USA > New York > Niagara County > Landmarks of Niagara County, New York > Part 71
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Buttery Family, The .- John Milton Buttery, son of John Belden and Mercy (Weed) Buttery, was born in Homer, N. Y., April 23, 1809, and was of English descent on his father's side and Holland Dutch on his mother's side. His father died in 1875, aged ninety-three. He received a common school education at Sum-
GEORGE C. HERSCHELL.
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mer Hill, Cayuga county, where the family early settled. In 1830 he came to Lewiston, N. Y., and there, on April 7, 1835, married Priscilla, daughter of Robert and Esther (Pierce) Nichols, and one of the early school teachers of that town. [Robert Nichols was born August 2, 1773, in Royalston, Mass., came to Niagara Falls on horseback June 6, 1816, and in 1817 located at the Bridge adjoining the Whirlpool Rapids, whence he moved in 1820 to a farm in Lewiston, where he died December 18, 1834. He followed his trade of stonemason, and was the builder of the famous Terrapin Tower at the falls, the Lewiston Presbyterian church, etc. His children were Esther (Mrs. Asher Williams), born February 21, 1797; Gad P., born January 27, 1799; and Priscilla (Mrs. John M. Buttery), born March 26, 1813.] In 1835 John M. Buttery settled on a farm in Lewiston, where his ten children were born, and which is now owned by his daughter Sarah. Three of his children died there. About 1837-39 Mr. Buttery and Capt. Matthias Kline built on contract the old horse railroad from Lewiston to Niagara Falls. In 1847 he constructed, alone, the first telegraph line between Montreal and Quebec, and in 1853 he superintended the excavating of the "through cut" of the Lewiston and Niagara Falls Railroad near the Devil's Hole. He was also for several years highway commissioner of Lewiston. In 1856 he came to Suspension Bridge and for ten years was engaged extensively in dairying. In 1859 he purchased two and one-half acres of land at the Whirlpool Rapids, on which stood an old saw mill, and in 1860 opened the place as a resort, having a winding stairs leading to the rapids below. Here in 1869 he built and on August 29 opened the famous Buttery Elevator, 200 feet in depth, which he and his family conducted until about 1890. This was one of the earliest attractions on the river below the falls. Mr. Buttery was long a member of the Suspension Bridge School Board, was always an ardent Democrat, and died April 29, 1872. His wife died December 18, 1888. Their children were Sarah, born December 30, 1835; Robert, of Niagara Falls; John, a farmer of Lewiston; Earl, of Niagara Falls; Addie, a teacher for seven years at Suspension Bridge; Harmon ; Emmet; Eugenia; Wilber; and Priscilla (wife of Dr. William Dalton McEwen, a dentist), of Niagara Falls. Sarah Buttery was graduated from Wilson Academy, and for several years taught school in Lewiston. In 1856 she came to Suspension Bridge with her parents, where she has since resided.
Haner, Charles, second son of Daniel and Hannah (Crandall) Haner, was born in the village of Wilson, Niagara county, March 3, 1856. Daniel Haner, a son of Peter, moved from Pennsylvania into Schoharie county, N. Y., and thence to Marion, Wayne county; from there he came with his wife to the village of Wilson, where for many years he was a leading business man and a prominent citizen. He was one of the earliest and largest ship builders there. and also carried on a saw mill in connection with that industry. A large number of lake vessels were built and launched by him. He also conducted a general store, bought and shipped immense quantities of grain, and had a farm there. He died about 1861 and his wife a year or two later. His sister, Mrs. Maria Johnson, still lives in Wilson. Mr. and Mrs. Haner had three sons: Frederick, of Tonawanda; and Charles and William (a farmer), of Wilson. Charles Haner was educated at the Wilson Union School and at Chamberlain Institute, Randolph, N. Y., graduating from the commercial de- partment of the latter in 1878. He was then a clerk in the Board of Trade office of
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Detroit, Mich., for one year, and in 1879 returned to Wilson and again engaged in farming. In 1884 he became a clerk in the main office of the Pullman Palace Car Company, of Pullman, Ill., but two years later again returned to Wilson and engaged in the grain and produce commission business, in which he continued until August 10, 1890, when he was appointed by Collector James Low as deputy collector and in- spector of customs at Suspension Bridge, which position he still holds, having been reappointed by the present collector, William Richmond. Mr. Haner still retains liis residence in Wilson. He was married in May, 1886, to Carrie L., daughter of the late Hon. Benjamin and Lavinia Farley, of Wilson, and they have one daughter, Mabel. Mr. Farley, born in Salem, Mass., in 1810, came to Wilson in 1842, pnr- chased a part of lot 48, Holland Purchase, and resided there until his death April 15, 1876. He was supervisor of the town in 1865, was elected sheriff of Niagara county in 1857, and served as member of Assembly in 1867 and 1868.
