USA > New York > Niagara County > Biographical and portrait cyclopedia of Niagara County, New York > Part 10
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Henry Bennett.
Daniel Clark, Jr.
Daniel Costello. William Clapham. Richard N. Cook. Charles Campbell. Willis Clement.
Isaac E. Conklin. Michael Donnelly. James B. Edwards.
Stephen Harvy. William Harvey, Jr. John Hamlin. Homer Hawkinson. Lewis Knotthoff. Joseph Light. Charles McMaster. James Morris. John Moyer. Conrad Minnick. James Newton. James Oswald.
Thomas Oliver.
James E. Phillips.
Michael Slattery.
Samuel Thorp.
James R. Swan. Daniel B. Thorne.
Wheeler Strycland. Nicholas Terry.
Wm. W. Van Buren.
James Stewart. Frederick Schramm. John W. Sinclair. James Smith.
Peter Vanoter. Nery White. Henry White.
William Stapleton.
George Wilson.
John B. Sherman. Edward Walton.
Henry Spurr. Elvin White.
Daniel Timms.
This regiment was mustered March, 1862, consolidated with 94th New York in 1863, and its men mustered out July, 1865, after doing good service in several of the hardest battles of the army of the Potomac.
COMPANY D. - OFFICERS.
Isaac S. Tichnor, captain.
Michael Leonard, 2d sergeant.
James B. Chase, 3d sergeant.
Roswall Wilson, 2d corporal. HIenry Ballow, 8th corporal. James Totten, teamster.
PRIVATES.
David P. Allen. Norton Hornbeck.
Charles N. Ashford. Otto Kahler.
John Adams. Barnard Kaller.
George Beecker. William Kahler.
James Barker.
Patrick Leonard.
Robt. H. Clapsattle.
Kobert Lutze.
Lawrence Cline.
William McMaster. Homer Moore.
Henry Davenport. Pardon Earl.
Joseph Moffat.
James W. McGrath.
William Fink. Martin Gage. Jehial Moore. Jacob Geiser. Van Renssel'r Perry.
John Grosskopf.
George W. Post.
Charles Reynolds.
George Granger. George W. Giddings.
John Stewart.
William Fermoil. Noah S. Green.
W. E. Hallock.
85
OF NIAGARA COUNTY.
Daniel Stowell.
Henry Woodeoek.
Julius Turner. Abram G. Wendall.
Michael Thaney.
COMPANY H .- OFFICERS.
Joseph T. Cary, 3d corporal. George W. Phillips, fourth corporal.
PRIVATES.
B. B. Benson.
Thomas King.
James Brewster.
John Lawrenee.
Calvin Cary.
Albert Ladroot.
Gaines B. Clapp.
William Massey.
James Cafferty. Edward McManis,
Edwin Ede.
killed at Fred'ks'bg.
Edward Green.
John McCabe.
Harvey Garner.
Thomas Needham.
Richard Heath. Israel Patterson.
Michael Hoy. Fred'k C. Stephens.
Alvis Hewitt. Joseph Salmon.
Charles Kline. William H. Sperry.
James Kelly. Robert Thompson.
John Kelly. John A. West.
COMPANY I .- OFFICERS.
William Robertson, 2d sergeant. Patrick Joyce, 3d sergeant.
PRIVATES.
Thomas Foley. Daniel Sheehan.
John W. Green. John Sheehan.
Matthew Hardegan. Edward Williams.
Lewis Kittlman.
This regiment fought at Cedar Mountain, and served throughout its entire time with credit for service and bravery.
ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-SECOND INFANTRY. OFFICERS.
John Logan, 1st sergeant. William A. C. Ryan, 2d sergeant. HIenry Smith, 3d sergeant. William Rea, 4th sergeant.
Robert Harris, 1st corporal. James Gross, 2d corporal. John Brennan, 3d corporal. Andrew H. Oswald, 4th corporal.
PRIVATES.
William Blodgett. Hiram M. Hoag.
Stephen Concklin. Ezra Landen.
Charles Devinger.
William Meadows.
John Dalley.
Patriek Mitehell.
John Dillon.
John Murphy.
John Filmore. Joseph Maroney.
Wm. H. Fleming. Michael Reynolds.
Robert Gibson. John Rogers.
William Galloway. Jeremiah Sullivan.
George Garlow. Wm. Stephenson.
Jacob Hewitt.
