USA > New York > Niagara County > Landmarks of Niagara County, New York > Part 58
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Griswold, Jesse (deceased), was born in North Killingworth, Conn., February 4. 1788. His father was Zenas Griswold, a Revolutionary soldier, and his mother was Sarah Lane. When Jesse was of age he came to the far west on foot and was employed by Joseph Ellicott the agent of the Holland Land Co. When the war of 1812 broke out he went into the army aud was known as "Col. Ellicott's little drummer." He was taken prisoner at the battle of Queenston Heights and paroled. Jesse Griswold married Sarah Turner, daughter of Thomas Turner, of Batavia, Januury 22, 1817. came to Niagara county and settled upon the farm which is still owned by his family. Col. Ellicott, congratulating the bride, said to her that she had won the greatest prize in Genesee county, an honest man. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Griswold; Sarah P., married Isaac V. Wakeman, died February 5, 1861; Lucy T., married James A. Wakeman, died May 11, 1879; Adeliza, still living upon the home farm; Emeline died June 23, 1858; Chauncey L., still living in the town of Lock- port; and Mary who died July 17, 1860. Mr. Griswold was a public-spirited man interested in the development of his town and ever ready to aid any enterprise for the public good. As a Whig and later as a staunch Republican Mr. Griswold, although almost blind during the last twenty years of his life, was intensely inter- ested in national affairs and kept well posted upon all matters of importance during those eventful years. He died November 26, 1869, mourned by all who know him,
Lee, Albert H., was born in the town of Lockport, May 16, 1843, a son of Edmund and Alice Lee. His father was born in England, July 12, 1797, and was married in England and had six children. They came to America in 1833, locating first in Lockport, and in 1834 bought the farm known as the Salt Works Farm, east of Wright's Corners, and in 1864 came on to the farm now owned by the subject, where he died in 1870. Albert H. Lee was married February 15, 1871, to Anna Jones of Lockport, and they have three children: Albert Edmund, born in October, 1873; Grace Anna, born in February, 1875, and William H., born in December, 1876. Mr. Lee was elected justice of the peace of his town in 1894, and is now serving as such, and has been assessor three years.
Lawrence, Spencer J., was born at Le Roy, Genesee county, N. Y., October 11, 1864, and is a son of James Lawrence, a farmer of that place, now deceased. Mr. Lawrence attended the Le Roy Academic Institute. In 1885 he began to read law in the office of William C. Watson, at Batavia, and after three years was admitted to the New York State bar, practicing law at Batavia until 1890, when he removed to Niagara Falls, and formed a partnership with Charles E. Cromley, under the firm name of Cromley & Lawrence. They practiced until December, 1895, when they dissolved and he formed a partnersphip with George M. Tuttle, which partnership
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still exists. Mr. Lawrence is a man of broad mind and liberal education and is a successful lawyer.
Young, Charles, was born in the town of Niagara, Niagara county, N. Y., Novem- ber 24, 1825, a son of Samuel and Barbara (Kamera) Young, natives of Lancaster county, Pa. She was born February 15, 1780. Samuel Young and wife came to Niagara county June 1, 1810, with a covered wagon, where they settled in the wilder- ness and built them a home, and were very successful financially. He owned about 350 acres of land, which is still in the family. He died December 3, 1870, aged eighty-three years. They were married in 1809. When they moved here this fine country was a dense wilderness inhabited by wild beasts. A little opening here and there showed the progress of some near settlers. They endured all the privations incident to pioneer life, in a new country, rendered doubly distressing by the war of 1812. When the invaders spread desolation along the frontier they were driven three times from their home by the British and Indians, going as far as Geneseo, where they remained until peace was restored. They then returned home to Niagara and finding it unharmed, again sought its shelter and pursued their calling, far from the busy haunts of older settled countries. Here in the midst of sickness and pov- erty the subjects of this brief sketch proved themselves to be persevering and suc- cessful. When the family became discouraged and desirous of returning to their native State, she cheerfully persuaded them to toil on, as she firmly trusted that the God who had brought them thus far, would enable them to enjoy the blessings of a home and temporal prosperity. Her Heavenly Father was pleased to prolong her existence until all her anticipations were realized. They raised to maturity two sons and a daughter, having buried three infants. Their grandchildren numbered thir- teen. Mrs. Young departed from earth February 7, 1856, at the age of seventy-five years, eleven months and twenty-two days, having lived with her husband forty- seven years. The remaining son, Charles Young, was reared on the farm and has always followed farming, carrying on now a farm of 245 acres. He married M. Susannah Hittel, daughter of Peter and Mary Hittel. Mr. Hittel was a native of Lehigh county, Pa., and came to Niagara county in 1828, engaging in farming. He was a miller by trade and ran a mill in connection with his farming. He died May 6, 1843, and his widow August 8, 1873. Mr. and Mrs. Charles Young have two chil- dren: Charles T. Young, born September 28, 1848, a farmer on the homestead; and E. Amanda, wife of S. S. Hopkins of Lewiston, a farmer.
