USA > New York > Niagara County > Biographical and portrait cyclopedia of Niagara County, New York > Part 17
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of that awful hour. Mr. Dinan was on his way to join his brother John in Texas, witlı whom he had arranged to go into business, but was so injured in the accident that he was sent to the hospital and thus delayed. When he finally arrived in the Lone Star State it was only to find that his brother had died and been buried two weeks before, and that the investment both had made in that State had proved an entire loss. Thus is illustrated that old adage that misfortunes never come singly. Looking the situation bravely in the face, however, Mr. Dinan turned his attention to mining, and for five years he was engaged in mining enterprises in various western States, and at the end of that time returned to Niagara Falls, mar- ried and settled down to a residence in the village, which has continued until now. He engaged in the hotel business for a time, conducting a summer hotel and traveling in the winter, during which journeyings he has visited nearly all parts of the United States.
In April, 1886, he was offered a place on the police force, and accepting it, became a patrolman. He served in this capacity for four years, and was then promoted to be chief of police of the village, and is now serving his third year in that responsible position. He has made a good record in this office, being quick to detect crooked- ness, full of resources in ferreting it out, and an able disciplinarian, who at the same time secures the confidence and good will of all under his control. In politics he is a democrat, and takes an active interest in the success of his party.
Mr. Dinan was united in marriage to Louisa Wegner, of the city of Buffalo. To their union have been born two children : Nellie and William M.
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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
H ENRY SCOTT WARE, a wide-awake
and wealthy business man of Niagara Falls, and an intelligent and affable gentle- man who has done much to develop and build up the business interests of the village, is a son of Solomon and Lucia ( Cole) Ware, and was born August 24, 1833, at Niagara Falls, Niagara county, New York. The Wares of the United States are all supposed to be descended from Robert Ware, the representative of an old English family who came to America about 1635 and settled at Dedham, Massachusetts, where he married Margaret Hunting, and became the pro- genitor of a numerous and widely scattered posterity. Jesse Ware (grandfather) was born in Massachusetts, emigrated to Niagara Falls at an early day, and with John Stead- man, in the year 1805, occupied what is known as the Steadman farm, where the old chimney now stands near the river bank above the falls. He was twice married, first to Anna Woods, and after her death to Eunice Lawrence, by whom he had several children, among them being Solomon Ware (father), who was born in Massachusetts, October 13, 1800, and removed to Niagara Falls about 1820, where he lived until his death, in 1849. He served as justice of the peace for several terms, and operated the ferry across the Niagara river for many years, during which time occurred the " Patriot" war of 1837. He married Lucia Cole, and to them were born eight children : Goodell, who married Louisa Bell, of Dal- ton, Massachusetts, and died May 7, 1857, aged thirty-five years; Charles S., married Helen Turner (deceased), practiced medi- cine for some time at Niagara Falls, after- ward removed to Indianapolis, Indiana, continuing his practice, from whence he returned to his former home, and died there
in 1872; Elizabeth M., married A. K. Fas- sett, and died in 1862; Justin C., married Kate Johnson, and resided at Titusville, Pennsylvania, where he was engaged in business until his death, in December, 1891; Solomon L., an engineer, who died in Geor- gia in 1857; Henry Scott; Lucia M., mar- ried W. C. Hulett, of Omaha, Nebraska; and Jesse Dwight, who died at Savannah, Georgia, November 5, 1879.
Henry Scott Ware's early education was obtained in the common schools of Niagara Falls, where he laid broad and deep the foundations on which he afterward built, by the study of men and events, until he ac- quired that general knowledge imparted to the earnest student in the great university of actual life. His two elder brothers re- ceived a collegiate education, and his two sisters were given an academic course; but the death of his mother, when he was only thirteen years of age, together with other embarrassments, prevented him from enter- ing college. After leaving school he worked as a laborer on the railroad for a time, and then secured a situation in a tin, copper, and sheet iron shop, where he learned the trade, and worked for a short time in Ni- agara Falls. About 1851 he went to Chi- cago, Illinois, where he worked at his trade for two years, and then returned to Niagara Falls and entered the employ of Fassett & Ware, his brother being the junior partner in the firm. In 1857 he purchased the tin, copper, and sheet iron business of this firm, and has been engaged in that line ever since. He now runs an extensive hardware store, and does a large business in tinsmith- ing, coppersmithing, and steam heating ap- pliances in the village of Niagara Falls.