Peter Terry.
George S. Haskill. John W. Watts.
The regiment was organized in New York eity, mustered in October 4, 1862, partici- pated in eleven battles in North Carolina, and was mustered out July 15, 1865.
ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY-FOURTH INFANTRY. COMPANY B. - OFFICERS.
William Maroney, eaptain.
John Ryan, 1st sergeant.
Patrick Sullivan, 2d sergeant.
M. J. Doolan, 4th sergeant.
John Eagan, 5th sergeant.
Michael McGrath, 1st corporal.
Francis Williams, 2d corporal. Peter Monahan, 3d corporal.
John Steel, 4th corporal.
Martin Nolan, 5th corporal.
Dennis Cary, 7th corporal. Edward O'Neil, 8th corporal.
PRIVATES.
Philip Burns, killed Thomas Corrigan.
at Cold Harbor. Daniel Connolly. George Baker. John Dunnigan.
James Bradley. Patrick Doolan.
86
BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
Horace Every.
John Ellarel.
Michael Fox.
Michael Finnegan. John Garrity.
William Gleason.
James Hickey.
Patrick Hyland.
Thomas Hornsby.
Matthew Hardigan.
Patrick Kane.
Thomas Kerrigan. John Kingston.
Jeremiah Reardon.
Robert Shortley.
James Kinsler.
Martin Shine.
Richard King. William Tracy.
James Lunneen. John Welch.
James Meagher. John Williams.
This regiment served from November 19, 1862, to July 15, 1865, and was at Cold Harbor and in ten other battles. 2
ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY-EIGHTH INFANTRY.
PRIVATES.
R. P. Buttrick. Jos. Mottershed. James Dow.
ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY-NINTH INFANTRY.
COMPANY A.
Tim. W. Buckland. John Marshall. Almeron C. Howell.
COMPANY C.
Wm. Doharty. Chas. F. Hagar.
Graham Crawford. Michael Kelley.
Chas. E. Hogan. Duncan Mckay.
COMPANY D.
John P. Atchworth. Arthur P. Powell.
COMPANY F.
Karl Frederick. Geo. A. Zimmerman. John Riley.
COMPANY H.
Thomas Cairns. Henry Miller.
Abraham Isbery. Henry Maxwell. Francis Lovett. James Young.
Botlı the 178th and 179th did good ser- vice in several severe battles.
ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY-SEVENTH INFANTRY.
COMPANY G.
Henry Ames. Simms King.
Peter Brocklehurst. Frank Lily.
Charles Bennett. James Morrow.
John Bugbee. John Marshall.
Alexander H. Clark. Joel McCall.
James Dempsey. George A. Otis.
James Downing. Chaun. C. Robinson.
Joseph A. Dersey.
George Sporbeck.
Manly Fox.
Charles Smith.
Joseph Gibbs. Francis M. Shelp.
Lorenzo Hill. Samuel Smith.
John Haskins. L. W. Van Slyck.
Monroe Haskins. William O. Webster.
Henry Hall.
Gottreil Weiler.
Harrison Harvard.
COMPANY C.
Anthony Wesser.
COMPANY E.
John H. Smith.
This regiment served from October, 1864, to July, 1865, and was in the battle of Hatcher's Run.
ONE HUNDRED AND NINETY-FOURTH INFANTRY.
COMPANY. G.
John Adams. James Barrett.
Albert Anderson. Austin E. Bigelow.
John Berlet. Ifiram Bevans.
William Bell. Edw. Birminghanı.
Harlow Bartholf. Eben. Birmingham.
Charles Belan. Adolph Catnoir.
Patrick Monahan. Thos. Mahar, killed at Cold Harbor. Patrick Meagher. Thomas Meagher. John A. McAllister. Michael McMahon. Daniel McGrath. Chas. Maguire, killed at Suffolk, Va. Andrew Rea.
87
OF NIAGARA COUNTY.
Samuel Center.
Ole Kragering. Joseph Kelly.
John Clark.
John Conlon.
Patrick Lennon.
Jacob Chase.
James Lewis.
Robert Cleland.
John Clere. Charles Carr.
John Martin. Joseph Murphy. Wm. H. McKimm. William F. Munn. Henry Minett. Henry Moore.
Gardner Corliss, sergeant.
Oratus F. Pierce, corporal.
Alvin B. Baker, corporal. James Richards, corporal. Willard Heath, corporal.
