Our county and its people : a descriptive work on Erie County, New York, Volume II, Part 60

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 60

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Silsbee, Harry B., Buffalo, son of Solomon and Mehitable (Fuller) Silsbee, was born August 10, 1864, in Friendship, Allegany county, N. Y., where he attended the public schools, and where he was engaged in farming until he was twenty-five years of age. He was afterward engaged in the nursery business in Providence, R. I., Boston, Mass., and along the Hudson River, and in 1883 went to Albany, N. Y., as

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the local representative of the Mercantile Accident Company of that city. Five months later he was appointed, without solicitation on his part, their New York State agent. After one year in this capacity he became the Pennsylvania State agent for the Equitable. Accident Association of Binghamton, N. Y., and within four years had built up one of the largest accident insurance businesses in that common- wealth. At the end of that period the company was consolidated with the United States Mutual Accident Company, making the latter the largest of the kind in the world, and Mr. Silsbee was appointed its traveling agent and adjuster. He resigned this position March 1, 1891, but his resignation was not accepted until July 3, and then he came to Buffalo as district manager for Western New York for the Security Mutual Life Association of Binghamton, which position he still holds. Mr. Silsbee has successfully built up a business aggregating $2,500,000, and is recognized as one of the best insurance men in the State. He has resided in Buffalo since 1892, and is a member of Ancient Landmarks Lodge F. & A. M., Iditum Chapter R. A. M., and Queen City Consistory of Buffalo, and Malta Commandery K. T., of Binghamton. March 14, 1868, he married Clara E., daughter of Harrison Higgins of Friendship, N. Y., and they have one son, Ralph H.

Jewett, Edgar Boardman, Buffalo, mayor of Buffalo from 1895 to 1897 inclusive, is a son of John Cotton and Priscilla (Boardman) Jewett, and was born at Ann Arbor, Mich., December 14, 1843. Soon afterward the family removed to Buffalo, where the father established, in 1849, the concern now conducted by the John C. Jewett Manufacturing Company, of which Mr. Jewett has been president and general man- ager since 1885. Mr. Jewett received his education in the public schools of Buffalo. He early developed a strong inclination for business pursuits, and when sixteen en- tered his father's establishment, where he made rapid progress in learning every branch of the manufacture of refrigerators, water filters, etc. These articles have acquired a national reputation. At the breaking out of the war of the Rebellion he entered the service of the State of New York as a private in Co. C, 74th Regt., N. G. N. Y., and in May, 1863, was elected second sergeant, which position he held during the campaign that followed Lee's invasion of Pennsylvania. He returned to Buffalo as first sergeant of his company, and was commissioned first lieutenant June 29, 1865; captain April 3, 1866; major and inspector of rifle practice, 31st brigade, April 11, 1877; inspector, 14th brigade, October 9, 1879; lieutenant-colonel and chief of staff, 14th brigade, October 25, 1880; and brigadier-general, 8th brigade, March 29, 1884. He resigned from the service December 7, 1885, to accept the positions of president and general manager of the John C. Jewett Manufacturing Company, with which he has since been connected. He is also vice-president of the Cary Safe Com- pany of Buffalo. General Jewett has long been one of the leading Republicans of the city. On March 1, 1894, Mayor Bishop appointed him a police commissioner, and in November of the same year was elected mayor of Buffalo by a majority of nearly 10,000, the largest ever received in the city by a candidate for that office. His administration of three years was characterized by numerous public improve- ments and great benefit to the city at large. He is a public spirited citizen, a man of broad experience, and thoroughly identified with the city's best interests. Since the expiration of his term as mayor Mr. Jewett has devoted his attention to the affairs of the Columbia National Bank, of which he had been elected president in May, 1897. October 2, 1865, he married Miss Elizabeth Foster Danforth, of Ann Arbor, Mich.

