USA > New York > Erie County > Our county and its people : a descriptive work on Erie County, New York, Volume II > Part 85
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and is a member of the Royal Arcanum. He married Mary Oberfeld of Hamburg, N. Y., and they have four sons and four daughters.
Roesch, Jacob M., Buffalo, born in Buffalo, N. Y., March 24, 1857, is the son of Jacob Roesch and Anna Herman, natives of Germany. His father and grandfather were both butchers. Jacob Roesch, born in 1829, came to Buffalo about 1855 and followed his trade until 1895, when he retired and engaged in the confectionery business. He is a Democrat and has served as market clerk two years. Jacob M. Roesch attended the public schools and began active life at the age of thirteen as clerk in the meat market of Andrew Rupprecht. He has always followed the meat and butchering business, spending some time in Cleveland, St. Louis, Salina, Kan., and Tidiout, Pa., where he married a sister (Julia) of his employer, Henry Fuellhart. Returning to Buffalo in 1878 he has since been engaged in the meat business, having a stall at Washington Market, a meat market at the corner of Ferry and Niagara streets and a packing house on Oak street and also carries on a large shipping trade. Since January, 1895, he has been market clerk. under appointment of Mayor Jewett, who in his report for 1895 says: "The market clerk has managed the markets on business principles, making a record for honesty and efficiency second to that of no other city employee. Under his careful supervision the expenses have been dimin- ished, while the receipts have increased to an astonishing degree. Besides demon- strating his efficiency in the financial management of his department, the clerk has given close attention to the quality of the food sold on the markets and has seized and destroyed unwholesome meat and vegetables which, in good condition, would have been worth over $15,000. In this way he has contributed materially to the health of the city. It is not exaggerating the case to say that more has been done by the present market clerk towards making the markets self-sustaining than was ever accomplished by any of his predecessors." Mr. Roesch is a member of the Elks, a stockholder in the Co-operative Brewery, the Union Bank and the Boughton Telephotos Company and is extensively interested in real estate, three land com- panies, and a market and slaughter house at Bridgeburg, Ont. In 1880 he married Julia, daughter of John and Philipene (Freudenburger) Fuellhart, and a native of St. Mary's, Pa., and their children are John Jacob, Charles Edward and Lillian Philipene. John Fuellhart was a professor in Germany and a civil engineer and surveyor in Pennsylvania.
Schindler, John, Buffalo, was born in Baden, Germany, in October, 1837, and obtained his early education in the public schools of his native city. In April, 1858, he emigrated to this country, settling in New York, where he remained until No- vember 1, 1872, when he removed to Buffalo, where he has since resided. In 1895 he became one of the organizers of the Buffalo Lithograph Company.
Grobe, John, Buffalo, was born in Saxe-Coburg, Gotha, Germany, February 4, 1835, and is one of a family of two sons and one daughter of Volkmer Grobe and Magdelena Harthauss, who came to America and settled in Buffalo in 1850. Mr. Grobe cared for his parents from that time until their deaths at the age of seventy- six and eighty-four respectively. The father was a grain dealer in Germany. John Grobe received a thorough German education, and being master of several languages
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became interpreter for the old Michigan Central line of steamers, a position he held many years, or until the line was abandoned. Meantime he had been actively in- terested in politics, and in October, 1861, was elected civil constable of the old Fifth ward for two years. In June, 1863, he enlisted in the 65th Regiment, N. Y. Militia, and near the end of that year joined the Secret Service, with which he was con- nected until the close of the war, acting principally between New York and Buffalo. Being conversant with most of the European languages and withal keen and shrewd, he made a most valuable man in this capacity. He had many narrow escapes and was shot at a number of times. After the war he was a special detective on the Buf- falo police force, stationed at the stock yards, until 1874, when he resigned to en- gage in the live stock business, in which he has since continued. He also conducts the East Buffalo Hotel, which he built in 1874. For nearly five years under Presi- dent Cleveland he was a government appraiser of cattle. He is a staunch Demo- crat, was in earlier life a delegate to various city, county and assembly conventions and was the organizer of the George Stoneway Post, G. A. R., which he has served as commander from the first. In 1855 he married Mary Froelich, a native of Erie county, and their children are John L., government live stock examiner under the Agricultural Department; Louise, Mrs. Julius Behling; Mrs. Augusta Werrick, William L., and Mamie.
