Landmarks of Niagara County, New York, Part 62

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 62

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Crowe, Michael J., a son of Hugh and Mary (Doherty) Crowe, was born at New-

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ark, N. Y., August 6, 1862. He attended the public schools and was graduated from the Union School in 1880. He at this date removed to Lockport and entered the em- ploy of the Holly Manufacturing Co., where he remained for ten years, when he ac- cepted a position with Mr. P. H. Tuohey one of Lockport's leading coal dealers, and after three years' service succeeded him in business, where he has since con ducted a business which embraces a general line of contracting, the handling and sale of hard and soft coal and coke; building materials, which consist of cement, lime, sand, stone, etc., together with a full line of sewer pipe and tile. Mr. Crowe was married in October, 1887, to Nellie, daughter of Patrick Tuohey, father of his predecessor of Lockport, and to them have been born five children: Marie, Mable, Harold, Raymond and Dorothy.

Rickard, M. L., was born in Pendleton, September 15, 1843, a son of Henry and Margaret (Van Slyke) Rickard. His grandparents, Conrad and Eva Rickard, came from Madison to Pendleton in 1816 and cleared them a home, where they remained until their death; he died in 1859 and his widow in 1873. Henry Rickard has al- ways followed farming on the homestead farm of 100 acres and now resides with his son, M. L. M. L. Rickard follows farming on the homestead, and in 1865 married Adelia, daughter of Christian Kramer of Cambria, and they had three children : Earl, Arthur and Olive A. Mr. Rickard is a Democrat and was elected supervisor in 1897. He is a member of John Hodge Lodge No. 69, Lockport, A. O. U. W.

Shaw, Charles D., merchant at Olcott, was born in Orleans county, N. Y., April 16, 1865, a son of David and Mary Shaw, natives of New York. He received his early education at Eagle Harbor and finished at East Albion, after which he re- turned home and remained until 1892, when he came to Olcott and clerked for his brother one year, then bought him out and has since been engaged in the mercantile business for himself. He carries a stock of general merchandise of about $4,200. May 11, 1893, he married Rita (born May 24, 1871), adopted daughter of Sylvester Edick, and they have one son, Vettie, born Febuary 12, 1894.

Batt, Michael, was born in Erie county. March 20, 1853, a son of John and Cathe- rine (Eckert) Batt, natives of Alsace, who came to America when young and were married in this country. Michael Batt came to North Tonawanda in 1868 and his first business experience was in the flour and feed business in Williamsville, and he pursued the same business for a time in North Tonawanda. He then worked in a shingle mill for his father, and in 1878 he, his brother Frank Batt and C. S. Bliss formed a partnership in the shingle and timber business, which they conducted suc- cessfully until 1893. when the firm was dissolved. Since that date Mr. Batt has de- voted his time to looking after his large real estate interests in North Tonawanda, where he has houses and building sites for sale and to rent. In 1878 Mr. Batt mar- ried Gertrude Daul, and they have seven children: Norbert, Raymond, Irenus, Frances, Flora, Gertrude and Adelaide. Mr. Batt built his residence, one of the finest on Goundry street, in 1892, and in many ways has assisted in the growth and prosperity of North Tonawanda.

Gentle, W. T., was born in Monroe county, N. Y., November 9, 1857, a son of Henry E. and Mary (Worboys) Gentle, natives of England. He was reared on a farm until ten years old and then went to Charlotte with his parents and was there

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educated at the union schools. At sixteen years of age he was weighmaster at the Rochester Iron Works for a short time, when his father died and he was made fore- man, taking his father's place. He held that position for a short time when the works closed and in the following spring he went into a hotel at Greece, in partner- ship with John Piggott, where he remained nine years. He was assistant postmas- ter seven years and postmaster two years at Greece. He then worked at carpenter work one year in Kendall. In 1887 he married Franc E. Adams, and they had two children: Harry E. and Elton. In 1887 he learned the tinner's trade at North Parma, N. Y., with Z. W. J. Newcomb; in 1890 he came to Ransomville and engaged in the hardware business, buying out Samuel McCracken, and has since had a suc- cessful business. He is a Republican and takes an active part in politics; he was collector in the town of Greece and has been inspector in Porter for three years. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. and attends the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Gentle is a man of good habits, never using intoxicating drinks or tobacco in any form.

