USA > New York > Genesee County > History of the Genesee country (western New York) comprising the counties of Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Chemung, Erie, Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Niagara, Ontario, Orleans, Schuyler, Steuben, Wayne, Wyoming and Yates, Volume IV > Part 32
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In January, 1896, Mr. Harder was married to Miss Lotta Lee, a daughter of Eugene and Lotta (White) Lee, the former a well known carriage painter of Wells- ville. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Harder: Lee, who completed his education in a school in Takoma, a suburb of Washington, D. C., specializing in the study of electricity, and was afterward married to Miss Ruth Park of Oswego, New
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York, who had attended Wells College of Syracuse; Helen, who is at home; Reba, who was graduated from the Wellsville high school and is now a student at Cedar Crest College at Allentown, Pennsylvania; Vera, a pupil in the Wellsville high school; and Virginia and Hobart, who are attending grammar school.
Mr. Harder is a Mason, belonging to the lodge and chapter at Wellsville; to the commandery at Hornell; the consistory at Corning; and Ismailia Shrine at Buffalo. He is also a member of the Wellsville Country Club and his political views are in accord with the platform and principles of the republican party. Believing that the public schools are the bulwark of the nation, Mr. Harder exerts his influence in their behalf and is an influential member of the Wellsville Board of Education. The teachings of the Methodist Episcopal church guide him in the daily relations of life and his worth as a man and citizen is uniformly conceded.
RALPH D. SANFORD.
One of Steuben county's most active men of affairs is Ralph D. Sanford, post- master at Hammondsport, New York. He has served in a number of public offices, always to the satisfaction of the people of the vicinity. He was deputy sheriff for six years and was a member of the picked guard which served as a bodyguard for President Roosevelt. He was police magistrate for the town of Urbana from 1915 to 1919, inclusive, was supervisor for four years and has been chairman of the highway department for Steuben county for three years. He was appointed post- master at Hammondsport, on May 5, 1924, by President Coolidge.
Ralph D. Sanford was born in Cameron, New York, May 4, 1873, the son of Daniel T. and Emma (Selleck) Sanford. He attended the district schools until fourteen years of age and then spent three years in the Addison high school. After his school days were over he was employed in the Old Plow Factory at Addison for a year and then went to work for Park, Winton & True, who conducted a sash, door and blind factory. Soon, however, he started a barber shop and also a horse sales business, and continued thus for fifteen years. Mr. Sanford is a director of the Finger Lakes Association.
On July 23, 1893, Mr. Sanford was united in marriage to Leah Burdick, and they have two sons: Lloyd L. and Ralph A., Jr .; and a daughter, Marion, now Mrs. Elmer Morse of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Ralph D. Sanford is a Mason, belonging to Bath Chapter and the De Molay Commandery, Knights Templars at Hornell. He also belongs to the Glenwood Club of Hammondsport.
Mr. Sanford's father, Daniel T. Sanford served with Company C, Eighty-ninth New York Volunteer Infantry during the Civil war, in the Army of the Potomac and under all the generals that army had in its campaigns. Daniel T. Sanford is a grandson of Thomas Sanford, who served with Ethan Allen in the War of the Revo- lution, with what are commonly called Ethan Allen's Green Mountain Boys. After three years of hard service he was wounded but is still alive and quite active today. The Sanford family has a long and distinguished lineage both in this country and in England, tracing its ancestry here to the time of the Pilgrim Fathers. The progenitor of the family received the name of Sanford from William the Conqueror, for building a sand bridge or ford over a stream for the king's soldiers to cross.
HENRY P. STALLMAN.
For nearly a half century Henry P. Stallman contributed his skill as a building contractor toward Rochester's development and improvement, erecting many imposing monuments to his handiwork, and his death on the 31st of March, 1910, deprived the community of one of its most valuable and highly respected citizens. He was a native of Germany, born May 10, 1836, a son of Frederick P. and Marie Elizabeth (Weigand) Stallman, who left the fatherland and came to the United States, residing for a short time in Tarrytown. The father was employed on the construction of the Croton waterworks. He arrived in that city in 1839 and later removed with his family to Rochester, coming here on the Erie canal. He established his home on what was then called Clay street. Soon after reaching the city he purchased a lot at the corner of Adams and Ford streets and this property is still owned by members of the family, being very valuable at the present time.
