Our County and Its People: A Descriptive Work on Erie County, New York (Volume 1), Part 42

Author: Truman C. White
Publication date: 1898
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1017

USA > New York > Erie County > Our County and Its People: A Descriptive Work on Erie County, New York (Volume 1) > Part 42

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

The total storage capacity of all the Buffalo elevators, exclusive of eight floating elevators and six transfer towers, is upwards of 20,000,000 bushels.

1 Josiah T. Marshall died in Buffalo November 23, 1875, aged seventy-two years.

" Robert Hollister was one of the Hollister brothers, well known shipbuilders; he died in Buffalo September 23, 1877.

' In 1847 there were in commission on the lakes sixty-four steamboats and only twenty-one propellers. In 1861 there were seventy-one of the former vessels and one hundred and eighty- two of the latter.

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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

paid for their land, had greatly improved their buildings, and were gradually producing a greater variety of crops and increasing their stock. Improvement in the villages of the county was not so marked, for Buffalo continued to absorb the greater part of the business of the county. In the winter of 1844 the Buffalo Board of Trade was organ- ized for the purpose of promoting all local business interests, aiding shippers and other commericial operators, and advancing the public in- terests of the city. R. H. Heywood, who was prominent in the project, offered to provide a suitable room for meetings of the board and the transaction of its business, and a meeting was held on January 16 in the office of Joy & Webster (then in the Webster block); at that meeting the desirability of such an organization was advocated by various persons and a committee was appointed consisting of J. L. Kimberly,' S. Purdy, Philo Durfee, R. C. Palmer. and William Will- iams to prepare a constitution and by-laws. These were reported and adopted at the second meeting, held January 30, 1844. At a later meet- ing, March 11, R. H. Heywood was chosen president of the board; George B. Webster, first vice-president; William Williams, second vice president; Philo Durfee, A. H. Caryl, James Hollister, H. M. Kinne, J. C. Evans, Sidney Shepard, N. Hayden, J. L. Kimberly and George Palmer, directors; John R. Lee, treasurer; Giles K Coats, secretary. In fulfillment of his pledge, Mr. Heywood, in the fall of that year and spring of 1845, erected a building corner of Hanover and Prime streets and called it the Merchants' Exchange. On the 10th of March, 1845, the above named officers were re-elected. The new build- ing was occupied by the board June 5, 1845. This institution accom- plished a vast amount of good in the city in various directions. Re- forms have been inaugurated through its influence which have resulted in great benefit to commercial affairs; in the equalization and regula- tion of freight rates from the West; in securing a reduction of canal tolls in 1870; in obtaining legislation making the canal free in 1882; in aiding the government during the war of the Rebellion, and in sup- porting all measures for the establishment of public improvements in the city, the Board of Trade, during its active career, was zealous and influential.'

1 John L. Kimberly was born in Derby, Conn., January 30, 1799; he settled in Black Rock in 1817 and in Buffalo in 1827. He was a pioneer in boat building and forwarding, was a founder of the Buffalo City Bank, and many years trustee of the Buffalo Savings Bank. He died December 21, 1884.

2 At a meeting held April 17, 1880, resolutions were adopted in favor of the erection of a new

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NORTH

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CODICEL

08823

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DEA WALL

Proposed

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FROM A OCKET

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OF THE CITY OF

BUFFALO Published by & Danforth 1947

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EANÄN

LAKE

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363

FROM 1840 TO THE CIVIL WAR.

From its exposed situation at the eastern foot of Lake Erie and with a level area extending around its southern and eastern sides, Buffalo is

building by the board for its own use. The matter was further advanced by various committees during the next two years and in May, 1882, a call was issued for competitive plans for the new structure to be erected on the corner of Seneca and Pearl streets. In competition with fifteen others, Milton E. Beebe, of Buffalo, furnished plans that were acceptable and work on the build- ing was at once commenced ; it was completed and ready for occupancy in the fall of 1888. The Board of Trade still continues its organization, but since the institution of the Merchants' Ex- change, has confined itself to such matters as come within its province as owner of the land and building in which the Exchange has its quarters, which are valued at $295,000. The Board of Trade stock amounts to $185,000, more than one-half of which is owned by the Merchants' Ex- change. In short, since 1882 the Board of Trade has ceased to be an institution devoted to the commercial interests of the city. The presidents of the board have been as follows :

