USA > New York > Niagara County > Landmarks of Niagara County, New York > Part 39
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76
When war against England was declared in 1812, he sent his family to Ontario county, and was foremost among the brave defenders of the frontier. He was appointed captain and served under General Scott. At the battle of Queenston he was sent as a bearer of dispatches to the officer commanding the American forces and was taken prisoner, but was speedily released on parole. In 1814 he leased the Eagle Hotel, which stood where the International now stands, and in 1817 he pur- chased the entire block from Augustus Porter and Peter Barton. In
407
1831 he purchased the Cataract Hotel property, and assumed control of the hotel in 1838. The following year the firm of Parkhurst Whit- ney & Sons was organized, and in 1846 he leased the property to the firm of Whitney, Jerauld & Co., which was composed of S. M. N. Whit- ney, D. R. Jerauld and James F. Trott; at the expiration of the lease the firm purchased the property.
In the spring of 1834 General Whitney's three daughters-Asenath B., who married Piote De Kowalewski, a Polish exile ; Angelina P., who married D. R. Jerauld and Celinda Eliza, who married J. F. Trott- crossed the river to the first of the Sister Islands, Asenath B. going to the second. As they were the first white women who ever stood upon these islands, they were, in honor of these brave sisters, named the Three Sisters Islands. A guide book of that year states this fact. The " Maid of the Mist " was so named at the suggestion of Mrs. James F. Trott when the first trip was made by the little steamer below the falls.
In building up Niagara Falls as a pleasure resort, General Whitney was active and prominent. He donated the first building erected at the Falls for church purposes, and was always liberal and energetic in every movement having for its object the general welfare of his fellow citizens. He bought the first piano that was brought to the Falls, and the instrument is now in possession of his son, S. M. N. Whitney. In 1812 General Whitney was commissioned by Gov. Daniel D. Tomp- kins as a captain of the 163d Regt., N. Y. militia, and in May, 1818, Gov. De Witt Clinton signed his commission as colonel of that regi- ment. He was appointed by Governor Clinton brigadier-general of the 5th Brigade, June 10, 1820, and on the 4th of March, 1826, he was commissioned major-general of the 24th Division. A very handsome sword was presented to General Whitney by the field and staff officers of the 5th Brigade and the officers of the 169th Regiment, as a testi- monial of respect, September 29, 1823. This sword is now in the possession of his son, S. M. N. Whitney.
In 1825 General La Fayette was entertained by General Whitney as his personal guest, and he took the distinguished French general to Lockport in his carriage at the celebration of the opening of the Erie Canal. On October 10, 1855, General Whitney and his estimable wife celebrated their golden wedding in the parlors of the Cataract
408
House. The ceremonies on this occasion were touching and imposing, and were conducted by Rev. E. W. Reynolds of Buffalo. General Whitney lived for many years at the old homestead, which was located between the Falls and Suspension Bridge. The house, which was burned down in 1860 and was rebuilt, was bequeathed to the general's daughter, Mrs. James F. Trott, whose family still occupies it. General Whitney died here April 26, 1862, his wife having died two years prior.
Few men in Niagara county more fully enjoyed the public confidence and regard of fellow citizens than General Whitney, and yet the only position he ever accepted outside of his military offices was that of supervisor. He was a man of rare virtue, independent, self-reliant, and of unquestioned integrity ; one of those sturdy, indomitable, energetic men who made this section, once a wilderness, to " blossom as a rose." General Whitney was an old and eminent Mason, and a distinguished Knight Templar. He was buried with Masonic honors, and prominent Masons from all parts of Western New York participated in the cere- monies. The funeral was the largest ever held in Niagara Falls, fully three thousand people paying their last tribute to the worth of this honored, upright citizen by their attendance.
SOLON M. N. WHITNEY.
WAS born at Niagara Falls, N. Y., October 7, 1815, and is a son of the late Gen. Parkhurst Whitney, who died on his estate at Niagara Falls in 1862. S. M. N. Whitney was educated in the Lewiston Academy and Canandaigua Academy and after leaving school engaged with his father in the management of the Cataract Hotel. In 1830-31 they built the present stone hotel After his father's retirement he continued in the hotel business until 1889, when, upon the death of Mr. Jerauld, he sold out to Peter A Porter and retired to private life. Mr. Whitney is the oldest living native citizen of Niagara Falls and has always been prom- inent in promoting the interests of that place. He was president of the Niagara Falls Gas Company many years, having assisted in estab- lishing the works, and a director of the Cataract Bank. During the
SOLON M. N. WHITNEY.
