Landmarks of Niagara County, New York, Part 53

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 53

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Merritt, John A., of Lockport, Niagara county, N. Y., was born in Tecumseh, Lenawee county, Mich., November 24, 1851. He was educated in the public schools of Tecumseh and the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor ; removed to Lockport in 1870, studied law in the office of Benjamin Hunting, was admitted to the bar in 1876, and entered upon the practice of his profession in 1886; associated himself with Law- yer A. A. Bradley, under the firm name of Bradley & Merritt, attorneys, and con- tinues to practice law under the firm name. Mr. Merritt was elected county clerk of his county (Niagara) in 1880, and was re-elected in 1883, serving in all six years. In 1886 he was chosen a member of the Board of Education of the city of Lockport, which position he still holds, having been several times re-elected, and having been chosen president of the board for five years. In 1891 he was appointed and commis- sioned by President Harrison postmaster of Lockport and served four years; and he was appointed third assistant postmaster-general on the incoming of President Mc- Kinley's administration. Mr. Merritt is also interested in several large business en- terprises, being secretary and treasurer of the Niagara Paper Mills at Lockport. Mr. Merritt is married and has one son, who is now in college-Cornell University, at Ithaca, N. Y.

Meehan, James Henry, M. D., was born at Niagara Falls, N. Y., November 4, 1869, and is a son of John P. Meehan. Doctor Meehan's grandfather was one of the pioneer settlers of Niagara Falls. James H. attended public and parochial schools at Niagara Falls and graduated from the Niagara Falls High School in the class of '89. He was the first one to win a Cornell scholarship from that institution and from Niagara Falls. In the fall of 1889 he entered the Medical Department of Ni- agara University at Buffalo, N. Y., and was graduated therefrom in the class of '93. Shortly after receiving his medical degree he opened an office in his native city, where he has since been engaged in the successful practice of his profession. Doctor Meehan was appointed city health officer of Niagara Falls in 1894, and served two terms in that office, those of '94-95 and '95-96. He is an occasional contributor to medical literature and has contributed several articles to medical journals through- out the country. He is at present engaged in the preparation of two works, one "Our Municipal Corporation," a satirical work on the follies and vices that so fre- quently creep into administration of the modern city government, and the other, "The Medical Education of the Laity," dealing with medical subjects upon which a large degree of misinformation and lack of information exists among the general public.

Noble, Romyne W., Somerset, was born in Somerset, August 10, 1841, and is the only son of Marcus and Abigail Noble. His father was born in Connecticut, Decem- ber 11, 1808 and his mother was born in New York, October 6, 1810. They came on canal to Somerset and were on the way two weeks, arriving at Somerset May 13,

1840, and located on the farm now owned by their son. Mr. Noble died September 25, 1879, and Mrs. Noble May 9, 1889. Mr. Noble attended Yates Academy nearly four years, after which he engaged with his father in farming, soon assuming com- plete management of the farm. October 17, 1866, he married Ellen Stewart; she died November 12, 1878, and on September 29, 1880, he married Orpha A. Bliss, and they have two daughters, Edna May, born January 26, 1885, and Mildred Orpha, born August 14, 1889. Mr. Noble is engaged in fruit growing and stock raising, and has a fine dairy consisting of twenty head of cows. His large farm of 237 acres is under a high state of cultivation and his buildings are magnificent.

Nassoiy, Peter F., was born at Buffalo, N. Y., July 13, 1838, a son of Dominick Nassoiy. He attended the public schools of Erie county, N. Y., and worked on his father's farm until twenty-one years of age, when he removed to Niagara Falls and engaged as carriage driver for Oscar De Camp, hotel and livery stable proprietor. Later he purchased carriages and horses and secured the right to do the livery busi- ness for the Western Hotel at Suspension Bridge ; he afterwards sold out to W. P. Horne, proprietor of the Western Hotel, and carried on the grocery business until 1887, when he leased a piece of property at Niagara Falls and erected the present. European Hotel, which he has successfully operated ever since, having purchased the ground upon which it stands. Mr. Nassaoiy is an extensive property owner and is widely known and highly respected by all.

