USA > New York > Erie County > Our county and its people : a descriptive work on Erie County, New York, Volume II > Part 75
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dren: Richard Alfred, jr., Raymond Isaac, Helen Holland, Evadne Holloway and Mary Sarah.
Wegenaar & Son, Buffalo .- This business was established by Ivo & Wegenaar in 1872 and has since become one of the most prosperous concerns in Buffalo. In 1886 the original firm was changed to Wegenaar & Son by the retirement of Mr. Ivo and the admission of John L. Wegenaar, a son of Louis Wegenaar, who was one of the founders. Louis Wegenaar was a native of Holland and came to this country in 1867, settling in Buffalo, where he resided all his life. He married Mary Ivo, of Holland, and four children survive: Mary E., wife of Edward Spiesz; Louis A., who is now associated with his brother in the conduct of the business; Edward; and John L. John L. Wegenaar was born in Holland April 17, 1869, and came to America with his parents. He received his education in the public schools of Buffalo and at St. Canisius College and was variously employed until he entered his father's busi- ness, of which he had entire charge some ten years prior to his father's death, and to which he succeeded. In 1896 he married Matilda E. Heintz of Buffalo, and they have one daughter, Marion E. The firm of Wegenaar & Son is well known as a leading house in the production of monuments and statuary, and having the prestige of a long establishment, controls a large business throughout the United States, wholesale as well as retail.
Donovan, Daniel J., Buffalo, was born at Croydon, near London, England, May 21, 1858, received a private school education, and from the age of nine was variously employed until 1869, when he came to America. He first settled in Niagara Falls, N. Y., where he finished his education in the public schools. He served an appren- ticeship at furniture finishing with Isaac D. White of Buffalo, and was afterward employed by the Erie Railroad as a coach painter. In 1877 he went to Chicago and studied house painting and decorating while following his business, and on his re- turn to Buffalo in 1881 he formed a copartnership with his brother, Thomas W. Donovan; this was subsequently dissolved and a new partnership was formed with John W. Donovan, which still continues, the present style of the firm being the D. J. Donovan Company. This is one of the largest and best known wall paper, paint and decorating firms in the city. In 1894 they removed from 40 Elm street to their present location at 869 and 871 Main street. Mr. Donovan is a Democrat, president of the Seventeenth Ward Good Government Club and of the Buffalo Master Painters' Association, vice-president of the New York State Master Painters' Association, a charter member of the Buffalo Athletic Association, and a member of the C. M. B. A. and other organizations. November 21, 1882, he married Elizabeth J., daughter of Capt. James L. Armstrong, of Buffalo, and they have three children.
Jenkins, Oliver A., Buffalo, is a native of Florida, born May 24, 1852. His par- ents removed to Buffalo, N. Y., when he was quite young, and there he attended the public and high schools. After completing his education he was offered a clerkship with Holland & Co., which he accepted and held for some time. He then spent a year in the West, after which he returned to Buffalo, and engaged in the contracting business, which he has since followed. In 1892 he formed a copartnership with E. C. Knight, under the firm name of Jenkins & Knight, builders and dealers in real
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estate. Mr. Jenkins has always taken an active part in political affairs, having been elected sheriff of Erie county in 1888. He has also held other offices of trust of minor importance. He is identified with a number of societies and clubs, being a member of the Masonic fraternity in all the degrees, and an active member of the I. O. O. F. and the Acacia, Press, and Ellicott Clubs. Aside from the real estate and contracting business, Mr. Jenkins is interested in a number of enterprises, being treasurer of the Crystal Beach Steam Boat Company, president of the Lancaster Brick Company, and a director of the Buffalo Building and Investment Company.
Himes, Frank R., Buffalo, holds a prominent position among the younger members of his profession. He was born at Port Hope, Ontario, February 11, 1875, and was brought to Buffalo when he was but eight years of age. Here he attended the pub- lic schools. After completing his education he entered his father's veterinary office, where he remained until his father's death in 1896, and since then he has had charge of the business. Mr. Himes is now attending the veterinary department of Cornell University. His hard work, industry, and persistent study indicate for him success, and an exemplary business career. His father, Dr. Palmer C. Himes, was engaged in practice for thirty-seven years, seventeen years of this time being spent in Buffalo.
