Landmarks of Niagara County, New York, Part 55

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 55

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Devereaux, John E., was born at New Haven, Conn., May 8, 1852, and is a son of Edward Devereaux, a well known landscape gardener, now deceased. Mr. Devereaux had little chance for study, as his father moved continually in the prac- tice of his profession, until 1864, when they settled at Geneva, where he attended the public schools of that place three terms. In 1866 he removed with his parents to Clifton Springs, where his father died, and Mr. Devereaux entered the employ of the Clifton Springs Sanitarium, remaining until 1872, when he went to Poughkeepsie to attend for one session Eastman's Business College. In 1873 he removed to Niagara Falls, where he at once entered the employ of the Cataract House, and where he since has remained, excepting during the years 1879-80-81, when he was elected town clerk at Clifton Springs, N. Y., one year appointed; also was clerk of the Board of Education, returning again to the Cataract House, where he has risen through all possible grades to his present position as manager, which post he has held for the past eight years. Mr. Devereaux has been interested in little or no other business aside from his hotel work for the past quarter of a century, with the exception of the last three years, during which time he has been engaged (mostly during the winter months) in the real estate business. In 1892 he was appointed a member of the

Board of Public Works and during the presidential campaign of 1896 he was chair- man of the City Democratic Committee of Niagara Falls.

Delmage, Henry J., was born in County Limerick, Ireland, October 13, 1842, a son of the late Adam Delmage. In 1849 Adam Delmage removed with his family to Hamilton, Ontario, Can., where Henry attended the public schools and at the age of thirteen began the active life which he still leads. In 1862 he helped build the first wing of the present Niagara University and later entered the hotel business, which he has followed ever since. In 1874 he bought his present hotel and has operated it successfully for twenty-three years as the Ontario House, Niagara Falls. In 1883 Mr. Delmage was appointed assessor of the village of Suspension Bridge to fill a vacancy, and in 1884 was elected assessor of the town of Niagara. He was re-elected to that office in 1887 and again in 1890; in 1894 he was elected city assessor and was re-elected in 1897. He also filled the office of treasurer of the village of Suspension Bridge in the years 1881-82-86 and 1891. May 23, 1867, he married Bridget Lena- han and they have ten children. Mrs. Delmage died November 19, 1884. They had one child, Eddie P., who was killed by being run over by a wagon, August 21, 1888. Mr. Delmage is a member of the C. M. B. A. and A. O. H. of Niagara Falls.

Donahue, Michael, was born near Limerick, County Clare, south of Ireland, Octo- ber 15, 1843, and in 1862, when nineteen years old, came to America in company with his mother to join his three brothers, James, Martin and John, and two sisters, Hanora and Bridget, who had previously settled at Niagara Falls. Shortly after his arrival here he was engaged by the New York Central Railroad Company as watch- man in their extensive lumber yards and station, and later (1872) was promoted to special railroad police under the same company. In 1881 he was placed in charge of the station at Niagara Falls as station master and yard master; in 1896 he was re- lieved of yard duty and holds the office of station master, which position he now occupies, a trusted and respected officer.

Dix, P. T., a farmer and fruit grower of Newfane, was born in Whitecreek, Wash- ington county, N. Y., in 1821, a son of Ozias and Phoebe (Tillinghast) Dix. Ozias Dix was born in Vermont in 1794, and came to New York State in his younger days, settling in Niagara county in June, 1834, where he died in 1874; Mrs. Dix died in 1872. P. T. Dix married Maria Antoinette McKee of Newfane, December 18, 1861, and they had seven children, five of whom are living, two died in infancy. Louah Marian, now Mrs. Frank M. Bradley of Somerset; Winifred, now Mrs. Dr. G. B. Arnold of Downington, Pa .; Cornelia, resides at home, but is now in Florida; Minella, at home, and Burt Tillinghast. Mr. Dix was town superintendent of pub- lic schools and justice of the peace eight years and deputy collector of customs at Olcott under Buchanan. He is a Good Templar and a Prohibitionist. He has ten acres of peach orchard, twenty-five acres of apples and four of pears.