Thompson, James S., son of Oliver Curtis Thompson, who spent most of his busi- ness life in Buffalo, where he conducted a flouring mill, was born in North Tona- wanda, Niagara county, October 11, 1855, and was educated in the public schools of his native village and at a private school in Buffalo. At the age of sixteen he be- came a clerk in the old New York and Erie Bank in Buffalo, where he remained about eight years, rising to the position of teller. About 1879 he engaged in the manufacture of shingles in North Tonawanda with R. J. Wilder, and later became sole owner of the business, which he finally discontinued. Subsequently he formed a copartnership with William Gombert, under the style of Gombert & Thompson, and this firm still continues under the name of Thompson, Hubman & Fisher. They have one of the largest planing and lumber mills in North Tonawanda and carry on an immense business. Mr. Thompson has long been one of the leading men in the place. He was president of the village for five years, and is now a member of the first Board of Public Works of the city and a member of Tonawanda Lodge No. 247, F. & A. M. In 1882 he married Geneva, daughter of Philip W. Scribner, of North Tonawanda. Mr. Thompson's mother was Catherine Sweeney, daughter of James Sweeney, who located at North Tonawanda in 1828, built the first frame dwelling on the site, donated the lots for the first church and the first school house, and energetically pursued an advanced and patriotic course in developing the village until his death, January 13, 1850, aged fifty-seven.
Lymburner, Hamilton M., the eldest of three sons and next younger than six daughters of Matthew and Marilda (Merritt) Lymburner, was born at Richmond Hill, Canada, January 21, 1826. The Lymburners and Merritts gave their names to set- tlements originally made by them on Chippewa Creek, near Smithville, Ontario. Matthew Lymburner, a native of Nova Scotia, served in the British army in the war of 1812, and afterward became a pioneer farmer at Richmond Hill, where he died aged eighty-five. Hamilton M. attended the common schools, and when sixteen came to Buffalo, N. Y. During a part of his first year there he worked for a miller at East Aurora hauling flour through to Pennsylvania. Later he entered the employ of Gorton & Clexton, proprietors of a woolen and sheepskin factory at Black Rock, and remained there four years being a partner during the last year. He traveled through Canada buying wool and sheepskins and selling leather. Afterward he prosecuted the business on his own account, and in four months realized more profit than he
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had accumulated in four years. He then went to Hamilton, Canada, and with his brother-in-law, George C. Torrey, carried on a successful business, of which he later became sole owner. In 1859 he sold out and located on a farm near East Aurora, Erie county, but in 1860 came to Buffalo, and with Mr. Torrey purchased of A. B. Platt a sheepskin factory on Granger street and the Hamburg Canal. After the war Mr. Torrey withdrew and Mr. Lymburner continued until he was burned out. Later he bought a hide house on Green street, remodelled it, established himself again in the wool and sheepskin business, and for the third time took Mr. Torrey into part- nership. After several years the firm failed, but compromised with their creditors for fifty cents on the dollar, payable in three, six, and nine months, without endorse- ments, and after paying their indebtedness as it became due, dissolved. Mr. Lym- burner continued the business for six months, and on November 1, 1877, with Jacob F. Schoellkopf, formed the firm of Schoellkopf & Co. They were burned out on Green street, and Mr. Schoellkopf purchased a vacant lot on Mississippi street, be- tween Scott and Perry, and erected the present brick building, for the purpose of handling wool and manufacturing sheepskins and various kinds of leather. This building was subsequently enlarged, and finally Mr. Lymburner became an equal owner in the plant as well as in the firm. In 1895 Albert Schoellkopf, a son of Jacob F., was admitted into partnership. Mr. Lymburner has resided at La Salle, Niagara county, since about 1877, and bought a farm there in November, 1885. He was married, first, in 1850, to Harriet C. Torrey, of Aurora, Erie county, who died at La Salle in 1878, leaving three children: Ella M. (Mrs. Thomas Kean), and Hattie Marilda and Cyrena M., both deceased.
Vroman, Dow, was born in Middleburgh, Schoharie county, N. Y., and is a son of Dow F. and Margaret (Smith) Vroman. He is a descendant of Hendrick Meese Vroman who came from Holland in 1680, and settled in Schenectady. Dow Vroman was educated in Union College, from which he was graduated in 1887 with the de- grees of A. B. and C. E. He then attended the Albany Law School and was grad- uated with the degree of LL. B. in 1890; he was admitted to the bar the same year and opened an office in Tonawanda. The firm of Patton & Vroman existed from 1891 to 1896, being Patton, Vroman & Fish for a short time; on December 1, 1896, the firm of Vroman & Bliss was formed, the junior partner being Hiram O. Bliss. Mr. Vroman was a member of the 25th Separate Company for five years, has been master of Tonawanda Lodge No. 247, F. & A. M., and was village attorney for Ton- awanda from 1893 to 1895.
