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 29
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The crisis was one well calculated to test a man's fidelity to principle. As a candidate for Congress at the then late election, Mr. Starbuck had fully discussed the questions at issue --- had pointed out the danger of the sit- uation, and had carnestly appealed to the people to stay the tide of sectional agitation which he believed so likely, if persevered in, to culminate in armed collision. The appeal had been contemptuously disregarded, and now the predicted results were upon us in all their fearful proportions. This calamity had been predicted -- the people had been warned against it --- the adversary had been deaf to
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the warning --- the crisis had been precipitated, and the new administration stood powerless before the storm they had evoked, and, treni- bling for their own safety, they appealed to their opponents to save them. To such an appeal, every thing short of patriotism and the most inflexible fidelity to principle might be expected to turn a deaf ear. The ready an- swer would be, " We told you so, you disre- garded our warning, now take care of your- selves." Had such been the answer, the Union of these States would now be a thing of the past, and the party then invoking aid would have been swept out of existence by the sword. Unfortunately, such was the an- swer of a few of our people, and, from this misguided and mistaken action of these few .persons, more evil has befallen the Deino- cratic party and the country, as he believes, than they will ever be able to repair.
Senator Starbuck was not one of these. Strong as was the temptation to leave his political adversaries to the fate they had invited, he saw that to do so was to con- sent to the dismemberment of the country, and to the erection of two rival and antago- nistic governments in our present territorial jurisdiction, to be in perpetual hostility to each other. To this he would never assent. Like the great body of right-thinking Democrats, he recognized the legality. of Mr. Lincoln's elec- tion, and recognized him as the only consti- tutional head of the government.
Steele, Oliver G .-- There are some men whose characters are so nobly planned by nature, and so plentifully adorned with those virtues which ennoble humanity, that it is a duty and a pleasure to write their biographies and hand them down to pos- terity for its benefit and instruction. The subject of this sketch was born in New
Haven, Ct., December 16th, 1So5, and i. the son of Oliver and Sarah Steele. One of the forefathers of Mr. Steele was the first secretary of the colony.
Mr. Steele received only a common- school education, and though his attendance was very regular, he left at the age of twelve, at which time he was sent to New York as a message boy in a store of a relative, where he remained over two years, when he re- turned home. At the age of fifteen he was apprenticed to the book-binding trade, which he finished at Norwalk, Ct.
Early in the spring of 1827, or when a lit- tle over twenty one years of age, he went to New York in search of employment. Find- ing times very dull, and no opportunity of engaging himself, and when about discour- aged with his misfortunes, he received an offer to come to Buffalo, then a small vil- lage (though the terminus of the Erie Canal, recently completed), where he arrived in May, 1827, engaging himself with a Mr. R. W. Haskins, with whom he remained about three years at a salary of $5 a week and his board.
In 1830, Mr. Steele went into business as bookseller and bookbinder. Soon after, in 1831, he was married to Miss Sarah E. Hull, granddaughter of Judge Zenas Barker, one of our carliest settlers of Buffalo. In 1837, Mr. Steele was called to the office of superintendent of city schools, which were then in a very low state. In the winter of 1837-8, he, in connection with Judge N. K. Hall, prepared the school law paper, con- tinuing in office three years, during which time the school system was thoroughly or- ganized, and which since that time has been very little changed. And to-day we may safely say the system is one of the most complete in the country. In 1841-2, Mr.
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G. was one of the city council, and was again elected in 1847.
In 1848, he became very much interested in the organization of the Buffalo Gas Light Co., became its secretary, and has been connected with it as director, manager, or officer ever since. He was an active mover in the organization of the Water Co., in 1852, and was its first secretary, holding the office for several years, and was one of its directors during its existence as a Company. Mr. Steele was one of the originators of the Buffalo Lyceum, and was one of its officers till the organization of the Y. M. Association, into which the old Lyceum was merged. For several years Mr. Steele was president of the old Mechanics' Society, and the first Mechanics' fairs were organized during his administration. He was also one of the originators of the Historical Society, and since its organization has been an officer, and was for some years its president, be- sides being the principal mover of the Nor- mal School, of which he is now the presi- dent.
