Landmarks of Niagara County, New York, Part 46

Author: Pool, William, 1825-1912, ed
Publication date: 1897
Publisher: [Syracuse] : D. Mason & Co.
Number of Pages: 820

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grand master of the State of New York. He is also a member of Dudley Donnelly Post No. 133, G. A. R., of which he was commander for five years. He is also a member of New York Commandery of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion. Politically he was one of the organizers of the Republican party of this State, being a delegate in the first County Convention of the Republican party in Niagara county.

Scott, Walter A., M. D., was born at Readsboro, Vt., March 25, 1871, and is a son of S. Walter Scott, M. D., of Troy, N. Y. Mr. Scott attended the public schools at Greenwich, N. Y., whither his parents had removed in 1883, and at the age of eight- een he entered the Syracuse (N. Y.) University and was graduated from there in the medical department in 1892. During the following year he was house surgeon at St. Joseph's Hospital, Syracuse, and in January, 1893, removed to Niagara Falls, where he has built up for himself a large and paying practice. He was appointed health officer of Niagara Falls in April, 1896, to succeed Dr. J. H. Meehan, and is still an incumbent of that office. On April 26, 1893, he married Daisy Tallman of Syracuse, and they have one daughter, Louise A.

Van Pelt, John Grove, M. D., was born in Williamsville, Erie county, N. Y., De- cember 25, 1848, a son of the late William Van Pelt, M.D., a very learned gentleman and eminent physician of that place. John Van Pelt received his education in the public schools and Williamsville Academy, and in the Buffalo Central High School. At the age of twenty two he returned to his native place and taught school there for three winters, in time taking up the study of medicine, and in 1876 was graduated from the Buffalo Medical School; following upon his graduation he spent a year and a half in the Buffalo Plains Hospital as house surgeon. In the autumn of 1877 he removed to Wyoming county, where he was placed in charge of the Alms House and Insane Asylum, remaining in that position until 1888, at which time he removed to Niagara Falls, where he has since enjoyed a large and paying practice. In the spring of 1897 Dr. Van Pelt was appointed physician to the Third and Fourth wards of the city of Niagara Falls. July 10, 1883, he married Elizabeth R. Crawford of Benning- ton, N. Y., daughter of Thomas and Matilda Crawford, natives of Warsaw, N. Y., both deceased.

Stivers, Charles Gaskill, was born at Jackson Barracks, Louisiana, March 25, 1869, where his father, Capt. Edwin J. Stivers, of the U. S. A. was in command. Captain Stivers has since retired and resides in New York city. Charles G. Stivers received his early education under private tutors, until sixteen years of age, when he en- tered the high school at St. Paul, Minn., whence his parents had removed, and was graduated from there in 1888. In the fall of the same year he began his studies of medicine in the University of Pennsylvania at Philadelphia, and following upon his graduation in 1891, when he had won a special prize of a $100 check given by an alumnus to the student passing the highest examination in pathology, the position of demonstrator of normal and pathological microscopy at the University of Penn- sylvania was tendered him and accepted. In 1892 he was appointed resident physi- cian at the Philadelphia hospital and remained there until the summer of 1893, when he took charge of the practice of Dr. Leonhardt at Tonawanda, N. Y , for one year, during the absence of Dr. Leonhardt in Vienna, Austria, and in the fall of 1894 he

removed to Niagara Falls, where he opened an office and has since remained in the enjoyment of a large and growing practice. Dr. Stivers is secretary of the Niagara Falls Academy of Medicine, of which he was a charter member and organizer, and is prominently identified with numerous other organizations of which he is a mem- ber, and for which he acts as surgeon. He is also medical examiner for five prom- inent life insurance companies. In September, 1894, he married Grace A., daughter of Daniel O. Miltimore of Los Angeles, Cal., and president of the Los Angeles Olive Growers' Association. Mrs. Stivers possesses a finely trained soprano voice, being a graduate of the Conservatory of Music at Boston, and frequently appears in amateur opera.

