USA > New York > Comley's history of the state of New York, embracing a general review of her agricultural and mineralogical resources, her manufacturing industries, trade and commerce, together with a description of her great metropolis, from its settlement by the Dutch, in 1609 > Part 20
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Ganson, John, was born in Le Roy, Genesee County, N. Y., January Ist, 1819, and was of Dutch and Scotch descent.
At the age of two, he lost his father, thus being left entirely to the care of his mother
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How well she discharged her duties, the ca- reer of the lamented son bears witness. His early education was looked after by her, and in 1838, at the age of nineteen, he was a graduate of Harvard University, and soon after commenced the study of law in the office of the distinguished firm of Sibley & Worden, of Canandaigua, and was admitted to the bar in 1842.
He was married to the daughter of M. H. Sibley, who still survives him.
He continued the practice of law in the office in which he had prosecuted his studies till 1846, in which year he came to Buffalo, where he resided till the time of his death. Immediately on arriving here, he went into partnership with E. G. Spaulding, with whom he remained associated about three years. From that time till January Ist, 1862, he practised liis profession alone, when he formed a copartnership with James M. Smith, which continued till June, 1873, when Judge Smith was called to the bench. His last partner- ship was with E. R. Bacon, Esq.
In 1862, Mr. Ganson was elected to the State Senate. In 1863, he was elected to Congress, and refused the nomination for a second term. In 1873, he was again elected to the State Senate, and was a member of the same at the time of his death, which occurred the 28th of September, 1874.
He was a man of magnificent physique and noble bearing, a nobleman of nature, and a kindly, courteous gentleman always. And the loss of no one has been more severely felt through the whole community of this city for many years than that of John Ganson.
Gardner, Hon. Hiram .-- This eminent and distinguished jurist was born in Dutchess County, N. Y., February 9th, 1800. His parents were farmers of excellent character
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and intelligence, belonging to the society of Friends. While they felt a deep interest in the welfare of their son, and watched his early years with the utmost care, yet they un- fortunately could afford him but little finan- cial help in the pursuit of his studies. Con- sequently, thrown upon his own resources from the beginning to the end of his noble career, he was self-made. After pursuing an academical course as far as circumstances would permit, he entered himself as a student of law, and studied for about two years, when he removed to New York, and finished the course. In 1821, he was admitted to the bar, and a year later commenced practice in the Supreme Court. In October (1822), he moved to Lockport, N. Y., where he resided till his death, which occurred March 13th, 1874. In 1823, he was ap- pointed to the office of Justice of the Peace ; in 1825, Associate Judge of the Court of Common Pleas; in 1827, Supreme Court Commissioner, and was admitted as a Master in Chancery. In 1831, he was appointed Surrogate, which office he resigned in 1836, that he might represent his district in the State Legislature, to which position he had already been elected. In 18.45, he was elect- ed a member of the Constitutional Conven- tion which revised the second and framed the third State Constitution. In 1847, be was elected County Judge and Surrogate under the constitution he helped to frame. In 1858, he was elected Canal Commissioner. In the fall of 1868, he was appointed to the office of County Judge, to supply a vacancy, and in the following November (1869), he was elected to the same position for the term of four years.
In enumerating these facts, the reader may realize how large a portion of his professional life was employed in the execution of duties
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connected with public trusts, and how con- stantly and entirely he was confided in by his fellow-citizens. His conspicuous ability and talent were uniformly and successfully direct- ed to the elevation of the judicial office and of the legal profession. He was not a politician, but never shrank from what he considered his duty as an American citizen. His ideas of political purity, integrity, and honor were of the most elevated character, and though twenty-five of the fifty years spent as a prac- titioner he held public office, we can consci- entiously say he never sought, by word, act, or deed, any favors of this character.
In December, 1873. the members of the bar of Niagara County held a meeting for the pur- pose of taking suitable action in reference to the final retirement of Hon. Hiram Gardner from the bench. Appropriate resolutions were adopted, and upon retiring they proceed- ed in a body to his residence, and were re- ceived by the judge in a most cordial man- ner. After a brief pause, the chairman of the meeting arose, and in a few touching remarks presented an engrossed copy of the same to the judge, who replied with deep emotion, thanking them for such a testimonial of con- fidence and esteem. The affair throughout was one which will linger long in the memory of those present. Few men ever retired from public life with so honorable and satisfactory a record as Judge Gardner. The ermine dropped from his shoulders as spotless as when its folds first graced the wearer.
