USA > New York > Erie County > Centennial history of Erie County, New York : being its annals from the earliest recorded events to the hundredth year of American independence > Part 45
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45
50I
BREAKING THE ENEMY'S LINE.
But Sheridan could be cautious as well as venturesome, and it was not till the men were well rested and fed, and he had thoroughly scanned the ground, that, at three o'clock, the line advanced. While thus moving forward with the rest of the line, the brigade to which the One Hundred and Sixteenth be- longed was received with a severe fire from a stone wall, across an open field. It was a bad place for a charge, but the brigade commander, Colonel Davis, ordered and led one, and Colonel Love, as usual, rode in front of the One Hundred and Sixteenth. The men went forward with a cheer, and drove the rebels from the wall at the point of the bayonet, Colonel L. having his horse killed under him.
After following the enemy some distance, the brigade found it- self alone. But Sheridan came up immediately afterwards, and at once sent an order to Gen. Emory, commanding the Nineteenth corps, to hurry up reinforcements, saying, "The first brigade has burst through the enemy's line ; send them reinforcements at once." It was done, and soon, while Custer's cavalry charged successfully on the right, the first division moved forward, charged and scattered a strong opposing force, uncovered the enemy's flank, and caused his immediate retreat.
An exciting chase followed, in which thousands of prisoners were captured, besides battle flags, artillery, and small arms in- numerable. The men of the One Hundred and Sixteenth were the first to plant their flag on the works at Cedar Creek. So swift had been their charges that they had suffered less than they. might have done in less audacious fighting. The regiment had seven men killed and forty-four wounded.
This was the last battle of the One Hundred and Sixteenth New York. During the winter it remained in the valley, guard- ing railroads, etc. It is worth noticing that, when Gen. Emory received orders to issue some patent "gun-cappers," for trial, to "the best regiment in the Nineteenth corps," he selected the One Hundred and Sixteenth New York, and his opinion was endorsed by General Sheridan. The "gun-cappers " were found worthless, but the honor was none the less emphatic. In the spring the regiment was sent to Washington, where it remained till June, when it returned home.
Though the regiment had suffered severe losses, it was not as
502
THE RETURN.
much changed as many others. There was still a large propor- tion of its first men in the ranks, and a few of the original ros- ter of officers. Colonel Love had been brevetted a brigadier- general for gallant conduct at Cedar Creek, but returned in command of the regiment. John M. Sizer was lieutenant-col- onel, and George W. Carpenter major. John C. Nial was adju- tant, George W. Miller quartermaster, C. B. Hutchins surgeon, M. E. Shaw assistant surgeon, and H. J. Gordon chaplain. Few companies had more than two officers. The list comprised Capt. G. H. Shepard and Ist Lieut. J. G. Dayton, of "A;" Captain J. G. Woehnert and Lieuts. W. F. Feldman and Samuel Leon- ard, of "B;" Captain W. J. Morgan and 2d Lieutenant John Hoppes, of "C;" Captain E. W. Seymour, of " D;" Ist Lieut. H. A. C. Swartz, of "E;" Captain C. S. Crary and Ist Lieut. Wm. Holden, of "G ;" Captain O. S. Clark and Ist Lieutenant \V. W. Grace, of "F;" Captain J. H. Rohan and Ist Lieutenant C. D. Ballard, of "H ;" Captain Wm. Tibbits and Ist Lieut. C. H. Curry, of "I," and Captain W. T. Ferris and Ist Lieut. J. H. Dingman, of "K."
The regiment arrived in Buffalo on the 13th of June. There had been some mistakes made with regard to the reception of detachments of returning volunteers, but that given to the One Hundred and Sixteenth was of the warmest description. The whole city turned out to welcome them, banners waved by the hundred, and cheers rent the air at every step, as in holiday attire, and with the perfect drill on which they prided themselves, the veteran regiment marched through the principal streets of the city. Two weeks later the men were finally paid off, and the last regiment of Erie-county, three-years' volunteers became citizens once more.
I have now given a brief, imperfect sketch of the services of the regiments raised in this county, and serving for two or more years. I must again express my regret that I cannot give due credit to many others of our soldiers, who served in scattered detachments with equal valor and fidelity.
In the fall of 1862, battery No. 27, New York artillery, went to the front from Erie county, under Captain J. B. Eaton and Lieutenants W. A. Bird, Jr., and C. A. Clark, and served through- out the war. The next year battery No. 33 went out under
503
OTHER ERIE COUNTY SOLDIERS.
Captain A. M. Wheeler and Lieutenant J. D. Woods, also serv- ing to the end.
