USA > New York > Erie County > Our county and its people : a descriptive work on Erie County, New York, Volume II > Part 87
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Gilfillan, Andrew B., Buffalo, is a son of Rev. Andrew B. and Margaret (Gordon) Gilfillan, and was born in Peoria, Wyoming county, N. Y., September 4, 1873. His father, a native of Allegheny county, Pa., was graduated from Washington and Jef- ferson College and when a young man became pastor of the United Presbyterian church at Peoria, N. Y., where he still resides and ministers to his congregation, and where his wife was born; they have four sons and two daughters. Mr. Gil- fillan attended the public schools of Peoria, and Ingleside Academy at McDonald, Pa., and when sixteen entered Williams College, from which he was graduated in 1893. He then taught school in Peoria a year and afterward came to Buffalo, where he took up the study of law in the Buffalo Law School, University of Buffalo. He was admitted to the bar in July, 1896, and a few months later opened an office for the practice of his profession in the Mooney-Brisbane building. In the short time during which he has practiced law he has met with remarkable success. He has recently been associated with A. J. Sigman, esq., in an important murder trial, and it was largely due to their efforts that the defendant's life was saved. He has al- ways been an active and staunch Republican.
Sigman, Albert J., Buffalo, a native of Cattaraugus, N. Y., received his early edu- cation in the public schools and later pursued a classical course at Chamberlain In- stitute at Randolph, Cattaraugus county. He taught, in all, ten terms, beginning at the age of seventeen years and after having in charge several public schools he later on became principal of a large public school at Otto, N. Y. During the last three years of his teaching he devoted his leisure time to the study of law and after three years of study under such conditions was admitted to the bar at Buffalo in June, 1877, where he opened an office on January 1, 1878, and where he has since resided. Mr. Sigman is recognized as an able, industrious and conscientious lawyer
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and a man of the highest integrity. Those who know him best say: "That his word is his bond in all matters and can always be relied upon." In his profession he has met with remarkable success, never entering court before having his case thoroughly prepared, believing in that old adage, "that a case well prepared is half tried," and the result has been that he has hardly known what defeat is. While his practice has been a general one, in a recent murder trial where a defendant's life was saved through his efforts, that fair and impartial judge, Hon. Truman C. White, one of the justices of the Supreme Court, after the close of the trial saw fit to be- stow upon him this tribute: "Mr. Sigman has defended his client with rare skill and care; he was persistent in his search for witnesses and, in fact, did his work most thoroughly, and I do not believe I ever witnessed a similar case where there was less display on the part of the counsel for the prisoner and more real hard work." Besides conducting a large law business he has also been interested for several years in real estate operations of large magnitude, achieving great success. He has traveled extensively in this country and in Europe, gaining valuable information thereby, and he has been long active and prominent in political affairs in primaries and campaign speaking; he has never held office, although his name has frequently been mentioned in that connection. Originally a Democrat and a strong "protec- tionist," he was a charter member and one of the executive committee of the Cleve- land Democracy, but during the first term of Grover Cleveland's administration, when he openly espoused a liberal tariff, he resigned and joined the Buffalo Repub- lican League and has been an ardent Republican ever since. He has been very much interested in fraternal societies, where he has been frequently honored with the highest offices in the lodge. He is past master of Hiram Lodge No. 105, F. & A. M., a member of Buffalo Chapter No. 71, R. A. M., and a past noble grand of Red Jacket Lodge No. 238, I. O. O. F. In religion Mr. Sigman entertains very liberal views and is a Protestant and is not a member of any church, but usually at- tends the Presbyterian church.
Vogt, Frederick Augustus, was born in Buffalo, N. Y., of Alsatian parentage, on the 24th of March, 1860, and was educated in the public schools of his native city. He was graduated from the Buffalo High School with honors in 1881, receiving the Jesse Ketchum gold medal for high standing. The death of his father during his senior year caused him to abandon the idea of pursuing a course in college and in September, 1881, he became principal of the newly opened public school No. 9. In 1883 he was promoted to the principalship of public school No. 26, which position he held nine years, when he was made professor of English history and literature in the Buffalo High School. Henry P. Emerson, then principal of that school, was soon afterward elected superintendent of education, and one of his first official acts was to appoint Mr. Vogt to the principalship of that institution, which he still holds. Mr. Vogt is a successful teacher, an excellent administrator, and a man of broad culture and high attainments. As principal of the Buffalo High School he has given special attention to art by introducing to the students numerous casts from antique sculptures, paintings by local artists, etc. He has also delivered many lectures on the natural sciences outside of his school work, such as free courses on geology and botany before the Field Club, a branch of which he was one of the founders. In 1897 he began his Saturday morning travel talks in the High School assembly room,
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which became popular at once, and which dealt with history, science and geog- raphy, being illustrated with stereopticon views. Since then Mr. Vogt has also delivered half the stereopticon lectures in the free Saturday evening popular course begun at the Central High School. Meanwhile he has been steadily carrying on his own studies in the classics, Hebrew, natural science, and the higher mathematics. He is a member of several social, scientific, and literary societies.
