USA > New York > Niagara County > Biographical and portrait cyclopedia of Niagara County, New York > Part 43
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On September 20, 1860, Mr. MacBean was wedded to Elizabeth Johnson, daughter of Hector and Margaret (Gillespie ) John- son, and to their union was born a family of seven sons and one daughter: Malcoln. Andrew, who is in the flour and feed busi- ness at Niagara Falls; Hector, who occupies the position of secretary of the Cataract
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Milling Company at Niagara Falls ; Donald, died at an early age; Alexander, deceased at the age of twenty years; Marjorie Rose, living at home with her parents; John, book-keeper in the Cataract bank; and William, who died young. Mrs. MacBean's father, Hector Johnson, was a native of Argyleshire, Scotland, but emigrated to On- tario, Canada, where he followed the voca- tion of farming until his death. By his marriage to Margaret Gillespie he had eight children : Ronald, deceased; Elizabeth, wife of the subject of this sketch; Catherine, de- ceased ; Christina, married to William Camp- bell, of Niagara Falls; John, Flora, Mar- garet (deceased ), and Angus.
In his political convictions Mr. MaeBean is a republican, yielding that party an un- wavering support in victory or defeat, but has never been active in the exciting con- tests waged in the arena of practical politics.
W ILLIAM V .- R. BLIGHTON, M. D.,
a prominent and successful physician of North Tonawanda, and president of the Niagara County Homeopathic Medical so- ciety, is a son of William and Polly P. ( Bumpus ) Blighton, and was born at Varys- burg, Wyoming county, New York, Sep- tember 16, 1837. His paternal grandfather, William Blighton, was born and reared in England, and in early life crossed the dark Atlantic to make a home for himself in the Empire State. He was completely success- ful in his laudable ambition, and became a well-to-do resident of the great Common- wealth of his choice. He married and reared a family of children, of whom one son was William Blighton, the father of Dr. Blighton. He was a mason by trade, but devoted much of his time to the prac-
tice of law, yet never sought admission to the bar, although well qualified to have passed any law examination required at any county bar. He died in 1839 at forty years of age. He was an old-line whig in poli- tics, transacted a large amount of legal busi- ness, and married Polly P. Bumpus, a na- tive of the town of Ellington, Chautauqua county, and who died at Batavia, New York, December 22, 1890, when in the eighty- second year of her age.
William V .- R. Blighton was reared at Varysburg, New York, until he was four- teen years of age, when he removed to War- saw. the county-seat of Wyoming county. He attended the public schools of Varys- burg, and received his academie education in Warsaw and Pike academies. Leaving school, he read medicine with Dr. William W. Gardner, a prominent physician of War- saw, and was licensed to practice by the Columbia and Green County Homoeopathic Medical society. He practiced at Holly, in Orleans county, for two years, and then at Martinsdale, Columbia county, for three years, and at the end of that time removed to Clariden, New York, which he left in one year to settle at Johnsonburg, in Wyoming county. While practicing at the latter place he was called, in 1867, to the ministry of the Methodist Episcopal church, and dur- ing the same year was given charge of the church at Wales, Erie county, where he re- mained for two years. His next appoint- ment was at Hamburg, in the same county, and at the end of one year's faithful labor he was sent to the church at Pendleton, in Niagara county, where he remained for two years. From Pendleton he was sent to Hartland, but at the end of one year's labor he was compelled to quit all active minis- terial work on account of throat trouble,
I. P. V. Blighton, m. D.
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OF NIAGARA COUNTY.
which prevented his speaking for any time in public. While engaged in the work of the Christian ministry his services were con- stantly called for as a physician, and he found himself continually doing the work of two men with no rest or intermission. It was in 1872 that he left the ministry, and on October 9, 1874, he came to North Ton- awanda, where he has been ever since in the active and successful practice of medicinc.
On December 6, 1860, Dr. Blighton mar- ried Mary E. Abel, of Erie, Pennsylvania, who died on December 10, 1871, leaving three children, one son and two daughters: Mary E., who died September 25, 1890, at twenty-six years of age; Carrie P., now Mrs. George F. Denio, of Chicago; and William L., a student at one of the leading schools of the State. On November 21, 1872, he united in marriage with Susan M. De Cou, of Pendleton, this county, but has no children by this second marriage.
