USA > New York > Niagara County > Biographical and portrait cyclopedia of Niagara County, New York > Part 55
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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
builder and architect, Buffalo, New York. It cost about $32,000, finished complete, heated by steam, pews of oak, trimmed with walnut, three nice altars, with emblems all in white and gold, splendid new organ, worth $1,800. School rooms large and healthful, containing two hundred and forty pupils, in basement of the church. Tak- ing it all together, it is one of the hand- somest church edifices in this part of the country ; so fine, indeed, that we present a view of it in this book. It is safe to say that hardly any pastor is more deeply re- spected and reverenced than he is to-day. His ten years labor here, with his twenty-five years in Buffalo added, makes a praiseworthy service of thirty-five years, and now bestows on him a popularity that few enjoy.
WILLIAM H. CORNELL is a son of John and Mary (Dickerson ) Cornell, and was born July 24, 1841, in the town of Lewiston, this county. His grandfather, Lemuel Cornell, was a native of Sacket's Harbor, but came to Lewiston in 1819, where he died. He married Annie Wiltsie, by whom he had a family of eleven sons and one daughter. John Cornell (father) was also born at Sacket's Harbor, in 1809, but came with his father to Lewiston, where he lived until his death, in 1887. He married Mary Dickerson, and to them was born a family of four sons and four daughters.
William H. Cornell was educated in the common schools, and graduated from Bryant & Stratton's Business college, at Buffalo, in 1861. He enlisted in Company A, 3d New York cavalry, and took part in fifteen bat- tles. He spent ten months at Anderson- ville, having been captured just seventeen days before his term of enlistment expired.
After the war he served three years as dep- uty collector of customs, and one year later removed to Iowa, where he remained three years. Returning to Suspension Bridge, he embarked in the flour and feed business for a time, and then changed to furniture and undertaking, in which he is now engaged. He is a republican, and has served as coroner for nine years, and as president of the vil- lage. He is a Mason, and a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. He married Frances E. Pew, of Canada, and has two children : Blanche and Harry.
JOHN PFETSCH, a prominent local democratic leader, who does a large business in meats, and is known as among the best citizens of Niagara Falls, is a son of Jacob and Mary (Dawer) Pfetsch, and was born December 20, 1848, in Witten- berg, Germany. His ancestors for unknown generations were natives of that country. Jacob Pfetsch (father) was born in the Fatherland about 1824, and is still living, as is his wife, who was born in 1826. They had a family of five sons and three daugh- ters : Jacob F., who resides at Erie, Penn- sylvania, and is general manager of the street railway there; Charles, lives in De- troit, Michigan, where he is foreman in a large brewery; Michael, now twenty years of age, and residing with his brother John ; Anna, married to Frank Kiegler, of New York city. The others are living in Ger- many.
John Pfetschi received his education in the National schools of Germany, where lie received a good, practical academic train- ing, which amply qualified him for any and all business pursuits. Among his school- mates he took the prizes and honors, on one
CHURCH OF THE SACRED HEART, SUSPENSION BRIDGE.
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OF NIAGARA COUNTY.
occasion winning the prize for penmanship when there were one hundred and eight contestants. In 1866 he left his native country and sought a home in the United States, landing on these shores June 22. He worked for others as a butcher for several years thereafter, but in October, 1872, he removed to Niagara Falls, and commenced the butchering business for himself. His shop is at No. 145 Falls street, where, by honest dealing and close attention to the wants of customers, he has built up a large business, and is one of the leading meat merchants of the village.
On December 11, 1877, he was united in marriage with Mary Wiedenman, of Sus- pension Bridge. This union has been blest with five children: Frederick J., Charles A., Beulah, Louis, and George J.
In political opinion Mr. Pfetsch is a stanch democrat, and is now serving as a . member of the county committee of that party. He is well grounded in the prin- ciples of his party, and is a local leader of recognized influence, being also a member of Niagara county executive committee. He served as alderman in 1888 and 1889, and was elected president of the village for 1890. He is at all times ready to do his part toward advancing the interests of his party, and winning victory at the polls. He served as chief of the fire department for three years, beginning in 1886, and has been a member of the volunteer fire department for twenty-two years, and was instrumental in having the State Firemans' association vote to hold its annual meeting at Niagara Falls 1892. Mr. Pfetsch is a member of the Evangelical Lutheran church at Suspension Bridge, but is also an attendant and sup- porter of the Presbyterian church at Niagara Falls. He is a member of the Ancient
Order of United Workmen. He has been quite successful as a business man, and is active in all matters pertaining to the wel- fare and development of the village. He is possessed of energy, integrity, indomitable courage and force of character, and is at the same time pleasant and frank in address, and deservedly popular among his many friends and acquaintances.
