USA > New York > Niagara County > Landmarks of Niagara County, New York > Part 42
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largely engaged in farming and fruit growing; his farm comprises 200 acres of well-tilled land. In politics he is a Republican and was one of the organizers of that party in 1856 in this county. He and his family are members of the Universalist church.
WILLIAM A. PHILPOTT, JR.
WILLIAM A. PHILPOTT, JR., was born at Dover, Kent county, Eng- land, February 15, 1845, and is a son of William A. Philpott, who came from England to Niagara Falls in 1849, where he was a successful contractor and builder and now lives a retired life. William A. Phil . pott, jr., was educated in the public schools of Niagara Falls and after leaving school was engaged in the steamboat business for four years on Niagara River. He then went to the Pennsylvania oil fields where he re- mained two years, when he learned the trade of machinist in the foun- dry and machine shops of McMullen & Bryan, at Titusville, Pa. He then began work in the locomotive department of the Atlantic & Great Western Railroad at Kent, Ohio, and later in the shops of the Holley Manufacturing Company, at Lockport, and thence to the shops of the New York Central Railroad Company at Niagara Falls, where he re- mained three years. From the latter position he went with the Pette- bone Paper Campany, with which he remained until 1880, when he formed a partnership with Frederick Leuppie and opened a machine shop on the State Reservation, which was in operation until 1885. In that year they removed their shop to the river bank in the mill district where they remained until July, 1891, when they sold to McGarigle & Sweeney and built their present large establishment where they manu- facture bookbinding machinery. Mr. Philpott was one of the charter members of the 42d Separate Co., N. G. S. N. Y., but recently re- signed. He was chosen in 1892 to serve the unexpired term of police commissioner of ex-Mayor Phillips and has since been chosen for three successive terms, his present term expiring March 17, 1899. During his entire service since 1892, excepting one year, he has been president of the Board of Police Commissioners,
JOSEPH WITMER.
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JOHN W. SHAFER.
JOHN W. SHAFER was born at Rhinebeck, N. Y., Nobember 25, 1822. His father, John Shafer, was a native of the same county, where his grandfather was one of the pioneer settlers. John W. Shafer left home when he was sixteen years old and went to New York city where he remained as a clerk three years. When the financial panic of 1837 swept over the country, he left New York and served as clerk in a country store two years, after which he went to Ontario county where he worked at farming for a time. He then moved to Fairport, N. Y., where he again was employed as a clerk in a store for two and a half years ; his next engagement was in the same capacity in Hulberton where he worked one year and then went to Ridgeway, where he worked as clerk for William H. Pells two years. In 1852 he settled at John- son's Creek where he was successfully engaged in mercantile business five years, in partnership with Harvey Francis. In 1858 he removed to Reynale's Basin and engaged in the mercantile and produce business for nine years ; he then erected his cold storage plant, which he still ope- rates. Mr. Shafer occupies a position among the respected and trusted business men of Niagara county. In 1842 he married Elmira Burlin- game and they have five sons : William H, Jacob T., Edward F., John R., and Charles B. He was the pioneer of cold storage for keeping fruit in this State and second in the States.
JOSEPH WITMER.
JOSEPH WITMER, an elder brother of Elias Witmer, was born at Niagara Falls, N. Y., September 21, 1812, a son of Abram Witmer. He was educated in the public schools of his birthplace and after leav- ing school took up the calling of farmer, which he has followed ever since. He remained on the homestead farm until 1846 when he pur- chased his present farm, containing 120 acres. In 1846 he married Catharine Kauffman, of Lancaster county, Pa., and they have had six children, five of whom survive: Elias K., Maria F., Kate K., Martha E. and Esther N., and nine grandchildren. Mr. Witmer is an honest and thrifty farmer and is respected and esteemed by his fellow townsmen.
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JACOB J. VOGT.
JACOB J. VOGT, was born at Philadelphia, Pa., February 3, 1812, a son of the late Martin Vogt, a well known teamster of that section, who came to America from Switzerland in 1775. Jacob J. Vogt was edu- cated in the public schools of Lancaster county, Pa., whither his parents had removed. In 1828 the family moved to Niagara Falls, where the father bought a farm and in 1836 sold out and went West. Jacob J. remained at Niagara Falls following the calling of farmer and in 1844 bought 204 acres of fertile land and founded the Vogt homestead, where his son, Jacob B., now resides. In 1853 he bought of Judge Augustus Porter a tract of 528 acres of timber land, lying near the bank of the Niagara River and about half way between Niagara Falls and Tona- wanda ; he began at once to subdivide this land and sell it in lots of from five to fifty acres to the Prussians, who were flocking into the country about that time; thus the present pretty town of Bergholtz sprung into life. He has also bought and sold many other tracts of valuable land and has been known for many years as a real estate dealer, as well as a thrifty, prosperous farmer. He has held most of the im- portant town offices, including those of town assessor and highway commissioner for many years, and has always had the full confidence and respect of his fellow citizens. In 1833 he married Catherine Bea- ber of Niagara Falls, and they had six children. Mrs. Vogt died in 1884, and Mr. Vogt married Henrietta Schwartz, an estimable woman of Niagara Falls, and he now lives a quiet, retired life.
