USA > New York > Erie County > Our county and its people : a descriptive work on Erie County, New York, Volume II > Part 19
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Whiting, Willis P., Buffalo, son of Addison Nathaniel and Eugenia (Putnam) Whiting, was born in Greece, Monroe county, N. Y., April 8, 1853. His education was obtained in the public schools and the Rochester High School, from which he was graduated in 1871. After leaving school he was employed in the book and stationery establishment of Steel & Avery of Rochester, where he remained for thir- teen years. In November, 1882, he removed to Buffalo and engaged in the station- ery business for himself, as a member of the firm of Vosburgh, Whiting & Co., wholesale stationers, which relation continued for thirteen years. In November, 1895, he sold his interest in this firm, and the following May opened his present place at 301 and 303 Main street (Ellicott Square).
Cabana, Oliver, jr., Buffalo, son of Oliver and Edmire (Reinville) Cabana, was born at Island Pond, Vt., February 9, 1865. His first business experience was with R. Hoffeld & Co., of Buffalo, with whom he remained eight years, becoming man- ager of the business. In 1890 he became manager of the Buffalo Specialty Manu- facturing Co., which position he now holds. In June, 1886, Mr. Cabana married Isabel J. Pilliard of Buffalo.
Rodney, Frank W., Buffalo, was born in that city, July 21, 1847, and was educated in the public schools. At sixteen years of age he enlisted in the 8th N. Y. Cavalry, a Rochester regiment, Colonel Pope commanding, and served two and a half years as a soldier. He is a direct descendant of Cæsar Rodney, a signer of the Declara- tion of Independence, thoroughly American in spirit and outspoken in favor of all that is distinctly American. At the close of the war he was employed in a shipyard and continued there up to 1871, when he engaged in business with J. B. Sackett, continuing for six years. In 1880 he established his present prosperous business and was the first to introduce the art of embalming in the city of Buffalo. Mr. Rodney is a member of five fraternities, viz., Masons, G. A. R., Foresters, Red Men and Ben Hur. His father was the first overseer of the poor for the city of Buffalo.
Wade, H. McClelland, Buffalo, was born at Arcade, N. Y., June 4, 1864, and is a descendant of the Wade family that settled at or near Newark, N. J., in the early part of the past century. He is also a lineal descendant of Ex-President Martin Van Buren, his mother being of Holland Dutch descent. He was educated in the public schools, graduating from the Arcade Academy in 1882. March 1, 1886, he en- tered the Railway Mail Service on the Erie Railroad between New York and Buffalo, serving in that capacity until April 1, 1891, when he removed to Buffalo to accept the position of assistant chief clerk and was promoted to chief clerk of the
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Railway Mail Service in September, 1895, which position he now occupies. He was married in September, 1891, to Mairi Purdie, of Mumford, N. Y.
Deuel, Joseph, Buffalo, was born at East Hamburg, Erie county, N. Y., February 4, 1847, and acquired a liberal education from the public schools of his native town. At the age of seventeen he enlisted in the war of the Rebellion and served his coun- try faithfully until July, 1865. At the close of the war he entered the service of the N. Y. C. Railroad, and has since been employed by the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad, Merchants Union Express Company, Western New York & Penn- sylvania Railroad, and as division freight agent of the Erie Railroad, which position he now holds.
Schaefer, Henry (deceased), was born April 21, 1832, in the town of Wieseck, near Giesen. Grosherzogthum Hessen, Germany, and educated in the village schools. In 1849 he emigrated to this country, accompanied by his mother, a sister and brother, settling in Buffalo. For two years he found employment as a laborer on the Erie Canal at seventy-five cents per day. He then connected himself with S. Woods, a prominent contractor of Buffalo, and continued at this business for seven years, dur- ing which time he mastered all the details, and in 1864 began to take contracts for himself. Beginning in a small way, he steadily advanced until he reached a fore- most place as a builder and contractor. In 1885 his strong constitution gave way under the long and excessive strain of business, and he returned to his old home in Germany to seek restoration, but in vain. In July of the following year he died, leaving a widow, one daughter and three sons, all residing now in Buffalo. Mr. Schaefer was a man of remarkable character, strong, energetic, reliable and honor- able. His integrity was unimpeachable, his honesty and uprightness became recog- nized by every one who came in contact with him. He left a name and business reputation of which his children are proud. The large and prosperous business which he established is carried on by his sons, under the firm name of Henry Schaefer's Sons, as reliable and responsible a firm as exists to-day in the city of Buffalo.
