Our county and its people : a descriptive work on Erie County, New York, Volume II, Part 14

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 14

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Cornwell, William Caryl, Buffalo, is thoroughly modern in his methods and ideas,

PERSONAL REFERENCES.

and at the same time thoroughly sound. The best illustration of the truth of this is found in the great growth of the Bank of Buffalo, of which he was for fifteen years the cashier, and also the City Bank of Buffalo, which he organized in 1892 and of which he is president. When Mr. Cornwell became cashier of the first named bank it employed a few clerks and used one room for the transaction of its business; when he left the bank it had a staff of thirty-five,clerks. During his administration the business of the bank increased over 600 per cent. and its surplus earnings became greater than its capital, while its deposits amounted to more than $4,000,000. In 1892 Mr. Cornwell withdrew from active connection with the bank and organized the City Bank and has since been its president. He is one of the recognized authori- ties on money in the United States, his work on Canadian Bank Currency, published by the Putnams, being one of the standards on this subject. He is the author of " Greenbacks," a campaign publication of 1896, that did more effective work than anything issued during that exciting period. He is vice-president for the State of New York of the National Sound Money League. Banking, however, does not occupy all of Mr. Cornwell's time, as he is an artist of much ability and a pleasant and discriminating writer on art topics. He was married, October 9, 1873, to Marian W. Loomis, of Buffalo.

Stringer, George A., Buffalo, traces his ancestry back to the landing of the May- flower in 1620. He is a lineal descendant of John Alden of Plymouth Colony fame. Mr. Stringer was born in Hartford, Conn., and in 1856 removed to Buffalo with his parents; his education was obtained at the. best private schools and he was being fitted for college when financial reverses overtook his father. He then engaged in the insurance business and was for a long period a member of the firm of Stringer & Cady, but since 1894 he has been engaged in the insurance and real estate business alone. Upon the reorganization of the Empire State Savings Bank in 1892 he was made its vice-president, which position he now holds. He is also vice-president of the Buffalo Historical Society, and of the Buffalo Whist and Chess Club. Mr. Stringer is a member of a number of societies of the city and elsewhere, among which may be mentioned the Society of Mayflower Descendants of New York, American Folk- Lore Society, Grolier Club of New York city, Hakluyt Society of London, England, the Prince Society of Boston, Mass., and the Buffalo and Saturn Clubs. Mr. Stringer is also prominently connected with the Good Government movement and is president of the Twentieth Ward Good Government Club. He is an active layman in the Episcopal church and up to 1895 was for thirteen consecutive years a vestryman of St. Paul's church, and at the present time is one of the trustees of the Church Charity Foundation and chairman of its executive committee; also, treasurer of the Laymen's Missionary Leagne.

Spaulding, Elbridge G., lawyer, financier, statesman, was Buffalo's "Grand Old Man." Born at Summer Hill, N. Y., February 24, 1809, the same year with Gladstone, he bore the burden of fourscore and seven, with faculties unimpaired. Jefferson was president, the second war with England was still to be fought, Napoleon's sun was at its zenith, seventeen States with less than seven millions of people comprised the American Union, Buffalo was a mere village, when Mr. Spaulding first saw the light. His early days were spent on his father's farm in Central New York. He was am- bitious to become a lawyer and on attaining his majority, he began the study of law

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

in Batavia, N. Y., and was admitted to the bar in 1834. He then removed to Buffalo and in 1836 was elected city clerk, serving for four years; the following year he was elected alderman and in 1847 was elected mayor of Buffalo. While mayor nearly half a century ago, he adopted a system of sewerage for the first time in the history of the city. In the Thirty-first Congress of the United States he stood among the stoutest opponents of slavery ; in the Thirty-sixth and Thirty-seventh Congresses he was again a member of the House of Representatives and served on the most im- portant committee of that body, the Committee on Ways and Means. Mr. Spauld- ing introduced the bill for the adoption of the greenback as the nation's salvation, made necessary and constitutional by stress of war, and the author has since been known as the "Father of the Greenback." After his retirement from public life Mr. Spaulding devoted his time to the presidency of a bank, the presidency of the Buffalo Gas Company and to various enterprises of a financial character. He was a member of the Buffalo Club and though less active before the public than in earlier years, he retained an adequate interest in the current of passing events. Mr. Spaulding died May 7, 1897.