Canfield, Mrs. Betsy D., widow of the late Osborn Canfield, was born at Youngs- town, N. Y., March 17, 1826, and is the eldest daughter of Olaf Hathaway and Ada- line B. Richards. Mrs. Canfield was educated in the public schools of her native town and at the age of seventeen left school, going to Willoughby, O., for a space of two years, and upon her return in 1845 was united in marriage to Osborn Canfield, who was a successful farmer at Youngstown, N. Y. In 1850 they removed to Niagara Falls, where Mr. Canfield engaged in business as coal dealer, until the time of his death on November 4, 1895. He had been more than ordinarily success- ful in business and had become owner of a number of valuable pieces of real estate. Mr. and Mrs Canfield had two children: Ezzie, wife of George H. Salt, of Niagara Falls; and Nettie M., wife of George E. Wright of the same place. Mrs. Canfield's father, Olaf Hathaway, was a noted man in many respects, especially in seeking to relieve the distress of others. He often jeopardized his life in his efforts to save others. In several instances when small boats were icebound on the Niagara River and the ice was carrying them into the lake to certain destruction, he would, at the risk of his own life, make his way out to them on the floating ice and rescue them. It was a pleasure to him to aid suffering humanity. In all the relations of life he was an ex- emplary man, and the community in which he lived will long regret his death.

Russell, Edward E., was born at Henrietta, N. Y., June 30, 1839, and was a son of Perry G. Russell, a farmer, now deceased, who moved to Rochester in 1845. Edward E. Russell attended the public schools at the latter city until at the age of fifteen he entered the drug store of Hadley & Duryea of Rochester, where he remained for four years, learning the business. In 1857 he removed to Niagara Falls and entered the employ of A. B. Lawrence & Co., druggists, and at the expiration of one year purchased their interest in the business and succesfully carried it on un- til 1862, when he enlisted in the ranks of the 151st N. Y. Infantry, and went to the front, leaving the business in the hands of H. E. Griffith, with whom he had formed a partnership previous to his enlistment .. During the war he served in all the most important engagements under Sheridan and Grant, returning to Niagara Falls and his business, on being mustered out as adjutant in the spring of 1865. In 1870 he sold out his interest in the drug business to his partner, H. E. Griffith, and later went to California, where he remained for one year. On returning to Niagara Falls in 1879 he formed a partnership with George H. Salt, and began business under the firm name of George H. Salt & Co., druggists and apothecaries, where he still con- tinues to do business. Mr. Russell is justice of the peace and has been supervisor

of the First ward since the city incorporation in 1892. He is a prominent Mason and highly respected by all who know him. In November, 1859, he married Mar- garet C. Griffith of Niagara Falls, and they have two sons and one daughter.

Donaby, Richard, was born in Norfolk, England, December 6, 1835, and was a son of Thomas Donaby, a well known brewer. At the age of twenty-one Mr. Don- aby shipped on a merchant vessel bound to Calcutta, where he served with the British East India Company for one year, helping to quell the mutiny of 1856-57. In the spring of 1857 he came to New York city where he remained eight months, when he went to Norfolk, Va., enlisting in the United States Navy as able seaman, on board the battle-ship, Preble, which was almost immediately ordered to Para- guay, S. A., to settle the disagreement of the fall of 1858; after a two years' cruise his ship returned to Boston, where he was honorably discharged. He returned to New York, where at the first call for volunteers, in the spring of 1861, he re-enlisted in the United States Navy and sailed on the Powhattan, commanded by (then) Lieut. David D. Porter. At the expiration of his term of enlistment, in the fall of 1864, he returned to New York city, and entering the service of the New York Central Rail- road Company, was sent to Albany as a carpenter (having learned and follownd that occupation previous to leaving his home in England, in 1856.) He remained in the Albany shops for fourteen years, when he was transferred to the shops at Niagara Falls as foreman of repairs, and is still in active service in that capacity.

Arison, William H., was born in Fayette county, Pa., July 21, 1853, and was a son of Matthew Arison, a farmer of that section, now deceased. William Arison attended the public schools in Fayette county and later the union schools at Monongahela City, Pa. 1n 1873 he married Elizabeth E., daughter of William and Rebecca (Col- lins) Coulter, a contractor and builder of Monongahela City, and in the same year entered the employ of his wife's father, subsequently entering into partnership, where he remained until 1880, when he was made manager of the mercantile de- partment of the Harlem Coal Company. Three years later he resigned his position and established himself in the dry goods business where he remained until 1892. In 1894 he was appointed secretary of the Carborundum Company at Monongahela, in which he became a director and stockholder. In 1896, upon the completion of the big carborundum plant at Niagara Falls, N. Y., he was placed in charge as resident manager. He is a director and secretary of the Monongahela Electric Light Company, controlled by the Carborundum Company since 1894, and was a member of the City Council and Monongahela City School Board for ten years prior to his removal to Niagara Falls. His wife died in 1877, leaving one son, Edgar E., and in 1879 he married Katharine C. Collins, daughter of James F. and Eliza A. (Weaver) Collins and they have one daughter, Katherine. -

