USA > New York > Niagara County > Landmarks of Niagara County, New York > Part 61
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Bedenkapp, W. J., was born in the town of Porter, Niagara county, July 23, 1855, a son of John and Eliza (Ubidike) Bedenkapp. His first employment was railroading and he was connected with the Rome, Watertown & Ogdensburg Railroad for four and a half years; he then clerked for some time in the store of John Fleming at Lewiston. In June, 1881, he began to buy fruit and has been a fruit dealer ever since; he owns the cold storage building in Lewiston and is also interested in fruit growing. Since 1888 he has been active in politics and public affairs; he was deputy collector of customs at Lewiston for five years, trustee of the village for two years and was elected president of the village in 1896, and re-elected in the spring of 1897. In April, 1896, Mr. Bedenkapp was appointed special agent for the State Commission of Lunacy, most particularly in connection with the Buffalo State Hospital, his work
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extending over the counties of Niagara, Erie, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua and Wy- oming, but also including some of the territory of Willard Hospital. Previous to re- ceiving this appointment Mr. Bedenkapp had been special messenger for the Hon. T. Elsworth at Albany. December 7; 1882, he married Sarah J. Brown, and their children are Sadie E., Maud M., Glenn Ray and Mabel Frances. Mr. Bedenkapp has lived in Lewiston since he was nine years of age and is universally recognized as one of the town's most enterprising and progressive men. He is a member of the A. O. U. W. and also of the Odd Fellows and has been through all the chairs in both societies.
Thompson, George F., was born at Saratoga Springs, July 24, 1870, and came to Niagara county in 1883, settling at Reynale's Basin. In 1890 he began the study of law with George D. Judson and was admitted to the bar in March, 1893. He as- sociated himself with George D. Judson for two years, and in February, 1895, Mr. Judson retired and Mr. Thompson carried on the practice alone. Mr. Thomp- son is one of the conservative men of the town, serving as clerk of the Board of Education for two years, and village clerk; he was elected justice of the peace in 1895 and still fills that office. He is one of the first five side path commissioners of Niagara county and takes an active interest in the leading events of the day.
Eighme, A. G., was born in West Seneca, N. Y., January 5, 1846, a son of George W. and Catherine (Hallifax) Eighme. George W. Eighme was a native of Dutchess county and came to Cambria about 1852, where he bought 125 acres of land and carried on general farming. He died August 25, 1893, and his widow still survives at the age of seventy-one years. The grandfather, George W. Hallifax, came from Halifax, England (the place being named for the family), and settled on Long Island, where he remained for a time, when he came to Lockport, where he lived until his death. A. G. Eighme was educated at Union School at Lockport, and in 1869 married Sarah C. Folger, and they had two children, Edith G., wife of Edg- bert Oliver of Lockport, and Leonard D. in business in Buffalo. Mrs. Eighme died October, 1889, and Mr. Eighme married Hattie, daughter of Horatio and Amanda Sherman. Mr. Eighme remained on the homestead for six years after his marriage, when he bought the old Eighme homestead in Hamburg, doing general farming and market gardening on seventy-six acres. He sold this farm and bought the home- stead of 126 acres in Cambria, where he has since carried on market gardening and fruit growing, having a large fruit orchard of twenty acres of apples, 3,000 pear and 3,000 peach trees and six and a half acres of plums and five acres of grapes. He is one of the largest market gardeners and one of the most extensive celery growers in the county. .
Westra, John, was born in Holland in 1856, and came to America in 1881, settling in Wisconsin, where he remained for two and a half years, when he went to Michi- gan for a short time, thence to Buffalo and then to Lockport, where he remained two years, when he came to North Tonawanda and was railroading for three and a half years. He went into the milk business in 1888. Mr. Westra married Mary A. Kehoe of Lockport, and they have one son, John T. He is a member of the A. O. U. W., and noted as a public speaker, attracting attention by a speech he delivered on insurance at a meeting of the workmen in August, 1895. In the spring of 1896
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he was nominated by the Democratic party for collector of North Tonawanda. Mr. Westra is a self-made man and has been a successful one.
Holley, Montford C .- Among the younger members of the Niagara county bar, none are more prominent than Mr. Montford C. Holley. He was born in the city of Lockport, August 26, 1872, and has always resided in the city of his birth. He began the study of law in 1890 in the office of Dunkleberger & Harrington, finishing his legal studies, however, in the office of Joshua Gaskill. He was admitted to the bar in June, 1894, and has since been engaged in the practice of his profession. June 3, 1896, he married L. Marie Bement of Lockport.
