USA > New York > Niagara County > Biographical and portrait cyclopedia of Niagara County, New York > Part 56
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TRVING W. HOTALING, M. D. During the last decades of the present century of progress, medicine has been as rapidly
progressive as any other profession, and justly stands high in the estimation of the world. One of the many progressive phy- sicians of to-day is Irving W. Hotaling, who is a son of Dr. David W. and Jane A. (Visscher) Hotaling, and was born in Johns- town, Montgomery county, New York, July 9, 1836. The Hotalings are of Hollander extraction, and emigrated from Holland to America at the same time as did the Van Rensselaers, and are among the old families of the State. John Hotaling (paternal grandfather), the name formerly spelled Houghtaling, was a native of Dutchess county, but in 1830 removed to the County of Cortland, where in four years after- wards he died, at the ripe old age of eighty- five years. He engaged very extensively in agricultural pursuits, and in politics was an old-line whig. For a time he served as a justice of the peace, was a member of the
German Reformed church, and united in marriage with Rachel Bogardis, by whom he had four children : James, John, Stephen, and Leah. James was a lawyer by profes- sion, and settled in Troy, where he practiced his profession until his death. Stephen served as sergeant in the Seminole war, in which he was fatally wounded, and died at Tampa Bay, Florida. Lealı married David Wager, who resided in Columbia county, where he died. David W. Hotaling (father) was born in Dutchess, and went with his father to Cortland county, and thence to Johnstown, Montgomery county, where he read medicine with Dr. Hull. He attended the Albany Medical college, was examined by a board of curators, and became a grad- uate in 1833. After his graduation he practiced in Johnstown for about four years, at Cuyler, Cortland county, for six years, and then became a resident and successful
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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
practitioner of Waterport, Orleans county, where he died in 1857. He was a whig and republican in political matters, but never asked for an office. He took an active part as a member of the Orleans County Medi- cal society, and was formerly a member of the Methodist church, but later in life became a Presbyterian. He married Jane A. Visscher, and to them were born five children : Lena, Josephine, Marsden, Charles, and Irving W. Marsden served in the civil war, in company B, 8th New York heavy artillery, and soon after the war died from malaria, which he contracted while in active service. Josephine is matron of the New York Aural and Opthalinic institute, which position she has filled for twenty- three years. Charles resides in New York city, is a general advertising agent, and has a business amounting to one hundred thousand dollars per annum. Lena, married Dr. Adolph Alt, of St. Louis, Missouri, who makes a specialty in the treatment of the eye and ear. Mrs. Jane Hotaling now resides with Dr. Alt, and is eighty-four years of age. She is a native of Amster- dam, this State, and is very active for a woman of her age. Her father, Col. Fred- crick Visscher (maternal grandfather), was born near New York city, and removed to the vicinity of Herkimer. He was engaged in the fight with Sir William Johnson, and received a serious wound while fighting in the battle near Fort Stanwich or Oriskany. His comrades thinking he was dead left him on the battle field, where he afterwards re- ceived the attention of some slaves and was restored to health again. He owned six or eight hundred acres of land near Amster- dam, where he became a planter and slave owner. In religious sentiment he was a member of the German Reformed church,
and married Nancy DeGraff, by whom he had a large family of children.
Irving W. Hotaling received his education in Yates and Albion academies, and was graduated in a literary course from Albion in 1853. From his boyhood he had a natural desire for the medical profession, and for four years after leaving school he read medicine with his father. In March, 1862, lie was graduated from the medical department of the New York university, and in 1870 he became a graduate of the Homeopathic Medical college of New York city, gradu- ating in a special course in chemical analy- sis and uriascopia. After his graduation he entered the civil war as assistant surgeon of the 121st regiment New York volunteers, participating in the engagements of the 6th army corps until October, 1863, when he resigned and accepted a position as surgeon in the United States Chesapeake gen- eral hospital, at Fortress Monroe, until May 25, 1865. After the war closed he located at Somerset, New York, where he has ever since practiced with good success. He is also a dealer in drugs, medicines, general merchandise, coal, evaporated fruits, cider, etc. He owns a fine farm of ninety acres of land, of which ten acres are in berries, twenty-two acres in apple orchards, five acres in grapes, twelve acres in pear trees, and three acres in peach trees.