Cox, William Bernard, Buffalo, was born in Manchester, Oneida county, N. Y., March 30, 1867. He is the eldest of three sons and three daughters of James and Ann (McBride) Cox, who removed from Boston, Mass., to Manchester, N. Y., where they lived until 1880, when they came to Waterville, N. Y., where they now reside. The subject of this notice attended the district schools and was graduated from the Waterville Academy in the class of 1883. In 1889 he removed to Buffalo and entered the employ of F. Julius, with whom he remained until 1892, when he became junior member of the firm of Julius & Co. This firm does a general carting and moving busi- ness, and employs on an average fifteen men ; it owns and operates seven large mov- ing vans, besides a number of smaller wagons. Mr. Cox was married July 27, 1892, to Miss Kathran A., daughter of Patrick and Mary Halligan, of Oneida county, and to them have been born two children: Walter and Anna. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. and the S. of V.
Steele. James Harvey, Buffalo, son of Abraham and Margaret (Bassett) Steele, was born in the town of Florida, Montgomery county, N. Y., July 11, 1855. His parents removed from New England to Montgomery county, where he was educated in the public schools. After leaving school he served an apprenticeship at the cooper's trade, in which he was engaged until 1879, when he removed to Buf- falo to accept a position with the firm of E. & B. Holmes, in whose employ he remained six years. At the end of this time he entered the service of Frank Wep- ner, having charge of the cooperage department and remaining in his employ until March, 1895, when he engaged in the grocery business on his own account, in which he still continues. Mr. Steele was married August 17, 1883, to Miss Charlotte, daughter of Charles and Anna (Smith) Germain, of London, England. He is a prom- inent member of Court Virginia No. 124, American Foresters.
Jarden, Wellington Z., Buffalo, son of Zechariah and Terrius (Fissette) Jarden,
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was born in Dunnville, County Mouck, Ontario, October 23, 1867. After attending the public schools of his native town he was employed on a farm for a period of eight years, after which he entered a fruit evaporating factory, where he remained for a short time. He next entered a grocery store in the employ of F. R. Labor, of Dunnville, where he remained for a year, when he entered the employ of R. B. Patterson in the same capacity, and after one year he was employed in a woolen mill for two years. At the end of this service he accepted a position in the dry goods house of Fred Scholfield, of Dunnville, where he was employed until 1893, when he removed to Buffalo and engaged in the jewelry business, in which he still con- tinues. Mr. Jarden was married October 27, 1897, to Miss Lucinda, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Keeley) Messmore, of Dunnville, Ont.
Wilson, George H., Buffalo, is well known to the entire community, having been for many years foreman of the machine shop for the old Shepard Iron Works, now the King Iron Works, of which H. G. Trout is proprietor. Mr. Wilson was born in Niagara county, N. Y., September 11, 1843, and is a son of Thomas and Margaret (Hammond) Wilson, who came from England in 1823 and settled in the county of Niagara. He obtained an excellent education in the public schools of Medina, N. Y., and in 1859 came to Buffalo and entered the employ of the Shepard Iron Works, where he has remained nearly forty years. He has honestly earned the consider- ation in which he is held in the community, and the reputation he has established for integrity is ackowledged by all, especially by the engineers upon the great lakes. He was married April 16, 1878, to Helen C., daughter of William W. Smith, well known as a builder of the old Erie canal passenger packets. They have three children: George W., Margaret A. and Joseph H.