Corcoran, William E., Buffalo, deputy city clerk, born in the old Third ward of Buffalo on May 1, 1862, is the son of William and Bridget (Hickey) Corcoran, natives of Ballyvaughan and Clare village, County Clare, Ireland, who came to America about 1851 and were married in Buffalo in 1857. William Corcoran, a roofer by trade, was foreman for one concern forty years. He was a staunch Democrat and died in 1896; his wife died in December, 1895. William E. Corcoran was educated in public school No. 6 and at St. Joseph's College and then learned the roofing busi- ness with his father. Afterward he was for several years connected with railroads in a clerical capacity. When a lad of only seven he began earning money by de- livering newspapers, an occupation he followed six years. In 1882 he became a re- porter on the old Buffalo Courier and on the establishment of the Buffalo Times on September 13, 1883, he took a similar position with that paper, which he filled until July, 1884, when during the Cleveland campaign of that year he served as outside correspondent for a number of large journals. The following January he became a reporter on the Buffalo Express, remaining there two years, resigning to take a posi- tion on the Evening News. Two years later he became manager of the Railway In- dicator Advertising Company, but after a few months sold out and returned to the Express. April 1, 1896, he engaged in the printing business, and on the establish- ment of the Buffalo Record took a position with that paper, which he held until August, 1897, when he returned to the Times. In January, 1898, he was appointed deputy city clerk of Buffalo. Mr. Corcoran had the assignment of speakers during the municipal campaign of 1897. He was librarian of the Young Men's Catholic Association in 1878 and 1879 and diocesan secretary of the Catholic Young Men's National Union in 1884 and 1885, secretary of the Buffalo Press Club in 1887 and 1888 and its president in 1893 and 1894. He is a member, past chancellor and formerly a trustee of Branch 128, C. M. B. A., a member of the Central Railway Club, secretary of the Second Ward Democracy and a member of the Buffalo Cath- olic Institute, the South Buffalo Business Men's Association and other societies. July 11, 1887, he married Katherine, daughter of Kieran and Bridget (Horahan) Balkin, natives of Queens county, Ireland, Their children are William K. and Lauretta M. Mr. Balkin was connected with the Union Iron Works of Buffalo for several years and was for some time a member of the police department.
Brennan, William, Buffalo, jailer, Erie county, is one of a family of three sons and two daughters of Michael and Honora (Walsh) Brennan, and was born in county Kilkenny, Ireland, April 7, 1847. His father, a cooper by trade, came to America about 1851 and a year later sent for his family and settled in Buffalo, where both parents died. The children all received good educational advantages. James Bren- nan is a priest in Buffalo; Edward J. a physician in Indianapolis; Mary is mother superior of St. Joseph's Convent, and Bridget is the wife of William Walsh of Buf-
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falo. William Brennan was early noted for his industry. Leaving school when a boy he was first employed on a railroad and later on a dairy farm and by economy and thrift finally bought a milk route, which proved successful. In 1872 he purchased his present farm in Cheektowaga, near the city line, where he has since resided. He bought this farm of the man he formerly worked for, and still continues his large milk business. At one time he also had a grocery store in Buffalo. From 1881 to 1886 he was engaged in the produce commission business, and since then he has been a dealer in real estate. He has always been an active Democrat, has frequently been a delegate to local conventions and served as a justice of the peace of Cheek- towaga for sixteen years and as a justice of sessions two years. He has been a trus- tee of the village of Sloan since its incorporation in 1896, and in January, 1898, was appointed jailer judge of Erie county by Sheriff Andrew Killgallon. He is a mem- ber of the C. M. B. A. and the C. B. L., a man of good judgment and great energy, and a prominent factor in political affairs. In 1872 he married Rosana, daughter of John Ferguson and their children are James C., Albert E., William H., Alice G,. and Rose Mary.
