Our county and its people : a descriptive work on Erie County, New York, Volume II, Part 34

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 34

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in Brantford, Canada, in the year 1800, and came to New York State and married Emily Peglow of Buffalo, N. Y. They had four children: Perry, Orvill (as above), Josephine and John. Mrs. Titus died February 28, 1848, and for his second wife he married Mary T. Pool. Mr. Titus died April 26, 1881. Mrs. Orvill Titus's father, Charles Vogel, was born in Germany in 1821 and came to America with his wife in 1854. He married Louisa Yerntz of his native place, and they had three children: Dorothy L. (as above), Louisa and Mary.

Shipman, Charles D., Hamburg, was born in Bridgewater, Oneida county, N. Y., November 8, 1837. In September, 1861, he enlisted in Co. G, 146th N. Y. Vols., and on account of wounds and injuries received, he was honorably discharged from the hospital at Fort Schuyler, N. Y., the following year. He taught school eighteen terms and practiced law and operated in real estate in the West about twelve years. He then returned to this State and has since devoted his time and energies dealing in real estate. He has married twice; first, on December 25, 1866, to Mary A. Cad- well of Verona, Oneida county, N. Y .; they had a son and daughter. Mrs. Shipman died February 2, 1894, and in August, 1894, Mr. Shipman married Sophia J. Chiten- den of Buffalo, N. Y. Mr. Shipman's father, Ezra, was a native of Connecticut, born in 1801, and came to Utica, N. Y., with his parents in 1816. He married Harriet Vickery, and they had five children. Mr. Shipman's mother died February 5, 1882, and his father on February 16, 1882, both of whom were interred in the cemetery at Clinton, N. Y., aged respectively eighty-two and eighty-one years.

McCloskey, Neil, Hamburg, was born in Wilmington, Del., October 31, 1859, and came to Albany, N. Y., in 1863 where he obtained his education. He came to Buffalo in 1880 and has had a variety of occupations. May 23, 1886, he married Susan E. Getman of Buffalo, and they have two sons, Ervin and James B. Mr. McCloskey came to Hamburg in 1890. He deals in damaged grain from elevators and from ship owners of the lake; he is also an architect and dealer in real estate. Mr. McCloskey's father, James, was born in Ireland in 1822 and came to America in 1842, locating in Philadelphia and afterwards in Delaware. He married Margaret O'Connor, and they had four children, Catherine, Mary, Neil (as above), and Sarah. He died Octo- ber 34, 1894, and his wife in 1869.

Venner, William G., Hamburg, was born in Tiverton, Devonshire, England, March 6, 1853; his parents came to Canada in 1856, and he came to America when sixteen years of age. He attended a private English school, and later learned the tailor's trade, both in Canada and in the United States. He has invented several useful inventions for the trade, the conformator, which is used in fitting garments, being the most practical and is covered with letters of patent. He came to Ham- burg, N. Y., in 1874, where he carries on a business in custom and ready-made clothing with success. His wife conducts a store on Main street of millinery and ladies' furnishings. He also has a tailoring establishment in Buffalo, which his son William has in charge. August 12, 1877, he married Amanda Stuart of Hamburg, N. Y., and they have two children, William W. and Mary L. Mr. Venner is a member of Fraternity Lodge No. 625, F. & A. M., and the Independent Order of Foresters. His father, William Venner, was born at the old home in England. He married Johanna Nichols, formerly of Wales, England, and they had five children.

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William Venner, sr., died in 1858, and his widow survives at this date (1897). Mr. Venner has one brother, George W. Venner, living, who was a scout in the Union army, and a member of the 8th Michigan Cavalry. He was taken prisoner four times, escaping every time; he was also with the detachment that captured Jeffer- son Davis.