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Meredith, Sullivan Amory, Buffalo, son of Gen. Sullivan A. and Julia F. (Towne) Meredith, was born in Buffalo, N. Y., October 14, 1865. Gen. Sullivan A. Meredith, his father, was a son of William Meredith and a great-grandson of Gouverneur Morris, and was born July 5, 1816, in Philadelphia, Pa. He was graduated from William and Mary College at Baltimore, engaged in business in his native city, be- ing associated at one time with Samuel J. Randall in the coal trade. He was one of the first overland emigrants to California in 1849, and also made two trips to South America. On the breaking out of the Rebellion he organized a company of the 10th Pa. Vols., and was commissioned its captain, and was wounded at Second Bull Run. He became colonel of the 56th Pa. Vols., was appointed commissioner for the exchange of prisoners, and was brevetted brigadier general by Congress, In 1865 he came to Buffalo, engaged in the proprietary medicine business with Dr. David Ransom, and died here December 26, 1874. His wife survives him. They had five children : Sullivan Amory, Julian Francis, Gertrude Louise (deceased), Mabel Estelle, and Grace Ethel. (William M. Meredith, brother of Gen. Sullivan A., was secretary of the treasury at Washington in 1850.) Sullivan Amory Meredith was educated in the public schools of Buffalo and took a two years' course at Harvard University. Since leaving school he has been engaged in the real estate business in his native city.

Morse, David R., Buffalo, president of the Erie County Savings Bank, is a son of Asher and Anna (Reynolds) Morse, and was born in Westerlo, Albany county, N. Y., October 14, 1819. His grandfather, David Morse, came from Connecticut and settled just over the line in the county of Greene. Mr. Morse was reared on the farm and in his father's grist and saw mills, attending the district schools when op- portunity permitted. When fourteen he became a clerk in a general store and for- warding house in Coxsackie, where he remained four years. Afterward he was variously occupied in New York city until 1843, when he came to Buffalo, where he has since resided. Here he was engaged in the dry goods trade until 1850, and from that time to 1863 conducted a successful ship chandlery and vessel business. In the latter year he retired from active life. He was made a director of the Erie County Savings Bank about 1879, later became its vice-president, and since 1889 has filled the responsible position of president. His ability as a financier is well known. As the head of one of the largest and wealthiest fiduciary institutions in Western New York he stands high in banking circles, and is widely recognized as a man of in- tegrity, enterprise and sound judgment. With only a limited district school educa- tion he has won his own way to eminence and achieved success. He is president of the Forest Lawn Cemetery Association, was for some time a director of the Buffalo, New York and Erie Railroad, and is prominently identified with the best interests of the city. Though often urged to accept political honors he has steadfastly refused, with one exception, when he served in the Common Council. October 14, 1845, he married Miss Elizabeth G., daughter of William T. Miller of Buffalo, and they have three children living: Jennie (Mrs. Walter T. Wilson), Charles M., and Anna (Mrs. Samuel Ames).

Morse, Charles M., Buffalo, son of David R. Morse, president of the Erie County Savings Bank, was born in Buffalo, N. Y., January 11, 1854. He pursued a special course in engineering at Yale University, and afterward was employed on a railroad engineering corps and later as transitman with a government engineering corps

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along Lakes Erie and Ontario. About 1874 he entered the Brooks Locomotive Works at Dunkirk, and afterward became successively a machinist in the Erie and Lake Shore Railroad shops, locomotive inspector for the Erie Railroad Company, and superintendent of the Crown Point Iron Company at Crown Point, N.Y. From 1882 to 1886 he practiced his profession as mechanical engineer in New York city, and since then has followed the same business in Buffalo, where he is also senior partner of the Buffalo Engineering Company, engineers and contractors. Mr. Morse has been a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers since 1884 and of the American Society of Civil Engineers since January, 1895. In December, 1890, he married Kathleen Edgar of Easton, Pa.