Behling, Julius C., Buffalo, druggist, one of a family of four sons and four daugh- ters of Theodore G. and Ida T. (Moses) Behling, natives of Mear, Hanover, Germany, was born in Buffalo, N. Y., April 20, 1863. The father, an oil portait painter, served in the German army, and came to this country in 1848 and settled in Buffalo, where he was employed for many years by Henry G. White; later he engaged in business for himself and did some of the finest work ever executed in the city, decorating churches, theatres, etc. He was a talented scenic artist and decorator, a man of broad culture and enterprise, and a staunch Republican in politics. His wife sur- vives him. Julius C. Behling attended the public and Central High schools of Buffa- lo and the New York College of Pharmacy, and returning home was the only mem- ber of a class of six to pass the examining board in May, 1885. A year later he passed the State examinations in pharmacy and then engaged in the drug business with his brother-in-law on Lovejoy street. In 1890 he opened his present drug store and pharmacy at 1570 Broadway. Mr. Behling is a Republican and in 1893-94 rep- resented the Fourteenth ward on the Board of Supervisors. He has been a delegate to various political conventions, has figured as an active leader in politics for about twelve years and was one of the government census takers in 1890. He is a member of the Erie County Pharmaceutical Association, the Odd Fellows and Central Tent No. 101, K. O. T. M., and between 1871 and 1882 was a prominent member of the Buffalo Turn Verein, winning several first prizes in gymnastics. He is also a mem- ber of the Bison Gun Club, and while in Pittsburg was a member and clerk of Co. A, 14th Regt. N. G. Pa. He is a practical chemist, beginning that study when thirteen and being for six years with City Chemist A. R. Davidson. March 30, 1890, he married Louise T., daughter of John Grobe, a live stock dealer of East Buffalo. She was for several years a teacher in the public schools, and is treasurer of Golden Rule Lodge of the Rebecca order. They have one son, Howard C. G.
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Murphy, Edward P., Buffalo, born February 2, 1857, in Buffalo, N. Y., is one of two sons and four daughters of Frank and Mary (McCarthy) Murphy, natives of Ireland. Frank Murphy, born in 1835, came to America when a boy, settled in Boston, Mass., and in 1851 removed to Buffalo, where he still resides, retiring from his trade of blacksmith in 1877. He is a Democrat and a member of the C. M. B. A. His wife died in April, 1897. Edward P. Murphy attended the public schools and St. Joseph's College, and when fourteen years of age began to learn the blacksmith's trade, which he followed until April 3, 1876, when he joined the Buffalo volunteer fire department. He became captain of Hook and Ladder No. 2 in 1879, was made a battalion chief May 1, 1883, and was promoted to his present position as assistant chief of the department June 1, 1890. Mr. Murphy has distinguished himself as a fireman, holding a badge of honor for bravery and life saving, which was presented to him by the Board of Fire Commissioners. He has saved in all twelve lives, in- cluding the fire at the Richmond Hotel. On October 6, 1893, while at a great fire on East Market street, he fell twenty one feet through an open hatchway and broke both arms and his nose. He is a member and for four years has been president of the Firemen's Beneficiary Association; he is also member of the Exempt Firemen's Association, the C. M. B. A., the Royal Arcanum, and the Knights of Columbus, and in politics is a Republican. In 1883 he married Mary, daughter of Edward and Catharine Hanley, of Buffalo, and a teacher in the public schools. They have a daughter and two sons.
Murphy, Terrence J., Buffalo, one of two sons and three daughters of James and Bridget (Gilbert) Murphy, natives of Ireland and Troy, N. Y., respectively, was born in Buffalo, September 6, 1857. The father, who came to America when a young man, was an active Democrat, and in 1867 was killed by the falling of a roof. Mr. Murphy was educated in public schools Nos. 4 and 5, and when seventeen years of age began life for himself, serving two and one-half years at the plumber's trade. He then engaged with his uncle in the live stock business for one year, and after- ward was employed on a harbor tug boat and as weighmaster in various grain ele- vators until 1876, when he joined the volunteer fire department. A year later he resumed his position as weighmaster, and in January, 1880, again became a fireman, but in 1881 returned to his elevator work. After two years he was connected with the engineering corps during the construction of the great trunk sewer. January 5, 1886, he was appointed fireman of Hook and Ladder No. 2; December 20, 1887, was promoted captain of Engine No. 12; and June 15, 1895, was made battalion chief of the 6th district which position he now holds. Mr. Murphy has exhibited great bravery as a fireman, notably at the burning of the Richmond Hotel and Arcade Building, when he imperiled his own life to save others. He is a member of the C. M. B. A., and of the Firemen's Beneficiary Association, of which he was one of the leading organizers. He visited Great Britain and Europe in 1889, and while in Paris purchased the first ticket for and was one of the first passengers to ascend the Eifel Tower. He visited Great Britain again in 1894. In 1884 he married Brid- get, daughter of John and Margaret (Ryan) Farrell, of Buffalo, and they have had a son (deceased) and a daughter.