Hoopes, Elwin Lewis, Buffalo, junior member of the firm of Schroeter & Hoopes, dealers in cigars, tobacco and confectionery, is a son of Lewis and Clara S. (Slayton) Hoopes, and was born in the village of Linden, Genesee county, N. Y., February 7, 1847. His education was obtained in the public schools and at Genesee Wesleyan Seminary at Lima, graduating from the latter in 1862. On December 10 of the following year he enlisted in Co. L, 8th N. Y. Heavy Artillery, and served his coun- try until the close of the war. Prior to this service, however, he served an appren- ticeship at the milling trade under the guidance of his father, who was at that time engaged in milling. After the war he continued this business until 1893, when he removed to Buffalo and became the representative of the Commercial Oil Com- pany of Cleveland. Aside from his oil business Mr. Hoopes is also a member of the. firm of Schroeter & Hoopes. He was married February 10, 1867, to Miss Mary E., daughter of Robert H. and Amanda A. (Baker) Roberts of Attica, N. Y., and to them have been born one son, Charles L. Mr. Hoopes is a member of William Rich- ardson Post No. 254, G. A. R.
Mason, James B., Buffalo, son of William W. and Agnes G. (McClellan) Mason, was born at Tionesta, Pa., February 6, 1869. . He obtained his preliminary education in the public schools of Bradford, Pa., and his first business experience was as'a mes- senger boy for the American Rapid Telegraph Company in the Bradford Oil. Ex- change, and afterward was employed as a drug clerk by Henry J. Siegfried for one
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year. At this time he was offered a position in the Bradford National Bank, which he accepted and held for two years. He then returned to Mr. Siegfried's employ and remained nearly two years, upon the expiration of which time he entered the University of Buffalo for the study of pharmacy. He was graduated with honor from that institution in the class of 1892. In 1895, in company with his brother, he opened a drug store at his present location, corner of Prospect avenue and Mary- land street. Mr. Mason is a member of the Erie County and New York State Phar- maceutical Associations. In November, 1895, he married Nellie E., daughter of Lyman M. Baker of Buffalo, and they have one son, Robert B.
Masten, William Isaac, Buffalo, born in Wayne county, N. Y., February 18, 1857, attended the public schools and the Arcade Academy, from which latter institution he was graduated in the class of 1875. His first business experience was that of a retail grocer, in which he was very successful for a number of years. Prior to his connection with the manufacturing business he was employed as a traveling sales- man for Arend & Morgan, wholesale dry goods dealers, with whom he continued until 1884, when he became a member of the firm of Elwood, Masten & Bean, which copartnership was continued until 1887, and was succeeded by W. I. Masten & Co., the present style of the firm. The premises occupied are large and spacious, and give employment to a large number of people. Mr. Masten is a member of a num- ber of social clubs and societies, being prominently identified with all branches of Masonry. On November 17, 1886, he was united in marriage to Miss Ida M., daugh- ter of John and Elizabeth (Bedell) Goodsell, of Olean, N. Y. They have one daugh- ter: Gladys Elizabeth.
Dilfer, Nicholas, Buffalo, is a native of Germany. He was born March 31, 1837, received his education in his native land, and in 1853 emigrated to America. The vessel he embarked in had a stormy voyage and was on the ocean over seven weeks. Shortly after his arrival he settled in Buffalo, and found employment as a black- smith's apprentice in a carriage factory. In 1859 he removed to Memphis, Tenn., where he worked at his trade until 1861, when he returned to Buffalo and engaged in the carriage business on his own account. He continued in this until 1869, when he established a flour and feed business. In 1887 Mr. Dilfer admitted his oldest son, George N., forming the present firm of N. Dilfer & Son. This house has the pres- tige of having been established nearly thirty years, and disposes of large quantities of hay, grain, etc. In 1865 Mr. Dilfer married Amelia, daughter of George Voltz, of Buffalo. They have four children: George N., Julia (Mrs. Jacob Mueller), Frank C. and Cora A.