Halsey, Stephen H., was born in Genesee county, N. Y., May 23, 1828, a son of Rev. Herman and Sophia (Woolworth) Halsey. Mrs. Halsey was a sister of Judge Woolworth of Syracuse, and Samuel Woolworth, principal of the Homer Academy, and afterwards secretary of the Regents. Rev. Herman Halsey came to Cambria Center in 1830, and in 1842 came to Wilson, where he owned about 300 acres of wild land taken from the Holland Land Company. He was a graduate of Williams Col- lege, Massachusetts, in 1811, and Andover Theological Seminary. He died in March, 1891, and his wife in October, 1876. Stephen H. Halsey was reared in the village and country, and at the age of fourteen came on to the farm he now owns. April 30, 1851, he married Harriet Streeter, and they have four children: Sophia, Mammie J., William G. and Victoria.
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Boyd, James H., was born in Syracuse, N. Y., October 11, 1844, a son of Robert and Catherine (Colleys) Boyd. His father died in California, October 13, 1850, and is buried in the Odd Fellows' ground at Sacramento, being the first Odd Fellow buried there. He had command of a company of Patriots in Mckenzie's Rebellion of 1837 in Canada. James H. Boyd removed to Niagara Falls when six years of age with his parents, and that was his home until he came to Lewiston in 1889. He is a veteran of the war of the Rebellion. having enlisted in 1861 in Co. I, 28th N. Y. Vols., and served four months, when he re-enlisted in Co. C, 56th Regiment, and served three years and eleven months. He was first sergeant in this company dur- ing the war and was honorably discharged June 25, 1865. He was with the Army of the Potomac, and participated in twenty-seven engagements, including the Siege of Charleston. In 1869 Mr. Boyd married Nancy Bellinger, and they have four chil- dren: Mary, Kate, Wallace and Ida. Mr. Boyd is a printer by trade and worked for some time with William Pool at Niagara Falls; he was also baggageman on the New York Central Railroad for seventeen years. He is a genial and enterprising man and is widely known and highly esteemed.
Swain, Hon. George M., was born in the village of Totness, Devonshire, England, in 1821, and came with his parents to America in 1831, settling in Auburn. In the spring of 1843 Mr. Swain came to Somerset, Niagara county, where he has since re- sided, with the exception of three years in Orleans county. Mr. Swain was married in 1849 to Eliza Patch, and they had two sons: Charles, who resides in Somerset, and George M. (deceased), who was a physician, and died in 1882 from injuries re- ceived from being thrown out of his buggy while on his way to visit a patient. Mr. Swain was supervisor of his town during the late war, and was elected to the As- sembly of New York in the fall of 1871, serving in 1872 and 1873. Since he gave up politics, he has returned to farming and is engaged in raising grain, stock and fruit. His father was engaged in whale fishing and for many years did a lucrative busi- ness. His sailing place was from London, and he was at St. Helena when Napoleon was transported there to banishment. He died at Auburn, N. Y., in 1869, at the age of ninety-four.
