USA > New York > Niagara County > Landmarks of Niagara County, New York > Part 56
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Gruhler, Joseph C., was born at Buffalo, N. Y., April 24, 1850, and is a son of Bernhard Gruhler, who was for years well known as a cooper, and later as a hotel proprietor in that city. Mr. Gruhler was educated in the public schools at Buffalo and at the age of fifteen entered the employ of J. B. Mayer, jeweler, where he learned the trade. From 1869 to 1881 he worked at the cooper's trade in Pennsyl- vania, Dunkirk and Niagara Falls, N. Y., and then established his present hotel and restaurant business. He has been a director of the Niagara Permanent Loan and
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Savings Association since its organization, and is past grand in the I. O. O. F., and record keeper of Cascade Tent 127, K. O. T. M., and member of the Board of Educa- tion of the city of Niagara Falls since it has a charter as a city.
Gooding, Stephen F .- For more than sixty years Mr. Gooding has been estab- lished in his profession. His first engagement in engineering work was on the sur- vey of the Buffalo and Niagara Falls and the Lockport and Niagara Falls Railroad; he next assisted on the survey of a railroad from Toledo to Sandusky city, and dur- ing the same year of a railroad running from Palmira, Mich., to Jackson, and later was employed on the Erie Canal between Buffalo and Rochester. In 1838 and 1840 he was engaged on the construction of the Illinois and Michigan Canal; from 1840 to 1862 he was engaged in the engineering of the enlargement of the Erie Canal in the vicinity of Lockport, including the construction of the combined locks at that place; in 1862 was elected village engineer, which position he held until in 1867 he made for the United States government, under charge of Colonel Blunt, U. S. A , surveys and estimate for a ship canal from Niagara River at Tonawanda to Lake Ontario at Olcott. In 1868 he removed to Long Island and was engineer in the construction of different railroads in that region. In 1876 he returned to Lockport and has since been engaged in surveying and civil engineering. In 1891 he made the surveys and estimates for a canal to utilize the power of Niagara River on a head and fall of over 200 feet at Lockport. It will thus be seen that Mr. Gooding is a civil engineer of rare attainments and ability and one whose services are in request in works where high order of skill is indispensable. He is a son of John and Mary A. (French) Gooding, and was born in the town of Henrietta, Monroe county, N. Y., October 31. 1817. He has been a Republican since the organization of that party and his first vote was with the Liberty party. He is a member of the East Avenue Congrega- tional church and was present at the first Sunday school ever held in the city of Lockport. His father was born in Bristol, N. Y., in 1795 and died in 1840; his mother was born in the town of Alfred, Mass., in 1797 and died in 1873.
Gold, William J., a son of Benjamin and Elizabeth (Calaway) Gold, was born in Pittstown, Rensselaer county, N. Y., September 2, 1849. His first employment was in a cooper shop at Waterford, N. Y. In 1876 he removed to Lockport and entered the flour mill of Saxton & Thompson, having charge of the flour packing department, and continued with this firm for a period of five years. He then embarked in the grocery business on his own account, which business he has since conducted. In May, 1892, he was appointed assessor by Mayor Darrison for one term of two years, which position he has held up to the present time. August 31, 1872, he married Mary A. Jones of Cohoes, N. Y.
Gombert, William, Wheatfield, was born in Germany in 1847, and came to America in 1854 with his uncle. In 1861 he came to Lockport where he learned the carpen- ter's trade and followed it for five years there, when he came to North Tonawanda in 1869. He built the mill now conducted by J. S. Thompson and was a partner in the business for many years. After some changes the firm became Gombert & Thompson in 1887 and so remained until 1892, when Mr. Gombert sold out and went into the coal business. He also conducts the business of the Erie Coal Dock. Mr. Gombert enlisted in the 26th N. Y. Frontier Cavalry in 1865 and served four months.
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He is a member of the Board of Public Works in the city of North Tonawanda and was alderman for four years and president of the village one year. While chairman of the street commissioners he built the bridge over the State ditch on Oliver street and procured the fire engine for the village, and served twelve years in the fire de- partment. Mr. Gombert married Caroline Werth, and their children are: Henry, Edward, Christian, George, Harmen, Walter, Elizabeth, Minnie and Esther.