Dowding, John, was born in England, in 1847. He came with his parents, Thomas and Mary Dowding, to America in 1850, locating first in Ontario county, where they remained some time and his father worked on the Erie Canal, after which he engaged in farming, renting for a time and after getting a fair start bought a farm in Newfane, on which he lived until his death in 1883. His wife did her share toward paying for the home and when her husband died she lived with

her son John, who took care of her until her death in 1893. John Dowding was first married to Densie E. Corwin in 1872, and they had two daughters: Matie E., born in September, 1873, and married Burton Bixler of Newfane; S. Libbie, born in September, 1874, married Joseph R. Flagler of Newfane. Mrs. Dowding died Jan- uary 1, 1878, and in 1879 Mr. Dowding married Rettie C. Barber, and they had three children: A son who died in infancy; Addie F., born October 19, 1881; and Clara B., born December 4, 1883. Mrs Dowding died December 25, 1894, and Mr. Dowding and two daughters have since been alone, the daughters keeping house and attending school. In the spring of 1887 Mr. Dowding was elected commissioner of highways in the town of Newfane, overcoming a good majority of the opposite party. He is an industrious and successful farmer.

De Graff, James H., was born in the town of De Witt, Onondaga county, N. Y., June 21, 1834, and attended school in the Kinne district in Orville, same county. He came to Buffalo in 1851, where he was employed by Ball & Barton, contractors, then engaged in building the government breakwater and dredging the Erie basin, till the spring of 1852, when he entered the employ of Barton & Richardson, who had contracted to build several miles of the roadbed of the Great Western Railroad in Canada across an extensive marsh between Chatham and Windsor; this engage- ment continued until the completion of the road, when he returned to Buffalo to the old firm in 1853. In the fall of 1854 he again engaged with Barton & Richard- son, who had the contract to enlarge the Erie Canal through Tonawanda. This en- gagement continued to the fall of 1857, when he went to Virginia in the employ of Barton, Cartwright & Co. in the construction of the Chesapeake and Albemarle Canal between Carrituck Sound and the Elizabeth River near Norfolk, Va. In the spring of 1859 he returned to Tonawanda and was married to Miss Mary Simson, daughter of the late John Simson, who came to Erie county in 1811 and died at his old home in 1893. In 1860 Mr. De Graff was engaged by a part of his old employers and had charge in the development and deepening of the Kanawha River for steam- boat navigation above and below Charleston, W. Va. He relates many narrow escapes they had in getting a part of their dredges, dump boats and steamers past the Confederate forts at Charleston and Red House Shoals during the Rebellion, and escaping to the Ohio River in June, 1861, when General Mcclellan was expect- ed up the river to capture Charleston. In 1863 he formed a partnership with his father-in-law, John Simson, and engaged in lumbering in Northern Michigan, and in the purchase of pine lands and getting out long timber which was made up into large rafts and towed by powerful tugs to either Port Huron, Detroit, Toledo, Buf- falo or Tonawanda. In 1876 he became a member of the banking firm of Evans, Schwinger & Co., with a capital of $25,000, which was merged into the State Bank in 1883, with a capital stock of $100,000, which still exists, and of which Mr. De Graff has been president since its organization. He is also president of the Tona- wanda Gas Light Company, was a charter member of the Buffalo Loan and Deposit Company and has been its vice-president since it was organized. He was elected supervisor of the town of Tonawanda in 1876, 1878 and 1879. In 1884 he built his home on the corner of Gaundry street and Payne's avenue, North Tonawanda, re- moving from Tonawanda, Erie county, to the north side-Niagara county-where he now resides. Mr. De Graff has three living children: Louis A., who is married

and lives at Albion; Lydia M., who married Charles Weston and lives on the op- posite corner from her father; and Legrand S., who lives at home, acting as man- ager for A. Weston & Son, wholesale lumber dealers in town. Mr. De Graff's fore- fathers-both paternal and maternal-came from Amsterdam, Holland, with the first colony that settled at Schenectady about the middle of the sixteenth century. His mother, Evan Van Eps, was born in Schenectady, N. Y., June 7, 1802, and married in 1823. In the summer of 1825 they came by boat on the Erie Canal, as it was then just finished for traffic, and settled at Orville, in the town of De Witt, On- ondaga county, and in which town his mother still lives with her daughter on Man- lius street, East Syracuse, in her ninety-sixth year ; she retains her mental faculties remarkably well for her advanced age. On June 7, last, at the celebration of the ninety-fifth anniversary of her birth, five generations were represented. She read a passage of Scripture from the old Bible, without glasses, and was handed a copy of the Buffalo Express in which she read a portion of an article, saying that the print was rather fine, and asked for her " specs," as she called her spectacles. On that occasion she related many scenes of the ups and downs of her past life and her school-girl days, and afterward sang in a low tone several verses of hymns she had learned when as a girl she sang in the choir of the old Dutch Reformed church, of which she was a member in her maiden days.