In the fall of 1862, several companies were raised in this county for a new regiment, which were finally divided among other organizations. Two companies went into the 155th New York; one under Captain John Byrne, and Lieutenants James Worthington and Hugh Mooney, the other under Captain James McConvey, and Lieutenants John McNally and John Ternan. The 155th served in the army of the Potomac to the end, Capt. Byrne fighting his way up to the colonelcy. Two other compa- nies went into the 164th New York, one under Captain Chris- topher Graham and Lieutenants Walters and Kelley, the other under Captain T. W. Kelly and Lieutenants Sizer and Stapleton. That regiment was brigaded with the 155th, and shared all its toils and its combats. Two or three companies from Erie county also went in the beginning of the war into the 33d infantry, serving three years. Captains Gail and Hamilton were Erie county officers of that regiment. One company, raised princi- pally in Amherst and Clarence, joined the 78th regiment, under Captain W. H. Randall and Lieutenants Levi Metz and John Blocher.
In the fall of 1864, the 187th regiment was raised princi- pally in Erie county, and largely from the 65th militia. It enlisted for two years, but, on account of the close of the war, served only about nine months. Not being quite full, it mustered no colonel ; serving under Lieutenant-colonel My- ers and Major Conrad Sieber. At the battle of Hatcher's Run it lost sixty killed and wounded, and was in several minor affairs. Two companies also entered the 2d mounted rifles, under Captains Wells and Stevenson, in the beginning of 1864. Individuals, too, from Erie county were in the 24th New York Cavalry and many other organizations. The story of their services is preserved on no historic page, and many of them sleep in unknown graves, but, from those records which are known, it may well be presumed that the sons of Erie county wherever found, were the peers of any of their comrades in the army of the nation.
In the fall of 1864. the Democrats, for the fourth time, carried the county, electing James M. Humphrey member of Congress,
1
504
CIVIL OFFICERS.
Stephen Lockwood county judge, Oliver J. Eggert sheriff, and L. P. Dayton county clerk. The following assemblymen were also chosen : Walter W. Stanard and Harmon S. Cutting of Buffalo, John G. Langner of West Seneca, and Edwin W. God- frey of Collins. The next year the Republicans were at last successful, electing David S. Bennett State senator, and Lyman K. Bass district-attorney. The assemblymen then chosen were William Williams and J. L. C. Jewett of Buffalo, John G. Lang- ner of West Seneca, and Levi Potter of East Hamburg. The list of supervisors for the two years is as follows :
Alden, 1864, Herman A. Wende ; 1865, William Slade. Amherst, 1864 and '65. Benjamin Miller. Aurora, 1864 and '65, Dorr Spooner. Boston, 1864 and '65, A. D. Cary. Brant, 1864 and '65, Nathaniel Smith.
Buffalo, first ward, 1864, T. M. Knight and Dennis McNamara ; 1865, James Fleeharty and Joseph Murphy. Second ward, 1864, J. S. Lyon and Hugh Webster ; 1865, Hugh Webster and Walter G. See- ley. Third ward, 1864 and '65, John Zier and Matthew O'Brien. Fourth ward, 1864, Harmon H. Griffin and Jacob Gittere; 1865, M. Leo Ritt and Levi Curtiss. Fifth ward, 1864 and '65, James S. Irwin and George Baldus. Sixth ward, 1864 and '65, J. Stengel and Jacob Himmens. Seventh ward, 1864, Henry Benz and George J. Buchheit ; 1865, John Gisel and Louis Fritz. Eighth ward, 1864, Price A. Matte- son and John Hopkins; 1865, George Diebold and Cyrus Harmon. Ninth ward, 1864, Wm. Ring and W. B. Peck ; 1865, C. A. Van Slyke and A. J. Buckland. Tenth ward, 1864 and '65, C. E. Young and Robert Carmichael. Eleventh ward, 1864 and `65, T. R. Stocking and Wm. Richardson. Twelfth ward, 1864, Christopher Laible and Henry Mochel; 1865, Wm. Post and. Robert Ambrose. Thirteenth ward, 1864 and '65, Geo. Orr.
Cheektowaga, 1864 and 65, E. Selden Ely. Clarence, 1864, David Woodward; 1865, L. G. Wiltse. Colden, 1864 and '65, Richard E. Bowen. Collins, 1864 and `65, Joseph H. Plumb. Concord, 1864 and 65, Philetus Allen. East Hamburg, 1864 and '65, Levi Potter. Eden, 1864 and '65, Nelson Welch. Elma, 1864 and '65, L. M. Bullis. Evans, 1864, John H. Andrews ; 1865, Lyman Oatman. Grand Island, 1864 and '65, John Nice. Hamburg, 1864 and '65, Allen Dart. Hol- land, 1864, Philip D. - Riley ; 1865, John O. Riley .- Lancaster, 1864, John T. Wheelock; 1865. F. H. James. Marilla, 1864, H. T. Foster : 1865, Samuel S. Adams. Newstead, 1864 and '65, E. P. Goslin. North Collins, 1864, Wilson Rogers ; 1865, D. Allen. Sardinia, 1864 and '65, Welcome Andrews. Tonawanda, 1864 and '65, Benjamin H. Long. Wales, 1864, Clark. Hudson ; 1865, Alonzo Havens. West Seneca, 1864, Richard Caldwell ; 1865, Charles J. James.
