USA > New York > Niagara County > Biographical and portrait cyclopedia of Niagara County, New York > Part 24
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has a large job printing department, con- taining, it is claimed, the two largest job presses in the world, besides the smaller ones, and receives job work patronage from nearly every State in the Union.
While Mr. Cobb has always kept his paper up to high water mark, he has yet served his party frequently as a delegate to Republican state, county, and district con- ventions, and was a member of the Repub- lican State committee in 1876 and 1877. He has never been an aspirant for office, has several times refused the use of his name, and never would accept but one official position - that of member of the board of regents of the State of New York, to which he was elected in 1886 by the State legislature, to fill the vacancy occasioned by the death of Hon. George Clinton, of Buffalo. He is a clear and forcible speaker, and a ready and effective writer. Among his educational writings were able papers read at the State Teachers' association at Niagara Falls in 1886, and at the University Convocation at Albany in 1877. He has delivered many lectures before county and state teachers' institutes, while never lacking in opportunity or flag- ging in zeal to support the great cause of education among the people. He is un- married, occupies apartments at the Grand Hotel, and is courteous and pleasant. Under Mr. Cobb's management the Lock- port Journal and the Niagara Journal (the semi-weekly issue) have never swerved in their fealty to the Empire State, or their support of the men and measures of the Republican party. No less energetic or pronounced has been his support of educa- tional interests than of political measures, for he is equally well known as an untiring and successful advocate of education as well
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as an aggressive and influential journalist. Mr. Cobb traveled extensively in Europe in 1879, and the results of his trained observa- tion are often noticeable in his writings.
JOHN SHIPPEN, late of Middleport, was a son of William and Margaret (Taylor) Shippen, of New Jersey. In 1821 they moved to Ridgeway, Orleans county, where they remained until their deaths. He was born in New Jersey in 1805, and came to Ridgeway with his par- ents, where he lived until 1867. He was a farmer by occupation and spent his life in agricultural pursuits, for which he had a natural taste, and really enjoyed. He was always among the first to adopt new and improved methods, and make his business a close study, and as a result he was what might be well termed a successful farmer.
On March 14, 1835, he married Caroline Cole, daughter of Samuel and Orpha (Vin- ton ) Cole. Samuel Cole was born in Can- ada, but removed to the United States prior to 1818, and first settled at Wilson, and later removed to Hartland, this county. After residing at the latter place for several years he went to Michigan, where he and his wife both died during the year 1873. Mrs. Shippen was born in Hartland in 1818. She was formerly a member of the Presby- terian church, but is now a Universalist. Mr. and Mrs. Shippen were the parents of five children, four of whom are deceased. Their only surviving child is Alice C., wife of James R. Warner, who now resides at Suspension Bridge. Mr. Warner is an in- spector of baggage on the N. Y. C. & H. R. R. R., which situation he has held for several years and has proven himself to be very competent and reliable.
In politics, Mr. Shippen was a strong democrat, and was an active member of that party ; believing in its principles, he always took a deep interest in elections and labored earnestly for the success of his party. He was strong in his convictions and unswerving in his political opinions. In his religious views he was a Universalist, although not a member of that church. In 1867 he moved to Middleport and bought a house and lot, where he continued to reside with his wife, enjoying a retired and quiet life in his declining years until 1870, when he quietly passed away, leaving his widow in comfortable circumstances, but deeply distressed by her great bereavement. She, however, is consoled by the thought that his life was well spent; that he was always honest and upright in all his deal- ings, a valuable citizen, an accommodating neighbor, and a kind and affectionate husband and father.
M OSES S. HUNTING, a resident of Lockport and a member of the bar for nearly half a century, is a son of Edward and Margaret (Kruver) Hunting, and was born in Ulster county, New York, October 29, 1814. His paternal grandfather, Dr. Edward Hunting, was a native of England, where he practiced medicine for several years, and then came to New York abont the opening of the Revolutionary war. His son, Edward Hunting ( father), was born in Ulster county in 1778, and at about thirty- eight years of age removed to Tompkins county, where he died in 1861, in the eighty- third year of his age. He was a farmer by occupation, and was drafted in the war of 1812, but procured a substitute. He was a Methodist in religious belief and church
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membership, while in political faith he had been originally a democrat, but when Fre- mont ran he voted for him and soon became a strong abolitionist. ITis wife, Margaret Kruver, a native of Ulster county and of German descent, bore him seven children, of whom two are living: Catherine, widow of a Mr. Jagger, of Cortland county, where she now resides; and Moses S. Hunting. Another son, Israel Hunting, was a retired farmer living at Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, and died September 14, 1891, in the eighty- fourth year of his age.
