USA > New York > Niagara County > Biographical and portrait cyclopedia of Niagara County, New York > Part 34
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
1212. In the Plimpton genealogy, recently published, over one thousand of his des- eendants are accounted for, among whom are earls and other orders of nobility in England, and in this country many distinguished officials and American eiti- zens. The Plimpton "Arms," recorded in England, is similar to that of a Knights Templar ciblem, indicating a distinguished rank in the Crusades. The American branch of the family is the off-shoot of the sixteenth generation in England, and was founded in Massachusetts by Sergeant John and Thomas Plimpton, in 1640. " The records of true Christian heroism con- tain few worthier names than that of Ser- geant John Plimpton." The maternal grandfather of the subject of this sketch was of the twenty-seventh generation from Nigell de Plimpton, or the root of the an- cestral trec. L. B. Chase, of Sturbridge, Mass., has spent over thirty years in gath- ering and publishing a history of the family, for thirty generations, spanning over eight hundred years. In a recent genealogy of the Gordon family, by George A. Gordon, of Somerville, Mass., the writer says: "In my search of historical traces of the Gor- cons, before they went into Scotland, I find them in Lower France, in the ancient pro- vince of Quiney, now the department of Lot, where is the little town of Gourdon, whenee the present name was derived. In my conviction we are sprung from a rem- nant of the ancient Visigoths, who onee bore sway in Aequitaine. The Gordons are not indigenous Seotehmen, but went into Lothian, near Kelso, Scotland, under the patronage of King Edward, of England, about the year 1346."
Lewis Plimpton Gordon, who was named for his maternal grandfather, Lewis Plimp-
€
Som. L. D. Gordon
289
OF NIAGARA COUNTY.
ton, was reared at Potsdam and Champlain, and received his education in the Potsdam schools and St. Lawrence Academy. Leav- ing school in 1867, on account of his father's illness, he carried on the home farm until 1870, and then engaged in the manufacture of shingles and furniture at Brasher Falls, New York, which he followed until the summer of 1872. On the 1st day of Jan- uary, 1873, he commenced the study of law with Hon. L. C. Lang, of Brasher Falls, and was admitted to the bar at the general term, Binghampton, New York, May 5, 1876, and soon decided upon Lockport as the field for the practice of his profession. On June 18, 1877, he arrived in Lockport, and soon formed a partnership with R. A. Feagles, Esq., which continued about one year, since which time, except while a member of the legislature, Mr. Gordon has steadily and successfully devoted himself to the practice of law.
He is a democrat of the Jeffersonian type, has always been active in politics, and in 1886 represented the first district of Niagara county in the New York legislature. While in the legislature he was a member of several important committees, and guarded care- fully and impartially the interests of his constituents, and has the credit of being one of the best representatives the district ever had. Through his persistent efforts, Lock- port obtained her amended charter as a city. He also obtained a charter for the "Lockport Water Supply Company," for a canal from Niagara river via Lock- port to Lake Ontario, and also the "Big Bridge" and Cottage street bridge across the canal at Lockport, besides much other important local and general legisla- tion. He is an attendant of the Protestant Episcopal church, and has been an active
member for twelve years of the fire depart- ment, and in 1887 was foreman of Protection Hook and Ladder company. He is a mem- ber of Red Jacket Lodge, No. 646, Free and Accepted Masons, and Ames Chapter, No. 88, Royal Arch Masons, and also a member of Lockport Lodge, No. 41, of the B. P. O. Elks.
Lewis P. Gordon has been justly styled one of the shining lights of democracy, as he has always been unceasing, determined, and fearless in the advocacy of democratic principles and practices.
The honor of first suggesting the name of Grover Cleveland for governor, doubtless belongs to Mr. Gordon; it was at the semi- centennial celebration of the city of Buffalo, July 4, 1882, viewing the procession with his friend, Wilmer Brown. As Mr. Cleve- land, then mayor, passed in a carriage, he said to Mr. Brown: "There goes the next governor of this State." Shortly after that he wrote the first newspaper article seen in print, signed "Straight Democracy," which was printed in the Lockport Daily Union, July 15, advocating the nomination of Grover Cleveland for governor. He was one of the district committee which called the first convention in the State, and he drafted the resolutions adopted, instructing its delegates to the State convention to work for the nomination of Mr. Cleveland. He was a delegate in the State convention that year at Syracuse, and with the aid of his friends from northern New York and elsewhere in the State, turned the tide in favor of Mr. Cleveland's nomination. That year also he was secretary of the county committee. Every democrat on the ticket was elected, and Cleveland and Hill's plurality in Niagara county was over 2,800. He took an active part and made numerous
290
BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
speeches in the presidential campaign that followed. In 1884 he was the author of the popular campaign song, commencing with : "Grover Cleveland leads the van, one more river to cross."