ERNEST H. WANDS.
ERNEST H. WANDS, managing editor of the Niagara Falls Daily Gazette, was born in 1870, his father being a publisher in London, England. When young he moved with his father to Chicago, where he spent his early life. He also lived in Detroit for a time. Mr. Wands did his first newspaper work in Buffalo, on the Buffalo Courier, where he was employed for five years. In September, 1895, he came to Ni- agara Falls, and since then has had the editorial charge of the Daily
JACOB J. VOGT.
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Gazette. He is a fluent and able writer, and has been largely instru - mental in making the Gazette what it is-one of the brightest and best dailies of its kind in Western New York.
JOSEPH A. WARD.
JOSEPH A. WARD, business manager of the Lockport Journal, is a son of Abram and Gertrude (Kayner) Ward, and was born March 31, 1832, in Warren, Herkimer county, N. Y. He received his education in Herkimer and at the Oxford and Whitestown Academies, and for ten years was successfully engaged in teaching. In 1864 he came to Lock- port and opened a private bank, but in 1870 relinquished that business and purchased an interest in the Lockport Journal, with which he has ever since been connected as business manager. The firm was M. C. Richardson & Co. till 1880, when it was succeeded by the present firm of Ward & Cobb, the junior member being Hon. Willard A. Cobb. Mr. Ward is a prominent and influential citizen, has long been con- nected with various local institutions, is a director in the Lockport National Exchange Bank, and is past master of Niagara Lodge, No. 375, F. & A. M., and a member of Genesee Commandery, No. 10, K. T. In 1857 he married Josephine Cleland, daughter of Willard Cleland, of Herkimer county.
FRED W. CORSON.
FRED W. CORSON, general manager of the Lockport Union-Sun, is the son of Dexter F. and Deborah (Norton) Corson, and was born in Augusta, Me., September 17, 1847. In 1851 the family removed to Monroe, Wis., and there Mr. Corson remained until he was of age, re- ceiving a public school education and learning the trade of printer in the office of the Monroe Sentinel, which he entered when sixteen. In 1868 he went to the Daily Wisconsin in Milwaukee and in 1869 became one of the first ten settlers of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, being a mess- mate of United States Senator Pettigrew. Afterwards he published
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the Pulaski (Ill.) Patriot for two years, was successively manager of the Rome (N. Y.) Citizen and the Johnstown Republican and Gloversville Intelligencer, and was the publisher of the Ogdensburg Advance, the Wappingers Chronicle at Wappingers Falls, and the Daily Courant at New Castle, Pa. In March, 1895, he came to Lockport, and with O. W. Cutler, under the firm name of Cutler & Corson, purchased the Union-Sun ; in February, 1896, the firm became Corson & Horne, Mr. Cutler selling his interest to Walter P. Horne. On July 19, 1897, the Union Sun Company was incorporated with Mr. Horne as president and Mr. Corson as treasurer and general manager. Mr. Corson is a member of Red Jacket Lodge, F. & A. M., and is recognized as one of the ablest and best known newspaper managers in the county.
MOSES C. RICHARDSON.
MOSES CRANDALL RICHARDSON was born in Scipio, Cayuga county, N. Y., in 1817. He was therefore seventy-two years of age at the time of his death, August 31, 1890. He removed with his parents when about eleven years old to Alabama, Genesee county, N. Y. Here he developed that thirst for information and investigation which marked his entire subsequent life. For a time he worked upon a feeder then being con- structed for the Erie Canal, and studied nights. A few years later he again moved with his family to near Royalton Center, where he taught school in what is now known as the Bunker Hill and Griswold street districts. With the money thus earned he completed his education at Lima. After graduation he taught school several years in Buffalo. His labor concluded there he returned to Lockport and taught a select school in what was known as the stone school house on Walnut street. He also taught in what is known as "Lower Town." As a teacher Mr. Richardson was more than ordinarily successful. He began his con- nection with the press about 1848, and continued until about 1880. He held the office of canal collector in 1867-8, which was the only public office he ever occupied. He was influential in founding the Republican party, in which he took pardonable pride. It was written of Mr. Richardson soon after his death as follows :
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"His character was pure and guileless. Although somewhat eccentric in his manner at times, as the world counts such things, still by common consent such deviations were recognized as the product of absolute simplicity, devoid of all affectation. He was upright and just. His sympathies were quick and ever alert. His heart beat kindly toward all men. As an editor he took part in discussions of public questions than which more important ones have never enlisted attention. He was part of that sturdy epoch just antedating the formation of the Republi- can party, which will be remembered as long as the people love liberty. In every walk of life he was a good man and he went down to the grave , with the honest regard of all who knew him."
