USA > New York > Niagara County > Landmarks of Niagara County, New York > Part 41
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EUGENE FR. T. DE KLEIST.
EUGENE FR. T. DE KLEIST was born in Dusseldorf, Germany, Janu- ary 18, 1853. He is descended from a long line of noble German an - cestors. Many of his family have been at times and actually are prom- inent officers in the German army, as well as conspicuous in private life.
The name of von Kleist is one that is highly esteemed and dis- tinguished in the Fatherland.
After the German-Franco war, Mr. de Kleist went to England, where
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he learned thoroughly the art of organ-building. He came to America in 1892, and in 1893 opened the organ factory at North Tonawanda, where he employs a number of skilled operators in the building of church-self-acting and barrel organs, which are unsurpassed. Every part of the organ is made in his factory, so that each is perfect and suited exactly to the instrument for which it is designed.
Mr. de Kleist ships his organs all over the world and commands a large trade without sending out salesmen, which speaks highly for his goods. He is an enterprising and successful business man, and has built a fine residence in North Tonawanda on the street on which his factory is situated.
Mr. de Kleist married Charlotte, the daughter of the late Gustave T. T. Chelius, major in the regular Dutch army, and she is the niece of the late Dr. Ger. F. Westerman, well famed in zoological centers as the founder and life-long director of the magnificent zoological park N. A. M. at Amsterdam (Holland).
They have four children, Charlotte, Martha, Auguste and Hedvige. Mr. de Kleist and his wife are members of the Catholic church at Tona- wanda ; he is a Republican in politics.
ALBERT E. McKEEN
WAS born in Portland, Me., and came to North Tonawanda in 1862 with his parents, when less than two years old. He started in the lum- ber business in 1875 with Gratwick, Smith & Fryer, and after eleven years with this house, was with Hollister Brothers until March, 1892, when the firm of Oille & McKeen was formed. This house has taken a front place in the lumber business of the twin cities; they have spa- cious yards equipped with a complete set of railroad switches and han- dle from 25,000,000 to 35,000,000 feet of lumber annually. Mr. Mc- Keen is prominent in both the Masons and Odd Fellows and also as a public man. He was trustee of the village for four years and was elected mayor in the spring of 1897.
ALBERT E. MCKEEN.
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ALBERT DORNFELD.
ALBERT DORNFELD, of the town of Wheatfield, was born in Prussia, Germany, January 5, 1831. In 1843, when twelve years of age, he came to America with his parents, settling at the now known village of Mar- tinsville, and when about fifteen years old followed boating and other occupations for eight years. He then went to Wisconsin where he re- mained during 1856 and 1857. He then returned to Martinsville and conducted a saw mill and boat yard for some time, when he removed to Buffalo and remained three years, during one of which he was on the police force. He then returned to Martinsville and taught a private school for twenty years. In 1891 he was elected trustee of the extended village of North Tonawanda. In 1893 he was appointed postmaster by President Harrison at North Tonawanda, N. Y., and was reappointed by President Cleveland in 1895. This post-office has risen under Mr. Dornfeld's charge from a fourth class to a second class office, and he is very popular with the people. He also held the office of postmaster at Martinsville under Cleveland's first administration. Mr. Dornfeld was assessor in Wheatfield from 1857 to 1860, was justice of the peace eight years and was nominated by his party for supervisor. He has been twice married ; his first wife was Augusta M. Pritzel, who died leaving six children : Augusta Sahr, Gustavus, Louis, Mary Meyer, Edward and George. In 1886 he married Maria Hoffman. George Dornfeld is assistant postmaster at North Tonawanda since 1893.
WILLIAM J. STERRITT.
