USA > New York > Erie County > Our county and its people : a descriptive work on Erie County, New York, Volume II > Part 80
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Gebhard, A. F., Buffalo, has been engaged in the paper trade in Buffalo since 1884. The business which he carries on consists of paper, card board and printers' supplies, and was established at 269 Washington street in 1884, under the style of the Buffalo Card and Paper Company. It was removed to its present location, 224-226 Washington street in 1887, by the present proprietor. Mr. Gebhard has a wide cir- cle of friends in business and social circles, and commands the respect of the entire community for his sterling integrity and honorable record.
Smith, Christopher, Buffalo, was born in Baden, Germany, June 10, 1845, came to America in 1848 with his parents and settled in Buffalo, where he received a public school education. September 25, 1861, he enlisted in Co. K, 61st N. Y. Vols., and
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served three years, being transferred in October, 1862, to Co. A, 4th Artillery, Cush- ing's celebrated battery, U. S. Army. Mr. Smith was wounded three times, and participated in forty-three battles, including Fair Oaks, Malvern Hill, Fredericks- burg, Chancellorsville, Antietam, Cedar Mountain, second Bull Run, Sheridan's raid, Sulphur Springs, Hanover Court House, Culpepper Court House, the Wilderness, Gettysburg, etc. He was promoted to the post of orderly sergeant and had the proud distinction of firing on July 3, 1863, the last cannon at the battle of Gettysburg, at Cemetery Hill, at the charge made by General Armstead, who was killed just as he had scaled the wall or breast work and had placed his hand on the piece handled by Mr. Smith. Returning from the army Mr. Smith engaged in farming and market gardening and later in dairying, in which he continued in all eighteen years. During this period he became an active Republican leader and was elected supervisor of the old Eleventh ward in 1873, 1874 and 1875. He served as alderman in 1876 and 1877, and in 1883 was again elected supervisor. In 1896 he represented the Sixth Assembly district of Erie county in the State Legislature, and in the fall of 1897 received the appointment of back tax collector of Buffalo. For a number of years he has been largely interested in real estate and in street grade contracting. He is a member of Hiram Lodge No. 105, F. & A. M., of Buffalo Council No. 17, R. & S. M., of Key- stone Chapter No. 163, R. A. M., of the Odd Fellows, the A. O. U. W., the K. O. T. M., of Stanley Garrison No. 36, R. A. N. U., of Bidwell-Wilkeson Post No. 9, G. A. R., and of several social organizations. During his political career he has been a delegate to nearly all the local and State Republican conventions. Mr. Smith is a thorough Buffalonian, keenly alive to the city's interests and an active factor in the general welfare. In 1867 he married Mary J., daughter of Edmond and Ann Daw of Buffalo, and they had two children, Florence and C. Alvin. The latter has been employed in the office of Philip Gerst for five years. Mrs. Smith died in October, 1897,
Ruehl, George, Buffalo, was born in Hesse Darmstadt, Germany, January 24, 1859. His parents, Jacob and Magdelena (Renheimer) Ruehl, emigrated to America in June, 1864, with their family and settled in Buffalo in 1864, where the father fol- lowed his vocation of gardener until the present time. They had six sons and three daughters, seven of the children being born in Germany. George Ruehl was edu- cated in the public and parochial schools of Buffalo, learned the barber's trade and when eighteen opened a barber shop for himself on Main street. With the exception of four years during which he was an inspector of customs at International Bridge (Buffalo), under President Harrison, he has since continued this business. He has been an active and influential Republican, has served as district committeeman for five years, was a delegate to five different conventions and in 1895 was a delegate to the State Republican Convention; in 1895 and again in 1897 he was elected super- visor. He is president of the Boss Barbers' Association of Erie County, vice-presi- dent of the Boss Barbers' Association of New York and a member of Washington Union and Select Knights. In October, 1881, he married Louise, daughter of Fred- erick Aue of Buffalo, and they have two sons and four daughters. His father, who is also a Republican, has thirty-four grand children and four great-grandchildren re- siding in Buffalo. He is active and strong, being seventy-nine years of age. He has a brother residing in Buffalo who is eighty-three years old; his name is George Ruehl. Mrs. Ruehl, the mother of George, died in November, 1890.
