USA > New York > Erie County > Memorial and family history of Erie County, New York Volume, II > Part 6
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Dr. George Levi Brown, son of Elisha and Eliza Amaret (Bancroft) Brown, was born in East Granville, Hampden County, Massachusetts, on the 24th of May, 1848. His lay edu- cation was received in the public and academic schools of his native town. Early manifesting a strong inclination to adopt the profession of medicine, upon the completion of his college preparatory studies he entered the Medical Department of Har- vard University, from which he was graduated in 1870, with the degree of M.D.
Immediately after receiving his physician's diploma, Dr. Brown began the practice of his profession, first locating at
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Holyoke, Massachusetts. Later he removed to Barre, Mass., where he remained until 1876 when he came to Buffalo.
By temperament and acquirements thoroughly qualified for the responsibilities of urban practice, Dr. Brown began his professional career in Buffalo under satisfactory auspices and has attained the most gratifying results. In the fields of medi- cine and surgery he is a man of wide experience and sound attainments, and commands in an enviable degree the confi- dence of the medical brotherhood and the community at large.
Dr. Brown is a member of the New York State and American Medical Associations, the Erie County Medical Society, the Buffalo Academy of Medicine and the Medical Union.
One of the most popular Masons of Western New York, the Masonic connections of Dr. Brown are numerous and important. The first Masonic body with which he became identified was Mount Tom Lodge of Holyoke, Mass., in which he was raised September 8, 1871. In 1873 he removed to Barre, Mass., and affiliated with Mount Zion Lodge, of which he was Master in 1875. After he came to Buffalo he became, on the 9th of March, 1877, a member of Hiram Lodge, No. 105, in 1881 and 1882 serving as Senior Deacon and as Junior Warden in 1883 and 1884. May 5, 1880, he was exalted in Buffalo Chapter, No. 71. May 14th of the same year he received the Royal and Select Masters' degrees in Buffalo Council, No. 17. October 17, 1881, he was created a Knight Templar in Lake Erie Commandery, No. 20. To the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, Dr. Brown has given much time and attention. In 1891 he received the grades from the 4th to the 16th degrees in Palmoni Lodge of Perfection and Palmoni Council of Princes of Jerusalem at Buffalo, and at Rochester the grades from the 17th to 32d degree, both inclu- sive, in the Rochester Chapter of Rose Croix and Rochester Consistory. September 17, 1895, he was crowned a Sovereign Grand Inspector-General of the thirty-third and last degree, and honorary member in the Supreme Council of the Northern Masonic jurisdiction. Dr. Brown presided as Master of Pal-
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moni Lodge of Perfection in 1893, 1894 and 1895, and filled the office of Senior Grand Warden in Palmoni Council of Princes of Jerusalem in 1891, 1892 and 1893. In the two latter years he was also Prelate of Lake Erie Commandery. He is a member and Past Potentate of Ismailia Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, and in 1897 was appointed Marshal of the Imperial Council. At the session of the Imperial Council held in Buffalo June 15, 1899, he was elected Imperial Oriental Guide and was each year thereafter advanced in rank until at the session held at Saratoga July 9, 1903, he was elected Imperial Deputy Poten- tate, an honor which proved preliminary to his election as Imperial Potentate in 1904. The following year he achieved the crowning distinction by his election as Imperial Potentate of the Mystic Shrine of North America.
Dr. Brown has been Medical Director of the Masonic Life Association of Western New York for the past twenty-nine years. He is Past President of the Acacia Club, the well-known Buffalo social organization, whose membership is composed wholly of Masons.
WILLIAM SUMMERS, member of the leading contracting and building firm of Mosier & Summers, and former President of Council and the Board of Health, is one of Buffalo's most representative men. He is a son of Thomas and Mary (Cum- mins) Summers, and was born at Niagara-on-the-Lake, Novem- ber 11, 1852. He was educated in the public schools of Ontario and later in Buffalo attended two terms of night school in old Public School No. 5. Leaving school at 10 years of age, he learned the butcher trade, which he followed as journeyman and as the proprietor of a large establishment, handling as many as two car-loads of cattle a week, for 25 years. Twelve years ago Mr. Summers became associated with Mr. Charles Mosier, in the firm of Mosier & Summers, which has since become known as the leading firm of contractors and builders
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in Western New York. Among some of the more noteworthy buildings erected by them we refer to the following: Power House No. 2 at Niagara Falls, LaFayette High School at Buffalo, 65th Regiment Armory, the Mayer & Weill Building, the New Statler Hotel, twenty buildings for the Government at Oswego, a large group of buildings for the Gowanda State Hospital, three stories to the Iroquois Hotel, three additional buildings for the Danville State Hospital, Danville, Pa., and have just been awarded the contracts for two State hospitals at Binghamton, and one at Middletown, contracts aggregating $170,000. The firm have also just completed a large contract for road work in West Seneca for the State, and are at present engaged on one and a quarter miles of construction work on the Erie Canal.