WILLIAM J. STERRITT was born in Lockport April 4, 1856, and is a son of Thomas Sterritt, who was a native of Ireland and immigrated to America in 1852, settling in Lockport. William J. Sterritt was edu- cated in the schools of Lockport and in 1867 located in Middleport, where he established his present cooperage business in 1874 In 1878 he bought the heading mill and in 1884 purchased the Middleport paper mill property in connection with Messrs. Rowley & Eddy; in 1886 he purchased their interest and continued the business alone until 1891, when a stock company was organized for the purpose of manufacturing
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box boards, under the title of the Hartland Paper Company, with a pro- duction of 2,500 tons per year ; of this company he is secretary and treasurer. In politics Mr. Sterritt has always been a Republican and for years has been recognized as one of the representative men of his party in the county and town ; he served as president of the village of Middleport for three terms and was elected president of the Board of Education in 1897, of which he has been a member since its organiza- tion. In 1895 he was one of the founders of the Standard Straw Board Company, with offices in New York, spending the year in completing its organization ; it has been successful since its inception. He is promi- nently identified with the Masonic Order, having attained the thirty- second degree, and is a member of Lockport Chapter and Command- ery, and the Rochester Consistory. In 1877 Mr. Sterritt married Mary E., daughter of Linus and Cordelia H. (Compton) Spalding; they have three sons, Linus, Frank and Robert, and one daughter, Louise. The family are members of the Episcopal church.
WILLIAM POOL.1
HON. WILLIAM POOL is a grandson of Achish Pool, a native of Ab- ingdon (now Whitman), Mass., who came to Lewiston, Niagara county, with his family, in 1811, and settled on a farm which he bought of the Holland Land Company. He built a tavern on the old State road and conducted it for several years. His wife was Susan Hersey, and of their three sons, Thomas F. Pool, the eldest, was born in Abingdon Novem- ber 4, 1800, came to Lewiston with his parents in 1811, and lived there until his death in 1886. His homestead in the east part of the town, at Dickersonville, is now owned by his son Wilbur. Thomas F. Pool was a substantial farmer, and a Whig and later a Republican in politics, but never aspired to office. He was a liberal member of the M. E. church, and a man highly respected and esteemed. His first wife, Fannie Suth- erland, a native of Sutherland Falls, Vt., died in 1850, leaving seven children : William, of Niagara Falls ; Susanna (Mrs. Samuel Townsend), of Lewiston ; Andrew S., of Sanborn ; Thomas C., of Lockport; Mary
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1 Contributed by W. Stanley Child.
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J. (Mrs. William H. Shaw), who died in 1853; Frank, deceased ; and one who died in infancy. Mr. Pool married for his second wife Mrs. Maria (Cotton) Taylor, who died in 1894. They had two children : Wilbur, supervisor of Lewiston and chairman of the board ; and Hattie (Mrs. Orrin Shippey), who died in 1895.
William Pool, the eldest son of Thomas F. and Fannie (Sutherland) Pool, was born in Lewiston, Niagara county, May 15, 1825, and traces his American ancestry back to 1635. He was educated in the common schools of his native town and at the Genesee Wesleyan Seminary at Lima, N. Y., and remained on the homestead until 18'52, being for a time the postmaster at Dickersonville. He then accepted a position on the Lockport Daily Courier. In 1854 he came to Niagara Falls, and with Benjamin F. Sleeper founded the Niagara Falls Gazette. Mr. Sleeper retired in 1864, and Mr. Pool conducted the paper alone with uninterrupted success until 1880, when he sold it to Peter A. Porter. During the next three years Mr. Pool was chiefly engaged in settling up his private business. In January, 1884, with his son, Rupert, he started the Niagara Courier, which he has since conducted, making it one of the ablest and most powerful weeklies in Western New York.
Mr. Pool is probably the oldest and best known journalist in this part of the State. His long and honorable career as an editor has won him a wide acquaintance and hosts of friends, while his ability as a writer has been recognized even outside his own constituency. . He was one of the earlist members of the Republican party, which he has staunchly and fearlessly supported, and which he has served in various important capacities. No man in the county has had wider experience in political affairs. He has been a prominent and influential member in every kind of party convention, from the humblest to the highest, serving invaria- bly as a regularly qualified delegate. City, county, district and State conventions have felt his power and influence. He was a delegate to the Republican National Convention which nominated R. B. Hayes for president, and in 1894 was a delegate to the State Constitutional Con- vention.
