USA > New York > Niagara County > Souvenir history of Niagara County, New York : commemorative of the 25th anniversary of the Pioneer Association of Niagara County > Part 32
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Henry K. Hopkins, attorney, came. Died in 1846.
Alexander Ralston Chase, M. D., came. Died in 1887. Elisha Clapp came.
James D. Shuler came in 1828 or 1829. Died in 1868. Daniel Price came, with his wife.
Lockport Bank incorporated April 22, 1829. The first President was Lewis Eaton, afterwards appointed Bank Commissioner; George Field was the first Cashier. Capital, $100,000. The bank was located on the southeast corner of Market and Chapel streets, in a brick edifice, still in good state of preservation. Lot Clark succeeded Mr. Eaton in the Presidency. This was the first bank in Niagara County, and for several years the only one. In 1837 its charter was repealed by the Legislature.
Lockport House was built in 1829-30. Kept at one time by Dr. Seymour Scovell. Situated on southeast corner of Market and Exchange streets. Burned November 21, I84I.
Land Office, Market street, built about 1829. Lot Clark, General Agent of Albany Land Company, opened law and land office, fall of 1829.
Jeremiah Carrier came about 1829.
Norman Pomroy born in Town of Lockport.
Benjamin Carpenter came from Paterson, New Jersey. Joel McCollum appointed one of the Judges of the Com- mon Pleas for Niagara County.
George W. Rogers and Marcia Faxon married.
Daniel Wilber Ballou came from Vermont. His son, D. W. Ballou, Jr., came with him.
George H. Boughton served as Postmaster from 1822 to 1829. In that year was elected State Senator ; served four years.
Morris H. Tucker appointed Postmaster.
Charles F. Mitchell came ; just out of his minority.
Samuel Works established a tannery on creek, south side of Market street.
James G. Lewis commenced business in Lockport.
Henry Walbridge, a miller, came from Geneva, New York. Edward Giddings came from Rochester.
December 21, Joseph C. Baker came. Was clerk of the old Lockport House.
Canal tolls collected at Lockport during 1829, $12,- 503-43.
IN 1830.
Population of town, including village, 3,823. Popula- tion of village, nearly 2, 100.
Josiah K. Skinner, M. D., came about 1830.
Edward I. Chase came about 1830.
Horace Birdsall came early in 1830. Commenced the manufacture of hats and caps.
First engraved map of Village of Lockport published by Jesse P. Haines, Surveyor.
Washington Hunt entred law office of Lot Clark in 1830. Willard Weld and Jacob Gaunt came.
First Presbyterian brick church built, corner Church and Ontario streets.
Stephen Gooding, brother of Deacon John Gooding, had store in "Exchange building," Market street, about 1830. Stephen F. Gooding was his clerk in 1832.
Nathan Dayton became partner with Lot Clark about 1830. Firm name, Clark & Dayton, attorneys.
David Sprague Crandall was here in 1830.
William Wallace Whitmore came to Lockport in 1829, and worked as a stone mason. In 1830 he purchased the property on the brow of Rattlesnake Hill, and commenced to develop the sand stone quarry there. His business pros- pered, and stone from his quarries was sent to many large cities. He died in 1898, in the eighty-eighth year of his age.
Captain Asher Torrance came in 1830.
Timothy Paige was born in the State of New York in 1798, removing at two years of age, with his parents, to Oneida County. They lived there till 1814, then went to Jefferson County and remained till 1817, when Timothy came, by schooner, to Fort Niagara, and walked to Wright's Corners, by way of Lewiston, continuing his journey to Slay- ton Settlement. In 1824 he married Mrs. Eliza Wright, in Pownal, Vermont. He settled upon a farm near Orangeport, which he had bought of Joseph Ellicott. In 1826 he was elected Constable, and served as Constable and Deputy Sheriff until 1836. In 1830 he removed to Lockport. In 1846 he went to Michigan, remaining eight years, after which he was a resident of Buffalo for twelve years. In 1865 he again became a citizen of Lockport, serving in various offi- cial capacities. He died January 10, 1889, in the ninety-sec- ond year of his age.
September 13, meeting of freeholders at house of Sam- uel Jennings. Resolved, that $700 be raised in First Ward
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SOUVENIR HISTORY OF NIAGARA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
to purchase a fire engine and hose for said ward.
October 2, village Trustees ordered tax for $625 to buy fire engine for First Ward. L. A. Spalding authorized to contract for said engine.
October 5, village Trustees appointed George W. Rogers Chief Engineer of Fire Department.
Canal tolls collected at Lockport during 1830, $21,- 549.33.
IN 1831. 0
Frederick Stearns was born in Lockport Village, April 8, 1831. In 1842 his father, Samuel Stearns, removed to Buffalo, where Frederick became an apprentice to the drug business in 1846. He went to Detroit, arriving there Jant. ary I, 1855. He was first a retailer of drugs; then whole- saler ; finally a manufacturer; from one little room with a cook stove and one helper, now to works among the largest
Joseph T. Bellah came from Delaware. Operated sash factory in the "Hollow."
