Our county and its people : a descriptive work on Erie County, New York, Volume II, Part 10

Author: White, Truman C
Publication date: 1898
Publisher: [Boston] : Boston History Co.
Number of Pages: 684

USA > New York > Erie County > Our county and its people : a descriptive work on Erie County, New York, Volume II > Part 10

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Brush, William H., Buffalo, son of William C. and Hannah H. (Bull) Brush, was born July 4, 1844, and was educated in the public schools of Buffalo. The firm of which he is a member is an outgrowth of A. & W. C. Brush, manufacturers of build- ing brick, who were established in 1848. The firm of Brush Bros. was organized in 1886. Mr. Brush has been connected with the manufacture of brick from boyhood and is a live, pushing business man.

Bloomer, Charles A., Buffalo, is a native of Cayuga county, N. Y., born in 1818, and is one of Buffalo's most respected citizens. He is a practical millwright and more than forty years ago was superintendent and manager for the late Stephen Whitney of New York, having under his charge fourteen large flouring mills, located at Oswego, Rochester and Black Rock. Mr. Bloomer, though well along in years, yet retains much of his former activity and vivacity and is as full of enterprise and spirit as most men of forty. He has performed his full share in the building up of Buffalo's commerce and is as much interested in all that promises further develop- ments as ever. Mr. Bloomer is a member of the Board of Trade, also president of the Exchange Elevator Co.

Holmes, Britain, Buffalo, was born in Potsdam, N. Y., March 13, 1822. In 1852 he removed to Buffalo and engaged in the manufacture of machinery, especially of bar- rel and woodworking machinery, in company with his brother. They now employ a large force of men. January 1, 1861, Mr. Holmes married Elleanor Childs of Brook- lyn, N. Y.

Grove, Benjamin H., M. D., Buffalo, was born in Rockford, Ill., November 26, 1854. He came to Buffalo in 1870, and was graduated from the Buffalo High School in 1873. He entered Cornell University in 1875, where he pursued a course in the liberal arts. He was a diligent student and was graduated with honors in 1877, re- ceiving the degree of A. B. He at this time entered the medical department of the University of Buffalo and was graduated in 1880. He then spent some time in spe- cial study in London, Paris, Berlin and Vienna. Returning to Buffalo, he began the practice of his profession. Dr. Grove's practice is confined to the diseases of the eye

PERSONAL REFERENCES.

and ear. He is a member of the University Club of Buffalo, the Masonic order and of various medical societies.

Tillinghast, James W., Buffalo, was born at Brownville, Jefferson county, Novem- ber 5, 1844. He received his education in private and public schools and Rome Academy, Rome, N. Y., and completed his education at the Fort Edward Colle- giate Institute, at Fort Edward, N. Y. He commenced work as a clerk in his father's office on the Northern Railway of Canada, Toronto, Ont., during the sum- mer of 1858, and while thus engaged he took up the study of telegraphy as an amusement, having no idea at the time that it was to become the work of his life. In October, 1861, he went to Pittsburg, Pa., and entered the service of the Western Union Telegraph Company as an operator; while engaged in that capacity his time was largely taken up with the handling of cipher dispatches passing between the western armies and the War Department at Washington, and his duties became so exacting and severe that his health failed, and in the winter of 1863-64 his physician advised him to abandon the work. In January, 1864, he removed to Madison, Ind., as manager of that office. His health having been restored, he came to Buffalo in April, 1865, as assistant manager. In May, 1865, he was sent to Erie, Pa., as man- ager of the office in that place, but resumed his position as assistant manager in Buf- falo in October of the same year, and was appointed manager of the Buffalo office in January, 1870, and has occupied the position continuously since that date. In 1868 D. H. Craig, general agent of the New York Associated Press, formed a rival association and together with several agents of the old association, left it without notice. One of the first acts of J. W. Simonton, the successor of Mr. Craig, was to appoint Mr. Tillinghast as agent at Buffalo, with full charge of the service west and south of that point, clothed with carte blanche authority. The position was accepted as a temporary one and he was for the time being relieved of his duties with the Western Union Company. For six weeks he fought the battle for the Associated Press, and the Craig Association having been beaten, he resumed his duties as manager. For the services performed for the Associated Press he re- ceived a vote of thanks of the executive committee of that association and a per- sonal letter from every member of the committee, praising his work in the highest terms. The period referred to has been the only break in the service of the West- ern Union Company since he first joined the ranks in Pittsburg in 1861. Preferring Buffalo as a place of residence, he has declined offers of promotion and employ- ment elsewhere. He is the only son of James Tillinghast, whose name is so closely associated with the N. Y. C. & H. R. Railroad, and is a descendant of Pardon Til- linghast, who settled in Providence, R, I., in 1642. He has one son by his first wife, Rev. James D. Tillinghast, a minister of the Universalist church, stationed at Providence, R. I. He married Sarah Dannals of Pittsburg, Pa., October 6, 1863. She died September 20, 1866, and he married Mrs. Anna Kelley of Lockport, N. Y., February 1, 1868; she died July 14, 1875; he married Anna Bergmann, at Erie, Pa., August 26, 1896.