Pratt, Lorenzo N., was born in Wilson, N. Y., June 3, 1833, a son of Calvin, a son of Nathan Pratt, a native of Vermont, who came to Wilson in a very early day and took up land, where he lived and died. Calvin Pratt took up 100 acres on the town line and also had 100 acres in another location. His wife was Samantha, daughter of Joseph Hawks, one of the first settlers of Wilson ; she was a teacher there for many years. He died in 1883 and his widow in 1885. Lorenzo N. Pratt was reared on a farm and educated in Wilson Collegiate Institute, and has always been a farmer in Wilson. In 1856 he married Mary J. Stickles of Newfane, and they had four chil- dren; Annette (deceased), Glenn, Jennie and Calvin (deceased). Mr. Pratt is a mem- ber of Ontario Lodge No. 376, F. & A. M., and of the Peter Porter Post No. 126, G. A. R. In 1861 he enlisted in Co. M, 1st N. Y. Artillery, and served three years and nine months. He rode one horse two years and brought him home with him to his farm and used him until 1895, when he was thirty-two years old; Mr. Pratt then buried him on the old homestead and on his grave waves the red, white and blue. He was with Sherman while on the march to the sea; his position wasbugler and he was in nineteen general engagements: Gettysburg, Antietam, Winchester, Army of Potomac; Army of Cumberland, Siege of Atlanta, Siege of Savannah, Peach Tree Creek, Bentonville, Resaca Campaign and at Chattanooga, was one of the first that went into Atlanta, Lookout Mountain, Slaughter's Mountain, Edenburg and many skirmishes. Mr. Pratt is a Republican and has served as assessor for three years.
Kohler, Charles, North Tonawanda, was born in Wheatfield, August 5, 1857. His father was a farmer and he was reared on the farm and followed that occupation for some time. He served on the police force of North Tonawanda for six years, five of which he was chief. In 1892 he was elected police justice for four years and in 1896 he was re-elected for four years more. In the spring of 1897 he was legislated out of office by the incorporation of North Tonawanda as a city and six weeks later he was elected supervisor in the First ward. Mr. Kohler has been a lifelong Democrat, is a member of the Odd Fellows and of the Select Knights. In 1889 he was married to Miss Kitty M. Bourlier of Reese, Mich. His parents were Jacob and Dorothea (Don- nerwert) Kohler, both natives of Germany.
Sullivan, P. M., of the city of North Tonawanda, was born in Pultney, Steuben county, N. Y., and was educated at Hammondsport Academy. In his early life he taught school and at the same time read law and was admitted from D. D. Waldo's office to practice law in this State in June, 1869. After practicing his profession for a year he went West and was engaged in mining for about seven years, after which he was a practicing attorney in California until he returned to this State in 1888.
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While in California, he was a member of the Legislature and enrolling clerk of the State Senate for four years. He located at North Tonrwanda in 1892 where he has since practiced his profession. His parents were natives of Longford, Ireland, his father coming to this country in 1816 and both of them were pioneers in Steuben county, where they settled upon a farm and cleared the same, raising a family of ten children and gave them the best of legacies, to wit: good health and sound con- stitutions.
Myers, Ira G., of Lewiston, was born in Kingston, N. Y., August 3, 1863, a son of G, W. and Ellen Myers. His mother died in 1887 and his father is still living. Ira G. Myers was educated at the Holly Academy, Orleans county, and while educating himself he clerked in a store during the summers and attended school winters. He began his business of life as telegraph operator and has been connected with rail- roading sixteen years. He has been operator for the. Western Union ten years, agent for the American Express Company seven years, and agent for the New York Central Railroad for ten years, all of which positions he holds at present and is very popular with business men and public at large. So assiduous is he in the discharge of his duties that he has been off duty only ten days in these ten years. In 1887 he married Media D. Tower of Lockport. Mr. Myers has been on duty at nearly all the stations between Lewiston and Rochester, but particularly at Lockport, Suspension Bridge and Adams Basin before coming to Lewiston.
Van Valkenburg, Daniel A., was born in Canaan, Columbia county, N. Y., in 1810. His parents, Lambert and Freelove (Ellsworth) Van Valkenburg, moved to Erie county in 1830, settling at Tonawanda Creek, and it was there that Daniel began, in a small and limited way, the lumber business which afterwards, under his guidance, assumed such an important place in the history of Erie and Niagara counties, his logging camps and shipping yards being scattered through the western part of the State. His death, which occurred in 1872, was a loss not only to his family, but to his town and townspeople. Charitable and public spirited, his hand was ever ready to aid any enterprise intended to benefit his fellowmen. No religious or educational institution appealed to him in vain, and although living an intensely active life, he was always willing to lay aside his own affairs to take up and further any plan for the benefit of his city or his associates.
