Landmarks of Niagara County, New York, Part 54

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

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Works, Samuel, was born December 4, 1781, in Westmoreland, New Hampshire. He came to Rochester in 1816, removing from there to Lockport in 1831. During his residence in Rochester he was among its most enterprising and useful citizens, and was called to many places of trust in the growing community, and for Lockport he did what he had already done for her more ambitious neighbor. Every move- ment that had for its object the improvement and advancement of this locality, re- ceived the aid of his time, money and wise counsel. Mr. Works held a number of official positions. He was elected to the New Hampshire Legislature in 1810. After becoming a resident of Lockport he was elected to the New York State Senate in 1837, serving eight years, 1837-45. This election was the commencement of one of the most remarkable political careers in the history of the State. He was a leading Whig, being at one time connected with the Weed and Seward faction of the party, and on severing relations with them he became the leader of the Silver Gray or Fill- more wing of the party. It was through his great political influence that Henry Clay was nominated for president in 1844. He visited personally more than half of the States and was in correspondence with Mr. Clay's friends in every section of the country. He was a warm personal friend of Thurlow Weed, until estranged from him owing to political differences, and of Millard Fillmore, De Witt Clinton and Governor Hunt. It is said of the latter that he never took an important politi- cal step in his long career without first consulting Samuel Works. In later years Mr. Works was a friend of Rutherford B. Hayes. He was twice married, his second wife being a daughter of Otis Hathaway, an early settler of Lockport. Mr. Works died January 2, 1868.

Thom, David, was born December 30, 1814, in Scotland. He was graduated from the University at Aberdeen and followed the profession of a civil engineer. He came to the United States when nineteen years of age, bringing letters of introduc- tion to prominent men of Canandaigua. He became a citizen of Lockport soon after he was employed as a civil engineer at the time of the first enlargement of the canal and locks. He was also one of the engineers at work on the Welland

Canal, when that was constructed. Mr. Thom was a young man of bright prospects, but died at the early age of thirty-one years, October 11, 1845.

Hagen, Charles, was born in Harburg, Hanover, February 28, 1839, a son of Con- rad and Johanna Hagen, and came to America in 1861. November 5, of that year, he enlisted in Co. D, 100th N. Y. Vols., Colonel Payne's company. He was company clerk and also chief clerk at General Terry's headquarters, and served three years and three months, participating in the battles of Yorktown, Williamsburg, Fair Oaks, Seven days retreat, Bottom's Bridge, the advance on Charleston, S. C., Peters- burg, and many other noted battles. He also had the distinction of setting fire to the only ship the rebels had to carry supplies between Charleston and Fort Wagner, a steamer known as the Monigault. He received a bullet wound on May 7, 1864, and was at once taken prisoner by the rebels, but escaped to his own lines when both armies were firing. Mr. Hagen is a member of Scott Post No. 129, and has been senior vice-commander, and is at present chaplain of the post. He has been register of vital statistics and notary public, Democratic county committeeman of his town, and has been town clerk for upwards of twenty-two years. He has married twice ; his first wife was Mrs. Cook, and his present wife, Louise Moritz. Mr. Hagen's mother mother lived to be 101 years old and died in 1894. In December, 1868, he went to Germany, England, Scotland and Ireland on a visit, staying there eight months.

Hogan, James, was born in Lewiston, N. Y., August 9, 1857, a son of the late Thomas Hogan. The family removed to Bloomington, Il1 , when James was four years old, at which place his father died in 1863. He attended the public and par- ochial schools at Niagara Falls, whither his mother had removed in 1863, and when eighteen years old left school and began his business career. While going to school, when eight years old, he lost both of his legs by the railroad cars. In 1889 he was elected collector for the village of Suspension Bridge and held that office for two years; in 1893 he was elected supervisor of the Fourth ward of the city of Niagara Falls, and is still an incumbent of that office.

Haynes, Edward P., was born at Brookfield, Mass., July 4, 1831, and is a son of Reuben Haynes, long established in Brookfield as a silver plater and now deceased. Edward P. Haynes attended the public schools at Greenwich, Mass., whither his parents had removed in 1835, and at the age of seventeen he entered the Monson Academy (Monson, Mass.), where he remained for three years. He then began life as a farmer, which calling he pursued until 1886, when he removed to Niagara Falls, N. Y., where he established himself in the retail coal trade in which he is still successfully engaged. He is an extensive property owner and a member of Niagara Frontier Lodge No. 132, F. & A. M. of Niagara Falls. In October, 1857, he married Eliza O. Fay of Barre, Mass., and they have two children, Ella L. and Hattie E., living, and one son died, age eighteen years.