Odell, Charles W., was born on the homestead in Royalton, July 9, 1837. Mr. Odell's grandfather Joseph Odell, came to Royalton in 1815 and bought of the Hol- land Land Company 225 acres of land, and was one of the men whose efforts have made Niagara county what it is to-day. He married Miss Cooley, daughter of Erastus Cooley; he died in 1845. His son, Col. Alanson T. Odell, was born in the town of Loraine, Jefferson county, December 16, 1811, and came to Royalton with his parents in 1815. He was a public spirited man whose judgment was sought and respected by all who knew him. He always took an active interest in the devel- opment of his town in school and church matters, and was appointed colonel of the State militia by Governor Seward in 1838. He married Julia, daughter of James Baldwin, and died in 1883. Charles W. Odell was educated at Carysville Semi- nary of Genesee, graduating in 1855; also taking a special mathematical course in 1861 and was appointed assistant door-keeper in the House of Representatives and afterwards served in the War Department for five years, as superintendent of the division of quartermaster's accounts. In 1867 he returned to Middleport and en- gaged in mercantile business for seventeen years, when he was burned out. He then became a member of the firm of Compton & Odell and in 1887 became secretary of the Batavia Preserving Company; in 1895 and 1896 he was manager of the Lake- side Park. In 1862 he married Caroline, daughter of Alphonzo T. Swain, and they have three children, Howard S., Mrs. Jennie S. Cotton, and Mrs. Julia Hughey of Buffalo. Mr. Odell has always taken an active interest in the town affairs and has served as trustee.

Odell, James M., was born in Middleport, November 16, 1838. His father, Alan- son T. Odell, came from Jefferson county to Niagara county in 1816, with his par- ents, Joseph and wife, who settled about three and a half miles southwest of Middle-

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port and bought a farm of the Holland Land Company. Joseph Odell first walked from Jefferson county and cleared up a portion of his land; returning the following spring, he erected a log house, then walked back and brought his family in an ox cart. James M. Odell was educated in Lockport and Medina. He traveled South for several years and in 1867 returned to Niagara county, where he has since lived. In 1893 he built the Odell House in Middleport and is recognized as a con- servative, upright man who has ever advanced the best interests of his town and townspeople.

Oliver, William, a member of the firm of Oliver Bros., manufacturers of iron bedsteads and one of Lockport's influential and popular citizens, has been a resident of this city for many years. In 1892, in company with his brothers, Thomas, George and John, he engaged in the manufacture of brass and iron bedsteads, hav- ing for many years previous been engaged in the manufacture of cider. Mr. Oliver is a man of energy and marked practical ability and is to be congratulated upon the large measure of success which has attended his efforts in the manufacture of bed- steads and the material and industrial development of Lockport.

Pierce, Fred I., was born at Niagara Falls, N. Y., March 24, 1865, and is a son of James S. Pierce, who died in 1869. Mr. Pierce was educated in the public schools at Niagara Falls and at De Veaux College, graduating in 1882, when he entered the freight office of the New York Central Railroad Company, as a clerk, remaining for two years. He then took up the study of law in the office of Henry C. Tucker, where he spent one year, then returned to the New York Central Railroad freight office for one year. In 1886 he was made bookkeeper of the Bank of Niagara, and held that position for seven years, when he was appointed cashier of the Power City Bank, where he has remained ever since, a trusted aud respected official.

Pettebone, Maj. Lauren W., was born at Lockport, N. Y., June 29, 1848, a son of the late Stoughton Pettebone, who was the first president of the Pettebone Paper Company, incorporated in 1883. Lauren W. received his education principally un- der private tutors and at the age of eighteen entered the business office of his father at Niagara Falls, where he learned paper manufacturing and has continued in that business ever since, becoming president of the Pettebone Paper Company upon the death of his father in 1888. He is a director of the Niagara Falls Water Works Company, the Niagara County Savings Bank, the Niagara Falls Power Company, and is otherwise identified with the business interests of the city of Niagara Falls. Major Pettebone was first lieutenant of the 42d Separate Company of Infantry, N. G. N. Y., and later was promoted to the inspectorship of rifle practice, with the rank of major, on the staff of Brig .- Gen. P. C. Doyle. September 14, 1881, Major Pettebone married Lavinia, daughter of Daniel J. Townsend of Niagara Falls, and they have had three children: Lauren A., Harold C. and Gladys. Major Pette- bone is a man of liberal education and high attainments, honored and respected by all.

Pearson, William, was born in the county of Durham, England, February 23, 1821, and came to the United States in 1831 with his parents, George and Dorothy Pearson, who settled in the town of Royalton. Mr. Pearson was educated in the common schools and in 1847 moved to Lockport, where the family are among the

largest farmers in Niagara county, having 800 acres. In 1846 he married Sarah, daughter of John Ash, and they have four children: George T., John W., Dorothy A. and Mary E. Mr. Pearson is one of the conservative men of the town, taking an intelligent interest in educational matters and has ever advanced the best interest of his town and townspeople.