Missert, Jacob, Buffalo, son of Jacob and Mary (Kolb) Missert, natives of Alsace, France, was born in Buffalo, N. Y., January 22, 1854. Jacob Missert, sr., born in 1827, came to this country in 1842 and settled in Buffalo, where he completed an apprenticeship at the shoemaker's trade and where he was engaged in that business for himself from 1848 until his death in April, 1894. He was a Democrat, an early member of the old volunteer fire department, foreman of Engine No. 4, and an ex- empt fireman. His wife died in October, 1895. They reared eight sons and three daughters. Jacob Missert, jr., the subject of the sketch, attended the common schools, and when twelve years of age began learning the shoemaker's trade with his father. Later he learned the trade of bookbinder, which he followed from 1868 to 1883, when he became bookkeeper for D. S. Bennett, a prominent elevator owner, which position he held until Mr. Bennett's death in 1894. In 1884 Mr. Missert en- tered into the dairy business which he has also conducted with success, having head- quarters at 1210 Fillmore avenue. His farm is located in Cheektowaga just beyond the city limits. This farm is stocked with about seventy-five cows. He is a promi- nent Democrat, has been a delegate to four different State conventions and has served as a member of the Democratic General Committee during the past seven years. He has also been a delegate to numerous local political conventions, is a member of his party's executive committee and one of its active and influential lead- ers and in 1897 was elected a councilman of Buffalo, receiving the largest vote given to any man on his ticket. He has been a member of the C. M. B. A. since its organ- ization and is a member of its grand council and chairman of its committee on supervision and laws. He is also a member of the C. B. L. and the Knights of Co- lumbus. In 1878 he was married in Buffalo, to Margaret, daughter of Thomas Brady of Lindsay, Ontario, Canada, and they have two children living, David B. and Clarissa S. (twins).
Baker, Rev. Nelson H .- Sketch of the Society for the Protection of Destitute Catholic Children, and St. Joseph's Orphan Asylum, West Seneca, N. Y .- Thirty- five years ago, we incorporated our "Society for the Protection of Destitute Catholic WWW
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Children at the City of Buffalo," and during these many years, this infant society has had a severe struggle for existence, beginning in absolute poverty, contracting immense debts in the action of buildings, etc., and embraced with many and great disadvantages, that the work seemed to have been blessed by God and grew and prospered, because we felt that it was His own work, gathering under its hospitable roof the little waif and homeless child, the destitute and wayward boy, until thou- sands of these classes have been housed, educated, instructed and adopted into homes where they have grown up a credit and an honor to society, and they have also been taught some useful trade to earn for themselves an honest livelihood, and to-day many look back with a lively gratitude to that home that protected them when friend- less, and sent them forth well prepared to battle safely with the busy world. In the history of crime and criminals, it is very clearly shown that misfortune is generally the primary cause of all crime; set the young boy adrift upon the world without friends or home, surrounded by evil influences without moral or religious training but environed by all that is base or low, without the elevating influences of an ed- ucation and cultivating the baser passions of nature, need we be surprised, if such a boy be plunged rapidly into the vortex, and his future instead of being a useful man to society, must be restrained behind stone walls and iron bars as a protection to the life and property of others? Circumstances that cannot be controlled are continually setting adrift upon the world thousands of little children, who must necessarily be subject to its evil influences, and unless some friendly hand is stretched forth to save them, they must naturally float into the vortex of crime, and rob them of all that is good, holy and noble. In order to save this class of children, our association has been organized, and we have made every effort to obtain this class of abandoned and homeless children, and have thrown open our doors, and generously offered to accept all who might present themselves regardless of whence they came, or any circumstances connected with their destitute condition; all that we desired to know, was, were they in need, without friends or a home, if so, they were gladly welcomed to ours, and with the means at our disposal, we would strive to improve their con- dition in an intellectual, moral and industrial manner, so that they might be redeemed to society, and be a credit to the institution by which it had been adopted. We will have capacity in our new addition, which is now in process of completion, for nearly 1,000 children, and while giving these a good common school education and training in faith and morals, we also give them an opportunity of learning a good trade; we teach them the various branches, printing press work, house and general carpentering, wood carving, hand turning, band sawing, ornamental wood sawing, plumbing, steam and gas fitting, besides the ordinary trades of tailoring, shoemak- ing and baking; we have also a large farm and vegetable garden, which affords many an opportunity to indulge in this healthy occupation and in cultivating a taste for the tilling of the soil, which in this country is able to afford so many to have their own farm and home, and thus weaning them away from the dangers of city life. The institution was chartered in the year 1864, and was under the care of Rev. T. F. Hines, until the year 1882 when Rev. Nelson H. Baker was appointed superintendent and treasurer, who still holds this position, and under his care the institution has grown; having had the care of only 100 children, it will now contain about 750; he is also president of St. Joseph's Orphan Asylum, situated across the road from St John's Protectory, where 250 boys are housed and cared for, by the same admin
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istration; Rev. J. F. Kelly is acting as assistant superintendent in the spiritual and material work of both institutions, and is active in developing the industrial depart- ments; several periodicals are published at the institution, among which are the "Annals of our Lady of Victory" and the "Victorian," edited, printed and composed by the boys of the institution, by which means they learn to acquire a knowledge of literary work to fit them for future duties in society.