Becker, Franklin W. H., Buffalo .- The list of young men who, beginning at the bottom of the ladder and concentrating all their energies upon one thing, have climbed to prominence and power, is large in the city of Buffalo, but none has been more single of purpose and achieved greater success than Mr. Franklin Becker. Mr. Becker was born in Buffalo, July 1, 1860. Passing through the public schools and graduating from the High School, he began his business career as messenger in the German Bank, then as bookkeeper in White's Bank, where he continued for three years; his next move was to fill the position of bookkeeper in the Western Savings Bank. In a short time he was advanced to the position of teller and a little later, at the age of twenty-six, he was elected to his present position, that of secretary and treasurer. Mr. Becker was married in 1884 to Miss Mary E. Wendt of Buffalo and they have four daughters.

Dilcher, Jacob, is a thorough Buffalo man in every way, loyal and enthusiastic in his love and praise for his native city. He was born in 1850, and passed through the public schools with great credit. He took a full course in the Bryant & Stratton Business and Commercial College, graduating in 1866. From commercial college he entered the banking line of business, remaining in the same for some years, passing through the various grades. He then for a few years followed mercantile pursuits, in which he was successful. At the organization of the Metropolitan Bank in 1891 he was induced to accept the responsible position of cashier. In 1875 he was married to Louise Wendt.

Keating, George P., Buffalo, was born in that city, January 5, 1870. After attend- ing the public schools, he was graduated from Williams College in 1890. He then determined to study law and entered the office of Lewis, Moot & Lewis, Buffalo, act- ing in the capacity of managing clerk, where he remained for three years. In May, 1895, he entered into practice for himself, and in 1895 he was appointed deputy assistant city attorney, which position he now holds. He was admitted to the bar of the Supreme Court in June, 1892.

Becker, Tracy C., one of Buffalo's most prominent attorneys, was born at Cohoes,

PERSONAL REFERENCES.

N. Y., February 14, 1855 Mr. Becker's studies preparatory for college were pursued at a private school in Albany, from which he entered Union College and was gradu- ated in the class of 1874. He then entered the Albany Law School and received the degree of LL. B., in 1876. He was admitted to the bar the same year and the next year began the practice of his profession in Buffalo, where he has since resided and continued to practice law. Since 1891 he has been in partnership with Hon. James A. Roberts. Mr. Becker was for four years one of the assistant district attorneys of Erie county, under District Attorney E. W. Hatch, and was president of the New York State Bar Association in 1894. Since 1886 he has been professor of criminal law and medical jurisprudence in the Buffalo Law School, and with Prof. R. A. Witthaus, of New York, and other collaborators, he has prepared and published a standard work on medical jurisprudence. December 27, 1876, he married Minnie A. Le Roy, of Cohoes, N. Y.

Barnes, Alfred J., one of Buffalo's energetic bankers, was born at Troy, N. Y., July 12, 1856, and was educated in the public schools. His earliest business ex- perience was in association with his father, who conducted a large steam fitting and plumbing business in the city of Troy. He desired a different occupation, however, and when a position was offered him in the Manufacturers' National Bank of Troy he eagerly accepted it. He entered the service of that institution at the foot of the ladder and by faithful attention to his duties worked his way up through the differ- ent clerical grades until he became general bookkeeper, which position he held for nine years. In 1883 he went to Chicago and accepted a position in the Continental National Bank of that city, and remained with them ten years, attaining the respon- sible position of chief clerk. His success in Chicago won him a valuable reputation and led to his engagement in Buffalo, in 1893, as cashier of the City Bank. He was married, October 22, 1894, to Margaret L. B. Boyles of Riverside, Cook county, I11.

Donaldson, Robert S., Buffalo .- The name of Robert S. Donaldson is inseparably connected with the great financial institution of which he is secretary and treasurer. A native of Buffalo and in the prime of life, he stands among the foremost men of finance in the city. In 1886 Mr. Donaldson was elected secretary and treasurer of the Erie County Savings Bank and has been identified with the bank for over twenty-nine years. Under his experienced and skillful administration the present volume of business transacted moves with the smoothness and accuracy of machin- ery. He is master of all the details of the business, the chief burden of which falls upon him.

