USA > New York > Erie County > Our county and its people : a descriptive work on Erie County, New York, Volume II > Part 27
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Gleason, Ira T., one of the leading produce commission merchants of Buffalo, was born at Ischua, N. Y., March 4, 1856. His education was obtained in the common district schools, supplemented with a course of four years at Ten Broeck Free Acad- emy at Franklinville, N. Y. After leaving school his first business experience was as a clerk in a general store in that town; after three years he purchased a half in- terest in the concern, continuing in this until 1881, at which time he was compelled to retire from business on account of poor health. He continued to live in Frank- linville until 1888, when he removed to Buffalo and in company with H. W. Eacker opened a wholesale produce house at No. 100 West Market street. This business increased so rapidly that in 1892 they were compelled to seek for larger quarters, and in that year built the large store which they now occupy at No. 150 Michigan street. Mr. Gleason is thoroughly experienced in his line and is ranked among Buffalo's astute business men. In September, 1878, he married Carrie S., daughter of Horatio Stilwell, of Franklinville, N. Y.
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Flickinger, William F., Buffalo, a native of Erie county, N. Y., was born August 9, 1866. In 1884 he removed to Buffalo to accept a position as a clerk in the grocery establishment of Frank J. Miller, where he remained for two years, when he resigned his position and engaged in the manufacture of vinegar, which business he con- ducted for three years. He at this date embarked in the grocery business in com- pany with his brother, Smith M. Flickinger. This firm, aside from their business on Market street, also conducts a place at the corner of Michigan and Riley streets. Mr. Flickinger is noted for his frank dealings and is deservedly popular with all with whom he has business.
Wertimer, Henry .- Prominent among the leading insurance men of the city of Buffalo is Henry Wertimer. He was born in Liverpool, England, and has resided in this city many years, having had long experience in the occupation in which he is engaged. His first business experience in this country was in Philadelphia, where he conducted an insurance agency until 1889, when he removed to Buffalo as the general agent for Western New York for the Prudential Insurance Company. Mr. Wertimer was president of the Life Underwriters' Association of Western New York and he is now chairman of the executive committee. He is an active, enter- prising and popular gentleman, highly esteemed in social and financial circles and a most public spirited citizen.
Albro, William H., Buffalo, secretary of the German Rock Asphalt and Cement Company, was born at Kingwood, N. Y., February 1, 1818. In 1836 he removed to Buffalo, where he has an enviable reputation as a business man and citizen. He has always taken an active interest in public affairs, having held the offices of city clerk, police justice, justice of the peace, clerk of the Board of Police, deputy comptroller for six years and other offices of trust. In 1891 he became the secretary of the German Asphalt and Cement Company, a position he now holds. Mr. Albro is a leading citizen of Buffalo, deeply interested in all that affects its welfare, and is very popular with and much esteemed by all classes.
Kamper, Ferdinand G., Buffalo, a son of Charles and Catherine (Moser) Kamper, was born in Buffalo, N.Y., February 9, 1859. His mother was born in this country of German parents. His father was born in Germany and came to this country in 1845, settling in New York, where he remained several years and then removed to Buffalo to enter the employment of his uncle in the wine and fancy grocery busi- ness, and whom he succeeded in 1853. The firm of C. Kamper's Sons was estab- lished in 1890, succeeding Charles Kamper, who retired. C. Kamper's Sons, of which Fred G. is the senior member, is one of the most substantial wholesale wine and liquor houses in Western New York. The premises occupied, No. 92 West Market, running through to 141 Michigan street, are 20 by 127, and consist of three floors and basement, where a complete line of foreign and domestic wines and liquors are carried.
Chaddock, John B., the well known produce dealer of Buffalo, is by birth a Wyoming county boy; he was born in the town of Middlebury, January 13, 1860, and is a son of Philander Chaddock, a prosperous farmer. His education was ob- tained at the Attica (N. Y.) High School, from which institution he was graduated in 1879; he afterwards took a commercial course of training in Eastman's Business
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College and was honorably graduated in 1880. After an experience of seven years in the coal and general produce and grain business in Batavia, N. Y., he removed to Buffalo in 1890. He has been identified in the produce commission business since. He is a member of the well known firm of Bean, Coward & Chaddock, one of the largest and heaviest produce commission firms on the Elk Street Market, identified as heavy dealers in general farm products at most of the shipping points in Western New York as well as in Buffalo. Mr. Chaddock was married, November 10, 1882, to Carrie D., daughter of Edwin R. Sanford of Machias, N. Y. They have two chil- dren, Edith M. and Laurance P. Chaddock.