In his family his influence was delightful and all-pervading. In the church of God he was an ornament and a pillar of strength, re- flecting in his life the beauty and power of Christianity. He was untiring in his labors for the welfare of the place where he resided, an ardent lover of his country, and did what he could for the elevation and purifica-
tion of humanity in its largest and most ex- tended sense.
"He towered above his fellow-men as a majestic tree
In some primeval forest rears its topmost branches free ;
Raised up of God in kingly strength above the storm and strife,
A landmark to the race, a type of Christian life"
Greeley, Horace, was born in Am- herst, N. H., February 3d, ISII. His fa- ther was a farmer in humble circumstances, and while yet a child Horace took an active part in the labor of the farm. It was his task to ride the horses to plough, to assist in the spring planting, to pick up stones from the field, and in the frosty autumn mornings to watch the oxen as they fed on the grass beside the corn-field before they were yoked up for their day's work. At an early age he gave tokens of remarkable intelligence and a singular love of learning. He could read before he was two years old, and had scarcely reached the age of ten before he had de- voured every book that he could borrow within seven miles of his father's house.
His third winter was spent at the house of his maternal grandfather in Londonderry, where he attended a district-school for the first time. He at once attracted notice by the excellence of his recitations, and espe- cially by his skill in spelling. When he was about ten years old, his father removed with the family to West Haven, Vt., where for about five years he was assisted by Horace in clearing up wild land and other severe man- ual labor. At the end of that time, in the spring of 1826, he became an apprentice to the printer of a weekly newspaper in East Poultney, Vt. This was a position which he had long coveted, having early set his heart on following the trade of Benjamin Franklin.
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He soon learned the art of setting type, and even before the first week was over, his skill was superior to that of many an apprentice who had been in practice a month. After remaining in this situation about four years, he had become master of the trade, and ren- dered valuable assistance in conducting the newspaper. In June, 1830, the paper was discontinued, and young Greeley, after spend- ing a few weeks with his parents, who had removed to Erie Co., Pa., obtained employ- ment in some of the printing-offices in that vicinity. The work was hard and the pay poor, and he at length made up his mind to seek his fortune in New York. He arrived in that city on August 17th, 1831, with only ten dollars in his pocket, and a scanty stock of clothing in his bundle. After much diffi- culty, he found employment as a journeyman printer. In this capacity he worked in sev- eral different offices until January Ist, 1833, when he entered into partnership with Fran- cis Story, and commenced the publication of the Morning Post, the first daily penny paper ever printed. The enterprise was unsuccess- ful, and the paper failed in about three weeks. The partnership, however, went on in the job-printing business until July, when it was dissolved by the sudden death of Mr. Story. His place was supplied by Mr. Jonas Win- chester, and on March 22d, 1834, the new firm issued the first number of the New Yorker, a weekly journal devoted to litera- ture, politics, and news. This was edited almost exclusively by Mr. Greeley, and pub- lished under his immediate supervision. It was considered at that time the best news- paper of its kind ever attempted in this country. In spite of its high character, it never gained financial success, and Mr. Gree- ley was obliged to engage his labors. He supplied the Daily Whig with its leading
articles for some months, and in 1838 under- took the editorial charge of the Jeffersonian, a political weekly newspaper, devoted to the interests of the Whig party, and published in the city of Albany. This journal, according to its original plan, continued in existence but one year, and in May, 1840, Mr. Greeley devoted himself to the editorship of the Log Cabin, a campaign journal established in the interest of Gen. W. H. Harrison, the Whig candidate for the presidency. It obtained a large circulation, but in the autumn of 1841, was merged, together with the, New Yorker, in the Tribune, with which Mr. Greeley's name is completely identified, and for which his previous newspaper enterprises had served as a preparation.