Politically Mr. Summers is a Democrat, and in 1882 was elected an Alderman from the old Thirteenth Ward, now the Fourth Ward, later elected President of the Board and by virtue of that position served as President of the Board of Health, remaining in the city Legislature for 17 consecutive years. During this period the present 4th Ward was largely built up, the voting population having increased from 400 to over 3,000 votes, and the various public conveniences and utili- ties were obtained, including adequate fire and police protection by the erection of fire and police stations. School houses were built, water and sewerage systems installed, and the present system of streets laid out and improved. As an Alderman, Mr. Summers was a tireless and indefatigable worker in the inter- ests of his ward and the entire city throughout his long term of service. He is a member of the Knights of Columbus, the Catholic Mutual Benefit Association and St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church.
He has five sons living, as follows: James W., who is a prac- tical builder and who has charge at present of the construction, by the firm, of the Danville Asylum buildings previously
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John P. Dicke ,
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referred to; Robert J., a student at Harvard Law School, and a member of the class of 1908; Austin W., a mason by trade, and practical builder; George J., who is taking a course in Civil Engineering at the Troy Polytechnic Institute at Troy, N. Y., and Eugene F., attending Masten Park High School.
JOHN P. DIEHL, whose death recently brought sorrow to a host of friends, was one of Buffalo's most prominent German- American citizens, having lived in that city all his life. He was a leading figure in the business community, and was esteemed by all who knew him, besides holding a place of warm and sin- cere affection in the hearts of his family and a large circle of friends. His career was one of consistent and honorable use- fulness, devoted to duty and illuminated by benevolence. The practical traits which earned him a well-deserved success were accompanied by a strict sense of justice, a genuine regard for the happiness and welfare of his fellow-men, and a right appre- ciation of the obligation of every citizen to do his share in main- taining a high standard of civic virtue.
Mr. Diehl came of a well-known and influential family in Erie County. He was born in Buffalo on the 4th of February, 1837, being the son of Conrad Diehl and the brother of Dr. Conrad Diehl, formerly Mayor of Buffalo.
As a young man Mr. Diehl learned the pharmacy business, in which he soon engaged independently, becoming the pro- prietor of a drug store at Main and Genesee streets, Buffalo, which he continued to conduct for forty-four years, building up a substantial and successful enterprise which became one of the leading pharmacies of the city. In 1901 he retired from the drug trade, but continued active in business pursuits, being identified with a number of financial institutions. At the time of his decease he was Vice-President and Director in the Buffalo German Insurance Company, and the Commercial Insurance Company, as well as a Director of the Buffalo Savings Bank.
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For many years a zealous member of the Masonic fraternity, Mr. Diehl always maintained a deep interest in its welfare. He was affiliated with Queen City Lodge, F. & A. M., and a member of Hugh de Payens Commandery, Knights Templar.
In 1859 Mr. Diehl married Louise A. Smith, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Philip A. Smith of Buffalo, N. Y. The surviving chil- dren of the union are two daughters, Mrs. John H. Cooper and Mrs. Julia C. Clarke, both of Buffalo. Mrs. Diehl died in 1902.
Mr. Diehl was seventy years old at the time of his death, which occurred at his home January 15, 1908.
It is fitting that a few words of characterization should con- clude this brief sketch of one who for so many years contributed a worthy share to the prosperity of Buffalo, and who, during all that time, represented the best ideals of citizenship. Typi- cally a business man, Mr. Diehl was systematic, persistent and far-sighted in all that he undertook, and his success was the legitimate result of fair dealing and uniformly upright methods. He was a model family man, a devoted husband and a kind father. In his social relations he was genial and courteous, charitable in his judgments and having a cordial word for all. He found his reward in the love of his friends and family, and in the confidence of the public, who recognized and appreciated in him the sterling qualities which gave to the business world its security and to the community its moral strength.