Humphrey, S. N., Somerset, was born in Orwell, Addison county, Vt., March 21, 1830, and is a son of Guy and Sarah (North) Humphrey, who came from Vermont in a covered wagon, arriving in Somerset December 8, 1831, and settled on the farm of fifty acres now owned by and lying beside the large farm where the subject now lives. At that time the country was new and was nearly all woods, what few roads there were being corduroy and very rough. His father was identified with the very early de- velopment of the section in which he lived and closed a very useful life on October 1, 1862. His mother died June 13, 1884. There were eight children in this family: The subject; Guy C., resides near his brother; Rosevell, died when ten years old; Esther Humphrey Abbey, born in 1825, in Orwell, Vt .; Ruth, born in December, · 1827, died in 1848; Sarah, born August 10, 1834, died January 1, 1837; Betsey E., born July 4, 1843, died May 13, 1848, and William Henry, who died when five years old. Mr. Humphrey is a large fruit grower, having a number of fine orchards; also raises a large quantity of grain and a great many hogs and cattle. He has never married.

Hague. C. Frederick, was born in the town of Hannibal, Oswego county, N. Y., September 1, 1871. His education was obtained from the Levinsworth Institute at Wolcott, Wayne county, and the Lockport Union School. His first business experi- ence was in the photograph business at Niagara Falls, with George Barker, where he remained until 1895, when he removed to Lockport and was employed by W. J. Hart, and April 1, 1897, succeeded him and has since conducted the business alone. Mr. Hague is a son of Frank W. and Amanda (Pearsall) Hague, who are of Dutch- English descent.

Halsted, Irving, was born in the town of Stockbridge, Wis., April 28, 1852, a son of Joseph and Clara Halsted. His father was born in the town of Newfane, and his grandfather, Benjamin Halsted, was one of the very first settlers who came into the town, locating in Olcott before the war of 1812. During that time they were driven out by the British and their home burned, and they returned to Seneca county, from which they came, where they remained one winter and returned to Olcott in the spring, where they remained until they died. His father was born in Olcott and when old enough engaged in farming and the nursery business. He was in Wiscon- sin six or eight years, and while there was elected county clerk, serving the people with honor and credit. He was married in 1850 and had two children, the subject and Oliver W., born in 1857. Irving Halsted received his early education in the district schools and finished at Lockport Union School, after which he made a study of music and is well posted in the same. He married Emma F. Beebe (born Decem- ber 16, 1851), June 3, 1874. Mr. Halsted is a member of Senach Wine Lodge No. 147, I. O. O. F., Tiskilwa, Ill., and is a past grand. He has retired from active life.

Howell, Daniel, was born in Niagara county, N. Y., August 26, 1827, a son of Daniel and Sarah (Hill) Howell. Daniel Howell, sr., was born in New Jersey and

came to Porter, N. Y., when a young man and bought a farm and spent his last days in Canada. Mrs. Howell was born in Ireland and died in Porter, N. Y. Daniel Howell, jr., was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools; his first business experience was as a clerk for Peter Tower of Porter, and in 1851 he moved to Buffalo, where he clerked for several years; was with Pratt & Co. twenty years, and later with Walbridge & Co. and in business for himself. In 1893 he came to Wilson, where he lives a retired life. He has married twice, first to Letitia Sylves- ter on May 4, 1856; they had two children, one died in infancy and Daniel E., who died in Chicago, aged thirty-two. Mrs. Howell died in 1891 and in 1896 he married, May 21, 1896, Rachael M. (Case) Cramton (born October 16, 1830), widow of Dr. E. H. Cramton of Wilson. Dr. Cramton was a veterinary surgeon for thirty-five years in Wilson, and a resident there for forty-four years; he was born October 18, 1824, in Genesee county, married November 28, 1854, and died January 20, 1894. Mrs. Howell's father, Deacon Luman Case, was born in Granby, Conn., and came to Wilson on foot when a young man, settling on a farm where he lived and died. He served as postmaster for several years and poormaster, was deacon in the Presby- terian church and elder and chorister for several years. He was also a stockholder in the Union school and trustee many years.