The first number of this celebrated journal was issued on April 10th, 1841. It was a small sheet, retailing for one cent, with no presses, no capital, and with only 500 subscribers. For the first week, the expenses exceeded the income, but in the course of six months it was established on a sound financial basis, when Mr. Thomas McElrath became a part- ner and undertook the sole charge of the business of publication, leaving Mr. Greeley the exclusive care of the editorial department. In 1848, Mr. Greeley was elected to fill a vacancy as a member of the House of Repre- sentatives in the National Congress, and served in that body from December ist of that year to March 4th, 1849. He took an active part against the abuses of the mileage system and in favor of the establishment of homesteads in the public lands. In 1851, he visited Europe and served as one of the jurors of the World's Fair in the Crystal Palace in London. He also appeared before the par- liamentary committee on newspaper taxes, and gave full and important details concern- ing the newspaper press of this country. His
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letters during his absence are among his most interesting productions. In 1855, he made a second visit to Europe, chiefly for the pur- pose of attending the French Exhibition, re- maining abroad about three months. In 1859, he made a journey across the plains to Cali- fornia, and was honored with a public recep- tion at Sacramento and San Francisco. After having exerted himself for the prevention of civil war between the South and the North, at the National Republican Convention which met in Chicago in May, 1860, he took a de- cided stand in favor of its vigorous prosecution subsequent to the actual commencement of hostilities. In 1864, he made an attempt at reconciliation on a plan of adjustment pro- posed to President Lincoln, which proved un- successful. In the same year, Mr. Greeley was a presidential elector for the State of New York, and a delegate to the Loyalist Conven- tion at Philadelphia. Upon the close of the war in the spring of 1865, Mr. Greeley be- came a strenuous advocate for complete pa- cification based on the conditions of impartial suffrage and universal amnesty. In pursuance of this end, he consented to be one of the bondsmen for Mr. Jefferson Davis, the late President of the Confederacy, who was im- prisoned by the Federal Government on the charge of treason. In 1867, Mr. Greeley was a delegate to the New York State Convention for the revision of the Constitution, and in 1869 was brought forward as a candidate for the office of State Comptroller, but was de- feated in the canvass. In 1870, he stood for Congress as a candidate for the Sixth New York district, and was again defeated, though receiving an exceptionally large number of votes. The Liberal Convention for the nomi- nation of a candidate for the presidency, which met in Cincinnati on May Ist, 1872, after the fifth ballot, gave a majority of votes
for Mr. Greeley. He accepted the nomina- tion, and in the month of July following was nominated for the same office by the Demo- cratic Convention at Baltimore. He was thus presented to the country as the candidate of two great parties for the highest office in the government, and an impassioned contest en- sued; and he lost the election by a large ma- jority. During the canvass, Mr. Greeley performed an incredible amount of mental and physical labor. He constantly spoke, and in all parts of the country, to numerous and eager audiences, frankly discussing the great questions at issue, and expressing his conviction with equal boldness and candor. His strong constitution at length became im- paired by excessive toil and intense excite- ment. The loss of his wife, who had been a hopeless invalid for many years, and upon whose death-bed he attended during the last week of the canvass, served to complete the fatal work. He was attacked with inflamma- tion of the brain, and sinking under the dis- ease, died on November 29th, at the residence of his physician, two or three miles from his own country-home at Chappaqua.
In addition to his labors as a journalist and public speaker, Mr. Greeley was the author of several works, the principal of which are the following: " Hints towards Reforms" (1850); " Glances at Europe " (1851) ; " His- tory of the Struggle for Slavery Extension" (1856) ; "Overland Journey to San Fran- cisco" (1860) ; "The American Conflict " (1864) ; "Recollections of a Busy Life" (1869). Mr. Greeley was also the writer of the sketch of Henry Clay and of other articles in the New American Cyclopedia, and of the Confederate States, and several other valuable papers in "Johnson's Cyclopædia," of which he was one of the original editors. The life of Mr. Greeley has been written by
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James Parton (Boston, 1855; reviewed, 1868), ! and honor in all the relations of life which will prove his enduring monument.
and a memorial volume was issued by the Tribune Association in 1873. (George Ripley.)