Williamson, Bartholomew .- Among Buffalo's operators in the realm of live stock, few are better known or stand higher in public esteem than Bartholomew William- son. He is a general live stock commission broker, and has an excellent business. Mr. Williamson was born in Richland county, Ohio, November 3, 1832, and has re- sided in this city since 1882. He is a gentleman of pleasing manners and entire probity of character, as well as of energy and enterprise, and is thoroughly con- versant with the handling of live stock.
Van Horn, Burt, Buffalo, was born in the town of Newfane, Niagara county, N. Y., October 31, 1852, a son of Hon. Burt Van Horn, who was member of congress for six years, and a member of the State Legislature for three years, and was for four years collector of internal revenue. Burt Van Horn, the subject of this sketch, re- ceived his education in the public schools of Lockport and at Yale College, from which he received the degree of A. B. in the class of 1874. He then entered Columbia Law College of New York, and was admitted to the bar in that city in 1878. immediately beginning the practice of his profession in New York, where he remained for four years, when he returned and purchased the old homestead in Niag- ara county, a tract of land containing 350 acres that has been in the family for over 115 years, he now having the third deed ever recorded. In 1895, when the Buffalo and Niagara Falls Electric Railway was completed, he was made secretary, treas- urer and general manager, which position he now occupies. Mr. Van Horn was married in December, 1881, to Ellen S Hyde of New York, and they had an only son born to them, who died at the age of twelve years. Mr. Van Horn is a member of the Ellicott Club, the Psi Upsilon college fraternity, and the University Club of Buffalo.
Brush, S. C., Buffalo .- William C. Brush, father of the Brush Brothers, brick manufacturers, is an old resident of Buffalo and a lifelong brick manufacturer. He was born in Delaware county, N. Y., in 1819, and his life until sixteen years of age was spent on a farm. He came to Buffalo in 1844 and engaged in the manufacture of brick, for many years being in partnership with his brother, Alexander. They were very prosperous and the business developed into the largest of the kind in Buf- falo. In 1879 they located on the present site of the Brush Brothers' plant, and in 1890 Alexander went out of the business, and William, with three sons, William H., Warren H. and Stephen C., have successfully conducted the large business ever since. Mr. Brush and his sons are all Republicans. Mr. Brush is of Scotch descent and the family dates back many generations in America. Mr. Brush's first wife was Hannah Bull, who bore him two sons, William H. and Warren H. (twins), and
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one daughter, Jennie. His second wife was Susan Barckley, and she had one son, Stephen C.
Sims, Orin B., general manager for Messrs. Ferrin Bros. Co. of Buffalo, wholesale produce dealers, was born in the town of Royalton, Niagara county, N. Y., August 27, 1860. He was engaged in farming for some years, after which he entered a gen- eral store as a clerk for a time, when he engaged in mercantile business on his own account. At the end of this time he removed to Akron, N. Y., and engaged in the produce business and continued in same for five years. He at this date became con- nected with the Ferrin Bros. Co. as their traveling representative, which position he held for about a year, when he removed to Buffalo to take charge of their business at that place, where he has since resided. October 19, 1881, he married Clara D. Zimmerman of Royalton, N. Y., and they have two children: Clarence P. and Flora.
Munger, Frank E., of Buffalo, is a native of Guilford, Conn., born May 5, 1854, of Anglo-Saxon parentage. His early education was acquired in the public schools of his native town and at Guilford University; later he became a student in Yale University, working his way and paying his own expenses; he studied law in the law department of this university, from which he was graduated with the class of 1875, and shortly after entered the law office of the Hon. George F. Hoar of Wor- cester, Mass., who was then, and is now, United States senator from that State. Mr. Munger entered his office to more fully complete his legal studies, and to obtain some practical experience as a lawyer. He moved from there, after two years with the senator, to Cleveland, Ohio, where he entered upon the practice of his pro- fession, and became a prominent member of the Cleveland bar. He practiced law there for ten years. He removed to Buffalo in 1888, where he has since resided. He made insurance law a specialty, and has been counsel in many important insurance cases, and is now at the head of one of the prominent fraternal life insurance societies. He is a society man, a member of Ellicott Club, and others in Buffalo and is also a member of eight or nine of the leading secret benevolent orders. He is, and always was, an uncompromising Republican, but has always been too busy to aspire to political office, or for active political work. In 1887 Mr. Munger married Fannie A., daughter of Joseph W. Flora of Rochester, N. Y. Mr. and Mrs. Munger have one daughter, Agnes, seven years of age. They have a very pleasant home at No. 446 Potomac avenue, Buffalo, and a summer cottage at Crystal Beach, Ontario, Canada.