Kiene, Hugo S., Buffalo, was born in Buffalo, N. Y., February 15, 1858, and is a
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son of Sebastian C. Kiene and Lena Backert, his wife. His parents, natives of Germany, came to America when young and were married in this country. Sebas- tian C. Kiene, who settled in Buffalo about 1850, was a tinner by trade, but after- ward engaged in the grocery business, which he successfully continued until about 1884. He died in 1888, leaving two sons and a daughter. Hugo S. Kiene attended the private and public schools and St. Joseph's College, read law in the office of Lewis & Gurney and was admitted to the bar at the age of twenty-one. Since then he has been in active and successful practice in his native city. He has always been a prominent Republican, was deputy clerk of the Superior Court from 1892 to 1895 inclusive, and in 1896 was appointed attorney for the State Agricultural De- partment, which position he still holds. In 1897 he received the Republican nomi- nation for judge of the Municipal Court. He has frequently served his party as delegate to conventions, is a member of several social bodies and clubs and is a pro- gressive, public spirited and enteterprising citizen. Endowed with great persever- ance he pluckily surmounts all obstacles and with tact and force of character wins where others fail. Not a few of the public offices of the city and county are now filled by men who owe their positions to the personal political efforts of Hugo Kiene. He is married and has one daughter.
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Brush, William Cushing, eldest son of Jacob and Phoebe (Cushing) Brush), was born in Delaware county, N. Y., December 1, 1819, and received a district school education. When nineteen he went to Waterloo, N. Y., where he was employed in a brick manufactory. In 1842 he came to Buffalo and accepted a position with James White, a prominent brick manufacturer, and three years later formed a co- partnership with his brother, the late Hon. Alexander Brush. The firm of Brush Brothers began the manufacture of brick on Smith street, between Elk and Seneca, but finally removed to East Buffalo, where they established one of the largest and best brick yards in Western New York. The plant now occupies about seventy-six acres of land and has a capacity of 200,000 brick daily. Alexander Brush retired in 1890, and since then the business has been conducted by William C. Brush and his sons, William H., Warren H. and S. Cushing. Mr. Brush and his sons are all Re- publicans. He married, first, Hannah Bull, who bore him a daughter and two sons, the latter being William H. and Warren H., twins. By his second wife, Susan Barkley, he had one son, S. Cushing.
Hennicke, Charles Augustus, Buffalo, was born in Berlin, Germany, March 7, 1853, and came to Canada with his parents in 1857. He received a public school ed- ucation, served an apprenticeship at the carriage trade, and in 1874 became a mem- ber of the Canadian firm of McPhail, Hennicke & Casey. Three years later he withdrew and came to Buffalo as foreman for Banges & Fisher and their successors Banges & Phiren, and afterward for the Buffalo Spring and Gear Company, of which he is now secretary and manager. This is one of the leading industries in its line in Buffalo. Mr. Hennicke is a past grand in the order of Odd Fellows and a mem- ber of De Molay Lodge No. 498, F. & A. M.