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Poorten, J. William, Buffalo, son of Henry and Balbina (Weegener) Poorten, was born in Prussia, Germany, on the 13th of November, 1858, and emigrated to Amer- ica in 1882. He first settled in Buffalo and followed his trade one year, after which he spent a year in St. Louis. Returning to Buffalo he remained there four years, and then settled permanently in Tonawanda, where he has since been engaged in the bakery business with uninterrupted success. He is a member of the C. M. B. A. and the C. B. L. June 22, 1886, he married Pauline, daughter of Frank J. Honer of Buffalo, and they have five children: Frances Balbina Aggie, born No- vember 25, 1887; Frank Joseph, born March 10, 1890; Pauline Balbina, born Sep- tember 14, 1893; Mary Anna, born September 1, 1895; and Mary Elizabeth, born June 23, 1897.
Ansteth, John, Buffalo, one of the leading jewelers of Buffalo, is the son of Jacob and Margaret (Graff) Ansteth, and was born in Alsace, France, January 27, 1851. In 1853 he came with his parents to America and settled in Buffalo, where his father died in 1876, and where his mother's death occurred in 1893. Mr. Ansteth attended the Buffalo public schools and then entered the store of S. O. Barnum & Son, where he rose to the positions of bookkeeper and financial manager. In 1879 he became a member of the firm and so continued until 1883, when he withdrew to engage in the notion trade at 323 to 336 Washington street and in the wholesale jewelry and watch business at 323 Washington street. He carried on both establishments until 1884, and since then has given his attention entirely to the jewelry trade, removing to Main street in 1885. Mr. Ansteth is president of the Holy Trinity English Lutheran church, a director of St. John's Orphan Asylum, one of the founders and a director of the Lutheran Old Folks' Home, and a director and vice-president of the German Deaconesses Home. He was married in 1878 at St. Louis, Mo., to Sarah B .. daugh ter of Joseph Bicksler, whose family were early residents of Buffalo. Their chil- dren are: John Rollin, Alice M., Fred E. and Sarah Ruth.
Sherwood, Gaylord Noble, late of Buffalo, was born in the town of Fairfield, Her- kimer county, N. Y., April 18, 1805. He attended Fairfield Academy until fifteen years of age and then left school to teach, serving as principal of schools at New- port and Antwerp, Herkimer county, for several years. In 1825 he was appointed deputy postmaster at Antwerp, and served two years in that capacity. In 1827 he removed to Camillus, Onondaga county, N. Y., where he entered the employ of Miles W. Bennett, and the following year married the daughter of his employer, Sarah Bennett. In 1828 Mr. Sherwood established a store in Camillus, and making it a grand success, he later started general country stores at Baldwinsville, Amboy, Fulton, Syracuse, and other neighboring towns, continuing to reside in Camillus until 1873. He was chairman of the Onondaga Board of Supervisors for one year, a brief political record for so prominent a man. In 1857 he bought an interest in the old Dart elevator in Buffalo, which he sold two years later and started the first distillery at Black Rock, under the firm name of Shoemaker, Stewart & Co. He was one of the organizers of the Bank of Commerce of Buffalo, and was interested in many other projects. His first wife died in 1864 and he was again married in December, 1868, to Sarah Green of Philadelphia. Mr. Sherwood died in 1895, and his wife, two sons, Charles and Duane, and a daughter, Rosita, survive him,