Grigg, Henry, was born in Somerset county, England, June 6, 1833, a son of the late Joshua Grigg, a well known miller. Henry Grigg was educated in England, and at an early age was apprenticed to a miller and served at that business until 1855, when he immigrated with his parents to America, settling in Skaneateles, N. Y., where he engaged in milling until 1861, then moving to Rochester, was for eight years in the employ of the Rochester Milling Company. In 1869 he removed to Lockport, where he was made superintendent of the Saxton & Thompson Flour Mills and remained there until 1885, at which time he accepted the position tendered him, and which he still retains, as superintendent of the Central Milling Company's Mills at Niagara Falls, and became a resident of that place. He was married in May, 1856, to Elizabeth Ann French of Skaneateles, N. Y., and they have four children, three sons and one daughter.
Hannan, Thomas, was born in Ireland, November 10, 1843, and was a son of James Hannan, a farmer, now deceased. Mr. Hannan was educated in Ireland and at the age of twenty came to America and settled in Niagara Falls, N. Y., where he started in the grocery and provision business; in 1873 he established himself in that line, which he has successfully carried on ever since. April 22, 1875, he married Ann Canavan of Niagara Falls, and they have five children.
Hoyer, J. B., M. D., was born at the Rapids, April 5, 1859. His father, Benjamin Hoyer, came with his parents to Middleport about 1830, taking up their land from the Holland Land Company. Benjamin Hoyer married Melinda, daughter of Henry Dysinger, and was identified as a farmer. He was greatly interested in church affairs and died in 1891. Dr. Hoyer was educated in Medina and Yates Academy, graduating from the medical department of the Buffalo University in 1881 and im- mediately began practice in Middleport. In 1882 he married Flora, daughter of Ira C. Baker, and the have two daughters, Jean and Hazel. Dr. Hoyer is one of the progressive men of his town, serving as a member of the Board of Education and Regents Examiner Middleport Union School.
Arnold, John B , was born in the town of Lima, Livingston county, N. Y., May 11, 1848. He was educated in the public schools of his native town and the Genesee Wesleyan Seminary. In 1865 he removed to Lockport and was employed in the Niagara Flour Mills for three years, when he purchased an interest in the Lockport City Flour Mills and continued in that business as a member of the firm of Gibson, Arnold & Little and later of the firm of Arnold & Little, until 1890. In 1892 he be- came connected with the United Indurated Fiber Company and is now filling the position of paymaster. He was married in October, 1878, to Eugenia F. Adriance of Lockport, N. Y. Mr. Arnold has always taken a deep interest in public af- fairs and in 1884 was elected county treasurer of Niagara county; he also served on
JAMES ARMITAGE.
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the Board of Education for two terms. He is a man of business ability and is respected by all who know him.
Armitage, Herschell & Co .- The manufacturing establishment of Armitage, Her- schell & Co. had its inception in 1872, when James Armitage, George C. Herschell, Allan Herschell and G. A. Gillies started a machine shop in North Tonawanda. In 1873 Mr. Gillies retired and the other three have since conducted the enterprise, which has grown to large proportions under their able management. In 1890 the firm became a stock company and was incorporated with James Armitage president, and George C. Herschell, secretary and treasurer. They mannufacture steam en- gines and boilers, electric elevators and dynamos, merry-go-rounds, swings, feed cutters and other machines and ship their goods all over the world; their plant covers three acres of ground and they built a fine new office in 1894; they employ from 150 to 200 men. James Armitage was born in England, March 9, 1842, and came to America in 1864. He learned his trade of machinist in the old country and followed it in Buffalo and Williamsville, until he became a member of the firm of Armitage, Herschell & Co. in 1872. March 14, 1870, he married Kate Murray of Buffalo, and they have four children living: Mrs. Clarence Hoover, James Armitage, jr., Elizabeth and Anna. They are all members of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which Mr. Armitage has been a steward for many years. Mr. Armitage is a Royal Arch Mason, and is universally esteemed for his sterling integrity and honor, as well as for his well known business ability.
Atwater, James, was born in Conesville, Schoharie county, N. Y., August 29, 1821. He attended the district schools of his native town, the Livingston Academy, and was graduated from the State Normal School at Albany in 1844. After gradua- tion he engaged in teaching for several years; he was for seventeen years superin- tendent and teacher of mathematics in the Union School of Lockport. He then en- gaged in the insurance business in Lockport, where he has steadily pursued his chosen vocation ever since. Skillful, conscientious and successful in business, he is besides a popular citizen. He was a member of the Board of Education for a num- ber of years and was supervisor of the Third ward for sixteen years. Mr. Atwater has always taken an active part in politics and was elected mayor of the city of Lockport in 1894. He is in all respects a worthy gentleman of high personal and business character, and deserves the prosperity he enjoys.
