USA > New York > Niagara County > Biographical and portrait cyclopedia of Niagara County, New York > Part 19
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71
Murphy (grandfather), was born in New York city, served as a naval officer in the Revolution, and at its close went with his father to Albany, New York, where he died while still a young man. He was a mem- ber of the Dutch Reformed church -as was his father-and married and had a family of four sons and one daughter. His son, Dr. Peter P. Murphy (father), was born in the city of Albany, New York, July 18, 1800, and received his education in the Albany academy, from which he was graduated with high standing. He taught school in Herkimer county to defray the expense of his last terms in the academy and then determined to enter the navy, but his mother's strong protests caused him to relinquish that idea, the same as Washing- ton did when his mother pleaded with him to not become a midshipman. Peter P. Murphy next turned his attention to the min- istry, but when nearly fitted to take orders, he concluded to enter the medical profes- sion, and read medicine with Dr. White, of Cherry Valley, New York, after which he entered Fairfield Medical college, of Her- kimer county, from which well known med- ical institution he was graduated with good standing. He practiced with Dr. White for some time under the firni name of White & Murphy, and while at Cherry Valley was elected, in 1835, to the New York assembly. Shortly after the close of his term he re- moved to Royalton Centre, in the town of Royalton, where he died January 20, 1880. He bought a twenty-six acre farm of Orsa- mus Atwood, to which land he soon added a large tract. IIe quit active practice in 1863, but prior to this he had held for several years, by appointment of the Secretary of the Interior, the position of assistant asses- sor for the towns of Royalton and Hartland.
-
171
OF NIAGARA COUNTY.
He also served, in 1862, as a member of the board for the medical examination of drafted men. Dr. Murphy represented the 29th district in the senate of New York, in 1860 and 1861, where he served as a member of the committee on railroads, and was president of the medical committee. Dr. Murphy was a very fine extemporane- ous speaker, and a clear, logical reasoner, and while in the senate his speeches were widely read, as he seemed by intuition to grasp the strong points of his subject and see the weak points of his opponent. He was a democrat until 1844, when he resigned the chairmanship of his town committee to become a free soiler, and a few years later was one of the twenty-eight who organized the Republican party in Niagara county. While a strong abolitionist, yet he was a pronounced anti-know-nothing, and his house was twice set on fire on account of his denunciation of know-nothingism. He was a member of the Dutch Reformed church, and was an own cousin to the celebrated Indian fighter, Charles Murphy, whose wife and two children were killed by Indians during the French and Indian war, and who swore eternal vengeance for their death on the Indians, who said that he could run and fire all day.
Dr. Peter P. Murphy was one of the most prominent Free Masons in the State of New York. He became a member of Cherry Valley Chapter, No. 74, Royal Arch Ma- sons, in 1822, and for thirty-six years served as eminent commander of Genesee Com- mandery, No. 10, Knights Templar. He served also as high priest of the Grand Chapter of the State, and was elected and served for one term as most eminent grand commander of the Grand Commandery of Knights Templar of New York. He mar-
ried Anna Kayner, and to them were born two sons and four daughters: Sarah C., who married W. G. Richardson, of Royal- ton; Mary C., wife of a Mr. Shaw, of Washington; Martha A., wife of Smith Hoag, a farmer of the town of Royalton; Dr. Daniel H .; Dr. George P., who had a large practice in Orleans county, where he married Ellen Sybrandt, one son surviving them; and Margaret A., who married M. H. Clark, an attorney at law of Lockport, and died in 1876.
Daniel H. Murphy, at eighteen months of age, was brought by his parents to the town of Royalton, where he grew to man- hood. He received his education at Lima, New York, and after leaving college read medicine with his father. In 1852, he en- tered the niedical department of the Uni- versity of Buffalo, from which he was grad- uated in the class of 1856, and since then has made a specialty of therapeutics, although he has given most of his time to general practice throughout the town of Royalton and the southern and eastern parts of the county. He has an extensive practice in surgery, and during the late civil war served as one of the examining board of sur- geons at Lockport. In 1861 he served nine months in the civil war.
