USA > New York > Erie County > Sardinia > History of the original town of Concord : being the present towns of Concord, Collins, N. Collins, and Sardinia, Erie County, New York > Part 74
USA > New York > Erie County > Collins > History of the original town of Concord : being the present towns of Concord, Collins, N. Collins, and Sardinia, Erie County, New York > Part 74
USA > New York > Erie County > Concord > History of the original town of Concord : being the present towns of Concord, Collins, N. Collins, and Sardinia, Erie County, New York > Part 74
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The reputation Judge Haight made in the office of County Judge led to his selection as a candidate for the office of Jus- tice of the Supreme Court, by the Republican District Con- vention in 1856, a year before his term as County Judge expired. He was elected by a majority of nearly fifteen thou- sand, and entered upon the duties of the office on the first of January, 1877, for a term of fourteen years. It was a respon-
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sible trust for one so young aud inexperienced, but Judge Haight has acquitted himself to the satisfaction of his friends and the public generally.
During the Seminary course, Mr. Haight taught the village school at West Falls one Winter term, which was the only experience of this character he ever had. Upon leaving the Academy, he came to Buffalo in September, 1861, being then in his twentieth year, with a determination to fit himself for the practice of the law. He was not long in getting an oppor- tunity to study for the profession in the office of Messrs. Sawin & Lockwood, then leading lawyers of the city. Subse- quently he became a law student and clerk in the office of the late Edward Stevens
In 1863, at the age of twenty-one, Mr. Haight was admitted to the bar as attorney and counsellor, with the right to practice in all the courts of the State. He at once opened an office in the Hollister block on his own account, and solicited the patronage of the public.
In the year 1872, after a practice of only nine years, and at the age of thirty, Mr. Haight was nominated for the office of County Judge, by the Republicans, and he was elected by a majority of a little over five thousand, in a district that not unfrequently goes Democratic by several hundred. He entered upon the duties of the office of County Judge on the Ist of January, 1873, and from the first, although the youngest man who had ever held the office, he attracted the attention and secured the commendation of the bar and the public by the manner in which he administered its duties. He was elected to the office of Supervisor from the Second Ward for three con- secutive terms, before he was elected County Judge, and served in the Board with honor and credit.
On the 20th of November, 1864, Judge Haight married Miss Angeline Waters, daughter of Mr. Harrison P. Waters, a prom- inent citizen of West Falls, and for about twenty years a justice of the peace of that place. One child, a daughter, is the fruit of this union.
George Coit.
George Coit was born in Norwich, Conn., June 10, 1790. After serving as clerk in a drug store in his native town, he, in
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company with a fellow clerk by the name of Townsend, re- moved to Buffalo, in 1811, and engaged in the same business, which they followed until 1818, when they sold their drug store, and entered largely into the storage and forwarding business. Their first warehouse was built at the foot of Commercial street, and the firm Townsend & Coit, and later Townsend & Coit and Thompson & Co., was extensively engaged in the transporta- tion and forwarding business on the Erie Canal, and the lakes. This firm merited and received the confidence of the business public.
In 1816, Mr. Coit married a sister of Judge Townsend, by whom he had eight children, two of whom died young. Mrs. Coit died leaving a family of young children. Subsequently he was twice married, but had no children by his second or third wife. Though possessed of ample means, he was content to live in a plain, unostentatious manner ; and possessing decided political opinions, he never aspired to political preferment nor sought notoriety outside his chosen legitimate business.
Arthur Humphrey.
