Genealogical and Family History of Western New York, Volume I, Part 68

Author: Cutter, William Richard, 1847-1918
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: New York : Lewis Historical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 680

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He married, April 24, 1878, Grace, daugh- ter of Laurens and Mary E. (King) Enos, and granddaughter of Joseph B. and Hannah Enos (see Enos). Mrs. Hamlin survives her husband, a resident of Buffalo. Child : Chaun- cey Jerome.

(XI) Chauncey Jerome, only son of Harry and Grace (Enos) Hamlin, was born in Buf- falo, January 11, 1881. He entered Yale Uni- versity, whence he was graduated A. B., class of 1903. He decided upon the profession of law and entered Buffalo Law School, grad- uating LL. B., 1905. He was admitted to the bar and at once began practice in Buffalo. February 18, 1909, he was appointed referee in bankruptcy for Erie county, and was re- appointed February 18, 1911. He is well es- tablished in the general practice of his pro- fession, and occupies a leading position at the Buffalo bar. He has many important business interests outside his profession. He is di- rector of the Third National Bank and trustee of the Fidelity Trust Company. On May I, 1911, he formed a partnership for the general practice of the law with John Lord O'Brian, United States District Attorney for the West- ern District of New York, under the firm name of O'Brian & Hamlin. His college fra- ternities and societies are: Skull and Bones, Alpha Delta Phi, Phi Beta Kappa, all of Yale, and Phi Delta Phi (legal). His clubs are the Buffalo, Saturn, Country of Buffalo, Gen- esee Valley of Rochester and the Yale of New York City. Politically he is a Republican.

He married. April 4, 1905, Emily. daughter of David and Martha Guthrie Gray, of New Orleans, Louisiana. Children : Chauncey Jer- ome (2), born March 31, 1906; Martha and Mary King.

The history of this family

FRONCZAK carries back to a land of many sorrows and a race of brave men finally crushed beneath the iron

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hand of a despotic, powerful and remorseless Czar. No country of its size has ever at- tempted so bravely to free herself from an enemy so powerful. The subjugation of Po- land by Russia, Prussia and Austria, while now complete, was only accomplished by sheer force of numbers and years of cruel warfare and oppression. In the war of 1863 Adel- bert Fronczak, father of Dr. Francis Eustace Fronczak, was a participant, and fought for the liberties of his race to the last ditch.

Adelbert Fronczak was born in the village of Tuczno, province of Posen, Poland, April 20, 1828. In 1870 he came to the United States, locating in Buffalo, New York, where he has since resided. He affiliates with the Democratic party, and is a communicant of St. Stanislaus Roman Catholic Church. He married, in Tuczno, Poland, Victoria Jawor- ska, born in that city December 23, 1834, died in Buffalo, New York, June 24, 1909. Chil- dren : I. Anna, married, 1875, Martin Ruszaj, of Buffalo, dealer in books and stationery ; children : Joseph, Mary, Catherine, Stanley E., Wladislaus, Agnes, Jane and Helen. 2. Francis Eustace, of whom further.

Dr. Francis Eustace Fronczak, only son of Adelbert and Victoria Fronczak, was born in Buffalo, New York, September 20, 1874, at the family residence, rear of 82 Bennett street; the old one-room house is still stand- ing. His preparatory education was obtained in St. Stanislaus parish school, after which he entered Canisius College, from which he was graduated with the degree of A. B., class of 1894, and received the degree of A. M. in 1895. Deciding upon a professional career, he continued his studies in the Medical De- partment of the University of Buffalo, from which he was graduated with the degree of M. D., class of 1897, with honors for class standing and his thesis on "Plica Polonica." Having completed the medical course and re- ceived his degree, he began practice in Buf- falo, but continued his studies at the Uni- versity, in the Law School, class of 1900. He began practice at No. 508 Fillmore avenue, where he continued until January 1, 1907, then removing to the property at No. 806 Fillmore avenue, which he had purchased.