Green, Robert, was born in London- derry, Ireland, May 12th. 1821. His parents removed with him to Canada in his infancy and remained there three years. They then removed to Troy, N. Y., where he received a common-school education. At the age of twelve, he commenced to earn his own living at the trade of cabinet-making. At twenty- three, with a capital of not more than $100, saved from his wages and over-work, he com- menced business for himself in a small way. At first only a dealer in chairs, he enlarged his busi- ncss by degrees to include general furniture and cabinet-making. In 1851, his place of business was burned with a loss that exceeded his insurance. He suffered loss by fire on two other occasions and in the great fire of 1862, lost store, factory, and home. Notwithstand- ing these repeated and severe discourage- ments, he continued business with great cour- age and energy. While his store was rebuilding, he occupied a small store on Congress street, and subsequently bought the premises on River street, still occupied by his business. In 1863, he built his fine residence, No. 72 Fifth street, where his family still reside.
His death occurred in February, 1877. Those who live to lament him may well find comfort and satisfaction in the memory of his manly, worthy, and blameless life, and the patient fortitude and resolution with which he met and overcame checks and hardships before which a weaker nature would have lost heart and given way.
The charities of Mr. Green were as large as they were unostentatious. He had a kind heart, a liberal hand, and a genial temper. and has left behind him a name for excellence
Greene, W. K., was born at Woodstock, Ct., July 18th, 1816. He removed to Hagaman's Mills in 1838, and commenced the manufacture of carpets. In 1841, he moved to Amsterdam, where he continued the same business until 1847. He then went to Astoria, Long Island, where for one year he had charge of Higgins's carpet-mills. In 1848, he moved to Schenectady, where he also re- mained one year, having charge of a carpet- mill owned by a stock company of which he was a member. In 1849, he sold out his in- terest there, and returned to Amsterdam, where he continued to reside until his death. On his return there, he again embarked in the manu- facture of carpets, and carried on the same successfully until the year 1860, when he sold his carpet looms and machinery, and instead put in knitting machinery for the manufacture of knit wrappers, drawers, and jackets. He continued in this branch of manufacture until his death, at which time he was running 13 sets of cards and employing some 300 hands He was always a successful business man, and amassed a large fortune. In July, 1869, he went to Europe, hoping to regain his health, which had become seriously impaired. His family consulted the best of foreign physicians. but they were unable to do any thing for him, and he finally died at Rome, Italy, Jan. 23d, 1870, in the 54th year of his age. His re- mains were embalmed and brought to his home in Amsterdam,and now rest there among his kindred in the beautiful Green Hill Ceme- tery. His virtues were many. Few personal pleas for help fell upon his ear unheard or unanswered. He dispensed his charities with liberality while living, and without ostentation. His position in life and his fortune were of his
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own creation. By untiring industry, strict economy, and close attention to business, he attained reputation and social position, which will live as a monument to his proud char- acter.
Haberstro, Joseph Lambert .- Who- ever achieves fortune and social position by his own efforts, and preserves at the same time an unblemished reputation, is a credit to any community, and is a safe example and guide to succeeding generations. The subject of this sketch was born in Buffalo, on the 27th of July, 1831. His parents, Joseph and Catha- rine M. Haberstro, were natives of Alsace, and came to this country in 1828. His fath- er was a gunsmith by trade, and followed this occupation in Buffalo till 1845, when he commenced merchandising, which he carried on successfully for many years, and died much respected in 1862, his wife surviving him twelve years.
Joseph Lambert Haberstro received only a common-school education, and at the age of thirteen left his studies to learn his father's trade, continuing at the same till 1847, when he joined his father in the mercantile business, following the same till I859. At the age of twenty-two, in 1853, and while in mer- chandising, Mr. Haberstro was married to Miss Barbara Scheu, daughter of Philip Scheu, by whom he has had ten children. In 1859. Mr. Haberstro commenced the business of brewer and maltster, which he still follows. The business career of Mr. Habeistro in this city has been a most successful one. His bus- iness talents, industry, and energy, which have never wavered from the proper direction. would have made him partially successful in any place ; but in Buffalo, where there was such an ample field for their development, Mr. Haberstro has reached a position in the
business workl which must satisfy all his as- pirations, and in said career he has made many friends, the result of successful enterprise and exalted merit. In 1864, he was elected to his first political office, that of alderman; and in 1866 was re-elected, thus serving four years in that capacity. During the second term of his service, he was president of the council, and was also acting mayor of the city. How well he filled these positions, was best acknowledged by the fact that, in 1867, he was elected City Treasurer, and, in reward for his faithful ser- vices, was again elected in 1869, thus having the honor of being the first gentleman who held the office for four years since Buffalo became a city. This did not end his official career and usefulness, for his name was a tower of strength to his party in the election of 1876; and at that time he was cho- sen sheriff, which position he now holds, and his devotion to his official trusts has won for him the general respect of the community in which he lives.
