USA > New York > Niagara County > Biographical and portrait cyclopedia of Niagara County, New York > Part 59
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George W. Batten was educated in the common schools of Lockport, and learned the trade of machinist, serving as an ap- prentice for three years. At the age of twenty-one he became deputy sheriff un- der his father, and with whom he lived on a farm for a period of three years. At the expiration of that time he was appointed under-sheriff under Thonias Stainthorpe, and at the close of his term, in the autumn of 1884, he was elected sheriff, and served satisfactorily in that office for three years. Since 1887 he has been engaged in the in- surance business in Lockport, with good success.
January 6, 1886, he married Susan Van Wagoner, daughter of Morgan Van Wag- oner, of Lockport. To their union has been born one child, a daughter, named Inez.
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In political sentiment Mr. Batten is a democrat, and in the interests of his party he is a persistent worker. In 1890 he was elected chairman of the democratic county committee, in which office he is still serv- ing. He is a member of Red Jacket Lodge, No. 646, Free and Accepted Masons, at Lockport, and also holds membership in the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He is a strict member of the Presbyterian church, and takes a deep interest in the ad- vancement of the cause of his church and Christianity. He is a member of the ex- ecutive committee of the Business Men's association, and has held the office of di- rector of the Niagara County Protective association. As a public officer he always sought to fully discharge his duties, as a business man he has always looked well to the interests of his community, while as a citizen he has so conducted himself as to win friends and secure the confidence of those who know him.
E DWARD O. BABCOCK, a prominent dealer in books, stationery, wall paper, and artists' materials at Niagara Falls, and an intelligent, enterprising, and useful citi- zen of the county, was born in the town of Chautauqua, Chautauqua county, New York, November 29, 1861, and is a son of Asal and Emma E. (Gallop) Babcock. The Babcocks are descended from English stock, the family being planted in this country at a very early day by three brothers, who emigrated from the mother country, and were among the earliest settlers in New England. Asal Babcock (father) was born in Rhode Island about 1818, and died in Chautauqua county, New York, in 1870, his wife living to mourn his loss till Sep-
tember, 1889, when she died at their home in Chautauqua. He removed to that county about 1851, and followed the vocation of farming until his death. In politics he was a republican, but never took a very active part in political contests. He was a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal church, and reared his family in that faith. He married Emma E. Gallop, daughter of Orrin Gallop, by whom he had a family of three sons and five daughters: Lucius, now a banker at Foreman, Sargent county, North Dakota; Helen and Emma, both of whom were accidentally drowned in Chautauqua lake while enjoying a moonlight sail on that water, about 1864; Mary, married Luther Barney, a native of Chautauqua county, now residing at Foreman, North Dakota; Alfred, also a resident of North Dakota, who is engaged in farming at Babcock, Sargent county, that State ; Estella, married Frank Rheubottom, a farmer of Chautauqua county, New York, who also acts as a captain on the lake of that name; Ida, wife of Frank Spurr, resides near Foreman ; and Edward O.
Edward O. Babcock was educated in the public schools of Jamestown, New York, graduating from the Union school of that city in 1879. He soon after began business there on his own account, opening a station- ery and wall paper store. As time passed he added other articles, until he was dealing in many varieties of goods allied to his two main lines. He remained at Jamestown engaged in that trade for about eight years, but in 1884 removed to Niagara Falls and opened a store at Nos. 77 and 79 Falls street, where he has built up a first-class business. He keeps a full and complete stock of books, stationery, office supplies, wall paper, and artists' materials.
On October 20, 1886, Mr. Babcock was
asher J. Cadaback.
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OF NIAGARA COUNTY.
united in marriage to Jennie Davy, daugh- ter of James Davy, of Niagara Falls, New York. They have one child, Howard Or- ville, born in February, 1892.
In politics Mr. Babcock is an ardent re- publican, but entirely without political am- bition. He sings in and is leader of the choir at the Presbyterian church in Niagara Falls, having a good deal of musical talent, which he has carefully cultivated. He is a member of the 42d separate company, na- tional guards of the State of New York, of which he is corporal.
