USA > New York > Niagara County > Biographical and portrait cyclopedia of Niagara County, New York > Part 35
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Peter S. Tower was reared on the old homestead in the town of Porter, and re- ceived his education in the common schools of his neighborhood and at the Lockport union school, which latter he attended for two terms. Just at this time the cloud of the civil war, which had been slowly gathering on the political horizon for sev- eral years, burst with leaden rain and the thunder of cannon, and young Tower quit his school and hastened to enroll his name among his country's defenders. He en- listed in Company F, 8th New York heavy artillery, on August 11, 1862, and served until peace once more spread her white wings over the desolated land, and there
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was no longer any necessity for bloodshed. He then took up the thread of civil life where he had dropped it, and entering Eastman's business college, received a thorough course of training in that insti- tution. He then returned to the farm and began the cultivation of the soil, teaching in the public schools during the winter season for a few years. He has been a farmer and fruit grower ever since, and now owns the old homestead where his father settled in 1815. This land is now in a high state of cultivation, and is largely devoted to peach and apple growing. His buildings, fences, and farm equipments are all first-class, and denote the careful, intelli- gent, energetic, and prosperous farmer.
On September 26, 1868, Mr. Tower was united in marriage to Elizabeth McConkey, daughter of John McConkey, of the town of Lewiston, and to them were born five children, two sons and three daughters : Mary B., Victoria M., Dan P., Ray C., and Nellie E. Mrs. Tower died in July, 1888, greatly respected and beloved by all who knew her. Mr. Tower was again married on January 2, 1890, to R. A. Shaw, daughter of Gelotus B. Shaw, of Johnson's Creek, an estimable and capable woman.
In politics Mr. Tower has always been a republican, giving his ticket a loyal and active support, and proud of the record made by the " grand old party." He served as supervisor of the town of Porter for three terms, and has since refused the non- ination to that place. He has been district clerk nearly ever since the war, and on June 1, 1891, was appointed deputy collector and inspector of customs at Youngstown, New York, whichr position he now occupies. He and his family are regular attendants of the Episcopal church, to which he contributes
liberally. Mr. Tower has led an active, earnest life, and has secured the confidence, respect, and esteem of all who know him.
A ARON MARTIN, an old hotel man, ex-justice of the peace, and now a leading and prosperous farmer of the town of Cambria, is a son of Richard and Lovina (Day) Martin, and was born in the town of Hartland, Niagara county, New York, on July 30, 1828. His father was a native of Vermont, and removed from that State to Canada, and in 1813 returned to the United States and located in the town of Hartland, this county, when that section was all a dense wilderness. He was a farmer, and obtained numerous tracts of land from the Holland Land Company, several of which he improved and converted into fine farms. He died in the town of Cambria at the home of his son Marshall in 1884, at the ripe old age of ninety-five years. He was of German descent, a stanch democrat all his life, taking an active part in politics, and was well liked and widely known. His remains sleep in the cemetery at Johnson's Creek, this county. His wife was also a native of Vermont, and died in 1860, aged sixty-nine years.
Aaron Martin comes of a hardy, long- lived stock, and was reared on his father's farm in the town of Hartland, this county, attending the common schools of that day, and receiving therefrom a good practical English education. After leaving school he continued to work on the farm until he was about thirty years of age, at which time he engaged in the hotel business at Gasport, this county, and remained there for an entire decade, catering to the travel- ing public with good success. In 1874 he
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sold out and purchased a hotel at Middle- port, which he conducted successfully for two years, when he sold it and bought sim- ilar property at Albion, which he owned and managed for one year. He then purchased the Ontario House at Wilson, and conducted it with satisfaction to the public and profit to himself for over six years, selling the property in 1887 to James C. Bradley, the present proprietor. His long experience in the hotel business gave him a wide ac- quaintance with leading men, and made him thoroughly familiar with the wants of all classes of travelers. After selling his hotel at Wilson he purchased a fine farm, and is now numbered among the progressive and prosperous farmers of the town of Cambria.
In the year 1850 Mr. Martin was united in marriage with Lydia, daughter of John Moore, of Hartland. To them were born three children, two sons and one daughter. The oldest son was Lewis C., who died when about one year old; the other son is George A., who now lives on the home farm with his father; and the daughter, now deceased, was Libby, who married George H. Wands, of Syracuse, and died December 25, 1883, leaving one son, Aaron M., who makes his home with his grand- parents on the farm.