Dr. Blighton is of fine personal appear- ance, being tall and well built, and weigh- ing fully two hundred and thirty-five pounds. He is pleasant and courteous, a good talker, and a well informed man, and although quiet and generally undemonstra- tive, yet possesses strong will power and great energy. In politics he is a prohibi- tionist, and believes that the future pros- perity of the country depends upon the tri- umph of the Prohibition party and its prin- eiples at the ballot-box. In his profession he has endeavored to keep abreast of the medical thought of the age, and has secured a large and remunerative practice by his ability, skill, and success. Hc is president of the Niagara County Homeopathic Medi- cal society, and a member of the New York State Homeopathic Medical society, and has recently been appointed company surgeon
for the New York, Lake Erie & Western railroad, vice Sineon Tucker Clark, deceased. Dr. Blighton's success in life has been due to his own efforts and energy. He made high his aim of life, and never allowed any temptation or glittering illusion to divert him from his determined course in life. He realized that purposes without work are dead, and labored persistently. Time has shown the result in success and honorable standing among his fellow men.
OSIAH HAMMOND HELMER, M.
D., for many years a practicing physi- cian at Lockport, and later a prominent railroad operator and business man of that city, is a son of Steuben and Polly (Ham- mond) Helmer, and was born January 23, 1821, in Montgomery county, New York. The Helmers are descended from German stock, their ancestors in America being one of the Palatine families that came over from Germany and settled in the Mohawk valley, near what is now the village of Fort Plain, during the colonial period. In that valley Steuben Helmer was born in 1790. He is said to have been a man of very marked character, and although in his youth he had very meagre advantages for obtaining an education, and in later years was obliged to spend nearly all his time in wringing front an obstinate soil the necessities of life for his large family, nevertheless by the careful study of a few good books, a mental analy- sis of men and things, and an earnest use of whatever opportunities came within his reach, he succeeded in attaining a position of honor and influence in his community. The knowledge of this fact, and the men- ory of the respect and esteem in which he was held, is of more valuc to his children,
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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
says one of them, than any other legacy he could have left them. For many years he was a public magistrate, and so stern was his integrity and so unerring his judgment that his neighbors for miles around sought his advice and services in matters pertaining to contracts, mortgages, land titles, and the settlement of estates. When, after passing the line of three-score and ten years, he came to western New York to spend his re- maining days with his children, he was obliged to relinquish his duties as executor in several large estates which he had been appointed to settle. That the character and example of such a father made a deep impression on his sons cannot be doubted. He was a devoted and earnest Christian, and an active member of the Presbyterian church. He died at Lockport, at the ad- vanced age of eighty-four, having lived in Niagara county about ten years. He was thrice married. He first wedded Polly Hammond, who bore him two sons : Joseph William, and Josiah Hammond, the subject of this sketch. Joseph W. now lives in the city of Chicago, Illinois, where he is en- gaged in the loan and real estate business. After the death of his first wife, Steuben Helmer married Mrs. Fanny Mulford, by whom he had four children. For his third wife he wedded Abigail Starks.
Josiah Hammond Helmer received an academic education at Canajoharie, Mont- gomery county, this State, and after gradu- ating began the study of medicine with Dr. John Matthews at that village. After read- ing for some time with Dr. Matthews he entered the Albany Medical college and took a three years course, graduating from that institution in 1847. Not long after- ward he opened an office and began the practice of his profession at Theresa, Jeffer-
son county, this State, where he remained five years. He was an earnest student in everything pertaining to disease or its rem- edy, and early manifested a determination to make himself a master of medicine. In 1853 he removed to Lockport, this county, where he continued to practice the healing art until about 1867, when he became ab- sorbed in outside business, and by degrees ceased his labors in the field of therapeutics. In 1860 he had joined a syndicate consisting of Governor Washington Hunt, George W. Rodgers, Charles Courter, and himself, and leased the Milwaukee & Baraboo Valley railroad, which extended from Milwaukee to Sun Prairie. They finally purchased the stock, and by building and equipping an extension to the road it became the Milwau- kee & St. Paul railroad. These gentlemen were connected with the road for a period of three years. For the last twenty-five years he has been more or less identified with the banking interests at Lockport.