He filled several village offices prior to 1866, when he was elected to the State Assembly, where he served one term, before the expiration of which he was appointed postmaster at Niagara Falls to fill a vacancy.
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He was reappointed to this office in 1872, by President Grant, and served in all more than eight years. He was for some time first lieu- tenant of Co. D of the old 66th Regiment State Militia, and is a mem- ber of the M. E. church and of Niagara Frontier Lodge, No. 132, F. & A. M., of Niagara Falls.
December 20, 1848, Mr. Pool was married to Wealthy Woolson, daughter of Charles Woolson, a native of Vermont, who settled in Lewis- ton at an early day. They had four children, one of whom died in in- fancy ; the others are Rupert M., George E., and Helen E. Mrs. Pool died October 7, 1896.
WILBER T. POOL.
WILBER T. POOL was born at Dickersonville, N. Y., February 19, 1854, son of Thomas F. and Maria Pool, who died in 1886 and 1894 respectively. The son married Hattie Bradlee in 1878, who died in 1896, leaving two daughters. He served as justice of the peace twelve years, served as an appointed official of the State Constitutional Convention of 1894, and is now serving a fourth term as supervisor of Lewiston, seven years in all, and was chosen chairman of the Board of Supervisors soon after his last election in 1897. He has served his party on town and county committees, is a member of Ransomville Lodge No. 551, F. & A. M., and of Pekin Lodge No. 41, A. O. U. W. His home is the pioneer Pool homestead, a family home since 1835.
CARL G. LEO-WOLF, M. D.
CARL G. LEO-WOLF, M. D., was born at Vienna, Austria, July 30, 1868, a son of Louis Leo-Wolf, a manufacturer of agricultural ma- chinery, who emigrated to America in 1826 and became a naturalized citizen, but returned to Austria in 1856; he died at Frankfurt-on-Main. Carl G. was educated in the academies of Frankfurt-on- Main and Weil- burg-on-Lahn and at the age of twenty entered the medical department of the Wurzburg (Germany) University. The summer of 1890 he spent in the University of Kiel and during the following year was connected
WILLIAM LANDRETH.
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with the clinics of the famous surgeons, Gerhardt and Wolff at Berlin (Germany) University. In 1892 he entered the University of Leipsic and was graduated from there in 1894, receiving his degree of M. D. and passing his state examinations. In the summer of the same year he was appointed house surgeon at the University of Vienna and dur- ing the winter of 1894-95 he studied with Drs. Williams, D'Arey Powers and Jonathan Hutchinson, jr., three of London's most famous surgeons. In March, 1895, he was appointed surgeon of the North German Lloyd steamship Strassburg, plying between Bremen, Ger- many, and Brazil, South America, and later was surgeon of the steam- ship Neckar of the same line, plying between Bremen and New York. Early in 1896 he removed to Niagara Falls, N. Y., where he has since enjoyed a large and growing practice and is rated as one of the most expert young surgeons of the State of New York. Dr. Leo-Wolf is medical examiner for the Germania Insurance Company of New York city and a member of the Niagara Falls Academy of Medicine ; he is also a member of Niagara Lodge of F. & A. M., Niagara Falls, N. Y.
WILLIAM LANDRETH.