Phillips, T. De Forest, D. D. S., Buffalo, was born in Chautauqua county, N. Y., July 19, 1868. His parents removed to Buffalo when he was a child, where he re- ceived his education in the public schools and the Genesee Wesleyan Seminary. In 1884 he began the study of dentistry in his father's office and was graduated from the dental department of the University of Buffalo in 1893 and has since been very successful in the practice of his profession.
Bryant, Calvin E., Buffalo, was born at Ashfield, Franklin county, Mass., Septem- ber 10, 1852, and removed with his parents to a farm near Le Roy, Genesee county, N. Y., and was educated in the Le Roy Academic Institute and the Geneseo State Normal Institute. After completing his schooling he was employed teaching in the public schools of Wyoming and Livingston counties and in farming until the sum- mer of 1880. He entered the service of the D., L. & W. Railroad in the engineer's corps, where he was employed until 1881, when he was appointed station agent at Linwood, Livingston county, N. Y., serving in this capacity until 1890 when he re- signed and moved to Le Roy, engaging in the real estate and insurance business un- til July, 1894, when he removed to Buffalo, and became the general agent for the
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Genesee National Savings and Loan Association, which position he still holds. Mr. Bryant was married in April, 1879, to Harriet L. Rice, of Greigsville, N. Y.
Atkins, Robert F., Buffalo .- Colonel Atkins was born in London, England, in 1837. His residence in Buffalo dates from 1851. Ten years later Sumter was fired upon and the cause of his adopted country found him ready and swift to respond. Casting aside all considerations of business, he threw himself into the conflict of 1861-65. His services began with the organization of a company from the ranks of the old Volunteer Fire Department, of which he had been for some time an active member. From then to the close of the war Colonel Atkins was at the front; well merited promotion coming from almost every battlefield, where courage and cool judgment made him conspicuous. While with Banks he served as brigade quarter- master on the staff of General Chapin. In August, 1863, he was promoted to lieu- tenant-colonel of the 18th Infantry, U. S. C. T., and placed on the Board of United States Engineers. He was the parolling officer to whom Kirby Smith turned over his command-the last armed force to surrender. Colonel Atkins is a most success- ful business man, a member of a large number of benevolent and fraternal orders and a citizen commanding the respect and consideration of his fellow citizens.
Cheney, Edgar O., treasurer of the Buffalo & Susquehanna Railroad, was born in Holland, N. Y., October 12, 1843. He was educated at the district schools, Aurora Academy and at Bryant & Stratton's Business College. His first business experi- ence was with Pierce & Co. (Buffalo), shingle manufacturers, as bookkeeper and cashier, which honorable position he held for seventeen years. At the end of this time a position was offered him, which he accepted, with the Buffalo & Susquehanna Railroad, and has been promoted from time to time until he is now treasurer of the company. Mr. Cheney was married September 8, 1869, to Philena C. Welch of Eden, N. Y., and they have one son: Nelson W., born June 27, 1875.
McCain, C. Curtice, Buffalo, was born in Minneapolis, Minn., September 18, 1856. He entered the service of the Trunk Line Association in New York, then under charge of Albert Fink, July, 1877, and continued with that association, occupying various positions and latterly chief clerk, in which capacity his association with Mr Fink was very close in all the important matters connected with the statistics, divis- ion of traffic and rate questions pertaining to the traffic of the Trunk Lines from the seaboard. Following the formation of the Interstate Commerce Commission, Judge Cooley, then chairman, tendered Mr. McCain the position as auditor, which was ac- cepted in July, 1887. Mr. McCain's work while with the Interstate Commerce Com- mission brought him into considerable prominence in the railroad world as well as among all students of transportation questions. He has contributed extensively to current literature on transportation and traffic matters, and his books on these sub- jects are widely known. His work showing the decline in railroad rates prepared for the finance committee of the Senate is regarded as an authority on questions of this character. In the spring of 1895 Mr. McCain was invited to accept the position as commissioner of the Association of Lake Lines, comprising the eight principal steamer lines on the lakes, owning and operating some eighty steamers and carrying the principal traffic of the Great Lakes. This association is closely allied with the eastern railroads and since its inception has proved to be a valuable institution for the maintenance of rates and the orderly conduct of competitive traffic.