Brunn, Henry, Buffalo, was born in Speyer, Germany, August 27, 1839, and at an early age came with his parents to America and settled in Buffalo, where he attended the public schools, receiving a liberal education. Early in life he manifested a nat- ural taste for the work in which he subsequently demonstrated his ability to succeed. At the age of fourteen he was apprenticed to H. H. Warren, a carriage manufacturer, and served nearly five years under his instructions. Feeling that he had become as well informed as was possible at that time in Buffalo he then decided to go East and fully acquaint himself with the construction of heavy work. With that end in view he removed to Rahway, N. J., where he entered the employ of John H. Duren, under whose instruction he remained one year. To further perfect himself he turned his attention to New York and entered the establishment of Parker, Brewster & Baldwin, the leading carriage builders of that city, with whom he remained until 1861, when he enlisted in the 9th Regt. N. G. N. Y., which became the 83d N. Y. Vols. Mr. Brunn served with his regiment until the second battle of Bull Run, where he was taken prisoner. He was honorably discharged in the spring of 1863, returned to Buffalo, and was engaged in the tailoring business for a short time, after which he accepted a position as bookkeeper for George Werner, with whom he re- mained until 1880. Feeling that his thorough knowledge of the carriage business fitted him for a place among the representative carriage builders he decided to em- bark in the business for himself. With that excellent judgment which he has man- ifested to such a marked degree he saw that the city was growing northward, and accordingly he purchased his present site at the corner of Main and Summer streets and built the large repository and factory which he now occupies, and here he has since conducted a successful trade. Owing to the excellent training Mr. Brunn re- ceived in his youth he stands to-day the equal of any man engaged in the business as a scientific constructor of carriages. He is a member of Bidwell-Wilkeson Post, No. 9, G. A. R., of Erie Lodge, No. 161, F. & A. M., and of Keystone Chapter, No. 163, R. A. M. In 1884 he married Charlotte J. Savitz, and they have one son, Harry Otis Brunn, born April 13, 1891.
Stimson, Henry B., Buffalo, is the son of Nathaniel R. and Helen (Warren) Stim- son, and was born in Brooklyn, N. Y., March 12, 1856. His father was editor and proprietor of the Weekly New York Day-Book for several years until his death in 1858. His mother died in 1868. Mr. Stimson was reared by an elder sister, Mrs. Frederick L. Cady, in Buffalo, but spent most of his youth in boarding school, first in that of John F. Ernst in Buffalo and later at the Flushing (L. I.) Institute, from which he was graduated in the class of 1872. He subsequently accepted a position with and afterward became manager of the Buffalo Steam Forge, of which Henry Childs was the proprietor, and in 1885 he formed a copartnership with Charles A. Gould, under the firm name of Gould & Stimson, and leased the property. Four years later this firm dissolved and Mr. Stimson resumed the management of the
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business until 1890, when it was discontinued. Since then he has been an extensive dealer in engines, boilers, pumps, lathes, belting and general machinery, with an establishment at 137 and 139 Washington street. His trade extends throughout the country. Mr. Stimson was married June 26, 1882, to Miss Elizabeth Hitchcock Childs, daughter of the late Henry Childs and Elizabeth Hitchcock, his wife, of Buf- falo. They have five children: Henry Childs Stimson, Jeannie, Bessie, Nathaniel and Helen.