WAS born in Great Britain on July 19, 1826, and is a son of the late Henry Landreth. William, at an early age, removed with his parents to America, settling in Canada, and at the age of eleven years he mi- grated to Niagara Falls, N. Y., and at once entered the service of Daniel J. Townsend with whom he spent the following seven years in Peru, Ill., and remained with Mr. Townsend three years after their return to Niagara Falls in 1845. In 1849 Mr. Landreth determined to establish himself in a business of his own, in consequence of which he bought out in that year the Doughty, Ford & Co. iron foundry busi- ness, and in company with William Smith, operated successfully until 1851, when he purchased his partner's interest, enlarged the business and for over twenty years carried it on alone, doing all of the casting and other work for the Buffalo and Niagara Falls Railroad Company (later the New York Central.) Mr. Landreth was a conscientious workman and received the respect and confidence of all with whom he
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came in contact. When the New York Central Railroad passed into the hands of Cornelius Vanderbilt, the work which Mr. Landreth had been doing for so many years was given to Albany shops, in conse- quence of which Mr. Landreth was compelled to stop work. Later on he traded his shops for a farm of 196 acres at La Salle, N. Y., which during the land boom of 1891 he sold at an advanced figure and retired from business. He is now living a quiet life in his handsome home, 244 Fifth street, in the city of Niagara Falls.
JOHN W. LA BAR.
HON. JOHN W. LA BAR was born in Montgomery county, N. Y., September 5, 1807. His father, Joseph La Bar, came over to this country during the war of the Revolution, from Paris, France, with General La Fayette, and participated in many of the campaigns of that eventful struggle. After the close of the war he settled in Hartford, Conn., where he married Esther Marvin. Sometime thereafter the family removed to Montgomery county, N. Y., and it was there that John W. was reared and educated. After a residence of two years in Orleans county he settled in Niagara county in 1832, in the town of Royalton, and in the same year married Almira, daughter of Nicholas Palmer. Through his long and active life he has been engaged in farming and dealing in real estate. He was formerly a member of the Democratic party in politics, one of the old Andrew Jackson Dem- ocrats, and on the organization of the Republican party became an ad- herent to its principles. Mr. La Bar was elected to the Assembly in 1854. Few men in his town have attained such a conspicuous and honorable position as he, and as the founder of one of the older families of Niagara county his name will go down in history as one who has contributed more than his share to the development, prosperity and fame of the community in which he has for so long been an honored resi- dent,
A. N. DWIGHT.
A. N. DWIGHT was born in Wilson, N. Y., February 22, 185 1, a son
JOHN W. LA BAR.
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of Daniel and Delia (Filkins) Dwight. Mr. Dwight was reared on a farm and educated in Wilson Academy and at Adrian, Mich. He be- gan life as a farmer, and in 1873 engaged in the lumber business at Wilson, where he carries on a very extensive wholesale and retail busi- ness, having the largest lumber yard between Niagara Falls and Oswe- go; he is also engaged in farming and has sixty acres of land in the village of Wilson. In politics he is a Democrat, but not an aspirant to office ; he has been one of the trustees of the village and was a delegate to the State convention at the time Flower was nominated, and again in 1896 at Saratoga. In 1871 he married Addie L. Towner ; they have three sons, Claud, Stanley and Roy.
F. W. BENTLEY, M. D.
F. W. BENTLEY, M. D., of North Tonawanda, was born in Macedon, Wayne county, N. Y., July 25, 1869. He was educated at Macedon Academy, graduating in 1890, and the New York Homoeopathic Medi- cal College, from which he graduated in 1893. He served some time in the Buffalo Homoeopathic Hospital, and later as surgeon in the rail- road hospital. He settled in North Tonawanda in 1896. He is a member of the Homoeopathic Medical Society of Western New York, and of the Foresters. His parents were Joseph W. and Achsah (Vaugn) Bentley.
THOMAS P. C. BARNARD, M. D.
THOMAS P. C. BARNARD, M. D., of North Tonawanda, was born in Philadelphia March 21, 1871, and was educated at Albion, N. Y., North Tonawanda and the University of Buffalo, Jefferson Medical Col- lege, Philadelphia, and the University of Berlin, Germany. He gradu- ated from the University of Buffalo May 3, 1892, and served a year in the Erie County Hospital, Buffalo, the St. Agnes and the Presbyterian Hospitals of Philadelphia. He is a prominent and successful specialist on diseases of the eye, ear, nose and throat. Dr. Barnard's parents were
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James H. and Emma (Crowell) Barnard. James H. Barnard was a native of North Carolina and his mother was a cousin of John C. Cal- houn. The Crowells are lineal descendants of Oliver Cromwell. Dr. Barnard is a member of Tonawanda Lodge No. 247, Tonawanda Chap- ter No. 278, and is president of Fidelity Lodge T. S. of Buffalo, N. Y.
