Genealogical and family history of central New York : a record of the achievements of her people in the making of a commonwealth and the building of a nation, Volume II, Part 9

Author: Cutter, William Richard, 1847-1918
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: New York, Lewis historical publishing company
Number of Pages: 646

USA > New York > Genealogical and family history of central New York : a record of the achievements of her people in the making of a commonwealth and the building of a nation, Volume II > Part 9

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WELCH The Welch family of Westfield, New York, is descended from a long line of Welsh ancestors. The emigrant to America, Abraham Welch, settled with his wife and family in Watertown, New York, 1831. Here he opened a dry goods and millinery store. From 1856 to 1861 and again after the death of his wife, Mary (Fus- sel) Welch, an Englishwoman, he lived in Winona, Minnesota, where he died about 1864, aged sixty-six years. They had twelve chil- dren, all but the last three being born in Eng- land. Children: Mrs. Mary Ann Hughe

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Robert; Mrs. Sarah Banister; Alfred; Mrs. Susan F. Peck; Thomas B. (of further men- tion) ; Elizabeth; Abraham; Jemima ; Kesia ; Mrs. Hannah P. Sheldon; Mrs. Adelaide Hoxie.

(II) Thomas B., son of Abraham and Mary (Fussel) Welch, was born in England, De- cember 31, 1825, died in Philadelphia, Penn- sylvania, December 29, 1903. He was early educated for the Methodist Episcopal ministry, and after his ordination preached for several years. He was compelled to retire from the ministry because of the loss of his voice. He then devoted himself to the study of medicine, which he later practiced, but not finding this to his liking, took up the study of dentistry, the practice of which he commenced in Winona, Minnesota. He later settled in Vineland, New Jersey, where he engaged in the manufacture of dental instruments. He continued this busi- ness in Philadelphia for several years, during which time he established a dentists' trade journal, Items of Interest. This was printed for ten years, with Dr. Welch as editor, and was an authority upon all matters pertaining to dentistry. He retired from active business and spent the last of his seventy-eight years in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Dr. Welch originated unfermented wine or grape juice in 1869.

He married Lucy M., born July 20, 1825, died April 30, 1894, daughter of Peter Hutt. Children: 1. George B., born in New York state; married Flora M. Barker, of Washington, D. C .; now practicing dentistry in Washington, D. C. 2. Frederick W., born in New York state, died July 20, 1898; he was a soldier in the civil war; married Louvinia Yerkes; two children: Ray W., Freda L. Kronenberg. 3. Charles E. (of fur- ther mention). 4. Mrs. Emma E. Slade ; three children: Dr. A. R. Slade, Mrs. Edna Batton, Mrs. Lucy Halloway. 5. Mrs. Clara M. Gould. 6. Mrs. Villa Murray ; two children : Elsa, Nona. 7. Mrs. May L. Thomas.

(III) Charles E., son of Dr. Thomas B. and Lucy M. (Hutt) Welch, was born at Watertown, New York, March 2, 1852. His parents removed to Winona, Minnesota, where he received his early education. At the age of seventeen they moved to Vineland, New Jersey, where his education was completed. He studied dentistry in Vineland and practiced in Washington, D. C., from 1872 to 1877. In 1877 he returned to Vineland and was asso-

ciated with his father in the practice of den- tistry until 1881. In that year he and his father moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and engaged in the manufacture of dental in- struments, also publishing Items of Interest, before mentioned. In 1869 he began the manu- facture of his now famous grape juice at Vine- land, New Jersey. He began in a very small way, but as the demand for his product grew, the size of the plant was increased by addi- tions which were made from time to time. In 1886 he gave up his other business interests, including his dental work, and devoted his time entirely to the making of grape juice. In 1897, because grapes in the Vineland vineyards were inadequate to meet the increased demand, he moved to Westfield, New York, where he erected a larger and better plant. Recently he has found it necessary to increase the size of this building, and in 1911 the company pur- chased a large factory in North East, Penn- sylvania. In 1903 the business was incor- porated under the name of the Welch Grape Juice Company, with Charles E. Welch as president and general manager, and his sons, Paul Ross Welch and Edgar Thomas Welch, vice-president and secretary and treasurer. It is now one of the important industries of the county, employing two hundred hands during the busy season. In 1906 he organized and established the Welch Gas Company, of which he is president. They were among the first to attempt the exploration of natural gas, and have a system which is of great benefit to the people of Westfield. They formed an inde- pendent system, digging their own wells and laying their own pipe lines. He is a member and trustee of the Methodist Episcopal church, superintendent of the Sunday school, and an active worker. He is an Independent in poli- tics, and is now (1911) serving his third term as president of the village.