Abbott, Col. George, M. D., Hamburg, was born November 2, 1826, at Palmyra, N. Y., of New England parentage. His father, the Rev. Orrin Abbott, was a Ver- monter, the son and grandson of Revolutioners, the latter being a colonel therein, and were descendants of the Massachusetts Abbotts. Col. George Abbott's mother was Miss Sarah Maria Lee Abbott, a descendant from Thomas Lee of Lyme, Conn. In his 'teens he attended what was called in those days a full course in the Akron High School, and then read medicine with Dr. George W. Burwill of Buf- falo. He attended two full courses at the Geneva Medical School, followed by a third at the Buffalo Medical University, where he graduated in 1852. He imme- diately entered the Buffalo Hospital of Sisters of Charity as interne and after serv- ing there for several months he opened an office for the practice of medicine and surgery at White's Corners (now Hamburg, N. Y.) in the spring of 1853, where he still pursues his profession. In 1856 he was appointed surgeon of the 6th Regt., N. G. N. Y., and was with it in the United States service in 1863. The succeeding fall he was appointed by Gov. Horatio Seymour to raise a regiment in his, the then Third Assembly district of Erie county. He did so, and was complimented by the military department of the State as having raised the same in less time than any other had been raised in the State. This regiment was organized on the 18th of January, 1864, as the 98th Regt., N. G. N. Y., and in August following was called into service as 100-day men and sent to Elmira, N. Y., to relieve old veterans then on duty, who were immediately sent to the front for active fighting service. With his regiment he was continued in the service 134 days, being mustered out December 22, 1864. In 1868, the Legislature having reduced the military forces of the State from 75,000 to 25,000, ordering the retention in the service of only city regiments, the 98th was mustered out and the colonel placed on the reserved list. On his return from Elmira he resumed his practice, but suffering much from poor health incident to injuries received in the service, he sought relief from heavy practice by serving two terms as school commissioner in the Second School Com- missioner District of Erie county. He was naturally a great lover of scientific and scholarly attainments and sought early to improve the educational facilities of his town, and the Hamburg Academy is largely due to his untiring industry and en- ergy in that direction. In his practice he met with superior success and was early honored by the medical fraternity with almost continued service in official positions in the County Medical Society. He was president of the society in 1867 and soon thereafter made a permanent member of the New York State Medical Society, there being at that time but one other permanent member of the State society outside of the city of Buffalo in the county of Erie. He has enjoyed honors at the hands of many social, scientific and secret societies and was for some time president of the Erie County Pomona Grange, and for one year was treasurer of the New York State Grange. He was a member of the I. O. O. F. and Sons of Temperance in the forties and served in all their chief official chairs. He, with Job Taylor, were

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the first members to be initiated and raised in Zion Lodge, F. & A. M., of East Hamburg, of which lodge he became a past worshipful master and still retains an active working interest in the order. He was brought up a Methodist, but was very liberal in his religious views, believing there were truly good Christians in all creeds and churches, and constantly, though a firm advocate of strictly religious and moral principles, was never a zealous church partisan. In 1857 he married Miss Julia C. Church of Fort Ann, Washington county, N. Y., a graduate of the Albany Normal School, and a very superior teacher, by whom he had five children, two of whom, George B. Abbott, jr .. of Salamanca, N. Y., and Eliza Maria Abbott, are living; the others died in childhood.

Fish, Burton M., Hamburg, was born in that town, February 12, 1854. He received a normal school education and began his mercantile life as a clerk in his father's gen- eral store, which in time was run by M. Fish & Sons. Milford, their father, retired in 1885 and the business was carried on by B. M. and C. T. Fish; in 1888 C. T. Fish withdrew from the firm and Burton M. has carried on the business since then with success. August 31, 1875, he married Carrie E., daughter of George A. Moore, of Buffalo, N. Y., and they had three children: Catherine M., Laura C. and Florence E. Mr. Fish's grandfather, Thomas, was born in Vermont in 1798 and came to Buf- falo when a young man, when it was a hamlet, and taught school on the site of the Genesee Hotel. He married Louisa Lathrop, and they had four children, Milford, Byron J., Josephine and Janett. Milford Fish married Hannah Colvin in 1853, and they had ten children. He moved to Pasadena, Cal., in 1886, and died October 7,1895.