Hotchkiss, Fred P., was born at Williamsport, Pa., March 17, 1861, and is a son of M. D. Hotchkiss, an extensive lumber dealer of that place, now retired. Mr. Hotchkiss attended the public schools at Williamsport, and at the age of eighteen went to work for his father, with whom he remained until 1880, when he went to Pueblo, Col., and engaged in the confectionery business for two years. Returning to Williamsport, he entered the employ of J. A. Otto's Sons, manufacturers of and dealers in furniture. In March, 1887, he removed to Lockport, N. Y., where he bought and operated a planing mill for several years. In 1892 he removed to Ni- agara Falls, where, in 1893, he bought the planing mill and business of Peter B. Secord, which he still successfully operates. December 23, 1887, he married Adele J. Thompson, of Fredonia, N. Y., and they have one daughter.
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Granger. Harrison, is a descendant of one of the oldest and most prominent fam- ilies in Western New York. Erastus Granger, his grandfather, came to Buffalo in 1803, as superintendent of Indian affairs for the Six Nations, and soon afterward was appointed the first postmaster, and on the organization of the district of Buffalo Creek became collector of customs. He was a personal friend of President Jeffer- son, was for many years the undisputed leader of the Democratic party on the Ni- agara frontier, held the office of judge of old Niagara county, and filled the differ- ent positions of trust with distinguished ability. He died December 26, 1826. He also led the Six Nations of Indians against the British at the burning of Buffalo in 1813. His father, Capt. Abner Granger, was a hero of the French Revolution in Canada, the American Revolution, and the war of 1812. Warren Granger, son of Erastus, was a prominent citizen of Buffalo, where he built the stone mansion on Main street, Forest Lawn, in which Harrison was born August 5, 1853. His wife was Mary Norton. Col. Warren Granger, another son of Warren, died in that city in 1894. Harrison Granger received a good education, and has traveled all over the world. He has crossed the ocean four times; traveled all through England, Ireland, Scotland, France, Germany, Russia, Italy and Spain. He has also visited Central and South America, Mexico, etc. He is a well-informed man, genial and pleasing in manner, energetic, possessing fine business qualifications, and his good, sound judgment and sterling character have made for him a host of friends, among whom he is very popular. Since returning from Mexico in 1890 he has resided at Niagara Falls, where for several years he has been the manager of the firm of Granger & Co., real estate and investment brokers, handling stocks, bonds, grain, etc., and some of the best suburban properties in that part of the State.
Gluck, Alva, was born in Wheatfield, Niagara county, March 11, 1824. His father died when he was yet an infant, and his education was obtained in the district schools of Cambria. In 1846 he came to Niagara Falls and worked in the family of the late Peter B. Porter, where he met Miss Margaret Frazer, whom he married in 1851. They soon went to hotel-keeping, first as proprietors of the Western Hotel, and two years later as owners of the Franklin House (where the Imperial now stands). On January 1, 1860, Mr. Glack leased the American House, which burned January 5, 1863, leaving him practically a poor man. He was afterward the man- ager of the Niagara and Clifton Houses, and finally bought the Spencer House, which he opened in April 1867, and which he made one of the leading hotels at the Falls. This was burned, and on the site the handsome Gluck block was erected re- cently by his estate. Mr. Gluck was also at one time one of the proprietors of the International Hotel, and for many years was one of the best known and most popu- lar landlords in Western New York. He was vice-president of the Cataract Bank, a director in the Street Railroad and Water Works Companies, and a man highly respected for benevolence and sterling qualities. He died January 23, 1886. Mrs. Margaret (Frazer) Gluck was born in Inverness, Scotland, in 1824, came with her parents to Canada, where her father died, and in 1848 removed with her mother to Niagara Falls, where she died February 27, 1897. She was a member of the Pres- byterian church and a worthy Christian woman.