JAMES W. BYERS has for many years been a prominent building contractor of Buffalo. The family of James W. Byers is of Scotch lineage but Irish residence. Robert Byers, his great-grandfather, was a farmer in County Cavan, in the north of Ireland. He had a son, Hugh, grandfather of James W. Byers, who was a farmer in County Cavan. He married Jane Porter and among their children was a son, William Byers, who married Sarah Porter, and they had Hugh, Joseph, James W. and Jane. James W. Byers was born in County Cavan,
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Ireland, July 28, 1831, and was educated at the public schools of Ballyjasduff, in his native county. He came to this country, landing in New York City. He has resided in Buffalo since 1862, following with great success the occupation of a building contractor.
A devout member of the Presbyterian Church, Mr. Byers has always been active in the work of that denomination, and has given liberally of his time and money in the support of the Gospel.
Mr. Byers married Olivia Anderson, who was deceased Feb- ruary 1, 1896. Their children were: Sarah Jane, Martha Ann, William Henry, and James N. In 1897 Mr. Byers married Mrs. Emma McFadden, widow of the Rev. William McFadden, the well-known evangelist.
FRANCIS E. FRONCZAK, M.D., physician, scientist and author, is a leading Polish-American, and a representative citi- zen of Buffalo. Dr. Fronczak comes of a Polish family of ancient name and honorable repute, being the son of Adelbert Fronczak, a Polish patriot, who actively participated in the struggles of Poland for independence in 1840 and 1863. In the latter year he served as an officer in the Polish army, and after the disastrous outcome of the revolt, was compelled to leave his native country. He found in America the liberty denied him in his own land, and in 1870 he settled in Buffalo. In 1848 he married Victoria Jaworska, and their only son, Francis E. Fronczak, was born in Buffalo September 20, 1874. He gradu- ated from St. Stanislaus Parochial School in 1887, and in 1894 from Canisius College, with the degree of A.B. The following year he took a post-graduate course at Canisius, receiving the degree of A.M. In 1896 the Polish League of Chicago conferred on him the honors of Laureate of Polish Literature. During his last year at Canisius he entered the Medical Department of the University of Buffalo, from which he was graduated with honors
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in 1897 with the degree of M.D., being the first Polish graduate of the institution. In 1898 and 1899 he pursued a course of legal study in the Law Department of the University of Buffalo.
Shortly after graduating in medicine, Dr. Fronczak began practice, attaining a success which has steadily increased with years. Known as a representative Polish-American, his work is largely among the Polish population of Buffalo, and he com- mands in enviable degree the confidence and patronage of the public. Dr. Fronczak is a skilled physician and surgeon, well abreast of the modern march of science. He is Attending Physician to the Felician Sisters' Hospital, the Polish Orphan Asylum and the Home for the Old and Disabled at Cheekto- waga, is Grand Medical Examiner of the Polish Union of North America, and Examiner for the Polish Roman Catholic Union of America, the Polish National Alliance and many other Polish institutions. In 1899 and during part of 1900 he was Head Physician at the Erie County Penitentiary. He is a member of the Erie County Medical Society, the Buffalo Academy of Medi- cine, the New York Medical Society, the American Medical Association, the Medical Society of Central New York, and the Polish Physicians' and Scientists' Association, in Europe. He also belongs to the Buffalo Society of Natural Sciences, the Buffalo Historical Society, the Liberal Club, and other organizations.
In politics Dr. Fronczak is a Democrat. In 1898 he was appointed a member of the Civil Service Commission and served efficiently until 1902, when the pressure of professional duties obliged him to resign. In 1906 he was chosen Assistant Health Commissioner and in 1907 he was appointed by Mayor Adam a member of the Charter Revision Commission, and by Judge Murphy a probationary officer of the Juvenile Court, of whose Executive Committee he is a member.
April 25, 1900, Dr. Fronczak married Lucy Rosalie Tucholka of Buffalo. They have two children: Eugenie Anna Stefania,
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born July 11, 1903, and Edward James, born March 20, 1905.
Early in life Dr. Fronczak showed a marked inclination for journalism, contributing extensively to newspapers and maga- zines in this country and Europe. Some years ago he made a tour of Europe and Northern Africa, and his descriptive letters, published in a Buffalo periodical, are unusually fine examples of the literature of travel. Dr. Fronczak's literary activities have never been wholly discontinued, and he is well-known as an able writer on scientific and general topics.