.
.
CLOSING UP.
505
CHAPTER XLIV.
SINCE THE WAR. 1
Closing up .- The Officials of Ten Years .- The Political See-saw .- Mayors and Judges .- A Long List of Supervisors .- Great Increase of Germans .- The German Young Men's Association .- The Liedertafel, Orpheus, Saengerbund and Turnverein. - German Newspapers .- English Newspapers .- Sundry So- cieties .- The County and City Hall .- Science on the Hunting Grounds.
Those who want exciting reading will probably, in their pe- rusal of this work, stop with the close of the war. The remain- ing years furnish little that is usually considered as within the scope of history, but a "Centennial History " must come down to 1876.
Yet the political changes of the last ten years furnish quite a study to those who take an interest in partisan warfare. In the fall of 1866, the Democrats having regained sway, Jas. M. Hum- phrey was reëlected to Congress, and C. R. Durkee was chosen county treasurer. After the census of 1865, Erie county was assigned five members of assembly ; those elected in 1866 were C. W. Hinson, Wm. Williams and R. L. Burrows of Buffalo, Al- pheus Prince of Newstead, and J. H. Plumb of Collins. In 1867, G. J. Bamler, Richard Flach and L. P. Dayton were elected from Buffalo, Alpheus Prince from Newstead, and James Rider from Sardinia. At the same time, Asher P. Nichols was chosen State senator, Charles Darcy sheriff, Horatio Seymour surrogate, and John H. Andrus, of Evans, county clerk.
In 1868 Erie county went over with a rush to the Republican side, the Grant électoral ticket having a majority of about two thousand. D. S. Bennett was elected congressman, and R. L. Burrows county judge, and Mr. Bass was reelected district-attor- ney. The assemblymen were G. J. Bamler, P. H. Bender and J. A. Chase of Buffalo, C. B. Rich ; and A. C. Calkins of Ham- burg. In 1869 the Republicans still held possession, Loran L. Lewis being elected State senator, and Wm. B. Sirret county treasurer. The assemblymen chosen that year were G. J. Bam-
33
-
-
506
RAPID CHANGES.
ler, James Franklin and A. H. Blossom of Buffalo, H. B. Ran- som of Grand Island, and Lyman Oatman of Evans.
In 1870 the Democrats rallied and captured all the prizes ; Wm. Williams being elected to Congress, Grover Cleveland being chosen sheriff, and J. H. Fisher county clerk. The assembly- men elect were George Chambers, J. Howell and F. A. Alber- ger of Buffalo, H. B. Ransom of Grand Island, and John M. Wiley of Colden. In these years the proverbial " rooster " flew back and forth from one party to the other with exemplary dili- gence. In 1871 the Republicans took their turn, reëlecting Mr. Lewis to the senate, and making B. H. Williams district-attorney and Zebulon Ferris surrogate. Nelson K. Hopkins, of Buffalo, was elected State comptroller. The successful candidates for the assembly were George Chambers, George Baltz and F. A. Alberger of Buffalo, John Nice of Grand Island, and J. M. Wiley of Colden.
The year of the Grant and Greeley campaign, the bird of triumph seemed to have come to the Republican side to stay ; all the candidates on that side being chosen by majorities of from five to six thousand. Lyman K. Bass was elected mem- ber of Congress, and Albert Haight county judge ; Mr. Sirret being reelected county treasurer. The Republicans even elected all of the members of assembly, something that has never been done, before or since, by any party, since the county was divided into assembly districts. This legislative phalanx was composed of John O'Brian, George Baltz and F. A. Alberger of Buffalo, John Nice of Grand Island, and Robert B. Foote of Hamburg. Yet the very next year there was a divided vote, John Ganson, Democrat, being chosen State senator, while J. B. Weber and G. L. Remington, both Republicans, were elected sheriff and county clerk. The majorities were small on both sides. Mr. Hopkins was reëlected comptroller. Messrs. Alberger, Nice and Foote were reëlected to the assembly, their new colleagues being Patrick Hanrahan and Joseph W. Smith.