Cornwell, Chauncey C., Buffalo, son of Harvey D. and Olive Graves (Hulbert) Cornwell, was born October 13, 1839, in Middletown. Conn., where he received his education, attending the public schools, graduating from the high school and finish- ing at the Wesleyan University. He was bookkeeper in a large flouring mill there for five years, and in February, 1865, enlisted as a fireman in the U. S. Navy, serv- ing in the Gulf Squadron two years; in 1867 he re-enlisted and served with an ex- perimental corps testing engines on new steam ships. He was promoted to the position of paymaster's clerk. In 1869 he became a fireman in a large silk mill in Willimantic, and in 1870 removed to Newark, N. J., as chief engineer for the Singer Sewing Machine Company, which position he held seven years. There he was suc- cessively with John D. Cutter & Co. for four years, engaged in the manufacture of bags and satchels, and for two years chief engineer for the Essex County Insane Asylum. In January, 1887, he removed to Holyoke, Mass., as chief engineer for the Winona Paper Company, and in the spring of 1889 came to Buffalo, where he was chief engineer for the General Electric Company for five years. In 1894 he became chief engineer of the Niagara Falls Paper Company and in 1895 accepted his pres- ent position as chief engineer of the D. S. Morgan building. Mr. Cornwell is one of the most capable and best known stationary enginers in Western New York. He is a member of the National Association of Stationary Engineers, president of one of the local bodies (Keystone No. 50), a member of the Naval Veterans' Association, and past grand of Protection Lodge No. 28, I. O. O. F., and past chancellor of St. Paul's Lodge No. 29, K. P., both of Newark, N. J. January 24, 1861, he married Maria G. Leonard, of Middletown, Conn., who died May 27, 1884, leaving two chil- dren, Alice R. and Gertrude L. He married, second, April 27, 1887, Catherine J. Lynch, of Newark, N. J.

Close, Emory P., Buffalo, United States attorney for the northern district of New York, was born in Buffalo on December 13, 1859, and received his education in the public schools. He was assistant librarian of the Buffalo Library from 1874 to 1877, and in this capacity acquired a varied knowledge of general literature. He applied . himself especially to the study of stenography, which he mastered, and at the age of seventeen resigned his position and entered the office of Slocum & Thornton, official stenographers of the Supreme Court for the 8th judicial district. In 1880 he opened an office of his own and soon afterward became a member of the firm of Thornton, Briggs & Close. In 1884 he was elected official stenographer for the Assembly, and was re-elected in 1885, 1886 and 1887 without opposition. From 1880 to 1888 he was also a Supreme Court stenographer for the 8th district. Meantime he had taken up

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the study of law, and in 1886 was admitted to the bar. In 1888 he began the active practice of his profession, first as a member of the firm of Close & Fleischmann and later as a partner of William L. Marcy under the style of Marcy & Close. In July, 1897, Mr. Close was appointed United States attorney for the northern district of New York by President Mckinley. He is one of the ablest members of the Buffalo bar, and as both lawyer and citizen is widely respected and esteemed. He is an active Republican, has achieved honor as a campaign orator, and is a member of Ancient Landmarks Lodge, F. & A. M., and of the Acacia, Liberal and Buffalo Clubs He was also president of the Buffalo Republican League for the year 1896. January 7, 1885, he married Etta S. Cobb, daughter of Lorenzo D. Cobb, of Buffalo, and they have two children, a daughter, Shirley Belle Close, and a son, Lorenzo Cobb Close.

Depew, Chauncey, Buffalo, son of William B. and Helen (Ganson) Depew, was born in Buffalo, N. Y., May 20, 1868. He was educated in private schools and at the age of nineteen entered the local freight office of the N. Y. C. &. H. R. Railroad as clerk, where he remained for four years, when he was promoted to the position of cashier and later to that of agent at the Green street office. In 1895 he was ap- pointed to the responsible position of division freight agent of that line, which posi- tion he now occupies.

