USA > New York > Niagara County > Biographical and portrait cyclopedia of Niagara County, New York > Part 36
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general assembly of New York in 1850; Launcy, dead; John (now deceased), who was a farmer and merchant, and served one term as county clerk; Caroline, wife of Henry A. Reynolds; Elizabeth, wife of H. Outwater; Burt, the principal subject of this sketch; and two who died in infancy.
Burt Van Horn received his education in Yates academy and in Hamilton college, now Colgate university, of New York. Leaving college on account of ill health before he finished his course, he returned to the home farm, which he cultivated for many years, and which he developed into one of the finest fruit farms of the county.
In 1850 he married Charlotte T. Goodell, who died in 1869 and left two children : Burt, Jr., who married Helen S. Hyde, of New York city; and Willis, who married Helen J. Lewis, and resides in Suspension Bridge village, where he owns a large cold storage establishment, and deals largely in fruits. In 1870 Mr. Van Horn united in marriage with Alicine Schuyler. By his second marriage he had three children: two, Mary and Schuyler, died young, and Grace, who is still living with her parents at home in the city of Lockport.
His political career commenced in 1857, when the Republican party elected him as a member of the general assembly. Hc was re-elected in 1858 and 1859. His course of action was such in the New York legis- lature as to be in the true interests of his county and constituents, and so acceptable to his party that in the fall of 1860 he was nominated by the republicans as their can- didate for Congress, in the twenty-eighth district, composed of the counties of Niagara and Orleans. At the ensuing election lie was elected to Congress on the same day that Abraham Lincoln was chosen president
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of the United States, in the fall of 1860. Mr. Van Horn served from 1861 to 1863 as a member of the Thirty-seventh Congress, and in the trying hours of the dark and gloomy days of those eventful years he supported all the measures of his party and the poliey of President Lineoln. In 1862 the Twenty-eighth Congressional distriet was changed to the Thirty-first, composed of the counties of Niagara, Genesee, and Wyoming, and in 1864, after having been out of Congress for one term, Mr. Van Horn was elected to represent the Thirty-first distriet in the Thirty-ninth Congress, and was returned in 1866 as a member of the Fortieth Congress. From 1865 to 1869 was an eventful time-an important period in the history of the United States, as well as the great war period of 1861 to 1865. As Mr. Van Horn had ably and firmly supported his party in its measures and policy in 1861 and 1862, so he was untiring in his devotion to and advocacy of its interests from 1865 to 1869. While earnestly supporting his party on its national poliey and issues, he was not neglectful of the interests of his county and State, and the commeree of the great lake region and the west, and secured over great opposition the passage of a bill in the House of Representatives for a ship eanal around Niagara Falls, but it was de- feated in the Senate. It was through his influenee that an appropriation was seeured for the harbor of Olcott in his native town, which added very much to its importance.
Sinee he retired from Congress in 1869 he has devoted his time to the management of his farm and to dealing extensively in real estate. IIe is a member of the Baptist church of Loekport, of which he has been trustee and treasurer for many years.
Burt Van Horn's whole life has been
identified with Niagara county. He has taken an interest in every improvement inaugurated during the last half century, for the benefit and advancement of the county ; and has lived to realize his hope of seeing it fairly launched upon a career of great prosperity. As already stated, he served three terms in the general assembly of the State, and with one exception he is the only one who served three terms in Congress from Niagara county. In 1877 he was appointed by President Hayes United States internal revenue collector for the twenty- eighth collection district of New York, eom- prising eleven counties, which offiee he filled for five years, with headquarters in the eity of Rochester. During this time he eolleeted nearly one million dollars a year, without the loss of a eent in the final aeeounting. Sinee he took any interest in politieal mat- ters he has been active in campaign work in western New York, and during the war spent the most of his time while out of Congress in raising men and speaking all over his district, urging the people to stand by the government. He also devoted him- self largely to the care and comfort of the soldiers from his district, and will always be remembered by them as their faithful friend. No serviee was too great for him to render them, and no saerifiee was too severe for him to make for their eomfort and welfare.