HENRY P. STALLMAN
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Henry P. Stallman was a small boy when his parents came to Rochester, of which he was practically a lifelong resident, and his education was acquired in the public schools of the city. About 1865 he formed a partnership with Minard Gar- rison and this relationship was continued for a decade, during which period they did a large quantity of work as mason contractors. In 1876 Mr. Stallman was joined by his brother, Frederick P., and the high quality of their work secured for them many important contracts. The business is now conducted under the name of Henry P. Stallman's Sons and is one of the pioneer firms of the city, bearing an unassail- able reputation for enterprise, integrity and superior workmanship. Its operations are directed on a large scale and among the most notable examples of its ability are the Michaels Stern building, the police station on Exchange street, the Likely building, the Monroe County Morgue, the Yawman & Erbe building, the Bausch and Lomb buildings and many others.
Mr. Stallman was twice married. His first wife, Catherine Porth, died in 1873, and was the mother of four children: Henry F., who married Mary Bruce and has three children, Edna M., Walter and Robert; Louise, who died at the age of eighteen; Anna, who was twenty-nine years of age at the time of her death; and Katharine, who is Mrs. Harry Couse of Jersey City, and the mother of three children, Mary, Henry and Anna. On April 28, 1874, Mr. Stallman was married in Rochester, to Miss Katherine Eckert of New York city, a daughter of George and Elizabeth (Merz) Eckert. Three children were born to this marriage: George W., who married Maud E. Tarry; Benjamin G., who married Louise Hommel and has two daughters, Anita and Mary Jane; Edward G., who married Helen Wightman, who at her death left a daughter, Helen. Edward G. Stallman's second wife was Jessie Wightman, a sister of his first wife, daughter of Delos Wightman, who was one of the first merchants in Rochester to handle ladies' ready-made apparel.
Mr. Stallman was allied with the republican party and served on several occa- sions as juryman. He adhered to the Evangelical faith and was first affiliated with the old Allen Street church of that denomination, afterward joining the Salem church. He was a charter member of the Builders Exchange and for many years was identified with the Humboldt Lodge of Odd Fellows. He was also a life member of Genesee Falls Lodge, No. 507, of the Masonic order, with which he became con- nected in 1874, and took an active part in its affairs until failing health compelled him to remain at home. Mr. Stallman was a devoted husband and father, a faithful friend, a loyal citizen, and measured up to the full stature of upright, honorable manhood, enjoying the unqualified respect and confidence of all with whom he was associated. He built the residence at what is now No. 994 St. Paul street and resided there for many years before his death. His widow is one of the most highly respected of the city's old time residents.
WILLIAM H. TEW.
William H. Tew, president of the Tew Motor Sales, Incorporated, has been successful in business but even more successful in that rarer phase of life, aid to others and devotion to the teachings of the Master. The Golden Rule being the rule by which Mr. Tew lives, his standing in the community of Corning, New York, is exceptionally high and his work in the Methodist church of that city will long endure. He was born on a farm and lived there until thirty-five years of age, and therefore knows what the struggle with Nature means and has discovered what many men miss-the purpose of life.
Mr. Tew's father, Henry B. Tew, was born in England, and came to this country when only nine years of age. His mother, Mary Wilcox Tew, was born and reared in Chenango county, New York.
William H. Tew first opened his eyes to the light of day in Troupsburg, Steuben county, New York, on January 14, 1872. He attended the district school and then worked on the farm for many years. Following that he was in a store for a period of ten years and spent the succeeding four years in Elmira. He then came to Corning, where in 1920 he became the president of the incorporated Tew Motors Sales Com- pany. This concern handles the Lincoln and Ford cars, carries all kinds of acces- sories and is completely equipped to carry on the business in its line.
Mr. Tew is intensely interested in his church work, devoting all of his spare time to it. He is president of the Men's Brotherhood, serves on committees and takes an interest part in the activities of Recreation Hall. He is particularly zealous in
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helping young men and devotes many hours to aiding the younger people of Corning, among whom he has hosts of friends.
On February 24, 1894, Mr. Tew was married to Miss Lizzie B. Hopper of Troups- burg, New York. They have three children: Robert H., Marion D., the wife of Floyd English, a farmer near Corning; and Miss Elois Tew, a student at Syracuse University. Mr. Tew is a member of Corning Lodge, F. & A. M., and of Corning Consistory, being a thirty-second degree Scottish Rite Mason. He also belongs to the Rotary Club.