Dwyer, Thomas Francis, M. D., Buffalo, son of the late Michael O. and Ellen (Cunningham) Dwyer, was born in Buffalo, December 9, 1862. He attended private schools and was graduated from St. Joseph's College in 1880. In 1882 he began the study of medicine at the University of Buffalo, and was graduated with honor in the class of 1885. After graduation he was for one year interne at the Buffalo General Hospital and then began general practice. Dr. Dwyer is one of the most prominent physicians in Buffalo. He is secretary of the Buffalo Academy of Medicine, pres- ident of the Buffalo Physicians' Club, and member of the board of censors of the Erie County Medical Society; he is also a member of and medical examiner for the C. M. B. A., the C. B. L., the O. U. F., the I. O. R. M., and the Knights of Columbus. He occupies the post of visiting physician to the Le Couteulx Institution for Deaf Mutes, and is a member of the staff of the City Hospital for Women. In May, 1888, he married Lillian E., daughter of Richard Callahan, of Buffalo. They have four chil- dren: Grace M., Lillian M., Florence and Ruth.
Skinner, Henry J., Buffalo, is the son of Harry and Elvira (Adams) Skinner, and was born in Attica, N. Y., June 26, 1831. His mother was descended from the New England family of which President John Quincy Adams was a member. Mr. Skin- ner was educated in the district schools of his native town and then learned every branch of the blacksmith's trade, which he followed until 1876, becoming master mechanic in the Erie Railroad shops at Hornellsville in 1861 and later removing to Dunkirk, N. Y., in the same capacity. From 1872 to 1878 he was engaged in rail- road contracting in the South, and in the latter year he removed to Bradford, Pa., where he became interested in the laundry business. In 1882 he came to Buffalo, where for fourteen years he has been engaged in the same industry. Mr. Skinner is also one of the lessees and the treasurer of the Lyceum Theater, being associated with John Laughlan. He is a prominent and active business man, and as a pro- gressive citizen is highly esteemed and respected. He is a thirty-second degree Mason, holding membership in Hiram Lodge, the Council, the Commandery, Con- sistory, and the Shrine. In 1852 he married Diadama Marther, of Attica, N.Y., by whom he had four children, of whom a daughter, Clara May, wife of Joseph Harvey, survives. For his second wife he married Emily Graham of Buffalo, whose parents reside in New York city.
Venner, William W., Buffalo, proprietor of one of Buffalo's leading merchant tailoring establishments, was born in Hamburg, Erie county, August 23, 1879, and is a son of William G. Venner and Amanda Stuart, his wife. He attended the pub- lic schools of his native town and Bryant & Stratton's Business College, and then entered the employ of William Ellwood & Co., with whom he remained until he en- gaged in business for himself in September, 1896, at 14 South Division street. His father, William G., has for many years been a prominent tailor in Hamburg.
INDEX.
PART II.
Cleveland, Grover, 21 Coxe, Arthur Cleveland, Rt. Rev., 37 Daniels, Charles, 23 De Lancey, William Heathcote, Rt. Rev., 32 Ellicott, Joseph, 3 Fillmore, Millard, 5
Potter, William Warren, Dr., 43 Pratt, Pascal Paoli, 14 Pratt, Samuel Fletcher, 10
Quigley, James E., Rev., 40 Rumsey, Aaron, 9 Ryan, Stephen Vincent, Rt. Rev., 35 Spaulding, Elbridge Gerry, 29 Sprague, Eben Carlton, 18 Tifft, George Washington, 25 Timon, John, Rt. Rev., 34 Walker, William David, Rev., 39 White, Truman Clark, 41
PART III.
Aaron, Israel, Rev., 460 Abbott, Frank A., 472 George, Col., M. D., 211 John Perrine, Prof., 268 Wilson J., 531 Ackerman, Gottlieb, 179 William H., 581 Adams, Asa J., 308 Charles, 334 John C., 390 Mortimer Frank, 559 Samuel Cary, 390 Sidney E., 378 William H., 391 Adolf, Joseph, 342 Aird, Albert F., 391 Albert, D. B., 253 Albertson, Charles S., Dr., 62 Albro, William H., 160
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