In 1856 he married Augusta G., daugh- ter of Julius P. and Anna ( Mabee) Cleve- land, of Royalton. Mrs. Murphy died in 1862, when in the thirty-second year of her age, and left two children : Edith A., wife of Wesley Staples, a member of the hard- ware firm of Higgs & Staples, of Lockport; and Peter P., who was an engineer. In 1863, Dr. Murphy married for his second wife Sarah A. Goodman, who was a daugli- ter of Jacob and Elizabeth Goodman, of Royalton, and who died in 1874, at the age
172
BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
of forty-one years. On September 6, 1876, he united in marriage with Caroline Sprout, daughter of Charles and Hannah (Ander- son) Sprout. To this third union have been born six children : Anna M., and Car- rie E., now living.
Dr. Murphy is a member of the Niagara county medical association, and the New York State medical society. He is a mem- ber of Gasport Lodge, No. 787, Free and Accepted Masons, and Genesee Command- ery, No. 10, Knights Templar, of Lock- port. Dr. Daniel H. Murphy has made his profession not only his life work, but his life study, and thus has attained his success in medicine and surgery, for which he is well qualified by energy, reading, and nat- ural ability.
C HARLES W. JOHNSON, who has been in the practice of law at Suspen- sion Bridge for more than twelve years, and is a well known and highly esteemed citi- zen of Niagara county, was born May 14, 1847, in the town of Phelps, Ontario county, New York, and is the son of William and Mary (Crosier) Johnson. The Johnsons are of Irish descent, William Johnson (father) having been born in County Fer- managh, Ireland, August 26, 1814. He emigrated to the United States in 1842, and settled in the town of Phelps, Ontario county, where he purchased a farm. Later he removed to the town of Manchester, same county, where he now resides, a pros- perous and independent farmer. In politics he was an ardent democrat until 1856, when he reluctantly voted for John C. Fremont for the presidency, and soon after became an enthusiastic republican, to which party he adhered until 1874, when he joined the
prohibitionists, and now takes an active interest in that movement. He is a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal church at Port Gibson, and has always been promi- nent in church affairs, being a class leader for twenty years, and also trustee. He married Mary Crosier in 1838, and had a family of ten children, five sons and five daughters.
Charles W. Johnson was reared on the farm upon which his father first located, and was educated in the public schools of Ontario county, after leaving which he at- tended the State Normal school at Albany for one year. When twenty-six years of age he went to Chicago, Illinois, just after the great fire of 1873, and remained there six months, helping to clear away some of the debris left by the fire and getting foun- dations ready for rebuilding. In the fall of that year he left Chicago and visited Eas- ton, Nevada, and then proceeded to Cali- fornia, to which State his brother James had removed some ten years previous. In California he engaged in the lumber busi ness as foreman in the logging camp of the Truckee Lumber Company, receiving a sal- ary of seventy-five dollars a month in gold. He remained in that State until September, 1875, when he returned to New York with a view of completing his education at the State Normal school at Albany. He found the curriculum so changed, however, as to necessitate doing his first year's work over, and while deliberating on this state of affairs he was invited by a friend to attend a lecture at the Albany Law school. Here he was so interested in the subject of juris- prudence that he at once determined to take a course in law, and the next morning - September 9, 1875,- saw copies of Black- stone and Kent for the first time in his life.
175
OF NIAGARA COUNTY.
Entering the Albany Law school imme- diately, he continued his studies until April 19, 1876, when he was graduated. At that time he had no intention of practicing, and returned to the old homestead in Ontario county, where he remained for two years.
During this sojourn on the farm Mr. Johnson was married, September 4, 1878, 'to Grace D. Watkins, daughter of Clinton and Lucretia L. Watkins, and their union has been blest with three children : Clinton, Mary, and Ruth.
Soon after his marriage he removed to Rochester, this State, for the purpose of continuing the study of law, but sought in vain for a law office in which to obtain the practice part of the profession. He spent a year in Rochester, alternating between the law courts of the city and the Court of Ap- peals library, and gathering up much val- uable information which aided him greatly in after years. On December 15, 1879, he left Rochester for Suspension Bridge, and a few days thereafter opened a law office in this village, where he has ever since been engaged in the active practice of his pro- fession. He is now well and favorably known as an able advocate and successful lawyer.
