remained alone ever since. He was counsel for the defendant in the famous case of Howard Henham, accused of the murder of his wife, and who, after his conviction had been confirmed by the Court of Appeals, obtained a new trial and was eventually acquitted. This forensic contest was one of remarkable character, abounding in exciting contingencies and dramatic events, and the case ranks among the " causes celebres " of the criminal jurisprudence of New York State. Mr. Falk is a member of the State and the Erie County Bar associations, and the Lawyers' Club. He has taken all the Scottish Eite degrees of Masonry up to and including the 32d degree, and is a member of Ancient Landmarks Lodge and Ismailia Temple, Nobles of the Mj^stic Shrine. He is a member of the Board of Management of Temple Beth Zion. He belongs to the Ellicott and Apollo clubs, and is a member of private clubs. 314 MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. April 11, 1893, Mr. Talk was united in marriage to Miss Harriet Pauline Wolf, (laughter of Nathan Wolf and Carrie (Eothschild) Wolf of Buffalo. Maurice BYRON patch, superintendent of the Buffalo Smelting Works, is one of the foremost metallur- gists of the country and also holds a high rank as an industrial executive. Mr. Patch is by profession a mining engineer, but his activities have covered too wide a range to be adequately characterized by reference to a single pursuit. He has made applied science a life study, is an expert chem- ist, mine surveyor and practical operator in min- ing and smelting, and is particularly well-known in the department of copper metallurgy, to which he has devoted years of special research. He is a typical representative of science in the modern and American acceptation of the word — namely, science which proceeds directly from theory to practice and which finds its province in the development of the natural resources of the country and in the creation of industries. * Maurice B. Patch comes from one of the old and distinguished families of New England, being descended from the Patches of Salem and Beverly, Mass., the earliest homes of the family, who were pioneers of those places, where they were located as MAUBICE B. PATCH. MEMOKIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 315 early as 1700. Benjamiu Patch, born 1673, was a descendant of the Patches of Salem and Beverly. His son, Jonathan Patch, of Concord, served as a Minute Man in the Kevolutionary War and was the first settler at Otisfield, Me. Jonathan's son, Tarbell, grandfather of Maurice B. Patch of Buffalo, was bOrn at Otisfield in 1791 and was a farmer. He married Eliza Shedd, a descendant of an old family of Braintree, Mass., by whom he had six children. His son, Benjamin, father of the subject of this sketch, was born at Otisfield, Me., in 1821, resided in Lowell, Mass., and fifteen years ago came to Buffalo, where he now resides. He married Harriet Elizabeth Knight, a de- scendant of John Knight who came over in the ship "James" in 1635 and settled in Newbury, Mass. Mark Knight, one of his descendants, served in the War of the Eevolution, and Samuel Knight, maternal grandfather of Maurice B. Patch, was a soldier in the War of 1832. Col. Nathaniel Jordan, one of Mr. Patch's ancestors in the direct line, was a Lieutenant-Colonel in the Eevolution. The family was distinguished for its piety and uprightness of living. Mr. Patch was born at Otisfield, Me., June 8, 1852. After receiving the elementary part of his education in the public schools of Lowell, Mass., he entered the Massachusetts Insti- tute of Technology, where he pursued a course in mining and engineering, being graduated in 1872 with the degree of Bachelor of Sciences. The same year he went to Georgetown, Col., where he began the practice of his profession as a mining engineer, being engaged there two years in the survey of mining properties and in kindred work. He then removed to Houghton, Mich., where he became the chemist of the Detroit & Lake Superior Copper Smelting Company. This position offered Mr. Patch peculiar advantages for making an exhaus- tive study of copper metallurgy, a line of research which had always been congenial to him. During this period he also won a wide reputation as a mine surveyor and chemist, as well as in other branches of his profession, with the result that he was 316 MEMOEIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. presently offered by the Calumet & Hecla Mining Company the position of designer and superintendent of its proposed new smelting plant at Lake Linden, Mich. He accordingly removed to Lake Linden, where he remained for five years, carrying out his contracts with the company and occupying himself in gen- eral professional work. His successful services for the Calumet & Hecla Mining Company led that corporation to offer him the place of Superintendent of its works in Buffalo, where he came in January, 1891, and he has ever since been the executive head of the Buffalo Smelting Works, which were organized under his supervision. The enterprise with which Mr. Patch has now been for so many years identified, is one of Buffalo's most important industries. Its plant is located on the Niagara Elver at the foot of Austin street, and is one of the most thoroughly equipped of its kind in the world. The copper ore used in the works at Buffalo is shipped at Lake Linden on Lake Superior in an especially chartered fleet of steamers, and on its arrival at Buffalo is unloaded by ingeniously devised machinery at the company's docks. The copper produced is shipped to all parts of the world. The plant has a capacity of 6,500,000 pounds of copper a month. Electricity is largely employed in the manu- facturing processes, which require nine furnaces and the labor of 250 men. Sound business management and scientific methods are apparent in every detail of the industry. As a scientist, Mr. Patch has done much original work and has made several valuable discovei'ies. For market conditions he has the eye of a practical industrialist, and thoiigh Lake Superior ore constitutes the raw material which is worked up in his plant, he is a keen observer of copper-ore developments in the Far West, in Mexico, Central and South America, Australia and South Africa. He is interested in sereral mining com- panies, and in addition to his mining operations, he has on different occasions shown himself a financier of sound ability. While in Michigan he assisted in the organization of the First National Bank, at Lake Linden, and the Superior Savings Banlf, MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 317 4 at Hancock, and was a Director in both institutions so long as he continued to reside in the State. Mr. Patch is a member of the American Institute of Mining Engineers. He is a citizen of marked public spirit, and from the time of his arrival in Buffalo has taken an active interest in movements for the general welfare of the city. In 1907 he was appointed a member of the Grade Crossing Commission. July 6, 1875, Mr. Patch married Emily Isabella White, a daughter of EoUin White of Lowell, Mass., noted as an inventor of firearms, including the celebrated Smith & Wesson revolver. The White family were prominent residents of Vermont, and furnished many soldiers and officers in the Revolutionary War. Mrs. Patch is a descendant of the famous Peregrine White of Puritan times. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Patch are as follows: Emily H., wife of William Henry Barr, general man- ager of the Lumen Bearing Company; Nathaniel Knight Bailey, manager of a branch plant of the Lumen Bearing Company at Toronto, Canada; Ethel A., wife of Dr. Walter G. Phippen, a practicing physician at Salem, Mass., and Maurice B., Jr., and Howard R., who are students at Hobart College. HON. HENRY HAMILTON PERSONS, former Senator, President of the State Water Supply Commission, banker and head of extensive business interests, has united important per- sonal activities with a distinguished public career. Mr. Persons comes of a family well-known in Western New York. Many representatives of the Persons name settled in Sheldon, Wyoming County, in 1806, and Uriah Persons came to Sheldon as early as 1790. He was the father of Robert G. Persons, who moved to Aurora, Erie County, about 1815. Robert G. Persons was a farmer all his life. He was a promi- nent man in Erie County and took an active interest in Demo- cratic politics. He married Alta Hamilton. Their children were Harry H., Henry Z., Lucy T. (Mrs. Horace Prentice), Robert G., and Byron D. Persons. Robert G. Persons died on the 31st of August, 1864. 318 MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. HENRY ZIBA PERSONS was born in East Aurora, Erie County, N. Y., November 5, 1819. He was educated in the gram- mar schools of his native town, and at the Aurora Academy. He began his business career at Machias, Cattaraugus County. Later he returned to East Aurora, where in 1845 he opened a general store. Mr. Persons continued to be engaged in mercan- tile pursuits until 1887. In 1882 the Bank of East Aurora was organized. Mr. Persons served for a number of years as its Vice-President, being later elected President, in whicJi capacity he continued till his death. He was an ardent Repub- lican and a strong supporter of the Union during the Civil War. In 1861 he was appointed Postmaster by Abraham Lincoln, and continued to hold that ofQce throughout Lincoln's administra- tion and for more than twenty years thereafter. He was sev- eral times elected Supervisor, and Loan Commissioner. He was a liberal contributor to the Presbyterian and other churches, and gave largely to charitable causes. In 1849 Mr. Persons married Mary White, daughter of David P. and Betsy (Piatt) White of East Hamburg. The children of the union, Henry Hamilton Persons and Helen Persons were twins. The daughter died in infancy. Mrs. Persons, who was born May 20, 1822, still lives in East Aurora. Henry Z. Persons died in February, 1901. Henry Hamilton Persons was born in East Aurora December 16, 1851. He attended grammar schools and Aurora Academy, and studied a year at Cornell University. When twenty-two years old, Mr. Persons entered his father's store, and later received a half interest in the establishment. He devoted him- self to mercantile business till 1882, when he became cashier of the Bank of East Aurora, in 1887 he sold his store and there- after gave his attention to banking. In 1901 he was elected President of the bank to succeed his father, and has since con- tinued to hold that office. In 1898 Mr. Persons was elected Vice-President of the Buffahi Commercial Bank, and later was chosen President, which position he retained until the bank was MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 319 sold to the Marine National BSink in 1903. Of the latter bank Mr. Persons becauae Vice-President, serving till 1904. Mr. Persons was among the organizers of the Frontier Tele- phone Companv, was chosen its Vice-President in 1903, and was later elected President, w^hich office he held until the Consoli- dated Telephone interests purchased the stock of the Frontier Company in 1905. He is now Vice-President and a Director of the Frontier Telephone Company. Mr. Persons is President of the Hayes Litliograph Company, and the J. W. Ruger Manufac- turing Company of Buif alo, and is a Director of the Union Fire Insurance Company. Mr. Persons has always been active in Republican politics: After serving as Village Trustee of East Aurora, he was elected Supervisor, and held that office from 1884 to 1894. He served in the State Senate during 1894 and 1895, was Chairman of the Committee on Canals, and had an important part in procuring the |9,000,000 canal appropriation. He was also a member of the Committees on Villages and Banks as well as of the special committee to investigate the murder of Ross by " Bat " Shea in the Troy election riots. In June, 1905, Governor Higgins a^ipointed Mr, Persons Presi- dent of the State Water Supply Commission, for a term of five years. As President of this important body Mr. Persons has shown signal abilitj^ and a ijersistent industry and is one of the strongest factors in the Commission's usefulness. Since 1890 Mr. Persons has been a director of the Queen City Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, and is among its most active workers. Since 1890 he has served as trustee of the First Presbyterian Church of East Aurora. He is a member of the EUicott Club of Buffalo. June 30, 1876, Mr. Persons married Rebecca Ellen Sandford, a daughter of the Rev. Richard M. Sandford, then pastor of the First Presbyterian Church at East Aurora, and Ruth (Hunger- ford) Sandford. The children of the marriage are: Richard Sandford Persons, who in 1904 married Pearl Williamson, daughter of Eli Williamson of Buffalo; James White, Mary Hungerford, Albert H., Henry Z., and Robert H. Persons. 320 MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. JOHN JOSEPH HYNES is one of Buffalo's well-known lawyers and one of the first fraternal insurance men in the country.' He takes a keen interest in civic matters, has held responsible official places and is notably identified with the cause of education, being at the present time a member of the Buffalo Board of School Examiners. Mr. Hynes is of Irish ancestry, coming of a family for cen- turies prominent in the counties of Clare and Galway, and distinguished for patriotism and staunch Catholicity. On the maternal side he is derived from the Peeneys of Galway, a stock which is one of the oldest and best known in that country. The father of John J. Hynes was Michael Hynes and his mother was Catherine Feeney, who died in 1875. They came from Galway, Ireland, to this country in 1846, and settled in Buffalo. Michael Hynes was a ship carpenter and followed the craft until his death in 1876. He was one of the pioneer shipwrights of Buffalo, and spent practically all his life with the ship-building concerns of Bidwell & Banta and Mason & Bidwell, though for a few years he was in the employ of Mills & Walsh. He. was a strong believer in organized labor and helped form the first ship carpenters' and caulkers' union in Buffalo. A devout churchman, he was a member of the first Catholic Church erected in Buffalo, old St. Patrick's. John Joseph Hynes was born in Buffalo May 25, 1854. His education was obtained at Public School No. 4 and the Buffalo High School. In 1877 he began studying law, while he was employed in the County Clerk's office, being afterward entered as a law student with 0. F. Barton and later with the Hon. Charles F. Tabor. In 1882 he was admitted to the bar. From 1887 to 1891 he was Deputy City Attorney. After the latter year he resumed practice by himself, and has continued alone ever since. His specialties are real estate and insurance law, but he has a large general practice. He is General Attorney for the Grand Lodge of the Switchmen's Union of North MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 321 America, and has been for many years Attorney for the Supreme Council of the C. M. B. A. in New York State. Always a Eepublican, Mr. Hynes was a candidate for Super- visor in the old First Ward in 1879, and though the ward was Democratic, he was elected by 300 majority. In January, 1904, Mr. Hynes without solicitation was appointed by Mayor Knight a member of the Board of School Examiners for a term of five years, and was later chosen Chairman of that body. In the public school system of Buffalo Mr. Hynes takes the deepest interest, and never misses a meeting, either special or regular, of the examining Board. Once a year he visits each school of the city. When eighteen years old Mr. Hynes enlisted in the 74th Eegiment, N. G. N. Y. He rose through successive grades of promotion until 1878, when he was commissioned Captain. Mr. Hynes is serving his third term as Supreme President of the Catholic Mutual Benefit Association, which was organized in 1876. Mr. Hynes took a leading part in the establishment of the first branch at Buffalo in 1878, the total membership of the society being then less than 350. Mr. Hynes was one of the earliest men to grasp the possibilities of the work, bringing to his task an ardent belief in the objects and purposes of the Association. He became a member of New York Grand Council in 1881, and served as Chairman of the Law Committee, Trustee, Supreme Eepresentative, Grand President and Grand Chan- cellor. He was twice unanimously elected Grand President. He was on the Committee on Laws of the New York Grand Council which in 1881 submitted the report in favor of a graded scale of assessments. He became a member of the Supreme Council in 1884, has been Chairman of its Committee on Laws ever since, and in 1886 was a member of the London, Ont., con- vention which enacted the present Eeserve Fund Law. In October, 1900, the Supreme Council of the C. M. B. A. met in Buffalo, and Mr. Hynes was elected Supreme President for a term of three years, being reelected in 1903 and again in 1906. 