USA > New York > Erie County > Our county and its people : a descriptive work on Erie County, New York, Volume II > Part 21
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Jaixen, Joseph, Buffalo, was born in Cologne, Prussia, December 1, 1851. He came to this country in 1872, settling in Chicago. He entered the house of Lapp & Flershem and was their bookkeeper for several years. He then accepted a position as traveling salesman, which line he followed for twelve years. In 1892 he removed to Buffalo and became manager of the Buffalo Casket Company, which position he now holds.
Wegner, G. A., contracting and consulting engineer, Buffalo, was born in the province of Brandenburg, Germany, November 27, 1857, and received his technical education in his native country. In 1882 he came to America and after a short stay in Buffalo removed to Cleveland, Ohio, and was engaged as chief draftsman for the Kilby Manufacturing Company, where he remained until 1887, when he returned to Buffalo. In 1891 he entered into partnership with W. A. Case & Son, under the name of the Case Refrigerating Machine Company, manufacturing ice making and refrigerator machinery. November, 1897, Mr. Wegner started in business for him- self, building artificial ice and refrigerating plants, etc. He was married in Septem- ber, 1884, to Elise Imhof, a native of Neuchâtel, Switzerland.
Lyon, Arthur A., Buffalo, son of S. Duane and Laura C. Lyon, was born in Naples,
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Ontario county, N. Y., November 24, 1872. He was educated in the Naples Union School. He began business as a clerk in his father's dry goods store in Naples, where he remained until 1889, when he removed to Buffalo and engaged in the shoe depart- ment of Adam, Meldrum & Anderson, with whom he remained three years. He then became manager for R. B. Grover & Co., manufacturers of the "Emerson Shoes," in their branch retail store, 380 Main street. April 5, 1896, Mr. Lyon married Mar- garet Riley, of Buffalo.
Howe, Lucien, M. D., Buffalo, was born at Standish, Maine, December 18, 1849. Immediately after graduating from Bowdoin College he began the study of medi- cine, receiving in 1871 the degree of M. D. from the Bellevue Hospital Medical Col- lege, New York city, and continued his studies in Germany and England, being elected in 1873 a member of the Royal College of Surgeons of England. On his re- turn to America he settled in Buffalo, where he has since been engaged in practice as an oculist and aurist. Dr. Howe has received the most flattering and deserved recognition as a foremost practitioner in his department. He was made honorary president of the Société Francaise d'Ophthalmologie at its last session ; he is a mem- ber of the Ophthalmologische Gesellschaft and a member of the Ophthalmological Society of the United Kingdom. Dr. Howe is author of many articles bearing upon his specialty, and is a recognized authority throughout the United States, France, England and Germany.
Onetto, Louis, Buffalo, was born in Italy, May 26, 1848. In 1867 he came to this country, settling in New York, where he remained until 1872, when he removed to Buffalo and engaged in the manufacture of ice cream and produce business, which he carried on for eighteen years. In 1890 the firm of Onetto & Terrille was organ- ized for the manufacture of maccaroni and vermicelli, which continued until Octo- ber, 1895, when the copartnership was dissolved and since that time Mr. Onetto has been engaged in business alone.
Bixby, Ambrose S., Buffalo, was born in Lockport, N. Y. His parents removed to Buffalo when he was very young, where he received from the public and high schools a liberal education. His early business experience was as cashier with one of the large coal companies, then as bookkeeper with Pratt & Co., hardware dealers. In 1883 he became interested in the manufacture of copper and brass goods, in which he continued until the spring of 1886. In 1895 the Niagara Muslin Wear Company was organized and the following year incorporated, of which Mr. Bixby is president and treasurer.
Hamill, Daniel La Rose, Buffalo, was born in New York city, August 6, 1858. His parents removed to Albany when he was but a child and there he received a liberal education. His first business experience was with the Empire Stove Works, where he remained until 1890, when he severed his connection with that firm and pur- chased an interest in the La Rose Manufacturing Company at Albany. January 1, 1895, he removed to Buffalo and opened business on his own account as manufac- turer and jobber of plumbers' supplies.
Beilman, William E., was born in Buffalo, March 5, 1853. He was variously em- ployed until 1886, when he established the Buffalo Repair Works and General Sup- ply Depot, doing a general line of furnace, tin, sheet iron and cornice work, as well
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as repairing of every description. Mr. Beilman is a prominent Odd Fellow, being a past grand of New Era Lodge No. 410, and a past chief patriarch of Buffalo En- campment No. 47; he is also a Master Mason, a member of Hiram Lodge No. 105. Mr. Beilman was married January 1, 1882, to Mary J. Bohnert of Buffalo.
