Landmarks of Niagara County, New York, Part 49

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

USA > New York > Niagara County > Landmarks of Niagara County, New York > Part 49

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Swift, Elisha B., was born in the town of Henrietta, Monroe county, February 4, 1823, a son of Henry and Dorcus (Sherwood) Swift. Henry Swift was born in Dutchess county, February 15, 1791; they came to Monroe county about 1814, settling in Henrietta, where they were pioneers of the town and where he followed his trade of blacksmith, in connection with farming. In the spring of 1844 he set- tled in Cambria, purchasing 160 acres of land, and continued farming and working at his trade until his death, June 24, 1858, aged sixty seven years. Mrs. Swift died October 11, 1881. Elisha B. Swift's grandfather, Lot Swift, was born in Cape Cod, Mass., March 13, 1753, and died August 10, 1840. He served in the Revolutionary war, enlisting three times as fifer. Elisha B. Swift was reared on a farm and taught school winters and carried on farming summers. April 4, 1850, he married Adaline F., daughter of Smith Brown. Mrs. Swift died October 11, 1890, leaving no children. December 21, 1892, he married Ella M., daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth J. Traviss, and they have two children; Elisha Barlow, jr., and Milo T. In 1855 Mr. Swift removed to Lockport and engaged in the grocery and provision business with his brother, M. G Swift, which he continued successfully until 1876, when he sold out and came to Cambria, settling on the homestead farm and has since carried on general farming and fruit culture. In politics Mr. Swift is a Dem- ocrat and in early life was town superintendent of schools. They support the Cam- bria Center Congregational church.

Silsby, Charles D., was born in Monroe county, N.Y., February 27, 1830, and is a son of William C. and Mary Sophia Silsby. William C. Silsby was born in Windsor, Vt., and Mrs. Silsby in New York; they came to Niagara county in 1842, settling in the town of Hartland, where he was an edged tool manufacturer. There were eleven children in this family: Jay, died in the army; Alfred and John, both de- ceased; Charles J., George W., John, Dewitt, Horace, Elizabeth, Emma and Lydia. John was in the army and was shot through the left lung at Antietam, but recovered and is now living. William Silsby died June 22, 1895, and his wife in 1893. They were strong advocates of temperance and lived up to it. Charles D. Silsby married

Sarah Bordwell, January 1, 1852, daughter of Enoch and Malah Bordwell. Mr. Bordwell was born January 31, 1807, in New York, and Mrs. Bordwell January 22, 1810, in Massachusetts. They came to Niagara county in 1835, locating in Royal- ton, where he engaged in farming. They had eleven children: Laura, Jonathan, Adelbert, Altah, Hiram (was killed in the battle of Cold Harbor), Orville, Lucy Welcher (wife of Andrew Welcher), Robert, Roxy Wisner. Mr. and Mrs. Silsby are the parents of eight children: William Cady, born January 10, 1853, resides with his parents; Myron W., born December 19, 1854, resides in Hartland; Mary Agnes Reed, born June 10, 1857, resides on the Ridge in Hartland; Judson D., born No- vember 10, 1859, died May 22, 1861; Emma Pierson, born January 10, 1862, died August 12, 1895; Hiram J., born July 11, 1864, resides in Hartland; Clara O. Seward, born August 3, 1867, resides in Hartland; and Addie E. Vedder, born December 30, 1870, died March 10, 1897, and left a husband and two children. Mr. Silsby is a member of the A. O. U. W. and is a stalwart Republican. He has a fine, well im- proved farm of 133 acres, with a fine residence and barns; the barns he framed him- self and built the walls. They are entertaining and hospitable people, and are en- joying the fruits of honest industry.

Shaw, George E., the present supervisor of Newfane, was born at Eagle Harbor, Orleans county, October 12, 1858, and is a son of David and Mary Shaw. David Shaw was born in Cayuga county, N. Y., in 1810, and came to Orleans county when a young man; he was a farmer in his younger days and later in life lived a retired life; he died at the age of eighty-three years. Mrs. Shaw was a native of Michigan and was of German descent; she now resides in the town of Albion, Orleans county. They have five children and all are now living: Emma Barrows, resides at Eagle Harbor; George E .; Hattie, now Mrs. Cleaver, resides in the town of Albion; Charles D., a merchant at Olcott; and Kittie, now Mrs. Kimball, resides in the town of Albion. George E. Shaw received his education at Eagle Harbor, after which he clerked in a store at Waterport, where he remained one year, and clerked one year at Olcott. He then bought a stock of goods at Newfane Station and continued the business two years, then moved to Olcott, where he continued in business for eight years and then sold out to his brother and bought a farm at Newfane Station. In the spring of 1895 Mr. Shaw was elected supervisor of his town and was renominated and elected for the office in the spring of 1897. January 27, 1884, he married Jessie Gaskell (born June 3, 1862), and they have one daughter, Flossie May, born July 30, 1892. Mr. Shaw was postmaster at Olcott under Cleveland's first administration and at Newfane Station in 1883-84.