Burtis, Peter P., Buffalo, son of the Rev. Arthur and Grace E. (Phillips) Burtis, was born in Chenango county, N. Y., April 24, 1845. His parents removed to Buf- falo in 1848, where he received a liberal education from the public and private schools. He was variously employed until 1871, when he became connected with the Howard Iron Works, of which he is now president.

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

Krug, J. F., M. D., Buffalo, was born on the 21st of October, 1850, in the city of Plau, Mecklenburg-Schwerin, a province of Germany. He was educated in the pub- lic schools and also attended a private institution. He came to America at the close of the Franco-Prussian war in the year 1871, coming direct to Buffalo. His father being an artist by profession and having acquired the art from him, Dr. Krug fol- lowed the occupation for some time. He afterward removed to Indianapolis, Ind., where he made the acquaintance of Drs. Charles Boynton and Joseph Eastman, who induced him to take up the study of medicine. After carefully considering their proposition, he determined to follow their advice, and accordingly entered the Indi- ana Medical College, from which he was graduated in 1879. Returning to Buffalo the same year, he established himself on Broadway for the general practice of his profession. Dr. Krug is a member of the Erie County Medical Society, the Erie County Pharmaceutical Society and the State Pharmaceutical Society. He has also served as district health physician.

Fenton, Clarence M., Buffalo, was born in St. Louis, Mo., November 28, 1857. After obtaining from the public and high schools a liberal education, he entered the service of the Erie Preserving Co., of which his father was president. This com- pany was incorporated in 1874. Mr. C. M. Fenton thoroughly mastered all the de- tails of the art of food preservation and gradually worked himself up to the position he now occupies of secretary and general manager of the company. He has in- vented many labor saving devices and new processes, and the goods which are sent out under his management go into forty of the United States, to Canada, South America and Great Britian. His success is largely owing to the scientific bent of his mind, added to his talent for successfully managing large bodies of working people. His company is one of the most prominent in the United States devoted to this branch of industry. It has factories at Brant, Farnham, Lockport and Orchard Park in New York State, and also a factory at St. Catharines, Canada, and employs over a thou- sand people. Mr. Fenton was married March 11, 1884, to Cora W. Battelle of Boston, Mass.

Pitkin, John, sr., M. D., one of Buffalo's prominent physicians, was born in Hart- ford, Conn., November 22, 1826, where he was educated in the public schools. In 1854 he began the study of medicine in Hartford and in 1861 was graduated from Yale College. After graduating he began the practice of his profession. He was surgeon in the United States army in 1864. He located in Palmyra, N. Y., after the war, where he remained until 1884, when he removed to Buffalo. Dr. Pitkin is of one of the first Colonial families of Hartford, Conn., in which was the first Governor of that State; also a member of Congress in 1784. This family furnished soldiers in the Revolution, also in the war of 1812 and in the war of the Rebellion. Among the descendants by the name of Pitkin may be found a United States senator and State senator, two attorneys-general, three judges of Supreme Court and thirty clergymen, including Rev. Thomas C. Pitkin, D. D., formerly of Albany and Buffalo. See Pit- kin Genealogy, published in Hartford, Conn., in 1887.