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Grove, William V., D. D. S., Buffalo, was born in Williamsville, N. Y., August 1, 1855. He was educated in the Buffalo schools; leaving the High School at the end of his third year, 1873, he entered the University of Michigan and was graduated from there with the degree of C. E. in 1878. He also took one year, 1894-1895, in the medical department of the same institution. In 1879 he began the study of dentistry in Toledo, Ohio, and was graduated with the degree of D. D. S. from the Ohio Col- lege of Dental Surgery at Cincinnati in 1881. He then returned to Williamsville and began the practice of his profession, remaining there but a short time when he re- moved to Chicago to accept a position as demonstrator of prosthetic dentistry in the Chicago College of Dental Surgery, which position he held during the years 1883- 1885. In the spring of 1885 he removed to Buffalo. Was president of both the Eighth District Dental Society of the State of New York and the Buffalo Dental As- sociation during the year 1894-1895, and was demonstrator of prosthetic dentistry in the dental department of the University of Buffalo during the year 1895-1896, and is now one of the best known members of the profession in the city.
Williams, Charles E., was born in Buffalo, February 21, 1852, and has spent his whole business life in that city. He has been one of the fundamental thorough- going workers who have done so much to make Buffalo a great modern city in all respects. His father was a prominent contractor, and the subject of this sketch was for many years engaged in the building business. Mr. Williams was educated in the public schools of Buffalo, and at that well known private institution, the Heathcote School. After completing his course at the High School he entered his father's office as bookkeeper, retaining the position for three years. Having resolved to ob- tain a technical education, he went to Germany, and pursued a two years' course at the celebrated Stuttgart Polytechnic Institute. His work there was devoted, for the most part, to engineering, architecture, and kindred subjects. Upon his return to this country in 1876 he was taken into partnership by his father, under the firm name of William I. Williams & Son, general contractors and builders; after the dis- solution of this firm, he entered into partnership with D. W. McConnell, under the style of Williams & McConnell. Among the big contracts undertaken and success- fully carried out by this firm was the great reservoir at Charlottesville, Va. Mr. Williams has paid much attention to the important problem of street paving, and he has extended his business interests in that direction. He is president of the German Rock Asphalt and Cement Company (Limited), which has laid many miles of smooth asphalt pavement on the streets of Buffalo. He laid the first Medina blockstone pavement on a concrete base ever put down on a public thoroughfare. He was the contractor of the government breakwater extension at the port of Buffalo in 1884. On the death of his partner, Mr. McConnell, Mr. Williams organized a new firm, of which he is senior member-Williams, McNaughton & Bapst. This firm is largely engaged in the paving and general contracting business, and is interested in the grade crossing changes now going on at what is known as the Terrace in the city of Buffalo. This work is extremely important, as it will permit the trains of the Cen- tral-Hudson, Lake Shore, Michigan Central, and other railroads to enter the Union station at Buffalo without crossing at grade several streets whose congested traffic is now so endangered. Mr. Williams is treasurer of the Buffalo Dredging Company, vice-president of the Buffalo Floating Elevator Company, and president of the Mc.
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Connell Catch Basin Company. Not only in business circles is Mr. Williams active and prominent, but equally in social and military affairs is he a factor. For five years he was a member of old Co. D, Buffalo City Guards, and for an equal period was quartermaster of the 74th Regiment, N. G. N. Y. He is a Scottish Rite Mason of the 32d degree, a life member of the Buffalo Press Club, and a member of the Buffalo Republican League.
McNaughton, Pliny B., was born in Buffalo, N. Y., August 17, 1855, attended the public schools and finished his education at Notre Dame College, South Bend, Ind. His first business experience was with W. I. Williams, a contractor and builder, in whose employ he remained six years. In 1880 he engaged in business on his own account as a general contractor, doing mostly city work, and in 1885 formed a part- nership with Frank L. Bapst, who, under the firm name of McNaughton & Bapst, were largely engaged in stone paving and the sand business. Charles E. Williams was admitted to membership, which composes the now well known firm of Williams, McNaughton & Bapst; besides being a member of the firm, he is general manager of the Buffalo Dredging Company, which company has a contract with the State of New York for deepening the Erie Canal on the section extending from Buffalo to Pendleton. He is also vice president of the German Rock Asphalt and Cement Company (Limited), one of the leading asphalt paving companies in the city of Buf- falo; he is also a member of the B. P. O. E.