On January 4, 1857, Mr. Ware was united in marriage with Mary Stickels, daughter
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OF NIAGARA COUNTY.
of Timothy J. Stickels, of Niagara Falls, and to this union was born an only daugh- ter, Etta, who is now married to A. H. G. Hardwicks, a resident of Buffalo, New York.
In addition to his hardware, tin, and cop- per business, already referred to, Mr. Ware has become connected with and interested in many of the leading enterprises of the village. He was one of the originators and directors of the Niagara Falls Prospect Park Company, and at its inception, though opposed by all of the other directors, urged, and finally secured, the introduction of the Brush system of electric lighting, which, developed under the liberal management of the park authorities, rendered the locality famous throughout the world. A peculiarly strong and close intimacy existed between Mr. Ware and his life-long friend, the late Daniel J. Townsend. He is a director and stockholder in both the Cataract bank and the Niagara Savings bank, and vice-presi- dent of the Carter Company, and is a trus- tee of the International Hotel Company, in all of which he holds stock; and is vice- president and was one of the earliest and most active promoters of the Tunnel Com- pany of Niagara Falls. He is also inter- ested in the Yakima Irrigating and Land Improvement Company, in the State of Washington. Mr. Ware is a member of Niagara Frontier Lodge, No. 132, Free and Accepted Masons, at Niagara Falls, and of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. Thus briefly arc sketched the simple facts pertaining to a useful and unusually suc- cessful career. Perhaps a key to his re- markable success may be found in the fact that he is gifted with keen insight, untiring energy, a generous disposition, and a genial manner, which is almost a fortune in itself. It need not be added that he is popular and
highly esteemed, and as showing the rela- tions existing between employer and em- ployed, it is worthy of mention that he has now in his employ several men ranging in terms of service from twenty to thirty years.
TUNIS OUTWATER. The Outwater family were among the earlier settlers of this country, coming from Holland, where, in the middle of the fifteenth century, a celebrated Dutch painter, Albert Van Out- water, flourished. John Outwater, the great- grand-father of the present generation, was born in 1746, in Bergen county, New Jer- sey. IIe was a captain in the Continental line of the Revolutionary war, and twice saved Hackensack from being sacked and burned. He married Harrict Lozier. He was afterwards, for three terms, between 1800 and 1817, judge of the court of com- mon pleas for Bergen county (which then comprised Jersey City, Hoboken, and sur- rounding region). He died in May, 1823, and his wife died in 1828, at the age of eighty-two years. Their children were John, Richard, Abram, Peter, Jacob, and Elizabeth.
John Outwater, the grandfather, was born August 9, 1781. He married Cathalina Van Bussum, and removed to Wilson, this county, in 1832, where he purchased land and erected a saw mill on the border of Lake Ontario. He continued in this busi- ness, together with farming, until his death, in 1842. His wife died in 1871, at the age of eighty years. His children were Harman, Nicholas, Jacob, and Tunis.
Tunis Outwater, the father, was born February 13, 1820, married Mary E. Cud- dabeck, who was born in this county, Octo- ber 28, 1825, and who was a daughter of
.
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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
Samuel A. Cuddabeck and Elizabeth, his wife, who came to this county early in 1800, from Cuddabeckville, Orange county. He resided on the homestead, which he in- herited from his father, and was engaged in various pursuits, nursery business, farming, and running a saw mill. He removed to Lockport in 1866, and until his death, in June, 1882, was engaged in the mercantile business. His children were Elizabeth, Cathalina, John, Tunis, Samuel, Alida, and Mary. John and Tunis are engaged re- spectively in the jewelry and the boot and shoe business. Samuel is a physician and surgeon, a graduate of the University of the city of New York, and now a specialist of eye and car diseases.
