USA > New York > Niagara County > Biographical and portrait cyclopedia of Niagara County, New York > Part 49
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In addition to his investments in the banking business, Mr. Johnson is pronii- nently identified with a number of other business enterprises in the twin villages of Niagara Falls and Suspension Bridge. He was one of the organizers of the Niagara Wood Paper Company, and is also one of the principal stockholders and treasurer of the Battery Whirlpool Rapids Company, of Suspension Bridge. He has been engaged extensively and very successfully in buying,
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OF NIAGARA COUNTY.
owning, and selling real estate in the two villages and their environs.
In his domestic life Mr. Johnson has been as happy and fortunate as in his business career. He was united in marriage with Mary Louise Bishop, of New York city, on December 21, 1869, and to them have been born two daughters: Marie Louise and Grace Daphne.
Politieally Mr. Johnson is a stanch re- publican, active and enthusiastie in his support of that party, and influential in its local councils. He and his family are mem- bers of St. Peter's Episcopal church. He is a member of Frontier Lodge, No. 132, Free and Accepted Masons, of Niagara Falls, and of International Lodge, No. 6, Ancient Order of United Workmen, of the same village, of which lodge he is past master.
D AVID A. JEFFERY, of Ransomville,
this eounty, was born in Steuben county, New York, June 11, 1823, and is a son of Daniel and Deborah (Huls) Jeffery. He lived his whole life, with the exception of three years, at Ransomville, and died on August 10, 1890. He received a common school education, as good as the time and cireumstances would permit, and after leav- ing sehool engaged in different avoeations. He served as a recruiting officer through the late civil war, and as supervisor in 1864.
In 1851, Mr. Jeffery married Mandana Tuttle, a native of Murray, Orleans county, and a daughter of Timothy Tuttle, of Ver- mont. To Mr. and Mrs. Jeffery have been born eight children, six sons and two daughters. The sons are : Edwin L., married Sarah Hall, of the town of Porter, and resides in Chieago, Illinois, where he is
engaged in the praetiee of law; Allen, married Minnie Baylis, and is also a resi- dent of Chicago; D. Elwood, married to Kate Becket, of Geneva, this State, and is a prominent lawyer of the eity of Lock- port; T. Howard, a farmer of Ransomville, married Carrie Moag, of the town of Por- ter; Otto, died in Dakota; and Emmette, living at home, engaged in farming. The daughters are : Almira A., wife of Willard H. Harris, and resides in the town of Por- ter; Mandana, married to George S. Peterson, who lives in the town of Cambria.
David A. Jeffery was a prominent mem- ber of Ontario Lodge, No. 376, Free and Aeeepted Masons, and a eharter member of Ransomville Lodge, No. 551, same order. In 1864, 1865 and 1873, he was elected and served as senior warden of Ransomville Lodge, No. 551, and was elected worshipful master in 1866, 1867, 1868, 1869 and 1875.
He was in his sixty-eighth year when he died, and his death was sudden and very unexpected. He was an ardent republiean in polities, and always took an active part in his party and its sueeess. He had many warmı personal and fraternal friends in the community in which he lived, who, with his family, deeply mourned his death. He was a kind, elever and indulgent father, and took a deep interest in the welfare of his family.
M ARTIN WENDELL, a popular and well known citizen of Loekport and Niagara county, who for many years was engaged in merchandising in this county, but is now director of the county alnis house, is the eldest son of Matthias and Dortha (Hartel) Wendell, and was born in the town of Pendleton, Niagara county. New York, his natal day being November
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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
13, 1845. The Wendell family is of Ger- man origin, the grandfather of the subjeet of this sketeh coming from that country, and settling in Erie county, this State, where he lived until his death.
Matthias Wendell (father) was also born in Germany, but eame with his father's family to New York at an early age. He worked for a time in and near the eity of Buffalo, but later removed to the town of Pendleton, this county, where he still resides at the advanced age of seventy-three years. Politieally he is a demoerat, and married Dortha Hartel, daughter of Peter Hartel, by whom he had a family of eight children: Martin; Frederiek, a farmer in the town of Pendleton; Philip, a merehant at Wendellville, that town; Jacob, a ear- penter, also residing at Wendellville; John, a earpenter living at Tonawanda; Mary, Charlotte, and Henry, all living at home with their parents. Peter Hartel ( mater- nal grandfather ) was born in Germany, and served twelve years in the army during the wars of Napoleon Bonaparte, after which he eame to America when the mother of Martin Wendell was only eight years of age. He located in the town of Pendleton, this eounty, where he followed farming until his death.