March 10, 1846, R. H. Heywood; March 18, 1847, Henry Daw; March 18, 1848, Philo Durfee; March 13, 1849, George B. Walbridge; March 18, 1850, H. E. Howard; March 8, 1852, S. H. Fish; March 18, 1858, Samuel J. Holley; March 18. 1854, H. Niles; March 12, 1855, G. S. Hazard (again elected in March, 1857, in April 1862, 1868, 1864); May 6, 1856, M. S. Hawley; April 12, 1858, J. R. Bentley; April 12, 1850, A. Sherwood; April 12, 1860, C. J. Mann: April 16, 1861, J. Parker; April 11, 1865, S. H. Fish; April 11, 1866, P. S. Marsh: April 9, 1867, P. S. Marsh; April 15, 1868, J. H. Vought; April 18, 1869, S. S. Guthrie;1 April 13, 1870, Charles G. Curtis; April 18, 1871, James G. Sawyer; April 18, 1872, Alfred P. Wright; April 13, 1878, Charles G. Sweet; April 18, 1874, E. P. Dorr; April 13, 1875, Cyrus Clarke; April 13, 1877, Alonzo Richmond; April 18, 1878, William H. Abell; April 18, 1879, Jewett M. Richmond;" April 18, 1880, George Sandrock; April 18, 1881, John B. Manning;" 1882-84, Jacob F. Schoellkopf; " 1885-86, Jewett M. Richmond; 1887, Albert J. Wright; 1888, William Meadows; 1889,

1 S. S. Guthrie was long a prominent business man of Buffalo, and a native of Putnam, Ohio. He acquired a knowledge of mercantile business in his father's store and later was in business with him and his brother, Waldo, in Putnam. He settled in Buffalo in 1851 as a member of the commission firm of Buckinghams & Guthrie and continued in that business either with partners or alone until 1874, when he was appointed general agent of the Erie Railroad. He was also a director of that company and president of the Union Steamboat Company and the Union Dry Dock Company.

" Jewett M. Richmond was born in Onondaga county, N. Y., December 9, 1830. His young manhood was passed in serving as clerk for various persons near his home and as a partner with two brothers and two other men in the salt and flour business. This firm was a strong one and had branches in Syracuse, Salina, Oswego, Buffalo and Chicago. In 1860 he formed a partnership with H. A. Richmond, son of Dean Richmond, under the style of J. M. Richmond & Co., and be- gan a grain, commission, storage and elevating business in Buffalo. In 1863-64 he built the Rich- mond elevator. In 1867 he was elected president of the Marine Bank of Buffalo, and in 1871 was chosen president of the Buffalo and Jamestown Railroad. He retired from active business in 1881 and thereafter devoted his time to his large real estate interests. He built the Richmond block, corner of Seneca and Ellicott streets, in 1884.

' John B. Mannning was of Irish descent and born in Albany July 13, 1833. He served as page in the Assembly and the Senate from 1845 to about 1850, gaining a thorough knowledge of State politics. In 1860-61 he acted as Albany correspondent of the Brooklyn Eagle. Abandoning the political career that was clearly open to him, he settled in Buffalo and soon was largely engaged in the malting and commission business. He was elected mayor of Buffalo when Grover Cleve- land was elected governor and was defeated for the same office in the fall of 183. He was prom- inently identified with the building of the Merchants' Exchange.

Jacob F. Schoellkopf has for many years been numbered among the leading German busi- ness men of Buffalo. He was born in 1819 and after serving as clerk in his father's store two years he came to America in 1811 and to Buffalo in 1844, where he began the leather business in a small way. Within the next ten years he was a leader in this industry, owning alone or in company with others several large tanneries. In 1871 he first became interested in the milling business, in which he still continues both at Buffalo and Niagara Falls. He has held prominent offices in sev- eral banks and has amassed a large fortune.

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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

swept by high winds during many months of the year. While these are in some respects an evil, there is no doubt that they contribute to the healthfulness of the locality. On the 8th of October, 1844, the city was visited by a remarkable and destructive gale accompanied by an unprecedented overflow of the lake. A strong northeast wind prevailed through the day and to about 11 o'clock in the evening, when it shifted to the southwest and west, soon rising to a terrific gale, which contin- ued through the night. The waters of the lake, which had been driven back by the northeast wind, were blown down upon the city, causing a rise of two feet higher than ever known before or since. The damage to shipping and buildings was immense and, what is far more deplor- able, from thirty to forty lives were lost, mostly by drowning. About one-third of the stone pier was washed out, wharves were wrecked and the flats east of Main and south of Seneca streets were covered with stranded scows and canal boats, lumber and other débris; the brig Ashland was thrown upon the south pier; the steamer G. Dole was tossed high and dry into Ohio street, while a little farther up lay the Bunker Hill; the Columbus lay near Michigan street above high water mark, and the United States steamer Albert was stranded below the pier. Numerous buildings in the city were demolished or badly dam- aged, and cellars were filled with water, while the small houses and shanties of poor people near the lake were washed away. The total damage was estimated at about $200,000. Two girls were drowned in the basement of a tavern at 95 Main street, and eight persons were drowned near the Wilkeson foundry. The disaster spread gloom throughout the city, which was only partially relieved by generous aid that was bestowed upon the sufferers.'