Williamson, John T., was born at Hamilton, Ontario, Can., January 4, 1872, a son of Richard Williamson. He was educated in the common schools of Hamilton, Can., and removed with his father to Niagara Falls, N. Y., in 1890, and became secretary and treasurer of the Cataract Ice Company. Mr. Williamson is a man of ability and enterprise and enjoys the high esteem of his townsmen.
Gagnon, Dr. Andrew Loyst, was born June 21, 1837, in the county of Lennox, Ontario, Can. When he had prepared himself for a teacher he followed this profes- sion for a term of five years, after which he attended the Newburg Academy prepar- atory to entering the medical department of Victoria University at Toronto, where he spent his first college year. In 1864 he continued his medical course at the Uni- versity of Michigan, where he remained two years. He then entered the Long Island College, Brooklyn, N. Y., where, after graduating, he was selected from a class of forty graduates to act as house physician and surgeon to the hospital for the ensu-
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ing year. After completing his hospital course he commenced the practice of medi- cine at Moulinette, Can., where he built up a large practice. In 1875 he moved to Massena, St. Lawrence county, N. Y., where he continued the practice of his profes- sion until October, 1888, when he moved to Cambria, Niagara county. At the end of three years' practice he moved to Lockport, N. Y. Dr. Gagnon was married to Miss Agnes Leckie of Kingston, Ont., on July 1, 1871. They had five daughters, four of whom are living: Beatrice, now Mrs. Jesse P. Beach ot Lockport, Constance, Helena and Blanche at home.
Ellis, Joseph E., was born in Pendleton, October 20, 1861, a son of Alexander and Elizabeth (Richards) Ellis. His grandparents, Barzilla and Mary Ellis, were early settlers of Pendleton, as were also the maternal grandparents. Alexander Ellis was born in New Jersey and carried on farming in Pendleton, where he died in 1890. Joseph E. Ellis was educated at Lockport Union School and commenced his business career as teacher, teaching six winters. He then took up telegraphy and dealing in coal and baled hay; in 1888 he formed a partnership with J. Kenney and established a general store at Pendleton, which they carried on for two years and dissolved part- nership, Mr. Ellis conducting the business alone. In 1892 he entered into partner- ship with J. P. Graff, and they added feed and farming implements and do a whole- sale as well as retail business. In 1887 Mr. Ellis married Agnes, daughter of Jacob and Catherine Wendel, and they have one daughter, Mabel. Mr. Ellis is a Republi- can in politics and has served two terms as town clerk. He has also been postmas- ter at Pendleton Center for the past seven years and agent of the Erie Railroad Company at the same place for the past nine years, both of which positions he still holds.
Bennett, Arthur M., one of the representative farmers of Somerset, was born in Somerset, December 23, 1850, and is a son of Harrison and Delia (Wilcox) Bennett. both natives of New York, Mr. Bennett being born at Ticonderoga. They first moved to Chautauqua and from there to Somerset in an early day, and settled on the farm now owned by our subject. There were five children in this family: Albimis, who was a member of the 8th N. Y. Artillery, and was killed in the battle of Cold Har- bor, June 3; Albert, who now resides at Barker and is interested in the elevator; Emma, now Mrs. Atwater, resides at Barker; Frederick, who died when about four years old, and Arthur M., the youngest and subject of this sketch. He was educated at Lockport, and has been engaged at farming all his life. April 6, 1876, he mar- ried Ella M. Treat, daughter of Robert R. Treat of Somerset, who now resides with Mrs. Bennett and husband. Mr. and Mrs. Bennett had seven children: Harry R., born October 2, 1877; William A., born August 25, 1879; Bessie A., born February 9, 1885; Arthur M. jr., born March 4, 1889; Flora E. (deceased), born May 29, 1890, died September 3, 1890; Elgia Treat Bennett, born December 18, 1891, and Lester Albert, born June 22, 1893. Mr. and Mrs. Bennett are both prominent members of the Presbyterian church of Somerset, and their son, William, is a member of the M. E. church at the same place. Mr. Bennett is a member of K. O. T. M., Lodge No. 147, at Somerset.
Baer, John G., a native of Ontario, Canada, was born August 25, 1858. His par- ents removed to Buffalo in 1861, where he received his education. His first busi-
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ness experience was with Messrs. Scheeler & Son, wire manufacturers, where he re- mained for fourteen years; he was then employed by the New York Central Rail- road as weighmaster three years, and at the end of this service he accepted a posi- tion with the East Buffalo Brewing Company, where he remained eight years and until he removed to Lockport, and in company with Andrew Holzer established the Union Brewing Company. This is one of the largest and best known breweries in Niagara county, turning out large quantities of the best beer annually. November 27, 1882, Mr. Baer married Catherine R. Fritz of Buffalo, and an only daughter has been born to them: Ellenora M., now twelve years of age. Mr. Baer is a member of a number of societies, being a member of the I. O. O. F., Red Men and the Masons.