Mr. Gordon enjoys out-door sports, speaks French, is fond of music, and plays upon several musical instruments, his favorites being the violin, cornet, and flute. At the age of twelve years he played the snare- drum in the Potsdam brass band, and after- wards, in 1860, was drummer-boy for the troops at Plattsburgh barracks, but on ac- count of his youth was not allowed to go to the front. Whatever degree of success Mr. Gordon has attained in life, is due to his natural ability and his own personal efforts. As a citizen, lawyer, and political leader, he stands high, and during his active private and public career, has won a large measure of popularity, confidence, and respect.
THOMAS M. CHAPMAN, a public- spirited, industrious citizen, who, by his energy and honesty, has earned for himself an enviable reputation, and much more than an ordinary local distinction, was born November 17, 1844, at Queenston, Canada, on the Niagara frontier, and is the son of Thomas and Margaret Chapman. His father was a native of Hull, England, where he was reared and educated. He subsequently came to St. Catharines, Ontario, where he resided until his demise, in January, 1887. Margaret Chapman (mother), a native of Riverston, County Sligo, Ireland, survives her husband, and resides at St. Catharines.
Thomas M. Chapman was reared in St. Catharines, Ontario, where he received an academic education under the Rev. T. D. Phillips. At the age of twenty-one years
he left his home and friends in Canada, and came to the United States, where he has since resided. At the age of sixteen years he was apprenticed to the printer's trade, and has spent over thirty years in this occupation. He is a practical and proficient printer and newspaper man. He came to Tonawanda in 1877, and is the senior mem- ber of the firm of Chapman & Warner, editors and publishers of the Tonawanda Herald, a weekly democratic paper, devoted to news, politics, business, and the prosperity and general welfare of the community. He is held in high esteem by his fellow citizens of the Democratic party, and has held posi- tions of honor and trust. He was deputy collector of customs under President Cleve- land's administration for a period of four years, and village clerk of North Tonawanda for three years. He believes in the imper- ishable principles of the Democratic party, and is in favor of legislation for the masses and not the classes. He believes in "ma- jority rule," the political maxim of "the greatest good to the greatest number," in the lowest rates of taxation that the public necessities will permit, and that labor should not pay all the expenses of the government.
January 27, 1870, Mr. Chapman was united in marriage with Cecelia J., daughter of the late James Stephenson, of Canandai- gua, New York. Two children have been born to them : James Alfred, born at Wash- ington, D. C .; and Alice M., born at Little Falls, New York.
He is a member of Niagara River Lodge, No. 527, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, the Equitable Aid Union, and the Empire Order of Mutual Aid Societies, or brother- hoods for benevolent insurance. Mr. Chap- man is a gentleman of culture and standing,
291
OF NIAGARA COUNTY.
progressive and pushing, and has discharged the duties of the various positions held by him with fidelity. He is in line of promo- tion, and, with the advent of his party into power, his claims to recognition are mer- itorious.
THOMAS GASKIN, formerly a well
known news agent, and now a popu- lar and prosperous business man of Suspen- sion Bridge, is a son of John and Margaret (Rafferty) Gaskin, was born in Lockport, Niagara county, New York, on September, 3, 1853. The ancestors of the Gaskin fam- ily were natives of Ireland, as far back as there is any record of them. John Gaskin (father) was born in the Emerald Isle in 1827, emigrated to America, and located at Lockport, where he died in 1856, at the early age of twenty-nine years. He was a gardener by trade, and married Margaret Rafferty, who still resides in the city of Lockport, and by this union had three children : Joseph, who died young ; Thomas, subject; and Margaret, who also died at an early age.