With one more turn of the wheel, the Democrats had a ma- jority, electing A. P. Laning senator (in place of Mr. Ganson, deceased) and D. N. Lockwood district-attorney. In the State, Wm. Dorsheimer, of Buffalo, was elected lieutenant-governor. Mr. Bass, however, was again elected to Congress. The assemblymen
507
MAYORS AND JUDGES.
then chosen were Patrick Hanrahan, W. W. Lawson and E. Galla- gher of Buffalo, H. B. Ransom of Grand Island, and W. A. John- son of Collins. But, if the Democrats thought themselves firmly fixed in control of the county, they were destined to be quickly disappointed, for in 1875 the Republicans obtained a majority of over three thousand five hundred, electing S. S. Rogers State senator, and again reëlecting Mr. Sirret county treasurer. It is evident that the political game need not fail of interest in this county for lack of uncertainty. The assemblymen then chosen (and now in office) were Daniel Cruice, W. W. Lawson and Ed- ward Gallagher of Buffalo, C. F. Tabor of Lancaster, and Ber- trand Chaffee of Concord.
The mayors of Buffalo since 1856 have been as follows : Elected in 1857, T. T. Lockwood; in 1859, Franklin A. Al- berger; 1861 and '63, Wm. G. Fargo; 1865, C. J. Wells ; 1867, Wm. F. Rogers; 1869 and '71, Alexander Brush; 1873, L. P. Dayton ; 1875, Philip Becker. The Superior Court of Buffalo had remained intact, consisting of Judges Verplanck, Masten, and Clinton, from 1856 to 1871. In the spring of the latter year, Judge Masten died, and in the succeeding autumn, ex- County Judge Sheldon was elected the full term, which, by an amendment to the constitution, was extended to fourteen years. In 1873 Judge Verplanck died, and James M. Smith was elected. The terms of Supreme Court judges had been fixed at the same period, while county judges and surrogates were to hold six years. All judicial officers chosen since the adoption of the amendment hold for full terms from the time of their election. The judges of the Supreme Court, resident in Erie county, are Charles Dan- iels, elected to fill the term of Judge Hoyt, deceased, in 1863, and reëlected in 1869, and John L. Talcott, elected in 1869 to fill an unexpired term, and reëlected in 1873.
The following is a list of the supervisors for the last ten years:
Alden, 1866, Bradley Goodyear; 1867, E. R. Hall; 1868, E. R. Ewell ; 1869, '70, '71, '72, '73 and '74, Spencer Stone ; 1875, Bernhard Wende; 1876, L. W. Cornwell. Amherst, 1866 and '67, Benj. Miller ; 1868, '69 and '70, Leonard Dodge ; 1871 and '72, M. Snyder; 1873, D. Wherle ; 1874,'75 and '76, J. Schoelles. Aurora, 1866, D. C. Corbin : 1867 and'68, P. A. Haynes ; 1869 and '70, H. Z. Person ; 1871, '72 and '73, Christopher Peek ; 1874 and '75, J. P. Bartlett; 1876, Lyman Corn- well. Boston, 1866, A. D. Cary ; 1867 and '71, Enos Blanchard ; 1868 and '69, T. S. Cary ; 1870, Dexter Folsom ; 1872, J. H. Fuller; 1873, A.
508
SUPERVISORS DURING TEN YEARS.
WV. Lockwood; 1874, '75 and '76, A. K. Woodward. Brant, 1866, '67. '70, '71, '72, '73, '75 and '76, Wm. W. Hammond ; 1874, H.P. Moffat ; 1868 and '69, D. H. Odell.