RUSSELL H. POTTER, Fire Commissioner and a leading citizen of Buffalo, is of New England ancestry. His grand- father, Ambrose P. Yaw, came from Vermont to Buffalo in 1836, where he became proprietor of the largest wholesale grocery store between New York and Chicago. He also engaged in private banking business. Mr. Yaw married Charlotte Bliss Lyman. The only surviving child of the union was George R. The death of Ambrose P. Yaw occurred in 1867. After his decease his son had the courts restore the old family name of Potter, which was thenceforward adopted.
George R. Potter was born in New York City in December, 1831. He was educated in the public schools and at Prof. Ray's school in Buffalo. Upon leaving school he entered the store of his father, where he remained until the latter's death, the firm, which was located at No. 56 Main street, being known as A. P. Yaw & Son. On the death of Mr. Yaw, Mr. Potter disposed of his interest in the concern, thenceforward devoting his atten- tion to his real estate, and becoming prominently connected with railroad matters. He was a Director of the old Buffalo & Southwestern Railroad, now the Erie, and was also interested in the Lake Shore and the New York Central roads. As a young man he was a volunteer fireman in Taylor Hose Co. In July, 1880, he was appointed a member of the board of Fire Commis- sioners by Mayor Brush, and served as Chairman of that body up to his death. To Commissioner Potter fell the chief
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responsibility of organizing the paid Fire Department of Buffalo, and the present Department, surpassed by that of no city in the country, is a monument to his civic patriotism, zeal and ability. The first fire boat Buffalo ever had, the George R. Potter, is named for him. Prior to his service as Fire Commissioner Mr. Potter also served as Water Commissioner for a number of years.
RUSSELL HI. POTTER.
A consistent Republi- can all his life, Mr. Potter was for thirty years one of the leaders of his party in Buffalo and Erie County. He was elected Alderman for the old Tenth Ward and was returned to the office seven., consecutive times. He was a Trustee of the Buffalo State Hos- pital, and a member of the Board of Trustees at the period when it was de- cided to locate a hospital for the insane in Buffalo, and a member and trustee of the old First Presby- terian Church. He was a man of high moral ideals and Christian life.
In 1855 Mr. Potter married Eunice Hayward of Buffalo, a daughter of Caleb Hayward and Sally Armstrong. Caleb Hay- ward was a miller in Lebanon, Conn., where his daughter, Eunice, was born. The Haywards were one of the oldest Con- necticut families, and in the last decade of the eighteenth cen- tury were intimate friends of the family of Governor Trumbull, through whom they formed the acquaintance of George Wash- ington. It is a pleasant piece of family history that the great
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patriot held Sally Armstrong as an infant in his arms. In 1889 she died in Buffalo at the age of ninety-three. Another matter of general interest is that John Hayward, great-grandfather of Caleb Hayward, was Postmaster of the first post-office in this country.
The death of George R. Potter occurred on the 2d of August, 1888.
Russell Hayward Potter, son of George R. and Eunice E. (Hayward) Potter, was born in Buffalo on the 18th of Decem- ber, 1867. His boyhood was passed in this city, where he attend- ed the public schools and graduated from the Normal School. Later he was prepared for college in Prof. Briggs' Classical School, and in 1886 he entered Cornell University where he pursued for two years the Mechanical Engineering Course. Upon his father's death he returned to Buffalo. He then became a student in the law office of Nelson K. Hopkins for one year, devoting his attention to real estate law. In January, 1890, he formed a copartnership with Spencer S. Kingsley, under the firm style of Kingsley & Potter, the concern conducting a gen- eral real estate business. In 1892 Mr. Potter bought out Mr. Kingsley's interest, and thereafter carried on a real estate and building contracting business until the 1st of July, 1905. In September, 1905, he added to his present enterprise a surety bonding business.
In politics Mr. Potter is a lifelong Republican. Mr. Potter has never been a candidate for an elective office, but on the 21st of September, 1903, Mayor Knight appointed him a mem- ber of the Board of Fire Commissioners. During the days of the Volunteer Department he used to run with old Columbia Hose, No. 11, although too young at the time to be a member. From the day of the organization of the paid department by his father, Mr. Potter followed every development in this field with the closest attention, gaining an unusual knowledge of the practical workings of the fire service. It is safe to say that Buffalo never had a more enthusiastic or a better Fire Com- missioner than Russell H. Potter. His reputation as a fire-
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man extends throughout the country and at the National and State Conventions of Fire Chiefs and other officials of fire serv- ice organizations Commissioner Potter is both a familiar and an honored figure.