Lascelles, John H., Buffalo, was born at Dunkirk, N. Y., March 3, 1856, where he was educated in the public schools. In 1882 he was elected cashier of the Mer- chants' National Bank of Dunkirk, which position he held for ten years. During this period Mr. Lascelles became known in circles beyond Dunkirk as a careful and conservative, but shrewd, bank manager. Accordingly when that old, solid institu- tion, the Marine Bank of Buffalo, stood in need of an assistant cashier Mr. Lascelles was chosen for the place. His election to the position of cashier soon followed and this position he now fills, to the eminent satisfaction of the officers and directors of the bank, and also of the many customers. On Thanksgiving day, 1885, he was married to Annie Moran of Buffalo.

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

Clinton, George, Buffalo .- Among the citizens of Buffalo who are noted for their public spirit, one of the most conspicuous is George Clinton. He was born and reared at Buffalo and at an early age began the study of law in the office of Henry L. Clinton, in New York city, and also took a full course at the Columbia Law School and was graduated from that institution in 1869. He began practice at once and after spending four years at Hudson, Wis., returned to Buffalo, where he has since been engaged in the active practice of his profession. In 1884 he was a mem- ber of assembly, serving for one year. He has been park commissioner of Buffalo, and a member of the Board of Trunk Sewer Commissioners. Mr. Clinton is a mem- ber of a number of societies, among which may be mentioned the Historical Society and Society of Natural Sciences. He was president of the Merchants' Exchange of Buffalo during the year 1893. January 18, 1870, he married Miss Alice Thornton of Buffalo. His law firm is Clinton & Clark, the partnership having been formed in 1882.

Killeen, Henry W., Buffalo, was born at Niagara Falls, N. Y., January 21, 1872. When he was five years of age his parents removed to Buffalo. There he obtained his early education and was graduated from St. Joseph's College in 1889. In the summer of that year he began the study of law in the office of Hon. George Wads- worth, and on January 20, 1893, the day before his twenty-first birthday, he was ad- mitted to the bar. He remained with Mr. Wadsworth until March, 1895, when he and John S. Druar formed a copartnership, which still continues.

Fiske, Willis P., Buffalo, was born on a farm near Newark, Wayne county, N. Y., April 1, 1836, and remained on his father's farm until his eighteenth year, when he began teaching. He attended a district school, the Newark Union School and Mace- don Academy. He continued teaching until the summer of 1864, when he resigned a position in Canandaigua Academy to take the position of bookkeeper in the Bank of Ontario, at Canandaigua, N. Y. A year later he was made assistant cashier. He continued in the banking business until 1874, when he moved to Buffalo and engaged in the insurance business. In October, 1875, he entered the office of Richard Bully- more as bookkeeper, remaining with him until December, 1878, when he was ap- pointed cashier of the Buffalo Grape Sugar Company, remaining with that company and its successor, the American Glucose Company, nearly sixteen years. In 1895 he was appointed chief bookkeeper in the comptroller's office, and in 1896 was appointed deputy comptroller, which position he now holds.

Holman, Alfred L., Buffalo, was born in Springville, Erie county, N. Y., May 24, 1849, and was educated in the public schools and the Springville Academy. After completing his schooling, he entered the dry goods establishment of Richmond, McMillan & Co. as a clerk, where he remained for two years. He at this date went to New York city for a few months, when he returned to Springville to accept a position in the store of Taber Bros., remaining with this firm for a period of two years, when he opened a shoe store on his own account, in which he was engaged for seven years. He at this date became proprietor of the Springville Local News office, in which he was engaged until 1894, when he was appointed assistant cashier in the Buffalo post-office, retaining that position until the present time. In 1874 he was married to Addie J. Mayo of Springville, N. Y.

PERSONAL REFERENCES.

Sells, Harrison G., Buffalo, son of Henry and Mary (Glancy) Sells, was born in Buffalo, and after acquiring a liberal education from the public and high schools, he entered the service of the Buffalo Commercial, as a collector, where he remained a year, then accepted a position with the Barber Asphalt Company, as time keeper, remaining in their employ for two years, when he entered the office of the Lehigh Valley Railroad. In May, 1892, he accepted a position in the post-office as clerk and in November of the same year was made money order clerk at Station A, which po- sition he now holds. He enlisted as a private in Co. A, 74th Regiment, N. G. N. Y., November 10, 1890, and was honorably discharged December 2, 1895, with the rank of corporal.