Buffalo, first ward, 1866, Austin Hanrahan and Geo. Campbell ; 1867, A. Hanrahan and Maurice Courtney ; 1868, A. Hanrahan and Ma- thias Ryan ; 1869, A. Hanrahan and John Pier ; 1870, J. Pier and Ed- ward Mullihan ; 1871, J. Pier and John Manning ; 1872, Alex. Love and G. G. Smith ; 1873, G. G. Smith and Jas. Hanrahan ; 1874, Jas. Mc- Carthy and Thos. Quinn ; 1875 and '76, John Norris and Jas. Mana- har. Second ward, 1866, Hugh Webster and W. G. Seeley ; 1867, H. Webster and Z. Bonney ; 1868, Z. Bonney and P. J. Ferris ; 1869, H Webster and Z. Bonney ; 1870 and '71, H. Webster and Albert Haight; 1872, A. Haight and Daniel Post ; 1873, '74 and '75, E. R. Saxton and A. L. Lothridge; 1876, E. R. Saxton and J. M. Comstock. Third ward, 1866, Geo. Gehring and J. Baumgarten ; 1867, Milton Wilder and Bernard Knor; 1868, M. Wilder and N. Seibert; 1869, J. A. Seymour and W. A. Carney ; 1870, John Mahoney and J. V. Hayes ; 1871, J. V. Hayes and Anselm Haefner ; 1872, J. V. Hayes and G. M. Ruhlman; 1873, Frederick Arend and G. H. Kennedy; 1874, J. G. Streich and Wm. Dolan ; 1875, W. W. Buffum and J. G. Streich ; 1876, W. W. Buffum and E. W. Evans. Fourth ward, 1866, Thos. Farnham and Geo. M. Kolb; 1867, P. J. Ripont and L. P. Mauer ; 1868, A. C. Hudson and F. J. Stephan ; 1869, W. S. Ovens and F. C. Fischer ; 1870, G. C. Grimard and Ludwig Wilhelm ; 1871, L. Wilhelm and F. J. Stephan ; 1872, W. W. Lawson and Louis Hesman ; 1873, W. W. Lawson and Chas. Person ; 1874 and '75, E. Bertrand, Jr., and C. Wag- ner ; 1876, E. Bertrand, Jr., and C. F. Mensch. Fifth ward, 1866, J. S. Irwin and Geo. Baldus ; 1867, Henry Fort and John Huels; 1868, C. G. Irish and Chas. Sauer ; 1869, Wm. Seymour and Wm. Critchley ; 1870 and '7r, Wm. Seymour and Caspar J. Drescher ; 1872, Wm. Hein- rich and Conrad Sieber ; 1873, C. Sieber and P. F. Lawson; 1874 and '75, Wm. Seymour and Louis Fritz; 1876, L. Fritz and P. F. Lawson. Sixth ward, 1866 and '68, J. Stengel and J. Himmens ; 1867, J. Sten- gel and J. P. Walter ; 1869 and '70, Leopold Mullenhoff and Caspar Meyer ; 1871, Adam Wick and A. Lenhart: 1872 and '73, William Scheier and Ernst Billeb ; 1874 and '75, Sebastian Elser and Henry Miller ; 1876, S. Elser and Michael Loebig. Seventh ward, 1866, John Gisel and Louis Fritz; 1867, J. Gisel and Jacob Bangasser ; 1868, J. Bangasser and Henry Hitchler; 1869, Conrad Baer and Henry Schermer; 1870 and '71, C. Baer and Conrad Branner ; 1872, Alfred Lyth and Henry Schermer ; 1873 and '74, A. Lyth and G. Baer ; 1875, G. Baer and M. L. Luke; 1876, G. Baer and Peter Branner. Eighth ward, 1866, Michael Carroll and Samuel M. Baker ; 1867, Geo. Web- er and Michael Keenan; 1868, M. Keenan and Geo. Gates; 1869, Wm. Fitzgerald and Henry McQuade ; 1870, S. McQuade and Daniel Cruice ; 1871, B. R. Cole and Robert Wheelan; 1872, Fred. Rig- ger and Thomas Canfield ; 1873, John Manning and Henry Brinkman ; 1874, Edw. Lyon and J. K. Wolf; 1875, Timothy Sweeney and John Pfeil ; 1876, Timothy Lyons and Jas. E. Nunan. £ Ninth ward, 1866, Geo. Colt and Elias Green ; 1867, A. J. Buckland and D. G. Jackson ;
509
THE LIST CONTINUED.
1868, A. J. Buckland and T. W. Toye; 1869, T. W. Toye and E. Green : 1870, E. Green and D. W. Burt ; 1871, E. Green and Silas Kingsley ; 1872, D. W. Burt and T. W. Toye; 1873, T. W. Toye and E. Green ; 1874 and '75, E. D. Berry and W. R. Crumb ; 1876, E. D. Berry and Fred. Busch. Tenth ward, 1866, C. E. Young and J. L. Fair- child ; 1867, J. L. Fairchild and P. B. Williams ; 1868, S. C. Adams and A. J. Davis ; 1869, '70 and '72, C. E. Young and Philip Miller; 1871, C.E. Young and S. M. Robinson ; 1873, J. A. Gittere and L. P. Beyer ; 1874, L. P. Beyer and C. E. Young ; 1875 and '76, L. P. Beyer and A. B. Tan- ner. Eleventh ward, 1866, Wm. Richardson and P. A. Balcom ; 1867, P. A. Balcom and James Sheldon ; 1868 and '69, P. A. Balcom and Dick- inson Gazley ; 1870, P. A. Balcom and H. O. Cowing ; 1871, A. McLeish and Leonard Hinkley ; 1872, A. McLeish and Thomas Thompson ; 1873, '74 and '75. Thomas Prowett and Christopher Smith ; 1876, T. Prowett and D. Gazley. Twelfth ward, 1866, Robt. Ambrose and J. A. Chase ; 1867, G. J. Woelfley and Samuel Eley ; 1868, G. J. Woelfley and H. Mochel ; 1869, E. R. Jewett and F. Haehn ; 1870, Frank Forness and Jacob Smith; 1871, J. Smith and J. Cantillon ; 1872, J. Cantillon and Washington Russell ; 1873, James Delaney and John Abel; 1874, J. Delaney and W. Russell; 1875, Leonard Eley and J. S. Estel ; 1876, L. Eley and Peter Glor. Thirteenth ward, 1866, T. M. Gibbon ; 1867, George Orr ; 1868, Frank Puetz ; 1869 and '70, Wm. Graham ; 1871, Wm. Shannon ; 1872 and '73, J. J. Coates ; 1874, '75 and '76, Edward Corriston.