Hotchkiss, James H., was born in the town of Wilson, Niagara county, July 25, 1834, a son of A. E. and Electa Hotchkiss. His parents came to Niagara county in an early day, locating in Wilson, where they remained until 1838 and then removed to Jackson county, Mich., and remained there until 1853, when they removed to Illinois, where he died in 1858. Mrs. Hotchkiss came to Newfane in 1860 and died in 1873. They had nine children: Abram, born in 1830, resides in Porter; Noah,

born in 1832, died in 1887; James H., ; Edwin, born in 1836; Rose, born in 1838, died in 1863; C. S., born in 1840; Henry, born in 1842, died in 1873; Alexander, born in 1844, died in infancy, and one half brother and sister. James H. Hotchkiss was educated in the common schools and engaged as fireman on the railroad. August 22, 1862, he enlisted at Rochester, in the 19th N. Y. Light Artillery and was wounded in front of Petersburg in the forehead and removed to the hospital where he re- mained until April 1, 1865, when he was discharged and returned home. He mar- ried Frances Michaels of Aurora, Ill., February 28, 1856, and they had six children, four of whom are living: Isabelle, born June 28, 1861; Electa, born December 25, 1867; Clara, born May 21, 1869; Matilda, born June 23, 1871, died September 5, 1882; James, born August 3, 1875, and Edwin, born January 8, 1878, died February 18, 1882. Mr. Hotchkiss is a member of Jacob Braucker Post, No. 547, G. A. R. at Newfane, of which he is sergeant Mr. Hotchkiss is a retired farmer, has a fine home and is a cordial and unassuming gentleman and has a warm place in the hearts of his com- rades and neighbors.

Hartmann, Frederick K., was born in Saxony, Germany, January 30, 1847, a son of the late George Hartmann. He was educated in the schools of Waterloo county, Canada, whither his parents had immigrated in 1853, and at fourteen years of age he learned the carpenter's trade, which he has made his life's business. In 1880 he came to Niagara Falls and established himself in business as a contractor and builder and has remained ever since, successful and popular. He is a member of the Board of Select Knights, Electric City Lodge No. 20, and has been married and has six children.

Jayne, A. W., M. D., was born in Danville, Va., July 7, 1846. He was educated at Charlotteville, Va., and Madison University, from which he was graduated in 1869. He received his medical education in New York city and graduated from the New York Homeopathic Medical College in 1873, and from the College of Physicians and Surgeons in 1875. After practicing in Syracuse, N. Y., for six years, he re- moved to Norfolk, Va., thence to Buffalo, where he practiced four years and came to North Tonawanda in 1888. Dr. Jayne was health officer of North Tonawanda for six years, was coroner of Niagara county in 1894 and town poor physician in 1895. He is a prominent member of the Select Knights and is medical examiner for both the Tonawanda lodges. He was formerly major of Capt. M. Mauer's dra- goons. Dr. Jayne first married Flora M. Bassett, by whom he had one son, Almon A., now a student in Brown University. His second wife was Rebecca M. Marshall, of Todmorden, Eng., and they have two sons, Luther and Arthur.

Johnson, Wallace C., was born in Granville, Mass., and is a son of James John- son, owner and operator of a large wood working mill at that town. Mr. Johnson attended the public schools and later took a course in Williams College, after which he entered the Massachusetts Polytechnic Institute, from which he was graduated in 1884. For two years he was in the employ of the Holyoke Water-power Company at Holyoke, Mass., and in 1886 came to Niagara Falls, where he accepted the posi- tion of chief engineer of the Niagara Falls Hydraulic Power and Manufacturing Company, which position he still retains; he has had entire charge of the design and construction of the works of this company which have been built during the past ten

years and has also had charge of much hydraulic work here and elsewhere. He is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, a charter member and officer of the Engineers' Society of Western New York. Mr. Johnson is a man of liberal education and kindly disposition and is highly respected by all who know him.