Huggins, William Q., M.D., is a son of William W. and Elmira (Pitt) Huggins, and was born at Mount Morris, N. Y., August 9, 1840. He was educated at Nunda,
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Dansville and Temple Hill, and in 1861 was graduated from the Cincinnati Medical College. On April 15, 1861, he enlisted as a private in the 1st N. Y. Light Artillery, and when his term of ninety days had expired he re-enlisted and served until the close of the war. He participated in all the battles of the Peninsula, second Bull Run, Antietam, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg and Lookout Mountain, was wounded five times, and was once taken prisoner, but escaped from Cohaba prison and made his way back to the Union lines. He was promoted to the captaincy of his com- pany, and in 1865, after a long and meritorious service, was honorably discharged. Soon after the war he resumed his medical studies, was graduated from the Univer- sity of Buffalo in 1870, and in the same year settled in Sanborn. Niagara county, where he has ever since resided and successfully practices his profession. Dr. Hug- gins became a fellow of the New York State Medical Association November 19, 1885; he is a member of the American Medical and Tri-Republic Health Associations, the State Board of Health, the A. O. U. W., and several other scientific, social and college societies. He is secretary of the U. S. Pension Board of Examining Sur- geons of Niagara county, has served as county coroner for seven years, and for four- teen years has been commander of Mabon Post, G. A. R., of Sanborn. He is also a prominent 32° Mason and a member of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine.
Hotchkiss, George A., is descended from one of the oldest families of Lewiston, one. William Hotchkiss, being elected one of the first inspectors of common schools April 7, 1818. and the first president of the village May 2, 1843. Mr. Hotchkiss is a son of William and Mary (Townsend) Hotchkiss, and was born December 9, 1849, in Lewiston, where he received his preliminary education in the public schools. He also attended the Brockport State Normal School, and since then has been engaged in farming and fruit-growing in liis native town. He settled on his present farm a little east of Lewiston village about 1887. Mr. Hotchkiss is a substantial, enterpris- ing farmer, and a man highly respected and esteemed. He has never aspired to public office. December 18, 1877, he married Kate, daughter of Joseph Whitman, of Lewiston, and they have four children living: Frank Whitman, Mary Townsend, Ralph Atwater, and Joseph Eldred.
Russell, William P., M. D., was born December 17, 1861, in Niagara Falls, N. Y., and is the eldest son of Edward E. Russell, a prominent druggist of that city. He was educated in the public schools of Niagara Falls, and when seventeen years old entered the drug store of Hiram E. Griffith, with whom he remained five years, learning the business and becoming a licensed pharmacist. In 1883 he entered the medical department of the University of New York City, from which he received the degree of M. D. in 1885, and immediately afterward he took a post-graduate course at the same institution. In 1886 Dr. Russell returned to Niagara Falls and at once entered upon the successful practice of his profession, and in 1895 built himself a handsome residence in the north part of the city. He is a rising young physician and surgeon, and has already filled a number of offices under the village and city, being health officer of the former in 1888 and 1889 and now (1897) physician to the poor in the second district of the latter. He was appointed a member of the first board of examiners in midwifery in Niagara county and served two years. He is a member of the Niagara Falls Academy of Medicine, of Niagara Frontier Lodge, No. 132, F. & A. M., and of several other organizations, and for a number of them
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acts as medical examiner. May 15, 1889 he married Ida A. Fales, eldest and only surviving daughter of the late Marshall Fales of Cayuga Island, La Salle, Niagara county.
Scovell, J. Boardman, is a son of Oliver P. Scovell, and was born December 1, 1869, in Lewiston, Niagara county, where he received his early public school education. He was graduated from the Lockport Union School in 1888, being valedictorian of his class, and then entered the law department of Cornell University, from which he was graduated with the degree of LL.B. in 1891, receiving double honors, both forensic and literary. On leaving Cornell he accepted the editorship of "Federal Cases," a law work embodying a series of decisions of the United States Circuit and District Courts from 1789 up to 1882. May 1, 1894, he opened a law office in Buf- falo, where he is now practicing his profession, having offices at No. 910 Ellicott Square; he also has an office in Lewiston, where he resides. Mr. Scovell's specialty is corporation and admiralty law, and to say that he is a brilliant representative of the bar of this State is making only a conservative statement.