Thomas Gaskin was educated in the pub- lic schools of Lockport, and after leaving school became a news agent at Lockport, and later secured a like position on the trains running between Lockport and Buffalo. He rendered such satisfaction that he was retained in that capacity for eight years, and then resigned to accept a like position on the trains between Suspension Bridge and Buffalo, where he remained three years. HIe then ran for four years as news agent between Suspension Bridge and Detroit. After this he opened news-stands and parcel rooms at Suspension Bridge and Niagara Falls, and for fourteen years successfully
conducted this business at those villages. IIe became quite popular with the traveling public, and many are the people in all parts of the country who will recall his well known name and pleasant face. After taking a vacation of a year and a half, in 1890, he formed a co-partnership with Matthew Walsh, under the firm name of Gaskin & Walsh, and opened a first-class furniture and undertaking store on Lewis- ton avenue, in the village of Suspension Bridge. Their building is fifty feet front by eighty-five feet deep, and their mam- moth stock occupies two entire floors and basements of this large structure. Every- thing pertaining to the furniture business is here displayed, and ample arrangements are made to accommodate the tastes of an intelligent and discriminating public. Mr. Gaskin also handles real estate, and has been quite successful in that line, making some important deals.
On April 4, 1877, Mr. Gaskin was united in marriage with Mary Finn, dangliter of Bartholomew Finn, and a native of Ireland. Mrs. Gaskin is an excellent and capable woman.
In politics Mr. Gaskin is a democrat, with an intelligent understanding of his party's tenets and principles, and a firm conviction that therein lies the true theory of popular government. He has served as trustee of the village of Suspension Bridge for two years, and was its president in 1890. He is a stockholder in a number of the business enterprises of the village, and is a member of the Roman Catholic church, in which he has served as trustee for many years. He was trustee when their present church house was built, which structure cost thirty-two thousand dollars. Mr. Gas- kin is also prominently identified with C. M.
292
BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
B. A. interests in his locality, having been first vice president of Branch No. 2, at Suspension Bridge, during 1891, and is now its honored president for 1892. He is also a trustee of the new Niagara County Savings bank at Niagara Falls, New York.
J AMES K. ROBSON, an old soldier and highly respected citizen of John- son's Creek, and for many years excise commissioner, is a son of Kendra and Ruth (Breckon ) Robson, and was born May 14, 1832, one-half mile south of Johnson's Creek, in the town of Hartland, Niagara county, New York. His grandfather, Michael Robson, was born near Malton, Yorkshire, England, and became a cabin boy when less than ten years of age, and fol- lowed a seafaring life until his twenty-fifth year, having been promoted to be first mate. He married Elizabeth Kendra (originally spelled Kendrah ), and had a family of three sons, all of whom were born in England. In 1820 he left that country with his family and came to America, locating in Niagara county, New York, where he pur- chased a farm of one hundred acres from the Holland Land Company, half a mile south of Johnson's Creek, in the town of Hartland. Here he engaged in farming and in the nursery business until his death, in 1858, at the good old age of ninety-three years. In politics he was a free soiler and whig, and a strong abolitionist. In religion he was a Friend, or Quaker, and carefully reared his family in that faith, taking an active interest in church affairs. Kendra Robson (father) was born in Yorkshire, England, in 1803, and emigrated to America with his father's family in 1820, and followed farming on the old homestead, in the town
of Hartland, until his death, in 1873. In politics he was a republican and abolitionist, and took a deep interest in political affairs. Like his father before him, he was a Quaker, and served as secretary of his church for many years. He married Ruth Breckon in 1831, and reared a family of thirteen chil- dren, six sons and seven daughters, James K. Robson being the eldest. John Breckon (maternal grandfather) was also a native of Yorkshire, England, born near Whitby, and emigrated to America in 1830 with his family, and settled in the town of Somerset, Niagara county, New York. He was a weaver by trade, which business he followed while in England, but after coming to this country he became a farmer, purchasing a fine farm in the town of Somerset, this county, where he lived until his death, in 1855, at the age of seventy-one years. Politically he was a whig and an abolition- ist, and in religion a strict Quaker, or Friend. He married Catharine Portise, and had a family of twelve children, six sons and six daughters.