JOHN W. CUTLER.
JOHN W. CUTLER, manager of the Daily Cataract, of Niagara Falls, is a son of O. W. and Mary A. (Tallant) Cutler, natives of New Hamp- shire, and was born at Suspension Bridge, Niagara county, July 15, 1869. After attending the public schools of his native village he entered De Veaux College, and later Phillips Exeter Academy at Exeter, N. H., where he completed a good classical education. In the fall of 1888 he began his journalistic career on the Lockport Union, which he served as business manager, editor, etc., until March, 1896, when he organized the Cataract Publishing Company, of Niagara Falls, and purchased the Daily Cataract, which had been founded by his father. Since then Mr. Cutler has been its manager. He has placed that paper upon a sound and paying basis, making it rank among the leading and most successful dailies in the county. It has a large circulation, and under his able and energetic management wields a powerful influence for all that is good in journalism. In February, 1892, Mr. Cutler was married to Miss Wini- fred G., daughter of Eli S. Nichols, deputy collector of the port of Niagara. They have two children.
PART III.
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FAMILY SKETCHES.
FAMILY SKETCHES.
Sutherland, J. Hanaur, M. D., was born at Toronto, Ontario, Can., and was a son of John G. Sutherland, now deceased. Mr. Sutherland attended the public schools at Toronto and at an early age developed a taste for medicine and surgery. When the war broke out he enlisted in the Confederate army as a steward in the hospital corps, and served for three and a half years, leaving the service with the rank of hospital steward. In 1865 he entered the University of Philadelphia, Pa., and was graduated with honors in 1867. From 1867 to 1870 he was located in Cali- fornia, practicing his profession as well as interested in mining, and in the latter year removed to Oil Creek, Pa . where he engaged in the oil business until 1876, when he removed to Butler county and again took up his practice as a physician and surgeon. Later he visited Mexico and made a close study of surgery as practiced in that country. In 1888 he settled at Washington, D. C., and practiced there until 1892, when he removed to Niagara Falls, N. Y., and where he has since been engaged in the practice of his profession, making a specialty of the diseases of women and children; he is also largely interested in Colorado; he is rated as one of the most successful surgeons in New York State.
Watt, William W., was born in Scotland, October 18, 1833, a son of Alexander and Grace (Angus) Watt. He came to America in 1851 and settled in Niagara county, where he has ever since resided. He started in this country a poor man and to-day is one of the independent and substantial farmers of the State. He married Eliza- beth, daughter of John and Helen (Robertson) Miller, and they have two daughters: Mrs. Ella Weinheimer and Miss Amelia H. Watt. Mr. Watt has been a trustee of the district school and has always been a Republican in politics.
King, James O., was born in Middlefield, Otsego county, N. Y., September 7, 1825, and removed to Hartland, Niagara county, in May, 1835. After attending the pub- lic school he entered a general store at Gasport as a clerk in 1851, where he remained for three years, when he removed to Lockport and entered the service of William J. Dunlap as a bookkeeper, and in the spring of 1863 accepted a position with the firm of B. & J. Carpenter, where he remained twenty years. His next position was as a bookkeeper for E. B. Weaver & Son, where he remained until 1886, when he was taken down with paralysis and has since been an invalid. He was supervisor of the First ward in 1869, 1870, 1871 and 1873, member of the Board of Education from 1873 to 1881 inclusive, railroad commissioner for the city from 1872 to 1886, and a member of the Police Commission at its organization in 1872; and has been assignee,
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administrator and executor of a number of estates, all of which duties he has dis- charged with great care. Mr. King was married September 29, 1858, to Mary A. Barber of Westmoreland, Oneida county, N. Y., and an only son has been born to them, Fred B., who is in business in Rochester.
