Landmarks of Niagara County, New York, Part 50

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 50

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Boore, Lewis A., was born at Buffalo, N. Y., January 13, 1862, and is a son of Lewis Boore, who is superintendent of the Buffalo Gas Light Company. Mr. Boore was educated at St. Joseph's College, in Buffalo, and at the age of sixteen entered the office of his father, where he studied thoroughly all departments of the manufac- ture of gas. In 1881 he became ticket agent of the Buffalo, New York and Phila- delphia Railroad Company at Rochester, and remained in that position for two years, when, on October 1, 1883, he was made superintendent of the Niagara Falls Gas Light Company and was elected secretary of that company on June 11, 1890. Mr. Boore is also proprietor of the Tower Bazaar, which he purchased in 1893.

Welch, James M., was born in the town of Constable, Franklin county, N. Y., April 11, 1816, and is a son of Levi Welch, who was a farmer and lumberman. Mr. Welch was educated in the public schools at Grand Island, N. Y., and worked with his father until he was seventeen years of age, when his father died. He remained at home two years and then began traveling, working at all trades, until 1847, when he entered the employ of the New York Central Railroad Company at Tonawanda, with which company he remained until his retirement (in 1893) from active service. He began his railroad career as a gravel man and retired as engineer at the age of seventy-seven, being the oldest engineer on the New York Central Railroad at that time. In 1849 he married Christiana Cupp of Tonawanda, and they have eight children, seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Mr. Welch is a large prop- erty owner and a highly respected citizen.

Tompkins, Henry S., was born February 3, 1848, at Niagara Falls, N. Y., and is a son of the late Samuel Tompkins of that place. Henry S. Tompkins attended the public schools of his native town, until twenty years of age, when he entered the works of his father at La Salle to learn the manufacture of building brick, which he

has chosen for his life vocation. He is also engaged in farming and fruit growing, owning a farm of fifty acres adjoining his brick kiln and works, and has a large or- chard of 1,100 finely grafted fruit trees. Mr. Tompkins is a man of sterling worth, and has been eminently successful in his business operations. He has served the town of Niagara, where his business is located, for many years in various capacities, having been a justice of the peace for nineteen years, and was elected supervisor of his township in 1895 to serve for two years, and re-elected in 1897 for the same period of time. He has also served as assessor for three years, and as a member of the Board of School Trustees for twenty-five years, and justly deserves the high esteem in which he is held by his townsmen. In 1870 Mr. Tompkins was married to Miss Maria Vogt, and they have reared a family of two sons and two daughters.

Mason, John C., was born September 28, 1859, at La Salle, N. Y., and is a son of the late John Mason. John C. Mason received his education in the public schools of his native town, and at sixteen years of age went to work on his father's farm. He has followed the calling of farmer since that time, is a man of thrift and enterprise, and has been successful in the management of his farm. He devotes almost his en- tire time to the cultivation of small fruit. Upon his father's decease, and the settle- ment of the estate, he received as his dowry twenty-three acres of land, the larger portion of which he sold at an advanced price during the boom of 1891. In 1879 Mr. Mason was married to Miss Laura O., daughter of Jackson Angevine, of La Salle, and they have a family of seven children, three sons and four daughters.

Frazer, Washington A., was born September 30, 1869, at Lockport, N. Y., and is a son of John Frazer, a prominent farmer of that place and for many years a justice of the peace. Washington A. Frazer was educated in the Lockport Union schools, and at twenty years of age entered the offices of the superintendent of the Grand Trunk Railroad Company, at Hamilton, Ont., Canada, as a clerk, remaining there until 1887. At that time he removed to Niagara Falls, N. Y., and entered the em- ploy of his brother, William A. Frazer, lumber dealer, and was there until 1894, when he established his present business, building a large mill and lumber yard, and has since been successful in all his operations. Mr. Frazer has erected a number of fine residences at Niagara Falls, of which he is the owner, and is also interested in the timber business, at Gore Bay, Ont., Canada. He is an extensive real estate owner, and one of the leading business men of Niagara Falls. He is a member of Niagara Lodge No. 375, F. & A. M. of Lockport. In 1891 Mr. Frazer was united in marriage with Miss Agnes Preston, of Niagara Falls, Ont., and they have two children, a son and a daughter. Mrs. Frazer is a daughter of Fred J. Preston, the first mayor of Niagara Falls, Ont., now deceased.