Martin Wendell received the limited education afforded by the country sehools of his neighborhood at that day-was educated, to use his own words, "in an old log school house in the town of Pendleton." In his boyhood days he labored on the farm, as other farmers' sons were wont to do, and after reaching man's estate, began life as a thresher of grain for the farmers of his neighborhood. At the age of twenty-two he embarked in the mercantile business at what is now known as Wendellville. He
was engaged in this line for nearly sixteen years, during which time he also did some eontraeting and building, among this work being a fourteen thousand dollar bridge aeross Eleven Mile ereek, at Williamsville.
Martin Wendell has been twiee married. He first wedded Anna Newbeeker, of the town of Pendleton, in 1869, by whom he had three children : Jacob, married Sarah Seholles, and resides with his father; Fred- eriek, clerk in a store at Loekport; and Eddie, teaching sehool at Wendellville. Mrs. Wendell died on March 1, 1878, and on January 7, 1879, Mr. Wendell was united in marriage to Mary Seholles, a daughter of Andrew Seholles, of Amherst, Erie county. To this union have been born three children : Adolphus, Cora, and Esther.
Politieally Mr. Wendell is a stanch den- oerat, and has served as collector of his town for three years, and as supervisor for a like period in suecession, and afterward for one term, when he was made president of the board. In the autumn of 1886 he was elected superintendent of the Niagara eounty alms house and poor farm, and at the expiration of his term of three years was re-elected for a second term. Under his supervision, the affairs of the poor of Ni- agara county are ably managed, having a perfeet system, every thing elean, and inmates all well fed, ete. Through his efforts and influence a post-office was estab- lished in the town of Pendleton by the name of Wendellville, and he was appointed as its first postmaster, and served in that eapaeity for a number of years. He is a member of Niagara Lodge, No. 375, Free and Aeeepted Masons, of Loekport, and of Cataraet Lodge, No. 54, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He and his family are members of the Evangelical Lutheran
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OF NIAGARA COUNTY.
church, at Lockport, and are held in high esteem by a large circle of friends and acquaintances, being very popular in church and social circles.
M ARK WELLS, a railroad conductor, who made an unusually good record, and, after an earnest and active life, is now living in retirement at Niagara Falls, is a son of Thomas and Nancy ( Kempthorn) Wells, and was born April 1, 1821, in England. His ancestors for unknown gen- erations were natives of that country. Thomas Wells ( father) was born in England, and emigrating to America, settled in West Troy, New York. He was a farmer by occupation, and purchased a farm on Green Island, but after some years sold out and went to Schenectady, this State, where he again engaged in farming. Later in life he removed to the State of Wisconsin, where he died. He married Nancy Kempthorn, by whom he had a family of one son and two daughters.
Mark Wells was reared in Schenectady, and educated in the common schools and in the German school at Troy, this State. He left Schenectady when a lad, with only three shillings in his pocket, and walked to Albany, and from there went to Boston, in search of employment. Finding nothing to do, he became slightly homesick and started to return, but on reaching West Brookfield, Massachusetts, he made the acquaintance of the manager of the railroad depot at that place, who gave him employment as an as- sistant about the building, and he remained there one year. He then became a railroad brakeman for one year, after which he en- tered the railroad machine shops at Albany and remained nearly a year, when he ac-
cepted the position of fireman on the Con- necticut River railroad. After running in that capacity for six months, he was promoted to be engineer on the same road, and for nine years continued to ply his vocation be- tween Springfield, Northampton and Green- field. In 1852 he removed to the city of Rochester as engineer on the Rochester & Niagara Falls railroad, and after serving two years as such, was again promoted to the position of conductor. He now seemed to have found the right niche, and for the lengthened period of thirty-four years he continued to discharge the duties of this position, winning the entire confidence of the company, and rendering the utmost sat- isfaction to the public. In one respect his career as a railroad man has, perhaps, no parallel in the State: for during the nine years he served as engineer, and the thirty- four years he was conductor- forty-three years in all-there was never an accident, or any passengers killed or even hurt, on any of his trains. Since October, 1886, he has lived a retired life, having at that time received a stroke of paralysis, which greatly disabled him.