On May 19, 1853, Dr. Helmer was united in marriage to Ann Eliza Ranney, daughter of Anson Ranney, and to this union was born an only daughter, Anna Florence. She received a fine education, and after attain- ing womanhood married Colonel Charles Lowery Snow, and they now reside at Pic- tou, Nova Scotia, where the Colonel is largely engaged in gypsum and coal mining. He is a graduate of the West Point Military academy, and served during the civil war as colonel of an infantry regiment of Texas rangers. In 1854 Mrs. Helmer died, and Dr. Helmer afterward wedded Sarah Eliza- beth, daughter of George W. and Martha F. Rodgers. Mr. Rodgers was a prominent busi- ness man of the city of Lockport in his day. By this marriage Dr. Helmer had four chil- dren, two of whom died in infancy. The
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OF NIAGARA COUNTY.
two who survive are Elizabeth R., and Al- bert R., the latter being teller in the Mer- chants bank of Lockport.
Dr. Helmer is inclined to great modesty in speaking of himself or anything he has accomplished, but it is a faet that every en- terprise or labor to which he has given his hand has felt the electric thrill of a master's touch, infusing life and energy into every detail. In politics he has always been a re: publican, but while giving his party and its general poliey an active and vigorous sup- port, he has not seen fit to enter the arena of practical politics, or take much part in heated contests at the polls. He is a meni- ber of the Presbyterian church, and liberal in his contributions of time and money toward the furtherance of all church inter- ests. He is also an ardent and prominent Sunday-school worker, and is, perhaps, never more pleased, or "at home," than when surrounded by the busy hum of a large, intelligent, earnest Sabbath-school. For thirty-six years he has been the active and able superintendent of the second ward Presbyterian Sunday-school in Lockport.
C HARLES KEEP, a prominent real estate dealer and land owner of Niagara county, who, in times past, has been exten- sively engaged in mereantile business at Lockport, where he resides, is a son of Chauncey and Prudence (Woleott ) Keep, and was born in Homer, Cortland county, New York, April 4, 1823. The Keeps are of old New England stock. Caleb Keep (grandfather) was born at Long Meadow, Massachusetts. His son Chauneey ( father) received a good common school education, and while yet a boy learned the milling business. He afterward purchased a farm,
and spent some years in farming, and later embarked in general merehandizing at Ho- mer, Cortland county, where he aceumu- lated considerable money. In his later life he loaned money and did a general broker- age business. In politics he was an old-line whig, and represented his county in the State assembly for two terms-1830 and 1836. He also served as judge in that county for some time. He married Pru- denee Wolcott, and to them was born a family of seven sons and two daughters: William, who removed to Lockport in 1837, was a merchant for some time, and several years president of the Exchange bank of Loekport, and died in that city in the year 1865; Sophia, married to Joseph W. Nye, of Cortland county; Mary W., deceased; Chauneey, who died at Lockport in 1874; Henry, who studied law, graduated from Union college, and practiced his profession for a number of years in Chicago, Illinois, where he later became a real estate dealer, but has now retired from active business and is living quietly in that city ; Charles, subjeet of this sketeh ; Albert, a real estate dealer in Chicago, who for fourteen years was president of the great Chicago & North- western railroad, and is now president of the executive committee of that road; Au- gustus, who was a merchant for many years in the city of Lockport, this county, but is now doing a general loan business there; and George, who was for some years a mer- ehant at Lockport, but now resides in Chi- cago, engaged in the manufacture of shoes, with a factory at Elgin, Illinois.
Charles Keep received a good practical English education in the Cortland academy, at Homer, and soon after leaving that school he came to Lockport, in 1838, and entered the employ of his brother William as a elerk
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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
in the latter's store in that city. In this position he remained for three years, and then, with a partner, at the age of eighteen, embarked in the hardware business on his own account. The hardware store was con- ducted alone for about four years, when the dry goods business of his brother William was purchased and added-Mr. Keep own- ing a third interest in the entire business .. He successfully conducted this double trade for a period of eight years, accumulating considerable money. At the end of that time he withdrew from the business and began dealing in real estate. His opera- tions in this line soon became quite exten- sive, and he now owns several fine farms in Niagara county, beside city property in Lockport and real estate in Illinois and In- diana. He was one of the organizers of the Holly Manufacturing Company, and was business manager of that corporation during a decade, and connected with it for a period of eighteen years.