Premus, A. F., Wheatfield, was born in Germany, February 8, 1860, and came to America with his parents in 1865. They settled in the town of Porter and Mr. Premus was educated at Porter Center and Lockport and Wilson Academies. He taught school winters and studied law during holidays and was admitted to the bar in 1892. He came to North Tonawanda in 1880 and read law with Simson, Dudley & Harrington, and entered the firm of Simson, Harrington & Premus. This firm is now Harrington & Premus. Mr. Premus was elected village attorney in the spring of 1896, and re-elected in 1897, and was legislated out of office by an act converting the village into a city, and was elected city attorney under the new city charter.

Harrington, E. B., Wheatfield, was born in Lockport, February 15, 1866, and was educated at Lockport Union School. He studied law with Joshua Gaskill and was admitted to the bar in March, 1889. He first entered into partnership with Chauncey E. Dunkelberger, then surrogate of Niagara county but in 1891 this partnership was dissolved and Mr. Harrington practiced law one year alone in Lockport. In January, 1892, he came to Tonawanda and entered the firm of Simson, Dudley & Harrington, which lasted one year, when it became Simson, Harrington & Premus, which continned for three years, when it was dissolved and Messrs. Harrington and Premus organized the present law firm of Harrington & Premus. Mr. Harrington's parents were Henry and Polly (Baer) Harrington. Mrs. Harrington is one of the oldest residents of the county. Henry Harrington came to Niagara county in 1840 and died in 1874.

Fales, Capt. Henry M., Wheatfield, was born on Grand Island and was educated by a private tutor and at Deveaux College, from which he was graduated in 1881. He came to North Tonawanda in 1885 as secretary of the Tonawanda Gas Light Company. This position he resigned to become manager of the City Water Works Company and secretary of the Standard Gas Company, and resigned this position when the water works were sold to the town. He has since that time become prom- inent as a contractor, but he has become particularly distinguishable because of his organizing the 25th Separate Company, N. G. N. Y., which was mustered in May 25, 1891, and of which he has been captain since November 28, 1892. He was first lieu- tenant of the company previous to his election to the captaincy. In May, 1893, Capt. Fales married Sarah C. Smith daughter of Hon. H. P. Smith, and they have three sons: H. Marshall, jr., Eugene and Clarke.

Homeyer, Henry, Wheatfield, was born in Wheatfield and lived on the farm until thirteen years of age, when he came to North Tonawanda in 1869 where he has ever since resided. While still a youth he went into the meat business and continued at it for seven years, when he went on the canal for two years. He engaged in the liquor business in 1882, in which he is still engaged. Mr. Homeyer is one of the representative business and public men of North Tonawanda. He was one of the organizers of the first Columbia Hook and Ladder Company which was organized in 1876 and is the only surviving charter member. He was town collector two terms, village collector two terms, alderman one term, and for a time Deputy U. S. customs inspector under Cleveland, and is at present village treasurer. He is a member of the Odd Fellows, A. O. U. W. and Select Knights. He married Helena Meyer and their children are George H., Henry F., William H., Mabel E., Laura B., Helen May and Ruth Esther. His parents were Henry H. and Fredericka (Bishop) Homeyer. His father was a Hanoverian, and his mother a Prussian; he came to America in 1843.