On May 15, 1848, Mr. Wells was married to Rosanna H., daughter of Harvey Dawes, and to them have been born two children : Ella, who married Charles Rykort, of British Columbia, where they reside; and Arthur M., who lives at Kankakee, Illinois, en- gaged in the freight department of a railroad at that place.
In politics Mr. Wells was formerly a Henry Clay whig, but after the dissolution of the Whig party he became a democrat. He has served as president of the village and also as trustee, and has been president and a director of the Niagara Falls Gas Company. He is a member of St. Peter's
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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
Episcopal church at Niagara Falls, and has served as vestryman and is now warden of that church. He takes a deep interest in whatever concerns the welfare of his church, or is calculated to benefit his fellow citizens. He was made a Mason at Northampton many years ago. In his home at Niagara Falls he now lives surrounded by all the comforts of life, and enjoying the respect and estcem of a wide circle of friends.
H' ENRY M. FALES is the son of Mar- shall and Elmira C. ( Kent) Fales, and was born on Grand Island, Erie county, New York, on July 14, 1861. He was reared on Grand Island, and at the age of seventeen he entered De Veaux college at Suspension Bridge, from which institution he was graduated in 1881, after a course of four years. After graduating he remained on his father's farm for a few years, and then accepted a position as book-keeper for the Tonawanda Gas Light Company. Sub- sequently he was tendered and accepted the superintendency of the Tonawanda City Water Company, which was organized in 1885. Mr. Fales is secretary of the Stand- ard Gas Company, of Tonawanda, and owns an interest in several fruit farms in Niagara and Erie counties. Although young in years, Mr. Fales possesses the mature ability and aptitude that constitute the foundation for a young man's success. A thorough collegiate course has fitted him for any posi- tion of trust and honor within the gift of the people.
Marshall Fales (father) was a native of Buffalo, and was one of the first settlers of Grand Island. In 1883 he removed from Grand Island to Cayuga Island, four miles above Niagara Falls. Here he resided
until his death, which occurred in August, 1889, at the age of seventy years. Mr. Fales was a stanch democrat, of the Jack- sonian school. He was well versed in the political history of this country, and his decisions were all formed after mature deliberation. In the trying days of the rebellion, when political discord raged in the land, his calm judgment soothed to a great degree the troubled waters. He was a pleasant, affable gentleman, and a mem- ber of the Episcopal church. He was a charter member of Niagara Lodge,. No. 132, Free and Accepted Masons. During his life, his time was chiefly devoted to fruit growing, in which business he was one of the pioneers in New York. At his death he left a large estate, consisting principally of fine fruit lands.
The paternal grandfather of Mr. Fales was Henry Fales, who was a native of Bristol, Rhode Island, and migrated to Buffalo, New York, in the year 1813. Ile was an architect and builder, and the old Buffalo city hall was a specimen of his architectural genius. Hc erected the scaf- folds upon which were hanged the Thare brothers, the famous frontier murderers, at Buffalo. Mr. Fales was a soldier of the war of 1812, and a member of the Buffalo fire department, and his bravery and valor as a fireman is attested by the various inedals of which he was the recipient from the then village of Buffalo. IIe removed to Grand Island in 1823, where he died in 1871, at the advanced age of eighty-four years. He was a sturdy democrat of the old school, and remembered well the admin- istrations of Washington. His vote helped to make General Jackson president, and he supported the democratic nominees from the time his first ballot was cast. He was
25
Ar al- Fales.
Ist Lieut. 25th Separate Company.
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OF NIAGARA COUNTY.
one of the old settlers of Bristol, Rhode Island, and his ancestry can be traced back many generations.
Mrs. Marshall Fales, mother of Henry M., resides at La Salle, this county. She is in the seventy-second year of her age, and lives a quiet, retired life. She is a member of the Episcopal church, and a noble Christian woman.
Henry M. Fales was married in 1883 to Sarah C., youngest daughter of H. P. Smith, of La Salle. They have two sons : Marshall and Eugene. Mr. Fales is first lieutenant of the 25th separate company New York National guards, of Tonawanda. He is an Episcopalian, and like his father and grandfather, is a democrat. Mr. Fales is a man of fine presence, easy and affable in manners, and firm and abiding in his attachments.