By looking over old records, and convers- ing with many of this gentleman's associates, we find he has been an active mover in every thing that has been for the public good.
attainments, which are sound and substan- tial.
Steinway, Henry .- Mr. Henry Stein- way, founder of the well-known piano firm of Steinway & Sons, died at his residence February 7th, 1871. He was born in the Duchy of Brunswick, Germany, on the 15th of February 1797. An inherent talent for music, combined with positive inclination induced him in carly boyhood to make his own musical instruments, on which he played with marked predilection and taste. These were the cythera and the guitar. In a short time his efforts in the direction he had selected received a further impetus. He first learned cabinet-making at Gosiar, and there also worked in an organ factory. After having thoroughly studied the art of piano-making, he found it an independent business, and becoming dissatisfied with the narrow sphere of a German State, he came to America with his family in 1850, and settled in New York. Three years after, with the assistance of his four sons- Charles, Henry, William, and Albert -- Mr. Steinway founded the present firm. The commencement was made in a small rear building in Varick street, and the extent of the business did not average more than one piano per week. It is unnecessary to speak of the change which eighteen years have brought forth, and how the firm of Steinway & Sons grew to its present colos- sal proportions. Mr. Steinway was univer- sally respected, and a host of friends mourned has loss.
We also find he has been an officer in every literary society for public improve- ment, and we should think one in Mr. Stecle's position can look upon the past un- sullied career of his useful life with con- scious pride and satisfaction. In the com- munity in which he lives he enjoys the en- tire confidence of all who know him, re- gardless of party or condition, as one of the Stewart, A. T., was born near Belfast, Ireland, October 27th, 1802. Left an orphan purest of men, reliable in every respect, though modest and retiring, a man of great . at an early age, he was cared for by his ma-
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ternal grandfather. Distinguished himself at school, and was entered at Trinity Col- lege, Dublin, where he did not graduate. Upon the death of his grandfather, a distant relative --- a member of the Society of Friends -- became his guardian. He emigrated to New York about 1818, bringing with him a few hundred pounds, a small part of which he inherited, and for a time taught mathe- matics and the classics in a private school. Having invested his ready money in a small mercantile venture, he found himself unexpectedly left alone in the business with the rent of the shop on his hands, and forced to become a trader. Returning to Ireland, he sold his other property, invested the proceeds in Irish laces and similar goods, and in 1823 opened a small store on Broadway, and commenced the business which has since grown to be the most ex- tensive dry goods establishment in the world, with branches in England, France, Scotland, Ireland, and Germany, besides large manufactories of woolens, carpets, and hosiery in the United States, England, and Scotland, the whole employing about Sooo persons. In addition to this manu- facturing and mercantile business, he came to be a large holder and improver of real estate in New York and vicinity, Saratoga, and other places, and at the time of his death was reputed to be one of the three wealthiest men in the United States, the other two being John Jacob Astor, who had a few weeks before inherited the bulk of the great Astor estate, and Cornelius Van- derbilt, who acquired the greater part of his property in railway operations. Here- tained all through his life his early fondness for classical literature, and was a munificent patron of art in certain departments, his picture-gallery containing some of the finest
examples of modern art, while he had a lit- tle appreciation for the works of the old masters. Among his enterprises was the establishment of a town called Garden City, on Long Island, a few miles from Brooklyn. Here he purchased a tract of 10,000 acres, upon which he built more than one hun- dred dwellings, adapted for persons in moderate or comfortable circumstances, none of which were to be sold, but all of which would be rented, furnished, if de- sired, he himself defraying all the expenses of grading, lighting, and watering the streets, and building a railway to connect Garden City with Brooklyn. Some years before, he had commenced the erection of a large and costly building in New York designed as a home for working girls, and he had also made preparations for the erec- tion of a similar building for young work- ing men, each structure being designed to afford accommodation for 1500 inmates. He took no prominent part in public affairs, except that during the civil war he was an