A SHER T. CUDABACK, an extensive real estate owner and dealer of Niagara Falls, and an ex-deputy collector of customs at the port of Suspension Bridge, is a son of Jolm S. and Jane ( Hamlin) Cudaback, and was born March 1, 1844, in the town of Wilson, Niagara county, New York. There is something of mystery and romance con- nected with the origin of this family in America and France. A male child was found, it is said, one bright morning in June, on the heights of Quebec, Canada, and was cared for by a wealthy French gentleman without children, who happened to be traveling that way. This man took the child to France, named it Quebec Cuda- bick (which was aftewards changed to Cuda- back ), and legally adopted it. The foster father of Quebec Cudaback was quite wealthy, and at his death Quebec inherited liis vast estate. He married, and reared a family of two sons, who at his death came into possession of great wealth. Certain ecclesiastical dignitaries in France desired a part of the estate, and being refused, they successfully plotted for tlie exile of the Cudaback brothers and the confiscation of
their property. The two young men .were driven penniless from their native country, and took refuge in Holland. James Cuda- back (great-grandfather) was a son of one of these exiles, and was born in Holland, where at an early age he was bound to a hard master, who lived in the lowlands of that country. When he became of age he emigrated to America and settled in the township of Wantage, Sussex county, New Jersey, where he finally purchased the farm known as "Pepper Cotton Hill," and owned and operated a grist mill. He was a Jack- sonian democrat, served as a private in the Revolutionary war, and married Mary West- brook, a lady of wealth, by whom he had a family of three sons and three daughters: John, Richard, James, Mary, Nellie, and Sallic. His farnı consisted of two hundred and forty-cight acres, located on the lake road to Olcott. His son, John Cudaback (grand- father), was a native of New Jersey, and removed to the town of Wilson (then Porter), this county, in June, 1816. Hc became the owner of the old homestead which had been purchased from the Holland Land Company, and lived there until his death in 1832. He was a farmer, a demo- crat, and a member of the Baptist church. While in New Jersey he was lieutenant in the light horse cavalry of that State, and took part in suppressing the whisky insur- rection. He was twice married: first to Roxie Cadwell, by whom he had two sons and three daughters, and after her death to Lydia Pitts. His son, John S. Cudaback (father), was born in New Jersey, and came to New York with his parents in 1816. He now owns the old homestead ncar Wilson, where he still resides at an advanced age. He was a whig, and became a republican on the organization of that party, and has
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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
served as highway commissioner. For fifty- five years he has been a member of the Presbyterian church at Wilson. He married Abigail Whitney, by whom he had five chil- dren : Sophia, married Jolin Ort, deceased; John, married Frances Hamilton, deceased ; Harvey, married Lydia Labar, and resides in the town of Porter, this county, where he is engaged in farming; William, living at home; and Asher T. His first wife died in 1845, and two years later he married Jane Hamilton, to whom was born two daughters : Jennie, married Rev. Samuel Davis, of the Universalist church ; and Mary F., living at home with her father. Mrs. Jane Cudaback died April 28, 1891.
Asher T. Cudaback was educated at the Wilson academy in this county, and after leaving that school took a course of training at Bryant & Stratton's Business college at Buffalo, from which institution he was graduated in 1864. He at once accepted a position in the dry goods house of J. L. Breyfogle, of Lockport, as clerk and sales- man, and remained there four years. In March, 1868, he resigned that post to accept the office of deputy collector and inspector of customs at Suspension Bridge, having been tendered this position by Col. Timothy E. Ellsworth, collector of customs. He continued in the faithful and satisfactory discharge of the duties of this office until the beginning of President Harrison's ad- ministration. Several years ago he com- menced operating in real estate, and this trade has increased in volume until he probably owns as much if not more than any man or firm dealing in real estate in the town of Niagara, all bought before the construction of the tunnel began. This property he secured through his own indi- vidual effort. He has over eight hundred
building lots, and a number of farms in the town of Niagara.
On September 24, 1873, Mr. Cudaback married Mary J. Rogers, daughter of Dr. Ryland J. Rogers, of Suspension Bridge, and this union was blest by the birth of one daughter, Grace R., who was born August 13, 1874, and now resides with her parents at their home in Niagara Falls.
Politically Mr. Cudaback is a republican, but was never a very bitter partizan, rather inelining to liberal views and independent action in politics. He is a member of the church of the Epiphany at Suspension Bridge, of which he has been vestryman and treasurer for a number of years, and of Wilson Lodge, No. 376, Free and Accepted Masons. He is one more of the sons of Niagara county who, starting in life with nothing but inherited ability and a willing- ness to use it, have climbed the ladder step by step until they have won financial inde- pendence and political, civil, and social distinction among their fellow citizens.