Young, David Casper, Buffalo, son of David and Sarah (Roth) Young, was born in Buffalo, N. Y., February 2, 1864. After receiving a liberal education in the pub- lic schools of his native city he began, at the age of fifteen, his apprenticeship at the barber's trade, and by hard work and economic habits succeeded to the proprietor- ship of three of the leading tonsorial parlors of Buffalo. In 1893 the firm of Gallagher & Young was organized and opened the now popular barber shop in the basement of the Erie County Savings Bank building, and upon the completion of the Ellicott Square building opened one in the basement of that structure and also
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one on the sixth floor. Mr. Young was united in marriage, December 12, 1889, to Miss Harriet, daughter of Christian and Elizabeth (Molder) Schlenker of Buffalo, and two children have been born to them: Laura F. born August 24, 1893, and David G., born July 21, 1895. Mr. Young is a member of Queen City Council No. 259, Royal Arcanum.
Busch, Jacob, Buffalo, was born in Rhine-Bavaria in 1834, came to America when fourteen years old and settled in Buffalo in 1850. For many years he was engaged in the meat business. In 1883 he organized the Busch Brewing Company of Tona- wanda, of which he was president until his death, November 28, 1897. He was also a director of the Lancaster Brick Company and for several years was engaged in the real estate business. In politics he was a staunch Republican, and although he never held public office yet he always took an active interest in the general welfare of the community, and was one of Buffalo's best known and most respected citi- zens. He was a member of the Masons, the A. O. U. W. and the Select Knights. October 28, 1858, he married Regina M. Glasser of Buffalo, who died in September, 1894, leaving eight children: Jacob W., John G., William C., Frederick A., George M., Charles V., Kate and Mrs. F. B. Eberhardt.
Busch, Fred, Buffalo, was born in Germany, January 15, 1843, and immigrated to America in 1860, settling in New Orleans, La., where he remained but a short time, and then removed to Buffalo, where he has since resided. From 1868 to 1874 he was engaged in the grocery trade, and from that time until 1880 he was engaged in the restaurant business. In 1876-77 he was supervisor of the old 9th ward and for six years was keeper of the Erie County Alms House. In 1893 the Busch Brewing Com- pany was established and he has since been connected with that business. In Feb- ruary, 1866, he married Catherine C. Sayer, of Buffalo, and they have three chil- dren: Dr. Fred C., George A., and Catherine. Mr. Busch is a thirty-second degree Mason and a member of Red Jacket Lodge, I. O. O. F.
Gallagher, Michael, of Buffalo, N. Y., was born at Palmyra, N. Y., June 22, 1867, and is a son of Patrick and Mary (Carl) Gallagher, who came from the north of Ireland in 1865 and settled in Palmyra, N. Y. At the early age of fifteen Michael Gallagher was apprenticed to the barber trade, and in due course of time mastered the details of his business and has since given it his continuous attention. In 1882 he removed to Buffalo, where he has since resided. In 1893 he formed a copartnership with David Young and opened the now popular tonsorial parlor in the basement of the Erie County Savings Bank Building, and upon the completion of the new Ellicott Square building opened two shops in that structure. Mr. Gallagher is a member of the C. M. B. A. He was married June 17, 1891, to Katie, daughter of James and Bridget (Kelly) Reynolds, of Buffalo. To them have been born two children: James M. and Frank C. He is a genial, courteous gentleman, and is held in universal regard and confidence.
Gaertner, William, M. D., Buffalo, son of Philip Conrad and Elizabeth Gaertner, was born January 26, 1860, in Wiesbaden, Germany, where he attended the public schools and royal gymnasium. He traveled in France and Belgium, was a student
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at the Royal Atheneum in Arlon, Belgium, for one and one-half years, and after- ward attended the universities of Marburg in Hesse and of Halle, Germany, gradu- ating from the latter in the philosophical department with the degree of Ph. D. in 1885. He was subsequently an officer of the reserve in the German army and a teacher in the royal gymnasia at Wiesbaden, and in the fall of 1887 came to America and settled in Buffalo, where he has since resided. For about six years he was a teacher in the Buffalo High School. Meantime he became a student in the medical department of the University of Buffalo, from which he was graduated with the degree of M. D. in 1894. The same year he passed the examination before the medical board of the University of the State of New York. Since then he has been in active and successful practice. Dr. Gaertner is a member and vice-president of the German Young Men's Association, a director of the Buffalo Orpheus, a member of the Buffalo Turn Verein, and attending physician to the German Deaconesses Hospital. In August, 1890, he married Amelia, daughter of the late Edward Fuchs, of Buffalo, and they have one son: Edward Carl, born October 22, 1893.