Parsons, T. U., was born in Wilson, August 26, 1833, a son of Capt. Sylvester and Abbie G. (Dearborn) Parsons. Captain Parsons was born in Parsonfield, Me., which place was named after his father, Thomas Parsons, a son of Joseph Parsons of Springfield, Mass., known as Cornet Joseph, who died in 1684. The family de scended from ancestry in England. Thomas Parsons was born in Bradford, Mass., September 18, 1735; he married twice, first to Anna Poor of Andover, Mass., who died May 24, 1783, and his second wife was Lucy Bradbury, who died November 11, 1811, and he died the same year, leaving a family of nineteen children. He owned 64,000 acres of land which was granted to him in 1771. Capt. Sylvester Parsons was born May 4, 1797, and ir February, 1829, with his wife and three children, came to the town of Wilson, locating on a farm of 118 acres, now owned by T. U. He died August 12, 1860, and his wife, born January 6, 1803, died February 5. 1890. She was a daughter of Benjamin, and granddaughter of Major Green Dearborn of Revolu- tionary fame. A brother of T. U., Sylvester Parsons, spent his life in Wilson, was a graduate of Williams College and Geneva Medical College. He was both a physi. cian and attorney, and married Donnie Wilson, granddaughter of Reuben Wilson, and daughter of Luther Wilson. Dr. Parsons died February 22, 1877. T. U. Par- sons was educated at Wilson and graduated from Fulsom's Commercial College of Cleveland, O. His principal occupation now is farming, the farm where he now lives containing 118 acres, thirty-six of which was originally owned by the founder of the village. He is a Prohibitionist in politics and was a Republican in early life ; he is an ardent Free Silver man. May 4, 1864, he married Debora Scarborough, and they have one son, William S., of Colorado. Mrs. Parsons died April 7, 1865, and October 8, 1873, he married Jennie de Rochemont, born in Newington, Rocking- ham county, N. H., who was educated and graduated from Bradford Female Sem- inary in 1869, and was a teacher in Wilson for one year.

McCracken, Richard, was born in Ireland, October 12, 1833, a son of Thomas and Mary (Oliver) McCracken. Thomas McCracken enlisted for twenty-one years in the 13th Light Dragoons and served twenty years, having one year given him for being in the battle of Waterloo and a medal presented him by King George IV and also a pension for life. He came to Canada in 1845 and died at Coburg in 1849. His wife

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was born in Ireland and was with him eighteen years in the British army; she died in 1845 in Canada. They were the parents of six sons and four daughters. Rich- ard McCracken was reared on a farm and educated in Ireland and at the age of thirteen came to Lewiston and worked for William Miller. He worked by the month for six years and then came to Porter and purchased a small farm and also manu- factured brooms for some years. He has made his own property, starting with twenty-five cents when he came to Lewiston, and now owns two farms, one of fifty- five acres and one of 130. He has also practiced law for the past eighteen or twenty years, and has been a fruit dealer, shipping fruit to all parts of the United States and Canada. In politics he is an ardent Republican and has been assessor for three years and trustee of schools for twelve years. In 1853 he married Clarissa Putnam, and they had five children: Emma, Samuel D., Ida and Oscar, all living in Porter except Samuel D., who is a merchant in Colorado Springs, and Eva, who died at Ransomville in 1862. Two of Mr. McCracken's sisters died in Manchester, England, one in Portugal and one in Ireland, and one brother died at Coburg, Can.

Hopkins, Willard, was born in the town of Lewiston and has been engaged in farming and fruit growing all his life. He is in fact one of the most extensive fruit growers in Niagara county, having upwards of 300 acres of fruit farms picturesquely situated on the banks of Niagara River, besides other fruit farms situated in the Model City and on the shore of Lake Ontario, having about 30,000 fruit trees in bearing. He was one of the pioneers in planting extensive peach orchards on the Niagara frontier. He married Sarah A. Peet, and they have two sons: W. Frank and Silas Seward. His parents were Silas S. and Abigail H. Hopkins, and his father was one of the best known and most honored men of his day in the town. His grandfather, Silas Hopkins, was one of the pioneers of Lewiston and was the · first county judge in Niagara county. W. Frank Hopkins married Mary Tower of the town of Porter. The name and history of the Hopkins family are inseparably associated with Lewiston from its early days down to the present time, in which the family continues to uphold its old-time prestige.