322 MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. He is thus the head of an organization which has a membership of over 60,000, and which carries insurance aggregating 190,000,000. There is no sounder insurance society in the world, and this is largely due to the wisdom, conservatism and firmness of Mr. Hynes. Mr. Hynes belongs to the Catholic Benevolent Legion, and is a former member of its Supreme Council. He was active in the inception of the Irish Land League, of which he was elected National Secretary in 1882, and with his colleagues collected and forwarded $79,000 to Ireland. He was Secretary of the Phila- delphia convention in 1883, and was elected Secretary of the new Irish National League, but resigned for reasons of resi- dence. In 1902 Mr. Hynes was appointed by Gov. Odell one of the Board of Managers of the Western House of Kefuge for Women, at Albion, N. Y., and later served as Chairman. In January, 1905, he was reappointed by Gov. Higgins, but resigned owing to other duties. For sixteen years he has been a member of the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament. Mr. Hynes has marked ability as a public speaker. In court or on the plat- form he is convincing and eloquent. January 8, 1879, Mr. Hynes married Anna M. McCarthy, daughter of Dennis F. and Ellen (Hallaron) McCarthy of Buffalo. The children of the marriage are Mary Gertrude Hynes, a teacher in the public schools, and John J. Hynes, Jr., a student at the IMassachusetts Institute of Technology. i THOMAS DAEK, SR., is one of the oldest and most promi- nent citizens of Buffalo, and as a builder, contractor and sani- tary engineer has a record unsui'passed by any of its kind in Western New York. Mr. Dark was born at Hanham Mount in the parish of Bitton, County of Gloucester, near Bristol, England, December 21, 1814, being the son of John Dark, a well-known builder and contrac- tor. Thomas Dark received an elementary education, but his MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 323 schooling ended when he was ten years old. The locality where he spent his boyhood was identified with the lives and the work of the Wesleys, and he grew np under the influence of Methodism. Upon leaving school he began learning the mason's trade with his father, and finisTied his apprenticeship at Bristol." As a young man he became a building contractor, at first erecting dwellings, but presently becoming engaged in munici^ pal work. He built the water works in Exeter and Bristol and a system of drainage for the city of Wells, and had some large contracts in coal mines. He successfully pursued the con- tracting business and the mason's trade in England for about twenty-four years. In 1857 Mr. Dark came to the United States and settled in Buffalo, where, shortly after his arrival he was employed as foreman in the construction of the Custom House and old Post Of3.ce in Seneca street. He established himself as a contractor and builder and in this field quickly rose to a position of importance, later forming, with his sons, the firm of Thomas Dark & Sons. He devoted himself chiefly to public works, paved miles of Buffalo's streets, and built many of its sewers, bridges and other municipal structures, his operations always being carried on with conscientiousness and first-class skill. In 1869 he won, the $2,000 prize offered by the City of Buffalo for the best plans and specifications for a water supply plant and system. In 1895 he wrote and published a pamphlet in which he contended that the Buffalo water system is radically defective. Among Mr. Dark's notable achievements was the planning and building of the Titusville, Pa., water works. He has invented many tools and appliances, including some of the most excellent sewer apparatus yet devised. He retired from business in 1900. He is a great reader, has traveled much, and has published a narrative of a European trip made in 1893. In 1833 Mr. Dark married Eliza Willis of Kingswood, England, who was born September 2, 1814, and died September 2, 1892. Their children were: John, Thomas, Sa^muel, George, Thomas, 324 MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. Sarah B., Eliza, Mary and Albert, of whom George and Eliza are the only survivors. THOMAS DAKK, JK., was deceased June 17, 1905. He was born in England, and was educated in private schools. As he grew to manhood he became connected in business with his father, who in 1857 he accompanied to America, and after the family settled in Buffalo, he was associated in partnership with his father, and brother, George, under the firm name of Thomas Dark & Sons. He ably assisted in carrying on the business until the firm was dissolved in 1890, when he retired from active pursuits. A man of strong, earnest character, Mr. Dark was unassuming, and wholly free of pretense or display. His deep religious feeling found expression in efficient endeavor in the Master's cause. He was for many years one of the leading members of Grace Methodist Episcopal Church, where he was among the most effective workers and teachers in the Sunday School. H^e was a great Bible student, had a wonderfully minute and comprehensive knowledge of the Scriptures and often met with others for class study. Profoundly conscien- tious, serious in his outlook on life and of high moral ideals, he was devoted to his business, his family and his church work, and cared little for outside diversions. Mr. Dark married Julia E. Davies, daughter of Samuel E. Davies, of Kochester, !N. Y. Their surviving children are: Samuel J., Florence Ella (Mrs. Linus H. Stickles), Maud Mary (Mrs. F. C. Jahraus), George Dark, Mabel, Julia and Grace Dark. SAMUEL JOHN DABK, of Dark & Co., is sole proprietor of a, contracting concern which is the largest of its kind in this part of the country, and he occupies a place of deserved promi- nence among Buffalo's representative business men. Mr. Dark was born in Buffalo, July 21, 1866, being the son MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 325 of Thomas Dark, Jr. As a boy he attended the public schools of his native city, and in 1880 entered the employ of Thomas Dark & Sons, the firm established by his grandfather. In 1888 he was admitted to partnership, the firm continuing as Thomas Dark & Sons. Prom 1890 to 1900 Samuel J. Dark was practi- cally the manager of the business. The firm existed till 1900, when he bought out the interests of the other partners, Thomas Dark, Sr., and the latter' s sons, George and Thomas, and became sole proprietor of the concern, which is now styled Dark & Co. It does a combined plumbing, sewer con- tracting and underground construction business, and is the leading enterprise in its field in this part of the State. Since Samuel J. Dark became its pro- prietor, the business has continued to expand in proportions corresponding with the increased demands of the latter day development of Buffalo. In 1900 Mr. Dark became equally interested with Charles E. Williams, Pliny B. McNaughton, Frank L. Bapst, and William H. Kinch in the Buffalo Dredging Company, the German Rock Asphalt Company, the Buffalo Expanded Metal Company, and the Continental Engineering & Contracting Company. Mr. Dark is President of the Buffalo Sanitary Company, which has the contract for the collection of ashes and garbage in Buffalo, and for cleaning the streets. He is also a Director in the SAMUEL J. DARK. 326 MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. Babcock Electric Carriage Company, tile Buffalo Automobile Station, and the Buffalo Crucible Casting Company. Mr. Dark is a 32d degree Mason, being affiliated with Ancient Landmarks Lodge; Adytum Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, and Ismailia Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He belongs to the Historical Society, and is a member of the Buffalo, Country, Park, Ellicott and Acacia clubs. November 11, 1890, Mr. Dark married Margaret A. Wilson, daughter of George H. and Helen C. (Smith) Wilson of Buffalo. ROBERT RODMAN HEFFORD. It would be impossible to name a more repi"fesentative figure in Buffalo than Robert R. Hefford. A native of this city, Mr. Hefford has lived here all his life. He is a man of versatile ability and has won equal dis- tinction in the business world, in citizenship, and in public affairs. From an early period identified with the coal trade, Mr. Heffoi^di until his retirement from the business, stood in the front rank of that industry. He is one of the leading Republi- cans in the State, and has had a notable political career. Mr. Hefford is distinctively a man of public spirit, and no Buffalonian of bur generation has shown himself more earnest and enthusiastic in behalf of the welfare of the city. Mr. Hefford is the son of Thomas Hefford, who was born in Lilborne, England, March 14, 1807. He settled in Buffalo in 1835, and married Elizabeth Livingston Lasher on the 12th of May, 1844. His death occurred in Buffalo May 6, 1865. Robert Rodman Hefford was born in Buffalo February 25, 1855. He was educated at public and private schools and at Bryant & Stratton's Business College. When seventeen years old he became a clerk in a wholesale salt and cement concern, for two years. During 1864 he held a clerkship in the Canal Collector's office. In 1865, with Mr. E. E. Hazard, Mr. Hefford engaged in the coal trade. The firm of E. E. Hazard & Company prospered greatly, and the copartnership lasted till 1871, when Mr. Hefford succeeded to the business, which he conducted until MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTOEY. 327 his retirement in 1896. Under his able management it was developed chiefly along the lines of shipping and forwarding. The enterprise assumed very large proportions, and Mr. Hefford was a leading factor in gaining for Buffalo its status as one of the world's centers of coal distribution. Mr. Hefford was Presi- dent of the Bank of Commerce and a Director of the Merchants' Bank, both of which institutions are now liquidated. He is at present a director in six business corporations. From early manhood Mr. Hefford has been actively connected with public life. In 1879 he was elected Alderman from the Second Ward, and was twice reelected, serving till 1884. During two terms he was President of the Common Council. Meantime he was chosen President of the City Board of Health, serving two terms. In this capacity he established a lasting claim to public gratitude by opposing the notorious street- cleaning contract which was vetoed by Grover Cleveland, then Mayor. In 1883, Mr. Hefford's party paid him the high tribute of nominating him for Mayor, to fill the vacancy left by Mr. Cleveland, but the local conditions that year were adverse to Eepublican success, and, the Democratic candidate was elected. Mr. Hefford has^ repeatedly served on the Eepublican General Committee, and in 1885-1886 was Chairman of the Eepublican County Committee. He had a distinguished share in the work of establishing the Eepublican League of the State of New York, and in 1887 was elected its first President, being reelected the following year. He also held for several years a place on the League's Executive Committee. From 1889 to 1893 he was Vice-President of the National Eepublican League. In the duties connected with these political bodies, Mr. Hefford has shown himself a party manager of signal ability. In 1895 Mr. Hefford was appointed by Mayor Jewett Commissioner of Public Works. The choice was enthusiastically indorsed by the press and people, bu.t Mr. Hefford, for business reasons, felt himself obliged to decline, the appointment. The canal svstem of the State has no more earnest and 328 MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. efficient champion than Eobert K. Hefford. He has ably sup- ported the interests of the Erie Canal, and did notable work in aid of the |9,000,000 canal appropriation and the measures which resulted in the |101,000,000 barge canal enterprise. He served as Chairman of the Executive Canal Committee of the State, which in 1894 induced the Constitutional Convention to approve the |9,000,000 appropriation, was a principal factor in bringing about legislative action in the matter in 1895, and a most poAverful influence in effecting the indorsement of the pro- ject by the voters. He was also a delegate to all conventions called in that interest. Mr. Hefford is a leading member and a trustee of the Chamber of Commerce, and served four terms as President of the Merchants' Exchange. He was Chairman of the Building Com- mittee in 1896, when the Board of Trade Building was enlarged, and served in the same capacity in 1906 when the new Chamber of Commerce Building was built. He has served four terms as President of the Board of Trade. He is a life member of the Buffalo Society of Natural Sciences, the Public Library and the Fine Arts Academy and a meiaber of the Historical Society; a trustee of the Buffalo General Hospital and the Y. M. C. A., and a member of the Council of the University of Buffalo. He is President of the Buffalo Club, a member and former Presi- dent of the EUicott and Liberal Clubs, a member of the Country Club, and belongs to the Kepublican Club of New York City. In 1877 he was a member of the New York State Commission to the Tennessee Centennial Exposition. January 4, 1870, Mr. Hefford married Harriet Eosalia Whitaker of Catskill, N. Y. HENRY CHRISTIAN STEUL is one of Buffalo's best known citizens. He has enjoyed high civic honors, has a distinguished record as a municipal official, is a very prominent fraternity man and has an enviable position in the social life of our city. A native of Buffalo, Mr. Steul is of German ancestry and MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 329 parentage. He is a son of Charles Steul and Mary Jacobi, resi- dents of Giesen, Hesse Darmstadt, Gerniany, where they were married and whence they came to the United States in the '50's. Their surviving children are: Mary (Mrs. Adolf Hessling); Elizabeth Steul; Caroline (Mrs. William Pohle); Catherine (Mrs. Edwin Pohle); and Henry C. Steul. Conrad Steul, another sou, died in August, 1888, at the age of thirty- two. The father, Charles Steul, died in 1894, and Mrs. Steul in 1901. Henry Christian Steul was born in Buffalo on the 25th of January, 1859. He was educated in the public schools, afterward taking a German course in Prof. Pesler's private school. When thirteen years old he was apprenticed to the trade of cabinet-making. Later he worked seven years as a journeyman cabinet- maker for Hersee & Co., subsequently having charge of the cabinet sho^) of Bardsky Bros., New York City. In 1882 Mr. Steul returned to Buffalo and engaged in business with his brother, Conrad, under the firm name of Steul Bros., establishing the present concern at No. 278 Johnson street. The partnership existed until 1888, when Conrad Steul died. Henry C. Steul thereafter continued the business alone for two years, when he formed a copartnership with Frank H. Thuman, under the firm style of Steul & Thuman. In 1904 the firm was incor- porated under the style of the Steul & Thuman Company, Mr. HENRY C. STBTJL. 330 MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTOKY. Steul being made President and Treasurer. The concern is the largest wood mantel manufactory in the United States. The plant now covers an area of 150 by 280 feet, employing over 250 people, and does over |300,000 worth of business annually. In June, 1906, Mr. Steul was elected the first President of the Wood Mantel Manufacturers Credit Association of the United States. Besides his manufacturing enterprise, Mr. Steul is interested in real estate and banking, being a Director of the German- Americah Bank and President of the Steul Land Company. A Eepubiican, Mr. Steul was elected a member of Council in 1894 by a majority of 12,000, and reelected in 1897. At the end of his term he declined a rehomination, but in 1902 Mr. Steul was elected by the Common Council to fill a vacancy in the Board. In this instance Mr. Steul served two years, making in all nine years in which he had held the responsible office of Councilman. Mr. Steul's career of piiblic service was characterized by eminent capability, honesty and openness. During his second term of office he was honored with election as Chairman. Mr. Steul has taken a keen interest in the German Hospital ever since its organization, and in November, 1906, was elected a trustee. He is also a trustee of St. Peter's Evangelical Church. • He is a Mason of the 32d degree, a member of De Molay Lodge; of Keystone Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; of Hugh de Pay ens Commandery, Knights Templar; Zuleika Grotto, and Ismailia Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He also belongs to the Acacia Club, to the Buffalo Orpheus, the Saengerbund, the Harugari Maennerchor,. and various fraternal bodies. On the 1st of November, 1882, Mr. Steul was united in marriage to Miss Helen Koerbel, a daughter of Peter Koerbel afld Margaret (Winters) Koerbel. The children of the marriage are two sons, Henry C. Steul, Jr., and William M. Steul, and a daughter, Miss Eleanora Steul. MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 331 , HERBEET P. BISSELL is a lawyer of distinguished ability, a leading citizen of Buffalo and a man prominent in political life and public affairs. Considered from the professional standpoint, Mr. Bissell represents the sterling traditions of learning and integrity which have given so high a prestige to the Erie County bar. As a public man Mr. Bissell has a notable record as a champion of clean politics and good government. He is of liberal views and wide culture, is actively identified with the cause of education and with movements in furtherance of intellectual and moral progress, and takes a public-spirited interest in local improvement and the welfare of Buffalo as a community. ' ' John Bissel came from England and was one of the settlers of Windsor, Connecticut. Noah Bissell, grandfather of Herbert P. Bissell, was a resident of Vermont, whence he removed to New London, Oneida County, N. Y., in the early part of the last century. He was a farmer and a well-known man and influ- ential citizen. AMOS A. BISSELL, son of Noah Bissell, was a noted resi- dent of Western New York. Throughout his career Amos A. Bissell was identified with transportation business on the Erie Canal, and became a very large canal forwarder, owning as many as 100 boats at a time. In 1865 he removed to Lockport, N. Y., but from that year till the close of his life Buffalo was his place of business, and he became one of the leading members of the local Board of Trade. In 1874-75 Mr. Bissell represented the First District of Niagara County as Member of Assembly. In 1852 Mr. Bissell married Amelia S. Wilsey of New London, N. Y. The ancestors of Mrs. Bissell came from Holland and were among the settlers of the Mohawk Valley. Her father was Blenis Wilsey, who died in September, 1906, at the age of 100 years. His father, James Wilsey, a farmer in Herkimer County, was a soldier in the Eevolutionary War under Gen. Herkimer. The surviving children of Amos A. Bissell and 332 MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. Amelia S. Wilsey are: Angus C. Bissell of New York City; Herbert P. Bissell of Buffalo, and Dr. WilligLm G. Bissell, also of this city. Herbert P. Bissell was born at New London, Oneida County, N. Y., on the 30th of August, 1856. When eight years old he removed with his parents to Lockport, N. Y., and there he attended the public schools during the next four years. At the age of twelve he became a student at DeVeaux College, Niagara Palls, and in 1873 was graduated. Shortly afterward he went to Germany, where he studied two years at the Gymnasium Catharinareum, a public school at Braunschweig, where he acquired a thorough knowledge of the German language. On returning to the United States, Mr. Bissell entered Harvard College, from which he graduated in 1880, with the degree of A.B. The same year Mr. Bissell came to Buffalo and began reading law with the firm of Laning, McMillan & Gluck. In 1883 he was admitted to the bar. For several months there- after he continued with the firm in the capacity of managing clerk. On the 1st of January, 1885, he began practice by himself, and continued till 1886, when he became identified with the firm of Brundage, Weaver & Bissell. Six months afterward was formed the copartnership of Bissell, Sicard, Brundage & Bissell, a firm of which the late Wilson S. Bissell, a former Postmaster- General, was the head and Herbert P. Bissell the junior partner. This association, which some time later became Bissell, Sicard, Bissell & Carey, was a firm of no less historic importance in the annals of the Buffalo bar, its origin being traceable as far back as 1834. Among those at an early period connected with the firm was Nathan K. Hall, Postmaster-General under President Fillmore, and Grover Cleveland was the senior part- ner when he was elected Governor in 1883. In 1896 the firm of Bissell, Sicard, Bissell & Carey was dis- solved, and in March, 1897, Mr. Bissell formed a copartnership with J. Henry Metcalf, under the style of Bissell & Metcalf. MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 333 Later he established, with George 0. Riley, the present law flrm of Bissell & Eiley. Mr. Bissell is counsel for a number of leading corporations, including the Niagara Gorge Railroad Company, of which he is Vice-President; the Buffalo Traction Company; the Buffalo & Depew Railway, and the New York Power Securities Company, of which he is President and General Counsel. A representative Democrat, Mr. Bissell first came into political prominence at the time when Grover Cleveland was candidate for Governor. He was one of the principal organizers of the Cleveland Democracy of Buffalo, serviiig for three terms as its President, and since 1884 has been a recognized leader in his party. In 1885, Mr. Bissell was nominated for State Senator for the Erie County District, and though he failed of election he ran ahead of his ticket by .1,500 votes. A distinctive feature of the campaign was a series of speeches delivered by Mr. Bissell to the German residents of the East Side. These addresses were not only brilliant from the oratorical viewpoint, but were remarkable from the perfect command Mr. Bissell displayed of the German language. In 1892 Mr. Bissell received the Demo- cratic nomination for District Attorney. It was a Republican year in Erie County, but such was Mr. Bissell's popularity that an official count was necessary to ascertain the result. He was declared successful, but owing to some irregularities and errors in the returns, he withdrew his claims. In the fall of 1901 Mr. Bissell was made the nominee of the Democratic party for the office of Mayor of Buffalo. But at that election the whole Republican ticket was elected. When the Pan-American Exposition Company was formed, Mr. Bissell was chosen a Director of that body and Chairman and counsel of the Exposition Law Committee. In these capaci- ties he did all the legal work connected with the Pan-American enterprise without compensation. In 1904 Mr. Bissell removed his home to East Aurora. The following year he was elected a member and President of the Board of Education. In the fall 334 MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. of 1906 lie was reelected. Since 1887 Mr. Bissell has been a trustee of De Veaiix College, and he has also served as trustee of the Gary Collegiate Seminary at Oakfield, N. Y. He is an active member of the Niagara I^rontier Landmarks Association, has filled the position of Curator and Chairman of the Board of Real Estate of the Buffalo Public Library, and belongs to the Ellicott and University clubs of this city, and the University Club of New York. He is a vestryman of St. Mathias Episcopal Church of East Aurora. On the 30th of October, 1883, Mr. Bissell married Miss Lucy Agnes Coffey of Brooklyn. They have three children, Mary R., born October 1, 1884; Harriet A., born September 3, 1888, and Lucy A., born July 19, 1894. The arduous professional pursuits and the varied public activities of Mr. Bissell have not prevented him from gratifying his ardent love of culture for its own sake. No man takes a keener delight in literature, and his appreciation of its master- pieces is the greater because founded on a thorough classical training and guided by an intellect disciplined by the severe researches of a learned profession. Occasionally Mr. Bissel has delivered addresses on literary topics, and the only criti- cism to be made relative to his discourses on these fascinating themes is that they are not more numerous. A notable example of Mr. Bissell's critical discernment and charm as a lecturer was an appreciation of the poet Schiller, delivered in Buffalo two or three years ago before a German audience and illus- trated by readings from Schiller's works. This address, given in German of classic purity of diction and admirable both for depth of thought and Avealth of expression, will linger long in the memory of those who were privileged to hear it. WILLIAM HORACE HOTCHKISS is one of Buffalo's fore- most lawyers, noted as a publicist, while in the field of bank- ruptcy law he has a national rej.>utation. The Hotchkiss family during early Colonial times settled in MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 335 Connecticut, haAang migrated there from England as a part of the New Haven Colony. Jason Hotchkiss was a soldier in the Revolutionary army, serving in a Connecticut regiment, as did his father, also named Jason. Rufus Hotchkiss, son of Jason Hotchkiss, Jr., removed from New England to Hampton, Washington County, N. Y., where he was a farmer and well- known citizen. His son, Horace Hotchkiss, was also a farmer, and lived at Hampton, where he died in 1880. He married Diadama Pierce, who was descended from a Massachusetts family, her grandfather having been one of the Minute Men in the Revolution. MASON KING HOTCHKISS, son of Horace Hotchkiss, was born in 1836. He was reared on a farm and later became part- ner in a wholesale grocery in Albany. Afterwards he was extensively interested in the hotel business, becoming the pro- prietor of hotels at Rutland, Vt., and at Albany, Jamestown, Olean, and Hornellsville, N. Y. In 1861 he married Rachael Amanda Merriam, daughter of William and Emily (Bartholo- mew) Merriam. The children of the union are: William Horace Hotchkiss of Buffalo, and Bessie Louise (Mrs. Horace B. Ware) of Scranton, Pa. Mason K. Hotchkiss died at Olean, N. Y., in 1885. William Horace Hotchkiss was born at W^hitehall, Wash- ington County, N. Y., September 7, 1864. He was educated in the public schools of Albany, N. Y., Rutland, Vt., and James- town, N. Y., the Albany Military Academy and the Rutland Military School, being prepared for college in Glidden's Classi- cal School, in Jamestown. Entering Hamilton College in 1882, he was graduated in 1886 with the degree of B.A. He received honors in Greek, Latin, mathematics, literature, oratory and debating, and delivered the Head prize oration and the Latin Salutatory of his class, securing also the Phi Beta Kappa key. Three years later his alma mater conferred on him the degree of M.A. On leaving college Mr. Hotchkiss began reading law 336 MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. with the Hon. John D. Teller of Aixburn, N. Y., also being appointed Clerk of the Surrogate's Court of Cayuga County, serving from 1887 to 1889. In 1888 he was admitted to the bar, and when Judge Teller retired from office he formed with Mr. Hotchldss at Auburn a law partnership under the style of Teller & Hotchkiss. In 1891 Mr. Hotchkiss came to Buffalo and was associated with Edward L. Parker until 1900, when Mr. Hotchkiss and the late James 0. Templeton formed a copartnership which lasted until Mr. Templeton's death in 1903, and since then with Myron P. Bush, under the style of Hotchkiss & Bush. Mr. Hotchkiss was appointed Keferee in Bankruptcy in 1898 for the Erie County District and reappointed in 1900, serving to the present time. He has delivered numerous addresses on bankruptcy law, and has written manj^ articles on the subject. He is the author on the Fourth Edition of " Collier on Bank- ruptcy," the leading authority on that branch of law in the United States. Ever since the foundation of the Natfonal Asso- ciation of Keferees in Bankruptcy in 1899, Mr. Hotchkiss has served as its President and Chairman of its Executive Committee. He took an active part in drafting the Bay, and the Palmer amendatory bankruptcy bills, and the practice in bank- ruptcy courts throughout the Union has been largely regulated by the rules drawn by Referee Hotchkiss, and the practice forms prepared by him. He is Lecturer on Bankruptcy'' Law in the Law Schools of Buffalo, New York City and Cornell University. A strong Republican, Mr. Hotchkiss has always taken an active interest in politics. He was one of the Buffalo Repub- lican Committee to investigate primary election reform, the inquiry resulting in a report whose sequel was the first Hill ^ill. With Elihu Root and Paul D. Cravath, Mr. Hotchkiss drew the Primary Election Law of 1899, which is in force today. He was for two years a member of the Executive Committee of MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 337 the Buffalo Republican League, and acted for a year as editor of its journal, " The Opinion." He has also rendered valuable services to his party as a campaign speaker. Mr. Hotchldss has written a pamphlet on "Urban Self Government," has con- tributed many articles on this and other subjects to magazines, and has discussed municipal questions in a series of lectures. For three years he was Secretary of the Law and Legislation Committee of the Buffalo Citizens' Association, and assisted in exposing the ballot frauds in Buffalo in 1892. In 1907 he was appointed by Governor Hughes a commissioner for the promo- tion of uniformity of legislation in the U. S. Mr. Hotchkiss is much interested in automobiling, and has served as President of the American Automobile Association, the New York State Automobile Association and the Buffalo Automobile Club. He is the author of the Motor Vehicle Law of the State of New York, which has been adopted by half a dozen other States. Mr. Hotchkiss is a member of the American Bar Association, the Bar Associations of New York State and Erie County, and is a member and ex-President of the Lawyers' Club. He belongs to the Sons of the American Revolution and the Buffalo Historical Society. He is a 32d degree Mason, being affiliated with Ancient Landmarks Lodge, Palmoni Council, Princes of Jerusalem (15th and 16th grades Scottish Rite Masonry) of which he has served as head, and Zuleika Grotto. He belongs to the Liberal, University and Country clubs of Buffalo, and the Chi Psi college fraternity, of whose magazine, " Purple and Gold," he was editor-in-chief from 1886 to 1890. April 25, 1895, Mr. Hotchkiss married Katherine Tremaine Bush, daughter of John W. and Kate C. (Tremaine) Bush of Ithaca, N. Y. Mrs. Hotchkiss is a descendant of Abner Tre- maine, a Revolutionary officer who took part in the storming of Stony Point by Gen. Wayne. Mr. and Mrs. Hotchkiss have two children, Katherine, born in 1900, and Emily, born in 1903. 338 MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. EIGHT REV. CHARLES HENRY COLTON, D.D., Fourth Bishop of the Diocese of Buffalo, before coming to his present field of labors was for many years pastor of St. Stephen's Church, in New York City. Bishop Colton is an earnest, devoted servant of the Church of Christ, centering his powers and pur- poses in the fulfillment of the duties of his consecrated of&ce, and knowing no ambition apart from the faithful discharge of the sacred trust reposed in him. Bishop Colton is of Irish lineage, and both on the father's and mother's side comes of devout Catholic ancestry distinguished by not a few names emi- nent in the service of the Church. His father, Patrick Smith Colton, was the son of John Colton and Mary Smith, and was born about 1818, near Omagh, the county seat of Tyrone. When eleven years old he came to this country with his parents, the family settling in York, Pa. Later he went to Baltimore, Md., where he was engaged in busi- ness for a number of years and was an active Catholic layman. In 1845 he removed to New York City, where he opened a locksmith's shop, which he conducted many years, later forming a copartnership in the builders' hardware busi- ness, under the firm style of Colton & Mullen. February 2, 1846, Mi". Colton married Theresa Augusta Mullen, who was the daughter of Thomas and Mary Mullen, and ET. BEV. OHAELES H. COLTON. MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 339 was born in Donegal, Ireland, July 25, 1824. The marriage was blessed with nine children, of whom six are living. The Rev. John Smith Colton, now deceased, eldest brother of Bishop Colton, was a priest of sainted life. Thomas J. Colton, the younger brother of the Bishop, is a successful business man of New York City. Bishop Colton has four sisters, Mary Teresa, now Mrs. Pentz of New York; Margaret, now Mrs.' James M. Bingham of New York; Josephine, unmarried, and Agnes, now the wife of William E. Doherty of Brooklyn. The death of Patrick Smith Colton occurred in Augiist, ,1876, and his wife died April 6, 1891. Their lives exemplified consistent useful- ness chastened and elevated by fervent religious faith. Charles Henry Colton was born in New York City, October 15, 1848. In Bishop Colton's boyhood New York had few parish schools, and he began his studies at Public School No. 5. Later he attended two other public schools, and became a pupil of the Sunday School of St. Stephen's Church. When about fourteen years old he leftschool and took a position as cash boy with the dry goods firm of Arnold, Constable & Co., where he remained eighteen months, then finding a place with the Cen- tral Express Company. With this company and the MerchJints' Union Exchange, he continued five years. During this period he pursued his studies, attending the Latin School of St. Stephen's. In 1869 he entered St. Francis Xavier College, where he studied three years. In September, 1872, he became a student in St. Joseph's Theological Seminary at Troy, N. Y., where he was ordained a priest on the 10th of June, 1876. After Father Colton's ordination, at the request of the Kev. Dr. Edward McGlynn, then rector of St. Stephen's Church, New- York, he was appointed assistant pastor of that parish. He applied himself to his work with energy, giving his best sup- port to Dr. McGlynn's labors, and in the course of ten years was advanced to the place of first assistant pastor. Besides the regular duties of the church, in all of which he shared, Father Colton for thirteen years did chaplain's duty at Bellevue 340 MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. Hospital. He continued his ministrations at St. Stephen's from June 27, 1876, till the latter part of 1886, when he was assigned to the pastorate of the Church of Our Lady of Mercy at Port Chester, N. Y. In January, 1887, he was recalled to St. Stephen's to assist the Rev. Arthur Donnelly, then temporarily in charge. A few days afterward Father Colton was appointed administrator, and some months later, by appointment of Arch- bishop Corrigan, he became rector, succeeding Dr. McGlynn. At the time when leather Colton took charge of St. Stephen's, the parish debt was |152,000, and the church had no parish school. During his pastorate the debt was lifted from the church and the rectory, and a school-house was built at a cost, including the site, of |185,000. Two residence buildings were bought for the Sisters at a cost of |20,000 each. From $7,000 to |10,000 annually was expended in maintenance of the school and the payment of salaries. The church property was kept in repair and improved. At the close of Father Colton's minis- trations two-thirds of the cost of the schools and Sisters' home had been paid, and all the rest of his debts extinguished. To aid in drawing young people into the church work, social fea- tures were introduced. Evening classes were established, and much good was accomplished by the organization known as The Young Men's Club. By 1894 St. Stephen's was free of debt, and the church was consecrated on December 30th of that year, with all the attendant ceremonies carried out in full. There were present. Archbishop Corrigan, five other Bishops, and 150 Priests. One of the most important institutions of the parish is the parochial school, which has 1,200 pupils and 29 instruc- tors. A valuable practical charity, the Presentation Day Nursery, was also established. Several church sodalities were founded. The golden jubilee of St. Stephen's was held in 1899, and on June 10, 1901, was observed the twenty-fifth anniversary of Father Colton's ordination, by the presentation of an address by the parishoners and a purse of |8,000. When Archbishop Quigley, then Third Bishop of the Diocese MBMOBIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 341 Of Buffalo, was appointed Metropolitan of Chicago, the usual steps were taken for the selection of his successor. The choice fell upon Father Colton, the bulls being issued to him May 20, 1903, and his consecration taking place in St. Patrick's Cathedral, New York, on July 25, of the same year. Under Bishop Colton's ministrations the spiritual edifice of the Diocese of Buffalo has continued to be steadily and firmly reared on the broad foundations laid by his predecessors. At the present time, 1907, and four years after his coming- to Buffalo, 30 new parishes have been opened in the city and through the diocese, and the secular clergy have increased by 40, or 210 in all. Bishop Colton is a hard worker and a man of systematic methods. Though not an ascetic, he lives plainly. It has fallen to him to disburse large sums, and he is^ a sound economist in financial matters. His interest in his flock extends to their material concerns, and he encourages thrift. He is a man of scholarly tastes and acquirements, studying with a view to thoroughness and mastering the books he reads, lu the pulpit he is earnest, convincing, not aiming for oratorical eloquence, but often attaining it by the force of sincerity and directness. In manner he is courteous, kindly and easy of approach. He is thoroughly American in his patriotism, placing love of country high in the scale of the virtues. He is the author of two books, written since his advent to Buffalo, namely, " Seedlings," a book of pious thoughts and reflections, and " Trip to Rome and the Holy Land," which gives his personal experiences of the time he spent in both places and along the route when making his visit at ad limina in 1904. THE REV. JOHN D. BIDEN, Rector of St. Joseph's Cathedral, has spent the twenty-five years of his priesthood in the diocese of Buffalo, and has been in charge of his present pastoral field for the past decade. He was born in Buffalo on the 30th of September, 1852, his 342 .MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. parents being Charles and Ellen Nelligan Biden, well-known and esteemed residents of that place. Mr. Biden, who came to Buffalo from the Eastern States in the late forties, was of English ancestry and a convert to the Catholic faith, having been received into the Church about a year before his marriage. He was baptized in old St. Patrick's Church by Father Lennan. Mrs. Biden was a native of County Cork, Ireland. To his mother's legacy of that ardent faith and lofty spirit- uality, which seem to be a Celtic birthright, and to the sturdy, practical qualities handed doAvn to him by his Anglo-Saxon forebears, students of heredity who have marked Father Biden's career, will attribute, no doubt, a large measure of the success attending his various undertakings. His hands have always been set to difficult tasks, tasks which tested to the utmost the reality of his priestly vocation and his exceptional administrative