Germain, Charles B., Buffalo .- This popular and efficient clerk of the United States Court was born in Buffalo, November 11, 1844, and has always resided in that city. His education was received from public and private schools, followed by a collegiate course at Hamilton. In 1866 he entered the law office of Laning & Miller as a student, finishing his legal studies, however, in the office of Austin & Austin, and was admitted to the bar May 4, 1868. From that time until 1884 he was engaged in the general practice of his profession, and in February of that year he was appointed clerk of the United States Court under Hon. Alfred C. Coxe, district judge. In 1881 he married Mary J. Begges of Cleveland, Ohio. In every relation of life Mr. Germain is an exemplary and esteemed citizen.
Ashley, John W., Buffalo, was born at Camden, N. Y., May 21, 1852. His parents
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removed to Walworth, N. Y., where he attained his public school education. After finishing school he began to support himself and at an early age was employed as salesman and ticket seller with circus companies for twelve seasons and later by the National Cash Register Co. of Dayton, O., as traveling salesman. In 1881 he removed to Buffalo and engaged in the hotel business which he has since conducted. Mr. Ashley is a self-made man and the success achieved was due wholly to his own efforts. August 9, 1881, he married Harriett E. Neal of Boston, Mass., and they have one son, Chester B.
Williams, George R., Buffalo .- Among the many prominent produce commission merchants in his section of Buffalo, none is more conspicuous than George R. Williams. He was born at Freedom, N. Y., May 7, 1857. He attended the district schools, the Arcade Academy, and the Tenbrook Free Academy, and was graduated from the latter in the class of '75. In 1878 he removed to Buffalo and entered the employ of the L. S. & M. S. Railroad as a messenger boy, having been promoted from time to time until, at the end of thirteen years, he occupied the responsible position of foreman of the live stock department. In 1891 he severed his connection with this company and entered into the produce commission business in company with Mr. Mackey. under the style of Mackey & Williams. The first year's business amounted to $50,000, and it has increased until now they do an annual business of $300,000. Mr. Williams is recognized as a solid and well-balanced business man, and enjoys the respect of his fellow men, both in a business and social point of view.
Drill, James M., Buffalo, a native of Maryland, living in Baltimore city up to ten years ago, after two years' residence in New York city came to Buffalo where he has since resided. During the war he was chief clerk and acting general freight agent of the B. & O. Railroad, acted also as general agent at important points: Washing- ton, Parkersburg, Monocacy, Frederick, Benwood, Locust Point, etc., places requir- ing extra attention on account of the war. The road extended over a hundred miles along the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers and nearly as many more along or in the vicinity of the Cheat River in West Virginia, where there were battles and skirmishes innumerable, and the business of the line was constantly disturbed by the destroying of the road or burning of bridges, and required for the transmission of freight and passengers extra care and attention. He prepared the freight tariff of the road by which the charges on all government as well as other business was adjusted during the war, and as a civilian and railroad employee did what he could for the success of the Union army. From 1866 and for twenty years of continuous service he was general freight agent of the Northern Central and Baltimore & Potomac Railroad Companies, continuing up to the time when the Pennsylvania Railroad Co. absorbed the above roads, and managed them under their own system from Philadelphia. During his two years' residence in New York he was general agent of the American Surety Co. and division freight agent of the Erie Railroad. He came to Buffalo eight years ago to accept the position of general sales agent for the Rochester and Pitts- burg Coal & Iron Co., which he held for two years and then started in the coal business on his own account; he has recently added real estate and loans. During his resi- dence in Baltimore Mr. Drill took an interest in church work as well as other matters; he was for two years president of the Young Men's Christian Association, was vice- president and acting president of the Mercantile Library Association. Hon. James
