USA > New York > Niagara County > Biographical and portrait cyclopedia of Niagara County, New York > Part 64
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tate and Investment Company, which was organized in 1892. He is secretary and treasurer of the Tonawanda City Water Works, besides holding stock in several other business enterprises, and owning con- siderable real estate at North Tonawanda. He is connected with various business en- terprises in New York and other States, and is president of the Michigan Pipe Company, of Bay City, that State, the Du Bois City Water Works Company, of Pennsylvania, and the Springville Water Works Con- pany, of New York. He is also a director of the Lumber Exchange bank and the Ni- agara City Land Company, and vice-presi- dent of the New York Lumber and Wood Working Company, of Batavia, this State.
In 1884 Mr. Smith married Susan Otter- son, of Michigan, but a native of Wood- stock, Canada.
He has been for several years a prohibi- tionist in politics, and is a member, steward, and the class leader of the North Tona- wanda Methodist Episcopal church, of whose Sunday school he is also superintend- ent. He was lately elected a trustee of the Young Men's Christian association. George P. Smith has a very beautiful home in North Tonawanda, and has collected a well assorted and very valuable library. His life so far has been a life of activity and event, and he has so learned to hold his ground and push his way over obstacles, that he now seems able to "fashion his luck to his will."
H UGH FRASER, the active and efficient freight agent of the New York Central & Hudson River railroad, at the village of Lewiston, is a son of John and Margaret (Finlayson) Fraser, and was born in the parish of Biggar, Scotland, December 21,
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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
1825. David Fraser (grandfather ) was born in Invernesshire, Scotland, and was a man- ufacturer of woolen goods. He was also engaged in the mercantile business, and died in his native country in 1834, at the age of sixty-four years. His son, John Fraser ( father), emigrated from Scotland to the United States in 1842, and settled in Vermont, where he resided one year. At the expiration of that time he removed to Canada, and located in the town of West Flambora, Wentworth county, where he resided until 1878, when he died at the advanced age of eighty-five years. He was a Presbyterian, and like his father, was en- gaged in the manufacture of woolen goods, but lived a retired life a few years prior to his death. He united in marriage with Margaret Finlayson, a woman of the same religious belief as that of himself, and who was born in the parish of Peeblesshire, Scotland, and died in 1846, at the age of fifty-three years, in West Flambora.
Hugh Fraser was reared in his native town, and received a fair education in the common schools. In 1842 he came to America, and settled in the village of Lew- iston, where he has lived ever since. Coming to Lewiston, he was at first engaged as a clerk in the mercantile business in the house of his uncle, Hugh Fraser. In 1850 he embarked in the general mercantile busi- ness for himself, and continued in that capacity for three years. Two years later he became an employee of the New York Central railroad. In 1889 he was appointed agent of the New York Central & Hudson River railroad, and Rome, Watertown & Ogdensburg railroad.
On October 29, 1851, he married Maria L. Tryon, daughter of Amos S. Tryon, of the village of Lewiston. To their union
have been born four sons: Blake P., is pas- senger agent of the Pennsylvania railroad, and is a resident of Buffalo; William E., is a division freight agent of the Pennsyl- vania railroad, and resides in Williamsport, Pennsylvania; John T., is a traveling agent for the firm of J. Langdon & Company, who are an incorporated coal firm of Elmira and Buffalo, this State; and George H., the youngest, assists his father in the railroad office in the village of Lewiston.
In religious sentiment Mr. Fraser is a member of the Presbyterian church, and in politics a democrat. For a number of years he has been trustee of his village, and was elected to the office of justice of the peace, but declined to qualify. By retain- ing Mr. Fraser in their employ for so many years, the New York Central Railroad Company has thereby shown their apprecia- tion of his faithful and efficient services, and indorsed him as an honest, reliable and able business man, whose qualifications especially fit him for his present position.
E. ASHLEY SMITH. The following should have appeared in connection with Mr. Smith's biography on page 264, but was accidentally omitted: His paternal grandfather, Simeon Smith, was of English descent, a resident of Springfield, Massachu- setts, and in addition to agricultural pur- suits, also worked at his trade as carpenter and joiner. E. Ashley Smith's mother is descended from Abraham Newell, who sailed with his family from Ipswich, En- gland, in 1634. Mr. Smith was the first president of the Niagara White Grape Company, and has been an active elder of the First Presbyterian church of Lockport since 1874, representing it in the meetings
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OF NIAGARA COUNTY.
of the presbytery and general assembly. He has always been, since early manhood, an earnest, hard working Christian, and his efforts have been especially fruitful in the department of Sunday school work, in which he has been engaged for many years as active superintendent of the school con- nected with the First Presbyterian church, which is one of the most flourishing, at- tractive, and effective in the State. Mr. Smith is generous, of large sympathy, with a heart always responsive to the calls of the needy and all demands of the Lord's cause. He is a courteous, affable gentle- man, always energetic, prompt, and reliable.