James K. Robson received his education in the common schools of Niagara county, after leaving which he attended for one term the academy at Gasport, Niagara county. After leaving school he taught two terms, and then settled down to the cultivation of the soil, and has devoted most of his life to agricultural pursuits. He now owns a fine farm of seventy acres of fertile land, a large proportion of which is devoted to fruit growing.
On September 26, 1866, he was united in marriage with Mary J. Weaver, daughter of Elisha T. and Jane T. Weaver. Mrs. Rob- son is an educated and intelligent lady, well suited to be a companion to a man like Mr. Robson.
a. S. Beverly
295
OF NIAGARA COUNTY.
In the hour of his country's peril, James K. Robson promptly entered her service, enlisting on October 8, 1861, in Co. E, 8th New York cavalry, with which he served in the Army of the Potomac for three years. He entered the army as a private, but had served only a short time when he was pro- moted to be a corporal. His term of enlist- ment covered most of the hard fighting, and he was engaged with his company in thirty regular battles and skirmishes. He was never wounded in any of these numerous enl- gagements, but was captured at Harper's Ferry, when the place was surrendered by Colonel Miles, September 15, 1862, and was paroled with 11,000 others, marched through the lines, and afterwards sent to Chicago until exchanged. He was never at any time too sick for duty. This makes up a record which may well challenge admira- tion, and which cannot, perhaps, be sur- passed by any soldier in Niagara county. Mr. Robson received an honorable discharge from the service at the end of his term of enlistment, December 8, 1864. In politics he has always been a straight republican, and while in no sense an aspirant for office, has frequently been called on to fill positions of trust. He has held the office of commis- sioner of excise for twelve years-four terms-in succession, beginning in 1879, and other minor positions. In religion he adheres to the faith of his fathers, being an active and earnest member of the society of Friends, which he has long served in the capacity of clerk. He is a member of the Equitable Aid Union of Hartland Corners, Niagara county, and of the Grand Army of the Republic of Middleport, this county, and is a man highly esteemed and greatly hon- ored by a large host of personal and politi- cal friends.
A MBROSE S. BEVERLY, who has been prominently identified with most of the leading industries of Lockport for the last ten years, is the youngest son and last surviving child of Capt. Charles S. and Pru- dence (Larned) Beverly, and was born in the city of Syracuse, New York, August 23, 1826. His ancestors on the paternal side for several generations werc natives and residents of Providence, Rhode Island, where the Beverly family was among the old and influential families of that city, in whose po- litical and municipal affairs its members al- ways took an active part. Both ancestors of Mr. Beverly were in the Revolutionary war, and one of his maternal ancestors was pay- master-general. His paternal grandfather, Stephen Beverly, was a life-long resident and prominent merchant of Providence, where his son, Capt. Charles S. (father), was born in 1790. He had a natural taste for the sea, and although his father was op- posed to his choice of a marine life, yet he fitted himself fully for the dangers of the ocean, and after being inoculated with the small-pox, and taking a practical course in navigation, entered the merchant marine service of that day in New England. While thus serving, and when in command of the Ann and Hope, he made the fastest time on record in voyages from Providence to Can- ton, China. At the commencement of hos- tilities in the war of 1812, he entered the naval service of the United States, and at one time during that great struggle he held an important command on a flotilla that was stationed in the harbor at Newport for the protection of that city, while a few months later he acted as prize master for a valuable English vessel, which had been captured by the Americans. After peace was declared. in 1815, he again entered the merchant ma-
19
296
BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
rine, and on the last voyage which he made he brought home from the "Flowery King- dom" a large and very valuable cargo of paper goods and costly silks. A short time prior to 1818 he left sea life and established himself as a merchant in Syracuse, New York, where he remained until 1830, when he removed his family to Dunkirk, Chau- tauqua county, and was in the south for sev- eral years in the prosecution of an import- ant business enterprise. He died in 1856, aged sixty-six years. He married Prudence Larned, and reared a family of six sons, all of whom are dead except the subject of this sketch.