Jones, Joseph H., was born at Buffalo, N. Y., November 30, 1841, a son of David Jones, a butcher of North Wales, who died on his farm on Grand and Buckhorn Isl- ands, N. Y., in 1881. Joseph H. Jones was educated in the Buffalo and Grand Isl- and public schools and at sixteen years of age joined his father on the farm (which he had purchased in 1847, upon retiring from the milling business), and tilled the soil until 1861, when he enlisted in April of that year in the 21st Infantry, N. Y. Vols., and served with that regiment in many brilliant campaigns, being mustered out of the service of the U. S. army in May, 1863. He at once returned to Buffalo, where he acted as recruiting officer for the 12th N. Y. Cavalry and went to the front with that regiment, serving until the close of the war in 1865. For several months he operated in the oil regions of Pennsylvania and later removed to the northwest, where he was engaged in lumbering (in Michigan and Wisconsin) until 1869, when he returned to the farm on Buckhorn Island, N. Y., and carried on a general farm- ing business until 1889. In the spring of 1890 he sold the farm and removed to La Salle, where he has ever since been engaged in the flour, feed and mattress business and has been eminently successful in all his operations. July 10, 1866, he married Emogene L. Kent of Grand Island. Mr. Jones has been a member of the Board of Health of Niagara county for two years, and is a member of the Niagara County Democratic Committee. He is a man of sterling worth and a highly respected citi- zen of the town of Niagara. Owing to poor health caused by hard military services during the Rebellion he has about retired from work and business.

Jones, Walter, was born at Sweden, Oxford county, Me., January 15, 1851, a son of the late Simeon H. Jones. He attended the public schools of his native town until fifteen years of age, when his parents removed to Fryeburg, Me., where he en- tered the Fryeburg Academy and remained until 1870. In that year he began studying civil engineering in the office of Garbutt & Wood, of Boston, Mass., with whom he remained for five years. In 1877 he removed to Niagara Falls, and in company with Stephen M. Allen organized the Niagara Wood Paper Company, of which company he was made president and general manager and retained that posi- tion until 1892. At this date he resumed his business as civil engineer and was in the same year appointed assistant city engineer of Niagara Falls, acting in that capacity for two years. In 1894 he formed a partnership with A. H. Porter, as Por- ter & Jones, and has since enjoyed a large and lucrative business. He is past mas- ter of Niagara Frontier Lodge No. 132, F. & A. M., past high priest of Niagara Chapter No. 200, R. A. M., and eminent commander of Niagara Commandery No. 64, K. T., and is at present district deputy grand master of the Twenty-fourth Ma- sonic District, State of New York. August 15, 1875, he married Lucy C. Walker of Lovell, Me.

King, I. J. Forbes, was born at Clockville, Madison county, N. Y., September 24, 1861, and is a son of Daniel H. King, who was for twenty-five years a hotel proprie-

tor in the village of Clockville. Mr. King acquired a limited education from the public schools of Sanborn, Niagara county, where he worked at farming until he was thirteen years old, when he entered the Sanborn station of the New York Cen- tral Railroad Company, to study telegraphy. He perfected himself in all depart- ments of railroad service, including freight, passenger, express and Western Union telegraphy. At the age of sixteen he was found competent to manage the business of the railroad company's office at Sanborn and frequently did so in the absence of the agent. In 1878 he came to Niagara Falls and entered the employ of the New York Central Railroad Company as night operator in the telegraph office, where after six months he was promoted to the position of day operator and of assistant manager of the Western Union Telegraph Company and New York Central Rail- road ticket office. Later he became assistant manager of the Edison Telephone Company and was the first operator to speak over the telephone between Niagara Falls and Buffalo. In 1887 he formed a partnership with F. C. Belden in the busi- ness of real estate and ticket brokerage, resigning his position with the New York Central Railroad Company. Since January 23, 1896, when the partnership was dis- solved, he has continued alone in the real estate and ticket brokerage business. He is a notary public and a member of the American Ticket Brokers' Association. Mr. King is a self-made man, highly respected by all who know him and a business man of the strictest integrity.

Knox, George W., was born at Knoxboro, N. Y., April 23, 1867, a son of Orville M. Knox, a prominent farmer and hop dealer of that section. He attended the public schools of his native town and at the age of twelve years entered the High School at Oneida, N. Y., whither his parents had removed, and was graduated therefrom in 1886. He entered Colgate University, Hamilton, N. Y., in 1886 with the class of 1890, and left in 1888 to enter the office of Jenkins & Devereux at Oneida, where he read law until 1891, when he was admitted to the bar of the State of New York at Binghamton. In 1892 he removed to Niagara Falls, where he has since en- joyed the uninterrupted and successful practice of his profession.

Kelley, James A., vice-president and foreman, or manager, at the mill for the last ten years, of the Newfane Basket Company, was born in Maine, February 16, 1849, a son of Jacob and May Kelley. His father was born in Maine and his mother in Massachusetts. They lived in Lowell for a short time after marriage, after which they came to Lockport, where he engaged in lumbering with his brother, remaining there for a period of three years, when they dissolved partnership, his brother going to Philadelphia and engaging in the sash, door and blind business, when he moved to Newfane and engaged in running a saw mill with Vincent, which they conducted for a few years, when he gave up milling and engaged in fruit growing until his death in 1893. His wife (mother of James A.) died in 1895. There were five chil- dren in this family: James A., Abbie F., now Mrs. Goodrich, resides on the home- stead; George and Ella (deceased), and Willis, who resides in Ransomville. James A. Kelley married Mary, daughter of George Ketchum, who resides in Newfane. Mrs. Ketchum died in 1896. Mrs. Kelley is a member of the M. E. church at New- fane and is an interested worker in church matters. Mr. Kelley is interested in fruit growing and has an orchard of sixteen acres, all in a flourishing condition.