JOHN VAN WAGONER. A well known citizen and prosperous farmer of Orangeport is John Van Wagoner. He is a son of Captain Everett and Sarah (Albertson) Van Wagoner, and was born at Milan, Dutchess county, New York, March 7, 1816. The Van Wagoners came origin- ally from Holland, and Nicholas Van Wag- oner (grandfather) was a native of Dutchess county and lived there until his death. His father was one of the "Nine Partners," a great company of land owners in the town of Pleasant Valley and after whom a village was so named. By occupation he was a farmer and manifested great zeal and en- thusiasm in the development and improve- ment of his farm. He was a church member, and married Elsie Ostrander, by whom he had four sons and one daughter. Captain Everett Van Wagoner (fatlier) was born in the town of Pleasant Valley, Dutchess county, and some time during his life removed to Livingston county, where he resided for a number of years. In 1837 he came to Niagara county and settled in the
town of Somerset, where he died in 1840, at the age of sixty-five years. He was reared upon the farm and almost his entire life was devoted to agricultural pursuits. In the war of 1812 he served as captain of a company, and for a time previous to this was lieutenant of this company of militia. The captain of this company, which was drafted into service, failed to report for duty, and Lieutenant Everett Van Wagoner volunteered to fill the vacancy. He took command of this company, was commissioned captain, and was stationed at Harlem Heights. In politics he was a close adherent to whig principles, and became commissioner of highways of his town. He married Sarah Albertson, by whom he had four sons and one daughter: Solomon, Eliza, Morgan, Alfred, and John, all of whom are deceased but John. All were born in Milan, Dutchess county, and with the exception of the daughter (who died while young), moved to Somerset, Niagara county, about the year 1835, where they bought homes, were successful farmers, held responsible town offices, and during the years 1866 and 1867 retired from business and moved to the city of Lockport, where they lived the latter part of their lives, and are now resting beside their wives and parents in the family lot at Glenwood.
John Van Wagoner was educated in the common schools, with the exception of one term in the academy in Rochester. He went with his parents to Livingston county and there lived until 1834, when he removed to Niagara county and located in the town of Somerset. There he purchased a farm, but afterwards went to Hartland, where he was a resident for fourteen years. At the expiration of that time he returned to Somerset, and in 1882 came to the vicinity
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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
of Orangeport, where he has since resided. He follows the same oeeupation as did his father, and delights in keeping his farm in a neat and flourishing condition.
In April, 1838, he married Catherine Fisk of Somerset, and to this union have been born six children : George, Charles, Jeanette (deceased ), Martha, Mary, and Neal J. Mrs. Van Wagoner died in 1874, and on March 20, 1878, Mr. Van Wagoner united in marriage with Clara Whitlock, of Somerset, born in Greenfield, Saratoga county.
He is a republican in politics, and labors carnestly for the success of his party. He and his wife are members of the Christian church of Orangeport, and have been faithful in attendance and earnest in the religious work of their church. Mr. Van Wagoner is a courteous and honorable gentleman, a sueeessful man in his occupa- tion, and is deserving of the sueeess he has achieved and the esteem in which he is held in his community.
H ON. SHERBORNE B. PIPER. One
of the prominent names which has helped to strengthen and give importance to the Niagara county bar is that of Sher- borne B. Piper. He was a son of Jonathan and Sarah Piper, and was born in North- wood, in 1807. He came to Niagara county, when twenty-eight years of age. He was a graduate of Dartmouth college, and coming to Lewiston he took charge of the Lewis- ton academy, of which he served as prin- cipal for two years. Later he entered the law office of the late Judge Cooke, of Lew- iston, with whom he read law. He was admitted to the bar, and by striet adherence to his profession and unswerving energy applied to his work, he became one of the
leading lawyers of Niagara county. He was elected State Senator on the demo- cratic ticket in 1877, and having faithfully carried out the principles of his party, he had the honor of being re-elected and serving a second term. On September 20, 1885, he died at his home in Lewiston, at the age of seventy-eight years. In religion he was a faithful member and supporter of the Roman Catholic church, and took an active part in the wide and important field of politics. He was a very able jury pleader, and enjoyed an extensive practice in the legal profession. He owned a large amount of real estate, and was a man of considerable means.