Acheson, Edward G., was born at Washington, Pa., March 9, 1856, a son of Will- iam Acheson, an iron worker and manufacturer of that place, now deceased. Mr. Acheson was educated at Bellefonte Academy, at Bellefonte, Pa., and at the age of seventeen began studying civil engineering in the employ of the Bradford & Olean Narrow Gauge Railroad Co .; in 1876 he became ticket agent for that company at Parker's Landing, Pa., in the Allegheny Valley. Later he entered the service of the Standard Oil Co. as measurer of capacity of the oil tank cars and remained with that company until 1879. He was continually experimenting in electricity and chemistry, and the year 1880 found him in the laboratory of the electrical king, Thomas A. Edison. In 1881-82 and 1883, he journeyed through Europe, introduc- ing for Mr. Edison the incandescent electric light, establishing the first electric light station in Europe at Milan, Italy, and upon returning to America he devoted
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himself for two years to experimental work. In 1886 he became chief electrician for the Standard Underground Cable Co. of Pittsburg, with which company he re- mained until 1890, when he organized the Monongahela Electric Light Company and was chosen its president. During his years of experimenting in chemistry and electricity, Mr. Acheson had discovered a method of manufacturing a crystal- line compound of carbon and silicon nearly equal to the diamond in hardness and to which he gave the name of carborundum. The manufacture of this substance was first undertaken by the Monongahela Electric Light Co., under the personal supervision of Mr. Acheson. It proved a success and he at once took out letters patent, and since that time two large plants have been erected, one at Monongahela, Pa., and the other at Niagara Falls, N. Y., where carborundum is manufactured in large quantities. In the summer of 1897 Mr. Acheson will begin the building of a large plant for the manufacture of carborundum for foreign trade on the Rhine River in Germany. Mr. Acheson, the inventor of carborundum and the president of the Carborundum Company, has had more success than Jules Verne's hero, for though he has not invented a way of making diamonds, yet carborundum is closely related to diamonds, not only in the materials of which it is composed, but in many of its physical qualities, such as hardness and beauty of appearance. In the autumn of 1884 Mr. Acheson married Margaret Maher of Brooklyn, N. Y., and they have four sons and three daughters.
Belden, Francis C., was born at Cleveland, Ohio, April 20, 1849, a son of Selah and Martha Putnam Belden. He was educated in the public schools of Illinois and under private tutors. At sixteen years of age he took up telegraphy at Chenoa, Ill. Since that time he has served with several leading railroads, rising from telegraph opera- tor to the position of chief operator and train dispatcher, which position he occupied from 1869 to 1875 with the New York Central and Hudson River Railroad Company at Syracuse, N. Y., and from 1875 to 1887 at Niagara Falls, with the same company, and was for years manager of the Western Union Telegraph Company and Bell Telephone Company at Niagara Falls. In 1887 Mr. Belden engaged in the real estate business, which he has followed ever since with great success; he was from 1888 to 1896 a member of the firm of Belden & King, real estate and ticket brokers of Niagara Falls, but is now operating alone. He is a member of Niagara Frontier Lodge No. 132, F. & A. M., of Niagara Chapter No. 200, R. A. M., and Niagara Commandery No. 64, K. T .; also of the A. O. U. W., and is also a Noble of the Mystic Shrine of Ismailia Temple at Buffalo. Mr. Belden has been quite prominent in business and political circles, having served as alderman of the Second ward and member and secretary of the Niagara County Republican General Committee. In December, 1869, Mr. Belden married J. Maude Wright of Duanesburg, N. Y., and they have one child, a son.
Binkley, Uriah, was born in Lancaster county, Pa., November 10, 1822, a son of Christian Binkley, a prosperous farmer who removed with his family to Niagara county, N. Y., in 1831, where he died in 1862. Uriah Binkley was educated in the public schools of Niagara county, and when seventeen years old left home to learn the carpenter's trade at Clarence Centre, N. Y., which he followed for eight years. In 1852 he returned to Niagara county, N. Y., and purchased a farm at Lewiston, where he remained until 1858, and then removed to the old homestead farm of his
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wife at La Salle, which he sold in 1892. In 1882 he bought his present farm and in 1891 erected a splendid residence and buildings, and upon the sale of the homestead moved into his new home, where he has since remained, carrying on a general farm- ing business. March 24, 1853, he married Barbara Zeiger of La Salle, and they have reared a family of ten children, eight sons and two daughters. Mr. Binkley is a thrifty and prosperous farmer and enjoys the good will and respect of all who know him. He has been highway overseer of Niagara township for the past thirty years and has declined appointment to many other offices.