Henry, L. E., was born in Porter, N. Y., October 22, 1858, a son of Lewis, born in Jefferson county, N. Y., a son of Ziba Henry, born in New Hampshire, and came to Jefferson county when a young man. L. E. Henry was reared on the farm and educated in the common schools, and a select school in Youngstown. He was with W. H. Doyle & Son of Youngstown for two years, and in 1880 came to Wilson, where he was clerk in the post-office for three months, when he engaged as a clerk for O. S. McChesney, druggist, and remained with him for eleven years. In 1892 he engaged in the grocery and meat business for himself and has been very successful. In politics he is a Prohibitionist and has served as trustee of the village and member of the Union School Board of Education for several terms. In 1881 he married Ella Spicer at Lockport, and they have three children: Lulu, Mabel and Clair. Mr. and Mrs. Henry are members of the First Presbyterian church of Wilson, in which he has been deacon, elder and trustee for several years, and for some time was superin- tendent of the Sunday School.

Hamblin, William, was born in Vermont, May 6, 1821, a son of Enos and grand- son of John Hamblin, who was born in Dutchess county and was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. He was taken prisoner and spent his last days in Wilson. Enos Hamblin was born in Vermont in 1792, was in the war of 1812, and his wife, Susan (Smith) Hamblin, was also born in Vermont; they came to Wilson in 1834, where she died April 30, 1852, and he died August 17, 1870. William Hamblin was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools. He was engaged in the mercantile busi- ness for about twenty years, when he bought his farm he now owns of 260 acres and carries on farming and fruit growing. In October, 1841, he married Annie Tower, daughter of Otis Tower, one of the first settlers of Wilson. To Mr. and Mrs. Hamb- lin were born three children: Eli N., enlisted in tho 28th N. Y. Vols .; George O. and Mary (deceased), married L. N. Bradley. Mrs. Hamblin died in 1853 and in 1856 Mr. Hamblin married Amorette E. Wood, and they had one son, Frank W. Mr. Hamblin was first a Democrat, but has been a Republican since Lincoln's second

administration ; he has been assessor three years, railroad town commissioner three years and supervisor of town three years. He assisted in buying the first Masonic Hall and was a charter member of the lodge, No. 376, F. & A. M.

Haeberle, George, was born in Würtemburg, Germany, October 22, 1832, where he received his education and at the age of twenty-five immigrated to America. In search of employment, he and a companion walked the entire distance from New York city to Niagara Falls and it was in the latter city that he first found work, in the car shops of the New York Central Railroad Company as a carpenter. He re- mained with that company until 1863, when he established himself in business as a carpenter and builder at Niagara Falls and followed that calling until the time of his decease in October, 1896. Mr. Haeberle was an enterprising and thrifty man and as the years went by his business increased rapidly, necessitating the building by him of the largest and best equipped steam planing mill and lumber yards at Niagara Falls. He has fulfilled contracts for many of the largest and most imposing build- inge in Niagara Falls and in his declining years he associated with him in the busi- ness, his two sons, George C. and Charles E., who since his death have continued to operate the business bequeathed to them by him. Mr. Haeberle was of a modest, unassuming nature and applied himself closely to his business. He had served the village of Suspension Bridge as water commissioner and trustee for many years, and during President Grant's first term of office he held the position of mail agent of that village, and later accepted the position of supervisor of the village for four years.

Huss, Frank, was born in Alsace, October 24, 1858, a son of John and Rosa (Zilliox) Huss. He learned the trade of blacksmith in the old country and came to America in 1882, where he worked at his trade for four years in Buffalo. He then moved to Lewiston and carried on a general blacksmith business for five years, when he built the Lewiston House, which he has since successfully conducted. He married Lena Walter, and they have four children : Frank, Rose, George and Catherine. Mr. Huss is one of the enterprising and progressive citizens of Lewiston and is highly respected by all who know him. He is a member of the Odd Fellows and is a Republican in politics.

Hurd, S. Wright, M. D., has been a prominent physician and surgeon of Lock- port for nearly fifteen years. He was born at Yates Center, Orleans county, N. Y., September 19, 1856; he received the foundation of his education at the public schools of his native town. In 1877 he began the study of medicine in the office of Dr. R. S. Bishop of Medina, and on March 10, 1880, was graduated from the Hahneman Med- ical College of Philadelphia. He immediately began the practice of his profession at Akron, Erie county, N. Y., which he carried on with success for six years, when he removed to Lockport, where he has since been engaged in the practice of his pro- fession. Dr. Hurd is a member of the New York State Homoeopathic Medical So- ciety, the Western New York Homoeopathic Medical Society and the American In- stitute of Homeopathy; he is also connected with the Lexington Heights Hospital of Buffalo. He was married in April, 1883, to Belle A. Paxon, of Akron, N. Y.