In June, 1860, Mr. Keep was united in marriage to Caroline W. Crockett, a daughter of George W. Crockett, of the city of Bos- ton, and to their union was born a family of three sons. The eldest of these is Charles H., who was graduated from Harvard col- lege, and is now practicing law in the city of Buffalo, New York. Their second son, Wallace I., also a graduate from Harvard col- lege, is now manager and treasurer of the Lockport Paper Company, and resides at Lockport. Roger is their youngest child, a graduate from Harvard college, and is now preparing for the legal profession in the Harvard law school.
In addition to his business interests al- ready mentioned, Mr. Keep is a director in the Lockport Gas Company and a stock- holder in the Lockport Hydraulic Company.
He was also one of the organizers of the Lockport Paper Company, and is now pres- ident of that concern. In politics he is an uncompromising republican, and gives that party a loyal and hearty support, but has always preferred the employments of an active business career to the excitement of political contests. He is a member of the Episcopal church, active and liberal in sup- port of all church interests, and for a num- ber of years has been a member of the ves- try of his church.
I RA BRONSON, a prominent and success-
ful carriage manufacturer of Lockport, is a son of Captain Levi and Martha ( Wilcox ) Bronson, and was born in Oneida county, New York, July 29, 1815. His paternal grandfather, Levi Bronson, was a native of one of the towns of Connecticut, in which State he was reared, lived and died. He married, and one of his sons was Captain Levi Bronson (father), who became a sca- man. He ran vessels for several years from Albany to New York city, when he went to Oneida county, where he followed farming for some years, at the end of which time he removed to the town of Sweden, in Monroe country. There he cleared up a farm, which he tilled until his death. He married Martha Wilcox, and they reared a family of six children, three sons and three daughters, of whom the daughters are all dead.
Ira Bronson, like most, or nearly all farmers' sons during the first quarter of the present century in New York, was kept busily employed on the farm, and had but little opportunity for attending school. His few days as a scholar were passed in a log school house, which was rudely furnished, and in which instruction was of a very lim-
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OF NIAGARA COUNTY.
ited character. He followed farming until he was twenty-five years of age, and then was engaged in carpentering and joining work for eight or ten years. In 1851 he came to Niagara county, where he became a resident of the city of Lockport, and engaged in his present carriage manufacturing business. On June 14, 1837, he married Mary J. Anise, of Clarendon, Orleans county, a daughter of Alexander Anise. They have one child, Ira A., who married Nettie Marvin, and has two children: Cora A., and Syl- vester M. After the death of his first wife Mr. Bronson married Bertha Weaver, who is about the same age as her husband.
In politics Mr. Bronson was formerly a republican, but is now rather inclined to be independent in political affairs. He erected his present substantial and commodious carriage factory in 1876. It is a large three-story brick structure, 70x90 feet in dimensions. He makes a specialty of car- riages and all kinds of light work. He has a large trade, has been remarkably success- ful in the sale of his work, and enjoys an excellent reputation as a skilled mechanic.
Since the above sketch was written, Ira Bronson died at his home in Lockport- November 8, 1891-aged seventy-six years. He was greatly respected by a large circle of friends and acquaintances, and left a life record of which his relatives may well feel proud.
H ARRISON S. CHAPMAN, one of the proprietors of the Field Force Pump Company, and a prominent business man of Lockport, is a son of Leander F. and Hannah (Kirkpatrick ) Chapman, and was born September 18, 1849, in Belvidere, Allegany county, New York. The Chap-
mans are descended from old English stock, the family being planted in America at a very early date. Peter G. Chapman, grand- father of the subject of this sketch, was born at Romula, Seneca county, this State, but removed to and became one of the early pioneers of Allegany county, where he died about 1841. He served in the war of 1812, and was connected with the State militia for many years, having the title of captain. He married and reared a family of two sons and two daughters: Jeremiah, who studied medicine and became a practicing physician at Portland, Oregon, where he died; Lean- der F. (father) ; Laura, who married Russell Sanford; and Marietta, who married Cyrus Lewis. Leander F. Chapman (father) was born in Seneca county, New York, in 1812, but removed to Allegany county, where he resided for some years, and then went to the State of Oregon, where he died in 1863. He was a carpenter, joiner, and cabinet- maker by occupation, and worked at these trades nearly all his life. He married Hannah Kirkpatrick, who was born in 1812, and was a daughter of John Kirkpatrick, by whom he had a family of two sons and two daughters: John K., who served four years during the civil war as ambulance sergeant in the 9th New York cavalry, and is now foreman of engines on the western division of the Erie railroad, residing at Hornellsville, this State; Laura M., who married A. A. Goodwin, a merchant doing business at Hornellsville ; Alvira L., married T. C. Smith, a dentist of Salem, Oregon; and Harrison S. The maternal grandfather of Harrison S. Champman, John Kirk- patrick, was of Scotch descent, but was born in New Jersey. The family trace their ancestry back to old Roger Kirk- patrick. John Kirkpatrick removed from
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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
New Jersey to Allegany county, New York, and died at Cuba, that county, at an ad- vanced age.