ability, and in their outcome in- variably and fully justified his superiors' frequent choice of him to command in important and trying situations. His father died when the future priest was but seven years old, and Mrs. Biden went with her children to kinsfolk in Ellicottville. There, in the "little red schoolhouse" — of a type that has fostered the youthful genius of so many of our greatest and best citizens — and subsequently in the village High School, Father Biden received his early education. At the age of sixteen he went to Oil City, worked for a year in a bank in that town, and then returned to Buffalo, where he entered as bookkeeper the grape sugar manufacturing establish- ment of the late Mr. Jebb. In these positions he acquired the knowledge of business which has proved so valuable to him in later life. He remained with Mr. Jebb until 1874, when his long-cherished project of going to college was carried out and he matriculated at Niagara University. After a brilliant course in the University, where he took his Bachelor and Master of Arts degrees and completed his theological studies. Father Biden was ordained on June 3, 1882, by the late Bishop Ryan. MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 343 It may be told just here that, like many another distinguished member of the priesthood, leather Biden was for a time strongly attracted to the scarcely less holy calling of the physician. He studied medicine for a year and then decided that his mission was to minister rather to the souls than to the bodies of his fellow-men. At the request of the pastor his first mass was said in St. Brigid's Church in Buffalo. Appointed successively to the parishes of Limestone, Ellicott- ville, Andover, and Albion, the first fifteen years of Father Biden's priesthood may be described as an initiatory period wherein while laboring with zeal and eflflciency for the upbuilding of the churches at different times under his charge, he developed the insight, the knowledge of men and conditions, and the breadth of view in matters spiritual and temporal which qualified him for a large sphere of effort. In every field where he was stationed he won the love and veneration of his people as a spiritual guide and their confidence as a man of sound practical judgment. In Albion, where he was pastor before coming to Buffalo, Father Biden directed the building of one of the finest churches in the diocese. In 1897 Bishop Quigley appointed him to the rectorship of St. Joseph's Cathedral. The growth of Buffalo and consequent encroachment of business houses in the neighborhood of the church; the death of many old parishioners and removal of others to distant parts of the city had made notable changes in the parish, and Father Biden found a dwindling congregation, diminished revenues, a church sadly in need of repairs, and a debt of |75,000 to be reckoned with when he assumed his present charge. He entered upon his work however, with characteristic clear-sightedness and vigor, and soon persuaded his people that his leadership and their co-operation would restore eventually the failing fortunes of the parish. Having proved the value of associations, he at once founded St. Anthony's Union, and, for seven years, preached every Tuesday evening at the devotions in honor of the Wonder- 344 MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. worker of Padua, Ms eloquent, practical sermons attracting hearers from all parts of the city. The League of the Sacred Heart, the Third Order of St. Francis, the Holy Name Society, were in turn organized, and already existing societies stirred to new life. To Father Biden is due also the establishment of the yearly mission, which has been productive of so much good in the congregation. By a sound and ably sustained financial policy he has reduced the debt of St. Joseph's to a minimum, and this notwithstanding the fact that heavy expenses have been incurred by a multitude of improvements, including the practical remodeling of the interior of the cathedral. The cleaning and redecoration of the edifice, began in 1900 and finished during Pan-American year, replaced its old-time greyness by color and ornamental details, which give an impression of warmth and cheerfulness. Electric lighting, new pews, tiled flooring, and stained glass windows add still further to the brilliant effect, while the beauty of the Chapel of the Blessed Virgin has been enhanced by a fine new altar and a remarkably lovely statue of Our Lady. A new altar and statue of the Sacred Heart and a marble vestibule are later additions to the completeness of architect and decorator's work. Many improvements have been made in other portions of the church property, particularly in the old parochial school building, now known as St. Joseph's Lyceum, used by the Cathedral Club and for various entertainments designed to pro- mote a healthy social spirit among the members of the parish. To this movement Father Biden has given earnest attention, as he has also throughout his pastorate encouraged the perform- ance of the best music, of a purely ecclesiastical character, and strict observance of all liturgical requirements. Honors in plenty, as well as responsibilities, have come to the l^ector of the Cathedral. While still very young in the ministry he was offered promotion usually reserved for the older and tried clergy of the diocese; but he asked to be left at his humbler post. A year or two ago his university conferred upon MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 345 him the degree of Doctor of Laws ocmsa Jionores and — most notable distinction of all— when Bishop Quigley's elevation to the Archbishopric of Chicago left the See of Buffalo vacant, Father Biden was the preferred choice of his brother priests for the succession, his name going to Eome as "Dignissimus." On June 3, 1907, Father Biden celebrated, in St. Joseph's Cathedral, the 25th anniversary of his ordination to the priest- hood. The Eight Rev. Charles H. Colton, D.D., Bishop of Buffalo; Vicar-General Nelson H. Baker, and more than a hun- dred priests, including representatives of several religious orders, participated in the Jubilee. Solemn High Mass was sung by the jubilarian, and the sermon was delivered by the Rev. Luke Grace of Niagara University, who twenty-five years before had preached at Father ^iden's first mass. The occasion was a memorable one and furnished many evi- deuces of the love and esteem in which the Rector of St. Joseph's is held by his brethren in the priesthood and by the different congregations to which he has ministered so long and faithfully. RT. REV. MGE. MICHAEL PATRICK CONNERY, Rector of St. Columba's Church, Buffalo, is one of the most honored and distinguished of the many men of consecrated life and superior ability who have dignified the annals of the Roman Catholic Church in Western New York. Mgr. Connery comes of Irish lineage and of a devout Catholic ancestry. The Connery family settled in the State of New York in the early '30's, and grand-uncles of Mgr. Connery built the church at North Bay on the shores of Oneida Lake. Michael Patrick Connery was born in Belfast, Ireland, Sep- tember 14, 1851, the son of Patrick Connery and Rose Scullin. He attended parish school in Belfast, and his parents dying when he was a boy, he came to America in his twelfth year in company with his brother, the late Rev. Henry Hugh Connery. After his arrival in this country, Michael P. Connery first lived 346 MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. in New York City, where lie attended St. Peter's Parochial School until September, 1868, when he entered Niagara University, whence he was graduated in 1874. He remained a year longer at the institution, pursuing a post-graduate course. In 1874 he was ordained a priest, the ceremony taking place in St. Joseph's Cathedral, Buffalo, Bishop Kyan officiating. Shortly after his ordination Father Connery was assigned to St. Joseph's Cathedral, Buffalo, where he remained a year and seven months. He was then designated to take charge of the parish of Rexville, Steuben County, N. Y., whence after a little more than two years he was recalled to St. Joseph's. After - five years of efficient service in Buffalo he was appointed to the parish of Akron, Erie County, where the new St. Teresa's Church and Rec- tory was built during his pastorate. In 1889 Mgr. Connery was appointed pastor of St. Columba's Church, Buffalo, where he has remained nearly a score of years, being now the irremovable Rector of the church. The pastorate of Mgr. Connery at St. Columba's has been a period of rich growth and harvest in the religious work of that parish. Under the inspiration of his earnestness and eloquence, and guided by his sterling administrative ability, the parish has built a fine church, rectory, school and convent the total valuation of the property being |200,000. Through his ministrations the church has also enjoyed a ET. KEV. MICHAEL P. CONNERY. MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 347 great accession of membership. The success of the work of St. Columba's received a most gratifying tribute of recognition from His Holiness, Pope Pius X., by the pro- motion of Father Connery to the dignity of Monseigneur, which carries with it the ecclesiastical rank of Prelate of the Pontifi- cal Household. In 1897 he was appointed by Bishop James E. Quigley a member of the Bishop's Council and ■ also Vicar- General of Buffalo Diocese. When Bishop Quigley was elevated to the Archbishopric of Chicago in 1903, Mgr. Connery became Administrator of the diocese of Buffalo until the appointment and arrival of Bishop Colton. When the See of Buffalo became vacant Mgr. Connery was second on the list of three men named to Rome by the Bishops of the Province of New York as eligible and desirable for the office of Bishop of Buffalo. In Mgr. Connery the spiritual gifts of the priest of true conse- cration and fervent zeal are united with the sterling practical qualities of the born leader of men. As a preacher he is terse and forceful, speaking with the language which comes home to the hearts of his flock. He is the type of man in whom one instinctively reposes confidence, and is cognizant that the sorrows, faults and failings of human nature may under right spiritual direction become the stepping-stones to a higher life. These traits — the traits of a rare personality — furnish the explanation of the love and veneration with which Mgr. Connery is regarded. HENRY WILLIAM WENDT, Secretary and Treasurer of the Buffalo Forge Company, and Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer of the George L. Squier Company and the Buffalo Steam Pump Company, is a well-known manufacturer, inventor and mechanical engineer, equally prominent as an expert tech- nician and a successful business man. Mr. Wendt is a son of William F. Wendt, Sr., and Louise Weichman, and was born in Buffalo June 19, 1862. He was educated in the public schools, and while still a boy showed a 348 MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. natural aptitude for mechanics. When seventeen years old lie became office clerk for J. C. Austin, proprietor of a ship chandlery and boat supply house, where Mr. Wendt remained two years, then entering the employ of the Buffalo Forge Com- pany. Working at the lathe and bench he gained a masterful knowledge of the machinist's trade, and was soon appointed Superintendent. In 1888 he was admitted to partnership, and upon the incorporation of the Buffalo Forge Company he became and has ever since been its Secretary and Treasurer. Later the company acquired the ownership of the George L. Squier Company, manufacturers of plantation machinery, of which concern Henry W. Wendt is Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer, also filling similar offices in the Buffalo Steam Pump Company, another industry owned by the Buffalo Forge Company. Both as an executive and a mechanical expert, Mr. Wendt represents the modern spirit of advancement, and the reputation his companies enjoy of being always in line with the latest and best manufacturing processes is largely due to his ability. He is well-known as an inventor, having been granted patents for a number of valuable devices. Mr. Wendt has traveled extensively, and enjoys a large acquaintance among engineers and other men of science, in this country and Europe. Mr. Wendt is a Republican, and an active supporter of his party. In 1898-1900 he was General Committeeman for the 23d Ward of Buffalo, and in this capacity rendered efficient service. He is a Mason of the 32d degree in the Consistory, and a mem- ber of Washington Lodge, No. 240; Keystone Chapter, No. 163; Lake Erie Commandery, Knights Templar, and Ismailia Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He is a member of the Buffalo Builders' Exchange, has , served on its Board of Trustees, and belongs to the Ellicott Club and the Orpheus SQciety. He attends the Church of the Messiah. November 25, 1885, M^-. Wendt married ; Edith M. Forsyth, daughter of Edgar A. and Amy (Stanton) Forsyth of Buffalo. Mr. and Mrs. Wendt have two sons, Edgar F., born in 1887, and Henry W., Jr., born in 1891. MEMORIAIi AND FAMILY HISTORY. 349 WILLIAM FRANZ WENDT, President of the Buffalo Forge Company, is head of one of the largest manufacturing enter- prises of its kind in the world, and is a leading personality in the business and industrial life of Buffalo. He is the son of William Franz and Louise (Weichman) Wendt, and was born in Buffalo July 2, 1858. He was educated at Public School No. 32 and at the Central High School. His first experience in busi- ness was as a bookkeeper for R. W. Bell & Company. In 1878 Mr. Wendt purchased an interest in the Buffalo Forge Com- pany, which was organized by Charles F. Brunke and Charles Hammelman in 1877, to manufacture the portable forge invented by Mr. Hammelman. At first Mr. Wendt occupied himself with the financial management of the concern, and acquired a sound knowledge of the technical part of the busi- ness. The products of the establishment were originally turned out by different machine shops, but in 1880 the company obtained a suitable manufacturing plant, purchasing from Pratt & Co. a building at Broadway and Mortimer streets. The concern became widely known throughout the United States and Canada, and the demand for its products grew rapidly. In February, 1883, the interest of Charles Hammelman was purchased by William F. Wendt, and the business was continued as before until 1888, when Henry W. Wendt was admitted partner. In 3900 the Buffalo Forge Company was incorporated with a capital of |500,000; in 1901 the capital was increased to |l,000,000, and in 1906 the concern was capitalized at 11,250,000. Ground adjoining the plant was bought, and a substantial foundry and pattern shops, a storage building and machine shops were constructed. In the early period of the enterprise if two portable blacksmith's forges a week were made, it was thought a good output. Today the establishment turns out two carloads a day and more if necessary. The fan principle used in the forges has been successfully applied in the heating and ventilating apparatus, draught appliances for large boiler plants, and equipments for cleaning gases in blast 350 MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. furnaces. The concern also makes heavy railroad forges, high pressure blowers, simple and. compound engines and other appliances. Sales agencies are maintained in the chief cities of the country, with branch oflSces in London, New York, and Paris, and a store in Chicago. In 1902, the George L. Squier Manufacturing Company wafe purchased, with a view of devel- oping foreign trade, and is engaged in the manufacture and exportation of sugar, coffee and rice machinery, promising to be one of the most important branches of the business owned by the Wendt brothers. The Buffalo Steam Pump Company was purchased by the Buffalo Forge Company in 1904. The plant is in North Tonawanda, and there has been erected and added to it three brick and steel fireproof buildings. The concern is engaged in the manufacture of steam and fire pumps, water works pumping engines and the latter day cen- trifugal turbine multiple pumps for high lifts and high heads. Mr. Wendt is OAvner of two important trade journals, " The American Blacksmith " and " La Hacienda," the latter publi- cation being in Spanish. He is a Director of the Citizens' Bank and the Western Savings Bank, and is one of the ten men who built the first electric railroad from Buffalo to Tonawanda in 1888. In politics Mr. Wendt is a Republican, and one of the leaders of the party in Erie County. He took a prominent part in the affairs of the Republican League, in the active days of that organization. Mr. Wendt is a 32d degree Mason and is affiliated with Ancient Landmarks Lodge and the Scottish Rite bodies. He is President of the G-erman Lutheran Home, a member of Holy Trinity English Lutheran Church and of the Buffalo Orphan Asylum, and has served as Real Estate Commissioner of the German Young Men's Association. November 8, 1882, Mr. Wendt married Mary Gies of Buffalo. Their children are two daughters, Gertrude Mary, and Margaret Louise. MBMOEIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 351 WALTER P. COOKE, of the law firm of Kenefick, Cooke & Mitchell, is an eminent member of 'the Erie County Bar, who has for the past twelve years practiced his profession in Buffalo. In our day, the rapid extension and increasing com- plexity of business have led to the identification of lawyers, to a greater degree than ever before, with the enterprises of industry and finance, and the career of Mr. Cooke, furnishes an example in point. Besides carrying on a general law practice he is a Director in a number of banking and other corporations. He is an able legal practitioner, of conservative character and sound methods, and stands high in the esteem of the community. Mr. Cooke was born in Buffalo April 28, 1869. After receiving the ele- ments of education in the Buffalo public schools, he entered Buffalo High Schwol, where he was prepared for Cornell Uni- versity, from which insti- tution he was graduated in 1891. The following year he was admitted to the bar, and in 1895 began the practice of his profession, later becom- ing a partner in the firm of Bissell, Carey & Cooke. Its successors are Kene- fick, Cooke & Mitchell, Mr. Cooke's present firm. Messrs. Kenefick, Cooke & Mitchell form one of the best-known legal firms in this part of the State. They have an extensive general practice, and represent as legal advisers a number of WALTER P. COOKE. 