He is a Mason of the 32d degree and is affiliated with Ancient Landmarks Lodge and Hugh de Payens Commandery, Knights Templar. He is a member of the Chamber of Commerce, the Civil Service Reform Association, the Charity Organization Society, the Y. M. C. A., and the Young Men's Association. He also belongs to the Sons of the American Revolution, is an honorary member of the Exempt Firemen's Association, and among social bodies is connected with the Buffalo, Park, Elli- cott and Liberal clubs, the Buffalo Yacht Club, the Red Jacket Golf Club, the Elks, and the Red Men.
In religious faith Mr. Potter is a member of the First Presby- terian Church, of this city.
October 15, 1891, Mr. Potter married Miss Helen Hubbell, a daughter of E. A. Hubbell, Esq., and Helen Hubbell of Buffalo. Mrs. Potter died on the 17th of December, 1898, leaving two sons: Russell H. Potter, Jr., born July 25, 1895, and Sandford Hubbell Potter, born October 22d, 1898. On the 10th of June, 1903, Mr. Potter married for his second wife Miss Louise Hayes, daughter of George B. Hayes, and Louise M. (Drullard) Hayes of Buffalo.
DANIEL W. ALLEN, lawyer, railroad organizer and a repre- sentative man in the development of Buffalo real estate, is a notable instance of ability applied to the successful pursuit of a learned profession and to the broader province of business enterprise.
Mr. Allen is of Puritan descent. The ancestor of the Allen family in America was George Allen, who came from Wey- mouth, England, to Lynn, Mass., and a little later settled at Sandwich. He was a Quaker. His son, Joseph, was the father of William, the father of George, the father of George Allen, the great-grandfather of Daniel W. Allen, who built a home
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at Long Plain and resided in that community. With his father and brothers he served in the Revolutionary War. All were present at the siege of Boston. The last George Allen's son, Daniel Allen, was born at Long Plain in 1790. In 1820 he removed to Erie County, N. Y., settling in the place afterward known as Shirley, in the town of North Collins. The senior Daniel Allen died in 1865.
DANIEL ALLEN, father of Daniel W. Allen, was born in 1820. As a young man he engaged in the whaling industry, sailing from New Bedford, Mass. After eight years he quit the sea, and was one of the first to cross the plains to California in 1849. Upon his return he bought a farm in North Collins, where he lived until the outbreak of the Civil War. In that conflict he served as a soldier, enlisting in the 64th New York Volunteers. During the Peninsular campaign he fought at Fair Oaks and was wounded three times in that battle, his wounds being so severe as to cripple him for life.
After his return from the war Mr. Allen was from 1865 to 1870 Supervisor of North Collins. In 1872 he was appointed Deputy Superintendent of the Poor, serving for nine years.
The marriage of Mr. Allen took place in 1853. His wife was Phoebe McMillen, youngest daughter of Hugh McMillen and Lydia Southwick. Mrs. Allen died in 1883. Her husband died in 1885. Their surviving children are: Ida, born in 1854, who married M. J. Bundy and now resides in Angela; and Daniel W.
Daniel Williams Allen was born in the town of North Col- lins, near Marshfield, March 9, 1856. He attended district school and worked on an uncle's farm until fourteen years old. He then went to Conneaut, O., entering a high school and after- ward carrying on his studies at Griffith's Institute, in Spring- ville, N. Y., and at the Hamburg High School. Later he entered the medical department of the University of Buffalo, graduating in 1877. In 1877-78 Mr. Allen was a Principal of the Hamburg High School. Having meantime entered the
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Albany Law School, he graduated in 1879, the same year beginning practice in Buffalo. At the present time Mr. Allen is practicing by himself. During these years he has built up a large general practice specially dealing with real estate and corporation law.
Mr. Allen's connection with the real estate interests of Buffalo covers a period of a score of years, his operations being largely directed to the development of tracts which were for- merly farm lands.
From 1877 to 1885 Mr. Allen was engaged in the oil business. Mr. Allen has been identified with many undertakings. Of these one of the most notable was the inauguration of the Ham- burg Railway, commonly known as the " Allen Road," of which enterprise he was the originator. Under his strong initiative the building of the road was begun in 1895, and it was ready for operation in 1896. With branches and extensions it has thirty miles of track and ranks with the most valuable devel- opments in the transportation line in this end of the State. In 1896 the road was made a part of the system formed by a New York and Buffalo syndicate for the purpose of building connections for a trolley line between Buffalo and Erie, Pa., with all connecting or auxiliary lines within the territory traversed by the main route. Mr. Allen retained interests in the new company.
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