Ambrose S. Beverly received the limited education of his boyhood days, and came, in 1847, to Lockport, where he learned the trade of tinner, and in 1854 purchased a large tinware store. He soon merged his establishment into a hardware store, and erected a large three-story business building, 40 x 70 feet in dimensions, on the corner of Market and Exchange streets. He conduct- ed this establishment successfully until 1888, when his other business interests so occu- pied his time that he sold the building and his large stock of hardware. In 1879 he became a member of the Niagara White Grape Company, which had an incorporated capital of $300,000, and has supplied the trade ever since with this particular kind of grape. He is also connected with the Bos- ton & Lockport Block Company, and sev- eral other business enterprises. He is a stockholder and treasurer of the Lockport Pulp Company, and treasurer of the Lock- port Hydraulic Company, in which he has a controlling interest. He is also a stock- holder and treasurer of the Lockport Felt Company, which has its plant in the town of New Fane. In addition to all of these
different companies in which he is a mem- ber and director, he is also interested in the Franklin Mills Company, of which he is manager and treasurer. The Franklin Mills building is on the corner of Garden and Spring streets. It is a five-story stone struct- ure, 54x120 feet in dimensions, which was erected in 1833 by the Lockport Manufactur- ing Company at a cost of nearly $45,000. It was used as a cotton factory until 1854, and three years later was converted into a mer- chant flouring mill. In 1864 it was refitted, with a capacity of five hundred barrels of flour per day, and was operated under dif- ferent owners until 1878, when the Frank- lin Milling Company purchased and com- pletely refitted it throughout for the manu- facture of "whole wheat flour," and other food specialties. Since then the company has kept abreast of the times in the milling world, and has introduced into their mills all the latest machinery and improvements in their line of business. The high grade of their products has increased their trade so rapidly that it now extends throughout western New York and adjoining States and into the Dominion of Canada.
On October 19, 1871, he married Adelaide Currier, daughter of the late Nathan P. Cur- rier, a prominent democrat and business man of Lockport and western New York, who served as clerk of the courts of Wyo- ming county, and after coming to Lockport held the office of justice of the peace for several years. He died in 1880, sixty-two years of age.
In political principles Mr. Beverly is a democrat, but in local affairs is rather inde- pendent, voting for the man instead of the party. He served as mayor of Lockport in 1881-82, and during his administration he was instrumental in having the bill passed
297
OF NIAGARA COUNTY.
which secured the adoption of the metro- politan police system by his city. After re- tiring from the mayoralty he was elected a police commissioner, and as president of the board he inaugurated successfully the sys- tem which is now deemed so essential to the public peace and good reputation of Lock- port. During the late civil war he was ap- pointed by the governor one of a committee of ten appointed to raise forces and funds in the county for the suppression of the South- ern Confederacy. Ambrose S. Beverly is a public spirited citizen and enterprising busi- ness man, and has done as much, probably, as any other man in Lockport to develop the material resources and manufacturing interests of that progressive city of the Em- pire State. His residence in Lockport is one of the finest, most handsomely fur- nished and beautifully arranged homes in the city, and here he lives, surrounded by all the comforts and luxuries that so fit- tingly crown an active, useful, and honor- able life.
F ETER S. TOWER, a leading farmer and fruit grower of the town of Porter, and now deputy collector and inspector of customs at Youngstown, is a son of Peter and Olive ( Baldwin ) Tower, and was born in the town of Porter, Niagara county, New York, on March 22, 1843. The Towers are of English descent, the subject of this sketch being of the eighth generation from John Tower, who emigrated from England and settled at Quincy, Norfolk county, Massachusetts, more than two centuries ago, in 1637. Peter Tower (father), the youngest of fourteen children, was born at Cummington, that State, and in 1815 re- moved to this county and settled in the town of Porter. He made the journey on
horseback. He purchased two hundred acres of wild land in the town of Porter and two hundred in the town of Wilson, and finally became the owner of more than six hundred acres of fine land in this county. He remained a resident of the town of Porter until his death in 1882, when he only lacked nine years of being a centenarian. He was an extensive farmer, and also conducted a country store for thirty years, beside work- ing as carpenter and joiner, building many large barns for the farmers of this section. He was a man noted for his hospitality, was very generous to the poor, and was liked and honored by all who knew him. In politics he was a republican, and served as highway commissioner in his town for many years. He was opposed to secret societies, believing that what they claimed to do could be more surely accomplished by openly pro- moting and acknowledging the universal brotherhood of man. He married Olive Baldwin, by whom he had a family of seven children. She was born at Dorset, Vermont, and died at her home in the town of Porter in 1886, aged eighty-three years.
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.