Cheektowaga, 1866, '67, '68, '69, '70, '71, '72, '73, and '75, E. Selden Ely ; 1874, Joseph Duringer; 1876, Pennock Winspear. Clarence, 1866, '67, '68, '69, '70, '71, and '72, Jacob Eschelman ; 1873, L. G. Wiltse ; 1874, J. O. Magoffin ; 1875 and '76, John Krauss. Colden, 1866, '67, '68, '69, '71 and '72, G. W. Nichols; 1870, Stephen Church- ill ; 1873; Chas. Day ; 1874 and '75, D. T. Francis ; 1876, R. E. Bowen. Collins, 1866 and '67, J. H. Plumb ; 1868, '69 and '70, S. T. White ; 1871 and '73, S. A. Sisson ; 1872, Z. A. Bartlett ; 1874 and '75, J. H. White; 1876, W. A. Johnson. Concord, 1866,'68 and '73, C. C. Severance; 1867 and '69, A. M. Stanbro ; 1870 and '71, Bertrand Chaffee ; 1872, Frank Chase ; 1874 and '75, Erasmus Briggs ; 1876, Henry Blackmar. East Hamburg, 1866, Benjamin Baker ; 1867, Christopher Hambleton ; 1868 and '70, Allen Potter ; 1869, N. B. Sprague ; 1871, '72, '73, '74 and '76, F. M. Thorne; 1875, A. Freeman. Eden, 1866, '67 and '72, N. Welch; 1868, D. Schweichert; 1869, C. S. Rathbun; 1870 and '71, F. Keller ; 1873, L. D. Wood ; 1874, '75 and '76, J. H. Lord. Elma, 1866, P. B. Lathrop ; 1867, '68, '71, '72 and '73, A. Marvel ; 1869 and '70, H. Harris; 1874, '75 and '76, WV. Winspear. Evans, 1866, '67, '69, '70 and '75, E. Z. Southwick ; 1868, J. Southwick ; 1871, '72, '73, '74 and '76, D. C. Oatman. Grand Island, 1866, J. Nice ; 1867, '68, '69 and '74, H. B. Ransom ; 1870, Levant Ransom ; 1871 and '72, J. H. W. Staley ; 1873, Sutlief Staley ; 1875, C. Spohr; 1876, contested. Hamburg, 1866, '67, '72 and '73, George Pierce ; 1868, '69, '70, '71 and.'72, Robert C. Titus ; 1874, '75 and '76, H. W. White. Holland, 1866, '67, '68, '69, '70, '71 and '73, J. O. Riley ; 1872, Perry Dickerman ; 1874 and '75, C. A. Orr; 1876, Homer Morey. Lancaster, 1866, F. H. James ;
510
THE GERMAN ELEMENT.
1867. '68, '69, '70, '71, '72, '73, '74, '75 and '76, N. B. Gatchell. Ma- rilla, 1866, H. T. Foster ; 1867, '68 and '69, Benjamin Fones ; 1870, Whitford Harrington ; 1871 and '72, Henry Harrington ; 1873. R. H. Miller ; 1874, '75 and '76. R. D. Smith. Newstead, 1866, '67, '68, '69, '70, '71 and '72, Marcus Lusk ; 1873 and '76, W. T. McGoffin ; 1874. D. B. Howe ; 1875, H. H. Newton. North Collins, 1866, Thos. Rus- sell : 1867 and '68, Daniel Allen ; 1869, '70 and '71, E. W. Godfrey ; 1872, '73 and '74. M. Hunter: 1875, C. C. Kirby ; 1876, James Mat- thews. Sardinia, 1866 and '67. Geo. Bigelow; 1868 and '69, Welcome Andrews: 1870. G. C. Martin ; 1871 and '72, Roderick Simons ; 1873 and '74, Geo. Andrews ; 1875 and '76, Addison Wheelock. Tona- wanda, 1866, '67, '72 and '73, Fred. Knothe; 1868 and '69, S. G. Johnson ; 1870, B. H. Long; 1871, C. Schwinger : 1874, Wm. Kibler : 1875. J. H. De Graff; 1876, Philip Wendell. Wales, 1866, '67, '68 and '69. Alonzo Havens; 1870, Turner Fuller : 1871, Edward Leigh ; 1872, '73, 74. '75 and '76, C. N. Brayton. West Seneca, 1866, C. J. James : 1867. '68, '69 and '70. A. P. Pierce ; 1871, '72 and '73, Nelson Reed ; 1874, '75 and '76, Victor Irr.