409
" Patriot War" in 1837 he was made quartermaster with the rank of captain, having charge of all supplies and rations for troops; later he was made aid-de-camp to the major-general with the rank of major, giving him his well known title, and received a grant of 160 acres of land from the United States government. The Three Sisters Islands were named in honor of Major Whitney's three sisters. He and his father accompanied General La Fayette to Lockport in 1825 to witness the opening of the Erie Canal, and he remembers many dis- tinguished persons who stopped at their hotel on their travels, among them being Clay, Webster, Calhoun and many others of renown. He is a man full of years and equally full of honors and has the respect and esteem of all who know him. On May 12, 1840, Major Whitney mar- ried Frances Drake and they have had three sons: Solon, Drake, and Solon 2d. Drake is the only son living. Mrs. Whitney died in 1883. Major Whitney and his wife early became members of the Episcopal church, and he has been a warden more than a quarter of a century and was prominent in the building of St. Peter's church. In politics he was formerly a Whig and subsequently a Republican.
HON. THOMAS T. FLAGLER,
SON of Abraham and Sarah (Thorn) Flagler, was born at Pleasant Valley, Dutchess county, N. Y., October 12, 1811. His education from schools was meagre and limited to the elementary grades. At a very early age he was apprenticed to the printer's trade in the office of the Chenango Republican, at Oxford, N. Y. Upon the death of Daniel Mack, his employer, Mr. Flagler purchased an interest in the paper and was for several years its editor and publisher. In 1836 he disposed of his interest in the journal to his partner, W. E. Chapman, and removed to Lockport, where he has since resided. In 1838 he became the ed- itor of the Niagara Courier and continued the publication of that paper until 1843, when he resigned that position and engaged in the hard- ware business, in which he continued until 1859; at that time and through his efforts the Holly Manufacturing Company was founded and he was elected president, which office he still holds, although now in
52
410
his eighty-sixth year. Aside from his interest in this company Mr. Flagler has been president of the Niagara County National Bank since 1860. He is also president of the Fond du Lac Water Company. Po- litically Mr. Flagler was in early life a Whig; he aided in organizing the Republican party in this State and for many years has been an influ- ential member of the same. He represented his district in the Legis- lature of this State in 1842-43 and again in 1860. In 1848 he was elected clerk of Niagara county and held the office three years. He was elected a member of the 33d and 34th Congresses, in which body he made a record of which any man might well feel proud, for he was re- cognized as one of the strongest men who had ever sat in the legisla- tive halls. He also served as a member of the New York State Con- stitutional Convention. Mr. Flagler is a man of splendid presence and courtly manners-a "gentleman of the old school." As a business man he has always ranked high, while in the field of religious effort he has been an active and conscientious worker. His integrity has never been questioned, and in his old age enjoys the respect of the whole community. Mr. Flagler was married in 1831 to Huldah M. Barrett, and six children have been born to them, three of whom are living. One son, H. H. Flagler, is treasurer of the Holly Manufacturing Com- pany ; a daughter, Lucy, is the wife of J. S. Helmer, of Lockport ; an- other daughter, Clara, is the wife of William H. Farnsworth of Buffalo. Mrs. Flagler died December 3, 1895. Mr. Flagler has been a member of the Presbyterian church since 1839 and since 1840 has been an elder of that church and president of the Board of Trustees of the Niagara Presbytery.
LEWIS S. PAYNE.
COL. LEWIS S. PAYNE was born in the town of Riga, Monroe county, N. Y., January 21, 1819, the son of Stephen and Ruth A. (Smith) Payne. The Payne family is of honorable New England ancestry and its founder in the New World was of Puritan stock. His paternal grandfather, Aepba Payne, was a native and lifelong resident of Massa- chusetts. He was a soldier in the war of 1812. His son, Stephen
411
Payne, father of Colonel Payne, was born in 1790, in Hinesdale, Mass., settling in Monroe county when a young man. He died at the resi- dence of his son, Colonel Payne, at North Tonawanda, February II, 1880, in the ninetieth year of his age. Col. Lewis S. Payne was edu- cated in the common school and High School in Monroe county. At the age of sixteen he became a clerk in a mercantile house in Tona- wanda, and five years later he and a fellow clerk purchased the business in which they had been employed. Four years afterward the partner- ship was dissolved and Mr. Payne accepted a position as clerk in Buf- falo, remaining there four years. In 1847 he built the first steam saw mill in North Tonawanda, which he operated for nine years, after which he engaged in the lumber business for several years.