On November 15, 1835, he was united in marriage with Ann Eliza Goodwin, of Lew- iston. She now resides with her son, Alex- ander G., and her daughter, Martha G.
Alexander G. Piper, the eldest child and only son of Hon. Sherborne B. and Ann Eliza (Goodwin ) Piper, was born April 5, 1845, and reared in the village of Lewiston. He received his education in the public schools and Wilson academy. With a desire to en- joy the elimate of the southern States, he removed, in 1871, to Brunswick, in the southern part of Georgia, where he re- mained until the autumn of 1889. He was there engaged in farming, and for a time served as notary public and ex officio justice of the peace. Leaving Brunswick he re- turned to Lewiston, where he has resided ever since. He is engaged in fruit raising. and lives with his mother and sister. He is a republican in politics, and stands well in his community as an honest and indus- trions man, and a highly respected and in- telligent citizen.
Hon. Sherborne B. Piper was an active, zealous, and influential worker in the politi-
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OF NIAGARA COUNTY.
cal and religious fields, and never wavered in his friendship or hesitated to make any saerifiee in behalf of his principles. His re- mains now lie entombed in a tasteful spot in the beautiful Lewiston cemetery.
H' IRAM A. PHILLIPS, was formerly a farmer by occupation, but being ad- vaneed in years, has retired from active life and now lives in retirement. He is a son of Isaac and Anna (Gamble) Phillips, and was born in the town of Gorhanı, Ontario county, New York, June 17, 1817. His father and grandfather were both natives of New Hampshire, and removed to near Saratoga Springs, Saratoga county. In 1807, when a large part of the State of New York was but a wilderness, Isaac Phillips (father) came to the town of Gorham, Ontario county, where he purchased a tract of two hundred acres of land, at four dollars per acre. Like many other pioneers of the Empire State, his first improvement upon the farm was that of a log dwelling, and a few years later a large part of his forest tract was converted into a beautiful farm. Ile resided upon this farm until his death, when he had arrived at the ripe old age of eighty-nine years. In politics he was a whig, and held the offices of justice of the peace and supervisor of his town. Coming to Saratoga county he married Anna Gamble, and to these parents were born ten children, three of whom are still living: Elizabeth, who resides in Quiney, Michigan ; Lebeus, is a resident of Gorham, Ontario county, and is now enjoying the life of a prosperous farmer; and Hiram A.
Hiram A. Phillips received his education in the common schools of Ontario county, and was reared upon the farm, where he
spent thirty years of his life, then moved to Royalton, Niagara county, in 1847. In 1870 he came to the city of Lockport, where he was employed as clerk for a period of two years. At the expiration of that time he engaged in the picture business, which he followed for some time. At present he is not engaged in any active business, but enjoys the pleasures of a retired life. He still owns a farm of one hundred acres, situated in the town of Royalton.
On September 6, 1838, he married Susan Simpson, a daughter of George Simpson, who was a native of Scotland, and died in Ontario eounty some time after his emigration to this country. This union was blessed with one son, William E., who united in marriage with Emma J. Taylor, and now resides in the town of Royalton. Mrs. Phillips died April 25, 1855, and Mr. Phillips, on February 24, 1857, married Abigail I. Morse, daughter of Isaac Morse, of Chester, New Hampshire. She died February 3, 1886.
In political sentiment he closely adheres to the Republican party, and labors earnestly for its success. As one whose integrity and intensity of purpose have been the means of a prosperous life, Mr. Phillips deserves merit. With a spirit of self-dependence and a persevering character, he lives a happy life and has surrounded himself with many friends by his upright and honorable course in life.
C EORGE HOOVER was one of the old residents of Niagara county who moved to Erie county, New York, and resided there a number of years, but returned to the town of Cambria, this county, to end his days. He was the son of John and Mary B. (Singer ) Hoover, and was born in
33
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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
Yates county, New York, December 10, 1812. John Hoover (father) was a native of Pennsylvania, and married Mary B. Singer, also born in that Commonwealth. To them was born a family of nine chil- dren, seven sons and two daughters : Henry S., died in 1889, at the age of eighty-two; Elizabeth, deceased in 1887, aged seventy- nine years; John, who died in 1886, in his seventy-seventh year; David, departed this life in 1877, aged sixty-two; Samuel, died in 1880, in his sixty-third year; William, deceased in 1873, at the age of forty-eight ; Catherine, passed away in 1882, aged nearly sixty-one; Solomon, slept in death, 1889, in his sixty-third year; and George, whose name heads this sketch, died June 16, 1888.
