Our county and its people : a descriptive work on Erie County, New York, Volume II, Part 13

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 13

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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

Thurstone, William, Buffalo, was born in London, England, February 21, 1826. He served a seven years' apprenticeship as printer to the Honorable Stationers' Com- pany of London, was a reporter for several London newspapers and had become the proprietor of the Horticultural Journal. In 1853 he came to America and with the experience he had had he found no trouble in finding employment. The first money he earned in Buffalo was by setting type on the city directory and was soon after en- gaged as compositor on the Express. He afterward became commercial editor of the Courier, retaining this position for twenty-two years. Mr. Thurstone has been secretary of the Board of Trade for thirty-four years and secretary of the Merchants' Exchange for fourteen years. For over thirty years he has furnished statistical mat- ter for boards of trade, commercial conventions, newspapers, and pamphlets, and ranks as an expert in this line. He has also contributed extensively to the editorial columns of New York and Chicago magazines. His church affiliations have always been with the Episcopals, Church of the Ascension, St. John's and Trinity, serving in the former as vestryman and treasurer and in St. John's as vestryman and warden.

Kuhlmann, Dr. Helene, has been a resident of Erie county since November, 1892. She was born in Hamburg, Germany, on October 25, 1869, and received her early education in the schools of her native city and in the Seminary at Zürich, Switz- erland. In 1887 she came to this country and entered the Woman's Medical College of the New York Infirmary, graduating from that college in 1890 with the title of Doctor of Medicine. After graduation she served successively in the New York In- firmary, the Nursery and Child's Hospital on Staten Island, and the Babies' Hospital of New York city. In the fall of 1892 she was appointed woman associate physician at the Buffalo State Hospital, which position she holds at the present time.

Smith, James S., M. D., Buffalo, was born in Kings county, New Brunswick, De- cember 16, 1832. In 1858 he began the study of medicine in Burford, Can., under Dr. Chester, and in 1860 removed to Buffalo and entered the medical department of the University of Buffalo, graduating from that institution with the degree of M. D., February 25, 1862. He then served one year as house physician at the Buffalo Gen- eral Hospital and at the end of this time he began the practice of his profession in Buffalo. He was for seven years surgeon of the 65th N. Y. N. G. Dr. Smith was attending physician at the Widows' and Orphans' Asylum for twenty four years.

Colton, Albert J., M. D., Buffalo, son of Joseph B. and Abby M. (Winegard) Col- ton, was born at West Webster, Monroe county, N. Y., April 18, 1864. He was educated in the Webster Union School and the Genesee State Normal. He after- wards taught school for a time and began the study of medicine at Niagara Univer- sity, from which he was graduated in 1890. He was then appointed interne at the Buffalo Hospital of the Sisters of Charity, where he served one year. He then be- gan general practice. Dr. Colton was for two years assistant demonstrator of anat- omy at Niagara University. January 28, 1892, he married Stella Marvin, of Spring- water, N. Y.

Earl, Wesley Clark, M. D., Buffalo, was born in Mount Holly, Rutland county, Vt., June 13, 1835. His father removed to Niagara county in 1844. He was edu- cated in the Lockport Union School. In 1861 he began the study of medicine in the office of Fassett & Kittenger, of Lockport, and entered the medical department of

PERSONAL REFERENCES.

the University of Buffalo, where he remained two years. He then attended the Bellevue College of New York city, and graduated in 1864. He then entered the army as assistant surgeon, and was stationed at Fort Schuyler, New York harbor, and was afterwards transferred to Elmira, N. Y., and with others was in charge of the sick among the rebel prisoners. After the war Dr. Earl settled in Pekin, where he remained nine years. In June, 1870, he was married to Sarah Agnes, daughter of Rev. Isaac R. Bradnack, of Cambria, N. Y. In 1874 he removed to Buffalo, and for six years was on the Board of Health. He is a member of the Erie County Medi- cal Society.

Long, Benjamin G., M. D., Buffalo, physician and surgeon, was born in the town of Clarence, Erie county, N. Y., September 2, 1858. His early education was re- ceived at Williamsville Academy. In 1879 he began the study of medicine at the Buffalo University, and received the degree of M. D. in 1883. In 1892, while pursu- ing his studies, he was interne at the Rochester City Hospital. He immediately began the practice of his profession in Buffalo, and has ever since been so engaged. He is a member of the Erie County Medical Society, and is president of the medical section of the Academy of Medicine. Dr. Long married Mary Grove, of Williams- ville, N. Y., in May, 1884.