Brush, Hon. Alexander, Buffalo, was of Scotch descent, and was the third son and fifth child of a family of ten children of Jacob Brush and Phebe Cushing. His grand- father, Alexander Brush, a native of Rhode Island, became a pioneer farmer in Del- aware county, N. Y., where he founded the hamlet of Brushland, in the town of Bovina, and where he built a grist mill and saw mill. He reared three sons: Joel, Jacob and Alexander, who settled near the paternal homestead at Brushland. Jacob Brush married Phebe Cushing, of Dutchess county, N. Y., and had six sons and four daughters, all of whom grew to maturity except one, who died in infancy. In 1827 he moved with his family to a farm in Lebanon, Columbia county. In 1835 they re- moved to Savannah, Wayne county, N. Y., where he purchased six hundred acres of unimproved land, and where the father died. Alexander Brush, his son, was born in Brushland, Delaware county, February 8, 1824. He was reared on the farm, at- tending the district school winters, and after the death of his father assisted nobly in the care of his mother and her family. He learned brickmaking, and also drove a team on the construction of the Rochester and Auburn Railroad, and in 1835 came with the family to Colden, Erie county. Soon afterward he found employment in the brick yards in and near Buffalo, where he settled permanently and established himself in business as a brick manufacturer in 1848, his brother, William C. Brush, being his partner. The firm of Brush & Brother continued in this business for over forty years, manufacturing as many as 12,000,000 brick annually. Mr. Brush was an able business man, and a prominent Whig in early life, but on the formation of the Republican party became one of its warmest supporters. He was elected alderman of the old Third ward in 1860, 1863 and 1865, and in 1867 was elected street commis- sioner of Buffalo. In 1869 he was nominated, against his wishes, and elected mayor of the city, and in 1872 was re-elected by a sweeping majority. He declined a third nomination, but in 1879 was again elected mayor, and thus served three terms in that high office. No man ever had a better public record than Alexander Brush. He was a politician of the highest type, a man universally respected and esteemed and an officer whose integrity, courage and faithfulness were never questioned. In April, 1863, he married Lucinda Bucklin, of Titusville, Pa., who died in less than a year afterward. In 1866, he married Mrs. Sarah A. Leonard, daughter of D. S.
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Warner, of South Wales, Erie county. He had no children. On May 25, 1892, Mr. and Mrs. Brush sailed from New York on the steamer Friesland, bound for Antwerp, and on the seventh day out-June 1-Mr. Brush died suddenly of heart disease.
Bray, William F., Buffalo, son of John and Elizabeth (Boyer) Bray, was born in Steubenville, Jefferson county, Ohio, November 25, 1863. He was graduated from the Steubenville High School in 1879, and then became a traveling salesman for the United States Baking Company, of Pittsburg, Pa., which position he held three years. In 1882 he returned home to accept the post of deputy city and county treas- urer under his father, who was for six years the treasurer of Jefferson county and of the city of Steubenville Mr. Bray served in this capacity for about four years, and then returned to the employ of the United States Baking Company, with whom he remained until 1892. In the mean time his father had removed to Buffalo and estab- lished himself in the builders' supply business, which he continued until 1892, when William F. Bray and Charles W. Booth succeeded him. The firm of Bray & Booth, which is a member of the Buffalo Builders' Exchange, has since conducted the busi- ness with uniform success, and are among the largest dealers in fire clay products and builders' supplies in Buffalo. Mr. Bray is a member of the Steubenville (Ohio) Lodge No. 145, F. & A. M., of Steubenville Chapter No. 15, R. A. M., and of Queen City Council No. 259, R. A. of Buffalo. June 17, 1896, he married Miss Daisy F., daughter of Joseph Ford, of Canal Fulton, Ohio.