Krull, William, was born in Uckermerk, Germany, December 11, 1837, and came to America in 1843 with his parents, Christian and Mary (Veccue) Krull. His father was one of the early settlers in Wheatfield, and at the time of his death was one of the oldest residents. William Krull has been a farmer all his life and was actively engaged in that pursuit until he moved into Martinsville in 1857. He has been ·a successful man and has not only acquired ample means, but has also won the esteem

of all classes by his honorable career and his strict integrity in all things. In 1857 he married Wilhelmina Milleville, who died in 1871, leaving six children: Augusta, Albertine, William C. and Wilhelmina, who are living; Christian and Matilda are dead. Mr. Krull married for his second wife Louisa Wolfe, and they have two chil- dren living, Matilda and Eleanor. Mr. Krull is a Democrat and was highway com- missioner for three years in the town of Wheatfield; he has also been a trustee of St. Paul's German Lutheran church for twenty-eight years. In 1894 he was a dele- gate to the Synod held at Pittsburg, and in 1897 delegate to Baltimore. During his career in this county he has always been a leader among his German fellow citizens, and as a man whose word has always been considered as good as his bond.

Skutt, Austin, one of the pioneer farmers of Somerset, was born in Cayuga county, N. Y., October 20, 1827, and is a son of Edward and Sally Skutt. He came with his parents to Niagara county in May, 1846, where he has been engaged in farming all of his life. In 1870 he married Emily Walker, and they have one son and daughter, Edward and Minnie. Mr. Skutt has lived to see nearly all the old settlers pass away and to see the rude and humble log cabin of the early settler disappear and in its place the handsome and comfortable farm houses erected. He is an entertaining talker and one of the substantial citizens of Somerset. Edward Skutt, his son, was born April 24, 1871, was married January 7, 1897, to Lenora E. Reid. Minnie was born May 10, 1874, was married February 29, 1892, to John W. Fitzgerald, to whom was born one child, Emily, March 24, 1893.

Stacy, Edwin, was born in Wilson, N. Y., December 22, 1836, a son of Emulus and Alice (Tremain) Stacy. Emulus Stacy was born in Washington county and came to Wilson in 1834, where he died September 9, 1879; his wife was born in Oneida county and died in August, 1885. Edwin Stacy was born in Wilson December 22, 1836, near where he now resides, was reared on a farm and educated at Wilson and Lockport; he is now engaged in farming, owning 101 acres of land. He was mar- ried in 1866 to Carrie Sanford (born August 31, 1839), and daughter of Asa Sanford, a pioneer of Orleans county. Mr. and Mrs. Stacy have four children, Frank T., C. Sumner, Sanford D. and Florence S. The family are members of Olcott Wesleyan Methodist church.

Wilcox, Elisha, was born in Madrid, St. Lawrence county, N. Y., August 18, 1825, a son of Ira and Nancy (Robinson) Wilcox, natives of Vermont, who came to Madrid where he died in 1825. Mrs. Wilcox moved with her family to Wilson in 1837, where she died in 1857. Elisha Wilcox was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools. He is a farmer and owns seventy-one acres of land on which he has lived fifty years. In 1859 he married Malinda Cornell (born in Canada), and they had two children, Nancy M., born July 14, 1860, and married Alexander Swackhamer of Can- ada; and Phoebe A., died when five years old. Mr. Wilcox is a Democrat in poli- tics, and the family attend the Baptist church.

Childs, James H., was born in Lewiston, N. Y., July 3, 1843. a son of Sanford and Elizabeth (McGregor) Childs. He was educated in the old Lewiston Academy and his life occupation has been farming, which he has been practically engaged in until 1890 when he was appointed deputy collector of customs, a position he still holds with ability and success. He is a veteran of the war of the Rebellion, enlisting on