Randall, Dr. Lillian, Buffalo, the founder of Riverside Hospital, was born in Hebron, Conn., a daughter of Dr. Adam G. Craig and granddaughter of Rev. Adam G. Craig, who was the first of the family to come from Scotland to America; he is still living at the age of ninety-six. Dr. Adam G. Craig was a graduate from the Massachusetts Medical School and was for some years connected with Bellevue Hos- pital in New York city. He was a prominent and active Mason and at the time of his death was practicing in Colchester, Conn. His wife, Emily S. Hotchkiss, was a descendant from some of the earliest American settlers. Dr. Lillian Randall was prepared for her academical course at home under private tutorage, and at fifteen became a student at Windsor Academy, from which she was graduated with the class of 1879; she then attended the Binghamton High School, from which she was graduated, and then took up the study of medicine at the University of Buffalo, graduating from there in 1891. Her preceptor was Dr. Roswell Park. She imme- diately began the practice of her profession, and in 1892 founded the Riverside Hos- pital, which she then intended for women only, beginning in a small way with but three beds. Her success was plainly demonstrated by the rapid increase in her busi- ness and demand for admittance at the hospital, having now developed into a gen- eral hospital, occupying two buildings on Lafayette avenue, with thirty beds. The staff of physicians are of the most prominent, being Drs. Parmenter, Crockett, Put- nam, Potter and Thompson; associated with these as counselors may be mentioned Drs. O'Brien, Stockton, Wende, Krausse, and Dr. Carro J. Cummings as house physician. Dr. Randall is a member of the Buffalo Academy of Medicine, also a member of the Erie County Medical Society and president of the Physicians' League.

Miller, Jacob, M.D., Buffalo, physician and surgeon, was born in the city of Buf- falo, May 25, 1869. He attended the public schools and Canisius College, from which he was graduated in 1888. He at once began the study of medicine at the University of Buffalo and was graduated from that institution in the class of '91.

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

He then spent two years at the Erie County Hospital as house surgeon, after which he began private practice. Dr. Miller makes a specialty of diseases of chil- dren, and in the spring of 1897 he went to Dresden, Germany, for a special course under Dr. Leopold, one of Germany's leading professors. He also spent some time in Berlin. In April, 1895, he was united in marriage to Miss Clara, daughter of ex-Sheriff August Beck, of Buffalo, and they have one son, August W.

Schaefer, Gustavus A., Buffalo, was born in Germany, February 13, 1843, and came with his parents to America when but a child and settled in Buffalo. His first business experience was with the banking firm of Manchester & Rich, in Spauld- ing's Exchange, where he was employed as a clerk for one year, when he accepted a position with White's Bank in 1857 and remained with them for four years. In 1861, in company with his brother, Henry L. Schaefer, he organized the firm of Schaefer & Bro., maltsters and grain dealers, which is to day one of the largest con- cerns in the city. In his business dealings Mr. Schaefer is noted for his frank and obliging disposition.

Hurd, Harvey J., Buffalo, was born at Elma, N. Y., February 28, 1849. Mr. Hurd's father, Clark W. Hurd, was of Vermont stock, coming to Erie county in the thirties. Harvey J. Hurd's early life was passed upon the farm and his early edu- cation was obtained in the district school; to this was added an excellent training at Cornell University, from which he was graduated in 1872. His commercial life has been confined to the lumber business chiefly, in which he is at present engaged in Buffalo in company with his brother, James T. Hurd, under the firm name of Hurd Bros. Mr. Hurd was a member of the Legislature from 1877 to 1881; he is an ardent Republican and has taken an active interest as one of the managers of the party in Erie county. In social life Mr. Hurd is eminently companionable. He is a member of the Buffalo Club and the University Club and is a 32d degree Mason.

Greene, Walter D., M. D., ranks as one of the most successful physicians and surgeons of Buffalo, having filled many positions of trust and honor, and at the same time built up a large and constantly growing practice. He was born in Starksboro, Addison county, Vt., in 1853. After completing a three years' classical and scien- tific course in Union Springs Seminary, he entered the University of Buffalo and was graduated in 1876. He passed successfully a competitive examination for the posi- tion of physician to the General Hospital, but refused the appointment then secured to accept the position of junior assistant physician and surgeon in the Rochester City Hospital. Locating in Mendon, N. Y., he pursued his profession for three years, when he removed to Buffalo, where he has been a devoted and enthusiastic follower of his profession up to the present time. He is an active and honored member of the Masonic fraternity and of the Buffalo Historical Society and many other professional and social societies. He was health physician of the city of Buffalo in 1889-1891, and is at present deputy health commissioner; professor of diseases of the kidneys, medical department of Niagara University; and surgeon to the Erie County Hospital.