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Ansteth, John M., & Co., Buffalo, is one of the leading dry goods firms in Buf- falo. The house was established by John M. Ansteth in April, 1882, at the corner of Clinton and Raze (now Clare) streets, and later was removed to 1841 Niagara street. Five years afterwards Mr. Ansteth added a shoe business at 1839 Niagara street, and Philip H. Ansteth was admitted to partnership, the firm name becoming John M. Ansteth & Co. In May, 1894, a branch store was established at the corner of Amherst and Grant streets, and in 1896 the present spacious building was erected by Mr. Ansteth at the corner of Grant street and Military road, whither the entire busi- ness was removed and consolidated in May, 1897. This is the largest and best known retail dry goods establishment in Buffalo west of Main street, and owes its successful growth to the enterprise. business ability and energy of its founder. John M. Ansteth was born in Buffalo, N. Y., May 6, 1860. His parents, John and Mar- garet (Steger) Ansteth, came to this country from Germany in the early fifties and settled in Buffalo, where they were married. His father, who was for several years a street inspector, died in September, 1887, honored and respected by many friends. Mr. Ansteth was educated in private schools and was engaged in various mercantile pursuits until he established his present business in 1883. He is a member of Occi- dental Lodge No. 766, F. and A. M .; of Red Jacket Lodge No. 238, I. O. O. F., and of St, John's Young Men's Benevolent Association. Philip H. Ansteth, the junior member of the firm and a son of John Ansteth and Margaret Steger, was born August 2, 1866, in Buffalo, and received a public school education. He was employed in the carriage painting business for some time prior to becoming a partner with his brother, John M. He is a member of the order of Foresters.
Spang, Charles, Buffalo, was born in Buffalo, N. Y., January 3, 1864, and is a son of Conrad and Salona (Siehl) Spang. He attended the common and graded schools, and after leaving school was employed in the dry goods establishment of S. Benger & Co., and also by S. O. Barnum. He was afterwards a collector for a brewing company until February 1, 1896, when he was appointed street commissioner of the city of Buffalo, which position he still holds. Mr. Spang is a member of Mystic Star Lodge, No. 512, I. O. O. F.
Feldman, Charles L., Buffalo, was born in Buffalo, N. Y., in 1863, received a pub- lic and private school education, and spent several years in various pursuits and in the study of law. He was admitted to the bar at Syracuse, at the General Term of the Supreme Court, in January, 1884, and since then has successfully practiced his profession in his native city, where he takes high rank as a lawyer of ability and prominence. In 1886 he was appointed assistant city attorney under William F. Worthington and faithfully performed the duties of that position until November, 1890, when he formed a copartnership with Julius A. Shreiber, which continued under the firm name of Feldman & Shreiber till January, 1895. In 1894 Mr. Feld- man was again appointed assistant city attorney by Frank C. Laughlin; in Feb- ruary, 1895, he was appointed city attorney and served in that capacity until No- vember, 1895, when he was unanimously chosen by the Common Council to suc- ceed Mr. Laughlin as corporation counsel, which position he filled with great satis- faction until December 31, 1897. He is a prominent member of the Buffalo Repub- lican League, the Buffalo Press Club and the Ellicott Club.
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Bardol, Frank V. E., Buffalo, chief engineer of the city of Buffalo, was born in Buffalo, N. Y., in 1869, and received his preliminary education in public school No. 31. He was graduated from Cornell University in the course of engineering in 1889, and was in the employ of the Lehigh Valley Railroad until 1892, when he entered the employ of the city of Buffalo as assistant engineer. In January, 1898, he was promoted to the responsible position of chief engineer of the city.