On November 4, 1864, he united in mar- riage with Harriet Dates, a daughter of William and Jane (Miller) Dates, of Lou- donville, New York. To this union have been born six children, four sons and two daughters : Ralph, Glen, Frederick, Charles, Evangeline, and Hattie. Charles, Glen, and Frederick are medical students; Ralph, and Hattie are attending school, and Evan- geline is manager in her father's store.
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In politics Dr. Hotaling became a demo- crat after Cleveland's nomination. He is a believer in free soil and free trade princi- ples, and voted with the republicans until the free soil feature was an accomplished fact, when he became a democrat, which party he thought adhered more closely to free trade than its opponent. He is presi- dent of the Town Hall association, of whose stock he owns seventy per cent. Of the many bloody, struggles of the civil war, he witnessed those at Aldies Station, Freder- icksburg, and Gettysburg. He is a member of the Niagara County Medical society, and of Ontario Lodge, No. 140, Ancient Order of United Workmen, and is past commander of S. C. Hayes Post, No. 141, Grand Army of the Republic. Ever inter- ested and active in the political and religious movements of to-day, yet he never neglects professional duties or fails to keep abreast of the medical progress of the present woll- derful age. In his particular lines of med- ical practice the success which has attended his efforts fully attests his natural ability, careful preparation, and skillful operations as a surgeon and specialist.
C EORGE F. CHAPIN. Success in any occupation of life is to be won by energy, determination, and steady and con- tinuous effort. One who has thus been successful is George F. Chapin, of Gasport. He is a son of Orramel S. and Jemima (Smith) Chapin, and was born at Pittsford, Monroe county, New York, May 26, 1833. The Chapins are descendants of Deacon Samuel Chapin, who was a native of Wales, and emigrated from that country to one of the New England States, where he remained until his death. He was a prominent min-
ister of the Methodist Episcopal church. One of his descendants, William Chapin (grandfather), was born in New England, and resided at Northampton, Massachusetts, where he died. By occupation he was a farmer, and was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He married Nancy Sib- ley, and to them were born eight sons and one daughter. Orramel S. Chapin (father ) was the eldest child of the family, and was born in Massachusetts, June 17, 1801. At twenty-eight years of age he went to Mon- roe county, New York, and in 1834 came to the town of Royalton, this county, where he remained for about fifty years, and then moved to the city of Lockport, where he died in April, 1887. He had always lived the life of a farmer, and had changed a wilderness of one hundred and thirty acres into a fine farm. He was a republican and a strong advocate of anti-slavery principles. In religious sentiment he was formerly a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, but owing to the position of that church on the slavery question, he severed his connec- tion therewith and united with the Wes- leyan Methodists. He married Jemima Smith, and they had a family of three sons, of whom George F. Chapin is the youngest. His wife died, and in 1840 he united in marriage with Annie L. Welch, and to them was born one child, that died when quite young. His second wife died in 1870.
When George F. Chapin was not quite one year old he came with his father and family to Niagara county. His education was received in the common schools, in the collegiate institute at Wilson, and in the Lockport Union school. Leaving school, he was engaged in teaching in Niagara county for a time, and afterwards went to Athens county, Ohio, where he was em-
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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
ployed for eighteen months by a company of civil engineers. At the expiration of that time he removed to Mississippi, where he served in the same capacity for one year. He then returned to Ohio, and after a two years' residence he came back to Niagara county. He then located on a farm one mile southeast of that place, where he has resided ever since. This farm contains fifty acres of land, which is in a good state of cultivation.
In 1856 Mr. Chapin united in marriage with Emeline Bouck, a daughter of Abram and Elizabeth (Miller ) Bouck. Mr. Bouck was a cousin of Governor Bonck, and was a native of Schoharie county. He was born in 1792, and moved to Niagara county in 1845. He was a resident of Ridgeway, Or- leans county, for a time, and in 1855 came to this county and settled in the town of Royalton, where he died in 1876. He sup- ported the Democratic party, and was an active member of the Evangelical Lutheran church. He served as drummer in the war of 1812, and married Elizabeth Miller, by whom he had one son and five daughters. To Mr. and Mrs. Chapin have been born two children : Ida C. and Willis O. Ida C. was born June 4, 1858, was educated in the Lockport Union school, and took lessons in instrumental music under Prof. William O. Brewster, and Prof. Koffenberger, of Buffalo. She is now engaged in teaching music in the Lincoln Normal institute of Alabama. Willis O. was born October 6, 1860, and first attended the Lockport Union school, and then went to Bryant & Strat- ton's Business college. Leaving school, he entered the law office of Williams & Potter, of Buffalo, and was admitted to the bar on the day he became of age. He then entered the law office of Marshall, Clinton & Wilson.