C APTAIN HAZARD H. SHELDON,
a lawyer of wide experience, and a justice of the peace who has served for two decades, was born at Bridgewater, Oneida county, New York, on March 8, 1821, and is a son of Hazard and Eleanor ( Saunders ) Sheldon. Ilis grandfather, Potter Sheldon, was a native of Rhode Island, where he lived and died. By occupation he was a farmer, in religion a Seventh-day Baptist, and married Avis Coon, by whom he had a family of one son and two daughters. The son, Hazard Sheldon (father), was born in Rhode Island, and when sixteen years of age removed to Madison county, this State, and after living there and in Allegany and in Otsego counties, he finally settled in Oneida county, where he lived until his death, at the age of sixty-two years. By occupation he was a tanner and currier, and owned and operated a tannery at Bridge- water, though he was engaged in farmn- ing to some extent. In politics he was a Jacksonian democrat, and served as post- master at West Genesee, Allegany county, under appointment by President Van Buren. IIe was a member of the Baptist church, and went to Sacket's Harbor during the war of 1812 as a soldier. He married Eleanor Saunders, and reared a family of two sons and three daughters. The maternal great-
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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
grandfather of Hazard H. Sheldon was Hezekiah Saunders, who was born in Rhode Island, and whose father served in the French and Indian wars, and in the Revo- lutionary war for four years as captain of a company. He died in Rhode Island at an advanced age. His son, Hezekiah Saunders (grandfather), was born in Rhode Island, removed first to Rensselaer county, New York, and then to Bridgewater, Oneida county, where he lived for nearly sixty years, dying there at a ripe old age. In his carly life he was a sailor, engaged in fishing and whaling, but became a farmer, and devoted the greater part of his life to agricultural pursuits, finally operating on an extensive scale. Politically he was a dem- ocrat, belonged to the Seventh-day Baptist church, and married Eleanor Carr, by whom he had a large family, most of them grow- ing to maturity.
Hazard H. Sheldon received his education in Hamilton college, Clinton, Oneida county, New York, being graduated from that in- stitution in 1848. He immediately began reading law in the office of Judd & Cleland, at Frankfort, Herkimer county, this State, and after the dissolution of that firm contin- ued reading with its senior partner, George B. Judd. He was admitted to practice at Syracuse, New York, in the fall of 1852, at the general term of court, and at once formed a partnership with Mr. Judd, under the firm name of Judd & Sheldon, and with him continued the practice of law until May, 1854. At that time the partnership was dissolved, and Mr. Sheldon removed to Niagara Falls, where, in connection with Charles H. Piper, under the firm name of Piper & Sheldon, he practiced his profession for one year, when the firni was dissolved, and Mr. Sheldon continued his practice
alone for six or eight years. In 1862 he associated Horatio N. Griffith with him, the firm name being Sheldon & Griffith, and this partnership continued until 1863, when Mr. Sheldon was appointed as recruiting officer in the district of Niagara, and the law firm was dissolved. He served in the capacity of recruiting agent until February, 1864, when he enlisted as a private in the 8th New York heavy artillery, and after going to Baltimore, was promoted as captain to the command of Company M, 8th New York heavy artillery. He served with the army of the Potomac under General Grant, and was slightly wounded at Cold Harbor. On account of this wound and other dis- abilities incurred in the service, he was honorably discharged in October, 1864. In politics he is an earnest and active demo- crat, and has held the office of trustee of Niagara Falls for six years, and also served as president of the village for three years, and clerk of the town of Niagara for two years. He has also hield the office of justice of the peace for the last twenty years, and was supervisor of the town of Niagara from 1887 to 1891. This record of long service in positions of trust and responsibility tes- tifies more emphatically than any words of the biographer could do, of the respect and esteem in which Mr. Sheldon is held by his neighbors and those who know him best. He is a member of Malon Post, No. 125, Grand Army of the Republic, at Sanborn, New York.
On November 23, 1852, Mr. Sheldon was united in marriage with Martha A. Judd, daughter of his former preceptor and law partner, George B. Judd, and to this union was born a family of four children : Martha J .; Margaret E., who married N. S. Ben- ham, now principal of the schools at Niagara
497
OF NIAGARA COUNTY.
Falls, where they reside; Hazard J., a mer- chant at Niagara Falls, who has been trustee of the village and also president one term ; and Alice, who married Robert Sully, of Buffalo, New York, and died April 4, 1886.