H ENRY DURK, cashier of the Cataract bank, and one of the leading young business men of Niagara Falls, was born on January 26, 1860, at Suspension Bridge, Niagara county, New York, and is a son of Philip and Fredericka (Willig) Durk. His father, Philip Durk, was born in the village of Flonheim, Hesse Darmstadt, Germany, on June 10, 1831, and grew up and was educated there. When twenty-two years of age he left his native country and emigrated to America, locating at Buffalo, New York, in 1853, and the next year removing to Sus- pension Bridge, where he has lived ever since. He learned the trade of a cooper in the fatherland, and has worked at that busi- ness in America for nearly forty years. He identified hinself with the Republican party, but never sought nor held any public office. He is a member of the German Evangelical Lutheran church. His wife,
Fredericka, died in May, 1865, leaving five children : Mary, Philip, a cooper by trade, who married Catherine Locher, and lives at Suspension Bridge; Henry, Elizabeth (mar- ried to Alfred HI. Bear, a farmer, living at Greenville, Pennsylvania); and Frederica.
On September 21, 1885, Mr. Durk wedded Elizabeth, daughter of Peter D. C. Lam- merts, a native of Germany, but a resident of Suspension Bridge since 1850, and who is a machinist by trade. To this union two children have been born: Francis L. and Elizabeth C.
Henry Durk received his education in the common schools of Suspension Bridge, and supplemented it by a course at Bryant & Stratton's Business college at Buffalo. In May, 1877, he entered the employ of Wit- mier Brothers, bankers, at Suspension Bridge, as a clerk, and remained with them until January 1, 1879, when he accepted the position of book-keeper in the Cataract bank at Niagara Falls. He held that posi- tion until April, 1882, when he became as- sistant cashier, and in July, 1883, he was elevated to the more responsible position of cashnier, which he still holds. He is secre- tary and treasurer of the Niagara Wood Paper Company, and is also secretary and treasurer of the International Hotel Com- pany, and treasurer of the Orpheus Park theatre. Politically he is a democrat, but his head and hands are too full of business to allow him to give much attention to pub- lie affairs. He is a member of the Evangel- ical Lutheran church at Suspension Bridge, and occupies the position of trustee in the church.
W ILLIAM PHALEN, a well-known and skillful glass-blower of Lockport, and alderman from the first ward of that
26
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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
city, is the eldest son of Michael and Catherine (O'Neil) Phalen, and was born April 20, 1846, in Kilkenny, Ireland. The Phalens were indigenous residents of that island, and there the grandfather of the subject of this sketch was born and died. Michael Phalen (father) was also born on the Emerald Isle, about 1810, but in 1848 left there and came to America, locating in Lockport, this State, where he lived until his death, in 1852, when forty-two years of age. He was a stone-mason by occupation, and married Catherine O'Neil, a daughter of Edward O'Neil, a native of Ireland, who came to America, and died in the city of Lockport. By this marriage they had a family of three children: William, the sub- ject of this sketch; Ellen, married Richard W. Bradley, a machinist of Lockport; and Edward, deceased, who died in 1879, aged twenty-one years, by occupation a glass- blower.
William Phalen received his education in the common schools of Lockport, and after leaving school learned the trade of printing, and followed that occupation for nearly six years. In 1866 he abandoned that linc of business and learned the trade of glass- blower, and has been thus employed from that date to the present time. He has acquired a good degree of skill in this busi- ness, and his services have become very valuable in this line of work.
On May 9, 1871, Mr. Phalen was married to Julia Brown, daughter of Daniel Brown, of the city of Lockport, and to them was born a family of ten children, one son and nine daughters : Kittie M., Ella F., Mary A., Ida E., Gracie M., Laura A., Clara J., Edward W., Evaline F., and Angela M., all of whom are living at home with their parents.
In his political affiliations and beliefs
William Phalen is a democrat, and in 1885 was elected and served as alderman from the first ward of the city of Lockport. In April, 1890, he was again elected to the same position from the same ward, and served a second term, discharging the duties of the office in a manner to give general satisfaction to his constituents and with credit to himself. He is a member of the Glass Blowers' association of the United States and Canada, and also of the Lock- port Savings and Loan association. In religious belief he is a Roman Catholic, and a member of the Catholic Mutual Benefit association.