December 26, 1863, in Company L, 8th N. Y. Heavy Artillery, and serving until the close of the war, being honorably discharged July 10, 1865. He served with the Army of the James and participated in eleven pitched battles, including Spotsylvania, Cold Harbor, North Anna River, Deep Bottom and all the fighting about Petersburg. He was wounded at North Anna River and was confined in the hospital for some time. He enlisted as a private, was promoted to corporal and was acting sergeant at the close of the war. He is a member of Mabon Post No. 125 and has been junior vice-commander; he is also a member of the Masonic fraternity, lodge No. 551, Ran- somville, and of the Odd Fellows, Sacariss Lodge No. 307, as well as of the A. O. U. W. No. 307. In 1871 Mr. Childs married Helen Schaefer, who died leaving no children, and on February 3, 1875, he married Anna Tisdale and they had five chil- dren: Clara, Elizabeth (married Dr. Sheppard of Cattaraugus county), Mary Edna, James Edward, Joseph E. and Howard T. One son, Charles, died June 6, 1889. Mr. Childs has been a life long Republican and cast his first vote for Lincoln (second term) at City Point, Va. He has held several town offices, having been highway commissioner twice, collector and inspector of election.

Clary, Thomas F. C., was born at Amsterdam, N. Y., March 14. 1859, and after the usual preparatory training in the public schools of that city, entered Niagara University, from which institution he was graduated at the age of eighteen. He was, thereafter, admitted to the bar after a three years' course of reading in the law office of Judge Zera S. Westbrook, one of the ablest and most successful practitioners in Central New York. At about the same time he was elected police justice of his native city, in which capacity he served for three years, when he resumed, in earnest, the practice of his profession at that place. In 1893, accompanied by his family, con- sisting of his mother, sister and nephew, he removed to Niagara Falls, in which world-famed and bustling little city he has since practiced his profession with the most flattering and satisfactory results.

Carter, Elwin S., was born in Porter, N. Y., October 12, 1850, a son of John and Mary A. (Clyde) Carter. John Carter was born in England in 1814 and came to America in 1823 with an uncle, his parents having died in England. He was a mason by trade and traveled in the South and various places until twenty-seven years of age, when he married and located in Youngstown, N. Y., where he has since resided. Elwin S. Carter was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools and Lockport Union School. He is a fruit grower and farmer, having 125 acres where he has resided for about fifteen years; he has in fruit thirty-five acres, mostly peach and pear. October 9, 1873, he married S. Amelia Spencer, born in Porter and daughter of C. S. and Mary Spencer. Mr. and Mrs. Carter had ten chil- dren: Charles E., John P., Carrie A., Herbert S., George R., Bessie H., Jessee H. (who died at the age of five months), Wesley C., Howard R. and Miriam C. Mr. Carter is an ardent Republican and has been very active; he has been town auditor and collector and elected supervisor of his town in 1897. He is a member of the A. O. U. W. and the Select Knights. In the fall of 1896 he was elected county commit- teeman by the Republican party in the town of Porter.

Prudom, John H., son of Thomas and Mary (Atkinson) Prudom, was born May 1, 1850. His father was born in the county of Yorkshire, England, July 3, 1817, where

his mother was also born, and came to America in 1852, settling in Somerset on the" farm they now own. They had six children: Martin, born in 1848, died in infancy ; William A., born February 8, 1849, died in 1868; John H., the subject of this sketch; Martin died in infancy; Ann Elizabeth, born June 12, 1853, died March 14, 1878, and Hannah M. died when young. His mother was born in England November 14, 1812, and died December 21, 1892.

Pratt, Rufus W., was born in Wilson December 12, 1833, a son of Josiah and Annie (Lutts) Pratt. Josiah Pratt was born in Massachusetts and in 1817 came to Porter with Peter Tower, a cousin of his, and he died in Wilson; his wife, Annie, was a daughter of Michael Lutts, and was born in Porter and died in 1856, aged fifty-four years. Rufus W. Pratt was reared on the farm and educated in the common schools. He spent a short time West, and six years at Suspension Bridge in the custom house office, but is now a farmer. He is a Republican and was constable three years. De- cember 12, 1861, he married Hannah M., daughter of Thomas Barnes, and they had two daughters, Annie E., wife of Parker Corwin, and Martha M., at home. Martha M. was educated at Suspension Bridge and Albany Normal School; Annie E. was educated at a convent in Lockport. Mr. Pratt is a member of the A. O. U. W. He is not an aspirant to office, but has taken an active part in politics and repre- sented his party in conventions and has been on jury many times in county court.