ATRICK WALSH was born and edu- eated in Ireland, and in 1850 emi- grated to America, and located at Niagara Falls, where he followed the livery business for some time, and then opened a groeery store. He has continued in this line ever sinee, and has been quite sueeessful in build-
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ing up a good trade. Mr. Walsh is a dento- crat in politics, and ready at all times to work for the success of his party and the tri- umph of its principles. In religion, he is a member of the Roman Catholic church, and has served as trustee in his church for a number of years. He was one of the char- ter members of the Catholic Mutual Ben- evolent association, and served as treasurer of the grand council and the supreme council. On June 25, 1840, he was united in marriage with Mary Butler, daughter of Michael Butler, a native of Ireland, to whom ten children were born, six of whom are dead. The living are Patrick, Michael, Ann, John, Edward, and William, and they all live at Niagara Falls.
H ON. ISAAC H. BABCOCK, ex-mem-
ber of the New York legislature, and the present president of the Farmers and Mechanics' Savings bank of Lockport, is a son of Hon. Jeptha W. and Mary (Hoag) Babcock, and was born at Rensselaerville, Albany county, New York, Setember 20, 1830. One of the thrifty and substantial families of eastern New York was the Bab- cock family, some of whose members, in the early part of the last century, were active members of the Friends, or Quaker, church. Isaac Babcock (paternal grandfather) was born in New Milford, Connecticut, and in early life removed to Albany county, which he afterward left, in 1831, to settle in the town of Rush, Monroe county, where he died in 1853, aged seventy-six years. He was a farmer of considerable means, a quiet and respected citizen, and a Friend, or Qua- ker, in religious belief. His son, Hon. Jeptha Babcock (father), was born in Al- bany county in 1806, removed to this county
in 1833, and died in 1884, at seventy-seven years of age. He settled in the town of Somerset, where he followed farming on a large scale, and was one of the heaviest wheat growers of his section of the county. In 1865 he left his town and the active pur- suits of agricultural and business life and came to Lockport, where he passed pleas- antly the evening of his days. He was a substantial citizen, a member of the Con- gregational church, and in politics a whig and republican. He was supervisor of his town for several years, and represented the second district of this county, during 1851 and 1852, in the general assembly of New York. He never solicited a vote for any office, or was a place-sceker, and served creditably in every position which he occu- pied. A man of firmness and decision, Mr. Babcock never left a stone unturned to ac- complish his purpose after having resolved upon a course of action. In political mat- ters he was, above all things, strictly honor- able and honest, and thus enjoyed the confi- dence of his fellow citizens. He married Mary Hoag, who was a native of Albany county, and in her later life a member of the Congregational church. She was born in 1803, and passed away in 1869, at nearly sixty-seven years of age.
Isaac H. Babcock was reared on his fath- er's farm, in Somerset, and received his edu- cation in Lockport union school and Wilson collegiate institute. Leaving school, he was engaged for a number of years in agricul- tural pursuits until 1861, when he removed to Lockport, where he engaged in fruit raising, and especially the growing of grape vines, upon quite a large scale. He has taken considerable interest in the new white grape Niagara, was treasurer of the Niagara White Grape Company for three years, and last
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winter planted thirty-five acres of this cele- brated grape in Florida, with the view to testing its adaptability to the climate of that ocean and gulf-bound State. Mr. Babcock 'is still interested in agriculture, owning a farm of one hundred and seventy-six acres in the town of Pendleton, and residing at his suburban place of thirty acres on the southern limits of the city of Lockport. He has a fine location, a tasteful residence, and beautiful grounds.
On January 15, 1861, he married Sarah L. Newhall, daughter of Daniel Newhall, of Lockport. They have three children, two sons and one daughter: Mary E., Harry J., and Frederick N.
In politics Isaac H. Babcock is a republi- can. He was supervisor of the town of Lockport for two years, and served as a member of the New York legislature in 1872 and 1873. The first year he was an active member of the committee on insur- ance, whose investigation of the insurance department drove from office a corrupt su- perintendent. The second year he was chairman of a special committee to investi- gate charges against the conduct of the affairs of the Erie Railway Company, and made an exhaustive report thereon. His record altogether as a legislator was credit- able and satisfactory, as his course of action was in the true interests of his State and county. In all the pursuits of life Mr. Bab- cock has always had his full share of duties to perform and received his meed of honor. He was a director and the secretary and treasurer of the Farmers and Mechanics' Savings bank for twelve years. Upon the decease of Hon. James Jackson, jr., in 1891, he succeeded him as president of the bank. In 1879 he became treasurer of the Ameri- can District Steam Company, which office he
is still holding. He served as president of the Niagara County Agricultural society for one term, and has been interested, more or less, in various other business enterprises not herein mentioned. Mr. Babcock is a pleasant and courteous gentleman and a useful and influential citizen. Possibilities lie within the reach of personal actions, and success or failure is written of every one as they grasp or neglect the possible or golden opportunity. With those who have intelli- gently lived for something and to do some- thing Isaac H. Babcock is to be classed. He has always dealt with the questions and facts of life as they really are, and has al- ways done quickly, yet thoroughly, what- ever has been worth doing in the opportu- nities that have come within his grasp.