George Hoover was a man of good stand- ing, and a member of the Reformed Men- nonite church for over forty years. He married Sarah Zacharius, a daughter of George and Susanah Zacharius, of Royalton, this county, March 17, 1834. She was born August 24, 1810, and died November 16, 1882. To them was born a family of five children, only four of whom survive, two sons and two daughters. The oldest of these is Barbara A. Hoover, who was born in Niagara county, December 12, 1835, and while yet an infant went with her father and mother to Erie county. In that county she grew to womanhood, and received her education in the public schools. The other surviving children are : Lyman G., a farmer of the town of Wheatfield, who was born in Erie county, March 10, 1838. He married Mary A. Riegle, of Sanborn, December 15, 1881, and two children have been born to them: Ada S., born November 15, 1882, and Melvin G., born March 17, 1888. Ma- tilda L., deceased, born September 17, 1840, and died in Erie county, March 22, 1877;
Julia A., born September 5, 1844, in Erie county. She and her sister, Barbara A., reside together in the town of Cambria. Dennis J. Hoover, a farmer of the town of Wheatfield, was born in Erie county, New York. He married Anna Wagner, of La Salle, Niagara county, October 2, 1886. They have two daughters: Frances M., born October 4, 1887, and Gertrude M., born in April, 1889.
WILLIAM A. FRAZER, a leading lum- ber dealer and highly successful business man of Suspension Bridge, is a son of John and Saralı (Orr) Frazer, and was born in Lockport, New York, April 22, 1852. His grandfather, Archibald Frazer, was born in the north of Ireland, but was of Scotch descent. He was a large landed proprietor, renting to Irish farmers, and lived and died on that island. His son, John Frazer (father), was born February 14, 1825, in northern Ireland, but emigrated to America in 1847, and settled at Smith's Falls, Can- ada, where he remained two years, when he removed to Lockport, New York, at which place he now resides. Prior to the civil war he was in the grocery business, but during the war he engaged in the hotel business, as proprietor of the old Washington house, at Lockport, which became head- quarters for the volunteer soldiery of Niag- ara county. He is now an extensive fruit grower and farmer. Politically he was a whig, and is now a republican, always taking an active interest in local and general politics, but without political aspirations. He is a member of Grace Episcopal church, and contributes liber- ally of both time and means for the ad- vancement of all church interests. In
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OF NIAGARA COUNTY.
1845 he married Sarah Orr, and had a fam- ily of six sons and one daughter : John J., a carriage manufacturer, who married Anna M. Doty, daughter of J. W. Doty, of Lock- port, and resides in that city; William A., subject of this sketch; Isaac D., a lawyer in New York city, who married Louisa M. Martin, daughter of George W. Martin (now a contractor of Buffalo, New York), studied law with Ellsworth & Potter, of Lockport, and was graduated at the law school in Albany; Robert S., married Lizzie E. Weaver, of Lockport, and resides at Tona- wanda, where he is engaged in the lumber business in the employ of his brother, Wil- liam A .; George II., a graduate of the New York law school, married Ida Phalen, of the city of Brooklyn, where he is now practicing law; Washington A .; married Aggie Preston, daughter of Frederick J. Prestou, of Clifton, Ontario, Canada, and is the confidential clerk of his brother, Wil- liam A .; and Sarah J., living with her father. On August 27, 1891, Mrs. Sarah Frazer died, aged sixty-four years.
