USA > New York > Niagara County > Biographical and portrait cyclopedia of Niagara County, New York > Part 57
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When the war was over, and the din of battle had been lost in the welcome hum of reviving industry, Captain Nichols returned to commercial pursuits, and in partnership with S. H. Marks & Co., of Lockport, en- gaged in the dry goods business. This occupation he continued until April 1, 1870, when he received the appointment of deputy collector of customs, and on March 1, 1878, was promoted to the position of special deputy, which post he still occupies.
On January 30, 1867, Captain Nichols was united in marriage with Frances Har- wood, daughter of Emerson B. and Mary A.
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Harwood, of Lockport, and to this union have been born two children: Winifred G. and Harwood S., both of whom reside with their parents.
In politics Eli S. Nichols is a pronounced republican, and has always taken a deep and active interest in the success of his party and the triumph of its principles, and is an important factor in the politics of Ni- agara county. He is a member of Red Jacket Lodge, No. 675, Free and Accepted Masons, of Lockport; Whirlpool Lodge, No. 19, Ancient Order of United Workmen, at Suspension Bridge; Lodge No. 67, E. M. O. A., of Suspension Bridge; and of Dud- ley Donnelly Post, No. 133, Grand Army of the Republic, of which post he has served as quartermaster since 1879.
E DWIN TERRILL, one of the many successful business men of Niagara Falls, is a son of Thaddeus and' Lydia (Loo- mis) Terrill, and was born in the town of Middletown, Rutland county, Vermont, Feb- ruary 14, 1853. Thaddeus Terrill (father) was a native of the northern part of Ver- mont, and removed from that State to Mon- roe county, New York,settling near the city of Rochester, where he died September 4, 1874, aged seventy-four years. He was an extensive farmer and land owner, in politics a whig and republican, and took a deep and active in- terest in the political questions of his day. While in Vermont he served as a selectman, and also as representative in the State legis- lature for two years. In religious belief he was a congregationalist and was a trustee and deacon in that church for many years, always manifesting a lively interest in mat- ters which concerned its welfare and con- tributing of his time and means towards its
upbuilding in the community. He was married to Lydia Loomis, by whom he had five children : Eliza, married Isaac B. Keyess ; Ellen, married Horace Ran, a farmer at Spenceport, this State; Harmon, married Althera Goodrich, and lives at Chili, Monroe county, where he is engaged in farming ; and Irwin, married Belle Winship, and lives in the city of Rochester, retired. Mrs. Ter- rill died in 1856, and Mr. Terrill married for his second wife Mrs. Mary Pierce.
Edwin Terrill received his early education in the common schools of this State, finish- ing his studies in Monroe county, where he attended school one year. He was deputy postmaster at Brockport, that county, for nearly four years during Lincoln's and John- son's administrations, and removed in 1867 to Suspension Bridge, this county, where for four years he was employed as a clerk in the offices of the New York Central railroad. He then received the appointment of deputy postmaster at Suspension Bridge and for two years discharged the duties of that office, at the end of which time he accepted a position in the custom house tendered by collector T. E. Ellsworth, of Lockport, and continued to occupy this post until March 17, 1889. He is now engaged in the real estate business at Niagara Falls, where he resides, and has occasionally taken and exe- euted contracts for milling supplies and stock for manufacturers of paper. He has handled as high as 10,000 cars a year of spruce wood, which is manufactured into paper.
In 1876 Mr. Terrill was married to Eliza- beth H. Flagler, daughter of Sylvester and Abbie Flagler, of Lockport.
In political faith he has followed the ex- ample set by his honored father, and is an active and earnest republican, being well
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grounded in the principles of his party and ready at all times to do his share toward its success in either local or general elections. He is a member of the Protestant Episcopal church, worshiping in the Church of the Epiphany at Suspension Bridge, and active in all church interests; and is likewise a member of Niagara Frontier Lodge, No. 132, Free and Accepted Masons. Mr. Ter- rill is a fine example of the self-made men of our times, having begun life without capital and by energy, perseverance and business sagacity accumulated a handsome compe- tence. He has one of the finest residences in the city, completed in December, 1891.