earnest upholder of the national govern- ment, and in 1869 accepted from President Grant the nomination as Secretary of the Treasury. The nomination was withdrawn, it being found that he was rendered legally inelligible for that position on account of his being engaged in the importation of for- eign merchandise. He was president of the honorary commission sent by the United States Government to the Paris Exposition of 1867. During the Irish famine of 1864, he chartered a vessel which he freighted with breadstuffs at his own expense, for gratuitous distribution among the sufferers, and brought back, free of charge, as many emigrants as the vessel would carry, stipu- lating that all should be of good character, and taking care that situations should be
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ready for them upon their arrival. He made considerable donations to the suffer- ers of the Chicago fire of 1871, and in the Franco-German War ; but apart from these, his benefactions, public or private, were not considerable, either during his life or by his will. Died in New York, April 10th, 18;6, leaving no children. By his will his entire estate, with the exception of certain lega- cies, was devised to his wife, who, with Henry J. Hilton, his confidential friend and legal adviser, and William Libbey, his sole surviving business partner, were appointed executors. To Mr. Hilton was left a lega- cy of Si,oco,ooo, and to several of his prin- cipal employés sums amounting in the ag- gregate to something more than $100,000, his wife also being requested in a codicil to make provision for others who had been long employed by him in such amounts as she could think proper She appropriated for this purpose a further sum of a little more than $200,000, making the entire amount of his legacies, exclusive of that to Mr. Hilton, about $1,325,000.
capital in a business susceptible of larger development, and concluded to start the manufacture of boots and shoes, in which he was engaged many years. In 1874, he gave up leather, and embarked in rubber, the commodity being the same-boots and shoes, which he still continues on a larger scale. He is also president of the Roches- ter Hydraulic Co., a large stock concern, owning much of the real estate and water power of the Genesee Falls. In 1849, Mr. Stewart was married to Miss Minerva Hildreth, of Tompkins County, by whom he had three children. One son only sur- vives, who is associated with his father in business. He was again married in 1859 to Miss Elizabeth M. Smith, of Fairfield, Herki- mer County, N. Y., by whom he has had four children ; two only survive.
James T. Stewart possesses all the frank- ness of manner, cordiality of feeling, hos- pitable disposition so characteristic of the true Scotchman. He necessarily has be- come popular in Rochester, and can num- ber as his friends many of the most influen- tial citizens.
Stewart, James T., was born at Dal- keith, near Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1824. Story, Albert G., was born at Cherry Valley, Otsego County, N. Y., October, 1813. Here he continued to live until 1833, receiving his early mental training in the village of his birth, and Union College. At the age of eighteen he was appointed teller of the Central Bank of Cherry Valley, which position he kept till his removal to Little Falls in 1833, where he accepted a similar position in the Herkimer County Bank. In 1835, he was appointed cashier, and in :866 became president of the insti- tution, a position he still occupies. He was married in 1835 to the only daughter He came to this country in 1837, and first settled in Tompkins County, New York, where he worked on the farms of his rela- tives for seven years, attending the common schools of the neighborhood each winter. While here he conceived the idea of being ambitious, and to satisfy his aspirations he started out alone for Rochester, with very little capital, which he put into the grocery business with a partner. At the end of two and a half years, Mr. Stewart bought his partner's interest, and continued the busi- ness alone for five years. This having proved successful, he determined to put his ; of Judge Morse, of Cherry Valley, by whom
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he has had five children, three of whom survive. During his whole life he has been a stirring practical business man, and his constitution being still vigorous and unen- feebled, and his fine intellect ripened by experience, he does honor to the official position he has so long held. Through life he has accomplished much, and now, dwelling in the affluence and honor gained by his industry and talents, he can look upon his past unsullied career with con- scious pride and satisfaction.
Squier, George L., was born in Lanes- boro, Berkshire County, Mass., May 29th, 1824. His great grandfather, lieutenant Andrew Squier, was one of the pioneers of Western Massachussetts, having moved from Connecticut to lanesboro in 1734.