W ALTER L. LAMONT is a prominent man in business affairs, as well as in political and social matters. He is a son of Hon. George D. and Mary ( Cole) Lamont, and was born on September 26, 1848, at Lockport, Niagara county, New York. Hon. George D. Lamont (father) was born in Orleans county, this State, in 1819, and he availed himself of whatever the common schools could give, and subsequently entered Yale college, from which he was graduated in 1837. In 1838 he came to Lockport, began the study of law in the office of Hon. J. L. Curtenias, and in 1841 was admitted to the bar. By his energy and ability, he soon obtained a lucrative practice. "As a prac- titioner he was quick of apprehension, pos- sessing a keen analytical intellect, was earn- est and laborious, and an excellent classical scholar. He discharged every duty that devolved upon him faithfully and success- fully." He speedily won a name for him- self for honesty, ability, and successful
pleading. Upon the organization of the Republican party, he became a republican, and always remained one of its strongest adherents. He was first elected school commissioner, and he discharged the duties with ability and fidelity. In 1859 he was elected State senator, to fill a vacancy caused by the death of Judge Stowe, for thirty days, during which time he exhibited marked ability in debate, attracted public attention, and gained a State reputation. In 1862, when the president of the United States created a provisional eourt for the New Orleans district, to hear all causes, both criminal and civil, including cases of law and equity, revenue and admiralty, and its decisions were final, he appointed him United States district attorney, which posi- tion he held until 1865, at which time there was no further use for the extra courts, as the war was over and the civil authorities were resuming their proper functions. In 1865 he was elected judge of Niagara county, but before the year had expired he was appointed a justice of the Supreme court of his distriet, to supply a vacancy by the resignation of Hon. Noah Davis, and in 1871 was elected a justice of the Supreine court for a term of fourteen years, by an overwhelming majority. He married Mary Cole in 1842, by whom he had five children : Frances Adrienne, married Frank C. De Long, formerly of Lockport, but now of San Francisco, California, where he is largely interested in stock raising and dairying. He owns a ranch of sixteen thousand acres in that State, at Black Point, is a prominent republican, and has served as State senator ; Walter Llewellyn; Anna Florence, wife of L. F. Doolittle, who resides at San Diego, California, and was formerly city editor of Lockport Journal, but now secretary of a
Judge . George D. Lamont.
5
£
RESIDENCE OF W. L. LAMONT, NIAGARA FALLS.
It. L. Laiwant.
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OF NIAGARA COUNTY.
large San Diego tunnel company ; Charles Darwin, died in infancy; and Georgiana Theresa, also died in infancy.
Walter L. Lamont was educated in the common schools of Lockport, Wesleyan academy at Wilbraham, Massachusetts, and the Eastman National Business college, at Poughkeepsie, New York. He commenced life on his own account in the city of New York, with Clement Hawkes and Maynard, in the manufacture of cutlery, with whom he remained two years, and afterward en- gaged with J. Russell & Co. as shipping clerk and salesman. In 1866 he.went to California as agent for Charles R. Penfield, of Lockport, manufacturer of ship blocks, in which he continued for about three years, when he came east to Lockport and clerked in the post office for three years, and was then appointed deputy collector of custonis at Suspension Bridge. He had charge of the statistical and vessel department, and was also liquidating clerk for twelve years, under Col. T. E. Ellsworth, B. Flagler, and O. W. Cutler. He finally resigned this posi- tion, and in 1887 came to Niagara Falls and engaged in the insurance and real estate business, in which line he has been unusually successful. He is financial and recording secretary of Niagara Falls busi- ness men's association, and stock trustee of the Yakima Irrigating and Improvement Company, of which the capital stock is four hundred thousand dollars, located in the State of Washington. The object is to irrigate forty thousand acres of land, twenty thousand of which are owned by the con- pany. He is secretary of the Niagara Casket & Coffin Company, of Thorold, On- tario, where they are doing a large and thriving business, with a capital stock of one hundred thousand dollars.
On October 6, 1875, Mr. Lamont married Amelia M. Ferguson, of Lockport, now deceased. By this union he had one child, Amelia F. After the death of his first wife, he married Mary Hulett, daughter of J. P. Hulett, of Niagara Falls. Mr. and Mrs. Lamont are the parents of four chil- dren, two sons and two daughters: Edith Geraldine, Marguerite May, Walter Douglas, and George Donald, who died in infancy.
In political belief he is a republican, a niember of St. Peter's Episcopal church, and is very fond of music, having conducted St. Peter's choir of forty voices for seven years. He belongs to Niagara Frontier Lodge, No. 132, Free and Accepted Masons, the Rochester Consistory, in which he is a thirty-second degree Scottish Rite Mason, and Niagara Chapter, No. 200. He was organist for a number of years of Frontier Lodge and Niagara Chapter.