In politics Mr. Johnson was a republican until 1874, when he joined the Prohibition party, and took an active. interest in the advancement and success of its principles up to 1887, when the party adopted a woman suffrage plank as part of its plat- form. To this plank Mr. Johnson was so strongly opposed that he refrained from voting that year, and has since voted the republican ticket. In 1885 he was ap- pointed as notary public, and has been twice reappointed, still holding that office. He is a stockholder in the Devil's Hole Land
Company, which company he incorporated in July, 1891. He is a member of the Con- gregational church at Suspension Bridge, and was superintendent of its Sunday- school for four years. He became a mem- ber of this church soon after locating in the village, and has taken an active interest in its growth and prosperity, serving as a dea- con for the past six years. He is a member of Niagara Lodge, No. 785, Free and Ac- cepted Masons, of Suspension Bridge, of which he is junior warden, and is an intelli- gent gentleman of acknowledged ability in his profession, and deservedly popular with a large circle of friends and acquaintances.
LL1 DWARD J. TURNER, a popular and promising young attorney of Lockport, is a son of John and Elizabeth Turner, and was born in that city, January 15, 1868. His father, John Turner, was born in Eng- land, but came to America when quite young and settled in Lockport, and was one of the early pioneers of Niagara county. He was a contractor and builder by occupation, and married Elizabeth Doyle, by whom be had four children: Mary, who married Thomas Burke, a dry goods merchant of Windsor, Ontario, Canada, where they re- side; Elizabeth, married Fred. McGuire, who lives at St. Catharines, Canada, but conducts a wholesale cloak business in New York city; Kate, married Dr. Joseph Reaume, a practicing physician of Detroit, Michigan ; and Edward J., the subject of this sketch.
Edward J. Turner received his education at the Lockport Union school, and after completing his studies there entered the law office of E. M. Aslıley, of Lockport, and began reading law. He was admitted
176
BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
to the bar in November, 1889, and at once formed a copartnership with the late Judge Alfred Holmes, which continued until the death of Judge Holmes, November 11, 1891. Since that time he has been practicing alone, and has met with gratifying success in his efforts. He is a painstaking attorney, and a deep student of the underlying prin- ciples of law, and being young and ener- getic, bids fair to make a fine record at the bar and win distinction in his chosen pro- fession.
In his political affiliations Mr. Turner is a democrat, and is well grounded in the cardinal principles and historical policy of his party, giving it an active and intelligent support on all local, State and National issues. He has already won an honorable place at the bar, and his many friends con- fidently predict for him a bright future. He is very popular also in the social circles he frequents, and appears to be on the threshold of a successful and brilliant ca- reer.
F RANK BYRON, a substantial and suc- cessful grocer, and a member of the city council of Lockport, is a son of William and Rachel (Scott) Byron, and was born in the city of Lincoln, England, May 22, 1852. His parents were both natives of Lincoln, En- gland, and consistent members of the Pro- testant Episcopal church, or Church of England. William Byron was born in 1809, and after attaining to the years of maturity, he became a boot and shoe merchant. He continued in that line of business until his death, in 1887, at sixty-eight years of age. He was quiet, industrious and friendly, but like most Englishmen was firm and un- yielding in what was his rights, or what he thought was just and proper. He was suc-
cessful in his business. His widow, whose maiden name was Rachel Scott, still resides at her old home in Lincoln, in which city she first saw the light of day, sixty-two years ago.
Frank Byron grew to manhood in Lin- coln, and received his education in the ex- cellent and practical schools of that city. He was a song man in the Lincoln cathedral from seventeen to twenty years of age, when he left his native land and came to the United States. In 1876 he became a resi- dent of Lockport and engaged in the gro- cery business, which he has followed suc- cessfully ever since.
On April 26, 1876, he married Annie Moore, daughter of Robert Moore, of Lin- colnshire, England. Mrs. Byron died in 1880, and left one child, a daughter, who is named Annie L.
Frank Byron is a member of Red Jacket Lodge, No. 646, Free and Accepted Masons, and a retired member of Protection Hook and Ladder Company, No. 1. He is a re- publican, and represents the third ward in the city council. He is a pleasant and cour- teous gentleman, and owns the substantial and tasteful block, in which he does busi- ness, on East avenue and Washburn street. Among the representative retail grocery houses of the city, that of Mr. Byron's is deserving of mention. His establishment is fitted up with special reference to his line of business, and every needed facility is at hand for promptly attending to all orders of customers. His stock embraces canned and bottled foods, farm and dairy produce, choice teas, coffees, spices, and breakfast cereals, with all the substantials and delicacies usually found in a first-class and well-man- aged grocery establishment. Mr. Byron fully merits the liberal trade accorded him.