Brigham John, was born in England, March 5, 1841, and came to America in 1866, settling in Somerset. January 4, 1872, he married Harriet Williams, and they have one son, Herbert, born October 26, 1872, who is now engaged on the farm. Mr. Brigham has four brothers in America and one in England, and two sisters, one in America and one in England.
Sanford, Hervey, was born at Center Brook, Conn., October 29, 1838, a son of Hervey C. and Florella (Nott) Sanford, natives of Connecticut, and who moved to Orleans county, N. Y., in 1857, where the father died in 1868, aged sixty-eight years; the mother moved to Wilson, living with her son, Hervey, at whose house she died in 1890, aged ninety years. Hervey was reared on a farm, educated in the common schools and the then famous Hill's Academy at Essex, Conn. His first business ex- perience was in a wholesale dry goods house in Philadelphia, and after eleven years with it, and as department foreman in the great iron and construction house of Mor- ris, Tasker & Morris, he spent a short time in Orleans county, where he was mar- ried. He located in Wilson in 1866, just at the close of the war, where he opened
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a lumber yard, and spending four years in that and the coal business, he then en- gaged in the insurance, loan and real estate agency which he continues and in which he has been very successful, having manipulated some quite large real estate deals. In politics he has always been a Republican, casting his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln. He has been president of the village of Wilson some ten terms; is president of the Wilson Creamery Co., president of the Wilson Town Hall Association, and several years chairman of the Board of Education of Wilson Union Free School District, No. 1. Mr. Sanford is an elder in the Presbyterian church, a Mason of high degrees and has filled many important offices in the order, and is now district deputy grand master for the Thirty seventh Masonic district of New York (just appointed). December 23, 1863, he married Nellie (Remmelee) Kuck, who died in Wilson, April 16, 1876, and October 6, 1880, he married Francis Alida Dox, a daughter of E. V. W. Dox, esq., one of the oldest residents of Wilson.
Hathaway, A. J., was born in Steuben county, but has resided in North Tona- wanda since May, 1876. He was first connected in business in this place with Mc- Graw & Co. for six years, and was then in the forwarding business for a time, until he became connected with the New York Lumber and Wood-working Co. and sub- sequently with the Tonawanda Lumber Co. Since 1889 he has given his attention to real estate and is also interested in the Tonawanda Electric Road. Mr. Hatha- way was first married to Ophelia Bennett, who died leaving two daughters, Martha and Kate; his second wife was Miss Kate S. Smith, daughter of Hon. H. P. Smith, and they have four children: A. J. Hathaway, jr., H. P .. Christiana and Georgiana W. In 1854 Mr. Hathaway enlisted in Co. A, 50th N. Y. Vols., and served until the close of the war, seeing service at City Point and in the operations around Peters- burg, Va. Mr. Hathaway united with the First Methodist Episcopal church of North Tonawanda in 1876, and since 1896 has been a member of the North Presby- terian church and is an elder in that society.
Huntington, David, Somerset, was born in Batavia, Genesee county, November 16, 1834, and is a son of Joshua and Rebecca Huntington, both natives of New York, and who came to Somerset in 1835, settling on a farm, where he was identified with the clearing of the country. Mr. Huntington was married in 1875 to Rosetta Kellogg, daughter of Noah Wood. He has been constable for four years and served to the entire satisfaction of the people.
Bangham, Gaston J., was born in Somerset, March 25, 1827, is a son of Joseph G. and Nancy Bangham, both of whom died when he was four years old, and who came from Seneca county, N. Y., to this town. Mr. Bangham has one brother, who is unmarried and lives with him; he was born in 1828. Gaston J. Bangham was married to Hortense C. Millard of Lockport, December 12, 1849, daughter of Oliver L. Millard (who was first cousin of President Fillmore) and Deborah (Seeley) Millard, both from Washington county, N. Y. Her father came to Lockport in 1816, helped to build a section of the Erie Canal and was superintendent for several sea- sons. They were married in 1813 and had six children, only two of whom are living. Mr. and Mrs. Bangham had four children, two of whom are living: Charles M., born August 4, 1851, died when eight months old; Ida Climana, born May 14, 1853, mar- ried to Allan A. Huntington, February 12, 1879, died March 30, 1886; David B.