352 MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. important corporate interests. Though he has not specialized his professional pursuits, Mr. Cooke is prominent in railway law, and often acts as counsel for estates, and his protection of the interests of his clients is typical of the conscientious lawyer who realizes to the full the practical responsibilities and the ethical obligations of his profession. Mr. Cooke. has never sought the honors or emoluments of political life. He finds in his profession ample scope for his ambitions, and while some of his pursuits belong rather to the general field of business than the strictly professional province, yet all are in greater or less degree identified with the duties of a lawyer. Among the positions of responsibility and trust filled by Mr. Cooke at the present time, may be mentioned his directorships in the People's Bank of Buffalo, the Buffalo General Electric Company, the Western Isew York Water Company, the Buffalo Abstract and Title Company, the Security Safe Deposit Com- pany, the Buffalo & Susquehanna Kailway Company, and the Great Southern Lumber Company. He is also a Trustee of the Buffalo Library, and Chamber of Commerce, and has served as a member of the Board of Managers of the Buffalo State Hospital, as President of the Cornell Alumni Association of Buffalo (1906-1907), and as Trustee of the Buffalo Homeopathic Hospital. In 1905 he was President of the Erie County Bar Association. He is a member of the Buffalo, Saturn, Ellicott, Countrjr, Park and Liberal clubs. A man of courteous, unaffected manners and of genial dispo- sition, Mr. Cooke is popular in social life. He possesses in equal degree the confidence of his brethren of the bar and of the general public. • V • JOHN LEO SCHWAETZ, President of the Clinton Co-opera- tive Brewing Company, and President of the State Brewers' Association, is a leading business man and citizen of Buffalo, and one of the best-known brewers in the State. MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 353 Col. Schwartz is of German ancestry, being a grandson of John Schwartz, Sr., who came from Kutzenhausen, Alsace, to America in 1827. He settled in Buffalo, afterward removing to Black Rock, where he engaged in garden farming. Later he conducted a quarry business, and was proprietor of an inn, in Buffalo. 'He became a large real estate owner and was one of the leading citizens of early Buffalo. He was an active church- man, and took a prominent part in the building of St. Louis', and St. Michael's Churches, and was one of the founders of St. Vincent's Church, of whose congregation he. was a member at the time of his death, which occurred forty years ago. The wife of John Schwartz, Sr., was Anna Maria Kuhnmulich, whom he married in Alsace. Their children were : John, Jacob, Joseph, Katherine (Mrs. George Diebold), Mary (Mrs. Bakert), and Caroline (Mrs. Michael Doll). John Schwartz, Jr., was born in Alsace in 1820, and in boyhood came with his parents to Buffalo. As a boy he worked during the summer months and attended school winters. When he grew to manhood he became a carpenter and building contractor. He prospered, and later engaged in the planing mill business, under the style of Schwartz & Eebmann, the firm becoming John Schwartz & Son by the admission of John L. Schwartz. John Schwartz, Jr., was an active Republican, but never held public offlce. He was a staunch supporter of the Catholic Church, and a liberal con- tributor to its charities. He married in 1854 Mary A. Kiefer, daughter of Anton and Katherine Kiefer. Their children are: John L., Joseph A., and Edward A. Schwartz; Mary, wife of John C. Lutz; Rose, widow of Harry Smith, and Clara, wife of Edward A. Diebolt. The surviving children of a former mar- riage are: Mrs. Louisa Knauber, and Mrs. Johanna Thomas. John Schwartz, Jr., died in 1877. John Leo Schwartz was born in Buffalo, April 13, 1859. His early education was obtained at St. Michael's Parochial School, and in 1870 he entered Canisius College, where he continued three years. At the age of fourteen he became assistant in his 354 MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. father's office, and before he had attained his majority was admitted to partnership. With the firm of John Schwartz & Son he continued until the concern was dissolved by the death of his father,' when Mr. Schwartz became connected with the insurance and coal office of Joseph Berlin, with whom he remained about a year. In 1879 he engaged in the coal trade on his own account, continuing in it till 1890, when he established the Star Brewery, his associates being John S. Kellner, Edward A. Diebolt and Joseph Phillips. The enterprise prospered and the partnership existed ten years, its continuance being marked by a wide patronage and an enviable business reputation. When the firm was dissolved the brewery was consolidated with the Clinton Co-operative Brewing Company. Of this concern, which does an immense business, Col. Schwartz is principal owner, President and Treasurer. For the last eight years he has served as Vice-President of the Buffalo BreAvers' Exchange. He is a trustee and ex- Vice-President of the New York State Brewers' Association, was for a year its Vice-President, served as Presi- dent of the State Association in 1906, and was reelected in 1907. Col. Schwartz is a very active churchman. A charter member of the Knights of St. John, of St. Michael's Church, he was Adjutant of the Buffalo Regiment, Knights of St. John, under Col. Feist and Col. Lanahan, and in 1889 was elected to the Colonelcy, which he has held ever since. In 1903 he was Adjutant-General with the rank of Brigadier-General, on the staff of Gen. Henry J. Werst, Supreme Commander of the order. For the last fifteen years he has served as Grand Treasurer of the State of New York of the Catholic Mutual Benefit Associa- tion. A member of the Buffalo Catholic Institute, he was for many years one of its trustees. He belongs to the Catholic benevolent Legion, and was a trustee of St. Michael's Church. He is identified with the Elks, the Royal Arcanum, the Buffalo Orpheus and many social organizations, and is a former Presi- dent of the Alumni of Canisius College. He was for several £rt^e.^cy^. MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 355 years a member of the Democratic Advisory Committee and has served as one of the directors of the Vollisfreund Printing Company. Col. Schwartz married October 12, 1887, Elizabeth A. Zege- witz, daughter of J. Adam and Elizabeth Zegewitz of Rochester, N. Y. The children of the union are: J. Raymond, Karl, Marguerite, Rudolph, Lauretta, Ilarold and Elizabeth Marie. WILLIAM CHARLES HOUCK, Secretary of the Pratt & Letchworth Company, holds a prominent place in Buffalo's industrial and social life. Mr. Houck is of German parentage, his father, John Houck, having been born in 1827 in Kirchheim, Wurtemburg, Germany, where the family had lived for many generations. When twenty-five years old John Houck came to America, where he followed the stone mason's trade, working on the Erie Canal. Ten years later he entered the emi)loy of Pratt & Com- pany of Buffalo, remaining with the firm twenty-two years, when he retired from business. He is still living in Buffalo, and is one of its best-known German-American residents. In 1854 he married Christina Schutter, daughter of Conrad Schutter of Reading, Pa. Their children are: William C, and Christian P. Houck of Buffalo; Frederick J. Houck of Rochester, N. Y.; Charles F. Houck; Fredericka (Mrs. Otto Fiscus), and Mary (Mrs. John Duscherer), both of Buffalo. William Charles Houck was born in Buffalo May 28, 1865. He attended the public schools and Bryant & Stratton's Business College. When about fourteen years old he began work for Pratt & Letchworth, with whom he has continued ever since. After spending two years in the shops and acquiring a sound knowledge of the technical part of the business, he became a clerk in the offtce, where he worked his way up through the grades of paymaster, local purchasing agent, sales agent and sales manager, until in 1901 he was made Secretary, which 356 MEMOKIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. place he now occupies. As Secretary of the Pratt & Letch- worth Company, and in the various other capacities in which Mr. Houck has been connected with it, he has made a most creditable record. He is a business man of large experience, is well informed as to the general conditions of commerce and manufactures, and has a comprehensive knowledge of the great industry with which he is connected. Mr. Houck has long been an active member of the Black Rock Business Men's Association, and has had much to do with promoting the commercial and local interests of the Black Rock district. He is affiliated with Modestia Lodge of Masons, and North Buffalo Lodge of Odd Fellows, and is a member of the German Methodist Episcopal Church. October 22, 1890, Mr. Houck married Mary A. Limburg, a daughter of Christian and Slary (Link) Limburg of Buffalo. Mr. and Mrs. Houck have three sons, William Limburg and Christian Thompson, twins born in 1893, and John Edward, born in 1895. GEORGE MICHAEL ZIMMERMAN, Comptroller of the City of Buffalo, is a man of representative prominence in business and civic life. Ever since his boyhood Mr. Zimmer- man has been identified with the lumber business, and he is the proprietor of one of the largest retail lumber concerns iu Western New York. He is a leading Democrat, a progressive citizen and a man held in high esteem in the community. Mr. Zimmerman comes of sturdy German stock, his grand- father, John Zimmerman, having emigrated to America from Kapsweyer, Bavaria, in 1832. He married Magdalena Paul, who was also a native of Bavaria, and the family of ten chil- dren came to this country with their parents, settling in Buffalo. John Zimmerman was a carpenter, woodworker and farmer. He was one of the pioneer German residents of Buffalo, and was widely known there. He died in 1865. George Zimmerman, eldest son of John Zimmerman, was born in MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 357 Bavaria in 1815. He came to America with Ms family, and after Ms arrival in Buffalo took up the carpenter's and builder's trade. In 1841 he established a lumber yard at Genesee and Michigan streets, afterward removing to Pine street, near Broadway, where the plant founded by him is still located. He also carried on a grocery, continuing actively engaged in busi- ness until his death in 1897. He was a man of sterling traits of industry and enter- prise, and was among the most influential German- American citizens of Buffalo. George Zimmer- man married Katherine Fischer of Buffalo, who was born in Alsace in 1837. The only surviving child of the marriage is George M. Zimmerman. George Michael Zim- merman was born in Buffalo April 29, 1854. He attended St. Mary's Parochial School, St. Joseph's College and Prof. B a r r e t t's Night School, an institution for business training. When seventeen years old young Zimmerman began work in his father's lumber yard. On the death of the senior Zimmerman, the son succeeded' him in the lumber business, which he has from that time to the present carried on with constantly increasing success, maintaining in addition to the principal yard and offices in Pine street, a branch in Cypress street. Mr. Zimmerman was long identified with the Volksfreund Printing & Publishing Company, of which he was Vice-President for six years, also GEOEGE M. ZIMMERMAN 358 MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. serving for one year as President. He is a Director of the German-American Bank. Mr. Zimmerman has all his life been an active Democrat, but never held office until January 1, 1906, when he became Comp- troller of the City of Buffalo, having been elected to the place as Democratic nominee, by a plurality of nearly 5,000. As Comptroller, Mr. Zimmerman has given Buffalo a clean, eco- nomical and wholly creditable administration of the financial branch of the city government. He has instituted many needed reforms and has received wide commendation for the efficiency of his methods and the sound business principles he has applied to municipal finance. Mr. Zimmerman is a trustee of the Buffalo German Koman Catholic Orphan Asylum, and has served on the managing board of that institution for the last ten years. He is also a trustee of the United German and French Cemetery Association. He is a member of the Knights of Columbus, the Catholic Benevo- lent Legion, the Knights of St. John, and the Catholic Mutual Benefit Association. He has all his life been a member of St. Mary's Church. In 1876 Mr. Zimmerman married Agnes Steinmann, daughter of Charles and Elizabeth (Gottschalk) Steinmann of Buffalo. The children of the union are : George Joseph Zimmerman, who is now manager of his father's business; Katherine (Sister M. Gerada), a teacher at St. Ann's Parochial School; Clara (Sister M. Agnes), of the Convent of the Good Shepherd of Buffalo; Anne; Mary Joseph, a student at North East College, Pa.; Gerard, Edward and Dolores. HON. HARRY L. TAYLOR, County Judge of Erie County, is a jurist whose recently attained judicial honors are the logical result of high professional standing. Judge Taylor is in the vigorous prime of life and has had a career which, in many respects unique, is in its essentials characteristically American. Both on the father's and mother's side Judge Taylor comes of MEMORIAL AND FAMIIiY HISTORY. 359 families prominent in the pioneer history of Tioga County, N. Y. Judge Taylor's grandfather, Ira Taylor, was originally a resi- dent of Connecticut. As a young man he came to Tioga County, New York. Frederick Taylor, father of Judge Taylor, was a farmer and lumber manufacturer. He was an influential citizen of Tioga County, a man of high character and an energetic worker. He married Hannah C. Sairs, a daughter of Leonard B. and Melinda (Munson) Sairs. Harry Leonard Taylor was born in Halsey Valley, Tioga County, April 14, 1866. He was educated in the common schools, Spencer Free Academy, and Ithaca High School, from which he was graduated in 1884. In the fall of that year he was matriculated at Cornell University, and in 1888 was graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. During his senior year at the University he was elected President of his class, and was chosen a member of the Phi Beta Kappa fraternity for scholar- ship. He was also one of the speakers in the Stewart L. Woodford prize contest for oratorical honors. While at Cornell Mr. Taylor was a prominent ball-player throughout his course, and for three years was Captain of the University team. After his graduation Mr. Taylor taught for some time at Shortledge's Academy, Media, Pa. It had always been his ambition to become a lawyer, and he entered professional base- ball as a means of earning money to pursue his studies. The reputation he had gained on the Cornell team caused him to be retained by the New York State League, in which he played in 1889. In the summer of that year he led the League in batting. In 1890 he went to the Louisville team, American Association, and that year his team won the pennant. In the fall of 1890 he entered the Law School at Cornell, and in the spring of 1891 rejoined the Louisville team. In the autumn he returned to the University, rejoining the team in the spring, of 1892. The fol- lowing fall he went Isack to college, where he remained until graduation in 1893. In June of the same year he became asso- 360 MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. ciated with the Baltimore team. At this time Charles L. Hughes, now Governor, was a teacher in the Cornell Law School. He advised Mr. Taylor to begin his law practice in Buffalo, and the counsel was followed. The young attorney soon built up a successful business and continued up to his elevation to the bench. After coming to Buffalo, Mr. Taylor continued to be identified with baseball matters, though not as a player. In 1905 he was President of the Buffalo Baseball Club, and during the season of 1906 served as President of the Eastern League. Upon the election of the Hon. Edward K. Emery to the Supreme Court bench, Mr. Taylor was appointed by Governor Higgins, County Judge, to succeed him. In the fall of 1907 he was duly elected to that office for a term of six years, by a plurality of 13,957, running over 5,000 votes ahead of his ticket. Always a Republican, Judge Taylor has been known as an earnest supporter of his party and a zealous worker in its behalf, but up to the time of his appointment as County Judge he had never held any public office. Judge Taylor has cherished the ties and associations of his University days with the spirit of a true son of Cornell. Four years ago the Cornell alumni elected him a Trustee of his alma mater. He is a member of the University Club of Buffalo, is affiliated with Lodge of the Ancient Landmarks, F. & A. M.; is a 32d degree Mason and a Noble of the Mystic Shrine, Ismailia Temple. HON. ORSON J. WEIMERT, lawyer and Assemblyman from the 1st Assembly District of Erie County, is a rising young man of distinctive ability and force of character, who has by these qualities already won a prominent place in the legal profession and in public life. As a lawyer he enjoys a large practice and has an enviable reputation for acumen and probity. As a mem-, ber of the Legislature he has to his credit a fine record of achievement, the more notable in view of the fact that he has MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 361 been so short a time in office. Mr. Weimert is a loyal son of Buffalo, and takes an active interest in the progress and insti- tutions of the city. Mr. Weimert was born in Buffalo in 1878, and gained his early education in the public schools. He studied law at Columbia University, New York City, and was graduated from that insti- tution in 1900, in which year he was also admitted to the bar. After spending an additional year at Colum- bia, pursuing a course of special study, he returned to Buffalo and engaged in the practice of law, in which he has met with marked success. Recently he became associated in partnership with Richard H. Templeton, imder the firm style of Weimert & Templeton, with offices at Nos. 909-910 D. S. Morgan Building. Messrs. Wei- mert &■ Templeton are among the best-known members of the younger bar of Erie County, and the firm has a desirable clientage and an extensive general practice. As a legal prac- titioner Mr. Weimert is painstaking and accurate, preparing his cases with care and sparing no honorable effort in behalf of his clients. Of conservative tendencies, his instincts and acquire- ments are those of a sound lawyer, and he stands high in the esteem of his professional brethren and the confidence of the community. ORSON J. WEIMEET. 