Hopkins, Walter G., Buffalo, is a member of one of the oldest and most respected families in Western New York. His father, Hon. Nelson K. Hopkins (who served the State as comptroller, 1872-66), was born in Buffalo in 1816; his mother, Louise

PERSONAL REFERENCES.

A. (Pratt) Hopkins, was the daughter of Hon. Hiram Pratt, one of the early mayors of Buffalo. Walter G. Hopkins was born in Buffalo, April 8, 1868, where he attend- ed the public schools. After leaving school at the age of twelve he entered the law office of Hon. Truman C. White, where he remained for five years, when he en- gaged in the real estate business on his own account. For many years Mr. Hopkins has been an active member of the Buffalo Merchants' Exchange, and the Buffalo Real Estate Exchange, having served the latter body as director several terms and one term as vice-president. Mr. Hopkins has been prominently identified with a very large number of land companies in and about Buffalo, and was the first Buf- falo man in the field after the new suburb of Depew was conceived by the Vander- bilts. Mr. Hopkins married Alice M. Williams of Buffalo on June 1, 1892, and has two children.

Goldberg, Sigmund, M.D., Buffalo, was born in Germany, December 16, 1855, and in 1860 his parents came to this country, settling in New York city, where they re- mained for five years when they moved to Buffalo. In 1881 Sigmund Goldberg be- gan the study of medicine at the University of Buffalo and was graduated in the class of 1884, when he began immediately the practice of his profession, in which he is still engaged, doing a large and successful business. Dr. Goldberg is a member of the Erie County Medical Society, the Buffalo Academy of Medicine and the New York State Medical Association. He was married in 1877 to Jennie Brown of Buffalo.

Horton, Joseph H., Buffalo, was born in Terrytown, Pa., June 2, 1842, and after availing himself of the schools of his native town, he entered the Susquehanna Col- legiate Institute at Towanda, remaining there through 1858 and 1859, after which he was associated with his father in business until 1862. The Civil war was in progress at that time and Colonel Horton enlisted August 7 in the 141st P. V., being chosen first lieutenant of Co. A on August 21. The regiment was assigned to the First Brigade of the Third Corps and entered immediately into active service; five days after his first battle (Fredericksburg) Colonel Horton was made captain of Co. A. He was engaged in the following battles: Fredericksburg, Cedars, Chancellors- ville, Gettysburg, Wilderness, Spotsylvania, Petersburg, Weldon Railroad, White Oak, Sailor's Creek, and at Lee's surrender. After the war he was again associated with his father in business until 1869. In October, 1866, he was married at Worces- · ter, Mass., to Abbie H. Newcomb, and they have one child, Mrs. Grosvenor R. Trowbridge. From 1871 to 1874 Colonel Horton was superintendent of the Sullivan Anthracite Coal Company. In 1875 he went to Ithaca, N. Y., to take charge of the Lehigh Valley Coal Company's business, and in 1884 he was appointed general northern sales agent of the same company, with headquarters at Buffalo, which position he now occupies. Colonel Horton is a member of the Loyal Legion, the Union Veteran Legion, the G. A. R., and is a 32° Mason.