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Bangham, born February 22, 1856, married Mary A. King February 18, 1890, have one child, Gladys Hortense, lives in Lyndonville, Orleans county, N. Y .; Oliver M. Bangham, born June 30, 1858, married Lizzie G. Peacock, have one child, Lillian Mae, lives in Tonawanda, N. Y. Mr. Bangham has followed farming as an occupa- tion and taken great interest in the development of the country. Mrs. Bangham is the owner of a very interesting relic in the form of a trunk in which the first Ma- sonic charter given to the State of N. Y. was brought from England. It is in shape like the trunks of to-day, five by three inches wide and three inches deep, is covered with cloth and a heavy brown paper over that, is bound in steel with steel handle on top of lid, and lock. She also has a chest that her grandmother Seeley had, and when Burgoyne invaded the country she filled it with clothing and fled to Fort Ticonderoga upon his approach, driving an ox team and carrying four children.
Stockwell, Ralph, was born in Adams, Jefferson county, N. Y., July 11, 1819, a son of Stephen and Lucy (Bishop) Stockwell. Stephen Stockwell came with his family to West Somerset in 1824 and moved to East Wilson in 1834, where he died January 18, 1890, aged ninety-nine years; his wife died about 1833. Ralph Stockwell was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools, but has gained most of his education by applying himself to reading and observation. He is a carpenter by trade, but carries on farming, having a farm of 103 acres. He married Jane E. Streeter, and they have six children: Dr. James K. Stockwell of Oswego; Herbert R., of Wilson, a dealer in agricultural implements; Homer, superintendent of Glen- wood Cemetery of Lockport; Carrie E., wife of Walter E. Wetmore; Frank E., of Rockford, Ill,, and Bert G., assistant district attorney. Mr. Stockwell assist- ed in organizing the Republican party in the town of Wilson. He was super- visor and school commissioner, being first elected in 1862. He was assessor one term, justice of the peace eight years, and was custom house officer under Flagler for eight years.
Williamson, Richard, jr .- This efficient and successful manager of the Lockport Ice Company, was born in Ontario, Canada, April 16, 1870. His education was obtained from the parochial school and from the Catholic Model School, from which he was graduated before obtaining his majority. In order to thoroughly equip himself for the business life he intended to pursue, he took a full course from the Canadian Business College. His first business experience was in the wood and coal trade and after two years of successful operations sold out and engaged in railroading, in the capacity of locomotive fireman, which he followed for a period of three years. In 1892 he removed to Lockport and assumed the management of the Lockport Ice Company, which under his successful oversight has grown to be one of the leading industries of the city. Mr. Williamson was married May 9, 1894, to Anna T. Lillis of Niagara Falls, and they have two children, Cecelia Marie, two years of age, and Richard George, one year of age.
Weitzman, Joseph, is a son of Erasmus and Barbara Weitzman, and was born in Wittenburg, Germany, November 30, 1822. He was educated in his native county, spent his early life on a farm there, and in 1854 came to America and settled at Sus- pension Bridge, Niagara county, where he has since resided. He is one of the lead- ing substantial farmers, and has always been highly respected. He first worked for
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two years on the old Porter farm. In 1857 he married Katharine Rieger, and for eighteen years thereafter leased the farm on shares. Meantime he invested his savings in some real estate. In 1871 his wife died, and in 1872 he removed with his family of seven children to the Childs farm of 112 acres on the Lockport road, which he bought in 1869, and lived there until 1890, when he sold eighty-five acres of it and retired from farm life, moving to his present home on Ontario avenue, near Sugar street. This property he had bought of the Porter estate about thirty years ago. Mr. Weitzman has always been a Democrat, but has never held office, pre- ferring instead to give his whole time to agriculture, in which he has been successful.