Schwenk, Charles H., Buffalo, was born in Herford, Germany, March 27, 1851. He received his education in the public school and a three years' term in the High School of his native place. When fifteen years of age he came to America with nothing but a fair education and no means whatever. His first employment was in the cigar trade, serving a three years' apprenticeship. After working at his trade for a time he accepted a position with the R. W. Bell Manufacturing Company of Buffalo as bookkeeper, which position he retained for ten years. At the end of this time he was offered a like position in the city treasurer's office, which he accepted, and in the fall of 1892 he became deputy city treasurer of the city of Buffalo, which position he still holds.

Hammond, C. W., Buffalo, was born at East Jaffrey, N. H., June 3, 1848. When but a young lad he moved to Saginaw, Mich., where he received his education in the public schools and in the celebrated academy of Ypsilanti, Mich. Before coming east he was engaged in the banking business, but on taking up his residence in Buf- falo in 1879 he became associated with Wellington R. Burt in the wholesale lumber trade. In 1889 he organized the People's Bank and has devoted his energies to the upbuilding of this strong financial institution, of which he is second vice-president and cashier. Mr. Hammond was married in 1881 to Adele E. Sirret of Buffalo.

Sloan, John Y , Buffalo, son of Alexander and Nancy (Young) Sloan, was born in Buffalo, December 15, 1847. His first business experience after leaving school was in the brewery and malt house of William W. Sloan as a bookkeeper and superin- tendent for twenty-five years. He afterwards became cashier and bookkeeper for the Thomson-Houston Electric Light and Power Company of Buffalo until its con- solidation with the Buffalo General Electric Company, and was with both companies about two years. On July 10, 1893, he was appointed cashier of the Hydraulic Bank of Buffalo, remaining as such for three years until its liquidation. Since that time he has been superintendent of the malt houses of W. W. Sloan. Personally Mr. Sloan is of a very social nature and is respected by all who know him. In October, 1871, he married Susan J. Macartney.

Bartlett, John S., Buffalo, is a native of Binghamton, N. Y., and was educated in the public schools. His first business experience was in the Erie Railroad ticket office at Binghamton. He came to Buffalo in 1877 as general northern passenger agent for the N. Y., L. E. & W. Railroad and was with that company until 1888, when he was appointed superintendent of carriers and in 1889 of stations, Buffalo post-office. Mr. Bartlett is affiliated with many societies, and is a 33d degree Mason.

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

Wende, Ernest, M. D., Buffalo .- The birthplace of Dr. Wende is Mill Grove, N. Y., but the city of Buffalo has the honor of being the place to furnish his education. After graduating from the High School, he entered the University of Buffalo and was graduated in 1878. He extended his medical studies in the University of Pennsyl- · vania by a post-graduate course, graduating in 1884, also taking the degree of B. Sc. in 1885. The following year he went abroad to study at the Universities of Vienna and Berlin. Dr. Wende has made a specialty of diseases of the skin from the very beginning of his career and has thus attained a high position among specialists and is a recognized authority in his field. He is clinical professor of dermatology in the University of Buffalo and holds many professional positions of high responsibility and honor. He is a Fellow of the Royal Microscopical Society of London, Eng., and professor of botany and microscopy, department of pharmacy, University of Buffalo. In 1896 he was appointed health commissioner of Buffalo, which position he still holds.

Baker, Howard H .- One of the most prominent of Buffalo's citizens, both in politi- cal and mercantile circles, is Hon. Howard H. Baker. He is the senior member of the well-known ship chandler firm of Howard H. Baker & Co. He was born at East Aurora, Erie county, N. Y., in 1836, resided there until he removed thence to Buffalo in 1847. Was educated in the public schools in Buffalo, leaving school in his eight- eenth year and soon after, in 1854, secured a clerkship with the firm of Hart, New- man & Co., the oldest ship chandlers in the region of the great lakes. Mr. Baker was made a junior partner in 1863, the style of the firm then becoming Newman, Scoville & Co. In 1876 Mr. Newman retired, and the business was taken in hand by Mr. Baker and William H. Vosburgh, under the style of Vosburgh & Baker. On the death of Mr. Vosburgh in 1881 Thomas Warren, an old employee, was admitted to me.nbership, under the style of Howard H. Baker & Co. After over forty years Mr. Baker retired from active participation in the business, leaving its management to his partners, Howard A. Baker, his son, and Thomas Warren. Mr. Baker was president of the Young Men's Association Library, and was for three years one of its real estate commissioners and treasurer of the board. In June, 1894, he was ap- pointed by President Cleveland postmaster of Buffalo, which position he now occu- pies. Both President Cleveland and the late Postmaster-General Bissell are, and have been for many years, warm personal friends of Mr. Baker; and, well aware of his executive and business ability, made the appointment with full knowledge of his fitness to fill the office with credit. Mr. Baker is pre-eminently a practical man, and. brings to the discharge of every duty a temper that is calm, a judgment that is clear and sound, and a sense of right that cannot be moved from a strict line of duty. He is thoroughly his own master, at once equable, self-reliant, persistent, and deter- mined, while at the same time he is reasonable, friendly, and regardful of the rights of others. He is one who represents the best qualities of true manhood, and whose life is useful, efficient, active and above reproach.