Miller, John A., Buffalo, youngest son of John and Mary U. Miller, was born in Buffalo, N. Y., July 26, 1862. He attended both public and private schools and in 1877 began the study of chemistry under a private tutor. In 1885 he was graduated from the University of Illinois, receiving the degree of Bachelor of Science. In Sep- tember of the same year he went to Europe and entered the University of Berlin and f

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

was graduated from that institution in August, 1888, receiving the degrees of Master of Arts and Ph. D. In September, 1888, he was appointed professor of medical chemistry in the medical department of the Niagara University, which position he now holds, In the winter of 1891 he was appointed chemist to the State Department of Agriculture. Dr. Miller is a member of a number of chemical and other societies, among which are the German Chemical Society of Berlin, the London Chemical Society, the Society of Chemical Industry, the American Chemical Society, the Royal Microscopical Society of England and the American Microscopical Society. February 3, 1891, he married Gertrude Neele of Cincinnati, O.

Martin, Eugene Edward, M. D., Buffalo, was born in that city, April 7, 1867, and was educated in the public schools, Canisius College and Bryant & Stratton's Busi- ness College. He entered the wholesale drug house of Powell & Plympton and gave up the position to study medicine. He entered Niagara University and was gradu- ated in 1888 and immediately began the practice of his profession in Buffalo, con- tinuing for two years, when he went abroad to extend his medical studies in Vienna. During his absence he visited many of the places of note in the old world and re- turned in 1891. Dr. Martin belongs to the Anglo-American Association of Vienna and several prominent medical institutions. Few young men have achieved so wide a success or have become more thoroughly recognized as a leading member of his profession as has Dr. Martin. He is a member of the Foresters of America; is medi- cal examiner of Scheller Auxiliary, Select Knights, for Scheller Legion No. 33, and assistant surgeon-general on the military staff of the Select Knights of the State.

Ratcliff, Stephen, jr., Buffalo, is a member of one of the oldest and most respected pioneer families in Erie county. His parents were both born in England and came to America in 1827. Stephen Ratcliff was born in Buffalo, May 22, 1862, where he obtained his education from the public and high schools. His first business experi- ence was in the office of his father, acting as office boy. In 1884 he was admitted to the firm and is now manager of the business. S. M. Ratcliff & Son are well known grain dealers, with office at No. 89 Board of Trade Building.

Newman, William H. H., Buffato, was born in New York city, February 8, 1826. In June, 1838, he removed to Buffalo, N. Y. At an early age entered the office of his father's iron works and continued his connection with the business until 1858, when he established a store at the corner of Main and Dayton streets, for the sale of iron, metals and other railroad, steamboat, manufacturers' and machinists' supplies. In 1849 Mr. Newman married Miss J. A., daughter of the late Latham A. Burrows of Buffalo.

Cott, George F., M. D., was born in Buffalo, where he resides, in 1855. He attended the public and private schools and studied the classics under Prof. A. L. Harrison of Cambridge. In 1875 he visited Europe for the study of medicine, returning in 1876. In 1884 he was was graduated from the Buffalo Medical College; when he again vis- ited Europe and studied at the Vienna Poliklinik. He is at present instructor in laryngology at the University Dispensary, and city physician, First district, and phy- sician to Buffalo City Dispensary. Dr. Cott is a member of Rosewell Park Medical Club, University Masonic Medical Club, Erie County Medical Society, the New York State Medical Association, and Fellow of the Academy of Medicine of Buffalo.

PERSONAL REFERENCES.

Renner, William S., M. D., was born at St. Catharines, Canada, March 31, 1861. He began the study of medicine in Montreal and was graduated with the degree of M. D. in 1884. In 1886 he removed to Buffalo, after having spent two years in the study of laryngology at Vienna and began the practice of his profession, giving spe- cial attention to the diseases of the nose and throat.