John W. Haskell, corporal. Lockwood S. Sherwood, corporal, killed July 9, 1864.
W. Scott Hovey, corporal, died Dec. 8,'62. John A. Ashton, corporal. Willis Johnson, corporal.
Richard A. Perry, musician. Charles A. Bowen, musician.
Elijalı Dodge, artificer.
W. C. Beck, artificer.
PRIVATES.
Wm. H. Atkinson.
Wm. W. Clement.
Hawley Abbott. Jno. W. Carter, died Nicholas Bowers. July 20, 1863.
Werner Bellinger, killed May 12, '64.
Lewis W. F. Cole. De Witt C. Collier.
James Benton. Wm. T. Bush, died Nov. 8, 1862.
S. F. Baylis.
I. Barnes.
J. Bixler. John E. Declute.
J. Braucker, killed at Spottsylvania. Charles W. Beebe. John Beach. Ransom E. Bigelow. Edmond Brotherton. William F. Clark. Edward J. Cady.
Timothy C. Cox.
Jolın Hoffman.
Almo B. Hixson.
Samuel Tenny.
James W. Jones.
Patrick Katon.
Peter Ostrander. George O'Canıb. Edwark Parker. Henry Pansier. Timothy Ray. Thomas Ryan. Thomas Riley. Joseph Reed. Alfred Roberts. Corey Smith. William Stone. John Thompson. Geo. B. Thompson. John R. Tibbetts.
This regiment served from February to May 3, 1865, but never left the State.
NINETEENTHI INDEPENDENT BATTERY. OFFICERS.
Win. II. Stalıl, captain, died Sept. 15, '63. Edward W. Rogers, 1st lieutenant, pro- moted to captain.
Peter MeGraw, 2d lieutenant. Henry J. J. Fassctt, 1st sergeant.
Geo. N. McCoy, quartermaster-sergeant, died December 9, 1862.
Henry H. Moore, sergeant, promoted to lieutenant.
Michael Long, sergeant, promoted to lieutenant.
Perry M. Cottrell. Charles Doyle.
Joshua Davis.
William Dixon.
Chapin Davy.
George Manzier. John McIntyre. Samuel Nelson. Peter Neason.
Charles Dutcher. John Edmonds.
Legnon Erlgeng.
Luther M. Finn.
Frederick Fonea.
George Fuller. Thomas Flack. William R. Gillings. Michael Gorman.
James Gregory. Charles Guenzler. Almon Glena.
Joseph Howard. Melvin C. Hawley. Elias Hoffman.
George Wheeler. John Wheeler.
William Coan. George Coyle, killed in June, 1864. Geo. E. Dutton.
Wm. A. Douglass. Edw. Dunkleburger.
Michael Donahoe. S. A. Eslibaugh. George Evans. Sylvester Esterly. Henry Egan. George W. Eaton.
88
BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
David H. Frink. Wm. A. Fuller. T. Goodspeed, killed at Spottsylvania. Joseph Golias, killed May 12, 1864. Jesse Goddard.
Edwin A. Hoffman. Alexander Halstead. John Hall, killed May 12, 1864. James Hill. Theo. O. Hayne.
Louis A. Halstead. John A. Hamlin. W. H. H. Hotehkin. Jas. H. Hotchkin. William Hepner. Geo. Humphrey. Jacob D. Irish. Seth Jillson. John Jameson. Ansel Kayner. Geo. B. Kinne. Thomas Kelly. Jolin Kelly. Francis King. Joseph Kilty. Elias Kelsey. Jesse E. Kieffer. R. Lansom, died Oct. 2, 1863. Alfred P. Lake.
John Lanigan. Andrew Linck. Joseph Linck. D. O. Lewis, killed at Spottsylvania. John E. Loyd. Daniel Lehn. John Lanagan. Thomas Muldoon.
Narcise Montray. George K. Mosher. Christian Murr, died Sept. 9, 1864. Joseph L. Morris. Caleb C. McKee. Peter Morton, killed June 2, 1864. James Mount. Charles Muehaw. John Mahoney. Harmon Moyer. James A. Martin. James Morrison. James Moran. George Morrison. W. McGregory, kil'd at Spottsylvania. Isaac Martin.
Edwin H. Northrop. Robert O'Hara. Michael O'Donohue. Wm. F. Parsons. Wm. D. Pierce, died July 21, 1864. Charles Pletcher. William Roe.