R ENSSELAER W. DANIELS, a well known grain dealer of Buffalo, who resides at Lockport, this county, and is one of the most active and promising young business men of Niagara county and west- ern New York, is a son of S. Rollin and Marion (Wilkinson ) Daniels, and was born October 6, 1851, in the city of Lockport, Niagara county, New York. His grand- father, Samuel Daniels, was a native of Vermont. S. Rollin Daniels (father) was also born in the Green Mountain State, but removed, with several of his brothers, to the State of New York, and settled at Lockport, where he still resides. For some years he was cashier of the Niagara county bank at Loekport, and then went into the distilling and wholesale liquor business. Later, in company with John E. Mack, and Willard Daniels, he erected the building now known and operated as the New York Central elevator. Of late years his atten- tion has been devoted mainly to real estate. In politics he is a republican, and served one term as mayor of the eity of Lockport,
besides holding other official positions, among which was supervisor of the eity. He mar- ried Marion Wilkinson, by whom he had a family of three children: George S., who has business interests in Florida; Franees M., who married Harry A. Marlin, a busi- ness man of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; and Rensselaer W., the subject of this sketcli. S. Rollin Daniels, and his two brothers, William P., and Willard J., -whose widow still lives in the city of Loekport-were among the early pioneers of the county and of Lockport.
Rensselaer W. Daniels received his early education in the Lockport Union school, from which he graduated in 1868, and then entered Yale college, graduating from that institution with the class of 1873. For a time he engaged in journalism, but on ac- count of weak eyes was compelled to aban- don that profession. In the spring of 1875 he removed to California and located at Riverside, that State, where he engaged in growing oranges. He successfully conducted this business until 1884, when he left the Pacific coast, and became a resident of To- ledo, Ohio, for two years, after which he returned to Lockport, and has resided here ever since, though engaged in the grain business at Buffalo.
On February 21, 1882, Mr. Daniels was united in marriage to Edith M. Alden, daughter of Richard Coe Alden, of San Francisco, California, and to them have been born two children: Edith M. and Dorris A. Mrs. Daniels is an intelligent lady of culture and refinement, and ex- tremely popular among her intimate friends and in social circles.
Politically Mr. Daniels is a stanch repub- lican, well grounded in the cardinal doc- trines and principles of his party, and giving
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RESIDENCE OF EDWIN TERRILL, NIAGARA FALLS.
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it an active support in local, State and Na- tional questions. He has already acquired a reputation for energy, enterprise and ability, and being scarcely yet in the prime of life, bids fair to achieve still greater success in the business world.
JAMES H. MURPHY, a leading job printer of Lockport, and a former jour- nalist, is a son of James P. and Catherine (Davy) Murphy, and was born August 14, 1839, in the city of Lockport, Niagara county, New York. His grandfather, Philip Murphy, was born at Minden, Montgomery county, this State, but as early as 1833 came to Niagara county and located in the then village of Lockport, where he lived until his death in 1865. He learned the trade of cabinet maker while young, and followed that occupation a number of years. He also engaged in farming to some extent in Mont- gomery county, and ran an ale brewery for a time. He enlisted during the war of 1812 and served until its close. In politics he was a Jacksonian democrat, and married Sallie Murphy, by whom he had five children, three sons and two daughters. James P. Murphy (father) was born at Minden, Montgomery county, May 9, 1816, and removed to Niagara county with his parents when sixteen years of age. He has been a citizen of this county all his life, and now lives in the city of Lock- port in his seventy-sixth year. He learned the trade of cabinet maker with his father, and was engaged in that occupation at Lock- port until 1848. In 1862 he was appointed assessor of internal revenue, by President Lincoln, for the twenty-ninth New York district, composed of Niagara, Genesee, and Wyoming counties, and served in that ca- pacity until 1871. He then embarked in
the grocery business at Lockport, which he conducted successfully until 1890, when his health became so feeble that he was obliged to quit active business, and has since lived a retired life. He married Catherine Davy, a daughter of Henry Davy, of Springfield, Otsego county, and to them were born four sons and one daughter: William G., a cabi- net finisher in the city of Lockport; Philip H., who enlisted in the army in 1861, at the first call of president Lincoln for troops, and while heroically fighting for his country at Cedar Mountain, received an injury which finally resulted in his death ; James H., the subject of this sketch ; Charles A., who en- listed in the army as a three months' volun- teer, served until it closed, being wounded at the battle of Five Forks, and is now a printer in the city of Lockport; and Mar- garet, deceased.