Rumbold, J. H , Wheatfield, was born in Tonawanda, and has been associated in the lumber trade all his business life. The firm of Rumbold & Bellinger was formed December 1, 1891, and they have occupied their present premises since May 1, 1894. They enjoy a high reputation as business men and handle from twelve million to thirteen million feet of lumber annually; their yards have a dock front of 600 feet and a depth of 1,500 feet. Mr. Rumbold is a member of the Odd Fellows' fraternity and is regarded as one of the representative men of North Tonawanda. His grand- father, George Rumbold, was one of the early settlers in the town of Wheatfield, and purchased land near where B. F. Felton's farm now lies. Mr. Rumbold married Loretta M. Campbell, and they have one son, Roy C.
Oille, W. C., was born in Smithville, Ontario, Canada, and lived there until twenty- four years of age, when he came to North Tonawanda. He was with Hollister Bros for nine years and with C. P. Hazard & Co. of Buffalo for three years. In March, 1892, he and A. E. McKeen formed a copartnership and have since been doing a large lumber business, at North Tonawanda, N. Y., handling from twenty-five to thirty-five million feet of lumber annually, and employ forty-five men on the average. In 1878 Mr. Oille married Caroline B. Dale of Ontario, and they have two children, John Dale and Norman N. The lumber firm of Oille & McKeen has large and ad- mirably equipped yards and four private switches enable them to handle lumber with great expedition.
Charlton, Thomas, was born in Ellicottville, Cattaraugus county, N. Y., April 7, 1839. When ten years old his parents moved to Ayr, Ontario, where they remained six years, and then moved to Louisa county, Ia., where they remained thirteen years. Thomas Charlton returned to Ontario in May, 1868, and went into partnership with his brother, John Charlton, forming the firm of J. & T. Charlton, which still exists. They have carried on a large timber and lumber business since that time, and in 1890 Mr. Thomas Charlton moved to Tonawanda in order to give more attention to the business here. Mr. John Charlton still resides in Ontario, and has been a mem- ber of Parliament since 1872, and is still a member. The firm handles from 6,000, - 000 to 10,000,000 feet of lumber annually. Thomas Charlton married Mary Mckenry in 1862, and they have a family of six children living: William, John, George, Ella, Mary Belle and Rebecca.
Helwig, Jacob E., M. D., was born in Clarence, Erie county, N. Y., June 17, 1862, a son of Christian and Anna (Vreiter) Helwig, natives of Germany, Dr. Helwig was educated at the Clarence Academy, the Oakfield Seminary and the University of Buffalo, from which he was graduated with the degree of M. D. in the class of 1890. He practiced one year in Bennington, Wyoming county, and came to Martinsville in the spring of 1891. Dr. Helwig is an active Republican and has been health officer for the town of Wheatfield; he was elected a coroner in 1894 to fill a vacancy, was re-elected in 1895 and still holds that position. He is also one of the physicians ap- pointed by the State Lunacy Commissioner to examine lunatics. He is a member of
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the Niagara County Medical Society, of the Masonic fraternity and is a notary pub lic. He married Emma L. Simme of Bennington, and they have two sons, Raymond G. and Herbert A. Dr. Helwig has three brothers and two sisters; his brothers are W. H. Helwig, a lawyer in Dakota; Philip Helwig, superintendent of the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad; and John, a farmer in Dakota. One brother, Dr. A. F. Helwig, died in 1892.
Canavan, Cornelius T., was born at Niagara Falls, N. Y., May 20, 1856, and is a son of Thomas Canavan, a retired railroad man. Mr. Canavan was educated in the public schools and at the age of sixteen entered the services of the New York Central Railroad Company and rose from the bottom of the ladder to the position of yard master at Niagara Falls. After twenty years faithful service with the New York Central Railroad Company, he resigned his position and was elected treasurer of the village of Suspension Bridge, which position he retained until the incorporation of Niagara Falls as a city in 1892, when he was chosen to fill his present position as city treasurer. He has been twice married. He first married Catherine Dinan of Niagara Falls, N. Y., October 14, 1879, who died October 20, 1890 leaving four chil- dren, Anna L., Margaret F., William J. and Ellen M. September 11, 1894, he mar- ried Ellen Kelleher, of Niagara Falls, Ont., and they have two children, Edward J. and Mary A.