William Roberts.
William Retchless.
Gideon Ritehmeyer. Clark M. Riddle. James Robbins. Ephraim Robinson. John V. Rector. Joseph Rogers. Frederick Schurz, died Sept. 4, 1863. Christian Schurr. Charles A. Smith. Chauncey Stone. Joseph B. Stone.
Seymour Stace. Thomas Turner. Albert Talcott. Philip Van Norman. Ormel Valentine. Philip S. Williams. Geo. H. Weaver, killed.
S. M. Weatherbee. Geo. Weatherbee. Delevan C. Waters,
died in hospital. Nimrod White, died in Sept., 1863. Robert G. Wilson. F. Zimmerman.
Daniel Wertman.
This battery did splendid service in the "Wilderness " and at Petersburg. It served from 1862 to 1865, and its colors bore the names of Suffolk (N. C.,) Spottsylvania, North Anna, Cold Harbor, Weldon Rail- road, Petersburg, and Hatcher's Run.
TWELFTH BATTERY. - OFFICERS.
Walter Shaw, 1st lientenant.
Abraham Liddle, 1st lieutenant.
Elijah Ewing, orderly sergeant.
Rollin G. Steele, sergeant.
George Outwater, sergeant. William T. Slocum, corporal.
Charles Frink, corporal.
Matthias Hoffman, corporal.
Henry Kinney, corporal.
Charles H. Newell, bugler.
Elijah Dodge, carpenter.
PRIVATES.
Wm. H. Anderson. Gustavus V. Kendall.
Charles D. Avery. Peter Krupp.
John Adriance. John King.
Alvin Austin.
John H. Lewis.
Franklin Brown.
Lester W. Babcock. Asahel Brown. John M. Clark.
Cyrus A. Deming. Hiram A. Folsom. Charles O. Gregory. Arnold Harris.
Jesse Lefever, died Nov. 16, 1864. Joseph Lewis. John Mulor.
Andrew Marquet. l'eter Nerber.
Frederick Odiron. Patrick O'Brien.
Mark Mckenzie.
89
OF NIAGARA COUNTY.
Nieholas Parton. Ira E. Thompson.
William Shaver. Cornelius C. Tiee.
John Tyler. Charles Van Horne.
Elijah Talcott. Wentworth.
Alex. Thompson. H. W. Wright, died
Zenas Traey. April 5, 1865.
This battery bravely bore its part in sev- eral important battles.
SEVENTEENTH BATTERY.
Franklin R. Axtell. Murdo MeDonald.
Silas J. Flinn. John Normille.
Alanson Kimball. Anthony T. Weaver.
This battery served from August 27, 1862, to June 12, 1865.
FOURTEENTH ARTILLERY. - COMPANY B. OFFICERS.
Charles A. Vedder, 2d lieutenant.
B. S. Fall, 4th sergeant.
Thomas H. Henderhan, 3d eorporal. Patriek Rineham, 4th corporal.
PRIVATES.
Lester Atkins. Griggs Holbrook.
James M. Abbott. George O. Powley.
Joseph Carley. Charles A. Poole.
Isaac L. Caursen. Nathan Smith.
William A. Dunlap. Russell H. Titus.
Edwin E. Elliott. John Wiseman.
Thonias Gannon. Geo. W. Whittaker.
COMPANY F. - PRIVATES.
Wm. Berryman.
Charles Payfair.
Cains Blanehard.
Philip H. Proper.
William Berry. William Smith.
Thomas Dalton. Edward Williams.
M. O. Holleran. John Wheeler.
William Young.
MePherson. Patriek O'Neil. COMPANY G.
William Walker, sergeant. William E. Phillips, private.
This regiment served from November 24, 1862, to July 8, 1863, was then consolidated with the 18th New York eavalry, and mustered out June 12, 1865.
TWENTY-FIFTH BATTERY LIGHT ARTILLERY. OFFICERS.
James P. Boyd, 1st sergeant.
Charles White, sergeant.
Allen M. Mudge, corporal. Geo. O. Strain, corporal, killed at Pleas- ant Hill.
Thomas A. Lusk, artificer.
Daniel G. Walters, artifieer.
William H. Pease, wagoner.
PRIVATES.
Ira M. Allen. George Papworth.
J. P. Andrews. William W. Ross.
Joseph Anna. Albert Sentley.