362 MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. Politically Mr. Weimert is a strong Republican, and ever since attaining his majority lie has taken an active part in the work of his party. In the fall of 1906 he was nominated for the Assembly after a spirited contest in the convention against strong opponents, and in November of the same year he was elected by a large majority, and reelected in 1907. His course at Albany has been that of an energetic, aggressive legislator, and has been attended by substantial results, conducive to the benefit of Buffalo. Thus far his most notable achievement in the Legislature has been his successful effort to have a naval corps established at the port of Buffalo. This project has been agi- tated for several years, but it remained for Assemblyman Weimert to give the plan definite shape and to push it through to conclusive results. The methods and the outcome furnish a fine example of purposeful and persistent endeavor in the field of legislation, and the success attained greatly increased the Assemblyman's prestige with his constituents and the general public. Since taking his seat in the State legislative body, Mr. Weimert has served with credit on several important com- mittees. For some time prior to his election to the Assembly he had filled the post of Republican Committeeman for the Third District of the Twenty-first Ward. Mr. Weimart is a man who leaves on all who know him the impression of a clean-cut, vigorous personality. He is popular, and is one for whom may be confidently predicted a future of professional success and public usefulness. EDWARD J. KINGSTON has long held a place in the front rank of Buffalo's solid citizens and successful men. Mr. Kingston is one of the leading general contractors of that city, and is especially identified with dredging and excavating enter- prises together with the building of water mains and submarine structures. He is a master of his business and a man of first- class executive ability. Mr. Kingston is of English and Danish ancestry and comes MBMOEIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 363 of a family whose records have been preserved for many generations. The Hingstons are descended from the Danish chief, Hengist, who with Horsa fought King Alfred and finally received from that king a grant of land in Kent and Devonshire. The family name means "son of Hengist." .The Hengistsons or Hingstons were 500 years ago a knightly family in Devon- shire. When the Civil War broke out in England the Hingstons took the Parliamentary side and served under Cromwell in Ireland, receiving for their reward a grant of land in County Cork, where the branch of the family from which Edward J. Hingston sprang made its home. To this line belongs also Sir William Hingston, who was Mayor of Montreal, and was knighted by Queen Victoria because of his distinguished attain- ments as a surgeon. Edward Hingston, father of Edward J. Hingston, was a master ship-builder of Dublin, and built some of the finest merchant vessels ever constructed in that port. In 1843 he came to this country and engaged in the shipbuilding business at Thomaston, now Rockland, Me. In 1844 he died at the age of thirty-four. He was a man of exceptional ability and by his death a career of great promise was cut short. In 1841 he married Elizabeth Jenkins of Whitehaven, Cumberland, England. Edward J. Hingston was born at Thomaston, Me., January 22, 1844. His boyhood and youth were spent in England, and he was educated at the National School in Liverpool, where he taught school for some time. When eighteen years old he returned to this country and settled in Buffalo, where he learned the ship-builder's trade. After five years spent in that business he became bookkeeper for a well-known firm of Buffalo dredgers, and continued in that capacity for ten years. He then engaged in the dredging business for himself, forming a part-, nership with Arthur Woods, under the firm style of Hingston & Woods. This copartnership prospered from the outset, and soon gained a leading reputation in its field, executing dredging contracts at the principal ports of the Great Lakes and tribu- 364 MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. tary rivers. Among the enterprises with which Messrs. Kingston & Woods were identified may be mentioned the building of the inlet pier of the Buffalo Water Works, the construction of the Lehigh Valley slips at Buffalo, the building of water mains for Rochester, Syracuse, Erie, Dunkirk and Tonawanda, and large rock removal contracts at Buffalo, Dunkirk, Erie, Oswego, Ashtabula, New Brunswick, N. J., and Sault Ste. Marie. The firm of Kingston & Woods was dissolved in 1902. Ten years before Mr. Hingston had become a member of the firm of Hingston, Rogers & O'Brien, which did a very successful business and existed till 1903, and he was also a partner in Leh & Co., dock-builders. In 1902 the Lake Erie Dredging Company was organized, with Mr. Hingston as its general manager. The concern carries on a large general dredging business, principally at ports on Lake Erie and Sault Ste. Marie River. It has successfully fulfilled a great number of contracts of important character, involving many critical problems of engineering and practical work. It is today one of the representative contracting concerns of the Great Lakes region. In the diverse enterprises with which he has been connected, Mr. Hingston has demonstrated that he possesses a superior order of administrative ability and executive skill. His tech- nical knowledge has been confirmed and amplified by extensive experience. He is sound in methods, fertile in resources, and is the kind of man who m_ay be relied on to materialize projects into results. Mr. Kingston's business pursuits have never obliterated the scholastic tastes of his youth, and his leisure time is chiefly spent in literary studies. Mr. Kingston is a Mason of long standing, having been affiliated since 1866 with Washington Lodge, P. & A. M. He is H member of the Buffalo and Oakfield clubs, and was for many years connected with the Lafayette Presbyterian Church. July 22, 1872, Mr. Hingston married Mary E. Rees, daughter of Thomas and Hannah (Roberts) Rees of Buffalo. Mr. and ,<-^ -(.' MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTOEY. 365 Mrs. Hingston have two daughters, Louise, now Mrs. H. A. Meldrum, and Genevieve, now the wife of Mr. Clarence Spaulding Sidway. HOEACE A. NOBLE, senior member of the well-known firm of Frank Williams & Company, is one of Buffalo's most sub- stantial and most highly respected citizens. Born in Rome, Oneida County, New York, October 8, 1841, he is a son of John and Harriet A. Noble. Bis education was obtained in the pub- lic schools and the Academy at Rome, graduating from the latter at the age of 19 years. In 1862, while yet residing on the farm, he enlisted in Company C, Fiftieth Regiment, New York Volunteer Engineers, in the Civil War, and after serving in that company six months was detailed in the Quartermaster's Department of the Engineers' Brigade, serving until the close of the war, being mustered out in June, 1865. Iminediately upon his return from the service he entered the employ of the Merchants' Bank of Syracuse, continuing there until the spring of 1867, when he removed to Buffalo, and there entered the employ of Mr. Frank Willia^is, then engaged in the forwarding business. In 1873 the coal business was added to the transpor- tation business, and in 1875 the firm of Frank Williams & Co. was organized, which has continued to exist to the present time and of which Mr. Noble is the senior member. This firm is not only one of the oldest in their line in the city, but one of the largest, operating three bituminous coal mines, besides pur- chasing large quantities in order to supply their extensive trade. Mr. Noble is a Republican in politics. The only public office he ever consented to accept was that of Park Commissioner in 1904, by appointment of Mayor Knight. Mr. Noble is one of the most prominent Masons in the State, and his record is an enviable one. Made a Mason in Roman Lodge, No. 223, F. & A. M., at Rome, New York, August 19, 1865; affiliated with Queen City Lodge, No. 358, of Buffalo, April 7, 1876; made a 366 MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. Eoyal Arch Mason in Buffalo Chapter, No. 71, R. A. M., Decem- ber 13, 1876; made a member of Buffalo Council, No. 17, R. & S. M., November 8, 1877; made a Knight Templar in Lake Erie Commandery, No. 20, K. T., March 5, 1877; received the Scottish Rite Degrees in Rochester Consistory, I^ebruary 26, 1880; affili- ated and was made a charter member of Buffalo Consistory about 1890; created Sovereign Grand Inspector-General, thirty- third degree honorary member in Supreme Council, September 17, 1895. He has held the offices of High Priest of Buffalo Chapter, 1881-2; Treasurer of Buffalo Chapter, from 1889 to date; served as Eminent Commander of Lake Erie Com- mandery, No. 20, in 1881-2-3-4; and served as Grand Commander in 1895-6. March 19, 1867, Mr. Noble vs^as married to Prances A. Wilcox, a daughter of Joseph and Panny Jane Wilcox of Rome, New York. Their children are: Alma J., Joseph W., and Mary L. Noble. CHARLES R. BOEZILLERI, M.D., is a Buffalo physician of approved skill and high standing, prominent both as a pro- fessional man and in civic and social life. A native of Sicily, Dr. Borzilleri came to America in liis boyhood and his active career has been identified with Buffalo, where he has built up a large practice and enjoys the esteem and confidence of the medical fraternity and the general public. One of Buffalo's fore- most Italian-Americans, Dr. Borzilleri holds a representative place among his own people, of whom he is an acknowledged leader, and also favorably known and widely popular among all classes. He is a zealous Republican and wields a strong influence in his party. Dr. Borzilleri is the son of James and Josephine Borzilleri and was born in Sicily on the 3d of Pebruary, 1873. When twelve years old he came with his parents to the United States, and the family settled in Buffalo, where Dr. Borzilleri has ever since resided. His early education was obtained in the public MBMOEIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 367 schools. As a boy he exhibited marked aptitude for study, and his inclination for scientific research was one of the chief reasons for his choice of the medical profession. In 1891 he began the study of medicine in the Medical Department of the University of Buffalo. After pursuing the regular curriculum he was graduated with high honors in 1895. Immediately after receiving his diploma as a physician he opened an ofiftce in Buffalo, and ever since has practiced his profession there. Dr. Borzilleri brings to the practice of medicine an exceptionally strong equipment of native ability and professional attainments. His prac- tice is largely among the Italian- American r e s i- dents of Buffalo, and his services are also much in request in the general community. He is an experienced and able physician who consist- ently adheres to the sound scientific and ethical standards of his profession and keeps well abreast of its modern developments. With his pro- fessional colleagues and with the public his reputation is of the highest. One of the most notable of Dr. Borzilleri's public activities were his services as sole founder of the Italian Hospital established in 1907. A staunch Eepublican, Dr. Boi'zilleri is President of the Central Italian Eepublican League and has a powerful influ- ence with the Italian Republicans of Buffalo. He organized DE. CHABLBS E. BOEZILLEJII. 368 MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. and was President of the Young Men's Military Society, and is also identified with the I. C. I., a college fraternity. In matters relating to the welfare of Buffalo he has always shown the spirit of a progressive citizen. He is a trustee of the American Savings Bank, an active member of the Chamber of Commerce, takes an especially important part in the movement to ensure for Buffalo a better water supply system, and is equally inter- ested in the furtherance of harbor improvements. Dr. Borzilleri attends the Church of St. Anthony of Padua. On April 10, 1902, Dr. Borzilleri married Emily C. Klein, daughter of the late John H. Klein and Mary Bletzer Klein of' Buffalo. They have two daughters, Eleanor, born March 23, 1904, and Josephine, born March 16, 1906. CHAKLES AUGUSTUS DOLSON, Deputy Attorney-General of New York, is one of Buffalo's leading lawyers. Mr. Dolson is a sound practitioner, an accomplished advocate, and is recognized as one of the foremost trial lawyers in Western New York. The Dolson family came from Holland, the name being for- merly Van Dolson, and is traceable to the early Colonial period. The muster rolls of New York State in the Kevolution show that at least six members of the Dolson family served as soldiers in the War for independence. Dolson town, in Orange County, derives its name from them. In 1790 Stephen Dolson, the great-great-grandfather of Charles and Edwin L. Dolson, removed from Orange to Bath, Steuben County, N. Y. Rev. Stephen Augustus Dolson, grand- father, was a Methodist clergyman. His son, Dr. Joseph S. Dolson, the father of Charles A. Dolson, was a prominent physician and an influential citizen of Steuben County. He was a Republican, served as Postmaster at Bath, and held other political positions. He was a member of the first Board of Pension Examiners in Steuben County. When the Civil War broke out Dr. Dolson became Assistant Surgeon of the 161st MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 369 Eegiment, New York Yolunteers, and during the last two years of the war served as Surgeon-in-Chief of the Military Hospital at Baton Eouge, Louisiana. In 1850 Dr. Dolson married Amelia A. Smith. Through her mother, Mary Howland, Mrs. Dolson was descended from John Howland, one of the Pilgrims who came over in the Mayflower. Mrs. Dolson was one of the earliest women physicians in the State. She successfully practiced her profession for forty years. Her death occurred in April, 1906. Dr. Dolson died on the 10th of July, 1893. They are survived by two sons, Charles A., and Edwin L. Dolson. Charles Augustus Dolson was born in Bath, N. Y. He was educated i'n the public schools of Bath, Temple Hill Academy, Geneseo, and the University of Michigan. On leaving college he went to Albany, N. Y., as clerk to Senator Gabriel nar- rower. Meantime he became a student at the Albany Law School. When twenty-one years old he was admitted to the bar. Immediately he formed a copartnership with former Congressman W. P. Kichardson at Angelica, N. Y. In 1879 he removed to Elmira, where he practiced for several years, and for a time was associated with Charles D'Autremont, afterward Mayor of Duluth and Attorney-General. From Elmira Mr. Dolson- went to Hornellsville, where he practiced until he came to Buffalo and became associated with George N. Orcutt. On the admission of Edwin L. Dolson to the bar in 1890, the brothers formed the partnership of Dolson & Dolson, which has, with the exception of one year, existed ever since. To the duties of his profession Mr. Dolson brought a strong equipment of legal learning and native ability. He held a con- ceded place as one of the foremost lawyers of Steuben County, and was for years engaged in almost every case of large impor- tance in that locality. In the fall of 1906 Mr. Dolson was appointed Deputy Attorney-General. Although the designation was to the Court of Claims, the Attorney-General has availed himself of Mr. 370 MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. Dolson's experience and ability in the direction and trial of important litigations outside of thiat department. Mr. Dolson is a member of the State Bar Association, the Lawyers' Club of Buffah), the Ellicott Club and the Yacht Club. Mr. Dolson married Alice Harman of Andover, Allegeny County, N. Y. They have two daughters: Grace Neal Dolson, who was educated at Cornell University, later pursuing studies abroad at the Universities of Leipsic and Jena. From Cornell University she received the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, and is now a lecturer on philosophy at Wells College. During a two years' visit to Europe she completed a text-book on philo- sophical subjects. The other daughter, Elizabeth Harman, is the wife of Harry Smith, a well-known official of 'the Gould railway systems in the South. They reside at Ridgewood, New York. THE SANGSTER FAMILY. Since the early '40's the Sangsters have been among the prominent families of Buffalo, one representative of the stock having been a noted sculptor, and another a painter of national fame. Hugh Sangster was born in Quebec June 27, 1790. He came to Buffalo in 1834, where he engaged in the copper and tin trade, and the manufacture of lanterns. He later removed to Newark, Ohio, returning to Buffalo after 1840. Here Mr. gangster resided till his death in 1876. In April, 1827, at Kingston, Canada, Hugh. Sangster married Mary Jane Fisher. Mrs. Sangster was born in 1813 and died in 1876. Eleven chil- dren were the issue of the marriage. They were: James, Amos W., Francis, Mary, Christine, William H., Charles H., Rena, John Thomas, Frances, and another child that died in infancy. . JAMES SANGSTER was born in Kingston, Canada. As a child he came with his parents to Buffalo and was educated in the public schools. For some years he worked for his father, and then went to New York City, where he spent a year under the MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 371 instruction of an emin(>nt sculptor, Henry K. Brown. On returning to Buffalo Mr, Sangster engaged in the pursuit of his art and mechanical engineering, being successful in both fields. In 1863 he entered the business of securing patents, which he followed alone till 1870, Avhen he formed a copartnership with Victor H. Becker, under the firm style of Sangster & Becker. Mr. Sangster later continued the business alone till 1897, when he associated with him his son, Arthur J. Sangster, under the firm name of James Sangster & Co. In politics Mr. Sangster was a Eepublican, belonged to Buffalo Lodge, No. 37, Indepen- dent Order of Odd Fellows, and attended old Grace Methodist Church. June 1, 1864, Mr. Sangster married Miss Sophronia Moore of Buffalo, who died in 1881. The surviving children of the union are: Arthur J., of Buffalo, and Cora S., now a teacher in the Lafayette High School. James Sangster was a good man, a superior type of citizen and a man held in high esteem by the community. Largely self-educated, he was all his life earnest in the pursuit of cul- ture. He possessed a fine talent for sculpture. AMOS W. SANGSTER was born at Kingston, Ontario, Feb- ruary 5, 1833. In early life he accompanied his parents to Buffalo, and was educated in the public schools there. As a Touth he assisted his father in the latter's business, but his talent for art meantime found exjjression in wood engraving, and in which he did much work for the Courier Company. He later devoted himself wholly to art. It is a remarkable fact that this accomplished painter and etcher was wholly self-taught. In his whole artistic career he only received one lesson, and was so dissatisfied that he never would consent to take another. A man of independent mind and keen observation, Mr. Sangster went to Nature for his instruction. His pictures were simple in conception, profound in sentiment and finished in