Behn, J. Frederick, Buffalo, subject of this sketch, is the head of the Buffalo Refrigerating Machine Company, one of the pioneers in this branch of industry. For the last eighteen years he has been actively engaged in the construction of re- frigerating plants and his machines are renowned for their superior quality and reliability, not only throughout this country, but also in all foreign countries. His export trade is year by year increasing with flattering success. Mr. Behn is a native of Hamburg, Germany, born September 18, 1831. He has been a citizen of this country since 1853. After five years of serving as apprentice in a machine shop in his native city he took a post-graduate course in the Polytechnic School as mechan- ical and civil engineer at Karlsruhe, Germany. Before embarking in his present business he served several years as constructing engineer and was employed over twenty years as canal engineer under different political administrations, and at the time of enlarging the Erie Canal, holding the position of division engineer of the western division of the big State ditch. He is recognized as a solid and well bal- anced business man and enjoys the highest respect of his fellow men, both in a business and social point of view.
Callahan, R., Buffalo, son of Matthew and Catharine Callahan, was born in Buf- faly, N. Y., in 1836. His education was obtained from the public schools of Buffalo. His first business experience was in the carriage manufacture and repair business. In 1857 he engaged in business on his own account and now has one of the most ex- tensive carriage and light wagon factories in Buffalo.
Larned, Josephus Nelson, born of American parents at Chatham, Ontario, on the 11th of May, 1836, came to Buffalo in 1848 and received his education in the public schools of that city, where he has resided, with few absences, since. He obtained his first employment, for a few months in 1853, as bookkeeper in the ship chandlery establishment of Messrs. Munger & Willard, at the foot of Main street. During the seasons of 1854 and 1855 he was clerk in the transportation house of P. L. Sternberg & Co., continuing in the same service in the office of the Western Transportation Company during 1856. In the spring of 1857 he sought fortune without success in the West, and, after eight months passed in Iowa, returned to Buffalo in the autumn of that year. Shortly after his return he became engaged in editorial work on the Republic, then owned by Guy H. Salisbury and edited by Dr. C. C. Bristol. From the Republic he passed to the Morning Express, in the spring of 1859, and was as- sociate editor of that journal until 1869, when he became chief editor, on the removal of the former editor, Hon. A. M. Clapp, to Washington. Three years previously he had acquired a share in the ownership of the Express, but sold it in January, 1872, and withdrew from the editorial chair. At a special election, under a new city char- ter in February, 1872, he was chosen superintendent of education, for a term which ended at the close of the following year. Subsequently, for a time, he was engaged as secretary in a futile project for constructing a common connection through the city for the use of all railroads. In April, 1877, he was appointed superintendent of
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the library, then known as the Library of the Young Men's Association of Buffalo, afterwards named the Buffalo Library, now the Buffalo Public Library. In that post he remained until June, 1897, when he resigned it.
Hubbell, George Scott, Buffalo, son of Nathan and Carrie F. (Scott) Hubbell, was born in Troy, N. Y., September 29, 1864. In 1866 the family moved to Buffalo, N. Y. He received his first instruction at preparatory schools, entered Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute at Troy in 1882 graduating from the institute in 1886. Upon leaving college he was employed in the Union Bridge Works in Buffalo, afterwards appointed sanitary engineer of Buffalo Board of Health, which position he held three years Since that time he has conducted a general engineering office. He is local representative for J. H. Gray, inventor of Gray Steel Column; Davis & Sax archi- tecural engineers of Philadelphia; and Hallsted & McNaugher, successors to G. W. Ferris, metallurgical engineers of Pittsburg.
Bassett, George B., Buffalo, was born in Ballston, Saratoga county, N. Y., June 17, 1861, and is a descendant of William Bassett, who came to Plymouth, Mass., in the ship Fortune in 1621. He was educated in the public schools, also took a scien- tific course at Yale College. After completing his course at college he was engaged in the city engineer's office at Watertown, N. Y., and as civil engineer on various public works in the United States and Canada until October 4, 1886, when he re- moved to Buffalo and formed a copartnership with his brother, Edward M. Bassett, under the firm name of Bassett Bros., engineers and contractors of municipal water works. This partnership was carried on very successfully until October 26, 1892, when the firm was dissolved by mutual consent, and since that time Mr. Bassett has carried on the business alone. Mr. Bassett is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, president of the Buffalo Meter Company, organized in 1892 for the manufacture of water meters, treasurer of the Albion Water Works Company, or- ganized in 1888 to supply Albion, N. Y., with water, and also treasurer of the Bath Water Works Company of Bath, N. Y., organized in 1887. Mr. Bassett was married, January 8, 1890, to Miss Anna Kingman of Palmyra, N. Y., daughter of Dr. Charles M. Kingman, a well known physician and surgeon of that place.