Edward Eames; 1890, William M. Sloan; 1891-92, John N. Scatcherd; 1893, George Clinton; 1894-96, Robert R. Hefford; 1897, Alonzo R. James. William Thurstone has been secretary of the board since 1863.

The Merchants' Exchange was chartered in the spring of 1882, with somewhat broader powers and purposes than the Board of Trade. James N. Scatcherd was elected president of the Ex- change; Eric L. Hedstrom, vice-president; Charles A. Sweet, treasurer; William Thurstone, secretary; the latter still serves in the same capacity. The presidents have been as follows: 1883, James N. Scatcherd; 1 1884-85, Eric L. Hedstrom; 1886, Albert J. Wright; 1887, James R. Smith; 1888, Robert B. Adam; 1889, John C. Graves; 1890, Peter C. Doyle; 1891-92, John N. Scatcherd; 1809, George Clinton; 1894-96, Robert R. Hefford; 1897, Alonzo R. James.

1 James N. Scatcherd was born in Wyton, Ont., December 4, 1x24, and died January 18, 1895. He settled in Buffalo in 182, representing a large lumber business, and became its successor; about 1840 he took his son John into partnership. He was president of the Water Board, and vice-president of the Third National Bank.

? Contrary to widely-prevalent belief, Buffalo does not suffer frequently from destructive winds or storms, while its climate is more equable and several degrees milder than in most other

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FROM 1840 TO THE CIVIL WAR.

In April, 1846, the Buffalo Literary and Scientific Academy, founded in April, 1832, and later merged in the institution that became the University of Buffalo, closed its existence as a corporation under authority of the Legislature. Heman B. Potter was appointed receiver. On May 11 of the same year the University of Buffalo was incorpo- ated by act of the Legislature, with capital stock of $100, 000. The in- corporators named in the act were Albert H. Tracy, Millard Fillmore, Joseph G. Masten, Thomas M. Foote, Isaac Sherman, Nathan K. Hall, Gaius B. Rich, Ira A. Blossom, James S. Wadsworth, William A. Bird, George W. Clinton, George R. Babcock, George C. White, Aaron D. Patchen and James Hollister. This institution is further described in Chapter XXIX.

An act of April 21, 1840, authorized the supervisors of Erie county to erect a workhouse " for the safe keeping and employment of vagrants, disorderly persons, and all persons under sentence or conviction, ex- cepting those to be punished by death or imprisonment in State prison, who shall be sentenced to hard labor or solitary imprisonment by the courts of Erie county." This workhouse was erected in 1847, of stone, and situated on Fifth street, corner of Pennsylvania.'

Between 1845 and 1850 a movement for securing improved highways through agricultural districts was inaugurated and soon attained great magnitude. In 1844 the first plank road in the United States was laid

large cities of the country. It is, of course, true that higher winds prevail in this city than in some localities far removed from large bodies of water; but this is not by any means an unmixed evil, and without doubt contributes to the healthfulness of the place. The accompanying brief table shows clearly the temperature, humidity, and wind measurement in Buffalo during the heated term of 1896, in comparison with several other cities which have long received credit for superior climatic conditions:

Mean of highest temperature.

Mean of mean temperature.

Mean relative humidity.

Mean daily measurement of wind.

Buffalo,.

79.7

73.

69.

296

Rochester, ..

.. 84.6

75.4

72.

161

Erie,

.81.5

74.6

78.5

210

Cleveland,

84.

75.1

81.

299

Detroit,.

.88.8

75.8

78.3

189

Chicago,. .85.1

78.1

68.1

328

In point of the heathfulness of Buffalo, it may be stated that in no city in the Union are health regulations more strictly enforced, or the death rate lower. During the six years since 1891 (in- clusive) the death rate has been reduced from 23.48 to 12.72.

1 Various improvements have been made to the original workhouse, now known as the Erie County Penitentiary ; among them are the following : A new male prison, 200 cells, erected of brick in 1866-67 at a cost of $67,560; a hospital building, cost about $43 000, built in 1865-66, and a new sewerage system finished in 1867; the old stone prison rebuilt in 1871-72 at a cost of about $20,000 ; an addition to the workshop and the female prison rebuilt in 1873 ; and a new prison with 299 cells erected in 1895.