William Brownell. George Shorten.
Robert Cook. William Shorten.
Lyman A. Curtin. Henry Shorten.
Albert B. Dean. William Smith.
Owen Donoliue.
Philip Swiek.
Patrick Farrell. Andrew B. Stewart.
Adam Gardner.
Joseph A. Thomas.
James Harrington. M. Darwin Williams.
Myron S. Hills.
Wm. Wilkinson.
Thomas Irwin. Henry Waterson.
Allen Lount. Andrew Welsher.
Jno. W. McCandish.
This battery was in active service for nearly three years, and was in the battle of Lafourche.
ROYALTON AND NEW FANE.
The following is a list of soldiers from Royalton and New Fane, who served in addi- tion to those already mentioned from those towns in the previously described regiments and companies :
90
BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
ROYALTON.
William Bridgen, 37th artillery.
William H. Brookins, 2d cavalry.
George C. Bugbee, 49th infantry.
Janies A. Bugbee, 49th infantry ; died in October, 1862.
Peter D. Burgo, 7th cavalry.
James Compton, 129th infantry, corporal. James H. Cleveland, 11th infantry.
Simeon Corey, 33d artillery.
John Congdon, 7th cavalry.
Truman A. Drake, 2d cavalry; killed in June, 1864.
Charles P. Dutcher, 2d cavalry.
Franklin Dutcher, sergeant.
Milton A. Fellows, 22d cavalry.
Albert Green, corporal in regular army. William Griffis, 17th artillery.
James A. Henry, 8th artillery.
Charles W. Harch, 105th artillery.
James Hudnut, 8th artillery, quartermas- ter-sergeant.
H. C. Jennings, 19th infantry, 1st ser- geant ; died August 6, 1864.
William Jargo, 5th infantry.
Henry G. King, 104th infantry.
Henry S. Ketcham, 17th artillery.
Henry Luth, 8th artillery.
Watson C. McNall, Co. II, 151st, ser- geant.
Martin Murphy, 15th artillery.
Charles Martin, 8th artillery, killed May 9, 1864.
Andrew Nelson, 8th artillery. Daniel Nerber, 10th cavalry. Samuel Nerber, 10th cavalry, killed No- vember 18, 1864.
Rudolph Newmoda, 10th infantry.
Thomas Oliver, 151st infantry.
William E. Phillips, 14th infantry.
Henry Rush, 8th artillery.
Christian Rehwaldt, 8th artillery.
Godfrey Rehwaldt, 8th artillery.
John Russell, 49th infantry; died in No- vember, 1863.
Jacob Stadley, 8th artillery.
Alfred Southwick, 2d cavalry.
Michael Smith, 49th infantry, sergeant.
Charles H. Schad, 1st artillery.
Charles Stock, 8th artillery ; killed at Cold Harbor.
Henry Stock, 8th artillery ; died in Libby A prison.
Jay Silsby, 49th infantry ; died February 3, 1863.
John D. Silsby, 49th infantry.
John H. Tucker, 2d cavalry, captain.
William H. Taylor, navy.
Frederick Urtel, 151st infantry.
Christopher F. Wallenberger, 8th ar- tillery.
NEW FANE.
John Adams, 6th cavalry.
Thomas Artis, 6th cavalry.
Henry A, Bailey, 7th cavalry.
Morris A. Bailey, 12th infantry.
Jeremiah Babcock, 12th heavy artillery ;
died December 22, 1863.
J. D. Birdsall, 10th infantry.
Charles W. Baxtell, 2d lieutenant.
Joseph R. Barrell, 26th infantry, corporal ;
missing after battle at Cedar Mountain. Theodore Butcher, 12th battery.
Lewis Brooks.
James M. Barnum, 61st infantry.
Oliver M. Campbell, heavy artillery ; died
in Libby prison, June 24, 1864. John Dewger, 136th infantry. Henry Davis, 49th infantry.
Calvin Davis, 6th infantry.
George Dorty, 126th infantry.
Almon Gallup, 108th infantry.
Martin Gage, 94th infantry ; died May 6, 1865.
-
91
OF NIAGARA COUNTY.
J. A. Glassoway, 7th cavalry. Owen Gage, 12th battery.
John Gafney, 60th infantry.
David Ganmer, Co. D, 129th infantry, sergeant.
Benjamin Greenfield.
