USA > New York > Niagara County > Biographical and portrait cyclopedia of Niagara County, New York > Part 16
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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
In 1836, Mr. Hill was united in marriage to Anna Tompkins, daughter of Samuel Thompkins, of Westchester county, New York, and to them were born three sons and two daughters: Rowland F., a broker in New York city, who has a wife, two sons, and one daughter; J. Place, a book- keeper in New York city at the time of his sickness which resulted in death, August 6, 1877, leaving a wife and one son; George L., engaged in the same occupation in the same city until his sickness and death, Jan- uary 27, 1877, leaving a wife, but no child- ren; Sarah V., who died June 16, 1872; and Janey T., who died October 1, 1852.
The father of Mrs. Hill, Samuel Tomp- kins, was born in Westchester county, New York, where he was reared, educated, and married. About 1805 he left Westchester county, and traveled on horseback to ex- plore the country which was then in a state of nature. In passing through the forest, where the city of Rochester now stands, he followed an Indian trail, by means of blazed trees. He continued his journey until he reached the Bay of Quinta, in the province of Upper Canada, where he stopped and purchased land, but finding the climate too cold for fruit growing, he sold out and came back to within four miles of the Niagara river, where he bought a farm near where then stood old Fort George. This was the birth place of three of his children, the youngest still living being Anna, now Mrs. Hill, who was born February 8, 1813. The war between England and the United States was then in progress, and the British au- thorities ordered Mr. Tompkins to take his place in their ranks, which he promptly refused to do, saying he would not fight his friends, but would take his team and do service with it. He was made a prisoner
and confined in Fort George, where he re- mained until a British officer, Colonel Dear- born, who knew him personally, became acquainted with the matter and ordered his release. He spent six weeks in confinement, amid vermin and filth, and on short rations. Immediately on his release, he returned to the United States and entered the American army, doing valiant service therein. His family was left in Canada, and the whole care of their six children fell on the shoul- ders of the wife and mother, who heroic- ally discharged that duty until the three years' war was over, and the husband could once more take up the burden. The family, with other resident Americans, was ordered to leave Canada, and did so, after having about all their property confiscated, includ- ing two hundred acres of valuable land. It was at this time that the family came to Niagara county, and were assisted in estab- lishing themselves here by disposing of land which the government had granted to Mr. Thompkins for his services during the war of 1812. For additional facts in his life see sketch of Samuel Thompkins, his son, which appears elsewhere in this volume.
While her husband lived to face business cares and responsibilities, Mrs. Hill's life was of a quiet, retiring nature; but when the stroke that laid him in the grave had placed her in the forefront of life's battle, she developed many of the characteristics which distinguished the Spartan mothers. She took up the business of rearing and educating their children where his hand had left it, and never faltered for a moment until they were all grown, and had received a good education, such as fitted them to oc- cupy positions of trust and responsibility in the world. She is a woman of strong will
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power and good judgment, and is highly esteemed and very popular among her many friends.
OHN H. TAYLOR is one of the lead- ing business men of Tonawanda, and belongs to one of the oldest and most favor- ably known families in this part of New York. He is the son of Charles I. and Ursula (Thorn ) Taylor. He was born on May 6, 1852, in the town of Hartland, Niagara county, New York. His father, Charles I. Taylor, was a native of and brought up in the town of Royalton, in this county, and died at the age of seventy-one years, in the city of North Tonawanda, where he had resided for several years. He was a carpenter by trade, to which avoca- tion he was devoted. He came to North Tonawanda in the year 1882. While he resided in the town of Hartland he was elected to fill several different town offices, and discharged their duties with fidelity. He was a republican in principle, and took a lively interest in the party, its men and measures. His devoted wife, Ursula (Thorn) Taylor, survives him, and now resides in North Tonawanda, at the age of sixty-seven years. She was born at Newburg, New York, and is a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and became an early advocate of protestantism. She and her husband were of English, French, and German extraction, and their parents came to America at an early day to escape re- ligious persecution in their native country.