He then went into partnership with Sheldon T. Viele, under the firm name of Viele & Chapin. This firm is meeting with good success in the legal profession.
In politics Mr. Chapin is a republican, and his industry and benevolence have made him prominent among the citizens of his town and county.
C OLONEL WILLIAM WHEELER,
a well-known, aged, and highly es- teemed citizen of Niagara county, who has led a stirring and useful life, but is now retired from active business, is a son of William and Persis (Howe) Wheeler, and was born May 2, 1811, in the town of Strat- ton, Bennington county, Vermont. The Wheeler family is of English extraction, three brothers of them coming to America about 1740, and settling near Boston, in Massachusetts colony. One of the brothers returned to England in a short time, bnt the other two remained here, and all the Wheelers in America, it is believed, are descendants of these brothers. Charles Wheeler, grandfather of Colonel William Wheeler, was born at Sudbury, near Boston, Massachusetts, where he lived until his death, about 1798, at fifty years of age. By occupation he was a farmer, and an earnest, active whig in politics. He married Mary Adams, daughter of Joseph and Mary (Evelytt) Adams, on May 4, 1779, and by this union had a family of six sons and one daughter. Mrs. Wheeler's father, Joseph Adams, was a brother of President John Adams, and a distinguished man in his day. William Wheeler (father) was born at Sudbury, Massachusetts, and removed to the town of Stratton, Bennington county, Vermont, in 1810, and the next year went to the town of Arlington, in the same county,
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OF NIAGARA COUNTY.
and finally, in 1827, came to the town of Hartland, Niagara county, this State. Here he purchased a farm of one hundred acres, near Reynale's Basin, from the Holland Land Company, on which he lived until his death in 1871. Politically he was an old- line whig, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he was a trustee for a number of years. Hle enlisted in the army during the war of 1812, but was never called into active service. He married Persis Howe in 1809, by whom he had a family of one son and two daughters : William, Emily and Susan. Mrs. Wheeler, nec Persis Howe, was a descendant of Lord Howe, of Revo- lutionary fame. The Howes were the owners of " The Wayside Inn," celebrated in one of Henry W. Longfellow's finest poems, and this historic property passed successively through the hands and was the home of Colonels David Howe, Ezekiel Howe, Adam Howe, and Lyman Howe.
William Wheeler was educated in the common schools of his day, which, without the technical finish of the present time, im- parted a good practical English education. He came to this county with his parents when sixteen years of age, and located in the town of Hartland, where he resided until 1878, when he retired from active business, and removed to Middleport, and resided there until 1889, when he became a member of his son's family, one mile west of Johnson's Creek. In politics he was formerly a whig, but on the organization of the Republican party he became a demo- erat, and has since been an active adherent of that party. IIe held the office of assessor for six years, beginning about 1840, was justice of the peace for eight years in suc- cession, commencing about the same time, and was supervisor of the town of Hart-
land one term, 1850. He was connected with the New York State militia from the time he was eighteen years of age, and held all the offices therein, from corporal to col- onel. In 1837, while serving as captain, he was called out to Fort Niagara to defend the American line during the progress of the " Patriot war." He contributes largely to the support of the various churches, but is not identified with any particular denom- ination.
On March 6, 1833, Mr. Wheeler was mar- ried to Louisa Sprague, from which union were born five children : George, deceased ; Dexter, now a farmer in the town of Hart- land, who was born March 31, 1840, edu- cated in the Lockport union school, married Della P. Strong in 1871, and has two chil- dren (Harry, born in 1875, and Carrie, born in 1877); Susan, married Vine Banker, a farmer living in the town of Hartland ; Mary A., deceased; and Albert, who married Carrie Sharpstien, and is a farmer in the town of Hartland, has one son, Roy L., born in 1882. The father of Mrs. Louisa (Sprague) Wheeler, Dexter Sprague, was born among the Green mountains of Ver- mont, March 17, 1780, and removed to the town of Hartland, this county, where he died May 2, 1842. He was a farmer, was quite active in politics, and served as a justice of the peace for a number of years. He married Elizabeth Dickerman, who was born February 24, 1786, and died October 7, 1813. To them were born two children. After Mrs. Sprague's death, Mr. Sprague married Mrs. Charity Castle, nce Barnum, but had no children by this marriage. In 1877 Mrs. Louisa Wheeler died, and one year later Mr. Wheeler married Mrs. Alcestee Wheeler, nee Hawley, who departed this life in April, 1889.