W ILLIAM SAMWAYS, one of the oldest justices in Niagara county, and an intelligent, agreeable and affable gentle- man, is a son of John and Mary (Kiech) Samways, and first opened his eyes on the things of this world at the village of Little- berry, Dorchester county, England, on Sep- tember 19, 1810. He was reared and edu- cated in that country, finishing his studies under a private tutor, named Dyer. After completing his education he learned the busi- ness of horticulture, and applied himself to that profession while in England. In 1833 he emigrated to America, landing in New York city on June 10. He looked around for employment as a horticulturist, visit-
RESIDENCE OF A. T. CUDABACK, NIAGARA FALLS.
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OF NIAGARA COUNTY.
ing Long Island and other places in his search for a situation, but finding nothing in that line, he adapted himself to the cir- cumstances and began work in the Clinton hotel, of New York city, as clerk. Here he remained until 1836, when he removed to Buffalo, this State, and became steward of the American hotel, giving such entire satisfaction to the management that he con- tinued in charge there for eight years, when he resigned to accept a similar position at the Cataract house, at Niagara Falls, where he remained for ten years. After this he held the position of steward at the Clifton house for three years, and in 1860 was elected justice of the peace of Niagara Falls, and has continued to serve the people in that capacity ever since. Possessing natur- ally a quick perception, combined with a deep sense of justice, he has acquired a knowledge of the law which well qualifies him for the important functions pertaining to this office-the most gratifying proof of which is found in his long continuance in the position. He has also been elected and served five terms as president of the village of Niagara Falls, was clerk two years, and served three years as associate justice of Niagara county, an office corresponding to justice of sessions.
In politics Mr. Samways has always been a vigorous and active democrat, ready alike to work for the success of his party or de- fend its principles and policy. He was twice nominated as a candidate for the State assembly from this county, and, in 1876, came within fourteen votes of election, although the district had a republican ma- jority of nearly six hundred at that time. No words could tell more emphatically or eloquently of the high esteem in which Mr. Samways is held by his fellow citizens who
know him best. In religion he is a Roman Catholic, but was formerly a member of the Episcopal church, and a vestryman in that church for several years.
In the year 1831, while yet in England, he married Rebecca Wenham, and by this union had a family of nine children : Peter, William, Mary, William (2), Louisa, Wil- liam (3), and Mariah, all of whom are dead : and two yet living-Jane E., mar- ried Henry F. Pierce (who died in 1887), and now resides at Niagara Falls; and Tom, who enlisted in company B, 151st New York infantry, in 1862, as a drummer, but afterwards served in the ranks, and now lives at Niagara Falls. Mr. Samways's first wife died in 1854, at Niagara Falls, aged forty-one years, and in 1877 he married Alice Leary, who died in November, 1884.
Standing now with his face toward life's sunset, he can look back over an active life, well spent and crowned with a good degree of success. Enjoying the respect and es- teem of the people among whom he early cast his fortunes, and possessed of a social nature and manners that win all who meet him, he is a fine type of the old-time gen- tleman.
S EBASTIAN GEYER, a prominent grocer of Niagara Falls, and for many years exciseman of the village, is a son of Joseph and Mary (Buchbinder ) Geyer, and was born September 15, 1832, in Middle Frankonia, Bavaria, Germany. His grand- father, Joseph Geyer, was born, lived, and died in Germany. He owned a fine farm in that country, and spent his days in the cultivation of the soil. Joseph Geyer (father) was also a land owner in the Fatherland, but sold his possessions, and in 1844 came to America and located for a
-
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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
time in the city of Buffalo. Later he pur- chased a farm in Erie county, and removed his family thereto. He devoted his life to agricultural pursuits, and died at his home in that county in 1872. He was a strict member of the Catholic church. He mar- ried Mary Buchbinder and had a family of children, all born in Germany: Paul, a farmer, now living on the old homestead at West Alden, New York; Sebastian, the subject of this sketch; Joseph, deeeased about 1870; Elias, enlisted in a New York regiment and served through the civil war, being wounded at Indianola, Texas, and now lives in the State of Indiana ; and Mar- garet, deceased. After the death of his first wife Joseph Geyer married again.