Harwood, Bert S., was born December 13, 1873, a son of Hon. J. Marville and Cornelia J. Harwood. His father was born in the town of Newfane, on the Hess Road, in 1838, and was a prosperous farmer. He served as supervisor for a term

of years and was afterward elected to the Assembly and served two terms, 1889 and 1890. He was killed on August 7, 1893. Bert S. Harwood was attending school at Lockport at the time of his father's death, when the care and management of a large farm developed upon him, and he was obliged to leave his school with- out completing the course. There are four children living in this family: Bert S., J. Marville, born in 1880; Nina C., born in 1884, and Frank R., born in 1886 Bert S. Harwood is now engaged in growing fruit and grain, but gives the most attention to fruit growing, having a pear orchard of 1,000 trees, 1,000 peach trees and six acres of berries, besides a large apple orchard.

Higgs, William H., was born in Brooklyn, N. Y., August 26, 1851. His parents were natives of England and immigrated to this country at an early age and set- tled in Brooklyn. Mr. Higgs's first business experience was as a salesman in his father's leather goods house in New York city, where he remained until 1873, when they removed to Lockport, where he has since resided. The hardware firm of Rood & Higgs was established in 1875 and in 1878 was succeeded by Higgs & Staples, who have since conducted the business. He was married in May, 1877, to Eva, daughter of Rev. Asahel Staples of Lockport, and they have two children, Grace and William.

Hathaway, Otis, was born December 2, 1788, in Farmington, Ontario county, N. Y. He came to Lockport in the early spring of 1821, bringing his family on the fol- lowing year. He was one of the earliest settlers of the place, coming when it was almost a wilderness, and with his uncles, Jared and Darius Comstock, and their as- sociate, Seymour Scovell, owning at one time nearly all that portion of the village ly- ing east of the Transit and upon the Mountain Ridge. He was one of the land pro- prietors, who in 1821 met and gave the village its name. Mr. Hathaway was the first to employ a surveyor to lay out his lands in village lots, Mr. Jesse P. Haines drawing up the map in 1821. That same year saw the erection of the first stores of the place, three in number. In one of these Otis Hathaway was interested; one of the Comstocks and himself putting up a frame building in which the post-office was loca- ted from 1821 to 1829; it was burned in the big fire of 1854. The followieg incident as well as being amusing will tend to show the energy and determination of some of those early settlers. About the time the village was started in 1821, there was a lit- tle contest as to where the court house and other county buildings should be located, Lewiston and Lockport being the most prominent rivals. Lewiston claimed the buildings as being the largest and oldest village in the county, and the courts hav- ing always been held there, they did not like to give them up. Lockport asserted the right as being nearer the geographical center and from the location of the canals and locks, as likely to be the business and commercial center. The Lewistonians had the advantage of possessing a newspaper by which they could send out their side of the question all over the county. Hearing the printer was not very well sup- ported, some of the citizens met and appointed a committee consisting of Dr. Isaac Smith and Otis Hathaway to go to Lewiston and purchase the paper, press and printer. They left one afternoon with two lumber wagons, reaching Lewiston just after dark. They found the printer, bought the press and engaged the printer to go back with them. The press must have been a small affair, for they packed it, the printer, his family and household goods into the two wagons and were back in

Lockport before morning of the next day. That noon saw a paper out on their side with fiery convincing articles and blazing with exclamation points. They sent some copies over to Lewiston that night, which was the first intimation some of the inhab- itants had that they were minus a paper. Among other buildings which Otis Hath- away built, were the first mill and the American Hotel. The mill was erected in 1824, the material being taken from the surroundings forests. It was completed in twenty-two days. The occasion was made one of great celebration, as before that time the farmers were obliged to go to Niagara Falls or Rochester to have their wheat and corn ground. The American was built some time later. He began and nearly completed it, but owing to financial disasters was obliged to leave it for others to finish. His first home was a log cabin a little east of the Gulf. After that he lived in a frame dwelling, where the old Union School now stands. In the year 1836 he built the stone house on the corner of Charles and Chestnut streets, which was his home during the remainder of his life. It is still in the possession of his granddaughter, Mrs. Sellick, and is one of the oldest houses in the city, the walls be- ing of unusual thickness. Mr. Hathaway died September 23, 1847.

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Landmarks of Niagara County, New York, Part 53

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