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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

in Onondaga county from Salina to Central Square. At that time, more even than at the present, when the same subject is agitating the public, the need of better roadways over which the farmer could more easily transport his products, and the country merchant his goods, was universally admitted. The construction of the first plank road seemed to fully meet the requirements of the public; they were economical in first cost and travel upon them was a luxury when compared with pre- vious conditions. Hundreds of plank road companies were organized and incorporated in all parts of the State within a few years and most of them constructed roads of greater or less length. Erie county at that time was better prepared, perhaps, than almost any other of the the thickly settled localities, to welcome the new highway, for the roads in this vicinity were notoriously bad. The first plank road company incorporated in Erie county was the Buffalo and Lancaster, under date of May 12, 1846; its capital stock was $25,000. The act of incorpora- tion described the road as extending from " the new Buffalo road at the intersection of the Genesee street road, at or near Douglass's tavern in the town of Black Rock, in the county of Erie," a distance of ten miles to Lancaster. The commissioners were Grosvenor Clark, John Cameron, Moses Baker, of Buffalo; Robert Winspear, Elisha P. Adams, and Will- iam Haskell, of Cheektowaga; John Moulton, William R. Conly and Peleg Stranahan, of Lancaster.

The Aurora and Buffalo Plank Road Company was incorporated May 11, 1846, with capital of $50,000 and the following commissioners: Robert Person, Adam Riley, Erastus Wallace, Joseph G. Masten, and Horace Clark.

Other plank roads constructed in this county were the so-called Res- ervation plank road, which was in existence later than 1852, in which year an act was passed by the Legislature providing for its improve- ment; and the Buffalo and White's Corners plank road.

There was less plank road constructed in Erie county than in many others of even less area, the reason for which may be difficult to de- termine. Indeed, during the whole of the first half of the century, there was less legislation affecting roads, and apparently less effort to improve the highways in this county, than in most others; while at the same time there was more need of such effort here than in many other localities. This has been credited, to a great extent, to a lack of en- terprise and progressiveness in some of the rural districts. In any event, while the plank roads admirably served their purpose for a time,

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RT. REV. JOHN TIMON, D.D.

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FROM 1840 TO THE CIVIL WAR.

leading their projectors to believe that they would remain in use per- manently and pay a profit on the investment, it finally became evident that one important feature of the calculations had been omitted; this was the element of durability. A few years of travel and the effects of weather on the plank, made it necessary to relay the roadways, in- volving expense that the receipts would not meet, excepting on some of the most frequently traveled roads. On this account many were abandoned, and nearly all were finally given up.

Another legislative act for the improvement of roads in this county was passed April 16, 1852, which provided that any three or more per- sons "may construct and keep in repair, for the space of seven years or less, any public highway within the county of Erie not included in the bounds of any incorporated village," by complying with certain re- quirements of notice to the commissioners of highways, who would set off a separate road district for this purpose.

A new State constitution went into effect in 1846 which made impor- tant changes in the election of various officers and affecting all coun- ties in the State alike. At the special election held on that account in June, 1847, Erie county went strongly Democratic, for the first time since the organization of the Whig party. The presidential campaign of 1848 bore especial local interest on account of the selection of Mil- lard Fillmore for the vice-presidency. It was in that year that the his- toric Free Soil convention was held in Buffalo. These political sub- jects are more fully treated in Chapter XXVI.

The period to which consideration is given in this chapter was very prolific in the founding of Roman Catholic churches, parochial schools, charitable institutions, etc., under the banner of that faith. Before the middle of the century was reached the number of adherents of . that faith in Erie county had become very large. At that time they were almost wholly of Irish, German or French descent; to these were added in later years Poles, Italians, Swedes, and a few of other na. tionalities. The formation of the first Roman Catholic churches in Buffalo has been noticed in Chapter XX, and little further progress was made in that direction until 1847. In that year, on April 23, the Diocese of Buffalo' was established, comprising the counties of Erie, Niagara, Genesee, Orleans, Chautauqua, Wyoming, Cattaraugus, Steu-

1 The Diocese of Buffalo has since been reduced to the counties of Erie, Niagara, Genesee. Orleans, Chautauqua, Wyoming, Cattaraugus and Allegany, which contain ninety-six churches with resident priests, sixty-eight parochial schools, and a Catholic population of about 160,000.