Gressman, Theodore H., Hamburg, was born near Hamburg, Germany, Novem- ber 10, 1840, and came to America with his parents when six years old, locating in Hamburg, N. Y., where he was educated in the district schools. His father died when he was eleven years old. October 16, 1861, he enlisted in Co. E., 10th N. Y. Cavalry, participating in all the engagements with his company and regiment. Jan- uary 1, 1867, he married Charlotte Sly of Hamburg and they have three children, Phylena, Arthur and Warren T. Mr. Gressman has conducted a general store on Main street for the past sixteen years. He is a member of the G. A. R. and Union Veteran Legion. He served as deputy sheriff under John B. Webber three years.

Heiser, Godfrey, Hamburg, p. o. Blasdell, was born near Frankfort, Germany, December 24, 1831, and came to America with his parents when he was a child, locating in Buffalo, where they lived about five years; they then went to the town of Sheldon, Wyoming county, and remained five years, our subject being educated in both places. April 24, 1855, Godfrey Heiser married Anna E. Hinkler, and they had six children: Mary C., Henry J., Elizabeth C., William J., Emma H. and Godfrey E. Mr. Heiser's father, Henry, was born at the old home in Germany in 1794; he married Mary C. Hahn of his native place, and they had eight children.

Newell, John C., Hamburg, was born in Lafayette, Onondaga county, N. Y., August 5, 1885, and was educated in the district schools and Cazenovia Seminary. He spent his earlier days on the farm and in May, 1879, he entered the employ of the N.Y., P. & C. Railway Company as telegraph operator. On November 1,1885, he came to Hamburg, N. Y., and entered the employ of the A. &. S. W. (now the Erie Rail-

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way) as station agent, which position he holds at the present time, 1896. October 23, 1878, he married Hattie E. Nichols of Oneida county, and they have two sons, T. Seaton and Harry I. Mr. Newell's father, Thomas, was born at the old home in Onondaga county, N. Y., March 17, 1824, and educated there. He married Saman- tha Hall of Fabius, Onondaga county, N. Y., and they had six children: Clara L., Oliver R., Orange D., John C. (as above), Lettie S. and Alice H. He died in February, 1889, and his widow in March, 1893. Mr. Newell is a member of the Royal Arcanum, charter member and one of the promoters of Triumph Lodge No. 712 I. O. O. F., of Hamburg, and has been delegate to the State Grand Lodge on two different occasions.

Strauss, John J., Hamburg, was born in Buffalo, N. Y., September 1, 1840, and was educated in the public and private schools of that city. September 8, 1868, he married Theresa J. Buetler of Buffalo, and they had five children: Kate R., Matthew J., Rose L., Edward J. and Antoinette J. Mr. Strauss's father, Matthew, was born in Lucenberg, Germany, in 1803. He married Anna Krier of his native country, and they had seven children: Matthew A., John J. (as above), Peter, Mary, Nicholas J., Joseph and Jennie. They came to America about 1840 and located in Buffalo, N. Y., where he died in 1861 and his wife in 1888. Mrs. Strauss's father, Matthew Buetler, was born in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, in 1822. He came to America when a young man and married Anna M. Hiemens of Buffalo. They had eleven children : Theresa J. (as above), Nicholas J., Barbara, Kate B., Anna M., Margaret L., John J., Susan, Rose S., Emma L. and Elizabeth. He died in 1873 and his widow in 1882.

Washburn, Zelia E., Hamburg .- The late Orrin S. Washburn was born in the town of Boston, Erie county, N. Y., June 6, 1828, and was educated in the schools of that day. February 23, 1852, he married Zelia E. White of Hamburg, and they had two children, Clara E. and Charles H. Mr. Washburn died in August, 1865, mourned by a bereaved wife and children. Mrs. Washburn's father, Lewis T. White, was born in Hamburg, January 8, 1811. He married Armina Smith, and they had two children.