Albertson, Charles S., M. D., a graduate from the Cleveland Homeopathic Medical College, and one of Buffalo's leading physicians and surgeons, was born in the town of Rush, Monroe county, N. Y., February 9, 1852. His ancestors were pioneers

PERSONAL REFERENCES.

in Western New York, descending from the early Dutch settlers who peopled New York when it was New Amsterdam. His first schooling was obtained from the public schools and the Brockport Normal School. In 1873 he entered the office of Dr. J. W. Craig as a student, remaining one year, when he engaged in the mercan- tile business, and after five years he again took up the study of medicine, receiving the degree of M. D. in 1882. He first began the practice of his profession at Port Byron, N. Y., where he remained for three years, then removed to Bellaire, Ohio, and after one year settled in Buffalo, where has since been engaged in the general practice of his profession. Dr. Albertson is now on the attending staff of the Buffalo Homeopathic Hospital, also obstetrician at the Lexington Heights Hospital. He is a member of Erie County Medical Society, of which he was president in 1892, the American Institute of Homeopathy, the Society of Western New York, of which he is vice-president, and is one of the supreme officers and a director of the Empire Knights of Relief. Dr. Albertson is a courteous gentleman and deservedly enjoys the confidence of all who know him.

Borzilleri, Charles R., M. D., Buffalo, a nafive of the island of Sicily, Italy, was born February 3, 1873, and came with his parents to Buffalo in 1885, where he at- tended the public schools and in 1891 began the study of medicine at the Buffalo Uni- versity, from which he was graduated with high honors in 1895. He is a leading Republican among the Italians and is president of the Central Italian Republican League; he is also a member of the Order of Red Men, King Humbert Society, Young Men's Italian Military Society, of which he is president, and a member of the I. C. I., a college society.

Mann, Charles Willard, one of Buffalo's leading merchants, was born at Glens Falls, N. Y., and was educated in the public schools and the Glens Falls Academy, from which he was graduated at the age of sixteen, and at the age of nineteen he was graduated from the Normal School. In 1874 he removed to Troy, N. Y., and entered into the mercantile business. While a resident of Troy he took an active part in politics and was a Republican committeeman of the Thirteenth ward for several years. In 1889 he removed to Buffalo to take charge of a department for Barnes, Hengerer & Co., remaining with this firm for four and one-half years, when he sev- ered his connection to engage in business for himself. Mr. Mann is prominently _identified with Masonry, being a thirty-second degree member, a member of Buffalo Consistory, A. & A. Scottish Rite, and Buffalo Council Cryptic Masonry, and is po- tent monarch of Zueleika Grotto No. 10, M. O. V. P. He is a member of Chippewa Council No. 1243, Royal Arcanum, a chapter member of Emerson Legion No. 50, S. K., and was one of the organizers of U. S. Grant Legion No. 17 and was its first past commander. He is a man of great business ability and is respected by all who know him. Mr. Mann was married in 1872 to Cora M. Flint, daughter of Dr. John J. Flint, of Fort Edward, N. Y.

Sweet, Charles A., Buffalo, was born at Hancock, Berkshire county, Mass., Febru- ary 16, 1832, and received a common school education. In 1862, when twenty-six years of age, he removed to Buffalo and engaged in the transportation business on Central wharf. Here, undoubtedly, he gained many of those traits of accurate deal- ings, and that sound business judgment, which have characterized his career in the

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

more difficult and responsible field upon which he entered in 1881, when he became president of the Third National Bank of Buffalo, a position he continues to occupy. Mr. Sweet was one of the organizers of the Citizens' Gas Company and is now its vice-president. He is also connected with many associations of a religious and phil- anthropic character.