William A. Frazer received his education in the Union schools of Lockport, being graduated therefrom. In 1873 he received the appointment of deputy collector and inspector of customs at Suspension Bridge, New York, from T. E. Ellsworth, of Lock- port, and was re-appointed by Mr. Flagler, and also by Mr. Cuttler, but resigned in three months after Mr. Cuttler's appoint- mient, to look after his growing business interests. In 1885 he purchased the Sus- pension Bridge planing mill, and has owned and operated it ever since. An extensive lumber yard is connected with the mill, and all kinds of mill work promptly done. The business has been steadilyincreasing, and now employs about fifty men regularly. In addi-
tion to this, Mr. Frazer owns a saw mill at Georgian Bay, Algoma, Canada, in which he employs about forty hands, and at which point he owns the timber on fifty-three thousand acres of land. He also runs a lumber yard at Tonawanda, this county. Besides his extensive mill and lumber in- terests, he owns a tract of sixty-five aeres of land in Suspension Bridge, which is now being subdivided and. laid out in building lots. This is bound to become a very valuable property. IIe was also the instiga- tor, and is now general manager and treas- urer and the largest stockholder of a pros- perous enterprise, known as the Niagara Casket and Coffin Company (limited), of Thorold, Ontario, Canada, with a paid up capital stock of one hundred thousand dol- lars, and has also acquired a lot of valuable real estate in Welland county, Ontario. He has a large number of tenement houses at Suspension Bridge, New York, and is notable for his generosity and leniency as a land- lord. In addition to all this, many of the prospering young firms of builders in this place owe their start in life to his patronage.
On October 7, 1879, he was united in marriage with Jennie R., daughter of David Robb, of Buffalo, New York, and to this union three children have been born : Wil- liam D., born in 1883; Dorothea, born in 1885, and died in 1888; and Elizabeth R., born in 1889. Mrs. Frazer is a lady of culture and refinement, and well suited to be the life companion of a man like Mr. Frazer.
In politics Mr. Frazer is a stalwart re- publican, and has always taken an active interest in the success of his party, being a local leader possessed of tact and influence, but without ambition for official position. ITe is a member of Grace Episcopal church
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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
at Lockport, and is one of the vestrymen of the church of the Epiphany at Suspension Bridge. He is a member of Niagara Lodge, No. 375, Free and Accepted Masons, and of Ames Chapter, No. 88, Royal Arch Masons. His business career has already been one of phenomenal success, and stand- ing on this vantage ground, in the very prime of life, possessed of health, energy, and the intuition which marks the success- ful man of affairs, the future outlook natur- ally takes on a roseate liue, and promises brilliant achievements.
E ELDERT VAN WOERT DOX is an
aged and upright resident of the vil- lage of Wilson, whom his friends and neigh- bors delight to honor. Dignity, integrity, probity, and usefulness distinguish his char- acter, and he has reared a family who refleet these virtues and light the shadows of ad- vaneing age with peculiar radiance. He was born in Waterford, Saratoga county, New York, on November 14, 1816. His parents were John and Alida (Van Woert) Dox, the former dying in Onondaga county in 1842, aged seventy-one years, and the latter passing away at her home in the same county in 1858, at the age of eighty-three. The Doxes are of English lineage, and were among the first settlers of the manor of Rensselaerwyck, in the province of New York, then comprising a considerable por- tion of the present counties of Albany, Rensselaer, and Saratoga. Isaac Dox (grandfather) was a resident of Waterford, this State, and died there in 1821, aged seventy-six years. John Dox (father) was born at Waterford, but removed with his family to La Fayette, Onondaga county, the year after the opening of the Erie canal.
He was a farmer by occupation, and a stanch demoerat in polities. He married Alida Van Woert, a daughter of Eldert Van Woert (maternal grandfather ), and for the latter the subject of this sketch was named. Mr. Van Woert died in Saratoga county in 1827, at the advanced age of eighty-seven years. His ancestors were of Holland Dutch descent, and were also among the very early settlers of the manor of Rensselaerwyck.
Eldert Van Woert Dox was next to the youngest of a large family of children, and distinctly remembers seeing General La Fayette at Waterford on his celebrated tour through the United States in 1824. He received his preparatory training in Pom- pey Hill academy, at Syracuse, and at Cas- anovia seminary. After ample preparation he entered Union college, at Schenectady, and was graduated from that institution in the class of 1837. He immediately began the study of law with Noxon & Leaven- worth, at Syracuse, and later took a course in the law school of Yale college, being graduated therefrom in 1840. Settling the same year at St. Louis, Missouri-which, with its suburbs, contained about fourteen thousand inhabitants at that time-he there commeneed the practice of his pro- fession. When he had been in that city something less than a year, the death of his only brother rendered it necessary for hin to return to New York to take charge of the farm. This he successfully managed for a period of ten years, at the same time practieing surveying, a knowledge of which he had acquired under the tutorship of Jireh Baker, an old and celebrated surveyor of Onondaga county.
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