Harrison S. Chapman received an aca- demic education, graduating from Friendship academy in Allegany county, this State, in 1865. He began life on his own account a little later as a brakeman on the Erie rail- road, and was soon promoted to be a freight conductor on that road. He served in that capacity for nearly five years, and gave such satisfaction to the company that he was then made a passenger conductor. In this responsible position he passed the years from 1878 to 1891, having removed to Lockport in 1879. In 1882 he had become one of the organizers of the Field Force Pump Company, devoted to the manufacture of all kinds of pumps and pumping machinery, and is now the senior member of the firm doing business under that name, his partner being C. A. Barnes. Their plant is located near the Erie railroad track, a short distance west of Lockport. The main building is a substantial brick structure, 40 x 120 feet in dimensions and two stories high, and has an L 40 x60 feet, also two stories in height. The entire factory is conveniently arranged and finely equipped with the latest improved machinery, lacking nothing calculated to aid in the production of superior pumps for all purposes. The company employs about forty-five men in carrying on their business.
On June 8, 1871, Mr. Chapman was united in marriage with Florence I. Hendershott, of Hornellsville, this State, and to their union has been born an only child, Laura B., whose natal day was January 8, 1874.
In addition to his interest in the Field Force Pump Company, Mr. Chapman is a director in the Farmers' and Mechanics' Savings bank of Lockport, and also in the
Savings and Loan association of that city. Politically he is a democrat, giving that party an active and intelligent support in State and National politics. He has been twice elected to the position of member of the board of education, and on the comple- tion of his present term will have served six years in that office. He has always taken a lively interest in all questions per- taining to popular education. He is prom- inent in Masonic circles, being a member of Niagara Lodge, No. 375, Free and Accepted Masons; Ames Chapter, No. 101, Royal Arch Masons; and Genesee Commandery, No. 10, Knights Templar. He is also con- nected with Buffalo Division, No. 2, Order of Railway Conductors, of which order he is secretary.
OLONEL LEWIS S. PAYNE. The
late civil war opened a wide field for the display of military genius and talent by men who might otherwise have remained unknown to the public for courage and bravery, however high or honorable their standing in business or political life. Of this class of men is Colonel Lewis S. Payne, who is a son of Stephen and Ruth A. (Smith) Payne, and was born in the town of Riga, Monroe county, New York, Jan- uary 21, 1819. The Payne family is of honorable New England ancestry, and its founder in the new world was of Puritan stock, so famous in the history of both this country and England for its high and noble qualities of man and womanhood. Alpha Payne (paternal grandfather) was a native and life-long resident of the Common- wealth of Massachusetts. He served as a soldier in the war of 1812-or the second war for independence-and then returned
Col. L. S. Payne.
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OF NIAGARA COUNTY.
to his New England home, where he died, and left a family of respectable and indus- trious sons and daughters. One of these sons was Stephen Payne, the father of Colonel Payne. He was born in 1790, in the town of Hinesdale, Massachusetts, and when a young man removed to this State, where he settled in Monroe county, and where he followed farming until the infirmities of old age admonished him to retire from the labors of active life. He died in this county at the residence of his son, Colonel Payne, on the 12th of Febru- ary, 1880, when in the ninetieth year of his age. He was a hard-working and thorough- going man, whose strong constitution and temperate habits lengthened out his life into the advanced years of a ripe old age. He was born to the inheritance of a noble character and good name, which were" his only resources in life. He was a modest, unassuming man, and enjoyed the respect of his neighbors. He was independent in politics, and wedded Ruth A. Smith, a native of Massachusetts.
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