W. L. ALLEN, M. D.
W. L. ALLEN, M. D., was born in Ovid Seneca county, N. Y., February 26, 1847, a son of Joseph and Magdalene Allen. Dr. Allen was educated in the Ovid Academy, the Seneca Collegiate Institute and the University of Buffalo; he graduated from all of these institutions and received his medical degree February 23, 1875. He then spent a year and a half in the Buffalo General Hospital, after which he began his successful medical career in North Tonawanda. Dr. Allen is a member of the Homoeopathic Medical Society of Western New York and was a charter member of Willard Lodge of Odd Fellows No. 311, Ovid. He is health officer of North Tonawanda for three years and coroner of the county for one term. He has been a life-long Democrat and is universally respected.
JACKSON ANGEVINE.
JACKSON ANGEVINE was born at La Salle, Niagara county, N.Y., Au - gust 24, 1828, and is a son of the late Ferris Angevine, a leading far- mer of that place. He was educated in the public schools of his native town and early in life began tilling the soil, which occupation he has followed all his life. Like his father, he has been a prominent and suc - cessful farmer, and enjoys the good will and esteem of his fellow citizens. In politics Mr. Angevine has always been a Democrat and has served as trustee of the village of La Salle and also as pathmaster. For many years he was interested in navigation and towed the last raft with oxen from Port Day to Tonawanda in the 50's. He is a charter member of Niagara Lodge No. 17, A. O. U. W. Mr. Angevine married in the
JACKSON ANGEVINE.
FRANK RIEGER.
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early sixties, Elizabeth Cross, who was born August 9, 1842, in Water- town, N. Y., and whose parents removed to La Salle in the fifties. She bore him two daughters-Laura O., born April 10, 1862, and Emma A., born January 28, 1864.
WILLIAM S. LEHON, JR.
WILLIAM S. LEHON, JR., was born in Oswego, N. Y., April 7, 1866, and was educated there. He came to Tonawanda in 1884 and was cashier for A. M. Dodge & Co. for ten years and wound up that business in 1895. He then organized the Huron Lumber Company, of which J. S. Sanborn is president and Mr. Lehon secretary, treasurer and man- ager. In October, 1896, Mr. Lehon organized the Muskoka Lumber Company, J. S. Sanborn, president, W. S. Lehon, jr., vice president and executive officer, H. R. Pennock, treasurer. Mr. Lehon is also a member of the clothing firm of W. S. Lehon & Son ; secretary of the River Front Investment Company; secretary of the Boulevard Land Company ; a director in the Lumber Exchange Bank ; a trustee of the Roman Catholic church ; president of the Gurney Cab & Transfer Com- pany, and a member of the Reform Club of New York city. He is one of the most enterprising men of Tonawanda and drives the finest turn- out in the place. The Huron Lumber Company and the Muskoka Lumber Company jointly handle about thirty-five million feet of lum- ber annually.
FRANK RIEGER.
FRANK RIEGER was born at Baden, Germany. November 6, 1831, and was a son of Jacob Rieger, who immigrated to America in 1854, settling in the village of Suspension Bridge, N. Y., where he died in 1868. Frank Rieger had received his education in the common schools of his native place and upon his arrival in America in 1854at once took up the calling of farmer at Suspension Bridge, which he has followed ever since. In 1874 he bought the present homestead farm, then con- sisting of 150 acres of fertile land and during the land boom of 1891
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sold ninety-five acres, at twelve hundred dollars an acre. In 1862 he established a large dairy business, which he still maintains, supplying all the large hotels of Niagara Falls with their dairy products. He is a thrifty and highly respectable farmer, esteemed by all with whom he has come in contact In 1857 Mr. Rieger married Caroline Regenhardt, of Niagara Falls, and they had five children. Mrs. Rieger died June 4, 1885, and on April 25, 1895, Mr. Rieger married Frederica Regen - hardt, a sister of his first wife.