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A. Gary, postmaster-general was elected president on the ticket with Mr. Drill as vice-president, but Mr. Gary resigned after two months' occupancy of the presidency and the vice-president filled the position during the remainder of the term. The board was pledged to the work of a free library and their efforts doubtless had much to do in influencing Mr. Pratt in providing so liberally a few years afterward by the endowment of Baltimore's splendid Free Library. Mr. Drill with one other gentle- man started the Boys' Home of Baltimore and he raised the first $500 used in its behalf. To-day the home has a building costing about $40,000 fully paid for, where over 100 boys live continually, starting in at ten or twelve years of age and remain- ing if they wish up to twenty-one. He also called the first public meeting to estab- tablish the Free Summer Excursion Society of Baltimore, which was a success from the beginning and owns a beautiful grove of fifteen acres with suitable buildings on an arm of the Chesapeake Bay, where tired mothers and sick children, 2,000 each week, are cared for in summer. Acting under the authority of Bishop Whit- tingham, and in close and friendly relations with the bishop, Mr. Drill established and located two churches in Baltimore, St. Bartholomew and St. George's, both fine white marble structures, in the northwestern part of the city, now in successful operation and free from debt. He was one of the governors of the Wednesday Club of Baltimore, and with two other gentlemen raised the necessary amount of money to erect the fine hall of the club, which Sullivan, the musical author, pronounced the finest hall of the kind he had seen in the United States. It is now the Lyceum Theater. Mr. Drill has been very closely confined to his business, which has re quired a great deal of traveling, etc., and has not taken a hand in church or other work during his residence in Buffalo.
Ryan, Samuel C., Buffalo, was born at historic Newburgh, N. Y., on the banks of the beautiful Hudson. His early life was spent at his beautiful home and at Louis- ville, Ky. After acquiring a liberal education from the public schools he moved to New York city, where he embarked in the millinery business on a small scale, and by hard work, rigid economy and strict attention to business has added to his facilities from time to time, and in 1881 removed to Buffalo, where he opened one of the finest and largest millinery stores in New York State outside of New York city. Mr. Ryan was married in 1875 to Sadie A. Morrison of New York. He is a member of the Buffalo Society of Artists, the Buffalo Orpheus, Buffalo Vocal So- ciety, Buffalo Liedertafel, and the Buffalo Press Club, and is a stockholder in the Union Band of Buffalo.
De Ford, Thomas S., Buffalo, was born in Carroll county, Ohio, March 18, 1859. After obtaining a liberal education from the public schools he engaged in farming and shipping stock until 1884, when he removed to Buffalo and engaged in the live stock commission business in the employ of Reynolds, Thompson & Co., where he remained for two years as their hog salesman, then became connected with the firm of J. F. Sadler & Co., in whose employ he has since been, having charge of the cat- tle department. In October, 1895, Mr. De Ford married Maggie McNerney of Dun- kirk, N. Y.
Smith, Benjamin Hill, Buffalo, a son of Benjamin B. and Sarah (Smith) Smith, was born near Hamilton, in the town of Lancaster, Ont., July 11, 1869. In 1884 he left
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his native town and went to Paterson, N. J., where he entered a large silk mill and served an apprenticeship, and remained with that concern for a period of ten years. Beginning at the bottom of the ladder, he learned every branch of the business from the minutest details. In 1893 he removed to Buffalo to accept a position with the Buffalo Woven Label Works, and in 1895 became a member of the firm. The plant embraces a commodious three-story building, fitted up with a fine equipment of latest improved machinery, especially for the production of silk and linen labels, and employs a full force of skillful operatives. Mr. Smith is yet a young man, with many years apparently before him in which to develop the prosperous career he has started upon. He is personally a very popular, public-spirited gentleman, and a member of the K. of P .; he is a charter member of the Y. M. C. A. of Paterson, N. J., and of the Phelps Guards, now known as the Hobart Guards. He is a member of the Y. M. Society of Calvary church.