He married (first) Jennie, daughter of Recompence Ross, born in Burlington, New Jersey, died March, 1884. He married ( sec- ond) Julia, daughter of John and Annie (Culin) Frailey, of Philadelphia, Pennsyl- vania. Children of first wife: I. Edgar Thomas, born in Vineland, New Jersey, Janu- ary 22, 1881 ; married Grace Harris : one child : Charles Edgar, born in Westfield, New York, August 8, 1903. 2. Paul Ross, born in Phila- delphia, Pennsylvania, July 20, 1882. Chil- dren of second wife, all born in Vineland, New Jersey : 3. John F., October 26, 1886. 4. Jen-

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nie R., April 17, 1888. 5. William Taylor, March 21, 1890.

The Rengel family are of

RENGEL French ancestry, the grand- father, Alexander Rengel, hav- ing been a native of Alsace Lorraine when it was French territory.

(II) Joseph, son of Alexander Rengel, was born in Alsace, near Strasburg, February 6, 1837, died at Lancaster, Erie county, New York, January 1, 1890. He was educated at the "Petit Seminaire" in Strasburg, specializ- ing in music, becoming an accomplished organ- ist. At the age of seventeen years he came to the United States and located first in Wil- liamsville, Erie county, New York, where he was church organist and school teacher until 1863, when he moved to Sheldon, Wyoming county. Five years later he became organist at Lancaster, Erie county, and taught school there up to the day of his death. He was a devout member of the Roman Catholic church, and gave his entire time to church music and teaching.

He married, January 22, 1861, at Williams- ville, Victorine Le Brun, born September 27, 1840, daughter of Jean Baptist Le Brun, born April 3, 1803, in Paris, France, died Septem- ber II, 1866, at Eggertsville, New York. He was a wealthy wine maker of Nancy, France, and came to the United States in 1844.

In Erie county, upon the old Williams- ville road about a mile beyond the Country Club, stands a little old stone building which is what is left of an American home of the Lebruns. The house sets backs from the road surrounded by tangled weeds and wild flowers, while the driveway now grown over with grass is lined with golden-rod and elder bushes. In this house lived and died Jean Batiste Lebrun, nephew of Charles Francois Lebrun, third consul and archtreasurer under Napoleon and governor of Holland, who came to America in 1844.

The Lebruns were a powerful family in France, a family of genius in the sixteen hundreds, but in the days of Louis XVI and Napoleon Bonaparte they reached their greatest political power. Charles Fran- cois Lebrun, uncle of the Jean mentioned, was third consul when Napoleon was first, and was made duke of Piacenza under the empire. Jean Batiste Lebrun, brother of Charles and husband of Mme. Lebrun, the painter, was an

art critic and a painter of no small ability. The third brother, Pierre, father of Jean, was a military man. A peculiarity of these three brothers was their being honored by the Bour- bon king, the republic and the empire and holding the esteem of all.

At the downfall and exile of Napoleon they left Paris and lived at Nancy, one of the most beautiful sections of France, where purple- laden vineyards stretch for miles across the country, dotted here and there with pictur- esque villages, ruins of old feudal castles and more modern chateaus. After living at Nancy some years a sea voyage was prescribed for Jean Batiste, son of Pierre Lebrun, and he started to America with his wife and little daughter, accompanied by his sister and her family, who were bound for the state of Ohio.