A pioncer of the Town of Holland. Walked all the way from Vermont to that town in 1800, and located land upon which he began improving that Summer, and which was his home during life. The following Fall he returned to Vermont in the same way he came, and the next Spring he set out for his claim with his young wife and child, with a team consisting of a yoke of oxen and a horse, hitched to a wagon, and we presume drove "tandem." Arthur Humphrey was a man of sterling integrity and sound judgment, qualities that very soon rendered him a very prominent man in the settlement. Dur- ing the war of 1812 and '15, a stockade was erected upon his farm as security against the British and their bloodthirsty allies-the Indians. At an early day he represented his town for several years upon the Board of Supervisors. Mrs. Hum- phrey's maiden name was Althea Morgan, by whom he had six children-three sons and three daughters : Eliza married Deacon Leonard Cooper, of Holland, and died in 1835. The other two daughters are also dead. Isaac, the eldest son, also represented his town upon the Board of Supervisors and was
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appointed Associate Judge of Erie county. About 1840, he went west and at the time the "gold fever" raged he left for the Pacific coast. In 1868, he left California for Victoria, B. C., with the hopes of benefiting his health, which was poor. He soon after died. Arthur K. owned and occupied the old homestead for some years. This he sold and removed to Iowa, and at the present his home is in Nebraska. James M., the youngest son, worked upon the old homestead until he was seventeen years old, but we infer from the very successful career since achieved by Mr. Humphrey in the profession of law, that farming was not his " forte," and we read of him as a student at the Aurora Academy ; then again in wrestling with Coke and Blackstone in the law office of Harlow S. Love, of Buffalo, where he remained for a time and then he returned to Aurora and entered the law office of Albert Sawin, and after reading there for a time, he was admitted to the bar in 1846; here he remained some ten years in the practice of his profes- sion. In 1856, he was elected District Attorney of Erie county, and since that time his home has been in Buffalo. In 1863, he was elected State Senator, and from 1865 to 1869 (two terms), he represented his district in the halls of Congress. Soon after he was appointed by the Governor a Judge of the Superior Court, to fill a vacancy, which he held until the expiration of the term. Since that time Mr. Humphrey has confined him- self to the practice of his profession, being the senior partner of the law firm of Humphrey & Lockwood, which stands in the front ranks of the profession in Buffalo. In 1846, he was united in marriage to a daughter of Jonathan Bowers, one of the early settlers of Aurora. She is a sister of Dennis Bowers, Esq., late a prominent lawyer in Buffalo. They have four children, namely :
Arthur B., Fred, Jennie and Carrie-all residents of Buffalo with the exception of Frederick.
Arthur Humphrey, the father, lived to the age of eighty- four years, and the mother to the age of seventy-six. Both died on the old homestead.
Daniel N. Lockwood.
Daniel N. Lockwood was born in the Town of East Ham- burg, Erie county, N. Y., where he lived and worked on a farm
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until he was sixteen years of age. After the usual prelimin- ary preparation in the district and public schools, he entered Union College at Schenectady in the Fall of 1861, from which he graduated with honor in 1865. He then entered the well- known law office of Humphrey and Parsons as a student and was admitted to practice in the Supreme Court in May, 1866. In 1862 he was elected District Attorney of Erie county, and among other noted and celebrated causes conducted by him was the case of George D. Lord, who was tried for bribery. growing out of the exposure of the canal frauds under Gov- ernor Tilden's administration. He was elected a member of the Forty-fifth Congress, and although he was the youngest member of the House, he took an active and leading part in exposing the crimes by which Mr. Tilden was defrauded out of the Presidency, making the first and leading speech on the subject and demanding an investigation of the whole affair. He was also a member of the Democratic National Convention at Cincinnati in 1880, which nominated Gen. W. S. Hancock for the Presidency. In 1882 he was a member of the Democratic State Convention at Syracuse and presented Governor Cleveland's name to the Convention for Gov-
ernor. For the past four years Mr. Lockwood has devoted himself mainly to the duties of his profession. He is also largely interested in business enterprises, holding the office of President of the Buffalo, New York & Erie railroad com- pany, and is President and General Manager of the Akron Cement works, located at Akron in this county, one of the old- est and largest cement works in this part of the State.
Mr. Lockwood is a son of Harrison and Martha Phillips Lockwood. His father died when he was but six years of age, and from that time he was to a great extent dependant upon his own resources ; but, possessed of an indomitable will, full of hope and courage, he has succeeded, by industry and pru- dence in acquiring a thorough education and in securing for himself a position of influence and honor, not alone in his native county, but throughout the State.
Mr. Lockwood was married in 1871 to Sarah E., daughter of Thomas Brown of Buffalo. He has two children, a son and a daughter.
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O. J. Green.
O. J. Green was born in 1810, and came to the Town of Sar- dinia in 1815, where the greater portion of his life has been passed. Early in life, he took an active part in public affairs, and the people have honored him upon several occasions with posi- tions of trust and responsibility. In 1839, he was elected Jus- tice of the Peace of his town, a position he held twenty-four consecutive years. In 1846, he represented his district in the legislature at Albany, and in 1858, he was elected County Clerk of Erie county, serving a term of three years. Since then, Mr. Green has rather sought seclusion from the cares of public life.
In 1837, he was united in marriage to Miss Rebecca J. Goodspeed, by whom he has three children: Horace C., Manly C. and Nettie.
Horace C. Green.