Socrates Squier, the father of George L., was reared on the old homestead, and was for many years a prominent citizen of the town, holding many offices of trust and honor. George L. Squier, the subject of this sketch, received all the advantages of a New England education, and was gradu- ated at Williams College in 1845. After graduating, Mr. Squier entered upon the study of law, and was admitted to the bar at Springfield, Mass., in 1848. He prac- tised law in Holyoke for a short time, but · · his taste for mechanics soon drew him into manufacturing, and he became a member of the firm of Whittemore, Squier & Co., engaged in manufacturing agricultural im- plements, at Chicopee Falls, Mass. He re- mained in this connection until 1857, when he removed to Buffalo to take the position of president and manager of the Buffalo Agricultural Machine Works (a corporation engaged in the manufacture of agricultural
implements), which position he held during the existence of the company.
Mr. Squier then formed a partnership with his youngest brother, Henry, and com- menced the manufacture of plantation ma- chinery for tropical countries, in which business he is still engaged.
Mr. Squier is a member of the Lafayette Street Presbyterian Church, and has held the offices of trustee, elder, and superin- . tendent of the Sunday-school in that church.
In February, 1857, he was married to Frances C. Pierce, of Waverly, N. Y., and has had five children, of whom four sons are now living.
Tallman Charles, was born in Tully, Onondaga County, N. Y., in the year 1810. His parents, who were of Dutch and Dan- ish descent, emigrated to that section from New England in the early part of the pres- ent century. His father, Easton Tallinan, a man of unusual energy, died at the early age of thirty-eight years, leaving six chil- dren, Charles, next to the oldest, being but nine years of age.
The mother located upon a small farm, held her family together, and by strictest economy and industry reared them to man- hood and womanhood.
Charles, being of slender constitution, did not take kindly to the labors of the farm, and was early on the look-out for some other occupation. He confesses that the early advantages afforded by the district school near him, scanty at the best, were not well improved, but later realizing more fully his need, he did apply himself at the Homer Academy, running in debt for board and tuition, an obligation afterward discharged by means obtained by teaching a district-school.
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In 1833, he emigrated to Ohio, the " West" of those earlier days, but was unsuccessful in obtaining business, and soon returned to Tully.
After gaining some little experience in the store of his uncle, the late Jedediah Barber, of Homer, in 1837 he commenced his career as a merchant in the village of Vesper, in his native town, where he re- mained for nine years, demonstrating his ability to succeed, and gaining a respecta- ble financial standing. In the spring of 1846, he removed to Syracuse, a village at that time of about 11,000 inhabitants, and engaged in the drug trade with William H. Williams, under the firm name of Tallman & Williams.
From this time his activities were not confined to any one sphere, but he became identified with many interests of importance in Syracuse and elsewhere, among which was the business of distilling, the provision trade, extensive farming in the West, cattle growing and wool raising, the mining of coal, the handling of real estate, and more recently he has lent his experience and means to extensive wholesale trade in his own city, being at present senior partner in the firms of A. N. Palmer & Co., W. L. Ross & Co., and Tallman, Giddings & Co. His business has made him familiar with various sections of our country, and his natural de- sire for travel has taken him to nearly all parts of it, visiting the Pacific coast in 1875.
Being an interested observer, he has be- come conversant with the topography and resources of the United States. He is largely identified with the growth of his own city, to which he has contributed by the erection of buildings and warehouses, and by the employment of his means in home industries. He has had the satisfaction of
seeing it grow from 11,000 to nearly 60,000 inhabitants, and he may feel that he has done his part towards its material growth and prosperity. He has gained from his varied enterprises not only an ample for- tune, but experience and a correctness of judgment which commands the respect of his associates, and' makes his counsel valu- able to younger men. He has never sought or held political office.
He lives in the southern section of the city, in a valuable residence, surrounded by extensive grounds, to the improvement of which he devotes more of his leisure, as he feels less and less the necessity for the close application to business which has distinguished him, and when surrounded by his children and children's children, he enjoys the comforts of a busy life.
Tifft, George W., was born Jan. 31st, ISO5, in the town of Nassau, Rensselaer County, N. Y., and was the youngest son of a family of twelve, of John and Annie Valette Tifft, who migrated from Rhode Island some years before his birth.