Wolf, James F., was born in Cambria, April 24, 1875, a son of Bryan and Mary (Shehan) Wolf, natives of Ireland, he born February 14, 1824, at New Castle, West county, Limerick, and she born May 14, 1842, in County Limerick. Dennis Shehan and family immigrated to Cambria in 1859, where he followed farming; he died July 4, 1888, and his widow in August, 1895. By this union there were ten children: Thomas, Mary, Margaret, Michael, Johannah, Annie, James, Ellen, Catherine and Dennis. By a previous marriage to Margaret, daughter of John and Bridget (Gearry) Howe, natives of Ireland, Mr. Wolf was father of seven children: Bridget, John, William, Patrick, Bernard, Edward and Richard. Mrs. Wolf died April 14, 1861, and Mr, Wolf married Miss Shehan, July 13, 1862. The parents of Bryan were Michael and Margaret (McMahon) Wolf, natives of Ireland, he of Limerick and she of County Kerry. Michael Wolf was educated by his father, Patrick Wolf, who was a graduate of Maynouth College, Ireland, graduating at the age of twenty-four and teaching until forty-two years of age. He died in 1784, and his widow in 1801. Michael Wolf was a farmer, but a man of great business qualities, being executor of many estates and known as Capt. Wolf. Politically he was against the Union and was an eminent man; he died March 16, 1848, and Mrs. Wolf died December 19, 1869. The parents of Patrick were Morris and Ellen (Costello) Wolf, farmers of County Limerick, Ireland. The parents of Margaret were Bryan and and Ellen (Moore) McMahon, who died in County Kerry, Ireland, he in 1816 aged 102 and she in 1791. Bryan Wolf was educated at All Hallows College near Dublin; during his school days he spent two years, from fourteen to sixteen years of age, on the Ordi- nance Survey of Ireland, under Mckenzie, colonel of Sappers. After finishing his schooling, his father through his dislike of the British Government, would not con- sent to his again entering the service, although young Wolf was an expert surveyor and mathematician. He was then for a number of years engaged in farming and mercantile business. In March, 1855, he came to Cambria and in June his family arrived; since then he has resided in Cambria and has reared his large family, by hard work and made many friends. Politically Mr. Wolf was an eminent man and now an independent Democrat. The family have from the first adhered to the Cath- olic faith.
Little, J. W. & Son .- Joseph W. Little, the senior member of this firm, was born in the village of Lockport, N. Y., March 12, 1842, and has been a resident of this city (late village) during his whole life. His early education was obtained in the Union school, although not a graduate. In his early boyhood he learned the cooper's trade with his father. At the age of nineteen years he enlisted in the 28th Regiment, N. Y. S. V., Co. A, Captain E. W. Cook. This was in April, 1861, and served two
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years, receiving his honorable discharge in Lockport, the place of enlistment, in June, 1863. He then returned to his trade as a cooper, and as a manufacturer of barrels, running a shop for several years, finally purchasing the stave and heading plant in 1890, which, under the firm name of J. W. Little & Son-his son, Alfred M. being associated with him-is still operated by them; it is located between Vanburen street and the Erie Canal in East Lockport, a branch of the N. Y. C. & H. R. R. running on the north side thereof. The plant is one of the largest of the kind in Western New York. The mechanical equipment embraces all of the very latest improved machin- ery for the manufacturers of staves and heading, giving employment to from forty to fifty men and boys. In connection with this factory is a large cooperage, giving employment to about forty men the greater part of the year; the products consist of flour and fruit barrels and staves and heading, which find a ready market in this and adjoining States. The firm of J. W. Little & Son are among Lockport's most enter- prising citizens and are respected by all who know them. This plant was originally established by the late Lyman A. Spalding about 1850, afterwards passing into the hands of William Norman, who was succeeded by Fursman & Dumville, and about 1866 was incorporated as the Niagara Stave Co. In 1890 the subject of this sketch purchased the plant, soon after admitting his son into copartnership. They have had a successful career, and bid fair to continue as one of the great manufacturing concerns of Lockport.