While residing at Gasport Mr. Martin served as assessor and justice of the peace, and rendered entire satisfaction to the gen- eral publie in both these important posi- tions. In his political opinions and princi- ples he is a straight democrat, and active and earnest in the support he gives this great political organization. He is a mem- ber of Cataract Lodge, No. 295, Free and Accepted Masons, of Middleport. He and his family occupy a high place in the esteem of their neighbors.
E DWIN HAYS, a highly esteemed citi-
zen of Niagara county, who has devoted nearly all his life to agricultural pursuits, was born at Black Rock, now Buffalo, New York, July 21, 1833, and is the son of James and Olivia (Brown) Hays. William Hays (grandfather) was a native of Pennsylvania, being born near Girard, that State, about 1765, where he married and reared a family of eleven children. Edwin Hays (father) was born in the old Keystone State during the first year of this century, and removed with his father's_family, in 1820, to New York, locating in the Quaker settlement in the town of Hartland, this county. He afterward went to the town of Somerset, where he died in 1863. In political faith he was a republican, taking an active inter- est in public questions, and by occupation a stonemason and farmer. He married Olivia Brown, and reared a family of eleven chil- dren, six sons and five daughters.
The maternal grandfather of Edwin Hays was Otis Brown, born in the highlands of Scotland about 1775, who, emigrating to America about 1820, settled in the town of Somerset, Niagara county, this State, where he remained a short time, and then removed to what is known as the Quaker settlement, in the town of Hartland, this county. After remaining here several years he removed to Michigan, locating at Somerset, that State, where he died about 1850, at the advanced age of seventy-five years. He was a farmer by occupation, a whig in politics, and mar- ried and had a large family.
Edwin Hays received his education in the common schools of his day, which, while not attempting to teach all the branches now taught in the public schools, neverthe- less imparted a good practical education that served as a foundation for a successful
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business career. After leaving school he devoted his energies for many years to the cultivation of the soil, and now owns a farm of eighty-nine acres of very fine land in the town of Hartland.
In 1860 Mr. Hays was united in marriage with Sarah Holmes, daughter of Daniel W. Holmes, and this union was blessed by the birth of one son, their only child, Fred R., who married Clara M. Shafer, a daughter of E. F. Shafer, and now resides with his pa- rents on the farm, their staff and comfort in declining years.
In politics Edwin Hays is a republican, and takes a deep and active interest in the success of his party. He cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln, and has never swerved in his party allegiance. He is a member of Johnson's Creek Lodge, No. 218, Free and Accepted Masons, and is serving as senior deacon of the lodge. His life has been marked by industry, energy, and sound judgment, and an integrity of character combined with a kindliness of disposition which has won for him the respect and es- teem of his neighbors and all who know him.
ENRY H. BICKFORD, an intelli- gent and influential citizen of John- son's Creek, and a leading republican in his community, is a son of Phineas and Sarah A. (Hamlin) Bickford, and was born in Ypsilanti, Michigan, March 13, 1838. His grandfather, Samuel Bickford, was a native of Vermont, and removed to the town of Hartland, this county, in 1815, where lie purchased a farm of fifty acres from the Holland Land Company, and passed the re- mainder of his life in its cultivation and improvement. Here he died at an ad- vanced age. The farm is now in the
possession of his grandson, Aaron Bick- ford. Samuel Bickford married Hannah Montgomery, who was a descendant of the distinguished General Montgomery, and reared a family of four sons and three daugh- ters. His son, Phineas Bickford (father), was born in the Green Mountain State in 1810, and when only five years of age came with his parents to Niagara county. About 1863 he removed to the State of Illinois, where he died in 1880, at the age of sev- enty years. He was a farmer by occupa- tion and a democrat in politics. He mar- ried Sarah A. Hamlin, by whom he had a family of four sons and four daughters.
Henry H. Bickford was educated in the common schools of Niagara county, receiv- ing a practical English training which quali- fied him for the great duties of life, and fur- nished a foundation on which he has coll- tinued to build by such reading and study as his business cares would permit. He has given his life principally to the cultivation of the soil, owning a farm of fifty-seven acres of fine and fertile land, which is partly devoted to market gardening and fruit grow- ing. He was formerly proprietor of a nur- sery in the town of Hartland, which he con- ducted with financial success for several years.
On October 5, 1870, Mr. Bickford was united in marriage to Rose E. Stewart, daughter of Zadock B. Stewart. Mrs. Bick- ford is an estimable woman, possessing many good traits of character, and very pop- ular among her neighbors and in the church.