Ezra H. Harwood, 147th infantry.
David B. Halsted, 12th infantry. Charles C. Halsted, 26th infantry. Henry B. Howell, 30th infantry. Norton Hornbeck, 5th Maine.
Dorman C. Johnson, 7th cavalry.
Jolin Jones, 8th heavy artillery ; killed June 2, 1864.
Emmons Johnson, 15th U. S. infantry. Hiram Kelly, 16th cavalry.
John Keyser.
C. C. Lockwood, 7th cavalry. Marcus Lafler, 147th infantry. Seth M. Lovell, 140th infantry. Jacob Leonard, quartermaster. Morris Marquet, 10th veterans.
Phillip Messaroll, Co. D, 161st, 1st ser- geant.
George Murray, Co. A, 27th infantry, or- derly sergeant; killed before Petersburg. Marcus Mandeville, 60th infantry. James H. Mandeville, 12th battery. James A. Maxwell, 12th battery. George McGlynn, 91st infantry. Henry Miller, 91st infantry.
Henry Marshall, 6th colored. William N. Oxley. Michael O'Neal, 91st infantry. Milton E. Perigo. 147th infantry. James Porter, 7th cavalry. David Phillips, 12th battery, 2d lieut. Earle Pierce, 151st infantry. William Parker, 7th cavalry.
Lorenzo N. Pratt, 1st battery, bugler. John Porter, 6th United States colored. John Phillips.
Lawrence Prentice, 1st battery ; died July 26, 1864.
John Quinn, 91st infantry.
David Richards, 34th New Jersey; died December 26, 1864.
Reuben H. Redman, 1st light artillery.
James Raling, 6th United States colored. W. J. Rabo, Co. D, 10th cavalry ; killed at Beverly Ford, Virginia. George E. Reynolds, navy.
W. F. Stout, Co. K, 151st infantry. Hugh M. Swick, 5th veteran cavalry. George Spencer, 10th infantry.
Charles Smith, 6th United States colored. James Smith, 6th United States colored. John Slater, 49th infantry.
William H. Shiefner, died May 6, 1865.
William Taylor, 9th cavalry.
Charles Van Horn, 12th battery.
John Vrecland, 110th infantry ; supposed to have died.
William Vreeland, 12th battery.
Levi Vaughan, Ind. Co. 35.
William Wentworth, 10th cavalry. John Wilson, 6th United States colored. Dennis White, 6th United States colored.
The old militia system demands a word, before we leave the military history of the county. From 1830 to 1860 the militia system was in existence in Niagara, and as carly as 1835 there were three regiments in the county, in which were a few hundred men. Among the early militia companies, or independent organizations, were those of Captain Woodward and Captain Mapes, of Lockport. The 66th regiment succeeded the earlier regiments, and was commanded in succession by Colonels Mapes, Brown, and Shuler. By frequent changes of brigade districts, this regiment was successively in the brigades of General Seroggs, of Buffalo ; General Burroughs, of Orleans county ; and
92
BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
General Williams, of Rochester. The Lock- port Light Dragoons were organized in 1856. The records, if any existed, of the rolls and minutes of the 66th can not be found.
Fruit Growing .- Niagara is said to be the greatest fruit county of the United States, on account of its soil and climate. The soil is peculiarly adapted to fruit, and the southwest, west, northwest, north, and northeast winds pass over open water before reaching the county, which is the reason that the thermometer never falls lower than ten degrees below zero in winter. The autumn lake winds retard ripening and add long keeping qualities to the fruit.
The apple and peach were the fruits first cultivated by the early settlers, who planted large orchards about Lockport and on the southern shore of Lake Ontario, and one of the largest of these orchards was one of seven hundred trees, at Lockport, which was set out in 1817 by Nathan Comstock. The early apple crops were principally used for home use and the manufacture of cider. In 1845 the settled States of the west made a demand for apples on Niagara county that aroused her farmers to grafting, and planting large orchards of the most desirable shipping varieties. In 1878 there was es- timated to be one million and a half of apple trees in the county. The standard apple is fine grain, with less juiee, of higher quality, than the apples in other sections of this country.
The peach crop comes next to that of the apple in size, and was introduced at an early date into the county.
The pear, although affected in past years by the blight, yet is being considerably cultivated, while quince trees, which were hardly known in the county prior to 1865,
now number up well into the thousands. The plum of late years has received con- siderable attention, and aprieots, nectarines, cherries, currants, gooseberries, strawber- ries, blackberries, and raspberries thrive well throughout the county, excepting on clay soils.