Beard, Philo D., Buffalo, son of Daniel C. and Jeanette (Burton) Beard, was born in Buffalo, N. Y., November 17, 1847, and with the exception of four years (1892-96) spent in Chicago has always resided in his native city. Daniel C. Beard walked from Washington, D. C., to Buffalo in 1834, when eighteen years of age, and soon established himself in the grocery business with V. C. Newell. He was later alone and afterward associated with George W. Hayward, and for many years carried on a successful wholesale and retail grocery trade. He was also engaged in the manu- facture of soap with Peter Gowans and interested in various other enterprises, and served his adopted city as alderman and as chairman of the sewer commission that built the great trunk line sewers. He and his wife are still living in Buffalo, having celebrated their sixtieth marriage anniversary in May, 1897. Philo D. Beard re- ceived a private school education, and for eight years was engaged in the wholesale grocery business with George P. Thyng, under the firm name of Beard & Thyng. He is prominently connected with various enterprises. In 1879 he was elected a trustee and later vice-president of the Erie County Savings Bank, and was a mem- ber of the committee which erected its handsome new building. He was also a director of the Bell Telephone Company of Buffalo for many years, was for four years engaged in the manufacture of paper in Chicago, was an organizer and one of the first directors of the Queen City Gas Light Company, and was supervisor of the old Tenth ward for six years. In politics he is a Republican. He is one of the rep- resentative men of Buffalo, and for one term was president of the Buffalo Library and for several years one of its trustees and real estate commissioners.

Dudley, Wesley C., Buffalo, son of Reuben and Phoebe J. (Coleman) Dudley, was born in Colden, Erie county, May 31, 1867. His father came from Lincolnshire, England, 1849, and first settled in Buffalo, where he was married; he subsequently removed to the town of Colden, and since the death of his wife in 1895 has resided

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in West Falls. Mr. Dudley attended the district schools and in 1888 was graduated from the Aurora Academy, paying for his tuition, etc., by teaching. He was princi- pal of the Sardinia Union School in 1888-89 and of the Union School in Alden in 1889-90, and in the latter year was elected school commissioner for the third com- missioner district of Erie county, a position he filled with great credit for three years. He was the youngest school commissioner in the State. In 1892 Mr. Dudley en- tered the office of Rogers, Locke & Milburn, one of the leading law firms of Buffalo, and in October, 1894, he was admitted to the bar. The same year he was elected clerk of the Board of Supervisors of Erie County, and was twice re-elected without opposition, serving until he resigned in September, 1897, to accept the appointment of assistant United States district attorney for the Northern district of New York. He was a delegate to the National Republican Convention at St. Louis in 1896. In 1895 he formed a copartnership with Milford W. Childs, son of Justice Henry A. Childs of the Supreme Court, which still continues under the firm name of Dudley & Childs. April 18, 1895, Mr. Dudley married Floy B., only daughter of the late Aus- tin N. Stickney, of Buffalo.