In politics Henry H. Bickford is a stanch and enthusiastic republican, always active in the interest of his party, and wields quite an influence in political circles, not alone at his home, but in the county. He is conver- sant with all the leading political questions
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of the day, and can discuss the issues be- tween the parties with intelligence and force. He has served four times as a dele- gate to republican State conventions in New York. In 1861, when the country was call- ing on her sons to rally to her defense, Mr. Bickford promptly answered that call, en- listing as a private in company E, 8th New York cavalry, and serving until the close of the war. He enjoyed the distinc- tion of serving with the historic Army of the Potomac, and personally participated in thirty-five of the sixty-four regular battles fought by his regiment. He was always on duty, never received a wound, and held sev- eral non-commissioned offices, the highest being quartermaster of his company. He was proffered a commissioned office near the close of the war, but declined it, as in case of accept- ance he would forfeit his bounty money. He is now a member of Henry L. Smith Post, No. 178, Grand Army of the Republic, of Middleport, in which post he has held the office of vice commander. Mr. Bick- ford's life, now extending over half a cen- tury, has been active and useful in his com- munity and to the country. He is a pleas- ant and genial gentleman, possessing the sincerest esteem of a wide circle of friends and acquaintances, and wielding an influ- ence for good which is felt and acknowl- edged in every part of the community.
W ARREN H. LOOMIS, M. D., a lead-
ing physician of Lockport, and a suc- cessful specialist in throat, nose, and ear dis- eases, is a son of Guy P. and Adaline (Sayles) Loomis, and was born in the town of Palermo, Oswego county, New York, April 10, 1855. His paternal grandfather, Elias Loomis, was a native of Vermont, and
came to Herkimer county, which he soon left to settle in Oswego county, where he continued to reside until his death. He was a farmer by occupation, and married and reared a family of eight children. His son, Guy P. Loomis (father), who now lives in the town of Palermo, New York, was born in Herkimer county in 1811. He is a farmer by occupation, and a mem- ber of the Baptist church. In politics he supports the Republican party, and although no politician, yet has been elected and has served his town for several terms as super- visor. He has been twice married. His first wife was Adaline Sayles, daughter of John Sayles, of Herkimer county, and after her death he married for his second wife Mrs. Lucy Mason. By his first marriage he had five children : Charles, who was a Union soldier in the late civil war, and is now sheriff of a county in Kansas; Margaret, wife of Carmi Crannell, of the town of Pal- ermo, Oswego county, New York; Olive, who married Ogilvie Tuller, a farmer of Oswego county ; Lydia, who died at an early age; and Perry, a farmer, who resides at the village of Oswego Falls, in the same county where his sisters live.
Warren H. Loomis grew to manhood in his native town, and received his education in Mexico academy, of Oswego county. Leaving school he read medicine with Dr. C. E. Heaton, of Mexico; attended a course of lectures at Buffalo university in the winter of 1876 and 1877, and then entered Long Island Hospital medical college, from which he was graduated in the spring of 1878. After graduation he returned to his native town, where he practiced for six years, and then removed to Fulton, Oswego county, where he remained for about four years. In June, 1889, he came to Lockport, where he
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has practiced ever since with good success. He makes a specialty of throat, nose, and ear diseases, and in that line of practice treats patients from quite a distance, as well as having a large home practice.
In February, 1884, Dr. Loomis married Grace Smith, daughter of Harvey Smith, of the town of Scruple, Oswego county. They have one child, a daughter, named Neva.
Dr. Loomis is a republican in politics. He is a member of Red Jacket lodge, No. 646, Free and Accepted Masons, and of Cataract lodge, No. 295, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, also of Lockport. In order to prepare himself fully for his work in his special lines, Dr. Loomis took a spe- cial course in the winter of 1888 at the New York Polyclinic, of New York city. He thus laid the foundation for his present ex- tensive and successful practice as a specialist.