Tompkins, William, was born in Wheatfield in 1860, and educated in the public schools and Bryant & Stratton's Commercial College of Buffalo. He followed farm- ing until recent years, when he embarked in the real estate business in Tonawanda. He is a member of the Odd Fellows, has been trustee of the village of North Tona- wanda, is an ex-supervisor of Wheatfield and a member of the Fire Company. He was also a member of the 25th Separate Company and was second assistant chief of the fire company for two years. He is a Republican in politics and deservedly popu- lar with his party.
Hyde, William H., Somerset, one of the successful farmers of Somerset, was born in Onondaga county, N. Y., January 22, 1822, and is a son of Enoch and Eunice Hyde, who came from Massachusetts to Onondaga county about 1830. They came to Niagara county in 1830, where they remained five years, then to Gasport and the lake where they remained seven years, and finally to the place where Mr. Hyde now resides. His father died in 1852 and his mother in 1869. Mr. Hyde and his brother bought a farm of 100 acres, which they cleared, after which he sold his interest to his brother and moved on to the farm he now owns. In November, 1853, he married Eliza J. Spaulding, daughter of Jeremiah and Rebecca Spaulding, and they have two sons: Byron M., born November, 1857, who is a leading druggist in Rochester, N. Y., and George R., born February 5, 1867, resides with his parents and runs the farm. Mr. Hyde has bred a good many fine horses which he has sold for sums ranging from $350 to $1,850 per team, the latter being bought by Vanderbilt. He has lived to see all the oldest settlers pass away. They are among the first citizens of the county and are highly entertaining.
Kraus, Henry J., was born in Clarence, Erie county, N. Y., where the family has resided since the year 1806. Mr. Kraus came to North Tonawanda in 1893 with the Buffalo Steam Pump Company; he was first employed as bookkeeper and cashier, then was placed in charge of the construction department and in 1895 was made gen- eral manager of the entire works. The plant of the Buffalo Steam Pump Company is located in North Tonawanda and covers five acres of ground; an average force of eighty skilled mechanics is employed. In 1888 Mr. Kraus married Georgiana McAllister of Kalamazoo, Mich., and they have one daughter, Nina Arville. Mr. Kraus's father, John Kraus, has been a prominent man in Clarence, was supervisor of the town for ten years and was elected to the Assembly in 1886. His grandfather, John Kraus, came from Germany early in the century and after locating for a time in Pennsylvania, finally settled in Bowmansville, N. Y.
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Burns, W. R., was born in Albion, Orleans county, N. Y., September 15, 1860, a son of W. H. and Margaret Shea (Burns); his father was a native of Utica, N. Y. W. R. Burns has been connected with the New York Central Railroad for twenty . two years. He started in as a water boy, then went into the blacksmith shop; from blacksmith shop to section foreman, and from section foreman to conductor of con- struction train; was promoted to assistant roadmaster and finally to roadmaster. He is now roadmaster of the sixteenth division of the New York Central Railroad, having complete and full charge of the road bed and the maintenance of the way de- partment. Mr. Burns is a member of the C. B. L., and the Elks and the Knights of Columbia. In 1888 he married Agnes O'Connor, and they have four children: W. R. Burns, jr., Anna, Agnes and Marguerite.
Stricker, John C., was born at Niagara Falls, N. Y., October 22, 1857, a son of the late George A. Stricker. He was educated in the public schools of his native town and at the age of eighteen was appointed on the police force of Niagara Falls village, in which capacity he served for two years; he then entered the employ of the Singer Sewing Machine Company with whom he remained for ten years and in 1887 he was appointed a deputy collector of customs at Suspension Bridge. After three years he resigned that position to enter the real estate and insurance business in which he is still actively engaged. Mr. Stricker was one of the youngest and the last trustee of Suspension Bridge Village and one of the first aldermen of the city of Niagara Falls, being elected in 1891, shortly after its incorporation. He is a di- rector of the Niagara Falls Land Company and a stockholder in the same, and is secretary and treasurer of the Niagara View Land Company and a stockholder in the same. He was also one of the organizers of the Niagara Brick Company. June 2, 1877, he married Anna Sheehan, and they have five children.