Moses S. Hunting grew to manhood on the farm, and attended the public schools of that day. He entered Hamilton college, from which he was graduated in the class of 1838. After graduation he read law with Horatio Ballard, of Cortland, and George C. Beers, of Ithaca, New York, and was admitted to the bar in May, 1842. In that year he opened an office at Farmerville, in Seneca county, where he practiced success- fully for seven years. He then came to Niagara county, where he purchased a farm, and was engaged for fifteen years in farm- ing and practicing his profession. At the end of that time, in 1864, he came to Lock- port, where he has remained ever since in active practice. He gives due attention and careful consideration to all of his cases, never neglects his client's interests, and en- joys a very good practice. Besides real estate and other property in this county, he has real estate interests in the great city of Chicago. In political belief Mr. Hunting is a straight democrat who believes that the supremacy of American institutions, and the successful upholding of our National honor will be best attained under demo- cratie administrations. Aside from his legal work, to which he gives nearly all of
his time, he once, and only once, allowed the use of his name as a candidate for the office of school commissioner, to which he was elected by a good majority. Though taking a deep, interest in political matters he is strongly averse to running for office, on account of the methods resorted to by candidates.
On June 5, 1845, Mr. Hunting married Josephine G. Goodwin, who died in 1884. To them were born four children, two sons and two daughters: Matilda, (deceased) ; Ben Johnson (now dead), who was a grad- uate of Cornell university, and after enter- ing upon the practice of law served one term as district attorney of Niagara county ; C. Fred, a real estate owner and dealer in Chicago, Illinois ; and Cornie M. (deceased).
H ON. JOHN HAWKES, son of Thomas and Mary A. (IIall) Hawkes, was born September 15, 1832, in Cambridge, England. Luck Hawkes (grandfather) was a native of Cambridgeshire, and died at the age of seventy-five years. By occu- pation he was a blacksmith, in connection with farming, but finally quit the latter busi- ness and engaged in dealing in live stock. He was twice married, and at his death left five children, four sons and one daughter: Thomas; John, who died at the age of ninety; Benjamin, deceased; Samuel, and Susan. The father of the subject of this narrative was born in England about the year 1800. When of adult age he married, and followed the business of live stock dealer, and died when his son John was twelve years old. His wife, mother of John Hawkes, died about the same time, leaving nine children, eight sons and one daughter : William, who lives in Cam-
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bridge, England, and had been on the police force of London for twenty-seven years, now resides in the old homestead, at the little village of Cald, about ten miles from the city of Cambridge, retired; Ben- jamin lives in Colorado, engaged in mining ; Alfred lives in England, and is a grain merchant and brewer; Elizabeth, wife of William King, of Cambridgeshire, England ; Charles lives in Cambridgeshire, and is engaged in stock dealing and farming ; Thomas resides in Lockport with his brother John; George is engaged in butch- ering in Lockport; and Frederick, a resi- dent of Lockport until his death.
John Hawkes was educated in the com- mon schools, and when fourteen years of age commenced dealing in live stock in England, and continued in the business till 1851, when he removed to the United States, locating in Lockport, where he re- sumed the same occupation, in which he is engaged at present, besides attending to farming and the business of brewing. In polities he is a democrat ; has for one term acted as mayor of Lockport, as supervisor two terms, is now supervisor and alderman of the city, and has served as a member of the board of education and on the board of police commissioners. He is a member and one of the vestrymen of the Episcopal church, and is also a member of the Masonic fraternity. It thus appears that the subject of this sketch is an active, enterprising, public- spirited eitizen, and though engaged in conducting personal interests, is yet not neglectful of duties per- taining to the general welfare of the com- munity in which he resides.