Horace C. Green, eldest son of O. J. Green, was born in the Town of Sardinia, and upon attaining his majority, began his business career in the City of Buffalo. He is at present the junior partner of the well-known firm of A. T. Kerr & Co., wholesale dealers, on Seneca street.
In July, 1860, he was united in marriage to Miss Francis C. Cleveland, by whom he has two children, viz .: Harry C., born August, 1861, and Nettie C,, born Oct. 5, 1872.
Manly C. Green.
Manly C. Green, second son of O. J. Green, was born in the Town of Sardinia, studied for the law, and is at present prac- ticing his profession in the City of Buffalo.
He was united in marriage to Miss Jenny Lincoln, by whom he has two children, viz .: Ethel and Lincoln H.
Mr. Green is a graduate of Williams College, Mass. A thor- ough student in his profession, who bids fair to make his mark in his chosen calling.
Richard Reading.
Richard Reading was born near Banbury, Eng., June 30, 1814. When seventeen years of age, he came with his father,
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Richard, Sr., to America and settled on a farm in Aurora, in this county.
When about thirty years of age, Richard, Jr., returned to England. While there, he married Miss Mary A. Borton, and again set sail for his new home. Twenty weeks were consumed in the trip, it having been made by sailing vessel to New York, and thence to Buffalo over the Erie Canal.
Mr. Reading with his wife settled on the farm now occupied by him in 1846. Sixteen years later, they were the parents of eight children, seven of whom grew up and are still living : two daughters and five sons.
During his lifetime, Mr. Reading has taken considerable pride in stock raising, especially of cattle. His Banner Yorks, a pair of Durhams, were sold to Farthing Bros., of Buffalo, in 1860, and subsequently shown at several cattle shows in this State and in Canada. After eight years' fattening, the two weighed six thousand pounds. Mr. Reading is considered an excellent judge of cattle, and is almost invariably one of the judges in this department at local fairs.
In politics, he is a staunch Republican, as are his five sons. He is of retiring disposition, and domestic in his tastes. His chief ambition seems to have been the education and success of his children. This opinion was formed by conversing with his neighbors in regard to this. Few men have more friends, none have less enemies.
Mr. Reading's fourth son, William B., was born April 22, 1857, and like his brothers and sisters, he grew up in school, and he graduated from the Buffalo Central High School, June. 1878. He next took a two years' course in Cornell University and afterwards studied law with Marshall, Clinton & Wilson, of Buffalo. In 1882, he was elected Clerk of the Board of Super- visors of Erie county, and again re-elected to the same office in 1883.
Joseph Candee, Esq.
Joseph Candee was born in Oxford, New Haven county, Conn., July 6, 1813. Came to Pompey, Onondaga county, N. Y., with his father's family when three years old. Lived there and in the neighboring city of Syracuse until 1837, when
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he came to Sardinia, where he resided until June, 1856, when he removed to Buffalo, where he now resides. While a resident of Sardinia he was engaged in the tanning business in company with O. J. Green. He represented the town of Sardinia on the Board of Supervisors four times, 1849, '50, '52 and '53. In 1852 he was elected Sheriff of the county.
He was three times elected Supervisor of the Tenth Ward of Buffalo, 1857, '58 and '59, and and was Postmaster for a time under Andrew Johnson's administration. He was
JOSEPH CANDEE, ESQ.
connected for about a year-1861-with the Buffalo Com- mercial Advertiser.
Mr. Candee was married in 1837 to Julia Jennings, who died Jan. 13, 1875. Mr. Candee has a daughter, Emilie ; born July 17, 1837, in Pompey, N. Y .; and a son, Cassius C., born Oct. 17, 1840, in Sardinia. He has been for several years Deputy Collector in the Buffalo Custom House.
Patterson Kerr.
Patterson Kerr was born in Orwell county, N. Y., Jan. 14, 1810; was married in North Collins, in 1834, to Miss Rozette H. Tucker, who was born March 11, 1815. They have four children, Abram T., born March 4, 1835; married Rebecca
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Marshall, April 11, 1872. They have two children, Abel T. and Frank M. Emily A., born Jan. 19, 1838; married George Hanford in 1859. He has been dead many years. She lives in New York City. Albert D. Born Nov. 4, 1841 ; married Fanny Price, Dec. 2, 1869. They have four children : George A., Fred, Albert and Harry; they live in Buffalo. Ellen mar- ried George W. Arnold, Sept. 22, 1869. Has had three children : Bertha, Bertie E. and Emily J., who died in Buffalo, Nov. 3, I878.