Christgau, J. P., was born in Bavaria, Germany, September 29, 1844, and was brought to America by his parents john and Sophia (Adler) Christgau, in 1847. They settled in Buffalo for two years and then removed to Niagara county. J. P. Christgau lived on the farm until June 15, 1862, when he enlisted in Co. B, 8th N. Y. Heavy Artillery, and served until the close of the war. He participated in many battles and was twice wounded, first at Cold Harbor and again at Hatcher's Run, October 29, 1864. From this date he was in the hospital until February, when he again joined his regiment and was with it at the surrender of Lee; he was honorably discharged June 15, 1865. He is a member of Dudley Donnelly Post No. 133 Niag- ara Falls. May 16, 1867, he married Margaret Kohl, and they have ten children: Frederick J., George J., John M., Rosa, Reichert, Lizzie, Emma, Ida, Clara and Lillie. In 1889 Mr. Christgau embarked in the grocery business in North Tona- wanda and is one of the representative merchants of the place. He is also an active Republican and has been assessor for three years. He is also connected with the Fairmount Cemetery and holds the office of vice-president, and is one of its di- rectors.
Brophy, Thomas, was born at Whitehall, Ireland, November 22, 1828, a son of the late Pierce Brophy. He was educated under private tutors and immigrated to America in 1844, where he at once commenced an active career in the employ of the New York Central Railroad Company, working his way up from gravel man to yardmaster, and serving that company for forty-nine years. In 1894 he retired from work and has since lived a quiet life respected by all who know him. In 1856 Mr. Brophy was married to Mary Hickey, and they have eight children, four sons and four daughters.
Nichols, E. S., was born in Niagara county, N. Y., June 24, 1835, a son of the late Hezekiah W. Nichols. He attended the public schools and when eighteen years of
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age engaged in business at Lockport, where he remained until 1862, at which time he entered the United States army as second lieutenant in the 8th N. Y. Heavy Artil- lery (otherwise known as the 129th N. Y. Vols.) and served in several brilliant cam- paigns, being promoted to a captaincy, with which rank he was mustered out of ser- vice in July, 1865. He returned to Lockport in that year and engaged in the dry goods trade until 1870, when he was appointed a clerk in the custom house and later, in 1878, was made special deputy collector at the port of Niagara Falls, of which position he is still an incumbent. January 30, 1867, he married Frances Harwood of Lockport, and they have two children, Winifred G. and Harwood S. Mr. Nichols is a member of Red Jacket Lodge No. 646, F. & A. M., of Lockport, and has been quartermaster of Dudley Donnelly Post, G. A. R., since 1879, the time of its or- ganization.
Wood, W. W .- This representative citizen of North Tonawanda, has been connect- ed with its lumber history and business life for the past ten years. He came here in 1887, with A. P. & W. E. Kelly from Chicago, but in 1890 entered the employ of A. Weston & Son, and had charge of the yards for four years. He laid out the second lumber yard at Tonawanda Island, now occupied by A. K. & W. E. Silverthorne, and was active in the interests of his employers during the great strike. In 1894 he went into the hotel business in the Twin City Hotel, but in April, 1895, secured his pres- ent large place, Union Hotel. Mr. Wood is a prominent Republican and has been active in the interests of his party ever since coming to North Tonawanda; he is an exempt fireman and a member of the Royal Arcanum. He married Velna McMul- len, and they have two children, Edward and Peter. Mrs. Wood s father was an old mill man of North Tonawanda, and Mr. Wood's parents were Edward and Anna Wood; Edward Wood was long known as the "Lumber King" in Chicago.
Smith, Horace C., was born in Canada, July 1, 1858, a son of Phineas and Eva Smith. His father was born in New Jersey, September 6, 1799, and by occupation was a blacksmith, he being the oldest one in Western New York. His mother was born in Canada, where they were married, after which they came to Niagara county and located in Lewiston, where they both died, his mother in 1884 and his father in 1887. They had eight children, six of whom are living: Hetzel P., died in Kansas; Levi, died in Buffalo; Samuel resides in Iowa, Henry at Suspension Bridge, Nelson in Lewiston, Mrs. Jane Vaughn in Lewiston and Harriet Luff in Lockport. Horace C. was married July 4, 1888, to Mary Donohue of Lockport, and they have one daughter, Eva, born March 4, 1889, and have lost four children: Horace, born July 4, 1891, died when seven months old; two that were twins and died in infancy; Irvine, born March 14, 1895, died in November, 1895. Mr. Smith learned his trade in the town of Lewiston, after which he located at Ridge Road, and in 1883 went to Pennsylvania and Ohio, where he remained two years, then came back to his old place, where he has since resided.
Judd, Hon. Garwood L., of South Tonawanda, Niagara county, N. Y., was born at Augusta Center, Oneida county, N. Y., July 4, 1823. He was educated at the Augusta Academy, and the Clinton Institute, and graduated from the latter in 1844. He read law at Frankfort, Herkimer county, and was admitted to the State bar No- vember 4, 1850, and to the United States bar January 4, 1861. Mr. Judd married
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