Potter, Irving White, M. D., was born in Buffalo, N. Y., where he resides, Novem- ber 12, 1868, a son of Milton Grosvenor Potter, who was a practicing physician in Buffalo and professor of anatomy in the University of Buffalo. His mother was Clara F. Chase of Syracuse, N. Y. His grandfather, Milton E. Potter, was also an eminently successful physician in Wyoming county. Irving W. was educated in the public schools of Buffalo, after which he entered the medical department of the Uni- versity of Buffalo, graduating in 1891. After graduating he located in Buffalo, where he is now engaged in the active practice of his profession. October 25, 1893, Dr. Potter married Grace E. McDowell of Buffalo, and in 1895 a son, Milton Grosvenor Potter, was born. Dr. Potter is a member of the Buffalo Academy of Medicine and is one of the censors of the Erie County Medical Society; he is also one of the in- structors in obstetrics in the medical department of the University of Buffalo.

Danser, Earl G., M. D., a prominent physician and surgeon of Buffalo, was born in the town of Clarence, Erie county, N. Y., December 18, 1857. He was graduated from the Parker Union School in 1879, and two years later began the study of medi- cine in the office of Dr. Henry Lapp, and in 1884 he was graduated from the Uni- versity of Buffalo, receiving the degree of M. D. He immediately began the prac- tice of his profession in the town of Wilson, and after about two years he removed to Elba, Genesee county, and in 1887 he located in Buffalo, where he has since been en- gaged in general practice. Dr. Danser was married in August, 1894, to Miss Rose Bleiler, of Buffalo.

Eller, Charles P., M. D., physician and surgeon, is a native born Buffalonian, and a son of Louis and Caroline (King) Eller. He received his preliminary education from the public schools and in 1886 was graduated from the University of Buffalo, im- mediately commencing his practice in that city, where he has since resided. He is now physician to the Erie county jail and is a member of the Erie County Medical Society, the I. O. F., F. &. A. M., I. O. O. F., and the Cold Spring Business Men's Asso- ciation.

Stafford, James B., Buffalo, was born in Dublin, Ireland, of Scotch-Irish parentage, and has spent his life in Buffalo from childhood. He commenced his career as a boy in one of the leading grocery houses of the city, and subsequently became proprietor of the famous Fulton Market, which he conducted from 1873 to 1892. He now de- votes his entire time to his private business interests.

Forsyth, Edgar A., jr., M. D., Buffalo, was born at Sherman, N. Y., August 21, 1867. He attended the public and private schools of Buffalo, and in 1886 began the study of medicine in the medical department of Niagara University, where he was graduated in 1889. After graduating he was appointed to serve in the Sisters' Hos- pital as resident physician for one year; then he took a post-graduate course at the New York Polyclinic; at the end of this time he began the practice of his profession,

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

doing a general practice. Since the 1st of January, 1896, he has made a specialty of diseases of the nose and throat, and has his office at 64 West Huron street, corner of Franklin.

Smith, Lee Herbert, M.D., is one of the eminently successful practicing physicians and surgeons of Buffalo. He is a native of Ohio and was educated in the public schools of Cleveland. In 1868 he removed to Buffalo and in 1874 began the study of med- icine at the University of Buffalo, from which he was graduated in the class of 1877. He then began practice in the Invalids' Hotel, where he remained for three years, and at the end of this time he entered Columbia College at New York city and re- ceived his degree from that institution in 1881. Dr. Smith is president of the Board of Medical Examiners representing the New York State Eclectic Medical Society, and has devoted much time to the Buffalo Society of Natural Sciences, of which he is first vice-president. He is a member of the Western New York Medical Society ; of the New York State Eclectic Medical Association, of which he was honored with the presidency ; of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and the American Society of Microscopists. In 1890 he became a member of the Na- tional Guard, 74th Regiment, with rank of captain, being appointed inspector of rifle practice, which position he has since held.

Meisburger, Louis C., D. D. S., Buffalo, son of William and Louisa Meisburger, was born at Lancaster, N. Y., May 14, 1867. He removed with his parents to Buf- falo when he was a child and attended the public and private schools in that city. In 1886 he began the study of dentistry at the University of Pennsylvania and was graduated from that institution in 1888. At this time he began the practice of his profession in Buffalo, where he has since resided. He is a member and past presi- dent of the Buffalo Dental Association, and also a member of the Eighth Dis- trict Dental Society.