Devlin, Samuel J., was born at Niagara Falls, N. Y., September 10, 1869. He at- tended the public schools at Niagara Falls, and early in life became interested in manufacturing. In 1895 he became identified with the Kelly & McBean Co., novelty manufacturers, as its secretary and treasurer, of which position he is still an incumbent. Mr. Devlin is a stockholder in, and director of the Kelly & McBean Co. and is a member of numerous Masonic and other organizations. September 18, 1895, he married Mary Barker of Niagara Falls.

Dick, George, was born at Tonawanda, N. Y., March 1, 1841, a son of the late Jacob Dick. He was educated in the public schools of La Salle, whither his mother (now Mrs. Catherine Matthias) had removed. He left school at the age of eighteen and worked on the home farm at La Salle until he was twenty-four years of age, when he purchased a farm of eighty-three acres and engaged in fruit growing and general farming until 1864; at this date he enlisted in the U. S. Army in Co. C, 2d N. Y. Regiment of Mounted Rifles. He went to the front with that regiment, serv- ing in several brilliant campaigns and was in at the surrender of General Lee at Appomattox Court House; in August, 1865, he was mustered out of the service and at once returned to La Salle to his farm and to fruit growing, which he has followed ever since successfully. In November following his return from the war he was married to Susan A. Wattengel of La Salle, and they have reared a family of seven children, three sons and four daughters. Mr. Dick is an industrious and thrifty farmer and well deserves the high esteem in which he is held by his fellow citizens.

Diver, John M., was born in Cleveland, Ohio, April 15, 1859, a son of John Diver. He was educated in the public schools of his native town, and when sixteen years of age learned the lumber business at Cleveland and has followed that calling ever since. In 1895 he removed from Cleveland to Niagara Falls and established his present business, building a large mill where he employs forty hands the year round.

Mr. Diver is a thrifty, enterprising man and well deserves the success that has at- tended his efforts. In 1879 he was married to Ellen J. Bieder and they have three children. Mr. Diver is a member of Brooklyn Lodge No. 454, F. & A. M. of Cleve- land, Ohio, Webb Chapter No. 14, Royal Arch Masons, and of Oriental Comman- dery No. 12, Knights Templar, of that city.

Elton, Theron S., was born in Canandaigua, Ontario county, N. Y., March 9, 1831, a son of James and Charlotte (Noble) Elton; James, a native of Vermont, and Charlotte, a native of Connecticut. The maternal and paternal grandfathers both served in the war of 1812. James Elton was a farmer in Canandaigua, and in 1840 settled in Wilson, where he engaged in farming and died in Rochester in 1883. Theron S. Elton was reared on a farm and educated in Yates Academy; in 1853 he married Lucinda Sweat, and they had one daughter, Frances M. Mrs. Elton died in 1874, and he married again, Myra, daughter of Charles Ford of Michigan, and she died in 1884, and in 1885 he married Mrs. Sarah Burton of Wilson. Mr. Elton remained on the farm for sixteen years and then went on the lakes for eleven years, afterwards learned the ship carpenter's trade, which business he followed eight years. In 1860 he settled in Cambria and has since followed farming and wagon making. In politics he is a Republican, having served as justice of the peace twenty years, and was re-elected in 1896 for another term of four years. Mr. and Mrs. Elton have reared two adopted daughters, Lola M., wife of James Barnes, a farmer of Cambria, and Lottie L., wife of Benjamin Hardison, a farmer of Cambria.

Emerson, Joseph, was born in Dunville, Canada, January 31, 1868, a son of John and Leah Emerson. His father came from England to Canada, when a boy and his mother is a native of Pennsylvania; they were married in Canada, where they have since resided. Joseph Emerson received his education in Dunville, after which he came to Buffalo and worked in a sanitarium in that place for three years. He then came to Newfane and bought a half interest in the Newfane Knitting Mills, with his brother-in-law, Fred Anderson, and continued the partnership for nearly three years (the mill was formerly the old Von Ostrand Woolen Mills, and one of the old- est landmarks in Niagara county), when they formed a stock company known as the Lockport Felt Co., January 26, 1891, composed of the following gentlemen: Fred Anderson, Joseph Emerson, James Jackson, jr., J. Carl Jackson, A. S. Beverly, Au- gustus H. Ivins and Charles T. Raymond. This company continued for about three years, when Mr. Anderson retired, and the Jacksons are also out of the company and J. H. Eilus has been taken in. They now manufacture felting for paper and pulp mills and sell their goods over eight or nine States, Mr. Emerson being the traveling representative of the firm. October 22, 1891, Mr. Emerson married Chris- sie Mae Lettis of Albion, and they have one child, Harold L., born May 29, 1895. Mr. Emerson is a member of Ontario Lodge, Wilson, No. 376, F. & A. M.