Mr. Tifft spent most of his time on the farm with his mother till he was sixteen years old; the only schooling he received was about two months each year. At the age of sixteen, the farm was sold to his older brothers, and an arrangement was made by which he should work on it till he was of age, he to have three months' schooling and four dollars a year, and on becoming of age a yoke of oxen and a horse for his service ; but owing to a disagreement, he left at the end of one year and went to work for his brother David for ten dollars a month, where he remained only a short time; at the end of which time, he went to work with his bro- ther John. They together cleared some new
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land and divided the profits on the sale of the wood. At this he did well. When through, he went to New Lebanon, Columbia County, and attended school for four months At the age of eighteen, he returned to his former home, and bought a five-acre lot of timber and an axe, and went to work clear- ing, doing the work himself; the wood find- ing a ready market, he made quite a nice little sum. He afterward bought consider- able land for clearing; but instead of doing the work himself, he engaged laborers, he measuring and selling the wood. This lasted till between the age of twenty-one and twenty-two, when with $1ooo he had re- ceived from his father's estate, and $1200 he had saved, he went to Orleans County and bought a farm. After settling up the busi- ness part of this transaction, he returned to his former field of labor and resumed the wood-cutting business, and speculated con- siderably in lands. On the 14th of March, 1827, Mr. Tifft was espoused to Miss Lucy, daughter of Joseph and Thankful Enos. They have had seven children, three of whom are living. In 1830, Mr. Tifft closed up his affairs in Nassau, and went out to his farm in Orleans County, which he worked himself till 1832 ; at which time, though continuing to live on his farm, he gave his whole attention to operating in grain and the milling busi- ness, which proved very successful. In 1842, he went to Buffalo, and went into the milling business with Dean Richmond, Esq. At the end of one year, however, he made an arrangement with Gordon Grant, of Troy, who was owner of the Troy and Michigan Line, to open a branch of the Troy house in ----- the forwarding business, the firm being G. W. Tifft & Co. At the end of a year, Mr. Grant sold out the line of boats, and Mr. Tifft formed a partnership with Henry H. ;
Sizer in the produce commission business, the firin being Sizer & Tifft. After one year, Mr. Tifft sold out his interest to his partner. In 1845, he again went into business with his former partner Dean Richmond, when they bought the Erie Mills, which they ran in conjunction with three others. Mr. Tifft was fully identified with the milling business till the starting of the International Bank in July, 1854, when he became its first president, continuing such until 1857, that being the year of the financial crash. Mr. Tifft being a heavy stockholder and indorser of the Buf- falo Steam-Engine Company, for whom he had to pay $94,000, was compelled to sus- pend. He took the charge and responsi- bility of the said company in his own hands, the creditors allowing him an extension of four years, and by his superior financiering and management paid his whole indebtedness in one half the time. In 1857, he invested in coal-mines in Mercer County, Pa., which came into his hands as did the Engine Com- pany, where he built two blast furnaces. While operating these, he made the experi- ment of melting Lake Superior ore with mineral coal, which proved a grand success. In 1858, Mr. Tifft was elected president of the Buffalo, New York and Erie R.R. In 1863, he built in the city of Buffalo seventy- four dwelling-houses, the Tifft House, and an elevator, which latter he afterward sold to the Erie R.R. Co. The business occupy- ing his attention now is the Buffalo Steam- Engine Works, owned by G. W. Tifft, Sons & Co., and a private stock company, the shareholders being members of his own family, including his daughters, though the premises are owned by Mr. Tifft personally. They also own the Tifft Fire-Proof Elevator, which cost about $ooo.ooo. Mr. Tifft also owns one half interest in the Evans Elevator.
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The subject of this sketch has been a mem- ber of the Presbyterian Church for forty years, and may always be found taking an active part in all benevolent and charitable enterprises. Among the many things he has done was the donation of the Ingleside Home, which cost between forty and fifty thousand dollars. Thus he has liberally dispensed his charities, and seen and enjoyed the fruits of them while living. He has the love and respect of zealous, admiring friends, and many business men who have been helped on in life by him breathe his name with gratitude.
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