John H. Taylor was reared in Hartland and Royalton, this county, where he re- ceived a common school education. In the year 1871 he came to the city of North Tonawanda, and secured employment in a
lumber yard; and being industrious and anxious to get on in the world, he learned the business rapidly, and was promoted from one position to another, until in the year 1876 he was appointed manager for the lumber firm of Edwards, Buckmaster & Co., and held this position until the firm was dissolved and changed to J. R. Ed- wards & Co. He became a member and manager of the business of this new firm until it was dissolved, when he became the man- ager of the lumber firm of A. Weston & Son, where he continued until 1889. In the fall of 1889 he became manager for the lum- ber firm of Theo. F. Edgar & Co., which position he now occupies.
John H. Taylor was married in 1872 to Saralı J., daughter of Randolph Phillips, of this county, and they have been blessed with four children, two sons and two daugh- ters : Lillie M., J. Raymond, Wilbur I., and Edna B. John H. Taylor is a member of the Tonawanda Lodge, No. 247, Free and Accepted Masons, also a member of the Chapter, and of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He has been assistant and chief of the fire department, and served as mayor and trustee of North Tonawanda. It is scarcely necessary to say that he is universally known as a first-class business man. He is a republican in politics, and believes in the principles of that party. He is proud of the party record in the war of the Rebellion, and of the generals and states- men that it has produced. He has held various positions of honor and trust, and has discharged his official duties with hon- esty and fidelity. He believes in the maxim that "Labor conquers all things," and it is honorable and manful as well. Such men as John H. Taylor honor the country and party to which they belong.
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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
F RANKLIN SPALDING, of Niagara
Falls, is one of the self-made and rep- resentative men of Niagara county, a man of good judgment, remarkable energy and strong will, but of generous and kind im- pulse, ever ready and willing to aid in the development and progress of his eountry and town. He is a son of Rufus and Abigail (Palmer) Spalding, and was born at Lewis- ton, Niagara county, New York, on August 8, 1815. The Spaldings are of English extraction, and are distinguished in their native country for their scholastic, art, and scientifie learning. The gencalogical his- tory of the family is not defective because of its antiquity. The first of the family of whom we have any knowledge is Edward Spalding, who came to America in the early history of the Massachusetts colony, some time during the seventeenth century. He first appears at Barntree, Massachusetts, where his first wife died, and where his first child, Benjamin Spalding, was born. IIe married a second time, and from these mar- riages the present Spalding family has de- seended. The paternal grandfather, Philip Spalding, was born in Massachusetts almost the middle of the eighteenth century, and the father of our subject, Rufus Spalding, was born on May 31, 1772, in Wyndham county, Connecticut. He died on March 8, 1870, at the remarkable age of ninety-eight years. IIe removed from Canterbury to Rhinebeck, New York, in the year 1800, and in 1810 went to Lewiston, this county, where he took up a tract of two hundred and forty acres of land, and devoted himself to agriculture. He was a cooper by trade, but abandoned it a short time after coming to Niagara county, and at the time of his death lived at Suspension Bridge. In pol- ities he was a whig and republican, and
served as surrogate of Niagara county. He was a justice of the peace for several years, and was a living witness of the county's progress from its earliest constitutional his- tory. He had seen it pass through the wars of 1812, 1848, and the great Rebellion, and had seen Washington, Putnam, Lafayette, and other Revolutionary heroes. He was a zealous whig, and a great admirer of that greatest of American statesmen and orators, Henry Clay. He was truly one of the early pioneers of western New York, and the race to-day is almost extinct. He was an honest, upright, generous and philanthropic citizen, and married Abigail Palmer, (who was born at Canterbury, Connecticut, Feb- ruary 24, 1775), on the 23d day of April, 1797. They had nine children, six of whom are dead : Volney, Sterne, Voltaire, Jane, Helen, and William. The living ones are : Julia, born July 28, 1808, at Rhinebeck, New York, married Joseph E. Whitman, and now resides at Lewiston, this county ; and Franklin.
Franklin Spalding was reared on the old homestead and educated at Lewiston academy, located in this county. He com- meneed life on the old homestead, which he afterwards bought of his father, where he remained until the year 1865. He was a whig, but after the dissolution of this party became an active republican, and was hon- ored many times by the people and by ap- pointment. He was elected sheriff of Niagara county in 1845, serving three years, and in 1851 was appointed collector of customs by President Taylor. He was relieved of his official duty after the death of President Taylor, but in 1861 was appointed by the martyr president, Lincoln, who re-appointed him again in 1865, and after this term, which made in all about nine years, he re-
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5. Spalding
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OF NIAGARA COUNTY.