Edwards, William C., was born in London, England, January 16, 1851, a son of the late Richard H. Edwards. He was educated in the public schools of Buffalo, N. Y., whence his parents had removed in 1851, and when fifteen years of age began learning the hardware business, which he followed for eleven years. In 1877 he en- tered the employ of the New York Central Railroad Company as a freight brakeman and worked up to the position of passenger conductor, in which capacity he served

until 1888, when he entered the insurance business in which he is still actively and successfully engaged. February 11, 1883, he married Carrie A. Widener of Holly, N. Y., and they have one child, Albertina G. Mr. Edwards is a member of Niagara Frontier Lodge No. 785, F. & A. M., of Niagara Chapter No. 200, R. A. M., and is one of the charter members of Niagara Commandery No. 64, K. T. He is also a member of Ismailia Shrine of Buffalo, A. A. O. N. M. S. He has been a member of Excelsior Hook and Ladder Company No. 1, of Niagara Falls since 1889, and has been secretary of the Fire Department since 1893 and treasurer since 1892.

Enright, John P., son of Michael and Eliza (McDermott) Enright, was born in Buffalo, N. Y., January 18, 1863, but removed with his parents to Lockport when three years of age. He attended the Union school of Lockport and afterward took a course at the Canisius College at Buffalo. His first business experience was as a clerk in his father's grocery, where he remained for about nine years when he en- gaged in the brewing of ale and porter, in which he has since been engaged. Aside from the ale and porter brewery in Lockport, he has a very large brewery at Roch- ester, and the name of the Enright Brewery Co. of Rochester is famous through the State. Mr. Enright was married in April, 1892, to Mary T. Enright and they have one daughter, Frances C. Mr. Enright is a young man but is rapidly making his mark in the community and is respected by all who know him.

Foote, John, M. D .- Among the leading representatives of the profession we find Dr. John Foote who has been in practice for nearly fifty years, and for thirty-two years a practitioner of Lockport. He was born in the town of Greenwich, Washing- ton county, N. Y., May 22, 1828. His parents removed to Niagara county in 1832, where he attended the public schools. In 1848 he began the study of medicine in the office of Dr. Peter P. Murphy of Royalton, and the following year entered the Buffalo University, medical department, and was graduated from that institution in 1851. He then began the practice of his profession at Pekin, Niagara county, where he re- mained until 1865, when he removed to Lockport and has since been engaged in the practice of his chosen profession. Dr. Foote is a member of the Niagara County Medical Society, of which he has been treasurer for twenty years; he also served on the Board of Medical Examiners for a number of years. By slow degrees he has built up his present large and growing practice, and has a right to feel proud of his honorable and successful career.

Foster, James M., was born in the town of Yates, Orleans county, N. Y., Novem- ber 20, 1830, a son of James and Willina (Thomas) Foster. He was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools and Genesee Wesleyan Seminary. In 1851 he married Permelia B. Cady and they have four children: Frank L., Emma J., A. Clark, and James R. Mrs. Foster died and in 1863 he married Mary A. Woolson, and they have three children: C. Burt, May E. and William E. In 1866 he removed to Porter and bought 105 acres of land and has since added one hundred acres, and now follows general farming, stock raising and fruit growing. Mr. Foster is an ar- dent Republican and has been justice of the peace for eight years, supervisor one year and justice of sessions for one year. He is a member and present master of Ransomville Lodge No. 551, F. & A. M., and is also a Scottish Rite Mason and a member of the lodge at Lockport.

Flagler, Charles W., was born on the Flagler homestead, October 9, 1839, which was bought by his father, Sylvester Flagler, in 1829, he coming from Washington county, and through life was identified as a farmer. He married Abigail, daughter of Benjamin Remington, both families being of Revolutionary stock. He served his town as assessor for nearly twenty years and ever advanced the best interests of educational and religious institutions. He died in 1856 in his fifty-third year. Charles W. Flagler was educated in Lockport. In 1863 he enlisted in Co. C, 2d N. Y. Mounted Rifles, serving in the Army of the Potomac, and received an honor- able discharge August 10, 1865, with rank of captain. He then returned to Niagara county and in 1864 married Harriet E., daughter of Augustus Dutton, and they have two children, George E. and Marion. Mr. Flagler has served his town as assessor for twenty-one years and has ever advanced the best interests of the town and aided any enterprise intended to benefit his townspeople.