Parker George F., was born in Porter, N. Y., May 3, 1850, a son of John and Eva- line (Myers) Parker. John Parker was born in Porter, a son of Joseph Parker, who came to Porter about 1820, where he lived and died; he was in the war of 1812. John Parker was a farmer and Democrat and died in 1887 and his wife in 1870. George F. Parker was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools. He spent one year in Michigan in the marble works; he is now a farmer and has fifty acres of land. He was married in December, 1874, to Deborah Holden, daughter of Ezra Holden, an early settler of Porter. To Mr. and Mrs. Parker have been born ten children: Lizzie, Deborah, Helen (died aged five years), Hattie (died aged three years), Stanley, Fannie, May, Elton, Henry and Ashley. In politics Mr. Parker is a Democrat, and was elected highway commissioner in 1897 by a majority of fifty ; he was also once appointed collector, and is a member of the Select Knights.

Pitz, Philip F., was born in Buffalo, where he lived for thirty-one years. He learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed in that city twelve years in the planing mill of Henry Ruling. He was engaged in the hotel business for one year in Buffalo and opened the Angler's Retreat in Lewiston in 1894. This house 1s picturesquely situated on the bank of the river, the Gorge cars running by the door and the New York Central depot is across the street. The house is finely equipped and the dining room nicely kept and well lighted. In fact the house is first class in every respect and has telephone and all modern conveniences, and has in connection a first-class boat house and boats and fishing tackle, for fishing or pleasure boating. Mr. Pitz married Amelia Scheunamann in 1889, and they have two sons, Philip and Fred. Mr. Pitz is one of the enterprising and successful hotel men of the county and very popular.

Peterson, Jesse, has been prominently identified with the manufacturing indus- try of Lockport for the past twenty-five years. He was born at Belfast, Allegany

county, N. Y., October 1, 1850. His parents removed to Lockport when he was quite young. He rapidly mastered business methods and has advanced step by step until he is now president of one of the largest manufactories of the kind in the country. The United Indurated Fiber Co. of which he is president, was organ- ized and incorporated in 1887, with a capital stock of $750,000. Mr. Peterson was married to Arabella A. Brown of Lockport, N. Y., January 29, 1872, and two chil- dren have been born to them, Jesse Dudley and Clara B. Mr. Peterson has spent considerable time in travel, not only in the United States, but over continental Europe and a large portion of Africa. He is a member of the Sons of the Ameri- can Revolution, the Ellicott and Buffalo Clubs of Buffalo, and the City Club of Lockport.

Pettit, Thomas, was born in Galway, Saratoga county, N. Y., February 1, 1818, a son of Thomas Pettit. He was educated in the common schools, and in 1844 came to Wilson, where he took up a farm of fifty acres, where he has since lived. No- vember, 22, 1843, he married Emily Wait (born in Clifton Park, Saratoga county, N. Y.), daughter of Solomon and Rachael (Harris) Wait, and they have five chil- dren : George A., of Flint, Mich .; Ida E., wife of Ambrose Haner of Wilson; Eva R., wife of Frederick Kelley, a farmer of Wilson, and they have two children: Thomas B., of Grand Rapids, Mich., and Martha E., wife of Charles Stahler, of Lockport. Mr. Pettit is a Republican, and the family attend the Baptist church.