L EANDER COLT, a citizen of Suspen- sion Bridge, is a son of Isaae and Han- nah (Smith ) Colt, being born at Lewiston, Niagara county, New York, on August 28, 1824. His grandfather, Isaae Colt, Sr., was a native of Sussex county, New Jersey, who removed to Niagara county, this State, about the beginning of the present century, and located in the town of Lewiston, on what is known as the " mile reserve," where he died in 1838, aged seventy-five years. IIe was an extensive farmer and became quite wealthy. He was a whig in politics, and served during the war of 1812, receiv- ing serious wounds. He received honorable mention in Sanford's history of this county. IIe married Naney Morris, and to them was born a family of six sons and two daugh- ters. Isaac Colt (father) was born in New Jersey in the initial year of this eentury, and came to this State with his father's family while yet a child. He served in the war of 1812 as a private soldier, was an enthusias- tie whig and republiean in politics, and mar- ried Hannah Smith, by whom he had a fam- ily of five sons and one daughter. After her death, in 1844, he married Eliza Cush- man. In business he had a varied career, being at different times a farmer, merchant, lumber dealer, hotel keeper, and interested in a stage line. He died in 1869, respected and honored by all who knew him.
Leander Colt received his education in the common schools of his native county. After reaching man's estate he crossed the
plains in 1849, and was engaged in gold min- . ing for four years in California. About 1857 he opened a shoe store at Suspension Bridge, in which line he continued until 1861, when he enlisted as a private in company B squad- ron of Illinois cavalry, and served about three years in the civil war. From 1867 to 1871 he condueted a hardware business in the village, and since then has given his at- tention to general business affairs. In poli- ties he is a republican, believing implicitly in the policy and tenets of his party, and ready at all times to defend its principles or work for its success. Under General Grant's first administration he was appointed post- master at Suspension Bridge, and served four years to the satisfaction of the general publie and with eredit to himself.
On May 7, 1855, he was united in mar- riage with Mary E. Saxe, daughter of Judge Matthew C. Saxe, of Chazy, this State. To this union was born a family of four daugh- ters : Minnie S., married Frank E. Lawson, living at Suspension Bridge; Julia M., married Frank Lovell, a publisher in New York city, where they reside; and Lilian and Katie, who reside with their parents in their pleasant home at Suspension Bridge.
J ACOB S. HAIGHT. Of the many oe- cupations of life, perhaps none receive more attention than that of farming. Jacob S. Haight, who merits the praise of having been successful as a farmer, is a son of Jacob and Katie (Sharpsteen ) Haight, and was born in the town of Somerset, Niagara county, New York, October 9, 1825. His great-grandfather, Rev. Joshua Haight, was a Quaker minister, and a native of East Chester, near New York, and was also one of the "nine partners" who founded a Qua-
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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
ker school near Poughkeepsie, New York, and conducted it successfully for many years. Joshua Haight, grandfather of Jacob S. Haight, was also born at East Chester, New York, and while a young man removed with his father into Dutchess county, New York. He was a Quaker, or Friend, and was a miller by trade, but devoted some of his time to farming. He married a Miss Mosier, of Dutchess county, by whom he had nine children. During the latter part of his life he moved into Cayuga county, New York, where he died in 1815, at the age of seventy-nine years.
John Sharpsteen ( maternal grandfather) was a native of Dutchess county, New York, but removed to Cayuga county, where he died in 1822, at the age of sixty years. He was also a farmer by occupation, and united in marriage with Rachel Wilbor, a Quaker lady, and to their union were born five chil- dren. Jacob Haight (father) was born in the town of Washington, Dutchess county, in 1779, and in 1812 went to Cayuga county. In 1816 he came to the town of Somerset, where he purchased a farm of three hun- dred acres of the Holland Land Company. At the time of his purchase this tract was covered with forest, but in two years after- ward he removed his family thither, and there remained until 1855, when he died, aged seventy-six years. He spent the greater part of his life upon the farm, and prior to his coming into Niagara county he was a manufacturer of fanning mills. He was a Quaker, and in political sentiment a whig, and took great interest in the success of his party. He married Katie Sharpsteen in 1802, and reared a family of seven children : David (deceased); Stephen (deceased); Joshua, a resident of Somerset ; Humphrey (deceased) ; Alfred (deceased); Mary Ann,
who married a Mr. Albright, and is now dead; and Jacob S.