Dr. Fronczak has risen to the very topmost rounds in his special departments of hygiene and public health, to which he has devoted himself with all his great energy and learning. He is recognized as an authority not only in

his native city, but throughout the entire state. He has traveled extensively, almost through- out the entire world. His travels have always been with professional purpose, and have car- ried him through the Hudson Bay territory, Mexico, Europe, Asia and Africa. In 1900 he represented the American Medical Association at the International Medical Congress held in Paris. At the five hundredth anniversary of the University of Jagiello, held at Cracow, Poland, he represented officially the University of Buffalo. At the International Tuberculosis Congress in 1909, at Washington, D. C., and at the International Congress of School Hy- giene, held in Paris, 1910, he was the official representative of the city of Buffalo, and at his invitation, delivered in the great audito- rium of Sorbonne, Buffalo was selected as the meeting place of the Fifteenth Interna- tional School Hygiene Congress. Great as is his fame and name abroad, it is in his own city that he is held in the highest esteem. In 1907 his peculiar fitness for caring for the public health of Buffalo was recognized in his appointment to the responsible position of assistant health commissioner. In 1908 he was made acting health commissioner, and March 26, 1910, he was made health commis- sioner of Buffalo, placing him in complete con- trol of the Health Department. On November 21, 1911, he was reappointed for another five year term. So far as any one man can, he has labored for the public health, and accom- plished great good; but, as is the case in all large cities, he has not always been able to se- cure just the legislation required to carry out necessary reforms. His work beyond the con- fines of Buffalo has been in Erie county and the state of New York. In 1904 he was ap- pointed by the State Health Department health officer for the town of Cheektowaga, an office which he resigned February 4, 1912. Since 1908 he was a member of committees on the State Board of Health and of the State Board of Charities and Correction; also lec- turer on tuberculosis, State Department of Health. In 1899 and 1900 he was physician to the Erie County Penitentiary, and in 1909 was made director of the Buffalo Association for the Prevention and Cure of Tuberculosis.

In citizenship, Dr. Fronczak shirks no pub- lic duty. He is vice-president of the Election Law Enforcement League; from 1898 to 1901 he was a member of the Charter Revision Commission to amend the charter of the city

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of Buffalo. He has little time for business af- fairs outside his professional and public du- ties, but has mining and other interests in which he holds directorships, and is a trustee of the American Savings Bank of Buffalo. The great artists who pass through Buffalo are many of them well known to him, and he has treated professionally the great actress Modjeska, and the still more famous pianist Paderewski, in their own homes. He holds membership in several purely Polish socie- ties, musical, fraternal and professional. He is local medical examiner of the Polish Na- tional Alliance; director and grand medical examiner of the Polish Union; local medical examiner of the Polish Roman Catholic Union; member of the Polish Society of Phy- sicians of Chicago; vice-president of the So- ciety of Polish Physicians and Scientists, and member of the Polish Singers' Alliance. He is an active member of the American Medical Association, New York State and Erie County Medical Societies, being censor of the latter since 1898; the Academy of Medicine; the Medical Society of Central and Western New York; the Association of New York and New England Railroad Surgeons. His scientific so- cieties are the Buffalo Academy of Natural Science; the American Geographical Society, and the American Association of School Hy- giene, of which he is a trustee. He is also a member of the Buffalo Historical Society. Politically he is a Democrat. He is a com- municant of the Roman Catholic Church, be- longing to the congregation of the Church of the Transfiguration, and is actively interested in church societies. He is a trustee and med- ical director of the Felician Sisters' Orphan Asylum ; a director of Copernicus College, now being organized ; medical examiner and mem- ber of St. Francis Society, the Catholic Mu- tual Benefit Association and of the Knights of Columbus. His social clubs are the Profes- sional, Civic, Chamber of Commerce, Munici- pal, Singing and Automobile, all of Buffalo. He is a man of great energy and vital force, compressing into each day's work all that it is possible to accomplish. He is ever mindful of the great responsibility devolving upon him as guardian of the health of Buffalo, and is unceasing in his vigilance.