Bapst, Frank L., was born in Buffalo, N. Y., educated in the public and private schools and graduated in the class of 1879 at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, N. Y. He was assistant engineer in the city engineer's department of Buf- falo in the years 1882 and 1883. In 1884 he was nominated for the office of city en- gineer and was defeated by about 1,100 votes, but the head of the ticket was de- feated by about 4,500 votes. In 1885 he formed a copartnership with P. B. Mc- Naughton, under the firm name of McNaughton & Bapst, for the purpose of doing general contract work. The firm was largely engaged in laying stone pavement and doing street railroad work, as well as a large amount of underground work. In 1892 Charles E. Williams was admitted to the firm which now comprises the firm of Williams, McNaughton & Bapst; besides being a member of the firm he is vice- president of the Buffalo Dredging Company, and general manager of the German Rock Asphalt and Cement Company (Limited); he is a member of the Ellicott Club, the Buffalo Orpheus, the Masonic fraternity, also a member of the B. P. O. E.
Watts, William H., Buffalo, son of the late Robert Watts, who was well known in detective circles, coming to Buffalo in the early fifties, was born in Buffalo, January 5, 1860. After obtaining a liberal education from the public and high schools of his native city, he worked in the mercantile business for a short time, and then obtained a position in the American Exchange Bank (White's Bank at that time). He was in the employ of the bank for five years, then left the banking business and returned to the mercantile and insurance business. In 1883 he engaged in the detective busi- ness with his father and Thomas Curtin, and was in their employ until 1891, when he and his father formed a copartnership under the name of Robert Watts & Co., and Mr. Curtin retired. On the death of his father he took full charge of the business, and is now conducting the Buffalo Detective Agency, and Police and Fire Patrol, at Nos, 608 and 610 Ellicott Square.
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Hill, Robert J., Buffalo, son of Robert and Grace (Sandford) Hill, was born in Buf- falo, July 7, 1867. He received a public school education and in order to thoroughly equip himself for the business life he intended to pursue, he took a full course in Bryant & Stratton's Business College, graduating before he obtained his majority. The first position held by Mr. Hill was that of stenographer in the office of Clark & McNeeley, wholesale lumber dealers, where he remained for two years. March 1, 1891, he formed a copartnership with Mr. Callahan, under the firm name of Callahan & Hill, real estate and insurance agency, of which he is still a member.
Schwab, Richard A., Buffalo, was born in the town of Uhn, Wurtemberg, Ger- many, January 6, 1847. His parents came to America when he was but three years of age and he received his elementary education in Marine City, Mich. When he was but fourteen years of age he received a position on one of the lake steamers, where he remained until 1863, when he enlisted in Co. D, 24th N. Y. Cavalry, serv- ing for eighteen months. He was wounded at Petersburg, Va., June 18, 1864, caus- ing him to lose his right leg, and was discharged from Harewood Hospital at Wash- ington, D. C., July 13, 1865. In 1870 he removed to Philadelphia, where he was en- gaged in the produce commission business. In 1892 he removed to Buffalo and en- gaged in the real estate and brokerage business, to which business he still devotes his attention.
Meade, Henry B , D. D. S., Buffalo, was born in Norwalk, Ohio, January 23, 1869. He obtained his elementary education from the public schools and then decided to study dentistry and was graduated from the Chicago College of Dental Surgery in 1892, and immediately began practicing in Buffalo. Dr. Meade has been for the past four years a teacher in the dental department of the University of Buffalo. He was married in March, 1896, to Bertha Magner of Buffalo.
Webster, Charles H., Buffalo, was born in New York city, July 7, 1852, and in 1855 removed to Buffalo with his parents, where he received his education. His first business experience was as a cash clerk in the dry goods establishment of Flint & Kent, where he remained for two years. In 1867 he entered the employ of the L. S. & M. S. Railroad as a clerk in the freight office at Buffalo, where he remained for four years, after which he was employed in the office of W. H. Glenny for about four years when he was offered a position in the Farmers' and Mechanics' Bank as bookkeeper, remaining with them until 1878. At the end of this service he accepted a position as bookkeeper for the live stock commission firm of M. B. Doty & Co., at East Buffalo, remaining with the firm until 1880, when he succeeded Mr. King as agent for the New York State Associated Press and live stock reporter for the daily papers. In 1882 he was employed by Swope & Hughes, commission merchants at the East Buffalo stock yards, where he remained for six years, when he became connected with his brother, who was superintending the publication of the Farmers' Journal and the Daily Transcript, which were merged into the Daily Mercantile Review, in which they were jointly interested. He severed his connection with the live stock commis- sion firm named, and has since devoted his entire time to the above named publica- tions.