tired from active business. He served a term as supervisor of the town before he was elected sheriff, and in 1882 was ap- pointed postmaster of Niagara Falls by President Arthur, and since his retirement from this office has lived a comparatively quiet and retired life. He has various busi- ness interests which require his attention, being a director, vice-president and stock- holder in the Cataract bank, a stockholder and director in the business firm of Carter & Co., who are engaged in the manufacture of check books, and in religion is an Epis- copalian. In 1839 Mr. Spalding married Sarah C. Jackson, of Loekport, who was born in Massachusetts. She died Septem- ber 14, 1882. They never had any chil- dren. He is one of the most prominent figures to be seen at the celebrated falls, and is a favorite with old and young. His party standing has been above reproach, and while they have been honoring him, they have honored themselves, for he has always acted with honesty and integrity, and thereby always reflected credit upon his party.
REV. JAMES A. LANIGAN, rector of St. Mary's Catholic church at Niagara Falls, and a man of much learning and great literary acquirements, was born at Halifax, Nova Scotia, March 17, 1846, and is a son of John and Joanna (McGrath) Lanigan. His grandfather, Thomas Lani- gan, a farmer, was born in County Kilkenny, Ireland, where he lived and died. He mar- ried Margaret Donnelly, by whom he had nine ehildren, seven sons and two daugh- ters. One of these sons, John Lanigan (father of Rev. James A. Lanigan), was born June 24, 1812, and emigrated to Nova Scotia (where some of his uncles were then
living) at the age of thirteen years, locating in the city of Halifax. There he lived until his death in 1875. He was a contractor and builder. In 1838 he married Joanna Mc- Grath, daughter of Patrick McGrath, who was also a native of Kilkenny, Ireland, but emigrated to Halifax, Nova Scotia, in 1826, when Joanna was about eight years old. Miss McGrath received her cdueation in Halifax, and afterwards became a teacher of a private school in that city, and was thus employed until her marriage to Mr. Lanigan, by which union she had seven children : Thomas Ferdinand, a contractor and builder at Halifax, Nova Scotia; Cath- erine, died at the age of two years; James Aloysius, the subject of this sketch ; Patrick Francis, a elerk at Niagara Falls; Joli Alphonsus, a physician and surgeon at Niagara Falls; Remigius William, director of the Milton School of Music at Boston, Massachusetts ; and Joseph Edward, a teach- er in the same music school.
Rev. James A. Lanigan received instruc- tion and pursued his studies at St. Mary's college, Halifax, until he was seventeen years of age, when he was sent by his parents to Montreal, Canada, where he entered the Sulpician college. There he made a course of two years' philosophy, after which he entered the Grand seminary to devote four years to theological studies. After finishing this course, being too young to be ordained, he was called to the chair of belles lettres and rhetoric in Montreal college, which position he held for one year. Leaving Montreal, he came to Buffalo, this State, and, having been adopted by the bishop of that city, Rt. Rev. S. V. Ryan, he was, on October 8, 1869, ordained to the priesthood of the Roman Catholic church. His first mission was that of assistant pastor
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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
of St. Bridget's church in the city of Buffalo, where he remained until the death of its pastor in 1870. During the year in which he had been stationed at St. Bridget's he founded St. Bridget's Bencficial society, the first Catholic beneficiary society in the dio- cese of Buffalo. His engaging manners, his eloquence in preaching, his zeal in the dis- charge of his duties, his kindness towards the poor and the orphan, so endeared him to the people of the parish that on the death of their pastor, Rev. Martin O'Connor, the congregation signed a petition to have him placed in charge as pastor. The Rt. Rev. Bishop, although highly pleased that this young priest had given such general satisfac- tion, thought best to call him to the cathe- dral, where he received the appointment of master of ceremonies and private secretary to the bishop. These duties he discharged ably and well. Besides this, being an ex- cellent musician, and the happy possessor of one of the finest tenor voices in the country, rich and sympathetic in quality, and of wonderful compass, he devoted con- siderable attention to the training of the choir, bringing it up to a standard equaled by few choirs outside of the inctropolis. It was during Father Lanigan's time as direc- tor, and principally through his instrumen- tality, that the celebrated Centennial organ was purchased. He held the position as secretary to the bishop for eight years, dur- ing which time he became very popular and widely known.