H ON. JOHN E. POUND is a promi- nent citizen of Lockport, who, by his learning and ability, has made for himself an enviable reputation in this part of the State. He is now in the prime of life, and further honors undoubtedly await him, for in him the elements of popularity and suc- cess meet and coalesce. He is the son of Alexander and Almina (Whipple) Pound, and was born on August 23, 1843, in Lock- port, Niagara county, New York. The Pounds are of English extraction, and are descended from Michael Pound, who was church warden in Bishop Cummings' church at Wiltshire, England, prior to 1691. One branch of the family yet lives at Devizes, England. The first representative of the family to settle in America, of which we have any knowledge, was John Pound, who located in Piscataway township, New Jer-
sey, where he died in February, 1691. He left one son, John Pound, who married, and his lineal descendant was Elijah Pound, born on January 8, 1712. He married, and his son, Samuel Pound, was the great- grandfather of Hon. John E. Pound. Sam- uel Pound was born on the old homestead in New Jersey, June 5, 1745, and died there in 1826, leaving several children to survive hin. Among these was John Pound (grandfather), who was born in New Jersey, January 10, 1779. In 1822 he removed to Lockport, this county, where he resided the remainder of his life. By occupation he was a butcher and chandler, in religion a Quaker, and married Alice Smith, of Farm- ington, Ontario county, this State, by whom he had five children, four sons and one daughter. Alice Smith was of French ori- gin, and her descendants derived from her many of the characterics of her race. The maternal grandfather of John E. Pound was Zebulon Whipple, a native of New York, who removed to Ionia, Michigan, where he died. He married Phobe Andrews, and had a family of three sons and four daughters.
Alexander Pound (father) was born in the town of Farmington, this State, No- vember 22, 1812, and came to Lockport in 1822, where, on November 22, 1842, he married Almina Whipple, by whom he had four children : John E., Cuthbert W., and two who died in infancy. Cuthbert W. Pound is a lawyer by profession, and is lo- cated in the city of Lockport, where he has served as city attorney for three years. Mr. Alexander Pound lived in Lockport until his death, September 14, 1890. He settled on a farm now within the limits of the city of Lockport, and cleared it up, but his main business was superintending the business of the Pound Manufacturing Company, de-
John E. Danndo
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voted to building steam dredges and engines. In politics he was a whig, but became a re- publican when that party was organized.
John E. Pound received his early educa- tion in the Union school of Lockport, of which he is a graduate, and then took a course of training in Brown university. During the war he was connected with the quartermaster's department, and rose to be chief of property under General Crane, quar- termaster of the military railroads at Nash- ville, Tennessee, and Cincinnati, Ohio. Soon afterward he began reading law with L. F. and G. W. Bowen, of Lockport, and was admitted to the bar in 1867. He at once opened an office in Lockport, and has been regularly engaged in practice there ever since. He is an eloquent pleader, has a very profound knowledge of law, and is frequently retained in important cases.
On November 11, 1868, he was united in marriage with Catharine M. Hurd. They have one daughter, Almina Catharine Pound, who recently graduated at Hellmuth col- lege, London, Ontario. This happy family live in a pleasant, unpretentious home on High street, in the city of Lockport.
In politics Mr. Ponnd is a stanch repub- lican, and has the distinguished honor of being one of the "immortal 306" who stood by General Grant in the national republi- can convention of 1880 until "the sun of hope had set behind the level wastes of dis- appointment." In 1870 he served as one of the supervisors of Lockport, and in 1871 was elected to the State assembly from the first district of Niagara county, serving one term. He was mayor of the city of Lock- port two years, assistant United States at- torney eight years, and for more than a de- cade has been United States circuit court commissioner. In all these positions he
has measured up to the requirements of the hour, and distinguished himself by a prompt, vigorous, able, and honorable discharge of every duty. He is a trustee of the Lock- port Home for the Friendless, trustee of the Buffalo law college, has been vice-president of the State bar association, and is a mem- ber of the board of education of the city of Lockport. The executive ability possessed by Mr. Pound has been utilized by the busi- ness men of Lockport, who elected him president of their business men's associa- tion, formed March 29, 1891, to advance the business interests and development of the city. He has also served as president of the Lockport charity organization, formed Feb- ruary 2, 1891. He is a member of Lock- port council, No. 307, Royal Arcanum, and also one of the committee on laws of the supreme council of that order. He holds membership in Grace Episcopal church and is one of its wardens. Mr. Pound is well and favorably known in the business and political world, has obtained considerable eminence in his profession, and his friends, who are numbered by legions, confidently predict for him a brilliant future, full of useful labors and crowned with many honors.