In the fall of 1861 Mr. Payne, at his own expense, raised a volun- teer company, of which he was made captain, and which was attached to the 100th N. Y. Vol. Regiment, later becoming a part of Casey's Division of the Army of the Potomac. The 100th N. Y. Regiment, with Colonel Payne leading his company, participated in the battles of Williamsburg, Seven Pines, White Oak Swamp, Malvern Hill among others. Later on he and his company made many daring expeditions from the vicinity of Charleston, and the information thereby gained was of great value to the Union cause. On the night of August 3, 1863, while engaged on Morris Island in intercepting communication with Fort Sumter, he was attacked by a superior Confederate force. A desperate engagement followed, in which Colonel Payne was wounded in the head by a musket ball, taken prisoner and conveyed to Charles- ton, where he was confined in the Queen Street Hospital Later he was removed to Columbia, S. C., and February 14, 1865, he was sent to Wilmington, N. C., where he was exchanged March 5. Soon after his imprisonment ended he was commissioned lieutenant-colonel.
In 1840 Colonel Payne married Mary Tabor, of Ithaca, N. Y., and they have six children : Emily R., wife of George Crandall, of Will- iamsport, Pa .; Eugene R., who resides in Williamsport; Ida, Mrs. George McCray, of Buffalo ; Edward C., of Decatur, Ala .; Lewis C., a lawyer at North Tonawanda, and Cornelia R., wife of Lyman Stanley. Col. Payne is a member of Tonawanda Lodge No. 247, F. & A. M., and a vestryman of St. Mark's P. E. church. Politically Colonel Payne
412
is an aggressive Democrat, and has served in nearly every office in the gift of his town. In 1850 he was elected clerk of Niagara county on the National Whig ticket and in 1859 was nominated for State senator in the Twenty-ninth New York district, but was defeated. In 1865 he was again elected county clerk on the Democratic ticket, and in 1869 was elected to the Assembly. In 1877 he was elected State senator from the Twenty-ninth district. In 1883 he was the Democratic can- didate for Congress in his district, but was unable to overcome the big Republican majority in his district. Colonel Payne has always stood high in the esteem of his fellow townsmen and ranks as one of the fore- most citizens of Niagara county.
LINUS SPALDING.
LINUS SPALDING, irreproachable in private and efficient in public life, was born in the town of Hartland, Niagara county, N. Y., June 13, 1824.
The grandfather of Linus Spalding, whose name was Jacob Spalding, fought for freedom in the Revolutionary war.
Linus Spalding, sr., the father of the subject of this sketch, moved, at the age of fourteen, from Vermont to Broome county, N. Y., where he married Lydia Shepherd. In 1811 he joined the pioneers of Hartland, Niagara county, where he became the owner of a section of valuable land. Linus Spalding, sr., fought for his country in the war of 1812, assisted in building the first bridge across the Genesee River ; and in many other ways socially, politically, and religiously, he was useful to the community in which he lived.
The Spaldings, of Niagara county, descended from Edward Spalding, who came to this country from England, in 1619. He settled in Vir- ginia, where he remained till about 1640, when he moved to Massachu- setts Bay.
This large and illustrious family, scattered throughout many States, has comprised, among its various branches, noted members of the learned professions ; one bishop, a general, and other officers in the Revolution- ary war'; besides several scientists and inventors, one, by his originality, giving to the world the useful lucifer match.
LINUS SPALDING.
413
Linus Spalding received an academic education in the village of Mid- dleport. At different times in his life he has engaged successfully in farming, stock-raising, and the mercantile business.
He was formerly a Whig, but commencing in 1856, he served seven successive terms as the Democratic supervisor of the town of Hartland.
He is a consistent member of the Universalist church, and by unusual kindness and tender sympathy he has endeared himself to a large circle of friends and acquaintances.
January 22, 1851, he married Cordelia H. Compton, of Middleport, town of Royalton, Niagara county. His children are Mary E., who married William J. Sterritt, one of the prominent paper manufacturers of Western New York, and Louise C., wife of Edgar B. French, who resides in Middleport, and is engaged in the hardware business.