Sebastian Geyer attended the schools of Germany until the family decided to eome to America, and had already made rapid progress in his studies, though only twelve years of age at that time. Within three weeks after landing in this country his mother died, and it became necessary for him to go to work, so that he had no fur- ther advantages in the way of an education. He began life as a laborer, and in 1857 came to Niagara Falls and served as a general mechanic in and around the International hotel for some years, when he became night clerk, and in 1867 was promoted to be stew- ard of that hotel. He served in that eapa- eity for two years, and then embarked in the grocery business at Niagara Falls, opening a store on Falls street. This venture pros- pered in his hands, and he has been engaged in that line ever sinee.
In October, 1853, Mr. Geyer united in marriage with Mary Perry, whose parents had died while she was yet young. To them was born a family of seven ehildren: Mary, married R. A. Ferguson, proprietor
of the Niagara Falls hotel, at Niagara Falls, and has two children, Ida and Robert; Frank, married Lily Romain, resides at Toronto, Canada, and has three sons, Fred- erick, Frank, and Joseph; Lucy, married Harry H. Hine, lives in the city of Chicago, Illinois, and has one son, Charles; Fred- erick, married Sarah B. Denney, and is in the tobaceo and cigar business at Niagara Falls; Annie, married George J. Rice, who runs a meat market at Niagara Falls, and has one child, Roy ; Joseph, living at home with his parents; and one who died in in- fancy.
In religion Sebastian Geyer is a striet Roman Catholic, and has been president of the Catholic Mutual Benevolent association of Niagara Falls ever since its organization, in 1887, being the first to suggest and aid in its formation. It now has a reserve fund of one hundred thousand dollars, and is very prosperous. He has served as exeise- man for eighteen consecutive years, as as- sessor, and as president of the village in 1886.
EORGE D. PARRISH, a highly re-
speeted and well-to-do farmer of Ni- agara county, is a son of William and Catherine (Lake) Parrish, and was born in the town of Porter, Niagara county, New York, June 2, 1852. His father, William Parrish, was born in Canada, and eame into the United States about 1840. He lived in this part of New York continuously from the time he came from Canada, and died in 1881, at the age of fifty-six years. He was a republican in politics, and was always interested in the suceess of his party. In 1848 he married Catherine Lake, by whom he had three children.
George D. Parrish was edueated in the
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OF NIAGARA COUNTY.
common and select schools of Wilson and at Lima, Genesee county, this State. He has devoted his whole life to farming and fruit growing, and has ninety-three acres of the most fertile land in which to plant and grow the choicest products of the soil, ten acres of which are used exclusively for fruit.
On February 22, 1870, Mr. Parrish was united in marriage to Adelia L. Halstead, daughter of Charles Halstead, of Porter. To them have been born two children : Verna, born October 26, 1876; and Charles W., born September 11, 1878. Charles Halstead was born in 1805, in Seneca county, this State, and on June 10, 1810, removed with his parents to the town of New Fane, this county. In 1845 he bought and cleared the farm where he still resides, and on which he first built a log house. He is one of the pioneers and the oldest settler in the county. He is a republican, and married Sarah O. Bristol, and had three children : Warren B. (dead), Albert H., and Adelia L. Mrs. Halstead was born in Batavia, this State, April 4, 1813, and her parents removed to this State from Connecticut.
In politics Mr. Parrish is a republican, takes an active part in the affairs of his party, and is a trustee of the Methodist Episcopal church of Porter. He is one of the substantial and reliable citizens of the county, and is living a quiet life on his farm, enjoying the good will and esteem of his fellow citizens.
W ILLIAM EMERT. Lockport pre- sents no fairer example of self-made and prosperous business men than that of William Emert, who is a son of Antan and Julia (Hammies ) Emert, and was born in the kingdom of Prussia, on the Moselle
river, January 11, 1829. His parents were natives of the same place and died there. His father was for a number of years en- gaged in raising grapes and trading in wines, in which business he was very suc- cessful. He was a member of the Evangel- ical Lutheran church, and was married in the year of the opening engagements of the war which commenced in Prussia, and during which a law was passed that ex- cluded all married men from the war. Mrs. Emert was also a member of the Evangel- ical Lutheran church, and died in 1831, at twenty-nine years of age.