The Babcock family is of English descent, and the American branch of it was founded by James Babcock, who emigrated from Essex, England, to settle in Plymouth. Massachusetts, in 1623, where he died, and from him the entire Babcock family in America is descended.
M ICHAEL RYAN, now retired from active business, but still connected with many of the leading enterprises in and about Niagara Falls, was born in County Galway, Ireland, in 1834, and is the son of Thomas Ryan, also a native of the Emerald Isle. Michael attended the schools of his native country until about fourteen years of age, when his young imagination was fired by accounts of the new world, and he de- termined to come to America. Soon after arriving in the United States he located at Niagara Falls, and has lived in that village ever since. He began life as a day laborer in the employ of Colonel Peter A. Porter,
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and afterward became the colonel's gar- dener. Later he embarked in business on his own account as a market gardener on land leased from Mr. Porter, and continued in that vocation for two years, when he was offered a position as foreman in the work of grading for the Buffalo & Lake Ontario railroad, and served in that capacity for two years. He then became chief of police at Suspension Bridge for three years, and also served as deputy sheriff under Colonel Ames, of Lockport, and Sheriff Ransom. In 1869 he went into the feed and flour trade at Niagara Falls, and shortly after- ward added a wood and coal yard to his first business. He operated these two enter- prises very successfully for a number of years and then sold out, and in partnership with Hon. T. V. Welch entered the dry goods business, under the firm name of Welch & Ryan. Their store was on Falls street, in a block which he still owns, ad- joining the Spencer house. This partner- ship was continued until 1889, when Mr. Ryan sold his interest to H. E. Slocum, and the business has since been conducted under the firm name of H. E. Slocum & Co.
In 1856 Mr. Ryan was united by the ties of marriage to Ellen Holland, daughter of Thomas Holland, a native of Ireland. Mrs. Ryan is an intelligent, capable woman, and popular among her many friends and ac- quaintances.
With the sale of his dry goods store Mr. Ryan practically retired from active busi- ness, but owns and rents a number of fine houses in the village. He owns other real property also, and is a director and stock- holder in the Niagara County Savings bank and in the Cataract bank. He is part owner and treasurer of the Maid of the Mist Com- pany, and is interested in the Whirlpool
Rapids Company, and a stockholder in the Rodwell Manufacturing Company. He was one of the original nine who took the initiative step that led to the building of the great tunnel at Niagara Falls, and has an excusable pride in his part in that enter- prise. He is now second vice-president of the tunnel company, and a member of the Business Men's association of Niagara Falls.
In political sentiment Mr. Ryan is a straight democrat, and takes much interest in the success of his party and the spread of democratic principles. He is a prominent member of the Roman Catholic church, and has served as one of its trustees.
JOSEPH S. WILMER, a prominent citizen of Lockport, and secretary of the Orleans-Niagara Mutual Fire Insurance Company, was born March 28, 1836, in the town of Niagara, Niagara county, New York, and is a son of Abraham and Cath- erine (Strickler) Wilmer. The family is of German extraction, their ancestors having emigrated to this country from Switzerland many years ago. Abraham Wilmer (grand- father) was a native of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, where he followed cabinet- making, but removed to the vicinity of Niagara Falls, this county, about 1812, and settled on a farm, where he combined the business of farming and cabinet-making. He was very successful, and became the owner of over eleven hundred acres of land. In religion he was a Mennonite, in politics an old-line whig, and lived an hon- ored and useful life, dying in 1851, at the age of eighty years. Abraham Wilmer (father) was born December 18, 1808, in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and after attaining manhood settled down on part of
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the old homestead in Niagara county, where he followed farming until about 1861, since which time he has led a quiet life, and for some time has lived in Lockport. In politics he was originally a whig, but became a republican upon the organization of that party, while in religion he adheres to the faith of his father, and is a prominent member of the Mennonite church. He married Catherine Strickler in 1835, who bore him one son, the subject of this sketelı. She was the daughter of Ulrich Strickler, and was born November 22, 1816. Her father was a native of York county, Penn- sylvania, but removed to Canada about 1800, where he lived for fifteen years, when he was driven out by Indian depredations. Returning to the United States, he settled at Clarence, Erie county, this State, where he died at the age of seventy-two years.