Fire engine purchased by L. A. Spalding ; cost, $495.57. Thomas Van Sickler and S. Ernest came.
Village Treasurer published report from May 1I, 1830.
Yerington & Stickney, Lockport furnace, advertise 200 ploughs, made at the furnace, for sale.
to April 23, 1831. Receipts, $1, 186.54. Paid in same time, $1,168.05.
James Goodrich came.
William Pearson came from England.
May 10, village election. Votes polled, 227.
Elnathan W. Lewis came from Canandaigua. Joseph Center, Justice of the Peace.
George S. Place advertises "assortment of hats, man- ufactured in Lockport by T. & J. Birdsall, constantly for sale."
NIAGARA COUNTY JAIL,
in the world, employing 600 people, with an output which reaches all over the globe. The company-Frederick Stearns & Co .- was incorporated in 1882. Frederick re- tired in 1887, and has spent about twenty years traveling and collecting. He has donated all his collections to the City of Detroit-to the "Museum of Art." Mr. Stearns is still liv- ing in Detroit.
In March, 1831, trials were held at Lockport of persons charged with being in a conspiracy to abduct William Mor- gan, the Mason. No convictions.
James Goodrich came in 1831.
April 21, a new steamboat, Olive Branch, built by Hiel Rockway, has made several trips to and from our village and Buffalo, and meets the expectations of the proprietor. It is designed for a towing boat.
Samuel Works came from Rochester.
Othniel C. Marsh, son of Caleb, born in Town of Lock- port, October 29, 1831. He became the noted Prof. Marsh, of Yale University, whose researches in Geology and Pal- ontology made his name famous in the world of science. He died in 1899.
Col. H. W. Scovell came about the latter part of 1831. 1832-CHOLERA-GARGLING OIL FIRST MADE.
Cotton factory built by Lockport Manufacturing Com- pany, which was capitalized at $1,000,000.
Raceway extended to cotton factory.
In June cholera made its appearance in Lockport. There was great consternation. An old resident, living here at that time, says: "During the epidemic every day seemed like Sunday ; little business was transacted, and country peo- ple seldom came to the village." Canal boats coming from the east were quarantined, a public fast was kept, and village and town Boards of Health took active measures to avert
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SOUVENIR HISTORY OF NIAGARA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
the visitation. There were many cases, and several deaths, among them ex-Sheriff Eli Bruce. Richard L. Torrance, a druggist in the Lower Town, and his wife, were victims.
Dr. George W. Merchant came, and purchased the stock of drugs and medicines left by R. L. Torrance. He enlarged the business and soon opened an additional store in the Up- per Town, in the block corner of Main and Cottage streets. In a few years he disposed of his Lower Town store and gave attention to Gargling Oil, which has made his name famous. In 1847 he relinquished his Main street drug store to J. H. Curtiss, and in 1853 sold his interest in Gargling Oil to a stock company, retiring with an ample fortune. He re- moved to Germantown, Pennsylvania, and died there i 1867.
Robert Wilson came to Slayton Settlement, Town of Lockport.
David Pye's brewery established.
Christ Church incorporated in 1832. Niagara Mills built.
Alfred Holmes came. He was a lawyer, and held at different times the office of District Attorney and County Judge.
Daniel Worrell came.
Levi F. Bowen came from Cortland County, New York. He was a lawyer, a Judge of the old Court of Common Pleas, Member of Assembly, Justice of the Supreme Court, mem- ber of the Constitutional Convention of 1867, and Provost Marshal of the Twenty-eighth District of New York during the rebellion. Also County Judge of Niagara County in 1878. Died in 1889, aged eighty-one years.
William C. Tucker came.
Eagle tavern was finished, in 1832, and opened in July of that year by John W. Witbeck. Located on site of the present Kenmore. "Standing near the bank of the canal, to which there are stairs immediately in front, under cover, and lighted during the night. and being open at all hours, makes it the most convenient point to take or leave the canal, and which can be done without inconvenience at any hour of the night, or during storms." Always popular. Burned No- vember 2, 1854.
Jabez S. Woodward came.
Seth Whitmore came. Died in 1869, aged eighty-six years.
James P. Murphy came. An early cabinet maker.
Isaac C. Colton entered office of Clark & Dayton as clerk and student, in spring of 1832.
Anson Augustus Boyce entered the same office as a law student, in 1832. Mr. Boyce is still living in Santa Barbara, California, at the advanced age of eighty-nine years.
Farmers' mill built and in operation. Parsons, Good- ing & Co. Also sawmill.
Second Presbyterian Church organized. Stone edifice on Van Buren street built in 1837. The oldest church building now standing in the city.
Siamese Twins visited Lockport.