Seibert, Hon. Simon, Buffalo, State senator, was born September 12, 1857, in Buf- falo, N. Y., where he has always resided, and whither his parents removed from Germany in 1853. His father has been a representative business man of East Buffa- lo for the past thirty years. Mr. Seibert received his education in the public schools, was graduated from Bryant & Stratton's Business College in 1878, and then became a clerk in his father's coal office. Later he engaged in the men's furnishing business, from which he retired in 1889 to accept the appointment of United States gauger at Buffalo. He held this position until 1893, and since then has been associated with the Magnus Beck Brewing Company as traveling salesman. He is also president of the Buffalo Clearing Company. Mr. Seibert has long been an active and ardent Republican and recognized leader of his party in what is known as the East Side, where he has served as president of the East Side Republican League. In 1893 he was elected to the Assembly by a majority of 1,356, and in 1894 was re-elected by a largely increased vote. In 1895 he was nominated by acclamation for the office of State senator from the Forty-eighth senatorial district, and was elected by 2,206 majority ; in 1897 he was re-elected to this important position. Senator Seibert is a man of the highest integrity, and in business as well as in official relations enjoys universal popularity, respect and confidence. One of his chief characteristics is never to make a promise that he does not expect to fulfill. In 1896 he was an alternate delegate to the Republican National Convention at St Louis. He is a member of Mystic Star Lodge, I. O. O. F., Millard Fillmore Lodge, K. O. P., the Teutonia Maenerchor and Buffalo Orpheus Singing Societies, Buffalo Lodge No. 23, of Elks, and the Silver King Fishing Club, and president of the Speudel Fishing Club and several other social and political organizations.
Ash, James, Buffalo, was born in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, December 20, 1836, and was brought to Buffalo by his parents, Robert and Mary (Smith) Ash, when he was six months old. He received a public school education, became the manager of a coal yard for Charles W. Evans, and for fifteen years had charge of the shipping and purchasing departments of Pratt & Co., coal and iron dealers. Since 1866 he has been engaged in the business of building schooners and tugs for lake service. He is president of the Hand & Johnson Tug Line, has been a manager of the Lake Carriers' Association since its organization in 1886, and for more than twenty-five years has been one of the largest wholesale and retail coal dealers in the city, having also a large trestle at North Buffalo for the retail trade. In 1863 he entered the service of the United States as a member of Co. K., 74th Regt., N. Y. Militia. Mr. Ash has always been an active Republican, was elected to the Assembly from the third Erie district in 1879 by 3,000 majority, and was a park commissioner from 1882 to 1886, when he was elected alderman from the old Ninth ward. In 1893 he was elected a councilman by the largest majority on the ticket, and in 1895 was made
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president of the board, and was re-elected in 1897 for four years. He is a manager of the Queen City Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, a director in the Commercial Bank of Buffalo, and a citizen who is widely respected and esteemed. December 4, 1853, he married Mary, daughter of the late William Finn, of Buffalo, and of their ten children, two sons and three daughters are living.
Bull, Alexander Thompson, M. D., Buffalo, was born in Bullville, Orange county, N. Y., May 3, 1827, and is a son of Milton Bull, who died in that town in 1882, aged eighty-nine. Dr. Bull was educated in the common schools, Bloomingburg Acad- emy and New Paltz Collegiate Institute, and was graduated from Montgomery Academy in 1844. He then began the study of medicine under Dr. Isaac Garrison of Newburg, N. Y., was afterward with Dr. Valentine Mott and Dr. John W. Dra- per of New York, and also attended the Castleton (Vt.) Medical College, and re- ceived the degree of M. D. from the medical department of the University of New York in 1847. After spending two months at the New York Quarantine Station he began practice in Monticello, Sullivan county. In 1850 he removed to Middletown, N. Y., where he was chosen, in 1854, superintendent of schools in Orange county, by a majority of 156, being the only candidate elected that year on the local Whig ticket. Soon afterward he removed to London, Canada. Having practically adopt- ed the homoeopathic principles of practice he was instrumental, while a resident of London, in securing the legislation of that system by the Canadian government, and was appointed a member of the Medical Board of Upper Canada. He was the first homoeopathic coroner appointed by the crown in the British Dominions, and held that office from 1860 until his removal to Buffalo, on November 15, 1864, when he resigned. On his departure he was given a public dinner by the municipality of London, at which the mayor presided. Dr. Bull has been in continuous and suc- cessful practice in Buffalo since 1864, and is the oldest active physician in point of service in the city. In 1869 he was appointed a pension examiner, but was soon re- moved solely because of his school of medical practice. At a session of the Amer- ican Institute of Homoeopathy held in Chicago in June, 1870, he was appointed chairman of a committee on legislation, and in this capacity he appeared before the authorities at Washington, including President Grant, and was instrumental in se- curing the recognition of the homoeopathic principles of practice by the national government. Dr. Bull is a member of the Erie County Homoeopathic Society and has been its president several years; he was one of the founders of the Canadian Homoeopathic Society and was its president in 1858-59. On December 12, 1849, he married Sarah G., daughter of Lewis Vail. Mrs. Bull died in 1876, leaving three children: Willie Sheldon, secretary and treasurer of the L. A. W .; Sarah, wife of Allen Napier McNab; and Louis Agassiz Bull, M. D., who died in December, 1894.