Dr. Fronczak married, April 25, 1900, at Buffalo, Lucy Rosalie, daughter of Leon Tucholka, a contractor and builder of Buf-

falo. Children: Anna Eugenia Stephanie, born July 11, 1903; Edward James, March 20, 1905.

William Sawyer, immigrant

SAWYER ancestor, came from England probably from Lancashire, and

was in Salem as early as 1640. He was a pro- prietor there in 1642. He removed to Wen- ham, where he was living in 1643, and later to Newbury, where he was living the next year, and where he died. He sold his house lot, March 24, 1648. He took the oath of allegi- ance in 1678. He married Ruth - -. Chil- dren, born in Newbury: 1. John, August 24, 1645; married, February 18, 1675-76, Sarah Poore. 2. Samuel, of further mention. 3. Ruth, September 16, 1648; married, August 27, 1667, Benjamin Morse. 4. Mary, Febru- ary 7, 1649-50, died June 24, 1659. 5. Sarah, November 20, 1651; married, January 15, 1669, Joshua Brown. 6. Hannah, February 23, 1653-54, died January 25, 1659-60. 7. William, February 1, 1655-56; married Widow Sarah Wells. 8. Frances, March 24, 1658, died February 7, 1759-60. 9. Mary, July 29, 1660; married, June 13, 1683, John Emery. 10. Stephen, April 25, 1663; married, March 10, 1687, Ann Titcomb. II. Hannah, Janu- ary II, 1664-65, died August 28, 1683. 12. Frances, November 3, 1670; married Thomas Treadwell.

(II) Lieutenant Samuel Sawyer, son of William Sawyer, was born in Newbury, No- vember 22, 1646, died February 1I, 1717-18. His will was dated February 10, and proved March 3, 1717-18. He was admitted a free- man in 1675, and was a Quaker, as a Quaker meeting was held at his house in 1704. He married, March 13, 1671, Mary Emery. Chil- dren, born in Newbury : 1. Mary, January 20, 1672; married, June 29, 1702, Edward Wood- man. 2. Samuel, of further mention. 3. John, March 15, 1676; married (first), December 25, 1700, Mary Brown; (second), 1711, Sarah (Wells) Sibley, widow. 4. Hannah, January 12, 1678-79. 5. Josiah, January 20, 1680-81 ; married, January 22, 1708, Tirzah Bartlett; died April 4, 1756. 6. Joshua, February 23, 1682-83; married Elizabeth 7. Daughter, March 7, died March 26, 1685. 8. Benjamin, October 27, 1686; married, Febru- ary 3, 1714, Elizabeth Jameson. 9. Daughter. 10. Daughter, November 15. 1693, died same day.

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(III) Samuel (2), son of Lieutenant Sam- uel (1) Sawyer, was born in Newbury, June 5, 1674, died April 21, 1723. His will was dated April 20, and proved May 6, 1723. He married, December 17, 1702, Abigail Goodridge, who died October 14, 1722, in her forty-eighth year, daughter of Joseph Goodridge. Children, born in Newbury: I. Samuel, June 4, 1705; mar- ried, July 9, 1728, Mary Kelly; died June 11, 1783. 2. Martha, February II, 1706-07; mar- ried, May 16, 1728, Edmund Hale. 3. Abi- gail, May 26, 1709. 4. Joseph, April 8, 1711, died September 25, 1723. 5. Mary, October 3, 1712; married Smith Hills. 6. Edmund, of further mention. 7. Jacob, June 4, 1716, probably removed to Hampstead.

(IV) Edmund, son of Samuel (2) Sawyer, was born in Newbury, November 6, 1714, died in Sutton in 1807. He resided in Newbury and Amesbury, and removed to Hampstead, New Hampshire, about 1750. He was re- ceived into the Amesbury church, June 13. 1736, and he and his wife were dismissed to, form the Hampstead church, May 31, 1752. He went later to Sutton, Massachusetts, where he died. He married, January 1, 1735-36, Sarah Rowell, of Amesbury. Children: I. Joseph, baptized October 31, 1736; settled in Warner, New Hampshire. 2. Jacob, born 1738. 3. Enoch, of further mention. 4. Sarah, 1744. 5. Abigail, married Kimball. And others.