Forsyth, E. Holden, was born at Warren's Corners, December 28, 1829. His father, Edmund Forsyth, was born in Genesee county, July 15, 1803, and came to Warren's Corners with his parents, John and Mary (Ganson) Forsyth, in the spring of 1805. John Forsyth died in 1812, and his widow married Ezra Warren, after whom Warren's Corners were named. Edmund Forsyth was educated in the com- mon schools and through life was identified as a farmer, serving as road commis- sioner, town clerk, and took an active interest in educational and religious institu- tions, and ever advanced the best interests of the town and townspeople, Of him it can well be said " an honest man is the noblest work of God." He died in 1877 in his seventy-fifth year. E. Holden Forsyth was educated at Warren's Corners and Wilson, and has always been a farmer. In 1852 he married Harriet, daughter of Jacob Lafler, and they have three children : Arthur E., Mrs. Thomas Hoag and Mrs. Albert E. Taylor. Mr. Forsyth is one of the conservative men of his town, serving as road commissioner three years and trustee and steward of the M. E. church. He is recognized as a man of sterling integrity, who has ever received and merited the respect of his associates.

Forsyth, Luther, was born at Warren's Corners, December 14, 1825. His father, Edmund Forsyth, was a native of Genesee county and came to Warren's Corners in 1805 with his parents, John and Mary (Ganson) Forsyth, who purchased a farm of the Holland Land Company. He died in 1812. Edmund Forsyth was identified through life as a farmer. and married Harriet, daughter of William Pardy. He was a public spirited man and took the lead in public affairs, taking an active inter- est in school and church works. He died November 16, 1877, in his seventy-fifth year. Luther Forsyth was educated in the common schools and has followed farm- ing all his life. In 1849 he married Sarah, daughter of Demars Perry, and they have one daughter, Mrs. Jessie See. Mr. Forsyth is one of the representative men of his town, serving as justice for eighteen years, and is recognized as a man of con- servative character, who has ever advanced the best interests of town and towns- people.

Ferrin, Charles J .- This prominent grain and coal dealer is a son of Rennis and Jane E. (Fox) Ferrin, and was born at Port Gibson, Ontario county N. Y., July 28, 1833. He was educated in the public schools, the Palmyra Union School and the

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Walworth Academy, having graduated from the latter in 1848. His first business experience was with his father in the grain and forwarding business, where he re- mained until 1852, when he went to Detroit, Mich., taking charge of the freight department of Walter Chester. In 1870 he removed to Batavia and was engaged in the grain business at that place until 1883, when he removed to Lockport, where he has since conducted a large and prosperous grain and produce business. April 8, 1856, he married Frances Butler, and they had five children, three of whom are now living, and two sons (twins) are associated with him in business.

Foote, Reuben C., jr., was born at Royalton, N. Y., November 6, 1834, a son of Reuben C. and Electa (Taylor) Foote, and grandson of Lemuel and Lucy Foote. Reuben C. Foote, father of the subject, was born at Salem, N. Y., December 11, 1811; he was educated at Salem Academy, taught school two years, and at the age of twenty-two became a minister in the Methodist Episcopal church and was for thirty years actively engaged in the service. In 1883 he retired from active service and has since resided on the farm in Pendleton which he purchased during his min- istry. He has 108 acres in Pendleton and 120 acres in Hartland. He has been a very successful man, always having good charges, such as Henrietta, Dundee, Parma and several terms at Royalton, giving liberally to the church and accumulating a good competency ; he refused the presiding eldership and also the stewardship of the Lima College. Reuben C. Foote, jr., was educated at Lima and has always been a farmer. He worked the homestead until 1872, when he came on to his present farm of 107 acres and carries on general farming ; he has also been quite largely engaged shipping milk to Buffalo. March 5, 1855, he married Louisa A., daughter of Anthony Ames of Pendleton, and they had two children: Burt A., traveling salesman, and Minnie E., wife of Henry M. Treichler, farmer of Wheatfield. Mrs. Foote died January 5, 1890. Mr. Foote has always been a Republican and has been justice of the peace several years.

Folger, Charles E., has been connected with the United Indurated Fibre Company of Lockport since 1886, beginning in the capacity of bookkeeper, and has been suc- cessively advanced from time to time until he now holds the responsible position of assistant treasurer. He was born December 18, 1860, at Hartland, N. Y., and re- ceived his education from the Union School of Lockport. He is a son of Charles A. and Louisa (Baker) Folger, who came to this county from New England in 1855. Mr. Folger is a member of Empire Knights of Relief, the Royal Arcanum and the Lock- port Wheelmen. He married, February 8, 1893, Miss Georgie Torrance Lattin, a granddaughter of Capt. Asher Torrance, who came to Niagara county about 1832, and was a prominent citizen of Lockport in its early days, being postmaster for sev- eral terms.

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Landmarks of Niagara County, New York, Part 55

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