Richmond, Jewett Melvin, Buffalo, is the son of Anson Richmond and Betsey, daughter of Capt. Moses Melvin, his wife, and a grandson of Josiah and Betsey (Hatheway) Richmond, both natives of Taunton, Mass., and lineal descendants of members of the Plymouth Colony. Josiah Richmond, a farmer and a volunteer in the Revolutionary war, moved to Barnard, Vt., and soon after the war of 1812, in

PERSONAL REFERENCES.

which Anson served as a soldier, came to Salina, now a part of the city of Syracuse, N. Y. There Anson Richmond was engaged in salt manufacturing until his death in 1834. He was a village trustee, several times chairman of the Council, and a prominent citizen and member of the Methodist church. His wife died in 1883, aged eighty-three. Jewett M. Richmond received a common school education, and when sixteen became a clerk in the store of Sampson Jaqueth, of Liverpool, N. Y. Two years later he entered the employ of Lucius Gleason, of the same village, and after two years more became a clerk in the grocery store of William Gere, of Salina, with whom he formed a partnership in 1854 for the purpose of manufacturing and dealing in salt; the other members of this firm were William Barnes and two of Mr. Richmond's elder brothers. They carried on a successful business at Salina, Syra- cuse, Oswego, Buffalo, and Chicago; in 1860 Mr. Richmond retired from the firms of Gere, Richmond & Co., Syracuse; Gere, Barnes & Co., Salina; A. Richmond, Chicago; and J. M. Richmond & Co., Buffalo; and formed a similar relationship with H. A. Richmond, second son of Dean Richmond, under the style of J. M. Richmond & Co., at Buffalo, where they engaged in the grain, commission, storage, and elevat- ing business, and where, in 1863, they erected the Richmond Elevator. In 1864 he withdrew and spent a year traveling in Europe. In 1865, with his brother, M. M. Richmond, he formed the firm of J. M. Richmond & Co., which subsequently in- cluded Alonzo Richmond, and which carried on a large forwarding and elevating business until 1881. In 1867 he was elected president of the Marine Bank of Buffalo, and in the same year made a second European tour. Mr. Richmond was one of the originators of the Buffalo and Jamestown Railroad, in 1871, was largely instrumen- tal in securing its completion, and served as its president until 1875. Since 1881 he has attended chiefly to his real estate investments. He is president of the Buffalo Mutual Gaslight Company, a director in the Buffalo and Southwestern Railroad Com- pany, and a member of the Buffalo Historical Society, the Fine Arts Academy, and the Society of Natural Sciences. In February, 1885, he was elected president of the Young Men's Association, now the Buffalo Library, and under his administration the present building, costing $250,000, was erected. He was elected a member of the Board of Select Councilmen in 1891, and served as its president in 1893 and 1894. In 1892 he again became president of the Marine Bank and in 1894 vice-president of the Buffalo Savings Bank. He was married in 1870 to a daughter of John Rudderow, of New York city, and of their six children four are living.

Watson, Charles A., Buffalo, son of William C. and Abby (Allen) Watson, was born December 7, 1846, in Batavia, Genesee county, N. Y. He was educated in the com- mon schools, became a clerk in a law office of his native village, and in 1870 entered the railway mail service, running on the Erie Railroad out of Buffalo, where he has since resided. After about eleven years in this capacity he was offered and accepted a position in the Buffalo post-office, where he has since continued, rising by promo- tion through the different grades to the post of superintendent of the inquiry division, which he now holds. Mr. Watson is a member of the Sons of the American Revolu- tion and of Red Jacket Lodge, I. O. O. F. In 1887 he married Mary E. Tompkins, of Batavia, and they have one son, Randolph Lane.

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Our county and its people : a descriptive work on Erie County, New York, Volume II, Part 14

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