(V) Enoch, son of Edmund Sawyer, was born in Hampstead, New Hampshire, 1741, died in Antrim, that state, 1817. He married Sarah Little. Children : Samuel, Enoch, Tris- tram, Edmund, Amos and others.

(VI) Amos, son of Enoch Sawyer, was born either in New Hampshire or Addison county, Vermont, about 1785. He was a farmer of Franklin, Vermont. He married and had: Amos (2), Solon, Silas, Fanny, Al- vira, Nancy and Orinda. (The order of birth is not known to have been as stated above).

(VII) Amos (2), son of Amos (1) Saw- yer, was born in Franklin county, Vermont, in 1820, died in Somerset, Niagara county, New York, in 1905. He was educated in the public schools, and reared a farmer. Early in life he came to Niagara county, New York, where he lived until his death. His first farm was one of fifty-seven acres, lying on the Charlotte- ville road, in the town of Newfane. He cul- tivated this for several years, then sold and bought one of fifty acres near the village of

Newfane, on which he resided until the death of his wife. His last years were spent with his son in Somerset, New York. He married Betsey Ann Van Horn. Children: William A., of further mention; Charles, born June, 1852, married (first) Mary and (second) Eugenia Tower, sisters; Adelaide, born 1856; married John Hoiles (or Hailes), of Batavia, New York.

(VIII) William A., eldest son of Amos (2) and Betsey Ann (Van Horn) Sawyer, was born in the town of Newfane, Niagara county. New York, April 23, 1848. He was educated in the public schools, finishing his studies with a course at Buffalo Business College. His early business life was spent as a clerk ; two years with the hardware firm of E. S. Mack: two years with Davis & Harmon, followed with six years as clerk in the Lockport post- office. In 1874 he bought the John M. Curtis farm in the town of Somerset lying on the Lake road. This property consists of . two hundred and twenty-five acres, fifty of which are devoted to fruit, the remainder to general farming. Mr. Sawyer conducted most suc- cessful operations there until his retirement from active business. He has spent a useful, busy life, and is now enjoying the fruits of his years of industry. His winters are spent south or on the Pacific coast, his summers amid the friends and scenes of his entire life. He was president of the Niagara County Agricultural Society and assessor of the town of Somer- set. He belongs to the Benevolent and Pro- tective Order of Elks ; the Independent Order of Odd Fellows: to Lockport Lodge, No. 73, Free and Accepted Masons; Ames Chapter, No. 88, Royal Arch Masons; Genesee Com- mandery, No. 10, Knights Templar, and Is- mailia Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. Politically he is a Re- publican.

He married, January 1, 1873, Sarah, born 1854, died October 30, 1910, daughter of John N. Curtis. Children : 1. Fred C., born in Som- erset, New York, October 29, 1874: married Grace Sherwood; children: Dorothy, Mar- jorie and Fletcher. 2. Edith, born July 31. 1878; married Lynn J. Carroll, of Greeley, Colorado; child, Lynn J. Carroll, Jr.

Dr. James Platt White, adopted

WHITE father of James P. White, was born in Columbia county, New York, 1811, died 1881. His biographer says

Sacale Sanger

N.a. Sauger

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of him, "probably no man of his time contrib- uted more to the history of medicine in Erie county than Dr. White." He was of Puritan lineage, being a descendant of Peregrine White, the first male child born in Plymouth colony. His grandfather was a soldier of the revolutionary war, and his father, David Pier- son White, served in the war of 1812, and set- tled in Hamburg, Erie county, New York, in 1816. Dr. White took his degree of M. D. at Jefferson Medical College, and established as a practitioner in Buffalo in 1853. where for more than forty years his practice was only limited by his powers of endurance and his willingness to work. The establishment of a medical school in Buffalo was largely due to his exertions, and he held many positions of trust in his profession. He was vice-president of the New York State Medical Association, and held many other memberships; he was an extensive contributor to the medical journals, co-operated in the founding of the hospitals of Buffalo, and interested in many Buffalo so- cieties, churches and improvements. He mar- ried, in 1852, Mary Elizabeth, daughter of Henry F. Penfield, of Penfield, New York.