M ARCUS MABEE deserves the credit of being one of Gasport's active busi- ness men, who have shaped the leading industries of that village. He is a son of Colonel John and Polly (Chubb ) Mabee, and was born in the town of Royalton, Ni- agara county, New York, August 26, 1827. James Mabee (grandfather) was a native of Holland, and came with a brother and sister to America about the year 1730. This sister married a Mr. House, and they settled at Little Falls, Herkimer county, where he re- sided during the French and Indian and Revolutionary wars. He was engaged in trading furs, and during the Revolutionary struggle one of his sons was killed and scalped by the Indians. In 1790 he re- moved to Penfield, Monroe county, where he purchased seventeen hundred acres of
10&11
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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
land, and there followed farming until his death. He married Christina Fetland, who was of German extraction, and owned a large tract of land, known as "Gernian Flats," situated below Little Falls. This farm gave employment to a large number of men. Mr. Mabee died a short time after removing to Monroe county, and had reared a family of elever. children : Sylvanus, Bar- tholomew, James, John (father), John (scalped by the Indians), Nancy, Dorothy, Catherine, Alida, and Mrs. Stone. Joseph Chubb (maternal grandfather) was born in Connecticut. He served as a private in the war for Independence, and was in Wash- ington's army when he crossed the Delaware and captured the Hessians. After the close of the war he was a resident of New Lon- don, Connecticut, and from there he re- moved to Pittsford, Monroe county. Re- maining at Pittsford but a short time, he went to Chenango county, where he lived until his death, in 1840, while on a visit to Pittsford, at the ripe old age of eighty-seven years. He married Sarah Tinker, by whom he had two sons and five daughters. John Mabee (father) was born at Little Falls, New York, December 19, 1781. He went to Penfield and then to Pittsford, and in 1810 came to the town of Royalton, this county, where he died September 1, 1849. At Pittsford he was at first engaged as a common laborer, but later he purchased a farm, which he sold prior to his coming to Niagara county. After coming to this county he purchased a small grist mill with a few acres of land. Later lie built two saw mills and purchased another tract of land, on which he erected another mill. All of these mills were located on the east branch of Eighteen-mile creek, in the town of Roy- alton. He was one of the oldest settlers of
his town, and one of the first of the Holland Land purchasers. His death was caused from slipping and falling over while crossing a mill dam. He owned large tracts of land, and by his honesty and fidelity he won and held the respect of all who knew him. In politics he was a democrat, and upon the division of that party in New York, became a Tompsonian democrat. During the war of 1812 he remained a deniocrat, but at its close united with the Whig party. In the war of 1812 he served as first lieutenant of one company and captain of another. After the war he became a colonel in the New York State militia. He married Polly Chubb on March 29, 1809, and they had five sons and six daughters, of whom five daugh- ters and one son died in their infancy : James, born March 13, 1812, died January 17,1852; John, born February 29, 1812, died July 17, 1887; Benjamin C., born June 22, 1816, is now living near Mansfield, Ohio; Polly (Collar), born July 12, 1824, is living in Michigan.
Marcus Mabee received his education in the common schools and Royalton Centre academy. After the death of his father, he engaged in the milling business, which he carried on until 1882. Since then he has operated a large stone quarry. He is also engaged in the quarry business as, a member of the firm of M. Mabee & Co., and quarries stone principally for curbing, paving and building. This quarry furnishes annual em- ployment for about thirty men. For two years Mr. Mabee was agent on the New York Central railroad at Mabee's station, and during this period he dealt quite ex- tensively in live stock and carried on the milling business.
On March 4, 1851, he united in marriage with Elizabeth C. Priestley, a daughter of
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OF NIAGARA COUNTY.
Richard Priestley, of Pittsford, Monroe county, and they have two children : Eugene H., deputy collector and inspector of cus- toms at Suspension Bridge, married Alice Dale; and Marcus, Jr., is at home, and has been for some time attending the Lockport Union school.
In politics Mr. Mabee was formerly a whig and a strong advocate of the protective tariff and the other principles of the Re- publican party. He served as supervisor in the town of Royalton during the years 1869 and 1870, and is a member of Cataract Lodge, No. 94, Ancient Order of United Workmen, of Gasport.
EROY B. PIKE, a veteran of the late war, and a leading merchant and busi- ness man of Sanborn, is a son of Jarvis B. and Ruth S. Pike, and was born at Smyrna, Chenango county, New York, June 16, 1846. His paternal grandfather, Jarvis O. Pike, removed from Newburyport, Massa- chusetts, to the State of New York, in an early day. His paternal grandmother was of Scotch descent, coming from Scotland, and locating in the northwestern part of New York. Jarvis B. Pike (father) was born in the State of New York in 1813, near the town of Courtland. He was a carpenter and joiner by occupation, and married Ruth S. Stover, by whom he had seven children, four sons and three daugh- ters. Mrs. Pike was also born in New York, in 1814, where she has always resided.