FLAVIUS J. BAKER, M. D.
FLAVIUS J. BAKER, M. D., was born in the town of Andover, Alle- gany county, N. Y., July 18, 1843. His education was obtained in the Lima University (now the Syracuse University), and he was subse- quently graduated from the medical department of the New York Uni- versity in 1867, and some years later took a post-graduate course in the University of Pennsylvania. Prior to his college studies he read with his father, Dr. Thaddeus Baker, at Andover. He remained in New York for a time, when he removed to Suffern, Rockland county, N. Y., and resumed the practice of his profession. After five years he returned to his old home at Andover and was engaged in practice there for three years, when he removed to Buffalo. After a short stay in that city he formed a copartnership with Dr. A. G. Skinner, of Youngstown, N. Y., and soon succeeded the firm in practice. In April, 1882, he removed to Lockport, where he has since pursued the practice of his profession. Dr. Baker is a member of the New York State Medical Society and of the Niagara County Medical Society. He has been married three times and has two children by his first wife and four by his present wife, Isa Oliver Baker. He is a member of the First Congregational church of Lock- port, was for many years superintendent of the Sunday school and at present is a trustee and a deacon of the church. He is a prominent and highly respected citizen and enjoys a large and increasing practice.
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PHILLIP H. MESEROLL.
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PHILIP H. MESEROLL.
PHILIP H. MESEROLL was born in Seneca county, N. Y., October 4, 1820, and is a son of Cornelius and Lydia Phillips Meseroll. His father was born in New Jersey in 1795, and his mother in Salina, N. Y., in 1800. His grandfather, Charles Meseroll, was a soldier in the Revo- lutionary war and was with Washington at Valley Forge ; he died in 1842. His father was a soldier in the war of 1812 and was engaged in the battle of Lundy's Lane and the battle of Queenston, where Brock was killed, and at the siege of Fort Erie. After the war he returned to his home and followed farming ; in 1827 he and his family removed to Niagara county and settled in the town of Newfane, where he died the following year, on June 23, 1828, aged thirty-three years. On the maternal side Philip H. Meseroll is descended from Baron Walden, who was one of the early grantees, or patroons, of the island of Manhattan, and according to King's History and Colonial Records of New York, some branches of the family settled in New Jersey and some went up the Hudson. It is from the New Jersey branch that Mr. Meseroll traces his descent. Philip H. Meseroll enlisted August 27, 1862, in Co. K, 15 Ist Regiment, N.Y. Vol. Inf., and served in the following battles : Wapping Heights, McLain's Ford, Kelly's Ford, Locust Grove, the battles of the Wilderness, Spotsylvania, Hanover Town, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, explosion of the mine, Monocacy, Charlestown, Smithfield, Winchester, Fisher's Hill, Cedar Creek and Appomattox. Mr. Meseroll was orderly sergeant at the beginning of his military career, and on June 3, 1864, was promoted on the field to first lieutenant. He was mustered in as an officer July 1, 1864, and mustered out June 26, 1865. On the 23d of August, -- , he was mustered in as captain of the 66th Regiment, 32d Brigade, 8th Division, N. G. S. N. Y.
On October 20, 1842, he married Hannah E. Stratton (born Decem- ber 15, 1825) ; she is the daughter of Levi and Hannah Stratton. They have four children : Lydia, born April 23, 1843, married Eugene Shaver and resides in Olcott ; Hannah J., born January 16, 1846, re- sides with her parents; Emeline M., born November 20, 1848, resides at home ; and Mary C., born November 28, 1850, married Solomon Eshbaugh, resides at Olcott. Since the war Mr. Meseroll has been
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