execution. In oils, water-colors 372 MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. and etchings Mr. gangster attained equal eminence. In addition to their consummate art, the worlis of Mr. Sangster have a distinct historic value. To him pre-eminently belongs the title of "Painter of the Niagara Frontier," whose grand and picturesque scenes he devoted a large share of his life to reproducing. He was a particularly strong painter of marine subjects. He spent many summers with easel and sketch-book at Orchard Park, and he loved to sketch along the shores of the Niagara River and Lake Erie. There is scarcely a home in Buffalo having pretentions to art culture which does not have on its walls a picture or etching bearing his familiar signature. For many years Mr. Sangster conducted a studio with the late A. N. Samuels. There are few Buffalo artists who have not at one time or another studied with Mr. Sangster. He was a successful instructor. Mr. Sangster was a charter member and first President of the Buffalo Society of Artists, and a charter member of the Young Men's Christian Association. October 13, 1853, Mr. Sangster married Miss Eliza B. Eem- ington, daughter of Edwin and Eliza (Kilburn) Remington of Buffalo. The only child of the union died in infancy. The death of Mr. Sangster occurred on the 23d of April, 1904. ARTHUR J. SANGSTER, son of James Sangster, was born in Buffalo on the 19th of March, 1869. After receiving a common and High School education, he studied law in the Buffalo Law School. In 1897 he became associated with his father in his patent business, under the firm name of James Sangster & Co. Since the death of the elder Sangster, Arthur J. Sangster has continued to conduct the business alone. Mr. Sangster is a man of large experience, of strict integrity, and is an expert in his special field. He commands the public confidence and has jnaintained and amplified the business of which he is the pro- prietor. April 3, 1900, Mr. Sangster married Miss Lulu May Billings, daughter of James D. and Cornelia (Squire) Billings of Buffalo; MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 373 FEANK A. ABBOTT, District Attorney of Erie County, has won distinguished success at the bar, whether his professional achievements be considered with reference to his present official position or in connection with the general field of legal practice. As District Attorney it has fallen to Mr. Abbott to conduct some of the most important cases with which the interests of the people of Erie County have ever been identified, and with results alike creditable to himself and satisfactory to the public. As a general practitioner he has been equally suc- cessful, and he ranks as an eminently able all- around lawyer, familiar both with the intricacies of office work and the tac- tics of the court-room. Mr. Abbott comes of New England ancestry, being descended from Timothy Abbott, a lieu- tenant in Col. Samuel Herrick's regiment of Vermont troops, in the Revolutionary War. Seth and Sophia (Stark- weather) Abbott, the great-grandparents of the subject of this sketch, were among the pioneers of Erie County, where they came in 1808, and from Seth Abbott the hamlet of Abbott's Corners in the town of Hamburg, derives its name. His son, Chauncey Abbott, who was born in 1802, married Mary Smith, and their son, Seth A. Abbott, born in 1832, was an influential citizen of the town of Hamburg and held several offices. In 1857 he married Euth Ann Perrine, who was born in Jackson, FRANK A. ABBOTT 374 MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. Mich., in 1840. Their children are: George S., William H., Frank A., John P. and Mary E. Abbott. Frank A. Abbott was born in the town of East Hamburg, Erie County, N. Y., April 14, 1865. He received his early educa- tion in the public schools, and in 1886 was graduated from the Hamburg Academy, thence entering Cornell University, from which he was graduated with honors in 1890. He was the vale- dictorian of his class, and also won the Stewart L. Woodford prize for oratory, the highest prize offered by the University. On leaving Cornell, Mr. Abbott returned to Buffalo, where he became a law student in the office of FuUerton, Becker & Hazel, and in 1892 he was admitted to the bar. He immediately engaged in the practice of his profession in Buffalo, and in 1893 formed a law partnership with the Hon. John E. Hazel, under the firm style of Hazel & Abbott, an association which contin- ued until Judge Hazel was elevated to the bench. Mr. Abbott then formed a partnership with his brother, John P. Abbott, under the firm name of Abbott & Abbott, and this connection has existed ever since, the firm having offices in the D. S. Mor- gan Building. Mr. Abbott has always been an earnest advocate of Demo- cratic principles, and soon after attaining his majority he began to take an active interest in the higher order of politics. When Edward E. Coatsworth became District Attorney, on the 1st of January, 1903, he appointed Mr. Abbott his First Assist- ant, a position which he filled efficiently for three years, ably seconding Mr. Coatsworth in his official duties and handling many difficult criminal cases. Apart from the importance of the services performed, the experience of these years was of peculiar value to Mr. Abbott as furnishing a discipline for the more arduous responsibilities he was ultimately to assume. ♦ When the Erie County Democratic Convention met in 1905 it became clear that Mr. Abbott was the logical candidate for the District Attorneyship, and his unanimous nomination was fol- lowed by his election by a substantial majority, over a strong Rff^vS^zu-Hh^^c^^ MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 375 opponent. As District Attorney Mr. Abbott has handled the momentous interests committed to his charge with dignity and vigor, tempered by a strict sense of justice and an accurate appreciation of the maxim that impartiality is as important as zeal in the fulfillment of the duties of a public prosecutor. He has proved as fearless as energetic, and in no instance has per- sonal influence or any consideration other than that of conso- nance with the obligations of his office and the welfare of the public, ever been permitted to become a factor in his course oi action. He has conducted his cases with masterly ability, which notably manifested itself in his prosecution of the Neff, Gibson and Jackson cases, wherein convictions were secured in the face of many difficulties. Though Mr. Abbott's official and professional duties are necessarily of an absorbing character, he is not remiss in the social part of life. He is actively interested in the Masonic fraternity, being affiliated with Ancient Landmarks Lodge and Hugh de Payens Commandery, Knights Templar, and he is a member of the University and Independent clubs of Buffalo, the Buffalo Yacht Club, the Orpheus Singing Society and the Phi Delta Theta college fraternity. In 1902 Mr. Abbott married Jane L. Drake, daughter of Capt. Marcus M. Drake, deceased, of Buffalo. Their children are: Frank Addison, Jr., Elizabeth D., and Alice L. EGBERT W. POMEEOY, son of Theodore M. Pomeroy of Auburn, N. Y., was born February 24, 1868, educated at the public schools of Auburn and Yale University, graduating in the class of 1891. Later he entered the Harvard Law School, graduating in the class of 1895. Upon graduation from the Harvard Law School, Mr. Pomeroy married Miss Lucy Bemis of Cambridge, Mass., and after a few months of travel located at Buffalo, serving for two years as clerk in the law office of Eogers, Locke & Milburn. He then opened his own office and has since continued an independ- 376 MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. ent practice of business law, devoting much of his time to business enterprises. With the city's commercial and financial institutions, he is closely identified, being a trustee of the Fidelity Trust Company, a member of the board of directors of the Buffalo General Electric Company, the Edward Elsworth Company, the Natural Food Company of Niagara Falls, the Buffalo Abstract and Title Company, the Eastern Oil Company, the Buffalo Mines, Limited, Buffalo Belting and Weaving Com- pany, Buffalo Coated Paper Company, Adirondack Fire Insur- ance Company and President of the New York and Buffalo Audit Company. Mr. Pomeroy is active in club life of Buffalo, and identified with several charitable institutions. He has served as Presi: dent of the Country Club, Vice-Dean of the Saturn Club, Secre- tary of the Buffalo Club, and is a member of the University and Ellicott clubs, as well as of the Yale Club and University Club of New York City. He is Vice-President of the Charity Organi- zation Society of Buffalo, a member of the Board of Trustees of the Buffalo General Hospital and of the Buffalo Fine Arts Academy, which he has served as Secretary. He is also identi- fied with church work, being President of the Men's Club of the First Presbyterian Church and a Trustee of Mount Hermon Boys' School at East Northfield, Mass. Mr. Pomeroy served as a member of the New York State Commission of the Jamestown Ter-Centennial Exposition by appointment by Governor Higgins, and in 1907 Mayor Adam appointed Mr. Pomeroy Chairman of the Railroad Terminal Commission of Buffalo, a position in which he is now serving. DAVID R. MORSE, the veteran financier who passed away January 27, 1908, was for more than a quarter of a century identified with the Erie County Savings Bank. In his eighty- 'eighth year, Mr. Morse was the official head and the directing spirit of the largest savings institution in the State, outside of New York City. MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 377 David R. Morse came of Puritan stock. He was able to trace his ancestry eight generations to Samuel Morse, who came to this country in 1635. ' John Morse, son of Samuel, had a son, John, who had a son, Ezra Morse, who was the father of Deacon Seth Morse, a member of the Guilford Volunteers during the Eevolution. Among his sons was John Morse, who lived at Moody's, Conn., and was the father of David Morsfe, grandfather of the subject of this sketch. David Morse was born in Guil- ford, Conn. He married Lucy Norton, and settled at Norton Hills, Greene County, N. Y., later removing to Greenville, N. Y. During the Eevolution he served in Capt. Hand's Company of Col. Talcott's Eegiment, and later joined the Coast Guards. He was the father of Simeon, Martin, Beulah, Asher, and David Morse. Asher Morse, father of David E. Morse, was born in Guilford, Conn. In early life he was brought by his parents to Norton Hills, N. Y., where he married Anna Eeynolds. Origi- nally a currier by trade, he became a farmer, settling after his marriage on a farm at South Westerlo, in Albany County. He carried on tanning and later built and operated a large saw- mill and flour mills. He was a Whig in politics, and a member of the Presbyterian Church of Greenville, N. Y. He was the father of three sons, George, Charles, and David E., and five daughters, Delia, who became the wife of William M. Shepard; Mrs. Hulda Savage; and Lucy, who became the wife of Lorenzo B. Shepard, of the famous law firm of Parsons & Shepard of New York; Mrs. Maria Wyatt, and Mrs. Susan Bobbins. David E. Morse was born October 14, 1819, at South Westerlo, Albany County, N. Y. He was reared on his father's farm, and attended the primitive schools of that day. When fourteen years old, he secured a clerkship with George Eeed, who besides carrying on a store was engaged in the forwarding business at Coxsackie, and operated a line of market sloops between that place and New York. Here he remained for three or four years, making his home with Mr. Eeed's family. Young Morse's environments were very pleasant, the Eeeds being a 378 MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. family of high, standing. Mr. Morse through aJl his long life remembered his first employer and his household with peculiar pleasure, as the influences of the Eeed home were wholesome and inspiring, and undoubtedly their paternal training aided much in molding the strength of character and the correct habits of living that distinguished Mr. Morse's entire career. At the close of his period of employment in Coxsackie, Mr. Morse went to New York, where he worked as a clerk in a dry-goods store for five years. In 1843 he came to Buffalo, bringing with him a stock of dry-goods. He opened a store in Main street, where he remained in the dry-goods trade till 1850, when he sold out to engage in the ship chandlery business. Through this venture he soon became interested in the ownership of lake A'^essels. In 1865 Mr. Morse practically withdrew from all business except the care of his extensive vested interests. In 1879 he was elected a trustee of the Erie County Savings Bank, and on May 7, 1884, he was elected Vice- President. In 1889 he was chosen President, and was serving his eighteenth year in that ofl&ce at the time of his death. Essentially a business man, politics played a very minor part in Mr. Morse's life. In 1878 he was, however, pursuaded to become a candidate for Alderman, chiefly to forward certain important public interests. He was elected and served one term from the old 10th Ward. Some years later he was elected a trustee of Forest Lawn Cemetery, and for several years was President of the board, finally resigning of his own choice. During this period Mr. Morse did much toward making Forest Lawn the beautiful spot it is today. He was also one of the founders of the Falconwood Club on Grand Island, incorporated in 1879, and he and the late Dexter P. Rumsey became sole owners of the property. , Mr. Morse was married in 1845 to Elizabeth G. Miller, daughter of Capt. William T. Miller, an old settler of Buffalo. Mr. and Mrs. Morse celebrated in 1907 their 62d wedding anni- versary. Their children were: Jennie, who married Walter T. MEMOIUAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 379 Wilson, and had issue of Walter Morse; Gertrude, the wife of Eev. Mr. Littell, and Margaret J.; Charles M., the only son, is the well-known efficient city engineer of Buffalo, and Anna, deceased in 1908, was the wife of Samuel Ames of New York. For many years Mr. Morse had been an influential member and a trustee of the First Presbyterian Church. David E. Morse was a man of unusual equanimity of tempera- ment. His mental alertness to the last was phenomenal. One of his striking intellectual qualiflcations was his power of accurately estimating real estate values, his judgment therein having been infallible, and he was one of the ablest real estate experts of Buffalo. Mr. Morse's personal appearance corre- sponded with the qualities and career of the man. He was a venerable and in some respects picturesque figure. His fresh complexion indicated him to be a much younger man than he was, but his silver white beard gave a suggestion of the patri- archal. His manner was full of quiet dignity and easy charm. Everything about him. bespoke the gentleman of the old school. He was probably the finest example in Buffalo of an old age at once beautiful and beneficial, of length of days crowned with honor and of intellectual strength undiminished by the march of years. CHARLES MILLER MORSE, Engineer, Commissioner of the Department of Public Works, of Buffalo, head of the municipal Bureau of Engineering, is a man of varied and thorough pro- fessional acquirements, and a substantial and representative citizen. Mr. Morse was born in Buffalo January 11, 1854, and is a son of the late David R. Morse. He attended private schools in this city, graduated from the Classical School of Prof. Horace Briggs and attended the Scientific School of Yale University, where for two years he pursued a special course in mechanical engi- neering. After leaving the University, Mr. Morse became employed on the preliminary survey of the Buffalo & James- 380 MEMOEIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. town Eailroad. Later he engaged for several years in engi- neering field work, being connected with the U. S. survey in this locality and along Lakes Erie and Ontario. About 1874 he entered the Brooks Locomotive Works at Dunkirk, there serving an apprenticeship at the machinist's trade. He then entered the employ of the Erie Eailroad Company in the motive power department at Susquehanna, Pa. Beginning as a journeyman machinist, he became a draughtsman, and later locomotive inspector, in charge of repair shop construction work. In 1881 he became Superintendent of the Crown Point Iron Company, at Crown Point, N. Y., and in 1882 located in New York City, where for several years he successfully carried on the private practice of engineering. Keturning to Buffalo in 1889 he opened offices in the Erie County Bank Building, and has since continued. He is also senior partner in the Buffalo Engineering. Company, engaged in general engineering and contracting. January 1, 1902, Mr. Morse was appointed Deputy Engineer Commissioner, a position he still holds, having charge of all the city engineering. He is a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, the American Society of Civil Engineers, the Engineers' Club of New York City, a life member of the Young Men's Association, a member of the Society of Natural Sciences and the Buffalo Yacht Club. In December, 1890, Mr. Morse was united in marriage to Kathleen Edgar of Easton, Pa. HON. LOUIS PECHTEK is a Buffalonian distinguished in public life and successful and prominent as a business man. As Senator, Mr. Fechter has served the State with signal capa- bility and zeal, and in the business world ranks as a man of , exceptionally large experience and sound practical sagacity. Mr. Fechter is a native of Germany, coming of families which for many generations have lived in lower Alsace, on the Rhine, where he was born in 1851, a son of Louis Fechter, a farmer. MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 381 and Madalena Fix. As a boy young B^echter received an excel- lent education at private schools in his native village of Cherreedern. In 1871 he came to America. Settling in Buffalo, he was connected for a number of years with the operating de- partment of the Lake Shore R. E. In 1877 he engaged in the flour and feed business, and later established a rendering works in East Buffalo, where he built up a large and successful business in the face of trust oppo- sition. He sold out in 1893, and later became connected with the Buffalo P"'ertilizing Com- pany, with which he has ever since been identified. He is President of the Fechter-Ellicott Agency, dealing in real estate and insurance, is a large owner of valuable real estate holdings on the East Side, a section in whose development he has borne a prominent part, and President and General Manager of the Minnehaha Mining & Smelting Company, which owns gold-mining properties in the Canadian Northwest. From early manhood Mr. Fechter has taken an active inter- est in politics, and fourteen years ago, his political aflaiiations being at that time with the Democracy, he opposed the Sheehan machine for election as Alderman of the old Eleventh Ward. He fairly won the nomination in the Democratic caucus, but by fraud and violence was deprived of the Democratic candi- LOUIS FECHTER. 