Bowles, Dr. George Charles, son of John and Sarah E. Bowles, was born in Lon- don, Eng., March 2, 1868. At the age of four years he removed with his parents to London, Ont., and shortly after to Detroit, Mich., where his parents now reside. After receiving his education in the public schools of Detroit he entered a business house of that city where he remained until 1888, when he removed to Philadelphia and began the study of dentistry, graduating from the Pennsylvania College of Den- tal Surgery in 1891. He followed the practice of his profession for four years in Schenevus, Otsego county, N. Y., and in 1895 removed to Niagara Falls, where he now enjoys a successful and steadily increasing practice. August 15, 1891, Dr. Bowles was married to Miss Lillian Agnes Hopkins of Detroit, Mich. They have two children, a son, George C., and a daughter, Florence Edith Bowles.
Barnum, Mrs. Elizabeth .- David L. Barnum was born in Brighton, Monroe county, N. Y., July 30, 1825, a son of Richard and Electa (Lloyd) Barnum. Richard Barnum was born in Danbury, Conn., in 1789, and came to Rochester, N. Y , when only three houses were there, and bought land where the Powers Block now stands. He settled in Penfield in 1812, thence to Brighton, where he lived until his death in 1863; his wife died in 1862. David L. Barnum was reared on the farm and educated in the common schools; the homestead where he was born is now called the Barnum Terrace, being one of the suburbs of Rochester, N. Y. He learned the cooper's trade and spent six years in Racine as a tight barrel carpenter. June 16, 1851, he married Elizabeth Dygert, born in Herkimer county, January 27, 1831, and de- scended from one of the old pioneer families. Her grandfather, George Dygert, was killed by the Indians in the French and Indian war. Mr. and Mrs. Barnum had eight children, only two are now living: Carrie E., Delia S., Cora A., George R., Nellie J., David C. (deceased), and John E. and Charles O. now living. In 1851 he removed to Monroe county, where he remained six years on a farm, and in 1857 moved to Oil Springs, Can., where he was a successful oil producer for some years. In 1863 he came to Wilson, where he lived until his death, which occurred January 30, 1894. He bought a foundry in Wilson village, which his widow now carries on. He was a Democrat, and a member of the Village Board and Board of Education and a member of the Presbyterian church, and always took a lively interest in the welfare of the village and filled important positions. His maternal grandfather, David Lloyd, was killed in the war of 1812 and buried at Lewiston, N. Y. This family is related to the late P. T. Barnum, who was the greatest of showmen. Charles O. Barnum, oldest son living, is a resident of Buffalo; John E. is a traveling sales- man for a New York firm and David C. (deceased) was a prominent attorney in Rochester and had many friends in Monroe and Niagara counties.
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Brong, Daniel E., was born in the town of Scipio, Seneca county, Ohio, June 9, 1857. He attended the district schools of his native town and was graduated from the Northern Ohio Normal School in the class of 1877; he at this date entered the University of Michigan and was graduated from the law department in 1880, re- ceiving the degree of B. C. L. and was admitted to the bar of Michigan the same year. He then removed to Lockport, N. Y., and entered the law office of E. M. Ashley, where he remained for one year and was admitted to practice in New York State. He at this date formed a copartnership with his preceptor, Mr. E. M. Ashley, which continued until he became assistant district attorney; after three years he was made district attorney, in which capacity he acted for three years. Mr. Brong has always taken an active part in municipal affairs and has been city attorney, counsel to the Board of Supervisors and held several minor offices, all of which he has filled with much credit. He is a son of Paul and Mary A. (Stahler) Brong, who were residents of Niagara county until 1835, when they removed to Ohio. Mr. Brong has been en- gaged in many important criminal, as well as civil cases, and has always been very successful.
Bendinger, Louis .- The prominence attained by Mr. Bendinger since he has been a resident of Lockport is such as to warrant some mention in these pages. He is a native of Germany and immigrated to America April 6, 1870, settling in New York city, where he remained for two years. In 1872 he removed to Lockport and engaged in the marble business in company with John Bendinger, under the firm name of J. & L. Bendinger, which copartnership continued until 1893, when Louis Bendinger became sole proprietor of the extensive works and has since conducted the business alone. A magnificent line of fine monuments and headstones from novel and original designs are constantly kept in stock and challenge the visitor's admiration. Mr. Bendinger is a thorough going business man and has the happy faculty of retaining and constantly adding to his circle of friends.