James H. Murphy received a good practi- cal English education at the Union school of Lockport, and afterwards became an appren- tice to the "art preservative of arts" and learned the trade of printer. After attain- ing some proficiency in the business he be- came the publisher of the Lockport daily and weekly Times, and conducted that jour- nal successfully from 1870 to 1874. He then devoted his attention to plain and fancy job printing, and in 1881 opened a printing office at No. 3 Main street, where he has ever since been engaged in business, with a constantly increasing patronage. He does every grade of plain and ornamental print- ing, and his office being fitted up with new and improved presses, new type with modern faces, and every convenience for the prompt execution of orders, he always renders sat- isfaction to a discriminating public.
On November 11, 1875, Mr. Murphy was united in marriage with Mary K. Booth, a
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daughter of Charles Lester Booth, of New York city. To this union has been born a family of six children : James Lester, George C., Alma Alleen, infant (no name), deceased, Florence E., and Ralph B.
In political faith Mr. Murphy is identified with the Republican party, and has always been active in its support. He has been elected and is now serving as alderman from the fourth ward in the city of Lockport. During his father's long service in the office of revenue assessor, James H. was chief clerk in the internal revenue office. He is a member of Cataract Lodge, No. 54, and Niagara Union Encampment, No. 19, Independent Order of Odd Fellows; also of Lockport Council, No. 307, Royal Arcanum; and Sir Launcelot Encampment, No. 24, Knights of St. John and Malta.
WILLIAM E. HUSTON, a leading architect, contractor, and builder of Lockport, and an honored and useful citi- zen of Niagara county, is a son of John and Elizabeth (Robinson ) Huston, and was born August 30, 1852, at Huston, province of Ontario, Canada. The village of Huston was thus named in honor of John Huston, father of the subject of this sketch. The grandfather of William E. was also named John Huston, and resided near Montreal, Canada, where he followed the vocation of farming. He married, and reared a family of three children, of whom John ( father) was the eldest. He was born on the old homestead near Montreal, but after attain- ing manhood removed to what is now the town of Huston, in the province of Ontario, becoming one of the pioneers of that sec- tion. He afterward lived successively at Clifton, Ontario, Canada; La Salle, Niagara
county, New York, where he farmed for six years; and in Erie county, south of Buffalo, where he purchased a farm and engaged in farming until his death in 1883. He married Elizabeth Robinson, by whom he had two sons and one daughter: John C., a minister of the Free Methodist church, now stationed at Cadillac, Michigan ; Elizabeth E., mar- ried Henry Dieler, a farmer of West Seneca, Erie county ; and William E.
William E. Huston received his early ed- ucation in the schools of Clifton, Ontario, but most of his mental training and culture is the result of his own efforts and application to reading and study after leaving school. Until he was twenty-two years of age he remained at home on the farm, assisting his father in farm operations. At that age he learned the trade of carpenter, which occu- pation he followed for some years. In 1880 he went into the contracting and building business, and has successfully conducted it ever since. He has been a student of archi- tecture, and now docs all his own work in that line. He undoubtedly possessed quite a talent for planning and constructing fine buildings, and some of the handsomest structures in the city are the result of his handiwork. His achievements both as an architect and builder have given him a fine reputation, and he now enjoys a large and lucrative business, employing about eighteen men the year round.
On October 21, 1880, Mr. Huston was united in marriage with Cora M. Smith, danghter of E. P. Smith, of the city of Lockport, and to them have been born two daughters: Clara Florence and Mildred Emma.
In his political affiliations M. Huston is an ardent republican, giving his party a steady and loyal support on all leading
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questions in local and general polities. He was elected and served two years as alder- man from the third ward of the city. He is a prominent Free Mason, and a member of all the different organizations of that fraternity in Loekport. While not a mem- ber, he is a regular attendant and liberal supporter of the Presbyterian church of his city. The great success of his business career is doubtless due to the care and thoroughness with which he does his work, and his integrity and energy in condueting his business.
J AMES C. BRADLEY, proprietor of
the Hotel Ontario at Wilson, who is also interested in farming and fruit growing, was born in the town of Porter, Niagara county, New York, on October 4, 1835. He is a son of Sisson and Melvina (Nobles ) Bradley. The family is of English extrae- tion. Nathan Bradley (great-grandfather) was a native of Connecticut, and died in Canada at an advanced age. His son, Lem- uel Bradley (grandfather), was born in eastern New York, but removed to Canada with his parents when a boy. In later life he returned to New York, and for twenty years before his death was a resident of the town of Wilson. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, and lived to be ninety years old. Sisson Bradley (father) was a native of the same place, and removed from Can- ada to the United States in 1830, loeating in this eounty, in what is now the town of Porter. There he lived until 1857, when he removed to the town of Wilson, and died there in 1865, at the age of sixty- eight. He was a member and deacon of the Christian church, a whig and republi- can in polities, and a farmer by occupation.