The grape finds its natural home in Ni- agara county, where every possible advan- tage of climate and soil exists for its full growth and perfect development. Several hundred aeres of vineyards are now in suc- eessful operation, and active preparations are being made to increase the present acreage, as well as to improve the excellent varieties now eultivated.
In 1880 the value of the orchard products of Niagara county was stated, in the United States census of that year, to be $784,945, which was $100,000 over its highest com- peting county in the State.
Niagara county to-day is the most pros- perous and rapidly progressive fruit growing section of New York and the United States. Its remarkable development has been won- derful within the last two decades, and it is indeed surprising that the fruit industry was allowed to lay so long dormant in so highily favored a country for its successful develop- ment.
Niagara Ship Canal .- The importance of a ship canal around the falls of Niagara was realized at an early day. Such a canal would allow vessels to pass from Lake On- tario and the three great upper lakes to the ocean by the way of the St. Lawrence river, and afford a cheap water-way between the producers of the west and the consumers of the east.
A company was organized in 1798 to build a Niagara ship canal, and had a sur- vey made, upon which it never acted. In
93
OF NIAGARA COUNTY.
1808 a canal around Niagara Falls was sug- gested in a report of the secretary of the treasury to the United States senate. The second Niagara Canal Company was char- tered in April, 1823, and Nathan Roberts surveyed a route for it from the mouth of Gill creek, two miles above the falls, in a northern direction, to the brow of the moun- tain above Lewiston. It was to be a single lock route, at a cost of one million dollars, but failed for want of means.
By 1836 the idea had come into national consideration, and Captain W. G. Williams was sent by President Jackson to survey a route. This route was reported as possible of construction at a cost of three million dollars, and probably would have been built if the panic of 1837 had not occurred.
In 1863 the project was brought before the president and congress, and five years later a bill in congress for the construction of the Niagara ship canal was defeated by a small majority.
No project has been more widely and more favorably discussed in the press of the United States and Europe than the con- struction of the Niagara ship canal, and its friends are sanguine that it will yet be con- structed, and that at a date not far in the future.
Of the vessels built and plying on Lake Ontario and the Niagara river since 1780 to 1880, we have the following record of names and dates, condensed from an inter- esting account given by A. S. Tryon.
In 1780 the British ship Ontario found- ered, after leaving the mouth of the Ni- agara river, and seventeen years later the Jemima was built on the Genesee river by Eli Granger, to ply on Lake Ontario, while in 1803 the sloop Niagara was built at the mouth of Cayuga creek. The first steam-
boat that arrived in the Niagara river was the Ontario, about 1816 or 1817. Since then the following steamers commenced running on the river and lake in the years given :
Frontenac, 1818; Martha Ogden, 1824; Queenston, 1825 ; Canada, 1826 ; Great Britain, 1831; Henry Clay, 1831; United States, 1832; Transit, 1835; Oneida, 1835; Queen, 1837; Gore, 1837; St. Lawrence, 1839; Vandalia, 1841; Chief Justice Robin- son, 1842; Rochester, 1844; Niagara, 1845 ; Cataract, 1847; Ontario, 1848; Bay State, 1849; Northerner, 1850; New York, 1852; Peerless (iron), 1855; Zimmerman, 1856; City of Toronto, 1875; Southern, 1875.
The following schooners have been lost on the lake and river: Mary, in 1817; Isa- bella, Minerva, and I. E. Riggs, in 1854; Wanderer, Sunrise, 1861; Helen Mar, 1862; and Montana, in 1866.
The steamer Maid of the Mist (second) ran, in 1854, below the falls, and continued her trips until 1861, when she was daringly ran over the grand rapids to prevent her falling into the hands of the sheriff.
The following schooners have been built at Youngstown : Boughton, Shicklona, Por- ter, Star, Frank Pierce, Ames, and Chal- lenge. Built at Wilson : Wilson, Niagara, Emblem, Forest, Almira, Enterprise, Ger- aldine, Josephine, Belle Adkins, Active, Meteor, Eureka, Fleet Wing, Pilot, Plow Boy, Trader, and Union. Built at Alcott : Monterey, Gem, Conquest, Governor Hunt, Ruby, Joseph Grant, and Corsican.
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