It was before the days of the ocean liner, and the Lebruns spent several weeks on a sail- ing vessel in crossing the Atlantic. Mr. Le- brun, being greatly benefited by the voyage, decided to shorten his journey by making the trip west as far as Buffalo by way of the new railroad (the Erie) ; while his sister, de- siring to continue the journey by water, trav- eled across the state by the Erie canal, which at that time was a strong rival of the railroad in the passenger business.

While waiting at Buffalo for his sister to arrive by boat, Jean Batiste Lebrun became acquainted with the French residents, many of whom were people or descendants of peo- ple of worth and prominence in the old coun- try ; and during that week of waiting he be- came so favorably impressed with Buffalo and the fine surrounding country that he bought the home on the Williamsville road and im- mediately made it his residence. It was an old-established homestead for those days, hav- ing been built long before the War of 1812. The land around it was rolling level country, intercrossed by the picturesque ledge of quarry stone formation that runs for miles through this part of New York.

The old house has sheltered many noted people of both continents. If its walls could speak what tales could they relate of talks by the old fireside? Stories of the rise and fall of the empire of great minds which used to congregate in the Lebrun salon in Paris-of exiles in many strange lands-of new peace and comfort. It now stands empty and silent, while occasionally voices of Eggertsville chil- dren are heard playing among the fruit trees

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which have grown up and become old leaning trees around the grounds; and childish faces peep in over the old stone steps. It is merely an old ruin to them and only that to us .*

Jean Baptist Le Brun married Marie Noirel, born at Nancy, February 25, 1803, died December 19, 1872, in Buffalo, New York. Children: 1. Victorine, married Joseph Rengel, whom she survives; Nicholas, born in Eggertsville, December 27, 1846.

Children of Joseph and Victorine Rengel : I. Nettie M., born February 23, 1864 ; married, June 26, 1890, William J. Gordon; resides in New York City. 2. Henry J., born November 5, 1865; married, October 19, 1886, Mary F. Fitzpatrick, and has daughter Eugenie, born May 15, 1890; resides in Buffalo. 3. Edward J., of further mention.

(III) Rev. Edward Joseph, youngest son of Joseph and Victorine (Le Brun) Rengel, was born in Lancaster, Erie county, New York, August 8, 1869. His early education was re- ceived in the parochial school taught by the Sisters of Miss Nardin's Academy and his own father. In 1883 he entered St. Joseph's College, Buffalo, and graduated with the de- gree of A.B., June 29, 1888, from Manhattan College, New York City, both institutions be- ing taught by the Christian Brothers. After graduation he began his studies for the priest- hood at the Seminary of Our Lady of Angels (Niagara University), Suspension Bridge, New York, remaining with the Priests of the Congregation of the Mission for five years, going from there to the Catholic University at Washington, D. C., where he received the degree of S.T.B., in June, 1894, and on June 29, 1894, was ordained a priest by the late Rt. Rev. Stephen Vincent Ryan, at the Bishop's Chapel, Delaware avenue, Buffalo. His first appointment was as temporary pastor of St. Nicholas' Church, Buffalo, during the absence of the Rev. Christopher O'Byrne. In Janu- ary, 1895, he returned to the Catholic Univer- sity at Washington, specializing in psychology with the Rev. Edward A. Pace, D.D., Ph.D. In June, 1895, he was made permanent pastor of the church at East Aurora, New York, and remained in charge of that parish and the missions of Springbrook, Holland and Marilla until 1900, when he was transferred to the parish of East Pembroke, with the missions

* The foregoing narrative is from an illustrated article by Miss Jeannette E. Sherman, in the Illus- trated Buffalo Express.