Knapp, Franklin L., M. D., was born in Phelps, N. Y., September 22, 1817. His father, Rev. Liscomb Knapp, was a native of Vermont, and moved to Monroe county, N. Y., where he married Lucinda, daughter of James Gay, and in 1836 came to the town of Royalton. Franklin L. Knapp was educated in the common schools and Royalton Academy ; in 1844 he entered the Geneva Medical College, from which he was graduated in 1845 and began practice at Geneva. In 1847 he came to Gasport, where he has practiced five years; in 1866 he married Phoebe M. Brownell, and they have one daughter, Mary E. Dr. Knapp was one of the pioneer physicians of homeopathy and his early years were filled with struggles and battles to introduce what he believed to be the true system of medicine.

Kimpel Solomon, was born at Bentinck, Ontario, Canada, December 16, 1858, a son of the late Henry Kimpel. He was educated in the public schools of Bentinck and removed to Mildmay, Ont., in 1876, where he was apprenticed to Eidt & Noecker, merchant millers, for three years. In 1879 he removed to Stratford, Ont., and at once entered the mills of Poehlman & Redcliffe. In 1880 he removed to St. Louis, Mo., entering the mill furnishing house of Todds & Stanley for four months, then removed to Milwaukee, Wis., and remained for two and a half years at the milling business. In 1883 he removed to Niagara Falls, N. Y., and at once entered the flour mills of Schoellkopf & Mathews. Later he was employed in the Central Milling Co.'s flour mills, and in 1890 was made superintendent of the Cataract Milling Co.'s mills and retained that position until 1895, at which time he was appointed to his present position of superintendent of the Schoellkopf & Mathews flour mills.

La Blond, Frank, was born at St Heliers, Jersey, England, May 24, 1847, and is a son of Emmanuel Theophilus Le Blond (deceased). Mr. Le Blond attended the pub- lic schools at St. Heliers, and at the age of fourteen was apprenticed to a plumber for five years. Iu 1868 he removed to London, Eng., where he was engaged at his trade for two years; in 1870 he immigrated to America, settled in Niagara Falls, Ont., where he entered the employ of Thomas Barnett, at the Museum. From 1873 to 1878 he was in charge of the water works of the Great Western Railroad Company (now the Grand Trunk), at the Horse-shoe Falls, Canada. In 1878 he opened the Cliff Hotel at Niagara Falls, Ont., which he operated successfully for six years, when he formed a partnership with Richard F. Carter, and built the steamer Maid of the Mist, which began running in June, 1885. He is at present manager of the Maid of the Mist Steamboat Company. He is also actively engaged in many enter- prises, as president or managing director, is an extensive land owner and a highly respected citizen. His residence since 1888 has been in Niagara Falls, N. Y.

Lyon, H. L. T., one of the enterprising members of the Buffalo Steam Pump Co., is a resident of Buffalo and native of Pennsylvania. He was educated at Peekskill, De Veaux College and the University of Buffalo, and before embarking in business had achieved a high reputation as an amateur athlete, particularly in aquatics. He is a stockholder in the Buffalo Steam Pump Co. and contributes his time and ability as a draughtsman to the furtherance of the enterprise. Mr. Lyon is a scion of a representative American family, his grandfather H. L. Taylor, having been one of the great successful oil operators and dealers of his day. His mother was Kate Tay- lor; his father, W. W. Lyon, died in 1877. Mr. Lyon is an energetic and talented

young business man, whose energies are a valuable acquisition to the Buffalo Steam Pump Co. and to North Tonawanda. He is a member of the Psi Omega fraternity in the University of Buffalo, the Kappa Delta Pi of Peekskill and is also a Mason.