Jacob S. Haight was reared on the old homestead, and received his education in the common schools. He has always en- joyed the life of a farmer, and in 1885 re- tired from active life and removed to the village of Somerset, where he now resides. Relieved of the cares of his busy farm life, he is now prepared to spend the remainder of his days in peaceful retirement.
In 1848 he married Angeline Sharpsteen, of Cayuga county, and this union was blessed with one child, John Jay, who uni- ted in marriage with Abbie Gardner, and now resides upon his father's farm. Mrs. Haight died in 1881, and on October 15, 1885, Jacob S. Haight married Sarah D. Mathews, daughter of James E. Mathews, of Somerset, Niagara county, New York.
Jacob S. Ilaight is a hearty supporter of the Democratic party. He is a strict mem- ber of the Presbyterian church, and has been a trustee in that church at Somerset for a number of years. IIe is always inter- ested in the affairs pertaining to his party and church, and shows a willingness to lend a helping hand for their success. Although he has devoted himself to a retired life, he still wields an influence that is felt in his community.
OLONEL GEORGE P. ROSE has been a prominent farmer of the town of Cambria, and is an old and highly es- teemed citizen of the county. He is a son of Jarius and Zilpha (Gillet ) Rose, and was born in the town of Canandaigua, Ontario county, New York, May 1, 1808. Jarius Rose was a native of Massachusetts, born in Granville, that State, October 25, 1768. He
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OF NIAGARA COUNTY.
was a farmer and surveyor by occupation, and died at Sanborn, January 31, 1828, aged sixty years. He married Zilpha Gillet January 22, 1794, and to them was born a family of seven children : (1) Lantha, born in Ontario county, in 1795, married William Miller, and had nine children - Martin, Julius, Bridget, Harriet, George, Galen ( now supervisor of the town of Lewiston), Joseph (an editor in Kentucky), Isabella, and Jean- ette; (2) Thorret, married Mary Ann La- veric, and had five children - Pina and Thorret ( Thorret was killed by falling from the fourth story of the Union school build- ing at Lockport ), Allinda (married William Campbell, and has three sons: Nathan, Thorret, and William), Cornelia (married Amos Moyer, and has four sons and two daughters : Lycurgus, Mary E., Lloyd G., James F., Galen D., and Nellie C.); (3) Galen, who went to New Orleans in 1818, and has not been heard of since 1822; (4) Laura, unmarried, and living with Colonel George P .; (5) Polly, married Errand Bax- ter, and has four children - Mary, Eli, Sarah, and Henry; (6) Bemna P., married Rachel Ann Dickerson, and had two sons and three daughters-Hopkins, Henrietta, Adelaide, Thorret, and Josephine ; and (7) George P., the subject of this sketch.
Colonel George P. Rose was reared on his father's farm in Sanborn, and received such education as was afforded by the com- mon schools of that day. His father had six half-brothers in the war of the Revolu- tion, and thus had his young mind early drawn toward military affairs. He became a inember of the State militia, and served for some time as ensign of his company. At Sanborn, in 1837 or 1838, he was promoted to be lieutenant of his company, and after serving some time in that capacity, became
captain, and later was promoted to be colonel of the 163d regiment. About that time a Canadian force attempted to cross the river at Lewiston, and he was ordered to defend that frontier. He now resides on the old homestead, in the town of Cambria, where his father settled when the present highly improved and well cultivated farm was all a wilderness. This farm at the pres- ent time contains one hundred and twenty- eight acres, but Jarius Rose's original pur- chase consisted of about two thousand acres. The Indians were still aggressive when the father settled here, and during the hostilities of 1812 they captured Jarius Rose and held him for a ransom. He was finally released, and arrived at home in safety. He did most of the surveying of this section in that early day.