(II) James P., adopted son of Dr. James Platt White, was born in Hamburg, New York, July 7, 1854, died in Buffalo August 10, 1894. In early life he was adopted by his uncle, Dr. White, who carefully reared and educated the lad, fitting him for a life of busy usefulness. He attended Walnut Hill School, and obtained a good education. In 1881, on the death of his father (and one year later the mother died), he inherited the latter's large and valuable estate. His after life was devoted to the management of his estate, which in- cluded a great deal of Buffalo real estate. He erected the present White Building, on Main street, the first office building of note erected in Buffalo. His home in Buffalo was the old Dr. White homestead, at 674 Main street, until 1891, when he closed his home and with his family spent a few years in travel, spending one winter in California. He returned to Buf- falo in 1893, and while preparing for the erec- tion of a new residence, lived at the "Nia- gara." He was a man of tall, striking figure and of pleasing personality. He was courteous and warm-hearted, making many friends whom he always retained. He was extremely generous, and contributed liberally to charita- ble and benevolent societies. He was a Re-

publican, but never aspired to public office. He was a member of Trinity Episcopal church, and always took a deep interest in the affairs of the parish. During the rectorship of Dr. Van Bokkelin he served as treasurer of the church. He married, September 24, 1872, Mary Anna, daughter of Captain David Porter Dob- bins, who survived him until February 7, 1911. She was born in Erie, Pennsylvania, Decem- ber 14, 1840 (see Dobbins). Children : Louise, died in infancy ; Seymour P., of further men- tion; James P., graduate of Harvard Uni- versity, 1900; engaged in literary pursuits ; member of Saturn, University and Studio clubs, of Buffalo ; unmarried.

(III) Seymour Penfield, son of James P. and Mary Anna (Dobbins ) White, was born at Buf- falo, New York, August 2, 1873. He was edu- cated in private Buffalo schools and at the Lawrenceville Preparatory School at Law- renceville, New Jersey. He had barely at- tained his majority when his father died, leav- ing the management of his large estate to the son. Mr. White was equal to the task and has capably administered his trust. While his principal business is the care of his private estate, he is a director of the Buffalo & Hon- duras Company, owners of large fruit and rub- ber plantations in Honduras, and is a trustee of the Buffalo Savings Bank. His executive ability is of a high order and his standing high in business circles. He has always been deeply interested in affairs military, and served ten years in the New York National Guard. He enlisted in Company A, Sixty-fifth Regiment, in 1896, as a second lieutenant, and one year later was appointed assistant inspector of rifle practice. At the outbreak of the Spanish-Amer- ican war he was commissioned first lieutenant of Company M (one of the three organized to fill out the regiment's quota), serving until the close of the war. He was reinstalled first lieutenant and assistant inspector of small arms practice, afterward as captain and in- spector of small arms practice; January I, 1901, he was detailed as aide-de-camp to Gov- ernor Odell, serving four years with rank of captain. He is a Republican in politics, and a member of Trinity Episcopal church. His clubs are: The Saturn, Country, Park, Auto- mobile and Kennel. He married, May 10, 1898, Annie S., daughter of George H. and May (Davis) Dunbar, of Buffalo. Children : Marion, born June 27, 1899, and Emily, Feb- ruary, 1901.

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(The Dobbins Line).