Han. J. J. Flagler
177
OF NIAGARA COUNTY.
H ON. THOMAS THORN FLAGLER,
son of Abraham and Sarah (Thorn) Flag- ler, was born at Pleasant Valley, Dutchess county, New York, October 12, 1811. His paternal grandfather came from Holland, and his mother was of English descent. . ITis educational advantages were meagre, and lie received only the common school educa- tion obtainable in those days. He was early apprenticed to the printers' trade in the office of the Chenango Republican, at Oxford, New York. This apprenticeship terminated when he was eighteen years old, by the death of his employer, Daniel Mack, when Mr. Flagler purchased an interest in the paper, and for several years was the success- ful editor and publisher of that paper. In the autumn of 1831 he united with the Presbyterian church at Oxford, New York. In 1836 he sold his interest in the Chenango Republican to his partner, W. E. Chapman, and removed to Lockport, Niagara county, New York, where he has since resided, and where he is universally respected and be- loved. He was married in 1838 to Miss IIuldah M. Barrett, who is still living, as are also three of their children, one son and two daughters, they having buried two sons and a daughter.
Immediately upon making Lockport his home, Mr. Flagler united with the First Presbyterian church, by letter, of which church he has ever since been a devoted and faithful member, and a ruling elder sinee the year 1840.
From 1838 to 1843 he successfully edited and published the Niagara Courier, at Loek- port, New York, one of the pioneer news- papers of western New York. During his connection with this paper it was the whig organ of Niagara county. In 1843 he re- signed his connection with that paper, and
entered into the hardware business, in which he continued for twenty-seven years. In 1859 the IIolly Manufacturing Company, of Lockport, was, through his efforts, founded, and he was elected president of the com- pany, which office, although now in the eighty-first year of his age, he still ably fills, and personally directs the management of the company. This company, from a small beginning, employing a few work- men and doing a yearly business of about $25,000, has inereased in magnitude until now it gives employment to more than five hundred men, and does a yearly business of from $800,000 to $1,250,000.
Mr. Flagler was also concerned in the organization of the Niagara county bank, of Lockport, New York, which was organ- ized under the laws of State of New York, in 1860. At the end of its charter it was made a National bank, with the name of the Niagara County National bank. Mr. Flag- ler has been president of this bank since its organization. He is, and has been sinee their organization, president of both the Lockport Gas Light Company and the Lock- port & Buffalo Railroad Company, and is also connected with the Lockport Hydraulic Company, being one of the directors of that company.
Mr. Flagler represented his distriet in the legislature of the State of New York in the years 1842, 1843, and 1860. He was chosen county clerk in 1848, and held the office three years. He was a member of the 33rd and 34th congresses, and made a foreible speech against the repeal of the Missouri Compromise, being one of the famous one hundred who voted against it. He was a participant in that memorable struggle of ten weeks, for speaker of the house of rep- resentatives, which resulted in the election
12
178
BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
of Nathaniel P. Banks, of Massachusetts. He was also a member of the Constitutional convention of the State of New York, in 1868, and has held many other positions of honor and trust. His has been a life of indomitable perseverance, industry, integ- rity, and morality-a life, in every sense of the word, well spent.
EDWARD E. WILLIAMSON, man-
ager of one of the leading groceries of Loekport, and a young business man of more than ordinary popularity and promise, is the eldest son of Isaac and Sarah (Knight) Williamson, and was born October 11, 1860, at Norridgewock, Somerset county, Maine. His grandfather, Isaac Williamson, was a native of Maine, and died in that State, af- ter a long, laborious, and useful life. He was a farmer by occupation, and spent his ac- tive life in clearing up and improving a farm which he tilled until the infirmities of ad- vancing age compelled him to desist. In politics he was a life-long democrat. Isaac Williamson (father) was born in Somerset county, Maine, about 1822, and was a con- tractor and builder, executing some im- portant contracts in the line of his business. Like his father, he was a stanch democrat in politics. He married Sarah Knight, daughter of David Knight, and they had a family of three children : Edward E., Mil- dred, and Clarence, who lives at Boston, Massachusetts, and Norridgewock, Maine. Mr. Williamson lived all his life in his na- tive State of Maine, and died there in 1872, aged about fifty years.