Wesley, John E., Buffalo, was born in that city, May 30, 1859, and is a son of Alexander (Leicester, Mass.) and Sarah (Hinson) Wesley of England. Mr. Wesley received a common school education and at an early age was employed in the in- surance office of Hiram Chambers, where he remained for some time, after which he learned the trade of job printer. In 1886 he entered into partnership with Frank A. Bensler, under the firm name of Bensler & Wesley, commercial printers, in which he is still engaged. He was married in 1893 to Mrs. Maud Wells Parsons of Buffalo.
Goodyear, Charles W., Buffalo, was born in Cortland, Cortland county, N.Y., Oc- tober 15, 1846, and received his education in the Cortland and Wyoming Academies. After leaving school he began the study of law in the office of Lanning & Miller, and was admitted to the bar from that office at the June term of the Supreme Court held in Buffalo in 1871. He immediately began the practice of his profession, in which he was engaged until January 1, 1887, when he formed a copartnership with his brother, F. H. Goodyear, under the firm name of F. H. & C. W. Goodyear, in
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the lumber and railroad business. In 1885, in company with his brother, they built the Buffalo and Susquehanna Railroad, of which Mr. Goodyear is vice-president and general manager. Mr. Goodyear was appointed assistant district attorney of Erie county under Hon. Daniel M. Lockwood, and upon the resignation and election to Congress of Mr. Lockwood, he was appointed to fill the unexpired term of the lat- ter. In March, 1876, he was married to Ella P. Conger, daughter of Anson G. Con- ger of Collins Center, Erie county, N. Y.
Braman, Udell S., Buffalo, son of J. and Mary (Finch) Braman, was born in Corry, Pa., June 20, 1870. His education was obtained in the public schools of his native town; and afterward he entered the University of Buffalo, and was graduated from the Department of Pharmacy in the class of 1891. After graduation he accepted a position in Buffalo as manager of the Niagara Pharmacy of W. J. Gregory, which he has since held. He is a member of Crescent Lodge No. 551, I. O. O. F.
Fitz Gerald, Thomas, Buffalo, has been a resident of the city of Buffalo for about thirty-two years, and during a period of sixteen years has been actively engaged in the fire insurance business. He represents a number of the leading old-time com- panies of both the United States and England, and each one has a widely estab- lished reputation for equitable adjustments and prompt payment of all losses. His business is confined to fire insurance exclusively. While he writes policies covering all classes of buildings and other fire-destructible property he has always made a specialty of selected risks, comprising dwelling houses and their contents. Mr. Fitz Gerald's long experience as an underwriter places him in the front rank of his contemporaries in Buffalo and Western New York.
Burt & Sindele, manufacturing confectioners, have been in business in Buffalo since September 1, 1891. Alfred H. Burt, the eldest son of Dr. Alfred D. Burt and Annie Dickinson Bell, his wife, was born in Allen, Allegany county, N. Y., June 7, 1864, and moved with his parents when a year old to Belmont, in the same county, where he received his early education. The death of his father in 1874 threw him upon his own resources and forced him to seek work to help support the family. He first found employment in a pail factory filing staves at twenty-five cents a day. He attended the Friendship Academy, later entered the dry goods store of Howard & Daniels, and was made assistant postmaster at Friendship under C. L. Howard. In - 1881 he came to Buffalo and for ten years was a traveling salesman in the confec- tionery line for one firm, of which he was a partner during the last three years. Sep- tember 1, 1891, he withdrew, and with Joseph J. Sindele formed the firm of Burt & Sindele and engaged in the wholesale manufacture of confections at 79 Main street. In 1892 an adjoining store, No. 77, was added, and in 1893, their business having outgrown these premises, the building on Seneca, Carroll and Wells streets was erected for and occupied by them. This has a frontage on Seneca street of thirty- six feet, five stories and basement, and eighty feet on Carroll and sixty-six feet on Wells street, six stories and basement, and is equipped with fifty and sixty horse- power boilers and a seventy-five horse-power engine, a complete electric light plant, and the latest improved machinery for the manufacture of a full line of confection- ery, their specialty being the original B. & S. cough drops. From 100 to 150 hands are employed, and six traveling salesmen attend to an extensive business, principally
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with the jobbing trade, from Portland, Me., to Denver, Col. This is one of the largest manufacturing confectionery establishments in Buffalo, and its success is due en- tirely to the energy and enterprise of the firm, which has never received a dollar's backing from any one. Mr. Burt is president of the National Jobbing Confectioners' Association and a member of Washington Lodge No. 240, F. & A. M., and of Can- andaigua Lodge, K. P. He has charge of the business end of the firm. Mr. Sindele was born in Buffalo in 1861, and was educated at St. Andrew's Parochial School, and has always worked at the confectioner's trade. His knowledge of the business is practical, thorough, and extensive. He is a member of the C. M. B. A. He has charge of the factory.