W ILLIAM COCKER, the well-known saw manufacturer of Lockport, and a useful and popular citizen of this county, who is prominent in secret society circles, is a son of Samuel and Mary (Gregory) Cocker, and was born November 29, 1834, in Sheffield, England. His grandfather, Ezra Cocker, was a native of Sheffield, and lived there until his death, which occurred when William was yet a lad. Samuel Cocker (father) was born (about 1810) near and brought up in Sheffield, England, and
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emigrating to America in 1851 settled in the city of Rochester, New York, where he died in 1876. He was a sawmaker by occu- pation, having thoroughly learned that trade at Sheffield. He married Mary Greg- ory and had a family of twelve children, three of whom died in infancy, and only five of whom now survive: Anna, who married Jacob Amesbury (now deceased), and who resides in the city of Buffalo; Elizabeth, Emaline M., Alice, and William.
William Cocker was educated in public and private English schools, and after com- pleting his education came to America with his parents (1851), and locating at Roches- ter, New York, he learned the sawmaking trade with Joseph Flint, of that city, where he continued in the same occupation for nearly six years. On September 1, 1857, he removed to Lockport, this county, and embarked in the manufacture of saws in that village, in which business he has been engaged ever since. His trade has con- stantly increased, and he now owns and operates a large factory at Nos. 89 and 91 Market street, which is fitted up with all kinds of new and improved machinery, and turns out every description of saws, large and small. In the operation of this factory he regularly employs from ten to fifteen ex- perienced men. His reputation for first- class work is widely known, and with thou- sands of sawyers his name on a saw is a guarantee of its superior quality.
In 1855 Mr. Cocker was married to Pris- cilla Stokes, daughter of John Stokes, of Rochester, New York, and to them were born two daughters: Ann, who married John Shunk (deceased), and now resides in the city of Lockport; and Grace, who mar- ried Arthur Kelly, and lives in the city of Rochester.
In political sentiment Mr. Cocker is a straight republican, and gives his party a loyal support, but is too much engrossed in business to enter the active arena of practi- cal politics. He is a leading and influential member of the Episcopal church, and is now serving as warden of Christ's church. He is a prominent and popular secret society man, and holds membership in Lockport lodge, No. 73, Free and Accepted Masons, of which he is past master; Ames chapter, No. 88, Royal Arch Masons, of which he is past high priest ; Bruce council, No. 15, Royal and Select Masters, in which he is also prominent ; Ishmalia temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, of Buffalo; and is also a member of the Royal Masonic Rite. He is a man of great mechanical ingenuity and is a first-class mechanic, having apparently inherited great talent in that direction. As a business man he also ranks high, and is greatly respected and esteemed by all who have the pleasure of his acquaintance.
H ON. BURT VAN HORN. One of the surviving republican members of the memorable Thirty-ninth Congress of 1865 and 1867, which did so much to shape our national history, is Hon. Burt Van Horn, of Niagara county. He is a son of Judge James and Abigail (Carpenter) Van Horn, and was born in the town of New Fane, north of the city of Lockport, Niagara county, New York, October 28, 1823. At some time during the eighteenth century, while Holland was the principal commercial nation of the world, a member of the Van Horn family sought the shores of the new world and a home in the New Netherlands, where he reared a family. One of his many descendants was James Van
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Horn (grandfather), who was born in New Jersey, learned a mechanical trade, and married Hannah Seabury, by whom he had four sons and three daughters: Hannah, Polly, Jane, Cornelius, John, Judge James and Abraham. Of these children Abraham settled in Otsego county, New York, and Jane, Polly and John settled in Seneca county. Judge James Van Horn was born in 1770, in New Jersey, removed to Seneca county, this State, and in 1815 came to the town of New Fane, where he died in 1856, aged eighty-six years. He was a blacksmith by trade, but followed farming for several years. He was also engaged in milling for many years. He built and operated the first gristmill in his section. It was on the Eighteen-Mile creek, was burned, in 1813, by the British, and four years later was rebuilt by Mr. Van Horn, on the site of the present "Lake Shore Mills." In 1842 he crected the first woolen mill in the county on the Eighteen-Mile creek. In politics he was a whig and abolitionist, served several terms as supervisor, and on the organization of Niagara county he became one of the judges of the county. Judge Van Horn was a member of the Baptist church, strong willed and determined, but a free hearted, kind and generous friend to the poor and friendless. He accumulated quite a compe- tency, and was twice married. His first wife was Elizabeth Hall, of New Jersey, who bore him three children : Daniel, Cornelius and Sally, all of whom are dead. After his first wife's death he married Abigail, daughter of Joshua Carpenter, of Chemung county. She was born in 1782 and died in 1856. By his second marriage Judge Van Horn had eight children: Hon. James (deccascd), who succeeded to his father's milling business, and was a member of the
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