Kenyon, Edgar E., Somerset, one of the enterprising young farmers of Somerset, was born in Galesburg, Kalamazoo county, Mich., July 17, 1858, and is a son of Jon- athan and Melissa (Thayer) Kenyon. He came with his parents to Somerset when seven years of age, where he attended school and at Yates Academy, Orleans county, after which he assisted his father on the farm until he went to work for himself. No- vember 16, 1881, he married Miss Abbey, daughter of Alvin and Ester (Humphrey) Abbey, and they have five children: Roy Alvin, born January 6, 1885; E. Abbey, born May 13, 1886; Howard E., born September 5, 1887; Carleton S., born May 26, 1892, and Guy, born April 5, 1894. Mr. Kenyon has been school trustee for a number of years. He is a prosperous farmer, devoting his attention to fruit growing and grain raising.
Sawyer, Fred Curtis, was born in the town of Somerset, October 29, 1875, and is a son of William and Sarah Sawyer. Mr. Sawyer attended school at Wilson, Lockport and Rochester, where he took a regular course in the university. December 9, 1896, he married Grace A. Sherwood, daughter of John Sherwood, who was born Decem- ber 14, 1870.
Adams, Samuel, was born in Gorham, Ontario county, N. Y., in the year 1795. He was connected with a prominent family of that place. The first member that set- tled at Warren's Corners was Mrs. David Carlton, who came with her husband in 1813. Subsequently nine of the family were residents at, or near, the Corners. Mr. Adams while young enlisted in the United States Regular Army as fifer. Soon after the war of 1812 he came to Warren's Corners and lived with his brother-in-law, Tim- othy Freeman. In 1823 he married Miss Eliza Freeman, daughter of Alexander Freeman of the town of Lockport. They settled on the farm now owned and occu- pied by Henry Pickels, east of the Painted Post Hotel, soon after their marriage.
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His wife died early in life, leaving him with six children: Alexander F., Sheboygan, Wis. ; Polly Staats, South Wilson, N. Y .; John, Portland, Mich .; Alpheus, Spencer, Iowa; Samuel, Cambria, N. Y .; Clark, Portland, Mich. Samuel is an honored citi- zen and successful farmer of East Wilson, N. Y. Clark spent his youthful days in Niagara county. Soon after his marriage to Pamelia Robins he moved to Michigan, and there made it his home until his death, which occurred May 26, 1896. Their father survived his wife many years. He died about the year 1852.
Peterson, Walter V., was born in Cambria, N. Y., June 7, 1857, a son of Nathan B. and Sarah E. (Andrews) Peterson. He was born in Canada, and she in Cambria, Niagara county. The grandparents, John and Hannah (Kilborn) Peterson, came from Vermont to Orleans county, thence to London, Canada, where they lived seven years, then back to Cambria in 1830, where he died February 22, 1882, and his wife in 1850. Nathan B. Peterson was a lifelong farmer on the farm now occupied by Walter V. and died in 1882. The maternal grandparents, Appleton and Aseneth Andrews, came from the East, he from Massachusetts and she from Connecticut, and settled in Cambria in 1817. He was a carpenter by trade, working in Wheat- field and Lockport, and in 1834 purchased a farm and followed farming until his death in 1867; his widow died in 1884. Walter V. Peterson was educated at the Lockport Union School, and in 1883 married Susie D., daughter of W. H. H. Ran- som of Ransomville, N. Y. They have four children: Nellie M., Florence E., Janet M. and Marion E. Mr. Peterson is a Republican and has been elected by his party three terms of two years each as supervisor of Cambria.
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