William Emert was reared in his native country until he was of age. He received a good practical - education, and when twenty-one years of age entered the Ger- man army, where he remained eighteen months. He then got a two years' leave of absence from military service, set sail for the United States in 1852, and came to Lockport, where he located the same year. In his native country he learned the baker's trade, but not being able to find employ- ment in that business at Lockport, he began working on a farmi at the rate of fifty cents per day, where he remained but a short time, and then worked in a brick yard at ten dollars per month until he received em- ployment in a lumber yard, in which he was engaged three years. In 1859 he formed a partnership with F. Perry in the brick manufacturing business, and during the war sold them at three dollars and fifty cents per thousand. Having a desire for agricul- tural pursuits, he withdrew from the firm and bought a farm in Erie county, where he enjoyed the life of a farmer for two years. At the close of this time he came to Lock- port and formed a partnership with Jesse Shaeffer in the produce business, when.
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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
after losing seventeen hundred dollars in a space of six months, he withdrew from the firm, and for ten years was engaged in hand- ling produce. In 1873 he engaged in the flour, feed, and commission business, and af- terward added groceries. His industry and perseverance has won for him a large gro- cery and produce trade in the city of Lock- port, where he owns some very valuable property beside his business establishment, and a fine fruit farm situated just outside the city limits.
On October 28, 1855, Mr. Emert was united in marriage with Mary E. Keller, of Erie county, this State. This union has been blessed with three children: Charles W., Edwin J., and Herbert K.
William Emert and family are all mem- bers of the Evangelical Lutheran church. He is treasurer of the Sunday-school, and has always taken an active part in church affairs. He supports the Republican party, and is a member of John Hodge Lodge, No. 69, Ancient Order of United Workmen. He is a pleasant, genial, and courteous gen- tleman, who has made his own way through the world, and deserves much praise for the success he has achieved.
S IDNEY S. CROSS, one of the oldest and most successful business men of Lockport, is a son of Daniel and Lorania (Bowe) Cross, and was born near the city of Lockport (on what is known as Slayton settlement road), Niagara county, New York, May 22, 1820. His grandfathers, Cross and Bowe, were both natives and life- long residents of Vermont. His father, Daniel Cross, was born and reared in the Green Mountain State, and at an early age entered one of the Continental armies, and
through nearly eight years of privation, toil and suffering, fought for the sacred cause of freedom, and the independence of the thirteen colonies in their great struggle against the "mother country," then under the control of a tyrannical and obstinate parliament and an unjust ministry. When peace was declared Daniel Cross was hon- orably discharged, and returned to his Ver- mont home, where he spent several years on his farm. He then came to Niagara county, where he followed shoemaking for a number of years, and died at an advanced age. He married Lorania Bowe, and reared a family of six children.
Sidney S. Cross was reared in Niagara county when it was mostly in the woods, and encountered all the privations and hardships of backwoods life. Under such circumstances he obtained but a meagre ed- ucation in a section of country which then had but few schools and poorly qualified teachers. Before he attained his majority he commenced life for himself as a day laborer, but soon quit that kind of work and became a street wood-sawyer in Lock- port. After having secured a few dollars by manual labor, he obtained some assist- ance from a friend, and in 1841, opened a small grocery. Here he met with success, and each year's prosperity enabled him to increase his stock and enlarge his business. He soon branched out and established a second grocery store in Lockport, where he continued in the very front rank of that line of business for over a quarter of a cen- tury. About 1866 he retired from the gro- cery and engaged in the real estate and loan business, which he has followed with the best of success ever since. In politics lic was an old-line whig, and when that party went down under adverse fortunes
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OF NIAGARA COUNTY.
he became a republican. He has served in nearly all the offices of his city, and has made a creditable record as a publie official.
On November 21, 1841, he married Anna Ballou, who died in 1861, and left three children : Frederick, married to Catherine Jones, and is in the grocery business at Lockport; Loraine, wife of William Jones, of Lockport; and Washington H., who married Hattie Carpenter, of Utica, New York, and is in the real estate business. After Mrs. Cross's death Mr. Cross married Elizabeth Benediet, who died in a few years thereafter, and he then wedded Sarah Ann Mortimer.
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