Whoever even glances over the foregoing list, and over the similar ones for the last thirty years, cannot but notice the steady growth of German names. To-day the people of that nationality, including the children of the original emigrants, constitute more than a third of the people of the county. In the city of Buffalo they are estimated at sixty thousand ; be- sides which they form nearly the whole population of West Seneca and Cheektowaga, and a large part of that of Tona- wanda, Amherst, Lancaster, Alden, Elma, Marilla, Hamburg, Eden, Boston and North Collins-to say nothing of numerous individual residents of other towns, or of the descendants of the " Pennsylvania" Germans, who are numerous in Amherst, Clar- ence and Newstead. Many of those thus classed, however, were born in America, speak the English language, and differ but lit- tle from their American neighbors. The Germans, generally, are about equally divided between Catholics and Protestants.
In Buffalo, numerous institutions peculiar to themselves are supported entirely by the Germans. The earliest of these soci- eties, and in a certain sense the parent of the others, is the German Young Men's Association, organized in 1841. It is es- pecially devoted to literary culture, which it subserves by a well- selected library of over five thousand volumes, in German, by lectures during the winter season, and other similar means. The German musical societies are, of course, numerous, the Lie- dertafel, the Orpheus society, and the Saengerbund being the
5II
NEWSPAPERS, ETC.
principal. The latter devotes itself particularly to operas, of which it has produced a large number, in a highly creditable manner. It has fifty or sixty active members, and several hun- dred passive, or contributing members, besides honorary ones. The Liedertafel and Orpheus have the same general object of musical culture, but I did not receive the memoranda I expected in regard to them. The Buffalo Turnverein, a gymnastic society numbering hundreds of members, is also a peculiar German in- stitution, and, with its affiliated societies throughout the country, exercises a strong influence in German circles.
No less than four German daily newspapers are published in Buffalo. Besides the "Demokrat," the establishment of which has been noted, the " Volksfreund " (People's Friend) was estab- lished in 1868, and the Freie Presse (Free Press) still carlier. It must be that these are pretty well supported, for a year or two ago still another was added to the list in the " Republikaner " (Republican). There are also three German weeklies, the Au- rora, the Tribune and the Herald. It is evident that there is a very large body of reading Germans.
In addition to the English papers before mentioned, the Buf- falo Catholic Sentinel, now called the Catholic Union, began its existence in 1853; Buffalo supports two Sunday papers, the News and the Leader ; the Niagara River Pilot was established at Tonawanda in the year 1853, by S. O. Hayward, who now publishes the Lake Shore Enterprise in that village ; the Erie County Advertiser was founded at Aurora, in 1872; and the Hamburg Independent at Hamburg, in 1875. The Tonawanda Herald and the Gowanda Gazette are published just outside the limits of the county. The only English literary periodical in the county is The Globe, a magazine of three years standing, devot- ed to the cause of culture and taste.
The immense number of societies of various kinds-Masons, Odd-fellows, Good Templars, Druids, Harugari, etc., etc .- to be found in the county, and especially in the city, forbids any at- tempt at a detailed account of them. The same reason prevents a description of the two hundred churches within our limits.
Before closing, I would remedy an omission in the list of Erie county congressmen by stating that in 1844 and 1846 Wm. A. Moseley and N. K. Hall were elected to that office.
512
SCIENCE ON THE HUNTING-GROUND.
The census of 1875 shows a population in the county of Erie, of 199,570, of whom 134,573 reside in the city of Buffalo. That city which, even forty years ago, was altogether subordi- nate to the county at large, now contains two thirds of the pop- ulation, and exercises an even greater influence.
Seven years ago a law was passed providing for the formation of a great Buffalo Park, and one of four hundred and fifty acres ' has been purchased. It is only partially improved, but bids fair · to be one of the most beautiful resorts in the country. In archi- tecture, as I have said, Buffalo has never been prominent. . , A. building has, however, been erected within the past few years, and ... is just completed and occupied, which is rightly regarded as an or- nament to the city. This is the County and City Hall, which takes the place of the "city buildings," the "old court-house" built in 1816, and the new one erected in 1850.