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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
S AMUEL C. McCORMICK, one of the solid and substantial citizens of Niagara county, is a son of William C. and Margaret McCormick, and was born at Mooresburg, Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, on December 16, 1822. His grandfather was of Scotch-Irish extraction, and came to this country at a very early day from Ireland. William C. McCormick (father) was of Scotch-Irish descent, and was born in Penn- sylvania January 1, 1794, and in 1832 re- moved to New York, where he died on his farm in the town of Porter, on January 18, 1882. In 1822 he married Margaret Kirk, who was of English extraction. They had four children : Samuel C .; James W., mar- ried Martha Dwight, by whom he has two children, and resides in Ransomville; Wil- liam, married Angeline Bailey, has one child, and lives in Porter; and Elizabeth, born January 28, 1831, and died in 1836. Mr. McCormick was a carpenter by trade, and the farm on which he located in New York was a wilderness, having only a log cabin, which contained but one room.
Samuel C. McCormick came with his pa- rents from Pennsylvania in 1832, and located in the town of Porter, where he has resided ever since. IIe has one hundred and forty acres of fine tillable land, located about three and one-half miles from Ransomville, and he has devoted most of his life to its cultivation. He has about twenty-five acres devoted to the cultivation of the different kinds of fruit. The land is very productive, and in a section of country second to none in education, culture, progress, and refine- ment.
On May 24, 1846, Mr. McCormick united in marriage with Susan C. Moore, of Penn- sylvania. Their union has been blessed with eight children, six of whom are living :
Elizabeth, married Isaac Morse, has had five children, three of whom are living, and now resides at Suspension Bridge; Carson, mar- ried Mary P. Myers, of Buffalo, and has seven children : George, Lewis, Eugene, Mary J., Alice, Katie, and Margaret; William C., married Georgia Hyman, and has one son ; Sarah A., and Frank. Mrs. McCormick's parents, Abner and Elizabeth (Painter) Moore, were respectively of English and Welsh extraction. Mr. Moore was a car- penter by trade, and served as justice of the peace at Mooresburg, Pennsylvania. They had six children : John, deceased; Susan C., wife of subject; Parthenia J., married Sol- omon J. LeVan, and has seven children : Virginia, Clarence, Lynford, Velina E., Frank M., William E., and Curtis ; Rebecca, married Wilson Cleghorn, has one child, and resides in the town of Hartland; B. Frank, married Henrietta Moore, and has two chil- dren living: Elizabeth and Katie.
Samucl C. McCormick in religion is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and in politics is a stanch supporter of the Republican party. Successful as a farmer, honorable as a man, and respected as a citi- zen, he now resides in a comfortable liome, and enjoys the fruits of half a century of his honest labors.
L YNFORD D. LEVAN, the efficient postmaster at the village of Wilson, and a veteran of the civil war who is widely known and highly esteemed, is a son of Solomon and Jane (Moore) Le Van, and was born September 28, 1846, in the town of Cambria, Niagara county, New York. As the name would indicate, the Le Vans are of French extraction. Solomon Le Van (father) was born and reared in Columbia county,
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Pennsylvania, but in 1838 removed to Ni- agara county, this State, and located in the town of Cambria, where he remained until 1855, when he came to the village of Wil- son. Here he has sinee resided, being now in his seventy-third year. He is a republi- can in polities, but up to 1888 was a demo- crat. He has always been a laborer. He served nearly four years as hospital steward during the civil war. He married Jane Moore, daughter of Abner Moore, by whom he had seven children. Mrs. LeVan was born in Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, is a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and is now in her sixty-third year. Her father was a native of Pennsylvania and served in the war of 1812, and her pa- ternal grandfather was born in France, emi- grated to America at an early day, and set- tled in Pennsylvania.