Hauenstein, John, M. D., Buffalo, was born in the canton of Argan, Switzerland, June 28, 1821, and when ten years of age came with his parents to America and set- tled in Buffalo, where he has ever since resided. He read medicine with Dr. F. L. Harris of Buffalo, was graduated from the Geneva (now the Syracuse) Medical Col- lege with the degree of M. D. in 1844, and then began a professional career in Buffa- lo which continued until 1895, a period of fifty-one years, when he retired. Dr. Hauenstein was long a prominent physician and surgeon, and at one time president
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of the Erie County Medical Society, and is a member of that organization and also of the Buffalo Academy of Medicine. He was a founder and is still an active mem- ber of the German Young Men's Association, which he has served as president sev- eral different times. December 2, 1845, he married Madilan Sigewald, of Alsace, France, and they have two sons and two daughters: Alfred G., Ottilie E. (wife of Nathaniel Rochester), Eugenia F. and Oscar H.
Laughlin, Hon. Frank C., Buffalo, justice of the Supreme Court, was born on a farm in the town of Newstead, Erie county, N. Y., July 20, 1859. In 1865 the family removed to Wilson, Niagara county, where he worked on the farm summers and attended the district school winters until 1876, when they moved to Lockport, N. Y. There Mr. Laughlin attended the high school for three years and afterward read law in the office of Hon. John E. Pound till his admission to the bar in 1882. He soon came to Buffalo and entered the office of Sprague, Morey & Sprague, who placed him in charge of such important litigation that he rapidly came into prominence in all the courts in the Eighth Judicial District. In January, 1886, he became assistant city attorney under William F. Worthington, and when the title of that office was changed to corporation counsel he was appointed city attorney, which position he filled with great ability until Mr. Worthington's death in 1891. One of his most im- portant cases in this capacity was the Ellicott street extension litigation, involving more than $200,000. In 1890 he was nominated by the Republicans for corporation counsel, but was defeated by George M. Browne, and resumed the practice of law in partnership with Thomas Penney. In 1893 he was elected corporation counsel, defeating Mr. Browne by 7,924 majority. In 1895 he was nominated and over- whelmingly elected to the office of justice of the Supreme Court. Judge Laughlin is one of the ablest lawyers in Western New York, and as a jurist has exhibited those qualities which distinguish him in the field of jurisprudence. He is a man of broad culture, sound judgment, and unwavering integrity, and as a citizen, advo- cate and scholar is widely respected and esteemed. June 2, 1896, he married Mar- tha Taylor Bartlett, daughter of Martin Taylor, of Buffalo, and they have one daughter, Martha.