Eggert, Oliver J., Buffalo, since 1874 secretary of the Buffalo German Insurance Company, was born in Petersburg, Lancaster county, Pa., October 31, 1828. In 1831 he was brought by his parents to Williamsville, Erie county, where he received a common school education. Afterward he was for two years a clerk in the grocery store of John J. Sidway, of Buffalo, and later entered the wholesale grocery house of Charles T. Payne, with whom he remained until 1847, when he started a general store at Eggertsville, a place that takes its name from his father, Christian Eggert. Mr. Eggert carried on a successful business there until 1862, when he was appointed deputy sheriff under Robert H. Best; in 1864 he was elected sheriff of Erie county, on the Democratic ticket, and served three years. In 1871 he was appointed deputy city comptroller by R. D. Ford, and in 1871-72 acted as police justice of Buffalo. In March, 1872, he engaged in the real estate business and so continued until March, 1874, when he became secretary of the Buffalo German Insurance Company, which position he has since filled with great credit and ability. He was one of the or- ganizers, an incorporator, and a member of the first Board of Directors of this com- pany in 1867, and as a director and its secretary has been largely instrumental in developing its resources and bringing it to its present efficient and substantial con- dition. Its capital is $200,000; and its surplus of $140,000 in 1874 has steadily grown to $1,350,000, as shown by the statement of July 1, 1897. Mr. Eggert is an able financier, a prominent citizen, and an enterprising business man. He is also a trus- tee and second vice president of the Erie County Savings Bank. November 15, 1849, he married Susan Frick, daughter of Martin Frick, of Eggertsville, Erie county.

Wilson, Charles R., Buffalo, was born in Dorchester, Mass., October 20, 1863. He is the second son of Franklin Winslow and Anna Underhill Mekeel, his wife, and on his father's side is a lineal descendant of Kenelm Winslow (younger brother of Edward Winslow, governor of Plymouth Colony), who came to Plymouth, Mass., from Droitwich, Worcestershire, England, in 1629. The ancient descent and hon- orable record of the Winslow family in England is well known. On his mother's side Mr. Wilson descends from Stuart Wilson, and Jane, his wife, who immigrated from England and settled at Albany, N. Y., in 1753, and from Christiana Clinton, who, with her sister Elizabeth, and her brother Charles Clinton, came from England and settled at Little Britain, Orange county, N. Y., in 1729, and who are the ances- tors of the Clinton family in this country, Gen. George Clinton and Gen. James Clinton, being the sons of the above named Charles Clinton. Mr. Wilson's great- grandfather, Robert Wilson, was early trained in the duties and hardships of mili- tary life by his maternal uncle, Capt. James Gregg (whose name is a familiar one in early annals of the Mohawk Valley), having enlisted in Gregg's Company of the 3d N. Y. Regiment in January, 1776, being then but twelve years of age. By the in- fluence of his uncle, Gen. James Clinton, he was appointed ensign of the 4th Co. of the 1st N. Y. Regiment, Colonel Van Schaick, in June, 1781. His commission, now in the possession of Mr. Wilson, is quaintly addressed to "Robert Wilson Gentle-

PERSONAL REFERENCES.

man," is signed by Elias Boudinot, president of Congress, and countersigned by Benjamin Lincoln, secretary of war. It bears the seal of the Continental Congress. On the 19th of October following Ensign Wilson had the distinguished honor of being selected to receive the colors of the British army surrendered by Lord Corn- wallis at Yorktown, as the following record shows: "The delivery of the colors of the several regiments, twenty-eight in number, was next performed. For this pur- pose twenty-eight British captains, each bearing a flag in a case, were drawn up in line. Opposite to them at a distance of six paces, twenty-eight American sergeants were placed in line to receive the colors. Robert Wilson, of Clinton's brigade, the youngest commissioned officer in the army, being then only eighteen years of age, was appointed by Col. Hamilton, the officer of the day, to conduct this interesting ceremony. When Wilson gave the order for the British captains to advance two paces to deliver up their colors and the American sergeants to advance two paces to receive them, the former hesitated and gave as a reason that they were unwilling to surrender them to non-commissioned officers. Col. Hamilton, who was at a dis- tance, observed the hesitation and rode up to inquire the cause. On being informed he willingly spared the feelings of the British captains and ordered Ensign Wilson to receive them himself and hand them to the American sergeants. When the colors were surrendered the whole royal army laid down their arms."-Lossing's Field Book of the Revolution, Vol 2, p. 524. Ensign Wilson was one of the original mem- bers of the Society of the Cincinnati, and his diploma as such, signed by General Washington as the president, and by General Knox as the secretary of the society, is now in the possession of Mr. Wilson, who by hereditary right (as the lineal de- scendant of Ensign Wilson) is now a member of that (to use the words of Washing- ton) "illustrious institution." When a child, the subject of this sketch (his father having died) was adopted by his mother's cousin, Robert Preston Wilson, of Buffalo, N. Y., and took his surname. He was educated in public and private schools in Buf- falo and in 1886 entered upon the study of law in the office of Marshall, Clinton & Wilson, a leading firm of lawyers in that city. He was admitted to the bar in 1889, but continued in the office of Marshall, Clinton & Wilson until the dissolution of that firm by the death of Mr. Wilson in 1892. He then formed a partnership with Philip S. Smith, esq., of this city, for the practice of his profession, under the firm name of Wilson & Smith. The firm built up a good business and has an excellent standing in the profession. Mr. Wilson takes an active interest in the literary, benevolent and social institutions of the city, and his recognized business capacity has already made him prominent in their management. He is a trustee of the Buffalo General Hos- pital and secretary of its board, one of the managers of the Buffalo Library, treas- urer of the Buffalo Society of Natural Sciences, a trustee of Hobart College, one of the vestry of St. Paul's church, a member of the Buffalo Club, of the Liberal Club of Buffalo, and of the Grolier Club of New York. He is also a member of the Society of the Colonial Wars and of the Society of the Sons of the Revolution. The writer of this sketch has known him from his early childhood and sees in him a young man already noted for his industry, capacity and integrity, destined to attain honorable rank in his profession, to be known and trusted as a sagacious and successful man of business, as faithful to every social duty and as a wise and useful citizen.