Lanigan, John A., was born at Halifax, N. S., November 12, 1854, a son of John J. Lanigan, a prominent builder of that place. Mr. Lanigan received his education in St. Mary's College, at Halifax, and was graduated from that institution in 1871, with the degree of B. A., and later in 1872, he entered Sulspician College, at Montreal, where he remained for one year and then returned to Halifax, where he entered the Dalhousie College as a medical student. After three years' study in that institution, he entered the medical department of the University of New York and was grad- uated therefrom in 1877. He has since practiced his profession at Buffalo, N. Y., Halifax, N. S., and Niagara Falls, locating at the latter place in 1891. He isa mem- ber of the Canadian Medical Association and the Erie County Medical Association, and is the examining physician for numerous Catholic organizations at Niagara Falls. Upon the incorporation of Niagara Falls as a city, Dr. Lanigan was appointed city physician to the poor and has since held that position. He has gained considerable fame as a contributor of original articles to the leading medical journals throughout the world, and occasionally contributions in verse are met with in various newspapers and periodicals, bearing his signature. March 26, 1893, he married Theresa Beazley of Halifax, N. S.

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Mackenna, Joseph, was born in the North of Ireland, December 24, 1834, and is a son of John Mackenna, who was a contractor, builder, architect and civil engineer, and immigrated to America in 1835, settling in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Joseph Mackenna was reared and educated in Ireland by his grandparents and came to America at the age of twelve years and commenced work with William Griffith, con- tractor and builder, on the Cataract Hotel at Niagara Falls. He continued at that business until 1855, when he began business in his own interest as contractor and builder, in which he remained for three years, when he entered the New York Cen- tral Railroad Company's shops as foreman of car building at Niagara Falls. At the end of two years he entered the service of the Clark Furniture Co. as foreman and remained with them for thirteen years, at which time he began business for himself as a dealer in furniture and upholstery, and carried on in conjunction with this the business of undertaker and still continues in the same business. September 16, 1855, he married Matilda J. Furlong, and they have four sons and one daughter.

Bentley, Delevan F., was born in Orleans county, N. Y., December 26, 1860, a son of William Bentley, a farmer and now retired. Delevan Bentley attended the public schools of his native place and later the Canandaigua Academy, at Canandaigua, N. Y., and the Oberlin (Ohio) Commercial College. In 1880 he removed to Rochester, N. Y., and entered the dental office of Dr. S. G. Wood, where he remained for one year, when he took a course in dentistry at the University of Pennsylvania, and later a post-graduate course in the Vanderbilt University at Nashville, Tenn. In 1890 he came to Niagara Falls, and has since been in the uninterrupted practice of his pro- fession. October 16, 1895, he married Jessie S. Wand of Niagara Falls, and they have one son, Denby Diemer.

Jenny, John C., was born at Niagara Falls, N. Y., February 15, 1868, a son of John Jenny. He was educated in the public schools of his native town and at six- teen years of age entered the office of the New York Central Railroad Company at Niagara Falls as a claim clerk and remained there in that capacity until 1893, at which time he was appointed deputy postmaster at Suspension Bridge, and later be- came deputy postmaster of Niagara Falls city, in which position he still serves. April 28, 1889, Mr. Jenny married Mattie Dorety and they have three children. He is a member of Niagara Lodge No. 81, I. O. O. F., and has been past grand master for three years.

Moote, Geo. L., was born in Porter, December 10, 1820, a son of Jacob and Eunice (Simmons) Moote, he born in Germany and she in Montgomery county, N. Y., and of English descent. Jacob Moote came from Germany with his parents when a mere child to Canada. During the war of 1812 he was drafted into the British service and refusing to fight was put into prison and at the time it was burned, escaped and im- migrated to Montgomery county, N. Y., thence to Porter and settled on the farm Geo. L. now owns, where he died in 1854. He was one of the prominent men of the town and at one time owned considerable property, about 260 acres. He and his wife were Methodists and were very active and assisted largely in building a number of churches in Niagara county as well as his own. Geo. L. Moote was reared on a farm and educated at Wesleyan Seminary at Lima, N. Y. He wasin the mercantile business at Wilson for five years, but farming has been his principal occupation and

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now owns 200 acres of land. He is a Democrat in politics and in 1874 was elected county clerk and served three years and has been a candidate for a number of county offices, but was defeated, the county being Republican. He is a member of Ontario Lodge No. 376, F. & A. M., and was a member of the I. O. O. F. at Wilson. He was married in November, 1850, to Zermah Wilson, and they had four children: Glenn E., Ernest H., Nellie D. and Adelbert (deceased).