Among its numerous rooms the most spacious and elegant is the council chamber, which from the third story looks out up- on Lake Erie. And there, just as the last types of this history are falling into place, occurs a meeting, marking in the strongest manner the progress of three fourths of a century. Where, with- in the memory of living men, the Indian chased the wolf, where the still-surviving William Peacock first marked in the forest the streets of the future city, come the profoundest minds of the country, and even of foreign lands, to discuss the weightiest of terrestrial questions, and perchance to advance theories which, when the city they meet in was founded, would have incurred only anathemas or derision. The American Association for the Advancement of Science occupies the Iroquois hunting-ground of seventy-five years ago.
TRY
OF
LIBR IRY
SS 180107
1 IBR /RY' ARY OF
FILR IRY
1111 CONGRESS OF CONGRESS 8 R
1. IBR ARY
01
LIBRARY
10
-
CONGRESS
CONGRESS
TH. IH.T.
THE
IFI.I.
.
FIBR.IRY
R LIBR.IRY CONGRESS SSZYDLO1 WIBR IRY 1.
1.IRRIRY
CONGRESS THE CONGRESS 1 2.11
. HIR IRY
CONGRESS 1 11
LIBRARY
. H/
R
R
1
1111.
1
THE
KIRY
Of
R
THE
10
THE
1
F
CONGRESS
01 CONGRESS TIH
1 CPR IRY
IBR IRY !
ILK TRY
F
1
LIBR IRY
RY
10
B
R
AMI .
KONGRESS
CONGRESS
OAGRESS OF CONGRESS
3
OF CONGRESS
F
1 IBR TRY
THIKIRY
LIBA IRY
()!
1 b
1.IPR IRY
R
LIBR IRY
LILR.IRY LIBRARY OF (0.1GR
TILKIRY
/.
. 1RY 10
11
10
R
THI
8 R 1
R LIBRIRY CONGRESS
CONGRESS
10 LIBR IRY P CIBR ARY
CONGRESS THE
OF CONGRESS OF CONGRESS
ONGKISS
LIRE TRY
LIBA IRY
OF
T'IL
P
400
R
THE. 1 IPR ARY LIBRIRY OF CONGRESS TIEK IRY
BRA OF CONGRESS
LIBR.IRY
RI
TOANGRI.S
'TH.
( OMGRENG
LIBR IRY 01 CONGEF.
11 1
1 IPR IRY
THE
THI
I IBA IRY
IRY
1 H
I TRY
R R THE LIBRARY
CONGRESS
TRY OF CONGRESS
11010) 40 IFBR.IRY
ONCREES THE LITRIRY
1.11 A VKY
3
RY
LIBR IRY
LONGKESS
((AGRESS THE
-1
X I IbP TRY
(ONGRIAS
LIBR IRY
11 LIBRARY I IBR IRY
LIBRIRY
1
THI
LIBR 4RY
1
OF
CONGRESS
1
LIBRARY
7
R
LIBR IRY
LIPR IRY
OF CONGRESS THE
A 01 { R. d IJIR IRY
( AGRESS
K
1
k 111h
I IERIRY
OF 1.IBK IRY
1001 LIPR TRY
THE CONGR
19910)
LIBR IRY SS .1/91(.)
I IBR.IRY
CONGRISS LIBRARY
OF
71,
| ILRIRY
I IBR IRY
CONGRISS CONGRESS
HI F
IH ..
CONGRESS
A RK LIBR IRY 10
H
1
R
1113. CCAGRIES THI LIBRARY
LITR FRY
CONGRESS THI
CONGRESS
/ 1.IPR IRY
OF CONGRI
LIER IRY
CONGRISS THI
111 I IPR IRY
KONGRESS
1 LIBR IRY
LIBR.IRY OF CONGRESS TIL.
OY( RESS
( CAGRESS
01
LIARIRY
CONGRL.
R
HIIRIRY OF
V
F
IHJ.
CONGRESS
( OVGAI .
OT COVGPESS CONGRESS
YBR IRY
4
A
IPRIRY 11 VORESS TUR THI
1 IBR JRY OF
LIBR IRY FIBR ARY
TIPKIRY
YBR IKY ,07 10
ER IRY
LIBR IRY
01
.
TILR JRY () 1-
| ILRARY
()1
) )
CONGRESS
CONGRESS
11'
LIBRARY
THE
CONGRESS
OF CONGRESS
8910) 10
1.1.1
-
0
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 0 014 223 146 3
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.