White, T. Jefferson, Hamburg, p. o. Blasdell, was born in the town of Brant, Erie county, N. Y., January 24, 1840, and educated in the district schools. In 1860 he married Mary Baxter of Chicago and she died the same year. August 14, 1862, he enlisted in Co. A, 116th N. Y., Vols., and was wounded twice, first at the siege of Fort Hudson and second at Opequan Creek. He was promoted corporal and was honorably discharged June 9, 1865. His father, Moses White, was born in Vermont in 1812, and when a young man came to this State and county. He married Louisa A. Mosher, and they had nine children. Mr. White died March 14, 1878, and his widow resides with her son, T. Jefferson, at this date (1896).

Baker, Hon. Amos H., Hamburg, was born in the town of Eden, Erie county, in 1838. He was educated in the schools of that day and Aurora Academy. He taught school four winter terms and then took a course in Bryant & Stratton's Commercial College of Buffalo and was graduated in 1864. He was in the oil regions eight years and in 1872 purchased a home in Hamburg. When the People's Bank was organized in 1890 Mr. Baker was elected first vice-president of the bank, and in 1893 was elected its president. He was member of assembly from Erie county in 1885 and 1886, and

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again in 1889. He has married twice; first, in 1864, to Matilda M., daughter of Stephen Kane. Mrs. Baker died in March of the following year, and he married, in 1872, Mrs. Alice M. Budroe. Mr. Baker's father, Erastus, was born in Vermont in 1789 and was a soldier in the war of 1812. He was married twice; first, to Roxie Booth, then to Marilla Shepard and they had eight children.

Froehley, Constantine, Hamburg, was born in Adelhausen amt Shophheim, Gross- herzogthum, Baden, Germany, March 22, 1830. He was educated in their schools and came to America in May, 1850, first locating in Buffalo, then in Gowanda and other places, coming to Hamburg in 1878, where he is conducting a first-class furni- ture and undertaking business with great success. He has married twice; first, in 1853 to Elmira Warner, and they had four children, Helen, Emma, William and Anna. Mrs. Froehley died in 1863, and for his second wife he married Alida Ma- thews, and they had three children, Charles, Herbert and Annie.

James, Henry A., Hamburg, was born in the town of Eden, N. Y., January 1, 1859. He was educated in the district schools and his early life was spent on the farm. He learned the carpenter and joiner's trade and went to Buffalo in 1881. In 1882 he came to Hamburg and in 1885 began business as a contractor and builder and has so continued with success. September 18, 1884, he married Sopha C. Thompson, and they have two children, Gertie B. and Clayton A. Mr. Janes's father, Jacob, was born in Germany, November 3, 1831, and came to America with his parents when four years old. They located in Eden, where he was educated and became a farmer. He married Magdalena Schuster of that town, and they had seven children: Henry A. (as above), Carrie L., Magdalena (who died in infancy), Lizzie C., George E., William D. and Emma F. Mrs. Janes's father, Jerome Thompson, was born in Ver- mont, August 28, 1817. He came to this State when a young man and married Har- riet Coon of Black Rock, and they had nine children: George B., Orville J., Andrew J., Ellen A., William T., Carrie A., Sopha C. (as above), Charles H. and Arthur A. Mr. Janes is a member of the Independent Order of Foresters of Hamburg, and the ancestry of the family is German and Yankee.

Lake, Leslie W., Hamburg, was born in that town, April 25, 1849. He was edu- cated in the public schools, Griffith Institute, and was graduated from the State Normal School of Buffalo, N. Y. He taught school several years and has been principal of Hamburg and Aurora Academies, also the School of Practice in Buffalo, N. Y. He was school commissioner from 1888 until 1891. In 1891 he formed a copartnership with A. C. Eddy, in the grocery business, which continues until now. Mr. Lake is a member of Fraternal Lodge No. 625, F. & A. M. and the I. O. O. F. Mr. Lake's father, Samuel, was born in the town of Boston, Erie county, N. Y., in 1818. He married Sylphina Pierce of his native town and they had two children, Leslie W. (as above) and Hortense. He died in 1858 and his wife in 1866.