Hancock, John M., was born at Chicago, Il1., October 17, 1860, a son of William T. Hancock and Maria H. Samways, both deceased. John M. Hancock attended the public schools at Niagara Falls, and later De Veaux College. At the age of sixteen he entered the office of Pierce, Howard & Company in Niagara Falls, Ontario, whole- sale dealers in coal and private bankers, where he remained until 1887, when he launched out in the same line of business with G. H. & W. S. Pierce, in Niagara Falls, N. Y., in which business he still continues alone. Mr. Hancock is one of the

leading (young) business men of Niagara Falls, highly respected by all who know him. September 6, 1887, he married Kate W. Pomroy, and they have two children. Mr. Hancock is an ex-member of the Board of Education, also an ex-member of Rescue Hook and Ladder Company after serving for five years, and an ex-member of the 42d Separate Co., N. G. N. Y., after serving as a non-commissioned and commissioned officer, for eleven years.

Hastings, Arthur C, was born at Brooklyn., N. Y., July 13, 1860, and attended the public schools of that city; later he took a course in Smith College, at Hatfield, Mass., and was graduated from there in 1876. In 1877 he accepted the position of secretary of the Rochester Paper Mill Company at Rochester, N. Y., which position he filled until 1889, when he came to Niagara Falls and in company with J. F. Quigley, built the Cliff Paper Mill, which was completed in the same year and of which he remained as manager until 1892, when the Cliff Paper Company was or- ganized, of which company he was made secretary, treasurer and manager. He is still an incumbent of that office and is also treasurer of the Francis Manufacturing Company since its organization in 1895. In 1896 Mr. Hastings was elected police commissioner of the city of Niagara Falls, and served as president of the board until he resigned to become mayor, to which office he was elected March 2, 1897. He is a K. T. and Shriner.

Wilcox, Francis U., was born November 10, 1865, at New Haven, Conn., and is a son of the late Daniel H. Wilcox, a prominent cotton merchant of that place. Francis U. was educated at Phillips Academy at Andover, and at Yale College. At seventeen years of age Mr. Wilcox removed to Buffalo, N. Y., and entered the employ of Noyes & Sawyer, lumber dealers, where he remained for five years. In 1890 he came to Niag- ara Falls, N. Y., and was identified with the engineer corps, in the construction of the tunnel of the Niagara Falls Power Company. In 1895 he became secretary and treasurer of the Niagara Falls Water Works Co., and still retains that office. He is also president of the Hygeia Ice and Refrigerating Co., and is otherwise identified with the business interests of the city. In 1893 Mr. Wilcox married Miss Anne K. Corson of New York city.

Berger, Herman U., was born in Germany in 1851 and came to America in 1867 with his father, who settled in Buffalo. After working some time in Buffalo, and in the nursery business in Rochester, Mr. H. U. Berger became a brakeman on the N. Y. Central Railroad between Rochester and Niagara Falls, He was with the N. Y. Central from 1868 to 1889, most of the time as conductor and yardmaster. In 1889 he opened his coal business, which he has since successfully conducted. Mr. Berger is one of the enterprising men of North Tonawanda, having served as village treasurer for three years and trustee four years. He has served on committees and as delegate to Republican conventions repeatedly. Mr. Berger also has been a director of the German American Bank of Tonawanda since its organization. He is a member of the Odd Fellows, the A. O. U. W., the Foresters, the D. O. H. and is an exempt fireman. In 1873 he married Anna Westphall and they have seven chil- dren: Bertha, Lena, Emma, May, Annie, Herman and Charles. Mr. Berger's par- ents were Herman U. and Bertha Berger, both natives of Germany.

Smoyer, Henry, M. D., was born at Pendleton Center, Niagara county, N. Y.

April 18, 1870, and is the son of Daniel and Dorotha (Boyer) Smoyer. He was edu- cated at the Lockport and North Tonawanda Union School; he then took a three years' course in the medical department of Niagara University of Buffalo, and was graduated in 1895; also graduating from the Medical College of the State of New York the same year. In 1894 Dr. Smoyer married Theresa, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Spoth) Bowers. He is a member of the Select Knights and is medical examiner for the order in North Tonawanda; he is also medical examiner for the Maccabees and the Industrial Insurance Company, and is physician for the town of Wheatfield, and city physician for the city of North Tonawanda.