He settled in the woods and eleared out a fine farm. He married Melvina Nobles, and reared a family of twelve children, eleven of whom reached maturity, and ten still survive: Fannie, widow of Cornelius Vroman, lives in Michigan; Naney, wife of Almon Drinkwater, resides in Wilson; Ma- riah, unmarried and living at Wilson ; Jo- seph, to whom a separate paragraph of this sketch is devoted; Eveline, also of the village of Wilson; James C., the principal subject of this sketch; Leona, married Dennis Pettit, and resides in Chicago, Illi- nois; Maribah, widow of Ezra Simmons, living at Spokane Falls, State of Wash- ington ; Emeline, wife of Alonzo Simmons, residing in the town of Wilson; and La- beaum M., a farmer of the town of Wilson. The mother of these children was a native of Herkimer county, this State, a devoted member of the Christian church, and died in 1885, aged seventy-nine years.
James C. Bradley was reared on the farm, receiving his education in the public schools of his neighborhood. He remained on the farm until 1859, when he removed to Micli- igan, and lived in that State one year. In the summer of 1860 he drove a team through to Nevada City, Colorado, and for a year and a half was engaged in running a quartz mill near that place. He then embarked in the mereantile business, which he con- dueted for about six months, after which, in 1862, he procured a team of horses, and started to drive through to California. After a long, tedious and dangerous jour- ney, he finally reached the Pacific coast, and spending some time looking for profit- able employment, at length engaged in farming, which seemed to offer greatest promise at that time. One year in that oc- cupation seemed to satisfy him, and he
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crossed the mountains into Nevada, where he passed another year in various specula- tions. From there he continued to Color- ado, where he spent two years, and then, in 1866, came back to Niagara county, where he has ever since been a resident of the town of Wilson. He engaged in farm- ing exclusively until 1888, when he opened his present hotel, the Ontario, which has won a reputation as being among the best hostelries in Niagara county. In partnership with his brother, Joseph, he is still inter- csted in farming and fruit growing.
In 1873 Mr. Bradley was married to Mary C. Pearce, a daughter of Rev. Harvey Pearce, of Ransomville, this county. He is a republican in politics, and a member of Nevada City Lodge, No. 4, Free and Ac- cepted Masons.
Joseph Bradley, a brother to James C. Bradley, was born March 10, 1832, in what was then Upper Canada, but is now the Province of Ontario, and came to Niagara county with his parents when only two years of age. He was reared on the farm, and educated in the public schools. After leaving school he learned the trade of car- penter. In 1862 he started for California, arriving on the Pacific coast in January, 1863. He remained there two years, en- gaged in farming, and then came to Color- ado, and worked as a millwright, passing some cigliteen years in that State, with oc- casional visits to New York. He was in the Black Hills during the Indian troubles there, and passed through many exciting scenes. He also spent two years at Lead- ville, but in 1880 returned to Niagara county, and in connection with his brother, James C., has since been engaged in farm- ing in the town of Wilson. These gentle- men are large land owners, and take rank
among the most substantial, prosperous and esteemed citizens of Niagara county.
In 1874, Joseph Bradley was wedded to Henrietta, daughter of George B. Gaskill, of the town of Cambria. He is a member of Ontario Lodge, No. 376, Free and Ac- cepted Masons, and in politics is a stanch republican.
H ARRISON PERRY. Of the different occupations, none is more pleasant to follow than that of farming, and one who has become successful in that pursuit is Harrison Perry. He was born in New York in 1819, and is a son of V. E. and Rebecca (Carr) Perry, both of whom were natives of Saratoga county. In 1837 V. E. Perry came from Seneca county, and settled in the town of Porter, Orleans county, where he devoted the remainder of his life to agri- cultural pursuits. For eight years he was constable in the town of Seneca, and died after coming to Porter, being seventy-seven years of age. He married Rebecca Carr, who lived to be within one year of being as old as himself. In religious sentiment they were attendants of the Baptist church. They had a family of twelve children: Ransom, Elie, Richmond, Van Rensselaer, Arnold, Harrison, Melanchton, Catherine, Mary, Betsey, Evelyn, and one who died early.