Schoepflin, John, Hamburg, was born in Buffalo, N. Y., February 3, 1858, where he was educated in the public schools and Bryant & Stratton's Business College. After graduating he learned the miller's trade and conducted business in Garden- ville and Gowanda and came to Hamburg June 10, 1892, where he purchased the Hamburg Roller Process Flouring Mills, which he has conducted since with success. August 25, 1880, he married Julia Sax and they have two children, Irma M. and

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Paul H. Mr. Schoepflin's father, John, was born in Germany and came to America in 1854, where he married his wife, also a native of Germany, and they had five children.

Avery, George H., Hamburg, was born in Devonshire, England, November 22, 1830. He was educated in their schools and came to America when he was twenty- one years old, locating first in Buffalo and afterward in West Seneca, Erie county, N. Y. In 1858 he married Mary C. Morrison of West Seneca and they had six children: Kate M., George M., John H., Robert C., Sarah G. and Charles W.

Titus, John F., Hamburg, p. o. Blasdell, was born in the State of Ohio, January 5, 1840. His parents came to the town of Hamburg, Erie county, N. Y., when he was three years old and he was educated in the public schools. He has been a lumberman, merchant, oil producer and hotel keeper. In the year 1891 he purchased the Lake Avenue Hotel at Woodlawn Beach, at Blasdell, N. Y., which he is con- ducting with increasing success. July 28, 1868, he married Mary A. Byers, formerly of Scotland, and they had two children, William and Mary. Mr. Titus is a member of the I. O. O. F., and a Republican. His father, Hiram Titus, was born in Ver- mont in 1808 and came with his parents to this town and State when a boy. He married Anna Fenstermaker of Philadelphia, Pa., and they had four children, John F. (as above), Oscar and Orrin (twins), and Melvina. Mr. Titus died in 1881 and his widow in 1886. Nathaniel Titus, grandfather of John F., was an artillery soldier in Buffalo in the war of 1812 and had charge of a gun on Niagara Square.

Burke, Willis A., Hamburg, p. o. Lakeview, was born in Westminster, Vt., March 3, 1838. He was educated in the schools there, and came to the town of Collins, Erie county, N. Y., at the age of eighteen, where he has been a farmer and produce dealer until he retired in 1892. In 1891 he was elected justice of the peace, which position he still holds. February 14, 1859, he married Cornelia Pierce of the town of Collins, and they had four children, Ellis W. (who died in infancy), Adah M., Cortland O. and Emma E. Adah M. married Theron A. Pierce of Greenfield, P.a .; Cortland O. married Rose Ibeck of the town of Evans. Mr. Burke's father, Cort- land, was born on the old homestead in Vermont, January 10, 1810. He died June 2, 1887, and his widow March 8, 1889. The family trace their ancestry back to the eighth century, as De Burgh, Bourke, Bourck and Burke, and were represented in the Revolutionary, Mexican and Civil wars.

Gould, Royal A., Hamburg, was born on the Gould homestead near Big Tree, January 19, 1846, and educated in the district schools. He has always followed farming, with the exception of five years in the milk business in Buffalo. Novem- ber 29, 1870, he married Susan M. Pierce, and they had one son, Frank A. Mrs. Gould died June 8, 1874, and on February 3, 1881, he married Alice M. Sowle, and they had four children, Susie M., Clara C., Florence S. and Levie. Mr. Gould's father, Royal V., was born in Vermont, April 27, 1809 and came to New York State with his parents at the age of seven years, where he was educated in the schools of that day. He, too, was a farmer. He married Charlotte Huff, and they had five children, Phoebe, Royal A., Sarah L., Alonzo H. and Charlotte. Mr. Gould died July 31, 1888. His wife was born December 15, 1819, and died July 17, 1893.