Morgan, Andrew C., was born at Cambria, N. Y., January 9, 1871, a son of John Morgan, a thrifty farmer of that place, now deceased. Andrew C. Morgan attended the public schools of his native town and later the High School at Lockport; at the age of seventeen he began teaching school at Cambria. In the spring of 1889 he en- tered the law office of the Hon. P. F. King at Lockport, and continued there until the following fall, wnen he resumed his calling (as teacher) in the Lockport public schools. In the spring of 1890 he removed to Buffalo, where he entered the office of William C. Fitch, lawyer, and continued his studies until September of the same year, at which time he took a course of one year in the Buffalo Law School; return- ing to Lockport in 1891, he again entered the office of the Hon. P. F. King, where he remained until 1892, when he was admitted to the bar of the State of New York at Rochester, and two months later formed a partnership with his former instructor, P. F. King, at Lockport, which partnership was dissolved in December, 1894. Early in 1895 Mr. Morgan removed to Niagara Falls, and has ever since enjoyed a large and paying practice, ranking as one of the foremost young attorneys of that city.

Morrissey, Michael, Somerset, was born in Ireland, in May, 1828, and came to America, locating in Somerset, in 1847, where he remained until the fall of 1850, when he returned to Ireland and married Margaret Ryan July 29, 18 1. They returned to America, coming direct to Somerset and settled on the farm he now owns They have eleven children: Patrick, born July 7, 1852 now owns the farm ad- joining his father's; Elizabeth, deceased, died June 12, 1890; Johanna, born June 5, 1856; Catharine, born October 29, 1857; Mary Agnes, born March 3, 1860; Timothy, born July 16, 1862; Michael, born February 17 1865; Margaret, born January 26, 1863; Nora, born April 30, 1870; Thomas, born October 6, 1872; Alice, born Decem- ber 3, 1876. Michael Morrissey, sr., died February 24, 1897.

Jackson, Dr. A. W., was born in Lincoln county, Ont., August 22, 1866. His father, John Jackson, was a native of the same place, the family settling there in 1820. John Jackson married Mary, daughter of John Shephard and has made a na- tional reputation as a breeder of Southdown sheep. Dr. Jackson was educated ir Toronto, and in 1892 graduated from the medical department of the University of the City of New New York. He practiced in Mercer county, Pa., until 1893, when he entered the medical department of the University of Buffalo, graduating in 1894, and establishing his present practice in the same year. In 1892 he married Lillie, daughter of Andrew Wilson, and they have one daughter, Joyce M. Dr. Jackson is one of the progressive men of his profession, taking an intelligent interest in edu- cation and religious institutions.

Thorburn, Margaret, born in Queenston, Ontario, Canada, eldest daughter of David and Isabel (Thompson) Thorburn, was educated at Lewiston Academy, N. Y., and later on at Mrs. Cockburn's Lady's Boarding School in Toronto, Canada. In 1853 was married to John Craigie, and they had seven children, four of them are now living, David T., John R. T., Mrs. Mabel Lyon and Mrs. Alice T. Trowbridge. John Craigie was a native of Scotland; before leaving that country was employed on North British Railway as a book-keeper; after coming to Canada entered into mer- cantile and milling business; later on as a railroad contractor in this State and Pennsylvania. Mr. Craigie settled in Lewiston in 1881 and died May 7, 1887. Mrs. Craigie's father, late David Thorburn, was a native of Roxburghshire, Scotland, was a merchant and member of Parliament in Canada for several years; also special commissioner, and superintendent of Six Nations Indians affairs on Grand River; also government arbitrator and stipendiary magistrate on Welland Canal; his parents' names were David and Catharine Thorburn ; they lived and died in Scotland. Isabel (Thompson) Thorburn's grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Emerick, were natives of Hol- land; emigrated to the State of Pennsylvania; settled in township of Pedden, that State; during the Revolutionary war they were taken captives by Indians as well as two of their children, a son and daughter. Mr. Emerick and little son could not carry the pack so were tomahawked; the lives of the mother and daughter were saved. After seven years' captivity they were rescued by British officers.

Ryan, Thomas, is a native of Ireland; he was born near the city of Tipperary in the year 1842. His father died during his early childhood. Some time after the death of his father his mother sold her property, and immigrated with her boy and girl to this country in 1854 and settled in Lockport, N. Y., with her father and three brothers, who had come to this country several years previous. His

first business experience after coming to this country was at the age of thirteen years, when he was employed as a clerk in the grocery business of Samuel Few, in whose employ he remained for six years; he was then apprenticed to the ma- chinist trade and was employed at that business for several years. He was em- ployed several years by James Richmond in the manufacture of grain cleaning machinery and bran dusters. After the death of James Richmond, over twenty years ago, the business was conducted for several years by William Richmond ; when the present Richmond Manufacturing Company was incorporated under the laws of the State, Mr. Ryan was one of the stockholders, William Richmond, presi- dent. At the present time Mr. Ryan is superintendent and secretary, and William Richmond, president. The Richmond Manufacturing Co. is one of the largest and most widely known concerns in Western New York and gives employment to from thirty to sixty men, manufacturing grain cleaning machinery and bran dusters; their business extends all over the United States, Canada, South and Central America, England, Ireland, France, Germany, Russia, Turkey and Australia. Mr. Ryan was married in 1864 to Mary A., daughter of Samuel Millender, and they have two surviving children : George J., and William F. Their residence is at 47 Waterman street, Lockport, N. Y.