Daniel Dobbins, maternal great-grandfa- ther of Seymour Penfield White, of Buffalo, came in 1798, when a young man, from the Juniata Valley of Pennsylvania to Erie, and became one of the earliest lake navigators. In 1800 he was owner and captain of the schooner "Harlequin," and later of the "Good Intent," "Ranger," "Lady Washington" and "Salina," running mostly in the service of the Hudson Bay Company. As he lay at Mackinac with the "Salina," loaded with furs, the British and Indians captured the fort and vessel. This was one of the opening acts of the war of 1812. Captain Dobbins escaped to Detroit, and was there when Hull surrendered to the British. He again escaped and worked his way by sail and horse to Erie, only to be despatched to - Washington with news of the loss of Detroit and Mackinac. He received a commission in the United States navy, and was ordered to Erie to cut timber and build vessels. With his own hands he cut the first stick of timber for Perry's fleet. After the work of building the fleet was well under way, government ship- builders arrived from New York, among them John Richards, whose eldest daughter after- ward became the wife of Captain Dobbins' son, Captain David Porter Dobbins. During the battle of Lake Erie, Captain Daniel Dob- bins was in command of the "Ohio." After the battle he continued an executive officer in the navy, and sailed to the upper lakes in com- mand of the "Niagara" and other vessels. After the navy yard at Erie was abandoned, Captain Daniel resigned from the navy and entered the revenue marine service as captain of the cutter "Rush." He afterward built the cutter, "Erie," and after some years of fur- ther service resigned and left the service. He died at Erie, February 29, 1856, aged eighty- five years. His wife, Mary West, born at Carlisle, Pennsylvania, October 26, 1779, mar- ried April 3, 1800, survived him some twenty- three years, and died at Erie, Pennsylvania, January 22, 1879, at the rare old age of one hundred years. They had ten children. At the Dobbins homestead in Erie, Commodore Perry and other heroes of the war of 1812 were entertained. Lafayette was a guest in 1825, as were many other famous men and women in succeeding years.

(II) David Porter, third son of Captain Daniel Dobbins, was born in Erie, Pennsyl- vania, in 1820. He took to the lakes naturally,

and at thirteen was sailing on the schooner "William Penn." While still a boy he sailed in the schooner "Maurice," the revenue cutter "Erie," the schooner "Buffalo," and the brig "Indiana." When eighteen he bought the schooner "Marie Antoinette," rebuilt her at Erie, and changed her name to the "Nick Bid- dle." After sailing in her some years he sold and for a year retired from the lakes. He then took command of the schooner "Henry Horton," then of the "Woodbridge," then bought the schooner "Emily," which he sailed for several years between Buffalo and Chicago. He sold the "Emily" to take command of the fine steamer "Lexington." He next built the propeller "Troy," at Cleveland, which he nav- igated for several years, then sold, and in 1851 left the lakes. For several years while sailing the lakes it was his custom to ship for winter cruises on the ocean. In 1851 he located in Buffalo as marine inspector for Durfee & At- water, insurance brokers. Later he succeeded the firm in part of their business, and for some years did a large insurance business. In 1875 he competed for the government prize of $100,000 for the best steam canal boat, gaining second prize. Afterward he became interested in the Baxter Steam Canal Boat Company, Baxter's boat having won the first prize. Nat- urally bold and daring, he took from his earli- est years a great interest in rescue work and life saving. He organized and led the first relief party that put out from Buffalo to a sinking wreck, the schooner "Oneida," in Oc- tober, 1853. For his gallant rescue Captain Dobbins and each of his volunteer crew re- ceived from the citizens of Buffalo a gold watch suitably engraved. In 1860 he again distinguished himself by the rescue of the crew of the schooner "Comet," ashore at Tifft farms. In 1876 he was commissioned super- intendent of the Ninth District of the United States Life Saving Service, comprising the coasts of Lake Ontario and Erie and the Ohio river to the falls at Louisville. Under his charge the Ninth District ranked second to none for general efficiency. He labored in- cessantly to improve the service, and realizing the imperfections of the lifeboats used, turned his attention to the building of a self-righting. self-bailing non-sinkable boat. The result was the "Dobbins," a lifeboat possessing all these qualities, that came into general use. He also invented and gave for free use in the life-sav- ing service the following devices: A simple

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Genealogical and Family History of Western New York, Volume I, Part 68

Author: Cutter, William Richard, 1847-1918 Publication date: 1912 Publisher: New York : Lewis Historical Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 680

Author: Cutter, William Richard, 1847-1918
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: New York : Lewis Historical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 680