On the death of Father Moynahan, of Niagara Falls, Father Lanigan was sent to take charge of that parish. His loss to Buffalo was deeply felt by all who had the good fortune to know him. As an evidence of this we quote the following from the
Buffalo Courier, which appeared at the time of his departure from that city :
" Rev. James A. Lanigan has been ap- pointed pastor at Niagara Falls, in place of Rev. Father Moynahan, deceased ; and while the church at Niagara Falls is to be con- gratulated, the people of Buffalo who know Father Lanigan will part with him with sincere regret. Father Lanigan has been attached to St. Joseph's cathedral for nearly nine years, and during that time he has become widely known for his scholarship, his enthusiastic love of music, and, better than these, for delightful qualities of the heart, which make him one of the most genial of men. In the discharge of his duties as priest he has always been true to himself and to those to whom he mininstered, while as musical director of the choir he rendered invaluable service for years. With a most excellent tenor voice, a fine musical education, and good administrative abilities, he was enabled to do much for the choir of St. Joseph's (cathedral), and much he did do. For several years he held the import- ant post of secretary to the bishop, and altogether his life has been a busy one. Father Lanigan is a gentleman of fine literary attainments, and while always clear, thoughtful, and expressive in the pulpit, his special efforts have revealed mental resources of a high order. He is a modest gentleman withal, and those who know him best are those who know what sterling qualities enter into his composition."
The Catholic Union, speaking of his ap- pointment, speaks thus kindly of him :
" The announcement of the permanent appointment of Father Lanigan to the pas- torate of Niagara Falls, in the place of the late Father Moynahan, will be heard by his
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OF NIAGARA COUNTY.
many Buffalo friends with mingled feelings of pleasure and regret; pleasure at his merited promotion to this important trust, regret at his unexpected removal from their midst. Since his ordination in October, 1869, with the exception of a year's stay at St. Bridget's, Father Lanigan has been attached to the cathedral, where his varied accomplishments made him specially useful, while his worth endeared him to numbers of appreciative friends. In addition to his parochial duties he was secretary to the Rt. Rev. Bishop, and it is no flattery to say that the cathedral pulpit, sanctuary, and choir will long miss his presence. It is scarcely necessary to add that we heartily join with his many friends in this city in wishing him a long and prosperous career in his new home by the border of the mighty cataract."
On taking charge of the parish of Niagara Falls, in September, 1878, Father Lanigan had to face a mountain of difficulties. The parochial school consisted then of two small frame buildings, one room in each, and en- tirely insufficient to accommodate the chil- dren of the parish. The parochial residence was likewise a very shabby and dilapidated old house, and the sanctuary of the church was but poorly equipped for divine service. Moreover, there was considerable debt on the church property. The reverend gentle- man immediately set about reducing this debt, which he did in an incredibly short time, besides expending over eight hundred dollars on church vestments, &c. He then determined on erecting a new school house, which not only would accommodate the pupils, who were growing more numerous, but also would be a source of income in many ways. The result was a beautiful brick structure costing some twelve thou- sand dollars, having a capacity for the ac-
commodation of four hundred and fifty chil- dren, and also containing a good-sized hall, fully equipped, with stage, excellent scen- ery, &c., this hall, with its gallery, having a seating capacity for about five hundred persons.
His efforts were next directed to the erec- tion of a new parochial residence. Per- ceiving that in a short time Niagara Falls would have considerable of an increase in population, and that there would be a prob- able necessity for an assistant pastor, the reverend gentleman concluded that he would build with that object in view. An elegant brick structure, furnished with all modern improvements, and surrounded by a beauti- ful lawn, now occupies the spot where the former residence stood.
Within the church itself Father Lanigan made considerable improvements, erecting a new altar, heating the church with hot water, &c. He also put a steam apparatus into the school house.
During the celebration of the Yorktown centennial, the nation's distinguished visit- ors, the Marquis and Marchioness de Roch- ambeau, Count and Countess LaFayette, Count de Grasse, and other notables, paid a visit to Niagara Falls. Calling upon Father Lanigan, they expressed their delight at finding at the Falls, which were first dis- covered by a French priest (Hennepin ), one who was so well able to speak to them in their own language. They made him a handsome donation for his church, the Marchioness de Rochambeau herself send- ing from France the beautiful repositorium that adorns the high altar.