Joseph S. Wilmer received his education in the common schools, and at Wilson acad- emy, Fort Edward institute, and Williams- ville academy, in Erie county, this State. After completing his studies he taught four terms in the public schools, spent two years as a surveyor, and then returned to farming on the old homestead. Here he continued in the cultivation of the soil from 1860 until 1886, meeting with fair success. In the latter year he removed to Suspension Bridge, where he served as director of the Orleans and Niagara Mutual Fire Insurance Con- pany until February, 1889, when he was elected secretary of that company, and re- moved to Lockport, where he still resides and discharges the duties of his official position. In general politics Mr. Wilmer may be classed as a republican, but manifests great independence in his political action. He is a member of the Christian church, and very conscientious and careful in the
discharge of duty. He has demonstrated the possession of fine business qualities, and won a degree of success in life of which any man might feel justly proud.
On May 10, 1860, Mr. Wilmer was united in marriage with Frances M. Millard, daugh- ter of Stephen Millard, of this county, who bore him one son. Mrs. Frances M. Wilmer died in 1871, and on March 12, 1872, Mr. Wilmer again married, this time wedding Addie M. Cook, daughter of William Cook, of Lincoln county, Ontario, and by her he has one daughter and one son: Lulu K .. aged seventeen, and Roy C., aged five years.
JOSEPH DUMVILLE, the proprietor and operator of Dumville's brewery on Chestnut street, Lockport, was born in Hunton, England, March 16, 1819, and is a son of Robert and Elizabeth (Johnson ) Dumville. The male members of the Dum- ville family in England, for several genera- tions back, were principally farmers, or engaged in some other agricultural pursuit. The paternal grandfather of Joseph Dum- ville was a farmer and life-long resident of England. He married, and reared a family of industrious sons and daughters, who settled in different parts of their native land. ITis son, Robert Dumville, father of the subject of this sketch, was born and reared on his father's farm, and carefully trained to all kinds of field labor and farnı management. He followed farming for an occupation as long as he lived. He mar- ried, and his wife dying, he wedded for his second wife Elizabeth Johnson, by whom he had six children, five sons and one daughter: Joseph; John, a resident of St. Catharines, Canada ; James (dead) ; Charles, now dead; Elizabeth ; and one son that died
Joseph Danville.
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OF NIAGARA COUNTY.
in infancy. Robert Dumville lived to reach the remarkable age of one hundred and five years, and when he died was surrounded by his descendants of three generations.
Joseph Dumville was reared on his father's farm, and received his education in the public and private schools of his neighbor- hood. He came, in 1851, from England to New York, where he located in Lockport, this county, and two years later embarked in his present brewing business.
In 1845 Mr. Dumville married Harriet Auton, who died in 1860, and left eight children, of whom but two are now living : Joseph, who married Eliza Mackey, and is engaged in the manufacture of shirts in Lockport; and Margaret, who is at home. For his second wife Mr. Dumville married Eliza Davis, and after her death he wedded Amanda Thorne, who lived but a short time after marriage. In 1891 he united in marriage with Mrs. Alissa (Forsythe) McQueen.
He is a democrat in politics, and served two years as an alderman of the city of Lockport. He is a member of the Prot- estant Episcopal church, in which he is a warden. Mr. Dumville rebuilt and enlarged his original lager beer factory, until it lias assumed its present dimensions. It is situ- ated on Chestnut street, and amply fitted up for brewing purposes. His beer is carefully and properly made according to scientific principles. His factory is furnished through- out with all needed machinery and apparatus necessary for the systematic and successful conduct of the business. Mr. Dumville has a large and increasing demand for his beer, and all orders are filled with the greatest care and promptness, while customers have the satisfaction of knowing that nothing inferior or adulterated will be sold them.