Edward E. Williamson received a fine English education in the schools and acad- emy of Norridgewock, Maine, being an apt scholar and quick to understand the princi-
ples of the various branehes taught. After leaving school he embarked in the grocery business as a clerk, and in 1885 went to Buffalo as manager of the large grocery house of E. N. Yerxa in that city. He re- mained in that position two years, and in December, 1887, removed to Loekport as manager of the branch establishment of the same firm, in this place. Their store in Lockport is located at No. 100 Main street, in a room 20x125 feet in dimensions, and contains a large and complete assortment of every kind of goods pertaining to their line, both in staple and fancy groceries. In the management of this business Mr. Wil- liamson has demonstrated the possession of business ability of a high order, and rendered his services invaluable to his employers.
On February 4, 1885, Mr. Williamson was united by marriage to Emily Palmer, daugh- ter of Isaac Palmer, of South Boston, Mas- sachusetts. They have three children : Ralph, Elsie, and Harold. Following the political traditions of his fathers, Mr. Wil- liamson is an ardent democrat, and gives that party a loyal support on State and National issues, though inclined toward independence in local politics. He is very popular with the general public, and his prospects are bright for a long, useful, pros- perous, and honorable business career.
E LSWORTH H. CRAMTON, a leading veterinary surgeon of Niagara county, and a most agreeable and pleasant gentle- man, who for forty years has been a citizen of the village of Wilson, is a son of James H. and Eliza (Parmalee) Cramton, and was born in Bergen, Genesee county, New York, on the 18th day of October, 1824. The Cram- tons are descended from old English stock.
١
George Barker.
179
OF NIAGARA COUNTY.
James Cramton (grandfather ) was born in Connecticut, but removed to Bergen, Gen- esee county, this State, where he lived until his death when nearly eighty-eight years of age. He was a farmer by occupa- tion. James H. Cramton ( father) was also a native of Connecticut, being born at Guilford, that State, in 1794, and remov- ing to Genesee county, New York, when about twenty-five years of age. He contin- ued to reside in that county until 1874, when he came to Wilson and made his home with his son, Elsworth H. Cramton, until his death in 1882, at the ripe old age of four score years. He was a devoted mem- ber of the Congregational church up to the time he came to Niagara county, but after that he became a member of the Presbyte- rian church. In politics he was a republi- can, and by occupation a farmer. He mar- ried Eliza Parmalee, and to them were born four children. Mrs. Cramton was also a native of Connecticut, and a consistent member of the Presbyterian church. She died at the home of her son in Wilson, in 1887, at the age of eighty-seven. Both her parents lived to be over eighty years of age.
Elsworthi HI. Cramton grew to manhood in the village of Bergen, Genesee county, and received his education in the public schools there. After leaving school he learned the trade of carpenter and joiner, and was engaged in this occupation for six or seven years. He had always had a liking for domestic animals, and a desire to study their habits and ailments; and becoming quite proficient in the treatment and cure of their diseases, about 1854 he determined to become a veterinary surgeon, and has since then devoted his time to that profes- sion. In 1851 he located in the village of Wilson, where he has been very successful.
His practice extends all over Niagara coun- ty, and to many parts of Orleans county, and if the Doctor had not been born with a constitution of iron, he would have worn out long ago. His practice in this line is perhaps larger than any other in western New York. He also makes a specialty of expelling tape worms, having never yet failed in a single instance, and having been called after specialists from Chicago and Philadelphia had failed to afford relief.
On November 28, 1854, Mr. Cramton was married to Rachel M. Case, a daughter of Luman Case, of the village of Wilson. In polities he is independent, voting for the best man and such measures as he thinks will be for the public good. He is a mem- ber of the Presbyterian church, and was leader of the choir in that church at Wil- son for a quarter of a century. He has al- ways taken an active part in everything connected with the interests of his church. He is a pleasant, affable gentleman, and stands high in the esteem of his friends and neighbors.
G EORGE BARKER, the leading land- scape photographer, not only of New York but of the United States, as attested by the gold medals and first prizes he has won, resides at Niagara Falls, this county. He is a son of William and Anna L. Barker, and was born July 17, 1844, at London, Ontario, Canada.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.