Pease, A. Douglas, was born in Newfane, N. Y., December 30, 1834, a son of Enoch and Eliza (Douglas) Pease. Enoch Pease was born in Maine, January 12, 1795, and came to Newfane with his parents, where he was reared and educated. He was in the war of 1812 and his house was threatened to be burned, but owing to his kind treatment they were not molested; he was taken prisoner, but was released on account of the kindness of his mother. In 1835 he came to Wilson, where he resided until his death, which occurred in 1887 at the age of ninety-two years. His wife was born in New Jersey in 1800 and died in 1849. A. D. Pease was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools and Wilson Collegiate Institute and Lima Seminary, graduating from the scientific course in 1855. He is a farmer and owns 535 acres, 400 where he resides. He is a large fruit grower, having about 125 acres in fruit. September 29, 1859, he married Abigail Sayer (born in Wilson, April 26, 1842), daughter of Jonathan Sayer, who came to Wilson and practiced medicine until his death in 1849. Mr. and Mrs. Pease are the parents of seven chil- dren: Arthur D., of Wilson; Frances M., wife of Landon M. Bostwick, a lumber- man of St. Louis, Mo .; Florence A., deceased; Mary E., wife of Edward Hall, of Youngstown, N. Y .; Howard Enoch, born September 19, 1875, at home; Harvey, deceased; and Edith G., at home. Mr. Pease is a Republican and was supervisor in 1882 and 1883, and served as a member of the Board of Education nine years and president five years. He was for six years trustee of Greenwood Cemetery. Mrs. Pease died February 3, 1897.

Pettit, Clinton, was born in Saratoga county, August 11, 1813, a son of Elisha Pettit, born at Claverack, N. Y., and moved to Galloway, where he became a well- to-do farmer and there died (see biography of George Pettit). Mrs. Pettit was Hannah Roe, who lived and died in Saratoga county; they had fourteen children.

Clinton Pettit was reared on a farm, and in 1836 came to Wilson, where he settled on a farm of sixty-two acres and has added forty more to it, clearing most of the land. March 9, 1836, he married Clarissa Youngs, and they had four children: Mary J., of Kansas; Lucina H., of Iowa; Ira S., died in Andersonville prison, and the fourth died in infancy. Mrs. Pettit died April 28, 1845, and in 1848 he married Kate J. Pangburn, widow of Jacob Phillips. Mr. Pettit has never used any tobacco and is now eighty-four years old.

Parish, George D., was born in Porter, June 2, 1852, a son of William and Cath- erine (Lake) Parish. William Parish was born in Canada and came to Porter about 1836, and traded land for the farm George D. now owns. He died in June, 1881, and his widow married Harrison Perry, who died in Porter in 1891. They had three sons William lived on the homestead and died there February 17, 1897. George D. Parish was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools and Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, after which he engaged in farming, and in 1894 went to Flush- ing, Mich., where he engaged in the mercantile business and was also engaged in the same business at Seneca Falls for one year. He now has the only bazaar at Flushing, and also owns 154 acres of land at Porter. February 22, 1872, he mar- ried Adelia Halstead, and they have two children: Verna, at home, and Charles W., aged nineteen.

Prudden, Orrin D .- Prominent among the furniture dealers of this city and in fact one of the leading establishments is that of Prudden Brothers, of which firm Mr. Orrin D. Prudden, subject of this sketch, is the senior member. Mr. Prudden is a son of the late Louis and Elizabeth A. Prudden, natives of Connecticut, and was born October 3, 1851. He received his education in the district schools and at the Lockport Union School, after which he engaged in teaching for a number of years. In 1878 he married Miss Ida A. Quade of Lockport, and their residence, No. 178 Locust street, is one of the handsomest in town. In 1885 Mr. Prudden formed a co- partnership with his brother, Mr. Walter S. Prudden, in the furniture and undertaking business, which they have since conducted in a very successful and prosperous man- ner. A member of the Royal Arcanum, Odd Fellows, Masons, and Knight Temp- lars, and a member of the First Presbyterian charch, Mr. Prudden occupies an im- portant position in Lockport's business circles.

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Landmarks of Niagara County, New York, Part 50

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