His beer is principally sold in this county, and is of excellent quality. He has a beautiful and well furnished home.
H ENRY E. WOODFORD, a very pop- ular and successful business man of Suspension Bridge, and president of the Rapids View Company, is a son of John and Alicia (Coombe) Woodford, and was born May 23, 1835, at Tipton, England. His father was an English farmer, who was born in Devonshire, in 1799, where he died in 1849. John Woodford married Alicia Coombe, by whom he had four children, three sons and one daughter, all of whom died in England except the subject of this sketch.
Henry E. Woodford received his educa- tion in the paid schools of his native coun- try, finishing his studies at William Reed's academy, in England. In 1854, when nine- teen years of age, he determined to leave his native country and try his fortune in America. He located first at Toronto, Can- ada, where for two years he was employed as clerk in a newspaper office, and then went to Stratford, Ontario, at which point he secured the position of freight agent on the Grand Trunk railroad, and served the company in that capacity for three years. Leaving Stratford he removed to Quebec and remained there for a year and a half engaged in railroad work. In 1864 he came to the United States and settled him- self at Suspension Bridge, this State, where he has resided ever since. His first em- ployment was as clerk for the American Express Company, in which capacity he re- mained four years, when he was promoted to the position of agent for the company at this point, and continued in the satisfactory
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discharge of his duties as such for the ex- tended period of eighteen years. In 1886 Mr. Woodford purchased the Rapids flour- ing mill at Suspension Bridge, which he still owns and operates. At the same time he bought the office in which he has since conducted a general exchange business. In the year 1888 was organized the Rapids View Company, and of this association Mr. Woodford is president and a heavy stock- holder, and is also a director and stock- holder in the bank at Suspension Bridge. Always prompt and careful in every detail, believing that what was worth doing at all was worth doing well, every business inter- est he has touched has seemed to prosper in his hands.
On May 22, 1867, he was united in mar- riage to Catherine, daughter of George and Mary Hoffman, of New York city. Mrs. Woodford is a lady of culture and refine- ment, and is a nicec of the late Mrs. John A. Roebling, of Trenton, New Jersey, whose husband, the distinguished civil engineer, designed and built the Brooklyn bridge and the suspension bridge across the Niagara river. She is also a niece of the late Mrs. Eliza Griffin, of Suspension Bridge.
In politics Mr. Woodford is an active re- publican, in whose clear judgment and keen insight local leaders have great confidence. In religion he is an Episcopalian, being a leading member, and for ten years warden of the Epiphany church at Suspension Bridge. He is a member of Niagara River lodge, No. 785, Free and Accepted Masons. His career furnishes a good illustration of what industry, economy, perseverance, and sound business conduct may accomplish in this world. Still in the prime of life, his success has won him an assured position, and his genial nature and generous man-
hood have attracted hosts of friends, and sccured for him the confidence and esteem of the entire community.
HILIP FREEMAN, one of the pros- perous farmers of Niagara county, was born in the town of Cayuga, Cayuga county, New York, February 3, 1807, and is the second son of Asher and Basheba ( Russell ) Freeman. Two years after William of Orange had sworn to support and defend the famous English bill of rights and be- came the first constitutional king of England, accepting his title by act of parliament, threc brothers by the name of Freeman left (1690) their childhood's home amid the mountains of Wales, and came, in all proba- bility, to the colony of New York, where they became the ancesters of all the Free- mans throughout America. A descendant of one of these brothers was James Free- man, the grandfather of William Freeman. He was born in 1702, and when parlia- mentary restrictions of industrial rights and taxation without representation led to the American Revolution, he was found in the armies of the Continental Congress. His son, Asher Freeman, was the father of the the subject of this sketch, and first saw the light of day in Dutchess county, on January 4,1774. He successively removed to Wash- ington, Saratoga, Cayuga, and Niagara coun- ties. He purchased, of the Holland Land Company, six hundred and forty acres in Royalton, one mile south of Middleport. He finally owned one thousand acres, was a whig and abolitionist, served as a justice of the peace, and died in 1853. He was twice married, first to Basheba Russell and then to Sophia Eddy. By his first marriage he had five sons : Samuel, Philip, William (dead),
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