Rankine, William B., was born at Oswego, N. Y., January 4, 1858, and is a son of the Rev. Dr. Rankine of Geneva, N. Y. William B. Rankine received his early education in the Canandaigua (N. Y.) Academy, and later at Hobart College, and

Union College, from which later college he was graduated with the degree of A. B. in 1877. He later received the degree of A. M. from both colleges. He read law in the office of Hon. A. Augustus Porter of Niagara Falls, and was admitted to the bar of the State of New York in 1880, and at once entered into the active practice of his profession in New York city, where he has since continued. Mr. Rankine is a brilliant and successful lawyer. In 1889 he became one of the incorporators of the Cataract Construction Company and is at present attorney for and sec- retary and treasurer of that company. He is also attorney for the Niagara Falls Power Co .; the Niagara Development Co., and the Niagara Junction Railroad Co., as well as president of the Niagara Falls Water Works Co .; vice-president of the Niagara Falls and Suspension Bridge Railroad Co .; secretary and treasurer of the Canadian Niagara Power Co .; secretary and treasurer of the Cataract Power and Conduit Co .; and president of the Tonawanda Electric Light and Power Co. Mr. Rankine is a man of liberal education, ability and wide influence and is highly honored and respected by all.

Faling, Peter, M. D., was born in Saratoga county, March 12, 1833. His father, Cornelius Faling, came to Niagara county in 1839, settling in Royalton, where he practiced medicine for thirty five years, and died in 1876. Peter Faling was educated in Niagara county, began his study of medicine with Dr. Caleb Hill, of Lockport, N. Y., and spent the last two years of his studies with Prof. Alden March of Albany, N. Y., where he served one year as an interne in the Albany City Hospital, grad- uating from the Albany Medical College in 1854, when he returned to Gasport, where he has practiced for forty-four years. In 1865 he married Emily, daughter of William Robinson. Dr. Faling is a member of the County and State Medical Societies and is recognized as a man of conservative character who has ever adaanced the best interests of his town and towns people.

Davis, John W., one of the representative farmers of Hartland, was born in 1824, and is a son of William and Hannah (Kenyon) Davis, William Davis was a native of Massachusetts, and came to Cayuga county, N. Y., when he was twenty-one, and from there to Niagara county in 1843, settling in the town of Hartland on the farm now owned by Mr. Bronson. Mr. Davis died in 1855, and his widow in 1860. March 16, 1848, Mr. John W. Davis married Mary Waterman, and they have four children : Eugene, born February 14, 1849, resides in Buffalo and is engineer for a manufac- turing company ; James A., born December 15, 1850, resides in Buffalo and is in the employ of a railroad company ; Carrie, Mrs. Freeman of Middleport, born June 29, 1855, and George W., born May 21, 1861, married July 1, 1882, Mary Podgers, who died October 31, 1885. They have one son, Warren J. Davis, who was born April 19, 1884; he is now in school and is a very bright and intelligent boy. Mrs. Davis, wife of John W., was born October 6, 1829, and is a daughter of John and Caroline D. Waterman. Mr. Davis has served his town as assessor for three years; is a birthright Quaker and a staunch Republican.

Douglass, Jay C., was born in Clinton county, N. Y., February 7, 1856, a son of Elijah W. and Harriet A. (Allen) Douglass. Elijah Douglass was born in Washing- ton county, and his wife in Clinton county ; they came to Wilson in 1865, where he bought fifty acres of land and lived until his death, which occurred in 1896; his wife

died in 1889. Jay C. Douglass was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools; he is a farmer and has fifty acres of land where he lives. The paternal grandfather, Congdon Douglass, lived and died in Clinton county ; he was justice in the town of Beakman several years and a member of the Baptist church. Mr. Doug- lass has a brother, Weaver M., who is also a farmer and a Republican.

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Landmarks of Niagara County, New York, Part 46

Author: Pool, William, 1825-1912, ed Publication date: 1897 Publisher: [Syracuse] : D. Mason & Co. Number of Pages: 820

Author: Pool, William, 1825-1912, ed
Publication date: 1897
Publisher: [Syracuse] : D. Mason & Co.
Number of Pages: 820