Thorne, Albert G., Buffalo .- Among the younger members of the Erie county bar, none is more prominent than Albert G. Thorne. He is a native born Buffalonian, and a son of George L. and Dollie P. (Dana) Thorne. He received his preliminary education from the public and high schools, after which he entered Syracuse Uni- versity, where he became a member of the Psi Upsilon fraternity. He was honor- ably graduated in 1893, the degree of A. B. being conferred upon him at this time. In 1896 Syracuse University conferred upon him the degree of A. M. Mr. Thorne studied law in the office of Sprague, Morey, Sprague & Brownell, afterwards Sprague, Moot, Sprague & Brownell, Buffalo, N. Y., attending the Buffalo Law School at the same time, where he became a member of the legal fraternity of Phi Delta Phi. He was graduated in 1895 with the degree of LL. B. He also was admitted to the bar in 1895, and since then has been engaged in the general practice of his profession. Mr. Thorne on his father's side is of English descent, coming from the Buckingham fam- ily, while on his mother's side he is a direct descendant of Richard Dana, who came to this country in 1640. Mr. Thorne is a member of the Saturn Club. On June 26, 1895, Mr. Thorne married Miss Alice Scott Dunn, of Dunn Park, Syracuse, N. Y.
Fenton, James, Buffalo, a native of Brant, Erie county, N. Y., was born January 2. 1843. He acquired a liberal education from the public schools and at the Fredonia and Westfield Academies and was graduated from the Westfield Academy in the class of '61. After graduation he entered the service of his father, who was engaged in the lumber business at Brant, where he remained until June, 1864, when he en- listed in Co. A, 187th N. Y. Inft., serving his country faithfully until July, 1865, when he was mustered out. He then returned to Brant and succeeded his father in busi- ness, which he conducted until 1876, when his saw mill was destroyed by fire and he discontinued the lumber business at that point. Three years previously, however, in 1873, he was one of the incorporators of the Erie Preserving Company and served as its secretary till 1887, moving to Buffalo in the spring of 1878 to manage the Erie Preserving Company's business at that point. In 1882 he established the Buffalo Box Factory and operated it in a small way until 1887, when he withdrew from the Erie Preserving Company and devoted his entire attention to the box business and rapidly developed and enlarged it. This concern is one of the largest of the kind in the country, giving employment to nearly two hundred workmen, having a capacity
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of from twelve to fifteen million feet of lumber annually. Personally, Mr. Fenton is a pleasant, active and popular gentleman, and respected by all who know him.
Rosner, Philip, & Sons .- One of the leading grocery houses in Buffalo is that of Philip Rosner & Sons, which was established by the present firm in 1884. A care- fully assorted and first-class line of staple and fancy groceries is constantly carried on hand by them, and a large force of help is regularly employed, while several wagons deliver to all parts of the city and suburbs. Messrs. Philip Rosner & Sons are all men of energy and experience, thoroughly responsible in their dealings, and sustain an excellent reputation in the trade. The firm is composed of Philip Rosner, Henry E. and William F. Rosner.
Potter, Daniel F., local engineer and agent for the General Electric Company, Buffalo, was born at South Braintree, Mass., February 3, 1869. He received his education from the public schools, Thayer Academy and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. His first business experience was with the Lewis Bros. Co., commis- sion house in Boston, as sales agent, where he remained for a short time, and then entered the service of the Thomson-Houston Electric Company at Lynn, Mass., be- ginning at the foot of the ladder and has advanced from time to time until he is now the local engineer and agent of the General Electric Company. Mr. Potter was married in June, 1892, to Georgieanna Field of Quincy, Mass., and they have one son, Daniel F., jr.
Williams, Gurdon H., a native of Michigan, was born September 11, 1851. His parents removed to Buffalo in 1854, where he attended the public schools and was graduated from the High School in 1870. His first business experience after grad- uation was in the grocery business, supplying steamboats, in which he was engaged for ten years. In 1890 he formed a copartnership with J. B. Longmore, under the style of Williams & Longmore, which continued for three years, aud which was suc- ceeded by the firm of Williams & Cornell, wholesale dealers in butter, eggs and cheese. Aside from Mr. Williams's interests in this city he owns and operates two creameries in Michigan with a capacity of 1,000 pounds of butter daily. He was married in 1882 to Miss Loretto Marsh of St. Louis, Mo.
Crawford, Jasper T., one of the oldest dealers in salt in Buffalo, was born at Liver- pool, N. Y., March 24, 1826. He has been identified with the salt industry for over forty years, having charge of the Syracuse Salt Company Agency at Buffalo since 1871. The agency at Buffalo has been established over fifty years. Associated with him is his son, E. Homer, who is also a gentleman of wide experience in the salt business. Mr. Crawford, sr., does not give his entire time and attention to the Buffalo business, his son looking after the affairs at that place. Both gentlemen are fully alive to Buffalo's great advantages and magnificent future and are deeply interested in all that concerns her welfare.
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