Fosdick, Frank Sheldon, Buffalo .- The members of the Fosdick family were among the early settlers of Erie county. In 1821 Solomon Fosdick moved from his home in
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Rensselaer county hoping to find "in the west," as it was called then, a greater de- gree of prosperity than he had hitherto enjoyed. Strange as it may seem he did not stop in the village of Buffalo; in fact so little confidence had he in its great future that when he was offered land extending from where the Elk street market now stands, south to the river to cancel a small bill for carpenter work, he preferred the cash. He made his home in Boston, this county, where he lived nearly twenty years, dying there in 1838. John Spencer Fosdick, one of his sons, made Buffalo his home. He became identified with the public schools early in the forties and until rendered incapacitated by age was connected with the educational interests of the city and State. He was superintendent of education in 1866-1867, and it was during his ad- ministration that the schools were first graded and many other steps taken, the in- fluence of which is plainly visible to-day. In 1869, attracted by a fine offer at Westfield, he removed there, where he was for ten years principal of the union school which under his management made marked progress. Warned by the infirm- ities of advancing age, he retired from active school work, but never lost his interest in education. On school board and elsewhere his voice was always heard advocating the best interests of the rising generation. He died at Westfield in May, 1892. With both father and mother as teachers, it is not to be wondered that their son, the subject of this sketch, should have taken to his chosen profession. He was born in Buffalo March 11, 1851. His early education was obtained at public school No. 14, of which his father was principal. In 1868 he was graduated from the Central High School and four years later from the University of Rochester. After leaving the university Mr. Fosdick became teacher of Latin and Greek at the Buffalo Classical School, of which Prof. Horace Briggs was principal. After remaining there one year he was appointed by Superintendent Larned to the principalship of School No. 25, where he remained five years. He then spent two and one-half years as principal of School No. 33, and three years as principal of School No. 36. Then he became the head of the classical department at the Central High School and remained in that position until 1891, when he was appointed principal of the high school annex. It is said that in his high school work in preparing scholars for college, he never had one conditioned in either Latin or Greek. He had charge of the annex and sub- annexes for six years, working faithfully and with good results under most discour- aging circumstances. In 1897 when the magnificent new Masten Park High School was opened he was placed in charge. That it was a wise appointment is clearly shown by the enthusiasm and zeal with which the thirty-one teachers and one thou- sand pupils under him pursue their daily work and the high stand that the school has already taken among the schools of the country. When Mr. Fosdick was graduated from the University of Rochester, in 1872, he received the degree of A. B. and later A. M. was conferred upon him by the same institution. He is an excellent scholar and a great worker. He is a Mason, member of Washington Lodge and Adytum Chapter, a member of the Royal Arcanum, the University Club, Independent Club and various other societies. He is the only one in Buffalo who belongs to the Amer- ican Philological Association. Naturally he takes great interest in educational af- fairs and has read papers and made many speeches before educational bodies. He is a member of the National Education Association, the State Teacher's Association and the Buffalo Principals' Association. In 1873 Mr. Fosdick married Amie I. Weaver of Westfield and has three children. The oldest son, Harry Emerson Fos-
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dick, is a student at Colgate University; the second son, Raymond Blaine, and the daughter, Edith Weaver, are scholars at the Masten Park High School.
Daniels, William H., Buffalo, son of Henry and Catherine (Shepard) Daniels, was born in Buffalo, N. Y., April 6, 1859. After obtaining a liberal education in the public schools he entered the music store of Cottier & Denton, which afterward be- came Denton & Cottier, and upon Mr. Daniels's admission in 1887 was changed to Denton, Cottier & Daniels. This is one of the largest music houses between New York and Chicago and is the oldest establishment of its kind in the United States, having been established in 1827. Mr. Daniels is a director in the Homestead Sav- ings and Loan Association, and a thirty-second degree Mason, holding member- ship in the Lodge of Ancient Landmarks, No. 441, and Hugh de Payens Command- ery No. 30.
Ralyea, William W., Buffalo, son of Abraham E. and Maryette Ralyea, is a na- tive of Cora, Pa., born July 3, 1863. He was educated in the public schools of West Falls, Erie county, N. Y., and at the East Aurora Academy, from which he was graduated. His first employment was on public works, after which he was engaged in the meat business at East Aurora for two years. He then came to Buffalo to take charge of the Tremont Hotel, which he conducted until 1886, when he entered the employ of E. C. Poole, afterwards becoming a member of the firm, the name being changed to E. C. Poole & Co. This firm is located at 242 Main street and is among the most extensive and best known dealers in crockery in Buffalo, the busi- ness having been established over fifty years. Mr. Ralyea is a director in the Ger- mania Park Land Company and a member of Niagara Lodge No. 25, I. O. O. F. October 26, 1884, he married Anna McFarland of St. John's, N. B., and they have one son, William Archibald, born January 30, 1888.