NEWELL KINGSBURY CONE.
Newell Kingsbury Cone, who has been an active representative of the legal profession in Batavia during the past two decades, was elevated to the bench in 1919 and has since made a most commendable record as county judge and surrogate. He was born in Batavia, Genesee county, New York, on the 17th of November, 1880, his parents being Hobart Brewer and Jennie (Bentley) Cone. Herbert Brewer Cone was a graduate of Hobart College and was admitted to the bar, successfully prac- ticing his profession at Batavia for nearly forty years, until his death in 1910.
Newell Kingsbury Cone received his professional training in the law department of Columbia University in New York city, and following his graduation from that institution he took up the practice of law in 1904. Notwithstanding the fact that advancement at the bar is proverbially slow, he soon built up a clientage of credit- able proportions as he demonstrated his ability in the work of the courts. He was made city attorney for the years 1912 and 1913 and served as tax attorney in 1915, 1916, 1917 and 1918. Judicial honors came to him in 1919, when he was chosen county judge and surrogate. He is also judge of the newly created children's court of Genesee county. Devotedly attached to his profession, systematic and methodical in habit, sober and discreet in judgment, calm in temper, diligent in research, conscien- tious in the discharge of every duty, courteous and kind in demeanor and inflexibly just on all occasions, these qualities enable Judge Cone to take first rank among those who have held judicial office in the county, and make him the conservator of that justice wherein is the safeguard of individual liberty and happiness and the defense of our national institutions. The city of Batavia is proud to number this able jurist among her native sons.
In 1921 Judge Cone was married to Miss Belle Johnson of Batavia. Politically Judge Cone is a republican. Fraternally he is a Knights Templar Mason and a Shriner, and he served as master of Batavia Lodge, No. 475, F. & A. M., in 1914. He is also a member of the Batavia Club, the Holland Club, the Stafford Country Club, the Rotary Club and the Elks.
JOHN MCEWEN.
The name of John McEwen is closely interwoven with many of the events which stand prominently forth upon the pages of Wellsville's history. Industrial and trans- portation interests profited by his progressive spirit, his broad grasp of affairs and his administrative powers and thus his life work became an integral chapter in the annals of the village. His labors were manifestly resultant and his death on Decem- ber 1, 1900, was the occasion of deep and widespread regret, for he enjoyed to the fullest extent the confidence and high regard of his fellowmen. He was born in New York city, April 21, 1849, a son of Duncan and Susan (Ewing) McEwen, the former a native of Scotland. His father was born June 1, 1822, in Commerie, Perth- shire, and was reared and educated in Scotland. In Glasgow he served an apprentice- ship to the machinist's and millwright's trades, which he afterward followed in Belfast, Ireland, subsequently becoming foreman of shipyards in Liverpool, England. He arrived in New York city, April 21, 1849, and soon afterward located in Cale- donia, Monroe county, this state, where he began the manufacture of threshing machines. On the 10th of May, 1854, lie transferred the scene of his activities to Wellsville and started manufacturing on a very small scale. In 1859 he introduced the first wool-carding machine into the town and was also the proprietor of a machine shop. He was the possessor of much mechanical skill and ingenuity and his was the true spirit of the pioneer. His demise occurred on the 16th of February, 1864, whet
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he was forty-one years of age. His wife carried on the wool-carding department for a number of years.
After his death the business was continued by his sons, John and William R. McEwen, who greatly enlarged the scope of the industry, placing it upon a substantial financial basis. John McEwen devoted the greater part of his time to the manufactur- ing business and was also one of the promoters and builders of the Wellsville Couder- sport & Pine Creek Railroad, which is now a part of the Buffalo & Susquehanna system. The road was built as an ordinary broad gauge line and when sold netted its stockholders a good profit. Mr. McEwen was an astute, farsighted business man, quick to perceive and utilize the opportunities of a business situation, and his associ- ates deferred to his opinion in matters of importance, regarding his advice as sound and practical.