Brundage, James T., was born at Homer, Ontario, Canada, July 30, 1865. His father and grandfather were natives of Connecticut, and his father removed to Can- ada in 1815. James T. Brundage received his education in the Wilson (N. Y.) Academy and early in life established himself in the boot and shoe business at Niag- ara Falls, in which he continued for eight or nine years; later he purchased a well equipped livery stable and has since successfully carried on a general livery business. In 1889 he formed a partnership with Mr. Miller and built the present big stables, where they keep in active service over 150 head of fine horses. They are known far and wide as the Miller & Brundage Coach Co., and do a very large and profitable business. Mr. Brundage is an extensive property owner and during the past fifteen

years has given the greater portion of his time to the real estate business, in which he has been generally successful. May 17, 1857, he married Mary A. Shepard of Niagara Falls. Mr. Brundage is a stockholder in the Buttery Rapids Co., and is a prominent member of the Clifton Lodge No. 254, F. & A. M.

Wilcox, William W., was born at Cambridge, N. Y., July 21, 1861, and was a son of Garrett W. Wilcox, banker, now deceased. He attended the Rochester Academy and Rochester Business University, and at the age of eighteen removed to St. Paul, Minn., where he was engaged in the hardware business for five years; he then re- turned to Brockport, where, in company with his brother, C. G. Wilcox, he estab- lished himself in the men's furnishing business, which he carried on for two years. He was at that time appointed special agent for the Washington Life and Manhat- tan Life Insurance Companies of New York, and acted in that capacity for several years. Later he removed to Niagara Falls, where he carried on an insurance busi- ness until 1895, when he and other prominent business men of Niagara Falls incor- porated the Electric City Bank, of which he became teller and retained that position until April 1, 1897, at which time he resigned to give his attention to real estate and insurance. March 21, 1882, Mr. Wilcox married Louise M. Sprong of Spencerport, N. Y., and they have three children, Garrett W., Annie R. and Blair S. Mr. Wilcox is treasurer of the Riverdale Cemetery Association; treasurer of the Hygeia Ice and Refrigerating Company, and president of the Niagara Falls Land Investment Com- pany. He is a member of Niagara Frontier Lodge No. 132, F. & A. M., of Niagara Chapter No. 200, R. A. M., Niagara Council No. 1,397, Royal Arcanum, and of Niagara Commandery No. 64.

Belden, George D., was born at Albany, N. Y., August 14, 1839, and is a son of Selah Belden, who was for years a dealer in boots and shoes in that city. George D. Belden was educated at the public schools and Classical Institute at Albany, and later attended the Western Reserve Seminary in Northern Ohio. At the age of six- teen he went to the pineries on Green Bay, Wis., as clerk for the New York Lumber Company, just then organized. In 1857 he moved to Chicago, where he studied dentistry in the office of Drs. Quinlan and Cushing for two years, later on graduat- ing at the Ohio College of Dental Surgery at Cincinnati. In the summer of 1862 he enlisted from Chicago in the Marine Artillery of the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron. Returning to Chicago in the spring of 1863, he at once entered the ser- vice of the C. A. & St. L. Railroad Company, and was almost continuously engaged in railroading on Illinois and New York railroads as agent, telegrapher and chief train dispatcher until 1884. As chief train dispatcher he served the D., L. & W. and D. & H. C. Co.'s Saratoga division for a number of years. In 1884 he organized and successfully conducted the Vermont Slate Trust, comprising all the important roofing slate quarries in "Sea-green" output, having his headquarters at Granville, Washington county, N. Y. In 1881 he accepted the general New England agency, with headquarters at Poultney, Vt., for the Niagara Mercantile Agency and held that position until 1890, when he removed to Niagara Falls and opened an office in real estate and ticket brokerage business, in partnership with Arthur N. Allen, at 44 Falls street, in which he is now engaged. He is a member of the Episcopal church, a comrade in the Grand Army of the Republic and aided in organizing Joyce Post No. 49, in Poultney, Vt.