Abram T. Kerr is the senior partner in the well known firm of A. T. Kerr & Co., wholesale dealers in wines and liquors, Buffalo, N. Y.
Madison C. Scoby,
The eldest son of Alexander Scoby, was born in Ashford in 1829 or '30, and spent the years of his minority at home. Being the eldest, he was of great service to his father, and long before he attained his majority he had become thoroughly proficient in his calling (that of miller). In the Winter of 1853 he left here in company with Addison Gibbs, a cousin, who was after Governor of Oregon for the latter state, and located at Port- land. He was soon engaged to take charge of a large flouring mill there where he remained until his return home in 1856. Soon after he entered into a partnership with his father in the milling business, which was continued until 1860 or thereabouts. In 1861 he bought a half interest in the Springville mill, which he conducted until 1863. In :866 he was united in marriage to Miss Agnes Bensley, and soon after he removed to the State of Kansas, where he established himself in the business of cattle raising, a business that he still continues. In 1868, he removed his family back to Chicago, and entered into a co-partnership with the Bensley Bros. in the live stock trade. Mr. and Mrs. Scoby have a family of seven children.
Marcus Bartlett
Marcus Bartlett was born at Danby, Rutland county, Vt., May 16, 1817. His father, David Bartlett, came with his par- ents from Cumberland, R I., about 1790. Hle was a self-made
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man, by trade an edge-tool manufacturer, and a man of unbend- ing integrity. He married Prusha Allen, daughter of Prince Allen, of Danby, and held many positions of honor and trust in his adopted town. Not being wealthy he had not much to give his children except a good common school education and the example of a life which betokened a soul of honor. Relig- iously he was a Quaker. His father, Abner Bartlett, married Drucilla Smith. His grandfather, Joseph, lived also in Cum- berland, and married Abigail Aldrich, and his great-grandfather, Jacob, settled in Cumberland from Salem, Mass. His wife's maiden name was Ballou.
In November, 1839, Marcus Bartlett married Fanny A. Kelly, daughter of Azel and Rebecca Kelly, of Danby. He came with his family to Collins in November, 1846, having embarked at Fort Ann on the raging canal ; after an eventful voyage of eleven days in the kind care of good old Captain Brayton, they landed safely in Buffalo, and after a two days' journey by land over rough and muddy roads, arrived in Collins. His family at that time consisted of himself and wife, daughter Jane and an adopted son, Edward Daggett; it was afterwards increased by Alice L., Allen P., Mary E. and Lucius E., two sons and two daughters.
Edward enlisted in the Twenty-first regiment New York vol- unteers, in the War of the Rebellion ; he was promoted to Ser- geant and honorably discharged after serving his full time, and soon after died of disease contracted in the army.
Allen P. married Edith M. Gay, daughter of Ira and Diana Gay, of State Line, Pa. Their children were: Gay, Allen P., Jr., and Fannie. Gay died when twenty-one months old ; his father, Allen P., died Sept. 18, 1881. The other members of the family are now living together at 127 West Eagle street, Buffalo, N. Y., and Mrs. Bartlett's mother, Mrs. Rebecca Kelly, now in the ninety-first year of her age, in good health and the full enjoyment of all her faculties, adds greatly to the enjoy- ment and pleasures of their happy family circle.
Mr. Bartlett's life has been one of continuous labor, never having received a dollar except what he earned by hard work and unremitting industry ; in youth, working some with his father in the blacksmith shop, and also assisting in cultivating
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a small farm in Summer, and attending the district school in Winter, where his education was obtained excepting one term at Burr Seminary, Manchester, and one at Black River Acad- emy at Ludlow, Vt. While most of his life has been spent on a farm, he taught school twenty-six consecutive Winters, com- mencing at the age of sixteen years. He was the first Super- intendent of Schools elected in his native town, a law requiring such an officer having been passed by the last Legislature pre- ceding his election. After settling in the Town of Collins he was elected Justice of the Peace and was a candidate on the Democratic ticket for School Commissioner, and afterwards for Member of Assembly in his district. His party being largely in the minorty, he was defeated, though running far ahead of his ticket. At the commencement of the late war he was elected Supervisor of the town against a political majority of about two hundred, and was appointed by the Board a member of the first Bounty Committee, and went to the front at Fred- ericksburg, Va., and along the lines, holding unlimited orders on Jay Cooke & Co., at Washington, from the county, to pay bounties to enlisted soldiers, as it had been demonstrated that if their money was given them in Buffalo the facilities were such that many of them after receiving their bounty, would de- sert and cross to Canada. In 1863 he was appointed Assistant Assessor of Internal Revenue for his district, comprising the towns of Collins, North Collins, Hamburg, East Hamburg, Brant, Evans, Eden and West Seneca, and held the position for two years, receiving the thanks of the department for his promptness, ability and fidelity in the discharge of his difficult and delicate duties. In 1860 he was employed by the census department of the government to take the census of the towns of Collins and North Collins.