On the 30th of October, 1879, Mr. McEwen was married to Miss Emma Alger, a daughter of Harvey and Caroline (Torrey) Alger. Mr. and Mrs. McEwen became the parents of three children: Fannie Elvira, the eldest, is the wife of Alwin Shaller, who acts as shop superintendent for McEwen Brothers; William Robert was gradu- ated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology at Boston in 1915, receiving the degree of Bachelor of Science, and is now president of the firm of McEwen Brothers. During the World war he served in the aviation department of the United States navy and held the rank of ensign. He is identified with the Masonic order, belonging to the blue lodge. On the 18th of September, 1920, he was married to Miss Helen Giere of South Orange, New Jersey, and they have a son, William Robert, Jr .; Harvey Alger McEwen supplemented his public school course by study in Dartmouth College from which he was graduated with the class of 1917, winning the degree of Bachelor of Arts, and is now office manager and treasurer of the firm of McEwen Brothers. He is a Mason, holding membership in the Shrine, and also served in the navy during the war with Germany.
John McEwen took a keen interest in politics and was one of the leaders of the republican party in this locality. He was a Knights Templar Mason and an earnest member of the Presbyterian church. He was true to the ties of home and friendship and possessed a strong sense of duty and honor, never swerving from the high stand- ards in which he believed.
EDWARD T. MONTGOMERY.
Edward T. Montgomery, a well known, influential and highly respected citizen of Warsaw, has since 1920 occupied the vice presidency of the Trust Company of Wyoming county and is also interested in a thriving business enterprise as stockholder of the Oatka Engineering & Construction Company, Incorporated, of Warsaw. He was born in Wethersfield, Wyoming county, New York, on the 23d of May, 1864, his parents being John W. and Rose (Crawford) Montgomery, who emigrated to the United States from the north of Ireland about 1858 and settled in Warsaw, where they spent the remainder of their lives. The father opened the first shoe store in the town and was long numbered among its successful and enterprising merchants.
Edward T. Montgomery attended the grade and high schools of Warsaw in the acquirement of an education and subsequently made his way westward to Fargo, North Dakota, in which state he spent three years. Upon the expiration of that period he returned to Warsaw, New York, and in 1885 became associated with the Hawley Salt Company, with which he continued for three years. He next became one of the incorporators of the Variety Machine Company, afterward changed to the Warsaw Elevator Company, but disposed of his interests therein in 1892, in which year he was elected county treasurer. No higher testimonial to his efficiency and fidelity in the discharge of his public duties could be given than the fact that he was retained as treasurer of Wyoming county by popular vote for a period covering more than two decades, or until 1913. In the meantime he had embarked in the coal and feed business as a member of the firm of Montgomery Brothers in Buffalo but sub- sequently disposed of his interest therein to his brother, who now conducts this enter- prise in Warsaw. Edward T. Montgomery afterward became associated with W. H. Richardson in the Warsaw Lumber Company and on succeeding his partner in 1916 changed the name of the concern to the Oatka Engineering & Construction Company, in which he is still interested. Since 1920 Mr. Montgomery has been a factor in financial circles as vice president of the Trust Company of Wyoming County. Sound judgment, unfaltering integrity and keen discrimination have characterized all of
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his undertakings and he well merits his reputation as one of the capable financiers and progressive business men of the community.
On the 17th of June, 1890, in Warsaw, New York, Mr. Montgomery was united in marriage to Miss Martha Gardner, daughter of Charles J. and Annette Gardner of Warsaw. Mr. and Mrs. Montgomery are the parents of a son: Stuart, who was born on the 18th of February, 1898, and is now in the service of the Aetna Life Insurance Company of New York city.
Mr. Montgomery gives his political support to the republican party and for ten years has served as chairman of the republican county committee. He is a past president of the Kiwanis Club of Warsaw and fraternally is identified with the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows and the Woodmen. His religious faith is that of the Presbyterian church. He finds rest and relaxation in outdoor diversions and has gained an extensive and favorable acquaintance in both social and business circles of the community in which practically his entire life has been spent.
VERY REV. JOHN A. WEISMANTEL, V. F.
Very Rev. John A. Weismantel is the rector of the parish of St. Francis of As- sisium in Tonawanda and is thus at the head of a flourishing congregation of twenty- six hundred souls, which maintains a church, rectory and convent, as well as a large parochial school. He is the successor of the Rev. A. A. Bachman, who served from August 4, 1874, until his death on January 28, 1923, a remarkable record, covering nearly a half century in one parish. Father Weismantel assumed the pastorate of St. Francis church in April, 1923, and on the 15th of May, 1924, was also appointed dean of Erie county outside of Buffalo.