of Crittenden, Corfu and Wheatville. The following year he was assigned to Andover, Allegany county, New York, from which place he came to Ellicottville, Cattaraugus county, New York, July 14, 1904. Three years later the silver jubilee of the church was celebrated after being freed from a debt of a quarter cen- tury, and entirely redecorated. On Easter Tuesday, April 13, 1909, the church and rec- tory were burned to the ground. While the fire was destroying the house, the old Harlin estate, adjoining the public square, which had been under consideration, was purchased, and on May 26th the new site was blessed and ground was broken for a new church. The work of excavating began June 7th, and on July 28, 1909, the cornerstone of the new Holy Name of Mary Church was laid by the Rt. Rev. Charles H. Colton, D.D., Bishop of Buf- falo, who had donated the site to the parish to encourage the people in the work of re- building. The plans of the church and rectory, which are connected by a cloister, were drawn by the architect, A. A. Post, of Buffalo, and erected by the contractor, William Stokes, of Ellicottville, at a cost of $35,000, the heating, plumbing and electric work adding $5,000 to the cost of building. Over $10,000 was spent in furnishings and decorating, the altar being American marble and the furniture quartered oak. The fire had destroyed a copy of the original painting of the Crucifixion by Guido Reni, in the Church of San Lorenzo, Rome, given by Mrs. Devereaux fifty years before, but Mr. Kessel, who had restored the picture for the silver jubilee, painted a copy which com- pares very favorably with the original and is a most realistic altar piece. The windows are the crowning beauty of the church, and help confirm the assertion that it is the "pret- tiest, neatest and most complete church" that can be found. In the tower is a clock costing six hundred dollars, given principally by the non-Catholics of Ellicottville. It strikes the hours on the church bell, which was donated in memory of his father, Michael O'Day, by the late Hon. Daniel O'Day, whose boyhood days were spent in Ellicottville. The church itself is patterned after the church at Deal Beach, New Jersey, where Mr. O'Day built his magnificent summer home, which he named Kildysart after his birthplace in County Clare, Ireland. Although the buildings were com- pleted a year and a half ago, at a cost of more than $50,000, the present debt (1912) is only

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$13,000, half of which is on the church and covered by subscriptions payable within three years, the entire cost of the church having been subscribed by the parishioners without solicitation, each coming to make his or her offering to the priest. The parish numbers about 650 individuals, being mostly of the farming class. A fund has been started for a parochial school, towards which the pastor.do- nates half of the marriage and baptismalfees.

Father Rengel made a cruise of the West Indies in 1903, went to California by way of the Isthmus of Panama in 1906, made a Pil- grimage to Rome and through Europe in 1907, and again in 1910, including the Passion Play, and has had several audiences with the Holy Father.

FARGO The Fargo family of Buffalo, so intimately connected with the great American and Wells-Fargo Express Companies, descends from Moses Fargo (or Firgo, as it was often written), who emigrated from England to Connecticut about 1670, and settled at New London, where a house lot was granted him in 1680. In 1690 he was in Norwich, and in 1694 was granted land "on the hill above the rock where his house stands." He was one of the proprietors of Norwich who came later and were added to the original settlers. In 1722 he appears among the inhabitants of the North Parish of New London, now Montville. His wife was named Sarah. He died in 1726. Children : Sarah, born June 19, 1680; Mary, June 6, 1681 ; Ann, March 2, 1684: Patience, May 9, 1688; Moses, April 9, 1691 ; Ralph, August 18, 1693: Robert, September 30, 1696; Thomas, November 9, 1699 ; Aaron, December 9, 1702.

(II) One of the sons of Moses Fargo.

(III) William, grandson of Moses Fargo, the emigrant, was born in Connecticut, died about 1800. He enlisted in the Continental army when seventeen years of age, and served during the whole war. He became a successful trader and shipper of horses and cattle to the West Indies, but the loss of two ships during a stormy voyage brought financial disaster from which he never recovered. He left a widow and several children.

(IV) William C., son of William Fargo, was born at New London, Connecticut, March 20, 1791. He was early thrown on his own resources, and started in life working in a