Although retaining his farm in Collins he has since 1871 been living in Buffalo, where he has in various capacities been employed in the office of the County Clerk. In 1879, he was nominated unanimously for the office receiving more than his party vote, but was defeated, though he had been employed for nearly nine years as deputy by Clerks of both political par- ties, thus demonstrating his qualifications for the position.
Though politically a Democrat and religiously a Universalist
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he is justly proud of his many true and valued friends among all religious sects and all political parties. Generous to a fault, but never a spendthrift, he could not become a wealthy man, unless he had been more penurious and less anxious for the welfare of others. During the last fourteen years he has by his individual labor, earned and received over twenty-one thous- and dollars, which he hopes if it has not made him wealthy has gone to make the world wiser, better and happier. But he counts his wealth not in gold, but in the devotion and happi- ness of his family and the love and fidelity of his many friends.
Abbott C. Calkins.
Abbott C. Calkins was born in the Town of Colden, Erie county. N. Y., June 1, 1838, and worked upon a farm until he was eighteen years old. He attended school at the Springville and Aurora Academies, studied for the profession of law and was admitted to the bar in 1859, and began the practice of his pro- fession in Buffalo. In 1867, he removed to Hamburg and opened an office there. In 1868, he represented the district in the State Legislature at Albany. Since that time he has devo- ted his attention to the practice of his profession. In 1883, he returned to the City of Buffalo, where he enjoys a large and lucrative practice. Mr. Calkins is an able lawyer, whose marked points in his character is his devotion to the interests of his clients.
Charles T. Coit.
Charles Townsend Coit, a prominent citizen of Buffalo, was the eldest son of George and Hannah Townsend Coit, and was born in Buffalo, then a mere village, Feb. 14th, 1819, and died Dec. 11th, 1881. Mr. Coit, having received a fair education, began his business career as a clerk in the office of Coit, Kim- berly & Co., on Central wharf, Buffalo. In 1844 he went to Troy and became a member of the firm of Ide, Coit & Co., own- ers of the Troy and Erie Transportation Line, which then did an extensive business on the Erie Canal. He remained in Troy about ten years, then located at Albany for a time, and finally returned to Buffalo, where he took part in organizing the Inter- national Bank, of which Mr. Coit continued Cashier until June, 1879, when he was elected its President. He continued as the
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executive officer of the bank until within a few months of his death. He was also a Director of the Buffalo Gas Light Company, Secretary and Treasurer of the Akron Cement Works, and President of the Board of Trustees of the First Presbyterian Church, of Buffalo. He married Julia, daughter of the late Henry R. Seymour. and left surviving him at his death, his widow and one son.
Mr. Coit was a man of thorough business ability and very successful as a banker and financier. He was of simple habits, disliked display and ostentation and had no taste for public po- sition. In his personal intercourse with men he was ever pleas- ant, having a kind word for all. Socially he was an agreeable companion and one whose society was highly prized.
Frank S. Coit.
Frank Seymour Coit, son of Charles T. and Julia S. Coit, was born at Troy, N. Y., Sept. 2d, 1850, and came to Buffalo about 1852. Was educated in the schools of the city and at Exeter, N. H .; became a clerk in the First National Bank about 1869, and after several years connection with that institution, left it in 1874, to engage in the lumber business as one of the firm of Coit, Smith & Co. In 1877 he accepted the position of Deputy Treasurer of Erie county and continued in that office until 1882, when he assumed the management of the Akron Cement Works. In 1872 Mr. Coit married Emily, daughter of A. A. Eustaphieve of Buffalo.
Alexander A. Eustaphieve.
Alexander Alexis Eustaphieve, son of Alexis Eustaphieve, Russian Consul General to the United States was born at Boston, Mass., March 25, 1812, and received his early educa- tion at the Boston High School, and later by special permis- sion of Congress at the West Point Military Academy. In 1827 he settled at Detroit, Mich., and was there engaged in mercantile pursuits until 1832 when he removed to Buffalo. With the exception of a few years, spent in New York about 1840, he continued to reside in Buffalo until his death, which
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