On June 22, 1851, he married Jemima Adams, of Lockport, daughter of William Adams, of Cambridgeshire, England. They
have had seven children, only three of whom grew to manhood : John, died at the age of thirty-seven ; Luck lives in Lockport and is proprietor and manager of a hotel in that city, having married Jane White; and William, who married Louisa Heckel, lives in Lockport, is engaged in farming and butchering, and has two children, Florence and John T. Ilis first wife died in 1879, and he married Mrs. Minnie Orstarm (nee Gaskell) in 1886; she died in 1888.
F RANK S. A. COON, a well - known expressman of Middleport and a genial gentleman, is a son of Stephen and Mary F. (Drake) Coon, and was born in the town of Ridgeway, Orleans county, New York, July 18, 1855. He is a brother of Leander A. Coon, in whose sketch is given a full history of his ancestors. ITis father had a family of nine children, four sons and five daughters, who were reared on a farmi, where, in the pure air of a country life, they grew to man and womanhood. Under the moral and religious training of christian parents, they were early instructed in correct principles, and fitted by habits of industry and economy for useful lives.
Frank S. A. Coon received a good English education, which he acquired in the common schools. He remained on his father's farm at Ridgeway until 1884, when he came to Middleport, where he has continued to reside ever since, and where he has made many friends. He has been engaged in the transfer business as an express deliveryman since 1884, in which he has been successful, and now owns the fine residenee in which he lives.
On March 1, 1876, he married Flora Lobbett, of Middleport. She is highly
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esteemed in social circles, and, with her husband, belongs to the Episcopal church, in which he is vestryman. Both Mr. and Mrs. Coon take a deep interest in all church matters.
In politics Mr. Coon is a democrat, and is an intelligent and devoted member of that party, and firmly believes in the funda- mental principles of democracy. He always takes a lively interest in elections, and can always be relied upon to do his share of party work at primaries and on election days. He is one of the steady, bright, and reliable young men of Middleport, and has a host of friends, who always have a kind word for him, and will soon become one of the solid young men of the town.
JOHN E. MACK, a leading hardware
merchant and enterprising citizen of Lockport, is the son of Erastus S. and Eunice J. (Flagler) Mack, and was born in Lockport, Niagara county, New York, ou the 21st day of July, 1840. John Mack (grandfather) was a native of the north of England, and came to the United States and settled in Tompkins county, where he took up a tract of land and reared a large family of eight sons and two daughters, all of whom are dead. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, and was in the massacre in this county by the Indians. He died in Tompkins county, aged seventy-five years. Erastus S. Mack (father) was a native of Tompkins county, this State, coming to this county in 1832. He carried on a foundry and hardware store under the firm name of Gilbert & Mack, it being the first foundry in Lockport. Hle went into partnership with Thomas T. Flagler, in the hardware business, under the firm name of Mack &
Flagler, doing the largest business in the hardware line ever done in Lockport. In 1847 they built the large block that Mr. Mack now ocenpies on the corner of Pine and Main streets. This partnership was dissolved in 1853, Mr. Mack taking the real estate, including the block above mentioned, and Mr. Flagler the hardware stock, which business he continued alone. In 1857 he again engaged in the hardware business at the old stand, and in 1861 John E. Mack entered the firm with his father, under the firm name of E. S. Mack & Son, which continned until the death of the father in 1874, when the business was settled up and closed out. He was a Quaker, originally an old-line whig, but at the time of his death a stanch democrat. He was an upright and honest man in all his dealings, his word was as good as his bond, and he was sixty-four years of age at the time of his death. He married Eunice J. Flagler, a native of Cherry Valley, Dutchess county, who is now living at sev- enty-three years of age, and is a member of the Episcopal church.
John E. Mack was reared in Lockport, and received his education at that place and Lanesboro, Massachusetts, in a private school. In 1875 he engaged in the malting and general grain business, under the firm name of Daniels, Mack & Co., and built the present large elevator at Lockport. This firm continued until 1877, when Mr. Dan- iels died. In 1882 he went to Toledo, Ohio, in the interest of a large grain honse there, where he remained for two years. traveling and bnying grain. In 1888 he returned to Lockport and engaged again in the hard- ware business, in which he has continned ever since with good snecess. He is a democrat, and takes an active interest in
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all political contests. IIe is a member of Grace Episcopal church, and also a member of Red Jacket Lodge, No. 646, Free and Accepted Masons. Mr. Mack is still in the prime of life, and as active in business as ever. He has won the reputation of being one of the most active and enterprising citizens of Lockport.