Buckley, James, was born in Essex county, N. Y., October 3, 1833, and came to Lewiston when a small boy, where he has resided ever since, with the exception of one year. He has been a farmer all his life and bought the farm some fifteen years ago where he now resides, and has since been sole proprietor. In connection with general farming he is one of the large fruit growers of the town, having twenty-two acres of fruit trees. Mr. Buckley is one of the successful farmers of Niagara county, and is highly esteemed socially.
Bissell, Mina C .- Simeon T. Clark, M. D., was one of Lockport's leading physi- cians and surgeons up to the time of his death. He was born in the town of Canton, October 10, 1836, a son of Rev. Nathan S. and Laura S. (Swift) Clark, and dates his ancestry to John Clark, one of the Pilgrim Fathers. In 1858 Dr. Clark began the study of medicine at the Castleton Medical College of Vermont, finishing his pro- fessional studies, however, at the Berkshire Medical College, from which he was graduated November 20, 1860. He began the practice of his profession at West Dennis, Mass., where he remained until 1861, when he removed to Lockport, where he resided and continued his practice until his death. November 28, 1857, he mar- ried Ruth J., daughter of Ezra J. Mendall of Marion, Mass., and a son and daughter have been born to them; Mina C., wife of Angus C. Bissell, and Nathan M.
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Blackley, William J., has been engaged in the contracting and building business in the late village, now city of Lockport since 1860 and conducted the largest busi- ness of the kind in the city. Among the many prominent structures that have been built by him may be mentioned the Niagara county court house, jail and sheriff's residence, the Hodge Opera House and Gargling Oil building (both rebuilt by him after the fire), Williams, McRae, and Blackley business blocks, the Chester, Griggs Bros. & Ellis, Thompson and Central Milling Co's. mills (the latter at Niagara Falls and the largest in the county), J. K. Wells's flour mill at Medina, Lockport Paper Co's , Traders' Paper Co's., and Niagara Paper Co's. mills, the Union and the Wal- nut Street school buildings. He has also built and sold more houses here than any other person, and has been the means of removing a greater number of old land- marks and replacing them with new and attractive buildings than any other resident of the city. He is a native of England, coming to this country with his parents in the '50's, and settling in Lockport, where he has since pursued his chosen vocation.
Bachelder, Ozro, was born in Genesee county, September 20, 1823, a son of Hil- yard and Nancy (Styles) Bachelder, natives of Massachusetts. The grandfather, Timothy Bachelder, was in the war of the Revolution. Ozro Bachelder was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools and Wilson Collegiate Institute. He is a mason by trade and followed it for a number of years, and in 1859 bought the farm he now lives on of twenty acres, which is all laid out in fruit: peaches, apples, grapes and pears. December 6, 1852, he married, Margaret Crawford, and they had two daughters, Grace N. and Marion E., wife of James Delbridge of Ba- tavia, N. Y., and they have two children, Frank O. and Grace N. Mr. Bachelder enlisted in 1863 in Co. E, 2d N. Y. Mounted Rifles and served until the close of the war. He was a charter member of Peter A. Porter Post No. 125, G. A. R.
Batten, George W., a son of Joseph and Anna (Hawkins) Batten, was born in Lockport, N. Y., February 22, 1856. His father was the first Democratic sheriff ever elected in Niagara county. His mother was born in England and immigrated to this country in 1837. Mr. Batten is a very popular citizen, having been deputy sheriff for three years, under sheriff for three years and elected sheriff for a term of three years. He served five years as the chairman of the Democratic County Com- mittee and is now a member of the State Committee from this Congressional dis- trict. He is now engaged in the insurance business and represents some of the soundest and most reliable companies. He is a member of the Exempt Firemen's Association, Masons and a director in the Niagara Protective Association. Mr. Batten is personally a very popular, public-spirited gentleman and a good citizen.
Benedict, Henry L., was born in Royalton, August 18, 1834. His father, George R. Benedict, was a native of St. Albans, and came to Genesee county in 1820, where they remained for a few years and in 1824 settled in South Royalton, where he was identified through life as a farmer. He married Laurinda, daughter of Elias Saf- ford. George R. Benedict was thoroughly identified with the growth of the town, taking an active interest in all educational and religious institutions He served as assessor for twenty years and died in 1872, in his seventieth year. Henry L. Benedict was educated in the common schools and has always been a farmer. He has always advanced the principles of temperance and has always been ready and willing to aid any enterprise intended to benefit the town and townspeople.
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