Fleming, Edwin, Buffalo, was born at West Lebanon, Ind., December 11, 1847, and has devoted his entire time to newspaper work. His first experience in this
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direction was while at the University of Michigan, where, in his junior and senior years, he was one of the editors of a college paper. Immediately after graduation he entered the service of the Detroit Post as a reporter; in the winter of 1870-71 he had charge of the telegraph desk of the Detroit Tribune and afterward doing gen- eral newspaper work for the Kalamazoo Telegraph and the Jackson Citizen, as well as for the Tribune. Returning in 1874 from an eighteen months' tour of Europe, he became the Washington representative of the New York Journal of Commerce, the New York Commercial Bulletin (1881 to 1885), Detroit Free Press (1875 to 1885), St. Louis Republican (1881 to 1885), and Buffalo Courier (1877 to 1885). In 1885 he be- came editor of the Buffalo Courier, which position he still retains. He was married April 20, 1881, to Harriet L. Stone, of Kalamazoo, Mich.
Evans, John M., Buffalo, was born in that city, March 18, 1873, and was educated in the public schools of the city. He was associated with his father in business, and at the death of his father he continued in the business about two years. Since that time he has had charge of the printing department of the Peter Paul Book Company.
Warren, William Y., Buffalo, son of Edward S. and Agnes L. (Thomson) Warren, and grandson of Hon. Sheldon Thompson, first mayor of the city of Buffalo elected by the people, was born in Buffalo, August 30, 1845. His education was obtained from the Central High School and Walnut Hill School at Geneva, N. Y .; he after- ward took a two years' course in chemistry at Yale. After completing this scientific course he returned to Buffalo and entered the office of the Union Iron Company, in which his father was interested, remaining in their employ for seven years. In 1865 he became secretary and treasurer of the Akron Cement and Plaster Co., of Buffalo, which position he occupied until 1872, when he severed his connection with that firm and formed a copartnership with Mr. Phillips, under the firm name of Phillips & Warren, manufacturers of shade cloth. That business was carried on very suc- cessfully until 1880, when their works were destroyed by fire. In the fall of 1880 he accepted a position in the county treasurer's office, where he remained until 1888, when he became cashier of the Barber Asphalt Paving Co., which position he still retains.
McCready, James T., Buffalo, son of James and Charlotte (Stephens) McCready, is a native of Canada and was born December 12, 1844. In 1862 he removed to Buf- falo and engaged in the marble business, which he carried on very successfully for a number of years. He afterward accepted a position in the establishment of S. O. Barnum & Son, where he remained for seven years, when he entered the service of the United States Express Company, as bookkeeper in the cashier's office, where he remained for six years. At the end of this time he engaged in the real estate busi- ness on his own account and has since remained in the same. Mr. McCready has also for the last twelve years been engaged in the manufacture of home-made pickles, preserves and jellies.
Kraft, F. J., Buffalo, was born in Wangen, Alsace, France, May 18, 1820. In 1840 Mr. Kraft came to this country and settled in Buffalo and for four years worked for Jeremiah Staats, a cabinet maker. In 1844 he opened a furniture store at No. 502 Main street and two years later moved to Huron street and established the present business; Mr. Kraft's is the longest established undertaking business in Buffalo. In
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1844 he married Anna M. Rebstock of Buffalo. During the Tippecanoe campaign he joined the Harrison Guards, only two other members now surviving. The business is now carried on by Frank A. Kraft, son, who was born and educated in Buffalo and entered into active business with his father in 1894.
Ashley, Nat H., Buffalo, son of George and Rachael (Adams) Ashley, was born at Fremont, Ohio, January 14, 1866. His education was obtained from the public schools at Fremont and at Oberlin College. His first business experience was in the office of Rogers, Brown & Co., as stenographer, and he has been successively ad- vanced, until he is now manager of the company. He was married in March, 1892, to Miss Gertrude Smith of Buffalo.
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