Ramsdell, Thomas T., Buffalo, is the son of the late Orrin P. Ramsdell, one of the oldest and best known wholesale boot and shoe dealers in Western New York. He is of Scotch descent. Orrin P. Ramsdell was a son of Isaiah Ramsdell, a native of Lynn, Mass., and of Clarissa Collins, his wife, a native of Mansfield, Conn., and was born at the latter place July 19, 1811. He obtained a common school education, spent some time as a dry goods clerk, and finally opened a retail boot and shoe store in New London, Conn., which he conducted until 1835. In 1837 he came to Buffalo and established a retail boot and shoe trade, which soon developed into one of the leading wholesale industries of the city. He was regarded as the pioneer shoe dealer of Buffalo. He built the Erie Basin elevator in 1861, was an original stockholder in the Manufacturers' and Traders' Bank, and a director of the Buffalo and Southwest- ern Railroad, and was actively interested in other banking and railway enterprises. In 1851 he married Anna C., daughter of Thomas W. and Deborah C. (Smith) Titus, of Brooklyn, N. Y., and their children were Albert N., born in 1853, died in 1878; Thomas T., born March 15, 1854; Orrin P., jr., born in 1856, died in 1860; Belle C.
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(Mrs. E. A. Bell), born in 1857; Bessie H., born in 1858, died in infancy: Alfred C., born in 1860, died in infancy; Anna K., born in 1862; Clarissa C., born in 1865, and Evelyn, born in 1868. Thomas T. Ramsdell attended the public schools and was graduated from Prof. Briggs's Buffalo Classical School in 1871. In 1873 he entered his father's wholesale boot and shoe house, which was then conducted by O. P. Rams- dell & Co. (W. H. Walker). Mr. Walker withdrew in 1877, and Thomas T. Rams- dell and his brother, Albert N., were admitted to partnership. Albert N. died in 1878, and in 1879 William C., G. W., and Sidney M. Sweet became partners under the present firm name of O. P. Ramsdell, Sweet & Co. Since then O. P. Ramsdell and G. W. Sweet have died, and Thomas T. Ramsdell is now the senior mem- ber of the firm. Mr. Ramsdell is an active member and in 1894 was president of the Buffalo Republican League. He is a director of the Ellicott Square Company, the Merchants' Exchange, the Board of Trade, the Bell Telephone Company of Buffalo and the Buffalo General Hospital, and a member of the Buffalo Library, the Fine Arts Academy, the Society of Natural Sciences, the Westminster Church, and the Buffalo, Country and Buffalo Press Clubs. He has been prominently identified with the great project of bringing Niagara Falls power to Buffalo, and was a member of Mayor Jewett's advisory committee appointed for that purpose. November 10, 1881, he married Louise Miller, of Sterling, Ill. Their children are Orrin P., Louise M., Alice M., and Thomas T., jr.
Gethoefer, Frank W., Buffalo, clerk of the city of Buffalo, is the son of George and Emilia (Rudolf) Gethoefer, and a grandson of Frederick and Katharine Gethoefer, natives of Hesse Darmstadt, Germany. His grandparents came to America with their family about 1843 and settled in Buffalo, where Frederick conducted a piano manufactory for many years. George Gethoefer was eight years old when he ar- rived in this country. His wife, Emilie, a native of Buffalo, was a daughter of Will- iam Rudolf, who was born in Switzerland. Frank W. Gethoefer was born June 4, 1862, at 434 Oak street, in the Fifth district of the Sixth ward, Buffalo, where he has ever since resided. He received a public and high school education, and then became cashier in the bank of Moses Smith, in which capacity he served until 1885, when he was appointed deputy city clerk under William E. Delaney. He was reappointed by City Clerk Charles R. Marshall and held the position in all eight years, fathfully dis- charging his duties and winning the approbation of all with whom he came in con- tact. From 1894 to 1897 inclusive he was proprietor of Hotel Grill, and on January 3, 1898, by a vote of 19 to 13, the Common Council appointed him city clerk of the city of Buffalo to succeed Mark S. Hubbell. Mr. Gethoefer hasalways been an active and influential Democrat, and was president of the Buffalo Cleveland Corps in 1888 and a delegate and reading clerk to the State Democratic Convention at Syracuse that first elected William F. Sheehan a State committeeman. For several years he has been one of his party's trusted leaders. He is a popular member of the Royal Arcanum, the Elks, the Buffalo Liedertafel, and other organizations.
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