Canavan, James W., was born at Niagara Falls, N. Y., January 22, 1861, and is a son of Thomas Canavan, a retired railroad man. Mr. Canavan attended the public schools at Niagara Falls until, at the age of eighteen, he entered the employ of the New York Central Railroad Company as a brakeman, in which capacity he served for six years, when he was promoted to the position of freight conductor, which he held until 1887, at which time he was appointed deputy collector of customs at the Custom House, Niagara Falls, where he remained four years. In 1891 he opened the Colonnade Hotel at Niagara Falls, which he still operates successfully in con- junction with the new State Park Hotel, built in 1895, and opened to the public on July 15, 1896. Mr. Canavan is also proprietor and manager of the Lyceum Theater at Niagara Falls and is otherwise identified with the business interests of that city. July 15, 1886, he married Ellen Donnelly of Niagara Falls, and they have twin sons and two daughters. Mr. Canavan is a prominent member of the C. M. B. A., the B. P. O. E., Rescue Hook and Ladder Company and other organizations of Niagara Falls. He was elected alderman of Niagara Falls in March, 1895, and served two years.

Van Cleef, Lawrence, was born at Seneca Falls, N. Y., and received his education in the public schools of that place. At the age of eighteen he entered the grocery business at Seneca Falls, and remained four years and then removed to Niagara Falls, where he entered the employ of the New York Central Railroad Company as clerk in the freight department. In 1895 he resigned that position and established himself in the insurance business, in which he is at present successfully representing five leading fire, life and accident companies. He is a member of Niagara Frontier Lodge No. 132, F. & A. M., of the Knights Templar, Niagara Commandery, and of Ismailia Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine of Buffalo, and an honorary member of the fire department of Niagara Falls. In March, 1897, he was elected alderman from the First ward of that city.

Munson, Hiram D., was born at Bowmansville, Ontario, Can., August 11, 1826, a son of Truman M. Munson, a shipbuilder, now deceased. He worked his way through boarding school at Buffalo, whither his parents had removed during his in- fancy, and early in life learned the nursery business, which he has always followed. In 1867 he removed to Grand Island, where he bought a farm and carried on fruit growing and the nursery business for ten years, and then removed to La Salle, where he has since remained, engaging in fruit growing. January 12, 1853, he mar- ried Mary Dickinson of Buffalo. Mr. Munson has practically retired from active business and now lives a quiet life respected by all. In politics he always has been an ardent Republican, and has served the town of Grand Island as assessor. He is a member of Frontier Lodge No. 132, F. & A. M., of Niagara Falls and of the La Salle Lodge No. 17, A. O. U. W.

Albert, John, was born at Buffalo, N. Y., March 26, 1844, a son of the late John Albert, a manufacturer of boots and shoes. He attended a private school at Buf- falo and at the age of thirteen began learning the trade of his father. In 1875 he removed to La Salle, where he bought out the interest of his wife's father in the Cayuga Hotel, of which he remained proprietor until 1893, at which time he prac- tically retired from business. May 4, 1871, he married Catherine S. Wattengel of

La Salle, and they have one son, Victor A. Mr. Albert has always been prominent in the public affairs of La Salle, holding the office of school trustee for three years and is now a justice of the peace, elected in 1895, for a term of four years. In poli- tics he always has been an ardent Republican. He is a charter member of Niagara Lodge No. 17, A. O. U. W.

Luick, Leonard J., was born in the town of Niagara, N. Y., July 20, 1866, a son of Jacob Luick, a prosperous farmer, now retired. He attended the public schools of Niagara county and began early in life to till the soil on his father's farm. In 1888 he established himself in the coal trade at La Salle and has followed that busi- ness ever since. October 14, 1894, he married Zora Greiner of La Salle, and they have one son, Leon. Mr. Luick is an energetic and ambitious young business man and is held in high esteem by his townsmen. He has been councilman for five years and is now filling the office of highway commissioner.

Cooley, Mark O., was born at Canandaigua, N. Y., December 25, 1861, and was a son of Nathaniel N. Cooley, a farmer of that place, now deceased. Mr. Cooley was educated in the Canandaigua Academy and at the age of seventeen returned to the homestead farm, where he tilled the soil. From 1882 until 1885 he studied dentistry in the office with C. J. Andruss of Canandaigua, at which time he went to Philadel- phia, Pa., where he completed a two years' course in the Philadelphia Dental College and was graduated in 1887. In the same year he came to Niagara Falls, where he has since had a large and successful practice in dentistry.