distillery, where he learned the trade. January 23, 1807, he left home with his uncle John Ames and came to New York state, settling at Plymouth, Chenango county, later going to Jamesville, Onondaga county. He worked in different towns, always going westward until he reached Buffalo in September, 1809. Here he was employed until May, 1812, when he en- listed in the Third Regiment Heavy Artillery, under Colonel (later General) Alexander Macomb. He was in the battle of Queens- town, October 13, 1812, and received a wound in the right thigh; in the same battle the British General Brock was killed. Mr. Fargo recovered and served throughout the war. In 1815, after peace was established, he continued in the army service until May 7, 1817, rank- ing as sergeant-major. He was discharged at Mackinaw, and on foot returned to Pompey, Onondaga county, New York. Here he mar- ried, and engaged in farming and distilling. He later removed to Cicero Corners, later to Manlius, where he lived fifteen years, then to Syracuse, where he built a substantial home and lived the remainder of his life. He mar- ried, August 10, 1817, Tacy Strong, born in Hebron, Connecticut, September 14, 1799, died November 9, 1870, and is buried in Forest Lawn Cemetery, Buffalo, with her husband, where their resting place is marked by a beau- tiful monument marked "Father and Mother," in the lot of their son, William G. Fargo. Children :

I. William George, born May 20, 1818, in Pompey, New York; was clerk, freight agent and express messenger, and Buffalo agent for Pomeroy Express. In 1844, with Henry Wells and Daniel Dunning, he organized the Wells Express Company, to operate between Buffalo and Detroit, gradually extending the business to St. Louis. Mr. Dunning withdrew after a year, and Mr. Wells sold his interest to Wil- liam A. Livingston, the firm becoming Liv- ingston & Fargo. In 1850 the American Ex- press Company was organized, consolidating the several express companies, with William G. Fargo as the first secretary. In 1868 the American absorbed the Merchants' Union Ex- press Company, and Mr. Fargo was elected president of the American Express Company, retaining that position until his death. In 1851 he and associates organized the Wells-Fargo Express Company, to operate between New York and San Francisco, by way of the Isthmus, with interior local lines in California.

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With the completion of the Union and Cen- tral Pacific railroads the water route was aban- doned for rail, and the management of the company transferred to San Francisco. Mr. Fargo was vice-president and director of the company. He was a director and vice-presi- dent of the New York Central Railroad and other companies; mayor of Buffalo, 1862 -. 1866; died August 3, 1881. He married, 1840, Anna H. Williams. 2. Jerome Freeman, of whom further. 3. Rufus, born December 26, 1821, died aged two years. 4. Chancellor L., born January 12, 1824 ; entered Express serv- ice and was director of the American Express Company and superintendent of the Western Division. 5. Sarah Ann, born March 24, 1826; married Harvey S. Reed. 6. Maryette, born December 18, 1827; married Samuel P. Wormley. 7. James C., born May 5, 1829; held many responsible positions with the American Express Company, general superin- tendent and manager ; president of Merchants' Dispatch Transportation Company, and was a thorough master of the business; married Fannie Stuart. 8. Charles, born April 15, 1831 ; also an important character in the Ex- press business ; held responsible positions and succeeded his brother, William G., as president of the American Express Company, in 1881 ; he married Mary Jane Bradford. 9. Thomas B., born May 7, 1833; married Lou Winfield. IO. Emmeline, born May 17, 1836; married Frederick Deese. II. Willett H., born Febru- ary 15, 1840; married Emmeline Caldwell. 12. Mortimer H., born September 27, 1843; agent of American Express Company at Green Bay, Wisconsin, and held other offices in the Company ; married Mary Drake.

(V) Jerome Freeman, second son of Wil- liam C. and Tacy (Strong) Fargo, was born at Jamesville, Onondaga county, New York, February 20, 1820. He worked on the farm in summer and attended school winters until he was fourteen, then hired to a farmer, in- tending to remain until he was twenty-one. Farm life, however, did not agree with his health, and in 1835 he began clerking in the Curtis store on Pompey Hill. In 1836 he was in Syracuse clerking, but soon apprenticed himself to learn the baker's trade. In 1838 he removed to Weedsport, where he worked at his trade a year, then was clerk for a year, then engaged in mercantile business with his brother, William C. In 1841 he removed to Auburn, New York, in the employ of the

Auburn & Syracuse Railroad Company. For two years he was local freight conductor, and ran the first through freight train from Rochester to Albany without transfer, in the winter of 1846. In 1847 he was promoted passenger conductor, and removed to Syracuse in 1849. He ran a train from Syracuse to Auburn, continuing until the organization of the New York Central, remaining with them until June, 1856, when he removed to Buffalo. Here he was junior partner of Williams & Fargo, owning and operating the Corn Dock Elevator, which he built and managed success- fully until its destruction by fire in 1865. He then leased, with his partner, the City Eleva- tor, which he operated until 1872. In July, 1873, he was appointed superintendent of the real estate and personal property of the Amer- ican Express Company, a position he held until his death.