No man occupies a more enviable position in the community of which he is a member, nor more clearly exemplifies the legitimate result of well-directed energy, industry, and thoroughness of purpose.
Agan, Patrick H .- The subject of this sketch was born at Watertown, N. Y., in the year 1817. In 1826, both his parents died, leaving a large family of children with- out adequate means of support. The house- hold was consequently broken up and scatter- ed-Patrick finding a refuge and home in a good fantily a few miles distant. Here he re- mained seven years, attending a country school in winter for three years, and a village school the remaining four winters. His studies were confined to the rudimentary branches. At sixteen, he was offered a clerkship in a store
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at Liverpool, Onondaga County, and gladly accepted the situation. In 1836, he went to Detroit, Mich., intending to remain there, but returned in 1837. Soon afterward he en- gaged in trade in a small way, and continued in business for six years. In 1846, he pur- chased a half interest in the Onondaga Standard, and then moved to Syracuse. This paper remained under his editorial management for more than twenty years. In 1850, the Syracuse Daily Standard was estab- lished, under his management also. In 1856, he sold his interest in these two papers, but continued his editorial work ten years longer. During these twenty years, the slavery ques- tion became the paramount issue in our pol- itics. Although the Standard was the Demo- cratic " organ " of the county, Mr. Agan ear- nestly advocated the adoption of the " Wil- mot Proviso," opposing the election of General Cass in 1848, by reason of the party's hostil- ity to that measure. For the same reason he refused to support Mr. Buchanan in 1856. In 1860-64, he favored Mr. Lincoln's election to the presidency. Mr. Agan was always
' from editorial life. In 1855, Mr. Agan was nominated on the Democratic ticket for the office of Inspector of State Prisons, but was de- feated with all his associates. In 1857, he was elected County Treasurer, and served one term. In i861, he was appointed Postmaster at Syra- cuse, and served four years in that office. From IS50 to 1856, he was clerk of the Board of Supervisors of Onondaga County. Mr. Agan was the earliest advocate of the Syra- cuse Northern Railway enterprise, and devot- ed much time and labor in promoting its suc- cess, having been secretary of the company from the outset until after the road was com- pleted. Ile was also the first to suggest the conversion of the Adirondack wilderness into a State Park-a measure that has received the public sanction. and although still delayed in its consummation, is in a fair way of ultimate accomplishment.
Hardin, George A .- This distinguish- ed jurist. the son of Col. Joseph and Amanda Backus Hardin, was born August 17th, 1832, "in the town of Winfield, Herkimer County, the foe of legislative subsidies and of govern- | N. Y. He received a preparatory education at Cazenovia and Whitestone seminaries before entering Union College, from which place he graduated with honors in 1852. He completed his law studies with J. N. Lake and the late Judge Nolton, pre-eminent in that part of the State for their great learning in the law, of which they gave their student the benefit, : inspiring him with i portion of their zeal for the profession. He was admitted to the bar at Watertown, N. Y., July 4th, 1854, and soon after formed a law partnership with Judge Nolton. Filled with honorable emulation and a fair field before him, it was not long before he became known as a rising man in his profession. Fortunately he received all 1
mental aid to internal improvements. He also earnestly advocated free-trade doctrines, believing "Protection" to be grounded in selfishness and a device for robbery. In State affairs he was for confining legislation to general objects and within constitutional lim- itations, favoring the repeal of the usury and inspection laws, and opposing all attempts to enforce morality through legal restraints and penalties. He likewise urged the sale of the Canals and their relinquishment by the State. as a measure of relief to the treasury, and as the only sure method of eradicating corruption in their management. In 1866, differing from the Republican party in its Southern policy. Mr. Agan withdrew from the Standard and ; the adventitious assistance of thorough train-
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