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Pierce, Winslow S., Hamburg, p. o. Armor, was born in a log house about a mile northwest of Abbott's Corners (now Armor), August 20, 1818. He was edu- cated in the schools of that day, and on account of ill health took up music at the age of twenty one, which was profitable in those times; he also farmed at his old birthplace. February 8, 1849, he married Rozelia S. Titus of Hamburg, and they have four children, Jerome W., Perry D., Evelyn S. and Hiram A. Jerome W. mar- ried Mary S. Duel of East Hamburg, and they have one son, Clarence A .; Perry D. married Jennie M. Duel, and they have two sons, Everett D. and Loren B .; Evelyn S. married Frank P. Titus, and they have two children. H. Arnold and Myrtle R. ; Hiram A. married Ida Kilgore of Illinois, and they have three children, Winslow H., Robert K. and Ione. Mr. Pierce's four children were all musicians and were called the musical family. Mrs. Pierce's father, Nathaniel Titus, was born in Buf- falo, N. Y. in 1802. He married twice; first, to Sarah E. Bucklin, formerly of Her- kimer county, and they had two children, Frances J. and Rozelia, as above. Mrs. Titus died August 2, 1833, and for his second wife he married Mrs. Sylvia (Clark) Day, and they had two children, Sarah E. and Charles H. Mr. Titus died August' 26, 1880, and his widow in 1888. Mr. Pierce's grandfather, Nathaniel, was born in Morristown, N. J., in 1765, and married Sarah Brandow of Athens, Greene county, N. Y. He was a soldier, at Buffalo, in the war of 1812 and handled the last ar- tillery piece on Niagara Square as the British marched up Niagara street; after firing the last shot he took to the bushes, where he suddenly came upon the body of his neighbor, Truman Cairy of the town of Boston, who had just been killed and scalped by the Canadian Indians, who were paid by the British for every American's scalp they produced. He died June 8, 1858. Mr. Pierce's grandfather, Giles Pierce, was also a soldier in the war of 1812, and the Bucklin family were represented in that war. Mr. Pierce is a staunch Democrat. The ancestry of the the Pierce family is English and New England.

Stewart, Mrs. Marion, Hamburg, p. o. Lakeview .- The late Elliott W. Stewart was born in Georgetown, Madison county, N. Y., July 14, 1817. He was an attorney at law and practiced his profession in Buffalo until his health failed, when he gave his attention to experimental farming on the Lake Road in the town of Hamburg, and became an agricultural writer of scientific research, residing on their home- stead from 1853. November 12, 1845 he married Marion Jameison and they had five children : James E., John J., Marion M., Alvan and Lillian J. Mr. Stewart was a thorough anti-slavery man. He died October 27, 1894. Mrs. Stewart's father, John Jameison, was born near Glasgow, Scotland, in 1781, and came to America in 1821, locating in Amboy, Oswego county. He died in 1849 and his wife in 1845.

Stuart, Samuel M., Hamburg, was born at Evans Mills, Jefferson county, N. Y., October 6, 1822. His parents came to Rochester when he was two years old, where he was educated in the schools of the day, and Mrs. Browning's Academy. He afterwards became a woolen manufacturer, having learned the trade of Oliver Allen of Mumfordville, Monroe county, N. Y. July 11, 1842, he married Mary I. Red- field of Gowanda, Cattaraugus county, N. Y. They have four children : Samuel W., Rupell R., Isabelle M. and Sarah V. Mr. Stuart is a member of Fraternal Lodge No. 625, F. & A. M., and of Royal Templars of Temperance. Mr. and Mrs. Stuart are members of the Baptist church of Hamburg. In politics Mr. Stuart is a Republi-

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can and voted the first Republican ticket and assisted in the organization of the party. His father was a native of Massachusetts and married Mary Ann, daughter of Roger Wolcott of Connecticut; they had eight children. Mr. Stuart was elected president of Hamburg village in 1890, serving six years, was re-elected in 1897, and being a careful manager, a studious and enterprising citizen, he has won the com- mendation of the people by the exhibition of good judgment and wise administrative capacity.

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Our county and its people : a descriptive work on Erie County, New York, Volume II, Part 34

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