At eighteen years of age Harrison Perry came to the town of Porter, where he fol- lowed farming for a time, and then went to Lewiston, where he resided until the spring of 1845. At that time he removed to the house in which he now lives. Residing here but a short time, in 1867, he again became a resident of the town of Porter, where he re- mained until 1873, when he returned to his old home in Wilson, and has resided there ever since.
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He has been twice married. He first married a lady of Morrison county, who died July 16, 1882, in the fifty-sixth year of her age. On April 12, 1883, he united in marriage with Catherine Lake, whose parents were natives of Seneca county. She was a member of the Free Methodist church, and died February 23, 1889. By his first marriage he has seven children: George W., married Jennie Brewer, whose death occurred May 26, 1886, leaving motherless Stanley Perry, a son of eight years of age, and he then married Mary Wilcox, and to them has been born one child, Glen E. Perry; the next son of Harrison Perry united in marriage with Sarah Hotchess, who died February 18, 1889, and left two daughters - Minnie and Viola-and he thien married Delia Perry; Harrison, Jr., married Mariah Fields, by whom he had two sons and two daughters: Grace, Maud, Gilbert, and one who is dead; Douglass, who married Della Knapp; another son of Harrison Perry married a Miss White, and has one son and three daughters: Frank, Louisa, Daisy, and Grace; Elizabeth, united in marriage with Sanford S. White, and they have two children : George and Har- rison ; and Ida, married Edward Tower, and to them have been born one son and five daughters : Gertie, Myrtle, Marialı, Effie, Alden, and one other.
In politics Mr. Perry has been a progressive worker in the Democratic party. He owns a beautiful farm on the Youngstown road, about four miles from Wilson, and there enjoys the comforts of a happy home, while devoting a portion of his time to the super- vision of his land and the care of his stock. He has always been useful and active in his community, where he is well known as a careful and industrious farmer.
F RANK J. HAMLIN, a successful busi-
ness man and popular salesman, now engaged in the coal business at Niagara Falls, is a son of George B. and Mary A. (Walsh ) Hamlin, and was born August 11, 1852, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. His grand- father, John Hamlin, was a native of New Hartford, Connecticut, and enlisted in the American army as an officer in the war of 1812, and was killed in that conflict. His son, George B. Hamlin (father), was born at Bridgeport, Connecticut, December 11, 1809, and was reared and educated therc. IIe was a grocer and provision dealer, and did business successively at Buffalo, New York, and Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and in the summer of 1853 removed to Niagara Falls, this State, where he died, in 1889. Two years of his life were spent as an oil operator, and later he opened a livery stable and did a large business for some time, but several years before his death he retired, and passed his last days in quietude and free from care. Politically he was a democrat, and served as trustee of the village of Ni- agara Falls for a number of years. He married Mary A. Walsh, by whom he had five children, three sons and two daughters : George W., died in 1890 at York, Nebraska, where he was engaged in the insurance business ; Charles H., resides at York, Ne- braska; Anna S., lives with her brother, Frank J .; and Mary A. The maternal grandfather of Frank J. Hamlin was Michael Walsh, a native of Ireland, who came to America and located first at Buffalo, New York, but afterwards (1840) removed to Niagara Falls, where he died June 27, 1888, at the good old age of eighty-nine years. He was a merchant all his life, and married Anna Watson, by whom he had a family of five children who reached maturity.
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Frank J. Hamlin received his education in the public schools of Niagara Falls, and after completing his studies there, supplemented his general education by a thorough business training in Bryant & Stratton's college. He then accepted a position as clerk and sales- man in a large boot and shoe store in Lock- port, this State, where he remained seven years. At the end of that time he resigned his position and went west, where he spent one ycar principally looking over the country. He then returned to Niagara Falls and ac- cepted a clerkship for about nine months, and in 1878 embarked in the tobacco and stationery business in that village, which he conducted successfully until May, 1891. In the meantime (October, 1890), he had en- gaged in the coal and wood trade, and find- ing this enlarging so rapidly as to demand all his time, he closed out the stationery business, and has since devoted his attention almost entirely to his coal and wood trade.
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