Rand, Harry R. (deceased), was born at Scranton, Pa., June 21, 1861. His parents removed to New York when he was quite young, where he acquired a liberal educa- tion from the public schools. After finishing his schooling he removed to Texas and engaged in the stock business, where he remained for five years. He at this date returned east and engaged in the hotel business on his own account. In 1894 he re- moved to Buffalo and engaged in the tobacco and cigar business, including domestic wines and liquors, which trade he was carrying on at the time of his death.
Sawyer, George P., was born and resides in Buffalo, his father, James D. Sawyer, having come to Buffalo from Windham, Conn., in 1840; his mother, Charlotte O. Field, was born in Buffalo in 1817. Her elder brother, George Pliny Field (for whom Mr. Sawyer was named), was an infant at the time of the burning of Black Rock by the British and Indians in 1812, and his mother (Mr. Sawyer's grandmother) fled with him to Batavia by way of Williamsville. George Pliny Field was educated at West Point, and became a captain in the United States army and was killed in the Mexican war. Mr. Sawyer was graduated from Yale University in the class of 1872, and immediately entered upon a business life in Buffalo, which he still carries on as a member of the prominent lumber firm of Noyes & Sawyer. Mr. Sawyer has in addition been actively connected with various institutions in the capacity of di- rector. such as the American Exchange Bank, the Mutual Gas Light Company, the Ellicott Square Company, and others.
Hamilton, John, Buffalo, a native of Ireland, was born May 16, 1850, and at the age of twenty-two he emigrated to this country and soon found employment in the dry goods establishment of A. T. Stewart of New York. He remained there until 1879, when he removed to Buffalo and engaged in business on his own account in company with Robert McCracken, under the style of Hamilton & McCracken, which copartnership continued until 1887, when Mr. McCracken retired and Mr. Hamilton has since conducted the business alone. Mr. Hamilton is well known and is con- sidered one of the largest and most successful wholesale milliners of Buffalo.
Post's, John C., Sons, Buffalo .- This old and famous house was established by Charles H. Coleman in 1836, John C. Post succeeding to the proprietorship in 1861, and the present proprietors, Henry, James and Peter Post, sons of John C., in 1892. This has always been a leading and prosperous concern. They occupy the store at No. 52 South Division street, 28 by 77 feet, six stories high. They carry a full line of paints, dry and in oil, white lead and glass, both French and American plate.
p
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The members of this firm are all natives of Buffalo and eminent among her rising young business men.
Klein, John G., secretary of the Harmonia Mutual Fire Insurance Company, Buf- falo, was born in Buffalo, N. Y., December 21, 1838. His first business experience was in the employ of the Pitts Agricultural Works, where he remained for six years. He then accepted a position with George D. Teller, manufacturer of picture frames, remaining there for a period of five years. In 1870 he accepted a position in the office of the overseer of the poor, holding that position for eight years. In 1882 he accepted a position as clerk in the city clerk's office, holding that position for four years. In May, 1888, he accepted his present position.
Nagel & Co., proprietors of the Electric City Wire and Iron Works, Buffalo, a house that was established but a short time ago, but is to-day one of the leading manufacturing concerns in its line in Buffalo. This house was established by George Nagel, the senior member of the firm, and January 1, 1896, D. J. Schwartz was admitted to membership. They are manufacturers and dealers in all kinds of office railings, elevator enclosures, door and window screens, settees, chairs, flower stands, etc.