Hengerer William, Buffalo, one of the foremost merchants of Buffalo, was born March 2, 1839, in Wurtemberg, Germany, where he attended the common schools. In 1849 he came to America with his parents and first lived for twelve years in Pitts- burg, Pa., where he completed his education. In March, 1861, he removed to Buffalo and entered the dry goods store of Sherman & Barnes, at 259 Main street, receiving $6 per week, but on the first call for troops enlisted in the 21st N. Y. Vols., the first regiment to go to the seat of the rebellion from Erie county. Returning to Buffalo in 1863, after a meritorious career at the front, he accepted his old position as clerk. The firm was succeeded by J. C. Barnes & Co., and they by Barnes & Bancroft, to which Mr. Hengerer was admitted as a partner in 1874 under the style Barnes, Bancroft & Co. They removed to larger quarters, taking a building after- ward replaced by the " Great Iron Block" and on a part of the site now occupied by the William Hengerer Company's store. On the retirement of Mr. Barnes from the active management in 1885 the firm became Barnes, Hengerer & Co., and after the death (in 1895) of the senior partner the concern was reorganized January 1, 1896, as the William Hengerer Company, with Mr. Hengerer, president; C. O. Howard, treasurer; E. D. Robbins, secretary. The "Great Iron Block " was burned in Feb- ruary, 1888, and on its site was at once erected the present mammoth store, one of the largest and most complete between New York and Chicago. For fully twenty- five years the business was confined almost exclusively to dry goods; from this it has developed into one of the largest department stores in the country, representing over 600 employees and combining stocks valued at upward of $1,500,000. From a trade of $300,000 in 1865 it has increased to more than $4,000,000 per year at the present time. The strong personality, rugged honesty and progressiveness of Mr. Hengerer have been largely instrumental in causing this wonderful advancement, and to him is also due many valuable and worthy innovations infused into the great retail trade of the city. Mr. Hengerer is one of the most public spirited of citizens, taking an active interest in all good movements and contributing constantly to the general welfare. He has been a park commissioner since 1884 and is now president of the board, is a trustee of the Buffalo State Normal School, is a member of the Buffalo

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Club, Orpheus, Liedertafel, and other organizations. He is also one of the founders and president of the Lutheran Church Home for Aged and Infirm. September 24, 1863, he married Louise Duerr, of Buffalo, and they have eight sons and one daugh- ter, of whom five sons are connected with the William Hengerer Company.

Deuchler, Henry D., Buffalo, son of Peter and Jacolina (Pauly) Deuchler, was born in Buffalo, November 25, 1864. He was educated in the public schools and in 1884 entered the drug store of Mrs. Johanna Keller at 761 Seneca street, as clerk. In 1892, in company with Andrew J. Keller, a son of his employer, he purchased the business and the present firm of Keller & Deuchler was formed. Mr. Deuchler is of German descent, his father having come to this country in 1847, settling in Dundee, Ill., whence he removed to Buffalo, and his mother having come from Germany to Buffalo in 1847. He is a member of the Erie County Pharmaceutical Association, the New York State Pharmaceutical Association, Red Jacket Lodge No. 238, I. O. O. F., Cazenovia Tribe No. 330, I. O. R. M., and the Knights of Pythias. In Octo- ber, 1890, he married Carrie, daughter of Stephen Keller of Buffalo.

Cornelius, Adam, Buffalo, was born in Germany, July 23, 1837, and obtained his education in that country. In 1850 he came to America with his parents, who settled in Hamburg, Erie county. He was variously occupied until 1857, when he came to Buffalo and entered the employ of Philip Houck. After five years' service as book- keeper, teamster, etc., he was admitted under the firm name of Philip Houck & Co., which still remains unchanged. Since the death of Mr. Houck the latter's sons have been identified with the business, Mr. Cornelius being the senior member of the firm. His connection with it covers a period of forty-two years, and he has seen the business grow from a small beginning to its present vast proportions. He is a director of the German Insurance Company and of the Union Bank of Buffalo, and is a prominent 32d degree Mason. In June, 1862, Mr. Cornelius married Carrie, daughter of Joseph Hoover of Hamburg, N. Y., and they have three daughters, Elizabeth, Julia and Carrie.

Goergen, George J., Buffalo, son of Nicholas J. and Catharine (Smith) Georgen, was born in Buffalo, N. Y., August 23, 1868. He received his elementary and business education in St. Boniface parochial school, Buffalo College of Commerce, and Bryant & Stratton's Business College. His first employment was as a bookkeeper in the of- fice of William Recktenwalt, where he remained one year. He then accepted a po- sition with the wholesale grocery firm of Granger & Co. as a billing clerk, which he resigned after a short time, to take the position of cashier in the grocery store of W. H. Granger. In 1895 he established himself in the grocery business at 916 Gen- esee street in company with his brothers, Joseph J. and John J. When this firm dissolved, Mr. Georgen engaged in business at 715 Sycamore street, with his brother, Joseph J. In 1897 this copartnership was also dissolved. Mr. Goergen now con- ducts the business alone, and has made his store one of the leading groceries in that section of the city. In October, 1895, he married Tressa Linneman of Buffalo, and they have one daughter, Genevive J.