Leroy B. Pike was reared in Niagara county, and received his education in the common schools of that county. After leav- ing school he worked at farming until 1871, when he engaged in merchandising at Leb- anon, Madison county, this State. He came
to Sanborn in 1883, traveled a short time in the east for his health, and after his re- turn, engaged in the mercantile business, where he is at present located. In August, 1863, he enlisted in the 8th New York heavy artillery, at Baltimore, and in May, 1864, his regiment joined the Army of the Potomac. He participated in all the skir- mishes and battles of his regiment. The battles in which he was engaged were : Spottsylvania Court-house, North and South Anna river, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, Wel- don Railroad, siege of Petersburg, Deep Bottom, Hatches' Run, Ream's Station, Dabney's Mills, and the white oak roads evacuation of Petersburg, Farmville, and was at High Bridge, the surrender of Gen- eral Lec at Appomattox Court-house, on April 9, 1865. He was honorably dis- charged June 30, 1865, but before going north participated in the grand review at Washington.
In January, 1871, Mr. Pike was united by marriage with Almeda C. Sornberger, a native of Canada. To Mr. and Mrs. Pike has been born one child, a son, William J. Mrs. Pike's father, W. R. Sornberger, was born in Lower Canada, on November 26, 1816, came to the United States in 1864, and located one and one-half miles from Pekin, in the town of Cambria, where he resided until 1885, when he came to San- born. Mrs. Sornberger was also a native of Canada, and she and her husband were both of Scotch descent. They had a family of nine children, two sons and seven daughters.
In political opinion Mr. Pike is a conser- vative republican, a member of Forest Lodge, No. 202, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Alex. Mabon Post, No. 125, de- partment of New York Grand Army of the
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Republic, and belongs to the society of the Army of the Potomac. He has a good stock of goods, and is building up a paying trade.
WILLIAM C. SILSBY, of English ex-
traction, and one of the comfortably sit- uated farmers and most highly respected citi- zens of Orangeport, is a son of Setli and Betsy (Cady) Silsby, and was born in Ver- mont, January 27, 1807. Seth Silsby was a native of England, but came to America some time during his early life, and died near Cleveland, Ohio. During his youth he learned the ax-making trade and or- ganized a company, under the firm name of Silsby & Company, who erected a plant at Honey Oye Falls, Monroe county. This company manufactured scythes and axes, and continued in operation for three years, but with not as great a financial success as was anticipated. His son, W. C. Silsby, a member of the firm, then purchased the interests of the other members of the firm, and for three years conducted the business in partnership with Samuel Rand. At the expiration of that time the business was abandoned. Seth Silsby was a democrat, and served as an officer in the war of 1812. He was formerly a member of the Congre- gational church, but afterwards united with the Christian church. He married Betsey Cady, and to this union were born a family of five sons and four daughters. Mrs. Silsby was a daughter of Benjamin Cady, who was also a native of Vermont, and re- moved to Canada prior to the second war with Great Britain. At the beginning of that war he was compelled to leave Canada upon his refusal to take the oath of alle- giance to that country. He served as an offi- cer in that war, and at its close located at
Windsor, Vermont, where he became sher- iff, and served for thirty years before re- moving to Olio.
William C. Silsby received his education in the common schools, and was for a time engaged in the mercantile business. He was a traveling salesman for a hardware firm for a number of years, and in 1840 he came to Niagara county and settled in the town of Hartland, where he remained as a resident for ten years. He then removed to the town of Royalton, one-half mile from Orangeport, where he has ever since resided. He owns a farm of one hundred acres of fine land, and since his coming into Niagara county has directed his atten- tion mainly to agricultural pursuits.
On June 17, 1827, Mr. Silsby married Mary S. Day, daughter of Charles and Sal- lie (Phelps) Day, and who was born at Mendon, Monroe county, June 18, 1811. To Mr. and Mrs. Silsby have been born eleven children: Charles D., George W., Seth, Jay, John D., Horace, Elizabeth, Emily, and Ida. Charles D., married Sarah Bordwell, and now resides upon a farm in the town of Hartland, while George W. united in marriage with Josephine Harring- ton, of Orangeport, and is a farmer in Liv- ingston county, Michigan ; and Jay enlisted in the civil war at Lockport in 1861, served in company H, of the 49th regiment, and died at Aqua creek, Virginia, in 1863. Horace married Amanda Phelps, and lives upon a farm in the town of Royalton. Elizabeth married Alphonso Mabee, a farmer and resident of Mansfield, Ohio. Emily C., united in marriage with D. V. Cothren, a resident of the town of Porter and a suc- cessful farmer. Ida married Levi H. Pease, who lives with William C. Silsby and oper- ates a farm. Seth married Addie Spencer
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