382 MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. dacy. Solicited to run on an independent ticket, he was elected, receiving a majority of 132 in a ward which was normally Democratic by 800 votes, and served two years. In 1904, when he was nominated for State Senator by the Republican Conven- tion of the old 48th Senatorial District. To -Mr. Fechter belongs the honor of being the only Republican who ever carried that district. He was elected by 116 plurality in a district that had usually returned pluralities of from 2,500 to 3,000 for the Democratic candidates. Mr. Fechter served in the Senate in 1905 and 1906, and declined a renomination for the office. While in the Senate he introduced and was instrumental in the passing of the bill doing away with the fee system in the office of Superintendent of the Poor, thus saving this county from |6,000 to |7,000 a year, and was the means of passing other valuable reform measures for Erie County. It was he who introduced the bill lowering the price of illuminating gas in Buffalo, but this salutary measure was defeated by corporate interests. Senator Fechter served on the Committees of Public Health, Commerce and Navigation, as well as on other impor- tant committees of the Senate. Throughout his Senatorial career his record was conspicuously that of an honest and efficient legislator, and he left the Senate with the confidence of his associates and constituents and the respect of his opponents. Mr. Fechter is a member of the C. M. B. A., and served for several years as its representative in Grand Council and the Central Council. He belongs to the Teutonia Liederkranz and St. Agnes Parish of the Roman Catholic Church. In 1874 Mr. Fechter was married to Mary T. Gehlweiler of Buffalo. They have five children: Louis Fechter, Jr., who mar- ried Julia Fritz of Alden, N. Y.; Joseph Fechter, who married iAnna Heibach of Buffalo; Charles, Frank, and Mary F'echter. THE WEBSTER FAMILY, from which several prominent families derive their lineage, is descended from John Webster, MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 383 who with Agnes, his wife, came from Warwickshire, England, to Hartford, Conn., via Massachusetts, about the autumn of 1636. John Webster was one of the most prominent men in early New England. He was among the first settlers of Hart- ford, was elected Lieutenant-Governor of the colony in 1655, and Governor in 1656, and held many other offices. He died at Hadley, Mass., April 5, 1661. Among his descendants were Daniel Webster, the statesman, and Noah Webster, the lexi- cographer. His son, Eobprt, was the father of Jonathan, whose son, Stephen, was the father of Timothy Webster, father of Eeuben. George B. Webster, son of Eeuben, was born Sep- tember 8, 1796. He was married twice, his first wife having been Maria Marsh, and his second, Hannah Joy. The children of his first marriage were : George Clemm Webster, who married Sarah Verplanck of Buffalo, and Julia, who married George L. Newman of Buffalo and had one child, Jane Ellen. The chil- dren of George B. Webster by his second wife were: Hannah, who married John C. Stephenson of Buffalo; Jane, who married Edward S. Dann; and Catherine, who married Charles J. Arm- strong of Buffalo. The children of George Clemm Webster are : George B., Julia, Laura, and Grace. Those of John and Hannah (Webster) Stephenson are: George, Thomas, Jennie, Helen, John, Webster, Edward, Bessie and Seymour. The chil- dren of Edward and Jane (Webster) Dann are: Edward Web- ster Dann, Walter Joy Dann, Jesse Chase Dann, and Jennie, the wife of the Eev. Thomas Archbald, a clergyman of the Presbyterian Church, formerly of Scranton, Pa. GEOEGE BUELL WEBSTEE, who for the past twenty years has practiced law in Buffalo, is one of the leading lawyers of that city. Mr. Webster has a large clientage and represents many important corporate and individual interests. Mr. Webster was born in Buffalo March 8, 1859, and was edu- cated in the public schools, the State Normal School at Buffalo, and the Heathcote School. When fourteen years old he entered 384 MEMOKIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. the Treasurer's office of the Buffalo, New York and Philadel- phia Railroad, where he remained four years. He then became a student in the law office of Bowen, Rogers & Locke, continuing with the firm two years. He then entered as managing clerk the office of Bass, Cleveland & Bissell, with whom he remained till 1883, being in 1880 admitted to the bar. In 1883 Mr. Web- ster was appointed to a position in the Capitol Commissioner's Department at Albany, and continued there until October, 1886, when he returned to Buffalo, where he opened an office for the practice of law. He built up a very successful business and continued to practice alone till 1893, when he formed a law partnership with Devoe P. Hodson, under the firm style of Hodson & Webster. This association was dissolved in 1899, and from then to the present time Mr. Webster has practiced without a partner. Mr. Webster has, as a general rule, con- fined himself to civil business with special reference to real estate and corporation law, in which branches he is an author- ity. He devotes himself mainly to office practice, and has won an enviable reputation as a sound and well-read lawyer, a safe adviser, and a practitioner of acumen and skill. In 1873 Mr. Webster enlisted in the 74th Regiment, N. G. N. Y., and in 1879 he joined the 65th Regiment, of which he was later promoted Sergeant-Major, holding that office till he went to Albany in 1883, when he resigned. While a member of the 74th Regiment, Mr. Webster served with credit during the railroad strikes of 1877. Mr. Webster is greatly interested in the Society for the Pro- tection of Birds, Pish and Game, and is a member of its Board of Managers. He is a member of the Erie County Bar Associa- tion, the Historical Society, and the Sons of the American Revolution. He is active in the Masonic fraternity, being affiliated with Ancient Landmarks Lodge of Masons and with Buffalo Consistory. He belongs to the Buffalo Club, and is a member of Ascension Church of Buffalo. June 27, 1883, Mr. Webster married Agnes Jeannette Ovens, daughter of Walter S. and Anna M. Ovens. WU^^'i /C. MEMORIAL AND FA:\riLY HISTORY. 385 FRANK L. BAPST is a principal factor in several of the leading engineering and contracting companies of Western New York, is prominently identified with manufacturing enter- prises, and ranks as one of Buffalo's ablest civil engineers and industrial executives. Mr. Bapst was born in Buffalo May 22, 1856, being the son of Louis Bapst and Elizabeth Bauragarten. His father was a native of Alsace, and his m.other was born at Willi amsville, N. Y. Frank L. Bapst attended private and public schools in Buffalo, later entering the Ilensselaer Polytechnic Institute at Troy, N. Y., from which he was graduated in 1879 with the degree of C.E. On returning to Buffalo he engaged in practice as a civil engineer. From 1882 to 1883 he was Assistant Engi- neer of the City of Buffalo, and in 1883 and 1884 was draughts- man in the City Assessor's office. In 1884 he was tendered the Democratic nomination for City Engineer, and though not elected, he made a splendid run, receiving about 3,400 votes more than the head of the ticket. In 1885 Mr. Bapst, in association with P. B. McNaughton, inaugurated a general contracting enterprise which, after the admission of Charles E. Williams to partnership, in 1892, assumed the firm style of Williams, McNaughton & Bapst, a concern which rapidly attained a leading position, having immense interests in paving and other construction, and improvement contracts, and being prominently concerned in the abolition of grade and the building of overhead crossings at the Terrace, in Buffalo, the work involving problems of engi- neering and construction as critical as any ever known in this section of the State. Ajnong the many contracts which the firm of Williams, McNaughton & Bapst has carried through with notable credit should be mentioned a large amount of underground work, street railroad and Erie Canal construction. In 1890 the German Rock Asphalt & Cement Company (Ltd.) was established. This concern, of which Mr. Bapst is General Manager, has laid about |3,500,000 worth of asphalt pavements. 386 MEMOKIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. its average business being approximately |1,000,000 per annum. The Bul¥alo Dredging Co., of wliicli Mr. Bapst is President, was organized in 1895. It ranks with the leading local enter- prises of its kind, and has done more than |3,000,000 worth of dredging and other submarine work. Another important con- cern of a similar character is the Lake Erie Dredging Company, in whose management Mr. Bapst is associated with Mr. Charles E. Williams. This company does an average business of |T00,000 a year and among its noteworthy achievements are its improvement work at Sault Ste. Marie, under Government auspices, and its deepening of the Niagara Kiver channel between Buffalo and Tonawanda, at a cost of f 300,000. This concern also did over 14 miles of work under the |9,000,060 Erie Canal appropriation. Another notable contracting enterprise is the Buffalo Expanded Metal Company, which Avas organized in 1898 with Mr. Bapst as First Vice-President. Its specialtj^ is fireproof construction in expanded metal and concrete work, and the concern is doing a business of over half a million dollars yearly. The Continental Engineering and Contracting Company, in which Mr. Bapst is associated with Charles B. Williams and others, has its headquarters at Montreal, Canada, and is engaged in elevator and dock work. It has successfully carried on much heavy concrete construction for the Canadian Govern- ment and has built a large elevator for the Canadian Pacific Eailroad at Fort William, Ontario. Mr. Bapst is Vice-Presi- dent of the Babcock Electric Carriage Company, a Director in the Buffalo Crucible Steel Company; a Director in the German- American and the Columbia National Banks, and a member of the Chamber of Commerce. ;Mr. Bapst has always been a thoroughgoing Democrat and Iiis valuable services to his party received marked recognition when, in January, 1898, he was elected Chairman of the Demo- cratic County Committee of Erie County, a position which he continued to hold for three terms, and whose duties he per- MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 387 formed witli rare efficiency and skill. He has often been chosen a delegate to State conventions, and was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention of July 4, 1900. Mr. Bapst is prominent in several fraternal bodies, being a 32d degree Mason, a member of Ismailia Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, and a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He also belongs to the Buffalo, Ellicott, and Country clubs. In August 1903 Mr. Bapst married Ida M. Mathews of Elmira, New York. HENEY ZIPP, serving his second term as Councilman, is an ex-President of the board, and has held important appointive positions. Councilman Zipp is a man of business as well as political prominence, and ranks as one of the solid men of the community. Henry Zipp is a native of Germany, his family having come to America from the Duchy of Nassau. Mr. Zipp was born on the 4th of September, 1341, his father being Peter Zipp, and his mother's maiden name being Elizabeth Hecker. Henry Zipp supplemented the excellent schooling he received in Germany by attending the public schools of Buffalo for two years. He then clerked in grocery stores until he was eighteen years old, when he entered D. Clinton Hicks' Commercial Col- lege, from which he graduated. During his last year in college he acted as assistant to the faculty, and as an expert accountant in outside business. He later successively became a bookkeeper in the Buffalo office of the Salt Company of Onondaga for two years; H. A. Frink, for three years, and Wallace Johnson. In 1869 Mr. Zipp engaged in the flour and feed business for three years, then engaging in the sewing machine business for five years. He then established his present coal business, located since 1899 at 285 Swan street. Mr. Zipp has been a life- 3§8 jMemoki.vl and pajmily histoiIy. long Democrat. He has always taken a keen interest in the success of his party, and in public welfare. In 1892 Mayor Bishop appointed Mr. Zipp a member of the Board of Park Commissioners. At the second sessioii of the Board he made a successful fight against the plan which had been agreed upon by the Board to sell the Parade Ground. As the outcome of Commissioner Zipp's energetic opposition, the Parade Ground instead of being sold was improved, and is now one of the most valued parts of the Park system. In all cases Mr. Zipp showed the utmost zeal and the best of judgment in the work of improving the city's parks. In 1895, Mr. Zipj) was nominated for Councilman. Only three of the Democratic nominees were elected, Mr. Zipp being one. When Mr. Zipp first took his seat he was one of a Democratic minority of three, the other six members being Republicans. In his third year the Board showed its appreciation of Mr. Zipp by unanimously choosing him for President. In the fall of 1899 Councilman Zipp declined a renomination. In 1905 he was again elected for a term of four years, which he is now serving. In 1903 Mr. Zipp was appointed by Mayor Knight a member of the Board of Civil Service Commissioners, serving one and one-half years. The public career of Councilman Zipp has been of a distinct- ive kind. No official has shown himself more solicitous of the people's interests. He is a man who forms his own opinions, acts on his best judgment, and holds himself responsible to no power but the public Avhose well-being he consults. Mr. Zipp is interested in the Evangelical Lutheran St. John's Orphan Asylum, at Sulphur Springs, Erie County, and has served as its Trustee and Treasurer for a number of years. For more than ten years he has been Treasurer and Trustee of St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church. He is now Trustee and Treasurer of the German Deaconess' Home and Hospital of Buffalo. He is a 32d degree Mason, being connected with Harmonic Lodge F. & A. M. He is also a member of the ]\lasonic atEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 389 Hall Association and is Trustee and Treasurer of that body, being also a Trustee of the Masonic Life Association of ^^"estern New York. He was a Trustee of the Union Bank when that institution was in existence, and since 1890 has served as Trustee of the Western Savings Bank. He is a member of the Saengerbund Singing Society, and is also connected by life membership with the German 'i'oung Men's Association. June IT, 1869, Mr. Zipp married Miss Emily Haller, a daugh- ter of Martin and Katherine Haller of Buffalo. They have two sons living, George Zipp, who is a bookkeeper in the 'Western Savings Bank, and Albert Zipp, who is associated witli his father in business. HON. DANIEL JOSEPH KENEFICK, former Justice of the Supreme Court, now of the law firm of Kenefick, Cook & Mitchell, is eminent in public and professional life and has won forensic and judicial honors early in his career. Mr. Kenefick was born in Buffalo on the 15th of October, 1863, and is a son of Michael and Mary (O'Connell) Kenefick, both of whom were born near the city of Cork, Ireland. They came to this country in the later '50's and settled in Buffalo, where they were married. After attending Public School No. 4 in Buffalo, Daniel J. Kenefick entered High School, from which he gradu- ated in 1881. He then entered the law office of Crowley & Movius, pursuing his legal studies with that firm and their successors, Crowley, Movius & Wilcox. October 16, 1884, he was admitted to the bar. He engaged in his profession in Buffalo and had entered with success upon the initiatory period of practice when on the 1st of January^ 1886, he was appointed to a clerkship in the Law Department of the city. He held the position a year, resigning at the beginning of 1887 to accept the appointment of Second Assistant District Attorney under the late George T. Quinby. In this office he continued for five years. January 1, 1893, he was appointed First Assistant District Attorney. When Mr. Quinby resigned the District Attorney- 390 JIEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. ship in the fall of 1894, Gov. Flower chose Mr. Kenefick to fill the unexpired term. The same year he received the Republican nomination for District Attorney and was elected by a large majority, taking office in 1895. In 1897 he was reelected and served until he was appointed to the bench. While District Attorney Mr. Kenefick gained a high reputation as a capable official and an able trial lawyer. He had served the first year of his second term as District Attorney, when, on the 30th of December, 1898, he was appointed by Governor Black to fill the unexpired term of Supreme Court Justice Hamilton Ward, deceased. Judge Kenefick entered upon the duties of the bench on the 1st of January, 1899. In the fall of that year he was nominated by the Republican Judicial Convention for Justice of the Supreme Court, and was elected for a term of fourteen years by a plurality of 25,000. During his term of service he performed the duties of his office with impartiality and perfect probity, and showed excellent judgment as well as sound knowledge of the law. In June, 1906, Martin Carey, the senior member of the law firm of Bissell, Carey & Cooke, removed to New York City. Judge Kenefick was invited to fill the vacancy. He consented, and on his resignation from the bench the firm became Kene- fick, Cooke & Mitchell, its personnel consisting of Daniel J. Kenefick, Walter P. Cooke, James McC. Mitchell, and Lyman M. Bass. This firm continues the succession of one of the most famous law firms of Western New York. Many years ago it was Bass, Cleveland & Sicard, the late George J. Sicard becoming one of the members. This association was succeeded by Bissell, Carey & Cooke, the predecessor of the present firm, which is one of the leading law partnerships of Buffalo and enjoys a very large general practice, both as counsel for important interests and in the trial of civil cases. Mr. Kenefick is one of Buffalo's representative Catholic lay- men, and is a member of Holy Angels' Parish and of the Knights MBMOKIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 391 of Columbus. Among social organizatious lie belongs to the Buffalo and Saturn clubs. June 30, 1891, ]\Ir. Kenefick married jMa.vsie Germain, daughter of Victor and Ella Germain of Buffalo. Their chil- dren are: Daniel, born in 1892, and Theodore, born in 1898.