Lynford D. Le Van spent his first years on a farm, but was principally reared in the village of Wilson, being educated in the publie schools and the academy at that place. In 1862, when only sixteen years of age, he enlisted in Company B, 129th New York infantry, which regiment, by reorganization, afterwards became the 8th New York ar- tillery. He served until the close of the war, and never lost a day on account of siekness while in the army. His brother, Clarence Le Van, enlisted in 1861, in battery M, 1st New York artillery, and was killed at the battle of Chaneellorsville, May 3, 1863. After the close of hostilities, Mr. Le Van returned to Wilson, where he has ever since resided, and taking up the em- ployments of civil life, learned the trades of molder and machinist, which he followed for three years. He then learned house and sign painting, and was engaged in that oceu- pation until August 12, 1889, when he was
appointed post master at Wilson by Presi- dent Harrison, and immediately entered upon the discharge of his official duties. He is still serving acceptably in that capacity.
On May 21, 1867, Mr. Le Van was united by the ties of marriage to Mary E., daughter of Henry Johnson, of Wilson. To them have been born a family of five daughters: Hattie, Grace, Myrta, Edith, and Mary.
In politics Mr. Le Van has always been identified with the Republican party, and takes an active interest in its success. Ile has many times been honored by his fellow citizens with election to different offiees, serving as village elerk for six years, constable for four years, tax collector one terni, and as collector for the Union school two years. He has also served four years as justice of the peace, and has been elected for another term of four years. Mr. Le Van takes rank as a representative citizen of Niagara county, and is justly entitled to the high degree of respect and esteem in which he is held.
E LI S. NICHOLS, a special deputy in the office of collector of customs at Suspension Bridge, and the lineal descend- ant of an old English family, who emigrated to America more than two centuries ago, is a son of Hezekiah and Pamela (Sterling) Nichols, and was born in the town of Cam- bria, New York, on June 24, 1835. The. Nichols of this generation are descended from a family which traces its genealogy back into the mists of antiquity. Francis Nichols, the first of whom we have any ac- count, died in England in 1650. He had a family of three children, of whom Caleb Nichols, the lineal descendant, was born in England, and emigrated to America, locat- ing at Woodbury, Connecticut, where he
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died in 1690. He married and reared a family of twelve children, the lineal descend- ant being Abraham Nichols, born in Con- necticut, January 19, 1662. In December, 1684, he married Rachel Kellog, who was born in February, 1664. Their son, Joseph Nichols, was born September 21, 1685, in Connecticut. He married Mary Curtis on Deceniber 26, 1704, and had a family of seven children, of whom one son, Nathan Nichols, was born December 7, 1709, in the State of Connecticut. He married Patience Hubbell December 4, 1740, and to thein were born three children, of whom James Nichols was born in Connecticut on August 13, 1743, married Phœbe Plumb March 20, 1762, and died November 23, 1824, his wife being born March 5, 1741, and dying July 5, 1820. Their son, Philo Nichols, grand- father of Eli S. Nichols, the subject of this sketch, was born August 20, 1765, married Katy Curtis on March 20, 1785, and died October 15, 1844. His wife was born De- cember 27, 1767, and died February 4, 1857. To this union was born a family of eight children, one of whom was Hezekiah Nichols (father), who first opened his eyes on things terrestrial at Huntington, Connecticut, No- vember 9, 1808, and in 1833, when twenty- five years of age, removed to New York, and settled in the town of Cambria, Niagara county, where he still lives at the age of eighty-five years. He has spent his life in the cultivation of the soil, is a republican in politics, and has been supervisor of his town for two or three terms. He is a prominent member of the Congregational church, and has served as trustee and deacon of his church for many years. He married Pa- mela Sterling in June, 1833, and by this union had a family of two sons and two daughters, of whom Eli S. was the eldest.
Their second son, George, married Alice Parker, and lives at Delphos, Kansas, where he is engaged in farming and in the real es- tate and loan business. Their eldest daugh- ter, Mary, married Charles Olds, a farmer of Cambria, this county; and Emeline, the youngest child, died on September 19, 1847.
Eli S. Nichols received his education in the common schools of his native county. . After leaving school he began life on his own account as a clerk in the dry goods house of W. J. Dunlap & Co., at Lockport, this county, and remained with them until July 1, 1855, when he accepted a similar position with S. H. Marks & Co., of the same place, in whose employ he continued up to July, 1861. He then enlisted in the service of his country, as second lieutenant in company B, 8th New York artillery, and served faithfully and well until the close of the great civil war, being promoted to the position of captain of his company, and at its head participating in all the historic battles of the second army corps of the Army of the Potomac. As an officer he was distinguished for bravery and ability, and made an army record of which he may well feel proud.
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