Booth, Charles W., Buffalo, is the son of William and Ann (Kiddell) Booth, who came from England to America in the early fifties, settling first in Brooklyn, N. Y., whence they soon removed to Buffalo, where Charles W. was born. William Booth was the founder of the Buffalo Stained Glass Works, one of the earliest industries of the kind in the city. He was a practical stained glass worker, having learned the business in England, and as a citizen and business man was well known and highly esteemed. He died in April, 1892, in his seventy-second year. Charles W. Booth was educated in the public and high schools of Buffalo, and obtained his first busi- ness experience in the office of John Lyth & Sons, manufacturers of sewer pipe and building materials. After remaining in their employ for a period of ten years he was obliged to resign his position on account of ill health, and on the advice of his physician he went abroad, remaining for a short time at Carlsbad. Returning to Buffalo he was variously employed until 1895, when he formed a copartnership with William F. Bray, under the style of Bray & Booth, and engaged in the builders' sup- ply business. The firm deals extensively in sewer pipe, fire brick, flue linings, and all fire clay materials, and control the sale in Buffalo and vicinity of the products of the Diamond Fire Clay Company, of Uhrichsville, Ohio. The firm is a member of the Buffalo Builders' Exchange. Mr. Booth was married July 10, 1883, to Mary H., daughter of John Caudell, of Buffalo, and they have two children: Raymond C. and Evelyn M.
Watson, Henry M., Buffalo, president of the Buffalo Railway Company, has been prominently identified with the extension and improvement of the Buffalo railway system since 1869. His father was a distinguished educator in the eastern part of this State and afterward served in the Legislature in 1839. Mr. Watson was born
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in Otsego county, N. Y., and in 1857 went to Albany, where he was engaged in the banking business until 1867. During the last two years of his residence in that city he was general passenger agent of the Albany and Susquehanna Railroad, now a part of the Delaware and Hudson system. In 1868 he removed to Buffalo and was elected secretary and treasurer of the Buffalo Street Railroad Company. In 1871 he was elected secretary and treasurer of the Buffalo East Side Railway Company, and upon the death of Stephen Van Rensselaer Watson, in 1881, he was elected president of the Buffalo Street Railroad Company; both of these roads are now consolidated with the Buffalo Railway Company. In November, 1890, the Buffalo Street Rail- road, the Buffalo East Side Railway and the Buffalo West Side Street Railroad were consolidated into the present Buffalo Railway Company and Mr. Watson was elected president, a position of high trust in its management. To his rare executive ability and wisdom in the choice of his subordinates is due the thanks of the community for the excellent service it now enjoys. He spared no expense in securing capable as- sistants who could be depended upon to carry out his ideas, and the results of his superior management are abundantly manifest. It is universally conceded that no city in the Union has a better street railway system than Buffalo. Mr. Watson is a trustee of the Erie County Savings Bank and of the Union Fire Insurance Com- pany, and vice-president of the Fidelity Loan and Trust Company, and has been president of the Bell Telephone Company in Buffalo since its organization. He is also vice-dean of the Saturn Club of Buffalo, a life member of the Buffalo Library, a member of the Buffalo Historical Society, and a vestryman of Trinity church. He was one of the founders, in 1882, of the American Street Railway Association, which covers the United States and Canada, and was elected president at the convention held in Buffalo in October, 1890. At Saratoga, in the spring of 1885, he was elected president of the Street Railway Association of the State of New York. While a resident of Albany Mr. Watson was one of the founders, in 1861, of Co. A, 10th Regt., N. G. N. Y., and was promoted to the office of second lieutenant in 1868; he is still an honorary member of the company, On January 1, 1880, he received the appointment of aide-de-camp, with rank of colonel, on the staff of Gov. Alonzo B. Cornell.
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