Mr. Fargo was a Democrat in politics, and a devout, active member of the Prot- estant Episcopal Church. He was one of the early members of the Church of the Ascen- sion, Buffalo, one of the largest contributors to its building fund, and in 1867 was chosen warden. He was president of the Buffalo Homœopathic Hospital; life member of the Young Men's Association ; member of Ancient Landmarks Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, and other organizations. He was a man of high character and died deeply regretted. He married, July, 1839, Hannah Watson of Weedsport, New York. Of their seven chil- dren, two reached maturity-George W., of whom further ; and Bessie, married Stephen Sears, and has Jerome, Winthrop, and Stephen.

(VI) George W., son of Jerome F. and Hannah (Watson) Fargo, was born in Auburn, New York, December 23, 1848. He married, June 29, 1870, Alice M. Diller, a resident of the old Diller homestead, 464 Franklin street, built by her father, John Diller, in 1850, one of the first residences on Franklin street. Children: I. Fanny Alice, resident of Buffalo. 2. Hannah Watson, mar- ried, October 14, 1896, William L. Popple; child: Marion Fargo Popple. 3. Emmeline Diller, married, July 14, 1908, William John Jacob, of Buffalo. 4 Jerome Freeman, born June 14, 1884, educated in grammar and high schools of Buffalo; was engaged in the Ex- press business in Buffalo until 1908, when he removed to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

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(The Diller Line).

The Dillers of Buffalo descend from Fran- cis Diller, a Swiss immigrant about whom lit- tle is known further than the information con- tained in his passport, dated April 10, 1754. He was born in Biglen, a village in northwest- ern Switzerland. The earlier years of his life up to 1743 were spent in the canton of Bern. He was a Mennonite, a sect which, on account of their hostility to a union of church and state, their refusal to bear arms, take the oath or hold office, suffered great persecution. The persecutions were most intense and long continued in Bern, and it seems most probable that he was among those exiled from his na- tive land, for during the last eleven years of his stay in Europe he was resident at La Chaux-de-Fonds under the authority of the King of Prussia, who had invited the exiled Bernese to settle in his own kingdom. His passport shows that he leased a considerable estate at Chaux-de-Fonds, where he resided continuously for eleven years, that he was a man of good character, and had a family. As his eldest son was born about 1743, possibly as early as 1731, he was most likely married in Biglen, and that his other three children were born at Chaux-de-Fonds. The passport was obtained April 10, 1754, and it seems more likely that he began his journey down the Rhine at once and made no stops of long duration in Holland or elsewhere before sail- ing for America. There is no record of the voyage, but tradition has it that his household goods were lost at sea, and that the family arrived destitute. This is improbable, as in a few years after his arrival Francis Diller bought a farm, paying over $2000 cash, and assuming a mortgage on the property. This farm, which he purchased April 10, 1760, con- tained one hundred and forty acres, situated on a branch of Muddy Creek, in now Breck- nock township, Lancaster county, Pennsyl- vania. During his early residence there he built the first distillery in Lancaster county, and operated it during the revolutionary war. He made his will November 12, 1782, and named his son Peter as executor. He died soon after his will was made, and is supposed to have been buried at Mennonite meeting house, in Bowmansville, about one and three-quarters miles from his farm. No trace of his grave has been found. His wife Anna, maiden name unknown, was born June, 1707, and died be- tween 1809 and 1811. A stone to the memory

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Genealogical and family history of central New York : a record of the achievements of her people in the making of a commonwealth and the building of a nation, Volume II, Part 9

Author: Cutter, William Richard, 1847-1918 Publication date: 1912 Publisher: New York, Lewis historical publishing company Number of Pages: 646

Author: Cutter, William Richard, 1847-1918
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: New York, Lewis historical publishing company
Number of Pages: 646