DR. A. JUDSON ALLEN, one of the leading, successful, and progressive dentists of Lockport and western New York, is a son of Charles S. and Edna H. (Robison ) Allen, and was born near Clifton Springs, Ontario county, New York, May 27, 1846. The Allens are of Welsh descent, and Caleb Allen, the paternal grandfather of Dr. A. Judson Allen, was born and reared in Ver- mont, which he left after arriving at years of maturity, to settle in Orleans county, in the western part of New York, where he died in 1856, aged sixty-eight years. He was a carpenter and joiner by trade, and married and reared a family. His son, Charles S. Allen (father), was a native of the Green Mountain State, and came into Ontario county, where he continued to re- side until 1847, when he removed to his present home in Orleans county. He is a republican, a Baptist, and a civil engineer. He has not been engaged actively in his profession for quite a number of years, as he is now past the seventy-seventh milestone on the pathway of life. He married Edna H. Robison, who was born in Ontario county
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OF NIAGARA COUNTY.
seventy-seven years ago, and is a member of the Baptist church.
A. Judson Allen passed his boyhood days principally in Orleans county, where he re- ceived his education at Albion academy. At nineteen years of age he commenced life for himself by entering the office of Dr. L. J. Walter, of Lockport, as a dental student. After completing his dental course he re- mained and practiced in the office where he studied for twenty-one years. He has now one of the largest dental practices of the city of Lockport and western New York.
In 1870 he married Alicia II., daughter of Robert McQueen, of Saginaw, Michigan. To their union have been born three chil- dren, two sons and one daughter: Joseph W., Alicia D., and Robert MeQucen.
Dr. Allen is a republican in politics, and a member of the First Congregational church of Lockport. For many years he has been enjoying a large and lucrative practice. He makes a specialty of operative dentistry, has kept abreast of his profession in its every department, and is recognized as a skilled and efficient workman. He has been in the active, continuous, and successful practice of his profession for over twenty-five years at Niagara's county-seat. He is well sup- plied with all the necessary improved in- struments and late appliances of dental sur- gery, gives close attention and personal su- pervision to all work done in his office, and is ever awake to the advancement of den- tistry.
OHN D. WALSH, superintendent of
the American District Steanı Company's works at Lockport, and a mechanical genius of more than ordinary repute, is the oldest surviving son of Matthew and Margaret (Ford) Walsh, and was born March 19,
1845, in that city. He is of direct Irish descent, his grandfather, James Walsh, and his father, Matthew Walsh, both having been born on the Emerald Isle. James lived and died on his native island, but Matthew (father) emigrated to America in in 1834, when eighteen years of age, and located at Lockport, New York. He was a stone mason and stone cutter by trade, and as such helped to build the locks on the Erie canal at Lockport. He was also engaged in the grocery business for a time in the city of Lockport. He was a republican in politics, and an active member of the Roman Catholic church, in which he was trustee for a number of years. He died at his home in Lockport, in 1887, aged seventy-one years. He married Margaret Ford, a daughter of Richard Ford, and by this marriage had a family of eight chil- dren -five sons and three daughters - only four of whom are now living: John D., the subject of this sketch ; Matthew, engaged in the furniture business at Suspension Bridge; James, a molder by trade, now living in Lockport; and Margaret, married Albert Lathram, of the city of Buffalo, where they reside.
John D. Walsh received his education in the city schools of Lockport, and after completing his studies there, he yielded to the bent of his inclination, which lay in the direction of mechanical work, and entered the employ of the Holly Manufacturing Company as a pattern maker. He seemed to be gifted with much natural ability, and soon became proficient in his work. He remained with this company nearly fifteen years, becoming one of its most valued and trusted employees. In 1876, when the American District Steam Company was organized, he was offered the position of
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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
superintendent of its works, and accepted the offer. He has ever since occupied that important post, and to his ability and well- directed efforts much of the company's subsequent prosperity is due.
In 1862, Mr. Walsh-then only seventeen years of age-enlisted in Company B, 164th infantry, as a private, but was afterwards promoted and served as sergeant. He was with Grant's army around Richmond, and was wounded before Petersburg. He was taken prisoner in 1863, his company being captured by Moseby's men, but they suc- ceeded in making their escape in a short time. He was honorably discharged from the service in August, 1865.
On November 17, 1886, Mr. Walsh was united in marriage with Mary F. Huston, a daughter of John H. Huston, deceased, of Lockport, and to this union have been born three children : Bessie, William, and Olivia.
In his political opinions, Mr. Walsh is a stanch democrat, giving the party of his choice a right loyal support on State and National issues, but is inclined to be rather independent in local politics. He is now serving as a member of the civil service examining board. He is widely known, and occupies a high place in the esteem of his fellow citizens generally.
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