John A. Weismantel was born in Springville, New York, in 1879. He obtained his early education in the St. Aloysius parochial school in Springville, continued his studies in Griffith Institute of the same place and subsequently entered Canisius Col- lege of Buffalo. Following his preparation for holy orders in St. Bernard Seminary of Rochester he was ordained by Bishop McQuaid of Rochester, in 1905. He was then appointed assistant pastor of St. Patrick's church in Salamanca, New York, where he remained for five years, while from 1910 until 1923 he served as rector of St. Mary's church in Canaseraga, this state. During the past two years he has been at the head of the parish of St. Francis of Assisium in Tonawanda.
John Simpson of Tonawanda was instrumental in bringing about the celebration of the first Catholic mass in this vicinity at Northbush church, near Kenmore, Bishop Neuman coming from Williamsville to officiate. When Bishop Timon visited Tona- wanda in 1849, he secured a lot for the erection of a house of worship, which was built three years later, in 1852, and was named the Church of the Sacred Heart. Rev. Serge de Schonlepinkoff, its first pastor, was succeeded in 1865 by Rev. F. S. Ulrich, the predecessor of Rev. C. Wagner, who here performed his priestly duties until April 16, 1866. The next pastor was the Rev. F. X. Kopler, who in July, 1866, was succeeded by Rev. L. Van de Pool, who after one year was followed by Rev. T. Voss. The latter was succeeded on the 4th of August, 1874, by Rev. A. A. Bachman, who, as already stated, remained at the head of St. Francis church and parish until he departed this life. Very Rev. John A. Weismantel is the present rector, with Rev. Eugene Loftus as assistant rector.
The present church edifice was built in 1862, and in 1871 the Sisters of St. Francis came to the parochial school as teachers. The present school building was erected in 1883, the rectory in 1891 and the new convent in 1914. A new parochial school is being constructed at a cost of one hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars for the accommodation of four hundred pupils under the instruction of eight teachers.
KATHARINE AGNES GRIFFIN.
Katharine Agnes Griffin is a prominent figure in business, social and club circles of Rochester and the center of a large circle of loyal, admiring friends, who thor- oughly appreciate her nobility of character and self-sacrificing spirit. She is a "self- made woman" and her accomplishments suffer nothing by comparison with the work performed by the ablest men. She has carried more than her share of life's burdens, seeing the greater part of her family succumb to disease, and necessity forced her
KATHARINE A. GRIFFIN.
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to increase her exertions. Yet she did not remain a mere plodder, but steadily and consistently advanced in efficiency and ability, never at any time neglecting that mental culture so essential to progress.
John P. and Catherine (Kinney) Griffin were the parents of Katharine Agnes Griffin. The mother was a native of Oneida county, New York, and a daughter of James Kinney, who was a surveyor. He laid out the city of Utica and later in life settled in Florence, New York, where he died at the age of seventy-two years. John P. Griffin was born in County Kerry, Ireland, and was one of a family of three chil- dren. When six months old he was brought to the United States by his mother, who settled in Baldwinsville, New York. As a young man Mr. Griffin came to Rochester and was employed by the Edged Tool Manufacturing Company.
Katharine Agnes Griffin attended the Cathedral school and was also a student at the West high school. There were several children in the family and in order to aid in its support she obtained employment in a local box factory when eleven years of age, running errands for the firm after school and on Saturdays. She was paid a dollar and a half per week for discharging these duties and later, in addition to her school work, clerked in a tea store, receiving three and a half dollars weekly for her services. While thus engaged she studied bookkeeping in a night school and on completing the course her salary was increased to seven dollars per week. She made the most of every opportunity that would add to her proficiency and next became a bookkeeper for W. E. Woodbury & Company, grocers, remaining with them for sev- eral years. Her life was a very busy and arduous one during that period, for at night she acted as supervisor at the Telephone Exchange and in addition cared for five brothers afflicted with tuberculosis, all of whom succumbed to the dread disease. After a long and exhausting day she would often minister to them until far into the night, for hers is a nature in which self is so completely subordinated to duty that devotion to others is a pleasure. Subsequently Miss Griffin entered the service of the Rochester Electrical Contracting Company, now conducted under the name of the Rochester Electrical Supply Company, jobbers, and first filled the position of book- keeper. As the business developed the office force was increased and Miss Griffin was intrusted with greater responsibilities, winning promotion to the office of auditor. She was next appointed assistant treasurer, a position usually filled by a man, but her efficiency and accuracy make her an ideal executive, and the trust reposed in her by the firm has been amply justified.
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