On October 11, 1832, Colonel Rose was united in marriage with Sarah A. Farley, daughter of John and Elizabeth Farley, of Lewiston, this county, and to them was born a family of eleven children, nine of whom are yet living: (1) Galen, married Almira Robinson, and has four daughters- Etta (now a teacher in Bryant & Stratton's Business college at Buffalo), Erdem (attend- ing the State Normal school at Cedar Falls, Iowa), May and Ida, at home; (2) Mary, married John Dickson, and has three sons and two daughters -Hattie (married Harry Duboise, has a daughter named Lena, and resides at New Hartford, Iowa), William G. (married Mattie Wardle, of Iowa, has a son named George W., and is principal of the school at Bishop Cleff, California), J. G. Dickson (in law school in Boston), Marion (teaching at Mt. Vernon, in Iowa), and . Henry B. (a cadet in the military academy at West Point) ; (3) Harriet, married B. H. Smith, resides in Wisconsin, and has three
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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
ehildren - Edith, Alice, and Arthur; (4) Adaline, married, and has three sons- George (book-keeper in Chieago), Galen (district attorney at Osage, Iowa), and Charles; (5) Susan, married Edward Pierce, who died from an injury received at the battle of Cold Harbor (leaving one child, a daughter, named Alice), and after his death wedded Samuel Vail, by whom she had five daughters-Mercy (married, and has three children, named Alice, Ernest, and Bennet), Anna G. (married B. W. Trichler, and has two children, named Bessie and Walter La Verne), Marian, Bertha, and Mary; (6) Elizabeth, married Justus Van Wert, of Hampton, Iowa, and has three children - Rose, Emma, and Everett; (7) Emily, mar- ried John E. Pike, a soldier in the late war, telegraph operator, and Odd Fellow, who died November 19, 1879, leaving two chil- dren-Flora B. and George E .; (8) Sarah, married Henry Trichler, and has two chil- dren living-Mervin and Hattie; (9) Jes- sie Rose, at home.
Mrs. Sarah A. (Farley ) Rose was born in New Jersey, December 15, 1811. Her father, John Farley, married Elizabeth Heaton, by whom he had a family of five children : Alexander, Samuel, Harriet, and Eliza, all deceased, Mrs. Rose being now the only surviving child of that family. Mr. Rose has been a life-long republican, and occupies a high place in the regard of his fellow citi- zens of Niagara county.
JOSEPH MACKENNA, a well-known citizen of Niagara county, and a leading furniture dealer and undertaker of Niagara Falls, is a son of John and Elizabeth B. (Kane) MaeKenna, and was born December 24, 1834, in the north of Ireland. His father
was also a native of the Emerald Isle, and emigrated to America in 1835, settling in Canada West, where he died. He received a liberal education, and was a contractor, builder, architect, and civil engineer. He also had a practical and theoretical knowl- edge of navigation, and took part in the Mckenzie rebellion. Before leaving Ire- land, he married Elizabeth B. Kane, and had two children, one son, Joseph, and a daughter, Mary. After coming to America, six more children were born to them, all of whom are now deceased. James MacKenna, a brother of John, and uncle to the subject of this sketch, emigrated from Ireland to the United States, became a resident of Vermont, and has three sons: James, formerly station agent at the Boston and Pittsburgh depot, Boston, Massachusetts ; Charles, a railroad conduetor; and John, who owns and operates a large dairy in Vermont.
Joseph Mackenna was reared and edu- cated in Ireland by his grandparents, witlı whom he was left when his father emigrated to Canada, being then only six months old, and too young to stand the voyage. He received a good practical education, and about 1845, on the death of his grandfather, his father went after him and brought him from his native country to this country, at the age of twelve years. On arrival here he located at Niagara Falls, where he has since resided. He first engaged in building houses, and later began the manufacture of fine furniture, which business he success- fully conducted for thirteen years. At the end of that time, in 1877, he opened a large . undertaking and furniture establishment, on First street, where he carries a large stock of fine goods in endless variety, and at correct prices. The building is 40 x 100
Joseph Mackenna
OF NIAGARA COUNTY.
503
feet, consisting of two stories and a base- ment, and first-class in every detail. Here the wants of the public, either in furniture or undertaking, can be promptly and prop- erly met.
In 1855 Mr. MacKenna was united in marriage with Matilda J. Furlong, daughter of Michael Furlong, and to them have been born five children, four sons and one daugh- ter: Edward J., now cashier of the bank of Niagara Falls, who married Mary Franklin, of that village, where they reside, and have three children - Mildred, Frank, and Ed- ward; Agnes, who married Stuart R. Porter, by whom she had two children-Joseph and Gertrude -and who now, with her children, resides at home with her parents; Charles, a partner with his father in the furniture and undertaking business, and has served as treasurer of the village of Niagara Falls for three years; John, who married Christina Kilbenen, was for two or three years teller in the Niagara bank, and is now in the clothing and furnishing business at Niagara Falls; and Frank, now (1892) reading law in the office of Eugene Cary, at Niagara Falls.
Politically Mr. Mackenna is a democrat, and very earnest in his support of that party. He is a member of the Roman Catholic church, and belongs to the Catholic Mutual Benefit association of Niagara Falls, of which he was secretary for several years after its organization. He is a man of great energy of character, prompt and careful in business matters, of pleasing address, and has been highly successful in all his under- takings.
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