Hubbell, Clifford, Buffalo, is of English descent, tracing his lineage from William

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

Bradford, one of the Mayflower pilgrims and the second governor of Plymouth colony. His father, Charles Hubbell, was a prominent banker in Rochester, N. Y., and Cincinnati, Ohio, and also in San Diego, Cal., where he still resides at the age of eighty; his wife, Anna M. Sage, who died in 1881, was a daughter of Oren Sage, one of the founders of Rochester University and a leading shoe manufacturer of that city. They had five sons and three daughters, of whom Walter S. Hubbell is a lawyer in Rochester; Rev. William N. Hubbell is a Baptist clergyman in New Jersey; Oren S. is connected with a bank in Chicago, and Charles H., a shoe dealer in St. Louis, died in 1883. Clifford Hubbell, the youngest son, was born in Keokuk, Iowa, December 12, 1867, received a good preparatory education, and for about two years was bookkeeper in a wholesale grocery house in San Diego, Cal., where he also obtained his first banking experience as a clerk in the First National Bank. After two years in the latter capacity he became teller in the Traders' Bank at Tacoma, Wash. On the organization of the Columbia National Bank of Buffalo, in 1892, Mr. Hubbell was made assistant cashier, and in 1893 he was elected cashier, which posi- tion he still holds. He is a member of the Sons of the American Revolution, the Buffalo Historical Society, and other organizations. June 26, 1890, he married Grace Elizabeth, daughter of Theron F. Woodward, of Batavia, N. Y., and they have two children: Woodward Sage and Elizabeth Bradford.

Clement, S. M., Buffalo .- Among the younger business men of Buffalo who occupy positions of the highest character and of the greatest responsibility Mr. Clement stands foremost. He was born in Fredonia, N. Y., January 4, 1859. After receiv- ing the training of the public schools he entered the Buffalo State Normal School, where he was prepared for college. He then entered Yale College and was grad- uated in 1882. In 1883, after nearly a year's travel abroad, he began his career as a banker as clerk in the Marine Bank of Buffalo, and later became assistant cashier. In 1884 he was elected cashier, which position he held for ten years, and on March 27, 1895, was elected to the office of president of that institution, which he still holds Mr. Clement was a member of a committee of three which organized the Buffalo Clearing House in 1888, and has been chairman of that committee for four years. For a time he was a trustee of the Buffalo Library, the Board of Trade, and the Merchants' Exchange. At present he is a trustee of the Buffalo State Normal School and Buffalo Seminary, and a member of the Ellicott Square Club, the Uni- versity Club, and the Saturn. In 1884 he married Caroline Jewett Tripp, of Buffalo.

Walker, William H., Buffalo, is a son of Stephen Walker of Utica, N. Y., a prom- inent mechanic and builder of his day, who moved to Buffalo in 1832, when William was six years of age, and where he was educated in the private schools and the Buf- falo Academy. At the age of sixteen he entered the employ of Owen P. Ransdell, who was one of the pioneers in the wholesale shoe business in Western New York. After serving several years as a clerk he was admitted to partnership in the concern, which continued until 1876, when the copartnership was dissolved and Mr. Walker engaged in business for himself. In 1887 he admitted to partnership Edward C. Walker and William A. Joyce, and in 1893 Stephen Walker was added to the firm. In 1884 he was elected president of the Merchants' Bank of Buffalo.

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Our county and its people : a descriptive work on Erie County, New York, Volume II, Part 13

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