Hamlin, Frank J., was born at Milwaukee, Wis., August 11, 1852, a son of the late George B. Hamlin. He attended the public schools at Niagara Falls, whither his parents had removed, and later took a thorough course in the Bryant & Stratton's Business College at Buffalo, after which he accepted a position as clerk in a large boot and shoe store in Lockport where he remained for seven years. In 1877 he re- moved to Niagara Falls, and established himself in the tobacco and fancy goods trade, which he followed for thirteen years, when he departed into the coal and wood business in which he still continues to successfully operate. He is a member of Niagara Frontier Lodge No. 132, F. & A. M., and is a capable and energetic business man, respected by and popular among all classes.

Steinbrenner, Carl, was born at Oberheinreith, Weimsberg, Wurtemburg, Ger- many, July 2, 1859, a son of Gottlieb Steinbrenner. He was educated in the public schools of his native town and early in life learned the carpentering and building trade. At the age of twenty-two he immigrated to America, settling at Suspension Bridge and at once found employment at his trade, which he followed until 1892 when he built his present planing mill and established himself in the general lumber and building business. Mr. Steinbrenner has attended closely to his business in which he has been very successful. October 3, 1884, he married Barbara Locher of Niagara Falls, and they have four children.

Willis, Joseph W., was born in Gloucestershire, England, March 4, 1833, a son of the late Joseph Willis. He was educated in the public schools of his native place and immi . grated to America in 1858, settling in Boston, Mass., where he remained until 1852, at which time he removed to Niagara Falls, N. Y., and took up the business of miller, at which he had served his apprenticeship in England and was made superin- tendent of the Niagara Rapids Mills at Suspension Bridge and still serves in that capacity. In 1857 Mr. Willis married Elizabeth Harmer and they had seven chil- dren. Mrs. Willis died in 1892. Mr. Willis is a member of Niagara Lodge No. 81, I. O. O. F., and of the Knights of Honor of Niagara Falls and is alderman from the Fourth ward, elected in March, 1896.

Maloney, Michael, was born at Suspension Bridge, N. Y., March 26, 1859, a son of Edward Maloney, a prosperous coal merchant of that place, now retired. He was educated in the public schools of his native town, and at the age of seventeen en- tered the employ of the New York Central Railraad Company and served them until 1882, when he became connected with the Erie Railroad Company and rose through several grades to the post of engineer. In 1891 he resigned from railroad- ing and took his father's place in the coal business, in which he has since success- fully operated. He is an extensive property owner and prominent in business circles. In May, 1888, he married Anna Frank of Buffalo, and they have five children.

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Welch, John J., was born in Canada in 1847, a son of the late Thomas Welch. He attended the public schools of Niagara Falls, whither his parents had removed in 1847, and when fifteen years of age began his business career with the New York Central Railroad Company, which company he served in various capacities for twenty-three years. In 1886 he was appointed deputy collector of customs, port of Niagara, and held that office for four years, until 1889. In that year he, in com- pany with his present partner, Joseph McDonald, established himself in the coal trade at Niagara Falls, in which he still successfully operates. In 1879 Mr. Welch was married to Mary Laughlin of Niagara Falls, and they have four children. Mr. Welch is an extensive real estate owner and an enterprising and thrifty business man. He is a member of the C. M. B. A. of Niagara Falls.

Noblett, John E., was born in County Carlow, Ireland, February 26, 1847, a son of John B. Noblett, a farmer, who came to America in 1848, settling at Buffalo, and who died in Virginia in 1889. John E. Noblett was educated in the public schools at Buffalo, and at the age of sixteen years entered the ship yards of Mason & Bid- well of Buffalo, where he learned carpentering and joining and remained until 1868, at which time he removed to Attica, N. Y., and engaged in business as a contractor and builder until 1886. In that year he was appointed deputy collector of customs at Niagara Falls, and filled that office until 1891, when he took the contract for the re . building of the Erie Railroad depot and sheds at Suspension Bridge, which were burned in 1890; he has since followed his trade of contractor and builder success- fully. Mr. Noblett was the last trustee of the village of Suspension Bridge before its incorporation with Niagara Falls village as a city, and also served as alderman for two years. He is a member of Niagara Frontier Lodge No. 785, F. & A. M., and B. P. O. E., No. 346, of Niagara Falls. December 8, 1869, he married Anna C. Kaiser of Lancaster, N. Y., and they have two children: Eugene C. and John A.