Roberts, Frank Kimball, Buffalo, son of Jeremiah and Alma (Roberts) Roberts, was born in Waterboro, York county, Maine, January 28, 1840. His education was obtained in the district schools of his native town, at the Parsonsfield Academy, and at what is now Bates College, working on the farm and teaching school in the mean time. In 1862 he enlisted in the 8th Regiment, Maine Vols., then at Beaufort, South Carolina, but having contracted sickness was honorably discharged the following year. He afterward served as a delegate of the Christian Commission at the Fifth Corps Hospital, City Point, and was present at the surrender of Petersburg. From 1865 to 1886 he served as a pastor in Baptist churches in Maine, Indiana and Min- nesota, where he was for five years a member of the Baptist State Convention Board. Mr. Roberts came to Buffalo in 1886 and has since been engaged success- fully in the real estate and insurance business. He is a director of the Buffalo Real Estate Exchange and a member of the Masonic fraternity. November 29, 1866, he married Sarah A. Nason of Alfred, York county, Maine, and their children are Mildred S., Alma L. and Grace May.
Ackerman, William H., Tonawanda, junior member of the firm of H. B. Koenig & Co., is a son of Gottlieb and Christina (Mayer) Ackerman, and was born in the village of Tonawanda, August 17, 1866. He attended the public schools, afterwards
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taking a full course at Bryant & Stratton's Business College. In 1888 he became a member of the now well known hardware firm of H. B. Koenig & Co. Mr. Acker- man is a member of a number of societies, being president of the Rovers' Bicycle Club. He is an upright gentleman and a business man of great executive ability.
Jones, Edward A., Tonawanda, was born in Birmingham, England, in 1854, son of George and Ann (Baxter) Jones. At the early age of ten he began to serve his apprenticeship as a machinist, and while yet a boy had mastered his trade. Mr. Jones remained in England until 1881, when he came to this country and settled in Buffalo. Here he continued to ply his trade for six years, during the last year of which, however, his inventive brain conceived the idea of an improved process for manufacturing steel balls. He immediately began experimenting on models and after working persistently for three months on the ideas to which he had al- ready given a year's thought, he perfected his process and secured patents in this and other countries. He was now the inventor and patentee of an improved pro- cess for manufacturing steel balls, by which the cost of production was greatly lowered and the product itself greatly improved. In 1887 he formed a copartner- ship with David Roughead and under the name of the Excelsior Machine Company secured a small tract of land north of the city line in the town of Tonawanda, erected a small shop and began the manufacture of steel balls. At this time the Excelsior Machine Company was the first to make steel balls under the new pro- cess and the second manufacturer in this line in the United States. Under the careful and practical management of Messrs. Jones and Roughead the business of the Excelsior Machine Company has increased in ten years from a small shop with two men and a yearly capacity of 1,000,000 balls to a large plant employing 150 men with a yearly output of 150,000,000, making this company the largest manufacturers of this line in the world, as well as the only concern in the United States manufac- turing steel balls exclusively. One hundred million of their annual product is used in the United States, the balance is sold in England and Germany, where there is always a demand for the Excelsior ball on account of its superior quality. In fact the wonderful success of the Excelsior Machine Company is due very largely to the fact that the Excelsior ball is the best in the world. During the first few years of its existence balls for bicycles only were manufactured by this company ; now, however, all sizes are made for all kinds of machinery. Mr. Jones was married before coming to this country to Mercy M. Hartrick, who with their three children comprise the family of the subject of this sketch.
Burnett, Charles, Tonawanda, son of Charles and Bertha Burnett, was born in Germany on the 1st of September, 1850, and in 1853 came with his parents to this country settling in Tonawanda. His father died in 1864. Mr. Burnett received a public school education, and was successively connected with the box factory of Peter Cook for four years, with the shingle mill of J. A. Bliss for two years, with the sawmill of E. B. Williams for several years, and with the planing mill of A. Weston & Son for a time. Later he was associated with Slocum & De Graff, wholesale lum- ber dealers, and again with A. Weston & Son until 1894, when he became chief of the fire department of Tonawanda village. In 1876 he married Barbara Smith, who
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died in 1882. In September, 1883, he married Mary C. Summers. He has three children: Sadie, Eva and Hazel.
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