Winship, Howard, Buffalo, was born in Hamburg, N.Y., February 5, 1851. After obtaining a common school education he entered the real estate office of his father, Aaron N. Winship, and remained in his office until the death of his father in 1878, when he took full charge of affairs and has since devoted his whole time to the real estate and insurance business. Mr. Winship represents the Agricultural Insurance Company of Watertown, N. Y., St. Paul of St. Paul, Minn., the North British and Mercantile of London and Edinburgh, and the Liverpool and London and Globe of Liverpool, England.

Johnson, Edward T., was born in New Berlin, N. Y., February 1, 1846. After ob- taining a common school education he entered the cashier's office at the freight station of the Buffalo and Erie Railroad at Buffalo as clerk and was subsequently appointed cashier of the freight station. In 1873 he became general freight agent of the Buffalo, New York and Philadelphia Railroad, now the Western New York and Pennsylvania Railway, retaining that responsible position up to the present time. Mr. Johnson is a veteran of the late war, having enlisted in Co. F, 142d Ill. Vols., serving his country until he was mustered out in 1865.

Johnson, E. Randall, D. D. S., Buffalo, son of John E. and Philena (Randall) Johnson, was born in San Francisco, Cal., November 2, 1867. When he was but

PERSONAL REFERENCES.

twelve years of age his parents removed to Akron, O., where he attended the pub- lic and high schools and afterward the University of Michigan. In 1887 he began the study of dentistry at this university and was honorably graduated in the class of 1889. He then removed to Austin, Pa., where he began the practice of his profes- sion. In 1893 he removed to Buffalo to accept a position in the Dental Department of the University of Buffalo, as chief demonstrator of operative dentistry, which posi- tion, together with that of secretary of the Buffalo Post-graduate School of Pros- thetic Dentistry, he held for two years. To Dr. Johnson belongs the distinction of possessing the largest collection of models of singers' mouths in existence; he also wrote the original article on the relation of the roof of the mouth to the voice, in singing. In musical circles Dr. Johnson is very well known, he being president of the Buffalo Vocal Society.

Barrows, William A., D. D. S., Buffalo, was born in that city, April 19, 1847, and was educated in the public schools. After leaving school he took a course in a com- mercial college and finally, deciding to study dentistry, he entered the Philadelphia Dental College, from which he was graduated in 1871. He immediately began the practice of his profession in Brockport, N. Y., remaining there about a year, when he removed to Buffalo, where he has been in practice up to the present time.

Dorr, Samuel G., M. D., Buffalo, was born at Dansville, N. Y., May 30, 1840, and received a liberal education at Nunda (N. Y.) Academy and at the Albion State Acad- emy in Wisconsin. Upon his graduation from the latter institution he returned to New York State and ran a flour mill at South Dansville, which he had bought of his father. When the call to arms was heard Dr. Dorr enlisted within forty hours there- after. Unfortunately he was prevented from going to the front by an attack of diphtheria, which left him an invalid for a year. In 1863 he was appointed by Gov- ernor Seymour recruiting agent for half of Livingston county, a position in which he rendered valuable service during the rest of the war. After the war he removed to Buffalo and began the study of medicine and was graduated from the University of Buffalo in 1875. No physician is better known or more highly esteemed in the neighborhood in which he lives than Dr. Dorr. He is a member of all the leading medical societies in the State and for years has been a consulting physician at one of Buffalo's leading hospitals. He was police surgeon during the administrations of Mayors Alexander Brush and Grover Cleveland, and was a member of the Board of Supervisors of Erie county for two years.

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Our county and its people : a descriptive work on Erie County, New York, Volume II, Part 10

Author: White, Truman C Publication date: 1898 Publisher: [Boston] : Boston History Co. Number of Pages: 684

Author: White, Truman C
Publication date: 1898
Publisher: [Boston] : Boston History Co.
Number of Pages: 684