McEwen, William D., was born at Youngstown, N. Y., June 27, 1857, a son of John C. McEwen, a farmer of that place now retired. William McEwen was ed- ucated in the public schools of Niagara county, and at the age of eighteen entered the dental rooms of Dr. L. D. Walters, at Lockport, where he studied for two years and later served with Dr. Charles Watts, at Lockport, for two years more, when he removed to Suspension Bridge and at once began the successful practice of his pro- fession at Suspension Bridge, where he still continues. October 16, 1889, Dr. Mc- Ewen married Priscilla Buttery, daughter of the late John Milton Buttery, of Sus- pension Bridge; of this union a daughter was born, Bernice Priscilla, born November 10, 1890, and died January 24, 1896.

Richmond, Hon. William, was born in Worcestershire, England, October 6, 1847, a son of John Richmond, a miller of that section, who came to America in 1863, set- tling at Oswego, N. Y., and now deceased. William Richmond received his educa- tion at a private school in England, and removed with his parents to America in 1863. In 1868 he entered the employ of his uncle, James Richmond, an extensive manufacturer of milling machinery at Lockport, and upon the decease of his uncle in 1873, he succeeded to the business and has since carried it on successfully. In 1881 he formed a stock company of which he became president and since that year the business has been controlled by that company. In 1895 Mr. Richmond was ap- pointed by President Cleveland to the position which he now holds, of collector of the port at Niagara Falls and has since resided in that city. Mr. Richmond has been prominent in politics in the city of Lockport, having been elected alderman of the First ward in 1881, serving until 1883, when he was elected mayor of the city and served in that capacity until 1884. In 1889 he was elected alderman of the Third

ward and held that office for two years; and in the same year, 1889, was elected to the Board of Education and served until 1895. He was president of the Board of Water Works from 1884 to 1887 and was president of the Lockport Business Men's Association for a number of years prior to his removal to Niagara Falls. He has been a member of Niagara Lodge No. 375, F. & A. M., since 1869 and a member of the Royal Arcanum since 1882, at Lockport. October 12, 1870, he married Mary McGill of Lockport, daughter of William and Mary (Prentice) McGill, and they have three sons and two daughters.

Guillemont, Frank, M.D., was born at St. Anne, Ill., August 12, 1872, and is a son of the Rev. Charles B. Guillemont, D. D., Ph. D., of Paris, France, now retired and a resident of London, Ontario, Canada. Frank Guillemont attended the grammar schools at London, Can., whither his parents removed in 1880, and at the age of seventeen he entered the Western University at London, Ont., from which he was graduated from the medical department in 1893. From that time until the spring of 1894 he was in attendance at the London, Ont., Insane Asylum, when he came to Niagara Falls, N. Y., and began the practice of medicine in which he has already gained prominence.

Parker, Spencer B., was born at Versailles, N. Y., July 21, 1859, a son of Myron M. Parker, a farmer of that place, now retired. Spencer Parker received his educa- tion in the public schools of his native town, and later attended the Chamberlain In- stitute and Female College at Randolph, N. Y., from which he was graduated in 1883 and at once began the study of law in the office of Judge William H. Hender- son, at Randolph. In 1885 he entered the Albany Law School and was graduated with honors in 1886, and soon afterward removed to Salamanca, N. Y., where he was engaged in legal practice with Judge O. S. Vreeland until the spring of 1887, at which time he was admitted to the bar of the State of New York. In the fall of the same year he returned to his home at Versailles, and from that time until 1892 taught in the public schools at that place. He then removed to Niagara Falls and formed a partnership with William J. Bryan, with whom he continued to practice law until 1893, when the partnership was dissolved and since that time he has successfully practiced alone. In 1896 Mr. Parker was elected police justice of Niagara Falls, but resigned that position early in 1897, as it interfered with his prac- tice of law. June 14, 1887, he married Emma C. Owen of Randolph, and they have one child, Alan Vreeland.

Hough, Walter D., M. D., was born at Newfane, N. Y., October 13, 1858, and is a son of Torrence and Jane (Wolverton) Hough, he a farmer of that section, now re- tired and a resident of Niagara Falls. Dr. Hough was educated in the public schools of Newfane and in the Lockport Union School. At nineteen years of age he entered the New York Homeopathic College, from which he was graduated in 1881, and later he took a course in the Long Island College Hospital at Brooklyn and was graduated therefrom in 1883. During the following year he practiced his profession in New York city, and in 1884 came to Niagara Falls, where he at once entered into the active and successful practice of medicine. He is a member of the Western New York Homeopathic Medical Society, of the New York State Homeopathic Medical Society and of the American Institute of Homeopathy; he is also a member of Ni-

agara Frontier Lodge No. 132, F. & A. M. September 12, 1883, he married Ella L. Haynes of Newfane, and they have one daughter, Florence Genevieve, born August 29, 1884. Mrs. Hough is the daughter of Edward and Eliza (Fay) Haynes of Niag- ara Falls.