Lindsay, Hon. James P., was born in Londonderry, Ohio, May 24 1856, and is of Scotch-Irish descent. When quite young he removed with his father's family to Illinois, thence to Iowa, finally settling near Indianola, where he continued to reside until admitted to the bar. His parents were Samuel B. and Maria (Bratton) Lindsay, both natives of Ohio. His father was a member of the Ohio Legislature, and served in the war of the Rebellion as second lieutenant of Co. A, 48th Ia. Inf. James P. was educated at Simpson, (Ia.), and Monmouth (Ill.) Colleges and Chicago Uni- versity, from which last he graduated in the class of 1880. He was admitted to the bar at Des Moines, Iowa, in 1881, and shortly thereafter located in the practice of law at Lincoln, Neb. In 1883 he located at Beaver City, Neb., where he was county attorney until 1886, when he was elected to the State Senate, and re-elected in 1888,

serving four years. His majority on re-election was the largest of any member of either branch of the Legislature that year, being nearly 4,000. In 1891 President Harrison appointed him register of the U. S. land office at McCook, his district em- bracing nearly half of the State south of the Platte River. In 1894 he came to North Ton- awanda and entered into a partnership with Hon. Henry E. Warner. Upon the organ- ization of North Tonawanda as a city he was tendered the appointment as city judge, which office, however, he declined. Mr. Lindsay is a member of the Workmen, Odd Fellows and Knights of Pythias. In 1883 he was married at Indianola, Ia., to Lizzie M. Campbell, and thay have three children living: Erma, Cecile and Walter.

Lienz, Jacob, was born in Wurtemburg, Germany, a son of Daniel and Margaret Leinz, both of whom died in Germany. He came to America about forty years ago and settled in Amherst, Erie county, N. Y., where he remained two years and then came to the town of Newfane, and worked one year by the month and one year by the day, after which he rented a farm, on which he remained sixteen years, and which he afterwards bought for $4,500. He then bought the farm he now owns, paying $8,000 for it and has so managed it that he has paid for it and has fine build- ings and one of the best improved farms in his town. He married Christina Klein, and they had eight children, five of whom are living: Daniel, the eldest is married and has one daughter; Mary married Fred Mayer and has two sons and resides in Buffalo; Tennie, Emma and John, the three youngest, reside with their parents. Mr. and Mrs. Leinz are faithful members of the German Lutheran church. He is a prosperous and enterprising farmer and a gentleman.

Lum, Silas, Somerset, one of the oldest settlers and pioneers of Niagara county, was born in Otsego county in 1814, and came with his parents to Somerset in 1819, settling on the farm he now owns. He endured all the hardships incident to pioneer life, the country at that time being the home of the Indians and wild beasts, and with the exception of now and then an occasional clearing and pioneer cabin, as wild as nature made it. His father went to Chautauqua county, where he settled on a farm, erected a cabin, cleared the farm and then sold his improvements. He died in 1843 and his mother in 1876, at the ripe old age of ninety-three years. Mr. Lum has two brothers living, one, Chauncy, living in Lyndon, and one, James, living near

Kalamazoo, Mich. His only sister, Lucy, died in 1860. Mr. Lum never married and is now enjoying the fruits of honest labor well rewarded. He is a member of the Niagara County Pioneers' Picnic Association.

Leggett, John H., was born at Lewiston, N. Y., December 21, 1868, and is a son of John C. Leggett, a farmer of that place. Mr. Leggett was educated in the public schools of his native town and De Veaux College, from which he was gradu- ated in 1889, when he began reading law with Hon. P. F. King, of Lockport. In 1892 he was admitted to the bar of New York State and at once formed a partner- ship with the Hon. P. F. King in the practice of law at Niagara Falls. In 1896 F. J. Brown became a member of the firm and they now have a large and successful practice under the firm name of King, Leggett & Brown. Mr. Leggett is also attor- ney for the Niagara County Board of Supervisors. November 9, 1892, he married Emily M. Taylor, of Toronto, Can., and they have one daughter, Jennie M., born on February 14, 1896.

Devereaux, Patrick, a prosperous farmer of Hartland, was born in County Wex- ford, Ireland, in 1831, a son of Margaret and John Devereaux. His father died in Ireland. He and his mother immigrated to America in 1852, landing at Savannah, Ga., whence they came to New York State, settling first in Utica, thence to Lock- port, where he engaged in farming. In the spring of 1867 he came to Hartland and purchased the farm he now owns, which he cleared and improved. In July, 1878, he married Bridget Kinney, daughter of Thomas and Anne Kinney, also natives of Ire- land and who immigrated to Lockport in 1873. Mr. and Mrs. Devereaux have six children : Margaret A., born in June, 1880; Georgiana, born in March, 1882; John, born in September, 1883: Mary, born in January, 1885; Thomas, born in December, 1887, and Kittie, born in July, 1890. They are all at home, and are a refined and courteous family. They are members of the Catholic church at Hartland. Mr. Devereaux is a practical farmer, and is proud of the fact that he owes no man a dollar.

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Landmarks of Niagara County, New York, Part 54

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