The grandchildren of Linus Spalding are Linus, Frank, Louise and Robert Sterritt, of Middleport, Niagara county.
DAVID MILLAR.
HON. DAVID MILLAR was born in Lewiston, Niagara county, Sep. tember 30, 1842, and is a son of Alexander Millar, jr., who was a son of Alexander Millar, sr., who was born in Dundee, Scotland, in 1762, and came to America in 1804, settling in Lewiston in the following year. Judge Millar received his education in the public schools of his native place, at the Lewiston Academy and at the Lockport Union School. In 1867 he began the study of law in the office of L. F. & G. W. Bowen ; he finished his legal studies with Farnell & Brazee, and was admitted to practice in 1889. He is a prominent Democrat, and in 1889 was elected judge of Niagara county for a term of six years. As a lawyer and jurist Judge Millar has achieved eminent success, and is widely recognized as a man of ability and integrity. July 12, 1871, he married Miss Hortense, daughter of Peter Valleau, of Shannonville, Ontario, Canada.
414
ALVAH K. POTTER.
HON. ALVAH K. POTTER is a grandson of Joseph and Lydia (Drake) Potter and a son of Thomas D. Potter (born in January, 1796) and Eunice Marden, and was born March 31, 1840, in Concord, N. H., where his paternal great-grandfather, a native of Ipswich, Mass., be- came an early settler, after serving as a soldier in the Revolutionary war. He is of English descent. Judge Potter received his preliminary education at the Appleton Academy and was graduated from Dart- mouth College in 1862. He then enlisted in the Union army, was com- missioned first lieutenant of Co. H, 7th N. H. Vol. Inf., and later was made captain of Co. A, 18th N. H. Vols. He was successively pro- moted major and lieutenant-colonel and served with distinction until the close of the war, being recommended for brevet rank for "gallant and meritorious conduct " at Petersburg, by General Orders of the com- mander of the Ninth Army Corps. Returning home he read law with Boardman & Blodgett, of Boston, and later with Anson S. Marshall, of Concord, and was admitted to the New Hampshire bar in 1866. He prac- ticed in Concord three years and then removed to Niagara Falls, where he was for three years a member of the law firm of Piper & Potter. In 1872 he settled in Lockport, where he has since resided, and where he served as city attorney in 1875 and 1876. In politics he is a Republican. He was elected judge of Niagara county in 1883 and served six years, re- suming the practice of law at the close of his term. Judge Potter is an able lawyer and gave great satisfaction as a jurist.
CHARLES HICKEY.
CHARLES HICKEY, county judge and surrogate of Niagara county, and the first to hold these combined offices, has so far in life met with marked success in the face of many obstacles. Of him it can be truly said that he has risen to a position of honor and responsibility through his own unaided efforts. He was born in the town of Somerset, April 18, 1857, and has always been a resident of this county. His father died while the subject of this sketch was still a child, leaving a widow
MAJOR HENRY F. PIERCE.
415
without means, but with a large family of small children on her hands. Charles commenced working by the month at farming when only eleven years of age, continuing at such employment with little interruption until he attained his majority. During the winter seasons he attended the district schools of his native town, where the foundation of his edu- cation was laid. It was not until after passing his twenty- first birthday that he entered the Lockport Union School. Here his course of study was interrupted from time to time, lack of means forcing him to engage in teaching to maintain himself. In this calling he succeeded so well that he was twice elected president of the Niagara County Teachers' Association. While still teaching he commenced reading law and com- pleted his course of legal studies in the office of Hon. John E. Pound, of Lockport. In 1884, being then twenty-eight years of age, he was admitted to the bar, and the following year launched out for himself. A little later he was elected justice of the peace for the city of Lock- port, but resigned after one year's service to give attention to his in- creasing law practice. In the spring of 1892 he was appointed city attorney of Lockport and continued in that office until January 1, 1896, when he entered upon the duties of his present office, having been elect- ed thereto at the preceding general election.
Judge Hickey was married to Frances C. Lambert, of Lockport, No- vember 25, 1886, and has three children. He has attained some prom- inence as an Odd Fellow and is now serving his fourth term as presi- dent of the Odd Fellows' Home Association of the State of New York, which maintains an institution for the care of aged and indigent Odd Fellows at Lockport. In politics he is a Republican.
MAJOR HENRY F. PIERCE.