W ILLIAM VAN HORN, of Middle-
port, one of the most prominent and wealthiest farmers of Niagara county, is a son of Daniel and Sarah (Taylor) Van- Horn, and was born in the town of Hart- land, Niagara county, New York, May 31, 1820. (For ancestral history, see sketch of Hon. Burt Van Horn.) Daniel Van Horn was born in New Jersey in 1797, and came to Seneca county, this State, with his father in 1801. Ife came from there to the town of Hartland, this eounty, in 1812, and from there to New Fane, but afterwards returned again to Hartland, where he resided until his death, which occurred in 1885. He was for a number of years a prominent merchant of Johnson's Creek, owning the first store at that place. IIe was a prominent demo- crat, a justice of the peace for eight years for the town of Hartland, was supervisor of the town four years, and served as town clerk for a number of years. He was also elected county judge for a period of three years, and he filled all of these offices with ability, and discharged all of his official duties faithfully and honestly, and with honor to himself. He married Sarah Taylor, who bore him two sons and two daughters.
William Van Horn received his education in the common schools of Hartland, which qualified him for a business life. In 1847 he opened a store of general merchandise
in Middleport, in partnership with Joseph Moore, under the firm name of Van Horn & Moore, which they conducted successfully for five years, when he bought his partner's interest and continned alone for sixteen years. He then purchased a farm in the town of Hartland, consisting of one hundred and sixty acres, and commenced the more pleasant and agreeable business of farming, and has met with more than ordinary suc- cess in his agricultural pursuits, having accumulated a handsome fortune. On Sep- tember 10, 1845, he married Deby An Maker, daughter of David Maker, of Onon- daga county, this State.
In politics he has always been a member of the Democratic party. He is a member of Cataract Lodge, No. 295, Free and Ac- cepted Masons, of Middleport, and a believer in the principles of this great social and charitable order. Mrs. Van Horn is a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal church of Middleport, and a member of the Women's Christian Temperance Union, and also of the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society. She is a lady of influence in all these associ- ations, and she and her husband both rank among the most intelligent citizens of Middleport.
OHN E. COOPER, editor and pro- prietor of the Middleport Herald, is a son of John and Harriet (Hill) Cooper, and was born at Perry, Wyoming county, New York, July 27, 1862. His ancestors came from England. His father, John Cooper, was born at Ipswich, England, and came to this country in 1845, settling first at Rochester, this State. After moving several times he finally settled at Perry, where he died in 1873. He was a miller by trade and followed this business in the
Jesse Peterson
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OF NIAGARA COUNTY.
old country, and continued in the same line after coming to the United States. He was an earnest republican, and took an active interest in the advancement and success of his party, but never entered politics on his own personal account. He married Harriet Hill, also of England, who is still living, by whom he had six children, two sons and four daughters, all of whom are now living.
John E. Cooper received an education in the common schools at Perry, Wyoming county, N. Y., which was the groundwork and foundation upon which he has continued to build. At the early age of sixteen he learned the trade of compositor, and soon became associate editor of the Dalton Era, which position he held for six months. IIe was afterwards publisher and editor of the Pike Gazette for two years, and then one of the publishers of the Perry Herald one year. In 1887 he purchased the Middle- port Herald, which he has since edited, and has met with good success in the manage- ment of the paper, both in a business point of view and as a journalist. He also con- ducts a variety store in connection with his paper.
On August 5, 1885, he married Satie Rose, of Pike, N. Y., and to them have been born two children : Charles P., born July 24, 1886; and Mildred R., born June 2, 1890.
Politically he is a republican, although he edits and publishes an independent paper. He and his wife are members of the Baptist church. Socially he is an affable and pleasant gentleman, and has the esteem and good-will of his fellow towns- men. His literary occupation and wide range of reading have made him a thoroughly posted man and an interesting companion.