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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

ben, Chemung, Tioga, Allegany and Schuyler. Right Rev. John Timon, D.D., was the first bishop of the diocese. Three years after the founding of the diocese, and on February 6, 1851, the corner stone of St. Joseph's cathedral was laid by Bishop Timon, and its altars were consecrated on the 6th of July, 1855. The cathedral is a beautiful ex- ample of ecclesiastical architecture, and in its south tower is the finest chime of forty-three bells in this country. A heavy debt was incurred in the erection of the cathedral, but through strenuous efforts on the . part of the bishop large sums of money were raised in all parts of the country, and on August 30, 1863, he once more called around him his brother prelates for a renewed consecration of the cathedral. On No- vember 8, 1868, the Right Rev. Stephen Vincent Ryan, C. M., was consecrated and installed as successor to Bishop Timon. On Febru- ary 24, 1897, Right Rev. James E. Quigley, D. D.,' was consecrated bishop of the diocese, with impressive ceremonies.

Very soon after the establishment of the diocese the Church of the Immaculate Conception was organized (1849), under the title of St. Mary's of the Lake; the church edifice was erected in 1856. The ac- tivity of the Roman Catholics in Buffalo at the time under considera- tion, largely inspired, doubtless, by the founding of the diocese, is indicated in the prompt organization of two or three other churches. In October, 1852, was formed the Church of the Holy Angels, in the old house on what is now Porter avenue, formerly used as an asylum for insane. Eighteen acres of land, on which stood the asylum and the old almshouse, were purchased by the church for $13,000; the asylum was used temporarily for a school. The present church was com- pleted in 1857, and the parochial school, connected with the church, in 1881; it is conducted by the gray nuns.

St. Patrick's church (Franciscan Friars) was organized in January, 1854, and the church edifice, on Seymour street, was erected in 1858.

' Dr. Quigley was born in Oshawa, Ont., October 15, 1855. Three years later the family re- moved to Lima, Livingston county, N. Y., where the boy attended public and parochial schools, and in July, 1868, entered St. Joseph's College, Buffalo, graduating in 1872. Having already de- cided upon entering the priesthood, he attended the Seminary of Our Lady of Angels, at Suspen- sion Bridge, and pursued his theological studies. There he made such rapid progress that he was sent by the bishop to the great university of Innspruch, Austria. After one year of philo- sophical study he entered the theological college of the Propaganda at Rome, from which he graduated in the spring of 1879, with the degree of doctor of philosophy. On April 18. 1879, he was ordained for the priesthood. Returning to Buffalo Father Quigley was assigned by Bishop Ryan to the parish of Attica, Wyoming county, where he raised funds and built a new church and parish house. He left Attica in 1844 to become rector of the cathedral in Buffalo, where he continued until January 17, 1897, when he was transferred to the irremovable rectorship of St. Bridget's parish.

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RT. REV. STEPHEN VINCENT RYAN.

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FROM 1840 TO THE CIVIL WAR.

A parochial school building and convent was completed in 1862, and in 1883-4 an additional school structure was built.

St. Bridget's church (Louisiana street) was organized in 1852, and the existing house of worship was built in 1859. A parochial school is connected with the church.1

The first gas light company in Buffalo was organized May 8, 1848, and began the manufacture of gas on the 7th of November following. Previous to that time the streets of the city were poorly illuminated with a few oil lamps. The first officers of the Buffalo Gaslight Com- pany were Samuel F. Pratt, president; Oliver G. Steele, secretary ; William Bucknell, jr., treasurer. The works were constructed on Gen- esee street, where they are still situated.'

1 Besides the early Catholic churches mentioned above, a large number have been organized in later years, of which only brief statistics can be given. St. John the Baptist church was or- ganized in 1867, and a church edifice was soon erected; a parochial school was built in 1888. With the coming to Buffalo of many Poles (which has been alluded to) a church for that nationality was organized in 1873, under the pastorate of Rev. John Pitass, who is still the religious leader of the congregation and the most conspicuous Polish citizen of the city. The name given to the church is St. Stanislaus. The first house of worship was immediately erected, corner of Townsend and Peckham streets. This was replaced in 1883-4 with the present stone edifice. A large parochial school is connected with the church. Besides this original Polish church there have since been organized by people of this nationality the Church of the Assumption (1887-88); St. Casmir's, or- ganized 1889-90; Church of the Transfiguration, organized 1892-8; St. John Kanty's church, organ- ized about 1892; and St. Adelbert's church.

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Our County and Its People: A Descriptive Work on Erie County, New York (Volume 1), Part 42

Author: Truman C. White Publication date: 1898 Publisher: Number of Pages: 1017

Author: Truman C. White
Publication date: 1898
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1017