O'Brien, William, Buffalo, son of Cornelius and Catharine (Curboy) O'Brien, was born in Nanagh, County Tipperary, Ireland, November 27, 1840. In 1858 he came to this country and settled in Waltham, Mass., where he found employment with the

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Waltham Watch Company as a polisher of watch cases. In 1861 he entered the Newton Chemical Works at Waltham, and studied the process of making muriatic, nitric, and sulphuric acids, oil of vitriol, lead burning, and the erection and practical working of acid chambers. In 1873, at the recommendation of Prof. Liebig, a prom- inent chemist of Baltimore, he removed to Buffalo to accept a position with the L. L. Crocker Fertilizer Company, remaining in their employ as superintendent until 1889, when he severed his connection with this firm to accept the superintendency of the Milsom Rendering and Fertilizer Company, which responsible position he now holds. Mr. O'Brien is a practical compounder of chemicals, a good business man, and an accomplished gentleman. He is a member of the C. M. B. A. In 1845 he married Catharine A., daughter of Arthur Mullen, of Waltham, Mass., and they had one daughter, Mary E. (deceased).

Schick, Jacob, Buffalo, was born in Germany, January 20, 1866. and emigrated to America in 1883, settling in Buffalo. His first employment was with the firm of Becker & Wikser, harness manufacturers, with whom he remained for eight years. In 1891 he formed a partnership with Philip Barchert, and established a harness manufactory and store at 176 Genesee street. In 1893 Mr. Barchert retired and the business has since been conducted by Mr. Schick. He is a member of German Bun- dens Lodge No. 109, I. O. O. F., and of the Buffalo Sangerbund. Mr. Schick is respected by all who know him. In May, 1888, he married Frances Altman of Buf- falo, and they have five children: Matilda F., Emma L., Jacob A. and Oliver F.

Houck, Henry P., Buffalo, son of the late Philip Houck, was born in Buffalo, June 27, 1870. He acquired a liberal education in the public and high schools of his native city and after completing his schooling he entered the service of his father as a bookkeeper. In 1891 he was admitted to the firm of Philip Houck & Co., flour jobbers, in which he is at present interested. Mr. Houck is of German descent, his father having emigrated from Germany when but fourteen years of age, settling in in East Hamburg, Erie county, whence he removed to Buffalo and established him- self in the flour business. The firm of Philip Houck & Co. has been in existence for a period of forty-one years, or since about 1856.

Reynolds, Charles J., M. D., Buffalo, son of Robert and Elizabeth (Slocum) Rey- nolds, was born in Osawatomie, Kan., March 29, 1865. When he was but ten years old his father died, and his mother removed to New York State. He obtained his education in the district schools of East Otto, Cattaraugus county, at Griffith Insti- tute in Springville, and at the Geneseo Normal School. He was engaged for some time as a school teacher at North Sparta, N. Y., but decided to study medicine, and in 1887 entered the medical department of Niagara University, and obtained the de- gree of M. D. in 1890, graduating with honor. After graduation he immediately began the practice of his profession in Buffalo. He is attending physician at the Buffalo Orphan Asylum, and was also coroner's physician. Dr. Reynolds is medical examiner for several fraternal and insurance organizations. He is a member of Hiram Lodge No. 105, F. & A. M., and a prominent Odd Fellow, being past district deputy grand master of Erie district No 5. In December, 1893, he married Mary E., daughter of William Wilder of Caledonia, N. Y., and they have one daughter, · Bernice Caledonia.

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Our county and its people : a descriptive work on Erie County, New York, Volume II, Part 60

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