Scoby, Arch C., was born in Shiloh, Richland county, Ohio, April 15, 1859, and when eleven years of age came to Watkins, N. Y., as the adopted son of his mater- nal uncle, Andrew S. Scoby, whose name he took. He was the second in a family of seven children of Hudson Russell Catlin and Esther Theresa Scoby, the others being George S. Catlin, Maud L., Burge D., Wayne, Cora, and May. His father served three years in the 123d Ohio Vol. Inf., and died in 1887, and since then Mr. Scoby's mother has made her home with him. Arch C. Scoby was educated in the district schools and at Cook Academy, and in 1881 came to Wilson, Niagara county, where he taught school and also conducted a farm summers. He began teaching at the age of sixteen, at Watkins Glen, Schuyler county, and taught in all sixteen terms, most of the time in the county of Niagara, and altogether with marked suc- cess. In 1887 he removed to North Ridge, in the town of Lockport, where he re- sided until 1895, being engaged in mercantile business during the first five years. In 1890 he was elected school commissioner of Niagara county on the Democratic ticket and served six years, being re-elected in 1893. In 1896 he was his party's candidate for sheriff of the county and ran 1,700 votes ahead of his ticket. He came to North Tonawanda in the fall of 1895, and has since resided there, and until Au- gust, 1897, was engaged in the grocery business. He now devotes his time to his varied business interests. Mr. Scoby has been uniformly successful and is recog- nized as a popular, influential citizen. He educated and reared four of his brothers and sisters. He is a member of the Sons of Veterans, and a prominent Odd Fel- low, belonging to Electric City Lodge, No. 663, and Encampment 88. April 8, 1880, he married Mary T., daughter of Augustus W. Swick, of Wilson, and they have three children: Vesta N., Celia M., and Hallie A.
Hildreth, Charles G., son of the late G. W. Hildreth, was born October 22, 1838, in Lockport, N. Y., and died there July 9, 1897. He was educated in his native village, and in early life was associated with his father in the manufacture of agricultural im- plements, as a clerk in the hardware store of Flagler & Pomroy, and as shipping clerk for the Holly Water Works Company. He became treasurer of that corpora- tion May 18, 1868, one of its trustees December 1, 1874, and its seceretary, March 28,
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1877, and held the latter position until his death. Mr. Hildreth was a prominent business man, and a citizen widely respected and esteemed. He was a leading mem- ber of the First Presbyterian church of Lockport from 1858 and was ordained an elder in 1865. He left a widow and two children, Thomas and Nellie.
Butler, Capt. Mighells B., was born at Phelps, Ontario county, N. Y., November 23, 1856, a son of Edgar D. Butler. His early life was passed at Niagara Falls, where he attended the public schools and later De Veaux College, from which insti- tution he was graduated in 1876. He then took a year's course in Harvard College and later became master and commandant of the De Veaux College at Niagara Falls ; still later he attended lectures in the College of Physicians and Surgeons of New York city, and in 1881 was graduated from the New York Homeopathic Medical College and practiced medicine in the Hygienic Institute at Geneva for one year . and afterwards went in the dry goods business in Ithaca, N. Y., being a member of the firm of Jackson & Bush. In 1884 he removed to Suspension Bridge, where he formed a partnership with Martin V. Pearson, as M. V. Pearson & Co. and success- fully carried on the wholesale and retail grocery business and in 1890 they opened a branch store at Niagara Falls. In 1892 the partnership was dissolved, Mr. Butler re- taining as his share of the business, the store at Niagara Falls; in 1893 he established the large department store (of which he is still manager) and in December, 1896, sold out to Hodge Bros. who in turn sold to the present owners, Faxon, Williams & Faxon. In 1881 Capt. Butler married Jessie Jackson of Ithaca, and they have three children. Capt. Butler is commander of the 42d Separate Company, N. G. S. of New York and a member of Niagara Frontier Lodge No. 132, Free and Accepted. Masons and of Niagara Falls Chapter No. 346, B. P. O. E. He is also a trustee of De Veaux College and a member of the Board of Public Works.
McComb, George T., son of George and Mary Ann McComb, was born in Lock- port, N. Y., May 1, 1856. His father was Scotch and his mother English. George McComb came to Lockport about 1826 and first settled on the Coomer road, and later removed to Lockport city, where both he and his wife died in 1881. He was an architect and builder, served as alderman for a time, and became a prominent Odd Fellow. His children were William E., cashier of the National Exchange Bank of Lockport; Frederick J., a wholesale grocer of Denver, Col. ; and George T., of Lockport. George T. McComb at an early age entered the National Exchange Bank of Lockport, and served four years as clerk and eight years as bookkeeper. He was then for eight years the paying and receiving teller of the Niagara County National Bank of the same city, and later took an extended trip to Europe, Asia and Africa and over this country. Returning home he engaged in 1892 in the wholesale produce commission business, in which he still continues, having branch offices in New York and Boston, and exporting large quantities of produce to Europe. He is the heaviest dealer in this line in Western New York. Mr. McComb is noted as an antiquarian, and has one of the largest collections of autographic let- ters in America. He also has a large collection of relics relating to the wars and much history bearing upon Niagara and this part of the State. He is a member of Red Jacket Lodge, Ames Chapter, and Bruce Council of Masons of Lockport, was for two years vice president of the New York State Association of Hay and Grain
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