MAJOR HENRY F. PIERCE (deceased), was born at Wheatfield, N. Y., October II, 1840, and was a son of George H. Pierce, an extensive lumber dealer of that section. Major Pierce was educated in Niagara Falls Academy and in the public schools of his native town, and at nineteen years of age entered the Albany Law School, from which he graduated in 1860 with honors. He then removed to Niagara Falls,
416
where he engaged in the active practice of his profession until 1862, when he entered the United States army as first lieutenant in the 78th N. Y. S. Volunteers; he was afterwards quartermaster of the 2d Regi- ment of New York Mounted Rifles and before the close of the war was promoted to the rank of major in the same regiment for bravery and brilliant maneuvreing during several engagements. In 1865 he re- turned to Niagara county and engaged in business with his father, where he continued until 1873, in which year he established himself in the coal trade at Niagara Falls, and successfully continued it until his death in 1887. At the same time he was interested in banking busi- ness at Clifton, N. Y., in partnership with George H. Howard. Major Pierce was a staunch Democrat, served two years as president of the village of Niagara Falls, was supervisor of the town of Niagara and pres- ident of the Hook and Ladder Company. He was married on Septem- ber 25, 1865, to Jane E. Samways of Niagara Falls, and they had nine children, six of whom survive.
ISAAC H. BABCOCK.
HON. ISAAC H. BABCOCK has a well established reputation in mer- cantile circles of Western New York, and particularly in the city of Lockport. He was born in Albany county, N. Y., September 20, 1830, and removed to Niagara county with his parents, Jeptha W. and Mary (Hoag) Babcock. Jeptha W. Babcock was a prominent citizen and was elected to the Assembly as the candidate of the Whig party from the Second district, and served two terms, in 1851 and 1852. Isaac H. Babcock engaged in farming in the town of Somerset, continuing until 1860, when he removed to Lockport and took up fruit growing and the nursery business. He afterwards became connected with the Farmers' and Mechanics' Savings Bank of Lockport as its secretary and treasurer, which position he held twelve years, after which he was made vice- president and was later elected president, which office he still holds. Aside from his banking interest, Mr. Babcock is actively engaged in the American District Steam Heating Company, acting in the capacity of treasurer and as one of the executive officers. Like all good citizens,
417
Mr. Babcock takes a deep interest in public affairs, but his active par- ticipation in politics has been confined to two occasions when his party conferred nominations upon him, twice for supervisor and twice for the State Assembly ; to the last named office he was elected in 1872 (just twenty years after his father held the same office), and served on the im- portant committee of insurance. In his second year he was chairman of the Special Committee to investigate the affairs of the Erie Rail . road Company. He has always been a staunch Republican and was one of the organizers of that party in the county. As a business man he has for many years ranked among the most enterprising and success- ful. In 1861 Mr. Babcock married Sarah L. Newhall, daughter of Daniel Newhall; this family came from Massachusetts where Mrs. Babcock was born. Daniel Newhall was one of the prominent early residents of Niagara county. Mr. and Mrs Babcock have had four chil dren, two deceased ; the living are Mary E., residing at home, and Henry J., engaged in business with his father.
JOHN HODGE.
JOHN HODGE was born in in Jefferson county, N. Y., January 13, 1837, and settled in Lockport when it was still a village. He for a short time studied law, but the inherent business qualities of his nature led to his becoming connected with the Merchant's Gargling Oil Com- pany, of which corporation he became secretary and sole manager. Energetic and conservative in character, he by his own efforts accu- mulated a fortune which he largely employed in building up his adopt- ed city, and in the promotion of religious and educational institutions. The Hodge Opera House, which was erected by him, was destroyed by fire soon after its completion, but was rebuilt by him and at the present time is one of the handsomest business blocks in Lockport. The Lockport Water Supply Company, the Lockport Street Railroad Company, of both of which he was president, the Lockport and Buf- falo Railroad Company, of which he was treasurer, and numerous other enterprises availed themselves of his invincible energy, capacity for organization and prompt decision. His financial responsibility, integ-
53
418
rity of character and executive ability led those who knew him to call his services into requisition to an almost unlimited extent. He was nine years president of the Lockport Board of Education ; for several years treasurer of the Order of A. O. U. W., and the grand master of the Grand Lodge of Masons of this State during the last year of his life. In the full activity of business he was ever responsive to demands for charity and most generous in his benefactions. His untimely death, which took place August 7, 1895, was an irreparable loss not only to his widow, but to the entire community of the city to whose interests he was so devoted.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.