He possesses, in an eminent degree, all the requisites of a successful journalist, and bids fair to enroll his name among the fore- most journalistic men of western New York.
JESSE PETERSON. Of those citizens of Loekport who are distinguished for thrift, usefulness, and business ability, one is Jesse Peterson. He is a son of Gilbert and Elizabethı (Parker) Peterson, and was born in the town of Belfast, New York, October 1, 1850. The Petersons of New York are descendants of a Peterson family of Holland-a land whose industrious sons, two centuries ago, laid broad and deep the foundations of the mighty Empire State. Gilbert Peterson was born in one of the counties of central New York in 1824, and at thirty-three years of age, in 1857, eame to Lockport, where he resided until his death, which oeeurred in 1890. Early in life he engaged in contracting upon an ex- tensive scale, and for many years before his death had been known as one of the largest contraetors of the State. He was a large man of great physical strength, who made business his life pursuit, and who ranked high as a man and citizen in the different communities in which he resided. He was a demoerat in politics. He married Eliza- beth Parker, who was his junior in age by one year, and who still resides in Lockport. where she is a member of Grace Protestant Episcopal church.
Jesse Peterson, at seven years of age, was brought by his parents to Lockport, where he received a good practical English educa- tion in the public schools. He commenced life for himself as a contractor, but left the contracting business at twenty-five years of age to engage in the manufacture of ship
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chandlery, which he followed continuously for ten years. At the end of that time he embarked in the manufacture of wood pulp, and shortly afterwards became one of the proprietors of the Indurated Fibre Works. In 1889 he was instrumental in consolidat- ing the different indurated fibre companies into one organization, of which he has been president ever since. He is a director of the Holly Manufacturing Company, secre- tary of the Lockport Gaslight Company, and the proprietor of the Cascade Wood Pulp Company. In addition to his active participation in these enterprises he is en- gaged in several other important industries, besides being interested in farming and stock-raising.
January 29, 1874, he wedded Arabella Augusta, daughter of IIon. A. F. Brown, of Lockport, whose sketch appears in this volume. To Mr. and Mrs. Peterson have been born two children : Clara Brown and Jesse Dudley.
Jesse Peterson is a pronounced democrat, served his party in 1888 as one of the Cleveland presidential electors of New York, and always takes an active interest in political affairs. Mr. Peterson is a large man, of good personal appearance, endowed with great energy, possessed of good judg- ment, and remarkable for business ability. Hle is one whose belief in the future possi- bilities of business for Lockport has been attested by his various investments in its manufacturing industries, and every enter- prise calculated for the material prosperity of his city enlists both his attention and his support.
F RANK J. MOYER, D. D. S., a resi- dent of Lockport since the Centennial year, and a leading dentist of western New
York, was born in the town of Lewiston, Niagara county, New York, November 3, 1851, and is a son of Amos F. and Cornelia (Rose) Moyer. His paternal grandfather, Daniel Moyer, a native of the town of Oneida, in Madison county, was a surveyor and civil engineer by profession. "He was a useful citizen, and died in 1848, aged seventy years. His son, Amos F. Moyer, the father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Madison county in 1817, and re- moved to western New York in 1840, where he now resides in the town of Cambria. He was engaged in farming until a few years back, when he retired from active life on account of age. IIe married Cornelia Rose, who was born in Niagara county in 1821.
Frank J. Moyer was reared on the farm until he was fourteen years of age, when he went to Lockport, where he completed his education in the schools of that city. He left school at an early age, and was employed for three years as a sailor on the upper lakes between the United States and the Dominion of Canada. At the end of that time he abandoned the lakes and entered the office of Dr. Gaskill as a dental student, but soon went to Cincinnati, where he attended the Olio Dental college for some time, besides receiving private instruc- tions from the eminent Dr. Jonathan Taft. He returned in 1871 from Cincinnati to Lockport, where he practiced dentistry for four years. He then attended the New York Dental college during 1874 and 1875, and in the latter year was graduated from that well-known institution. After graduation lie returned to Lockport, where he opened his present dental rooms, and has a sub- stantial and rapidly increasing practice. His rooms are well fitted up, supplied with all the necessary modern appliances of dentis-
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