Reardon, John S., was born in Youngstown, N. Y., October 13, 1865, a son of Thomas Reardon. He attended the public schools at Youngstown, and at the age of seventeen entered the employ of Peter A. Porter at Niagara Falls, and acted in the capacity of coachman for seven years. In 1889 he took up the carpenter's trade, which he followed until the spring of 1897, when he formed a partnership with James Quinn and established his present business, as dealer in furniture and house furnishing goods. In 1890 Mr. Reardon married Mary F. Kelly of Niagara Falls and they have three children. Mr. Reardon is financial secretary of Branch No. 1, C. M. B. A., and has held that office for six years; he is also a member of the Board of Supervisors of the county of Niagara, being elected to that office in 1896.

Zeiger, Daniel, was born in Germany in 1845, a son of Louis Zeiger, who immi- grated with his family to America in 1848, settling at Niagara Falls, N. Y. Daniel Zeiger was educated in the public schools at Niagara Falls, and worked on his father's farm until eighteen years of age, when he removed to Buffalo to learn the carpen- ter's trade, and later to La Salle. In 1885 he returned to Niagara Falls and is still engaged at his trade, besides being proprietor of a grocery and provision store, which he established in 1887. Mr. Zeiger was elected supervisor of the Third ward of the city of Niagara Falls in 1896, and is a member of the A. O. U. W. In 1871 he married Frederica Chormann.

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Cannon, Elijah H., was born at Niagara Falls, N. Y., May 4, 1845, and was a son of John Cannon, sr., for many years a butcher, now deceased. Mr. Cannon at - tended the public schools at Niagara Falls until eighteen years of age, when he entered the hardware store of S. V. Saleno of Niagara Falls, and remained there for twelve years, thoroughly mastering the business; he then established his present business in the same line, in which he has been very successful. In October, 1871, he married Margaret Dixon of Woodstock, Can. Mr. Cannon is an extensive prop- erty owner and is respected by all who know him.

Swan, Gayton H., was born at Niagara Falls, N. Y., March 4, 1859, a son of Frank W. Swan, for the past thirty-five years a trusted agent and messenger for the Amer- ican Express Company. Gayton H. Swan attended the public schools of his native town until ten years of age, when he began his business career selling newspapers. At the age of fifteen he entered the employ of L. & S. Colt, hardware merchants, at Niagara Falls, and served that firm for three years; later he was employed by Phil- lips & Co. in the same business and still later was with Nice & Hinkey, at Tona- wanda, N. Y., for one year. In 1880 he was appointed superintendent of the City Water Works at Niagara Falls and retained that position until 1884, when he entered the employ of George Haeberle, lumber dealer, and remained until 1886. In that year he established himself in the plumbing and tinning business, which he has suc- cessfully carried on ever since. August 21, 1881, Mr. Swan married Minnie, a daughter of his former employer, George Haeberle, and they have four children: Frank W., Lottie C., Hilda and Edna. Mr. Swan was for two years a trustee of the village of Niagara Falls and is a member of Niagara Lodge No. 81, I. O. O. F., of Niagara Falls. He is a man of strict integrity and business tact and is highly re- spected by all who know him,

Rowen, Michael, was born in County Mayo, Ireland, May 28, 1871, and immigrated to America in 1888, settling in Chicago, Ill., where he took up railroad work and fol- lowed that until 1894, when he removed to Niagara Falls, and in company with his two brothers, John and Martin, he established his present business, that of flour, feed, grain and coal. In October, 1896, Mr. Rowen was married to Elizabeth Sturdy of Niagara Falls.

Talbott, Michael, M. D., was born in Kings' county, Ireland, May 12, 1846, a son of Robert Talbott, a wealthy land agent, now deceased. Dr. Talbott was educated in the National Schools of Belfast and at the age of eighteen immigrated to America, settling at Buffalo, N. Y., where he entered the school of the Christian Brothers and was graduated therefrom after a two years' course; he then entered the Buffalo Sisters' Hospital as a medical student and remained for five years, at the end of which time he took a course in medicine and surgery in the University of Buffalo, from which institution he was graduated with honors in 1871. In 1872 Dr. Talbott removed to Suspension Bridge and has since remained in the successful practice of his profession. April 13, 1875, he married Mary Dampfield of Clifton, Ont. (now Niagara Falls, Ont.), and they have had eight children, six of whom survive. Dr. Talbott is a member of the Association of Railroad Surgeons of the State of New York and was health officer of the village of Suspension Bridge for nineteen years and the first health officer of the city of Niagara Falls, retiring from that office in

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1894. He is also a member of the Niagara County Medical Society and the Niagara Falls Academy of Medicine. Dr. Talbott is a man of liberal education and is justly popular in both professional and social circles.

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Landmarks of Niagara County, New York, Part 62

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