About three years ago Rev. Father Lan- igan purchased a valuable piece of property on Buffalo street, the most aristocratic por- tion of the town of Niagara Falls, for a high
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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
school and home for the sisters who have charge of his schools. This property cost somewhere in the neighborhood of twenty thousand dollars.
The deep interest this gentleman takes in the cause of education is most praiseworthy. His schools are models as far as his limited means will permit. He is untiring in his efforts to train up the youth committed to his pastoral care so that they may become good and moral young men and women, orna- ments to society, a credit to themselves and their church, as well as being representative citizens in every respeet.
In 1888 Father Lanigan was appointed one of the ten permanent rectors of the diocese. He is revered and honored as a priest, and is a learned, congenial, and un- assuming Christian gentleman, popular alike with those of his own church and the com- munity at large.
John Alphonsus Lanigan, M. D. (brother of Rev. James A.), was born at IIalifax, Nova Scotia, November 12, 1854. He began his studies at St. Mary's college, in that city, from which he was graduated with the de- gree of B. A. After this he went to Mon- treal and entered the Sulpician college, where he remained one year. Returning to Halifax in 1873, he entered the Dalhousie college as a medical student, and after three years' study in that institution went to New York to enter the medical department of the University. From this institution he graduated in 1877 as doctor of medicine. He has since practiced his profession suc- cessively at Buffalo, New York, Halifax, Nova Scotia, and Niagara Falls, where he located in 1890. He was district physician of the city of Buffalo in 1878, and elected post mortem examiner for Eric eounty by the democrats in 1879. He is a member of
the Canadian Medical association, and also of the Erie County Medical association, and is the examining physician for the Ladies' Catholic Benefit association of Niagara Falls.
Dr. Lanigan enjoys, outside of his pro- fession, considerable fame as a mathemati- cian of high repnte. At one time he was offered the position of professor of math- ematics in an educational institution in Philadelphia, but declined.
Dr. Lanigan has written some excellent original articles for the various medical journals throughout the country, one of which especially has attracted considerable attention in medical circles both in this country and abroad. He was the first to point out the antagonism between the rlien- matic and consumptive diatheses. Occa- sionally contributions in verse are met with in various newspapers and periodicals bear- ing his signature, which are very creditable productions and evidence a refined taste. The doctor has published several works that have attained considerable of a reputa- tion, notably one on the "Trisection of the Angle."
W ILLIAM DINAN, the popular chief of police in the village of Niagara Falls, was born June 24, 1854, in Lewiston, Niagara county, New York, and his parents were William and Margaret ( Burke ) Dinan. His grandfather, Alexander Dinan, was a native of France, but emigrated to Ireland, where he died at an advanced age. Willianı Dinan (father ) was born in Ireland in 1812, and emigrated to America in 1846, locating at Lewiston, this county, where he followed the occupation of a farmer until his death in August, 1890, aged seventy-eight years.
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OF NIAGARA COUNTY.
In politics he was a democrat. He married Margaret Burke, and to them was born a fanily of three sons and four daughters: John, died in Texas in 1876, engaged in the fur and hide business; William, the subject of this sketch; Mary and Kate (twins), of whom Mary married Frederick Beck, of Niagara Falls, where they reside, and Kate married Cornelius Canovan, of Suspension Bridge, and is now deccased; Ellen, died in 1888, aged twenty-five years; Margaret; and Dennis, who is a carpenter, and resides at Niagara Falls.
William Dinan received his education in the public schools of Lewiston, where he was reared, and after completing his studies began life for himself at Niagara Falls in the employ of a large hotel. His mind soon became imbued with the idea that wealth was more quickly to be won in the inviting fields of the distant west, and leaving his native State he journeyed toward the setting sun. It was on that fateful day in our Cen- tennial year that he, in company with two hundred others, on board a rapidly moving train, approached the bridge at Ashtabula, Ohio. The train had scarcely reached the center of that death trap, when the struct- ure gave way and precipitated the densely crowded cars into the waters below. Then ensued a scene of terror which no pen or pencil can ever portray-which no flight of imagination can ever reach-and of the two hundred happy and ambitious people who had laughed and chatted on the train but a moment ago, one hundred and forty-four lay mangled, crushed and burned, many of them beyond recognition by their dearest friends. Only fifty-six persons es- caped alive, and William Dinan was one of that fortunate company. But lapse of years will never obliterate the terrible memories
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