Wilson, Joseph H., was born in Hagersville, Ont., December 14, 1856. His father, Robert Wilson, was a native of Yorkshire, Eng., and came to the United States in 1832 with his parents, Daniel and Martha Wilson, who settled in Lockport, taking land from the Holland Land Company. Robert Wilson married Ann, daughter of Richard and Mary Few, and was identied through life as a farmer in the town of Lockport. He was a man who was ever interested in advancing the cause of educa- tion and religion and the best interest of the town and townspeople. His death, which occurred March 15, 1889, was a loss not only to his family, but to all who knew him. Of him it can well be said, "An honest man is the noblest work of God." Joseph H. Wilson was educated in Lockport; in 1890 he married Ella, daughter of Garret F. Gifford, and they have on son, Elton G. Mr. Wilson is recognized as a man of sterling integrity, who has advanced and merited the respect of his associates.
Liddell, James, Somerset, was born in Scotland, April 6, 1836, and came to Can- ada with his parents in 1848, where he remained until the fall of 1859, when he came to West Somerset and for a time worked by the month. January 5, 1869, he mar- ried Mrs. Sarah C. Niles, daughter of George McGiven of Canada. Mr. and Mrs. Liddell have one son, Marcus L., born May 14, 1870, who resides in North Tona- wanda and is in the employ of the Electric Railroad Company. Mr. Liddell has been constable for six or seven years, serving his constituents with satisfaction, and is now justice of the peace. He spent one season in Kansas buying apples, worked
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six years on the Erie Canal and by thrift and enterprise has obtained a fine farm which is well cultivated.
Spilman, John, Wheatfield, was born in Germany, near the city of Frankfort, June 18, 1833, and came to America at the age of thirteen with his parents, settling in Buffalo, N. Y. His first occupation was that of ropemaker ; he then spent a year and a half in Burns & Watter's bottling works, and a year and a half at the Eagle street theatre making gas; this was before the city had gas. Mr. Spilman then went on the lakes, where his first occupation was coal heaver, then fireman, then water- tender, then greaser on the steamer Empire State, then greaser on the steamer Western Metropolis, then in 1856 engineer in Hazard's elevator, Buffalo. He came to Tonawanda as engineer in Hazard's distillery, then engineer of the stave factory, then again engineer of the distillery, and then about twenty years as engineer on the lakes, on the tugs Sprague, Relief and John Owen. He then became the first engineer in the blast furnace and helped to build it; then engineer on the tug Relief again, and then on the barge Plymouth, then on the barge Olean, and since 1883 has been engaged in his present business, that of wholesale and retail liquor dealer. He married Caroline Colle of Hamburg, Erie county, and they have five children: Mrs. Allen Hershell, Albert Spilman, Mrs. Milliman, Edward Orton, and Josephine Spilman, who is attending the Buffalo Dental College; Albert Spilman is a prominent mechanic of Niagara county; Allen Hershell is a manufacturer; Mr. Millerman is an express messenger; Edward Orton is a student in Cornell University and is one of the foremost American oarsmen ; he has been captain of the freshmen crew which beat the famous Dauntless crew of New York in 1894, pulled No. 2 oar in the Henley crew which went to England in 1895, and pulled No. 6 oar that carried Cornell's colors to victory at Poughkeepsie in 1896, and was captain of the Cornell crew in 1897, and pulled No. 6 oar to a greater victory than Cornell had ever seen before. John Spilman is one of the substantial business men in North Tonawanda and owns stock in several firms.
Parker, Edward G., was born in Warsaw, Ill., December 11, 1854. His father, Isaac B. Parker, died at Marshalltown, Iowa, December 26, 1862. With his mother, Clarissa G. Parker; his brother, Willis F. Parker, and his sister, Clara A. Parker, he moved to Niagara county, N. Y., in the fall of 1863. Mr. Parker came to the city of Lockport to live with his uncle, Charles R. Parker, now deceased; he attended the public school. In 1877 he began the study of law in the office of Farnell & Burrell; in June, 1881, he was admitted to the bar. October 1, 1881, he accepted the office of deputy county clerk of Niagara county, under John A. Merritt, which posi- tion he held until October 1, 1886, when he resigned and went West for a short time ; upon his return he commenced the practice of law and continued the same until Jan- uary 1, 1893, when he again entered the county clerk's office as deputy, which posi- tion he now holds. Mr. Parker was first married October 18, 1882, to Miss Tryphe- nia M. Pierson, who died in January, 1885; then on March 8, 1888, he married Miss Elizabeth Kane of Hopewell, Ontario county, N. Y. Mr. Parker has been justice of the peace; he is also a member of the Royal Arcanum, Knights of St. John and Malta, and the order of Iroquois.
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