Read, Willett W., was born in Jefferson county, N. Y., April 12, 1865, and is a son of De Estaing C. Read, a farmer now retired. Mr. Read was educated in the public schools and at Potsdam Normal School, Potsdam, N. Y., and in 1884 entered Cornell University where he took and completed the course in civil engineering, graduating in 1888. He at once entered the employ of a Syracuse firm of contractors and was engaged for the next four years in building the waterworks at Delaware, Ohio, Canton, N. Y., Portland, Mich., Ingersoll, Ont., Harvey, Ill., and Lagrange, Ill. In 1892 he settled in Cleveland, Ohio, where he opened an office and carried on a general contracting business until 1894, when he removed to Penn Yan, N. Y., to complete the waterworks at that place. In March, 1895, he was appointed engineer of the city of Niagara Falls, which office he still holds. August 18, 1890, he married Elizabeth Nassoy, daughter of Felix Nassoy, proprietor of the New York Central Hotel at Niagara Falls. Mr. and Mrs. Read have two children, a son and daughter.

Hall, Charles M., was born in Geauga county, Ohio, December 6, 1863, and is a son of the Rev. Heman B. Hall, a Congregationalist minister of that place, now re- tired and residing at Oberlin, Ohio. Mr. Hall began his school career at the age of nine years, when he attended the public school at Oberlin, whither his parents had removed in 1873; later he took a course in Oberlin College, and was graduated therefrom in 1885. He was one of the pioneers in the manufacture of aluminum and while experimenting in the chemical laboratory at Oberlin College, he made impor- tant discoveries in connection with this material which resulted in the organization, in 1886, of the Pittsburg Reduction Company, of which he was chosen vice-pres- ident, and upon the completion of their big plant at Niagara Falls in 1895, he was made resident manager, in which capacity he now serves.

Gray, John, M.D., was born at Lewiston, N. Y., September 6, 1850, a son of the late Arthur Gray, who was a well known prosperous farmer and fruit grower of that section, and whose wife was Margaret A. Copeland. The doctor is one of a family of thirteen children, of whom seven are living: Elizabeth, Mrs. F. S. Sage, of Lewis- ton; Catherine, Mrs. Eugene K. Sager, of Lewiston; Margaret A., Mrs. E. A. Childs, of Towanda, Pa .; Arthur, of Kansas City, Mo., who married Miss Jennie Clark; Grant J., M.D .; Ella Goddard, of Chicago, Ill. ; and William C., who married Min- nie Kratz and resides in Niagara Falls. The parents are deceased. Dr. Gray was educated in the public schools of his native place and in the Lockport union schools, and when twenty years of age joined his father in farming and fruit growing, at which he continued for four years. In 1874 he began teaching in the public schools of Lewiston and followed that pursuit until 1876, when he removed to New York city and took a course in the College of Physicians and Surgeons, later entering the med- ical department of the University of New York, from which institution he was grad- uated in 1879. He then removed to Ransomville, N. Y., and practiced his profession until 1880, having as a partner, Dr. Nathan Cook. Upon the death of Dr. Cook, in 1880, he accepted the position of surgeon in charge of the lumber camps at Trufant,

Mich., and filled that position until 1885. In 1886 Dr. Gray removed to Niagara Falls, where he has since remained in the successful practice of medicine. June 19, 1880, he married Florence A. Baker of Porter, N. Y., daughter of Dillman and Laura Matilda (Durand) Baker, natives of N. Y.

Fink, Konrad, was born in Wurtemburg, Germany, August 3, 1835, a son of Jacob Fink. Konrad Fink was educated in the public schools of his native place and at an early age learned the blacksmith's trade. In 1854 he immigrated to America, settling at Niagara Falls, N. Y., and was at once employed in the building of the first Suspension Bridge across the Niagara River. In 1857 he entered the employ of the New York Central Railroad Company and worked in the shops of that Company for ten years, at the end of which time he established his present business as dealer in groceries, provisions and liquors, and in which he has met with success. Mr. Fink is a property owner and a director of the Bank of Suspension Bridge. Mr. Fink and Mrs. Margaret Walter were married November 20, 1858; she had one son, Christian Fink, by a former marriage with Christian Fink, brother of Konrad. She died in 1887, and on September 10, 1895, he married Margaret Walter, niece of his first wife. Three children of the first marriage are living: Dora, Margaret and Elizabeth; of the last marriage one child came to bless their home. Mr. Fink has been twice president of the village of Suspension Bridge, and three times served as trustee; at the present time he is assessor of Niagara Falls city.

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Landmarks of Niagara County, New York, Part 49

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