Thebaud, Joseph B., Buffalo, son of Victor C. and Mary E. (Britton) Thebaud, was born in Buffalo, January 1, 1875. He acquired a liberal education from the public schools of his native city. His first business experience was with the Massa- chusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company as assistant cashier, and in March, 1892, he was advanced to .the responsible position of cashier, which position he now occupies.
Hausauer, Michael, Buffalo, was born in the town of Sheldon, Wyoming county, N. Y., October 5, 1838. His education from schools was meager and confined to the elementary grades. At the age of twenty he removed to Buffalo and entered the employ of Philip Becker, where he remained as a clerk until 1865, when he secured an interest in the business, in which he continued for thirty-five years. In October, 1893, he purchased the Lettit Candy Company's establishment, which he has since conducted, doing a large and successful business. The firm is now known as the Buffalo Candy Company, of which his son, G. M. Hausauer, and W. J. Zittell are also members.
Russell, Fred D., Buffalo, son of Darius F. and Maria S. (Van Ostrand) Russell, was born at Marion, Wayne county, N. Y., August 29, 1868. He was educated at Marion Collegiate Institute, also at Eastman Business College. In 1889 he removed to Buffalo and engaged in the real estate business until 1893, when he began the study of law and was admitted to the bar June 17, 1896, and since that time he has been engaged in the practice of his profession. He married Emily Gorton of Bel- mont, N. Y., October 4, 1893.
Lutz, John C., & Bro., Buffalo .- This concern, which has attained a reputation all over the country, was established about the year 1868 by Messrs. Robinson & Kor- zelius, who were succeeded by A. Neupert & Co. in 1876, and by the present pro- prietors August 1, 1894, and owing to the skill and tact displayed, their enterprise has prospered from its inception, so much so, indeed, that in order to meet the con-
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stantly growing demand for their artistic work, they have been compelled to increase their facilities from time to time, until now they find themselves at the head of one of the largest industries of the kind in the country. The stock carried by them em- braces all standard goods and imported and domestic novelties in artistic and plain paper hangings, bronzes, embossed and solid gilts, window shades and fixtures of every kind. Both are liberal, energetic, enterprising gentlemen and worthy citi- zens, who have contributed much to bring Buffalo to her present mercantile and manufacturing position.
Lyth, John, & Sons, Buffalo .- This well known house was established in 1857 by the senior member of the firm, and has grown to be one of extensive proportions and operates the Buffalo Sewer Pipe Works, located at Angola, Erie County, N. Y., with branches and yards in Buffalo. They employ from eighty to one hundred men and in conjunction with the manufacture of sewer pipe they also make farm drain- tile and fire-proof building material. The house has been so long and favorably known that it is unnecessary to say that the gentlemen composing it are A No. 1 business men in the best sense of the term.
Fornes, John, Buffalo, was born in that city in July, 1847, and was educated in the public schools of Niagara county. After completing his schooling he entered the grocery of Jacob Seabold as clerk, where he remained for four years. At the end of this service he was employed by the dry goods house of Hamlin & Mensin for a short time, when he engaged in the grocery business on his own account, continuing in that business for a period of ten years. He then formed a copartnership with his brother, C. V. Fornes, under the style of C. V. Fornes & Co., importers of woolens, which is to-day one of the largest houses of the kind in New York city and Buffalo. Mr. Fornes is of French-German descent, and was married June 21, 1870, to Frances A. Doll of Buffalo.
Moore, Jerome S., has been prominent in the fire insurance business of Buffalo for the past twenty-seven years, and is a member of the well known firm of Moore & Keating. He was born in Victory, Cayuga county, N. Y., in 1844. Mr. Moore has been quite prominent in music circles, having been director of the Cedar Street Baptist church choir for fifteen years and of the North Presbyterian church choir for five years. He is now director of the Delaware Avenue Baptist church choir. Among Masonic circles he has also been quite prominent, being a member of Washington Lodge No. 240, F. & A. M.
Fix & Roty, Buffalo .- This enterprising house was established by the present pro- prietors in June, 1892. They occupy a substantial three story brick building 20 by 100 feet at 808 Main street, and carry a full line of hardware, stoves, house furnish- ing goods, tinware, etc., their leading specialty being the Scranton Stove Works line of Dockash ranges and parlor stoves, a line of superior goods for which they have a steady sale. They also make a specialty of all kinds of metal roofing.
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