About 700 United States regulars passed through this place on their way to Illinois.
In July, 1832, Gen. Scott passed through on the packet, to take chief command on the Western frontier.
Canal tolls collected at Lockport during 1832, $28,434 .- 22.
IN 1833.
Baptists erected a stone church on Pine street
Jonathan Ingalls came. Removed to Green Bay, Wis- consin, in 1850. Died there in 1875.
Brick yard of Peter Akins, "on Batavia Road, and with- in the corporation," on farm of III acres, advertised for sale, by him.
Isaac Price, Jr., was in business here in 1833.
Sullivan Caverno came, and studied law with Judge Gardner. In 1835 was admitted to the bar. He was for a time Police Justice of the Village of Lockport. He gave much thought to educational matters, and evolved the fa- mous Union School system, introduced in Lockport in 1848. Mr. Caverno died in 1882. His widow died in 1901, aged eighty-two years.
Mrs. Joseph T. Bellah came.
Hon. N. Dayton appointed first Judge of Niagara County.
First Methodist Episcopal Church built of brick, corner of Niagara and Church streets. Rev. S. Seager, pastor.
IN 1834.
St. John's Roman Catholic Church built on Chestnut street.
Washington Hunt admitted to the bar of the Supreme Court. In 1834 also he was married to Mary H. Walbridge, who still survives him, residing in the City of New York.
Deacon Asahel Scovell came from Orwell, Vermont. He died in 1869. One daughter, Mrs. Hiram Gardner, still survives him.
Edmund Lee came from England. Purchased Salt Works farm, where he lived many years.
Abraham Jones and Stoughton Pettebone came. Ebenezer W. Williams came from Royalton.
Mary Gaines Peabody, wife of Caleb Marsh, mother of Prof. Marsh, died at the homestead, Chestnut Ridge, in her twenty-seventh year.
IN 1835.
Population of town, including village, 6,092.
Niagara Democrat established. R. M. Lyon & Co., publishers.
Lockport and Niagara Falls Railroad commenced.
Pound Manufacturing Company began business.
Ezra Harwood came from Royalton, to which place he came from Massachusetts, in 1815. He died in 1859, aged seventy-one years.
William T. Rogers came from Holden, Massachusetts. Daniel Bosserman came.
Hon. Jonathan L. Woods came from Cortland County, New York, in 1835. He was a distinguished lawyer. In 1840 he was appointed District Attorney for this County. which office he relinquished to become First Judge. He died in 1865.
Col. H. W. Scovell appointed Postmaster.
About 1835 John Whyman built organs on Market street, west of Exchange.
Gen. Daniel W. Flagler was born on Chestnut Ridge. Ezekiel Folsom removed to Ohio City, opposite Cleve- land, about 1835.
John G. Saxe, poet, lived here for a short time, in 1835.
Robert Kinne came from Montgomery County and set- tled at Rapids.
L. A. Spalding began making agricultural implements. Thomas H. Hyatt purchased the Lockport Balance of I. C. Colton, and in about a year was appointed United States Consul to Algiers.
Charles F. Mitchell began the milling business.
R. S. Wilkinson came from Rhode Island. He was en- gaged in trade until 1851, when he became Cashier of Ex-
SOUVENIR HISTORY OF NIAGARA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
159
H BUDDENHAGEN.
JAMES DICKSON.
HON. WILLIAM RICHMOND.
W. F. CLARK.
E. ASHLEY SMITH.
HARRISON S. CHAPMAN.
WILLIAM ARLINGTON.
5
-
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SOUVENIR HISTORY OF NIAGARA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
change Bank, which position he held until his death. in 1859, aged fifty-four years.
IN 1836-MARK HOPKINS HERE.
January 30, Washington Hunt appointed First Judge of Niagara County by Governor Marcy. He was but twenty- four years old, probably the youngest Judge of a Court of Record in the State of New York. He discharged the du- ties of the office with ability, and after a term of five years declined a reappointment, though strongly urged to accept by the members of the County bar.
American hotel built, corner Main and Locust streets. Now the Lincoln Building.
Jesse Hawley came from Rochester.
Mark Hopkins in business here, in 1836. He was in the general trade-dry goods, groceries, etc. The firm, in 1838, was Hopkins, Hewes & Shaeffer-the late Jesse Shaeffer being a partner. Mark Hopkins was Clerk of the Board of Trustees of the village for a few terms. He after- wards went west and drifted to California before the gold ex- citement. He later was in the hardware business in Sacra- mento, his partner being Collis P. Huntington. These two men, with Leland Stanford and Charles Crocker, in 1860, planned and commenced the construction of a Pacific rail- road from San Francisco to Ogden, a distance of over 1,000 miles, which they completed in 1869. At the outset their combined capital did not exceed $200,000. These four country merchants were laughed at by the capitalists of California at the inception of their enterprise. Hopkins, in consequence of his recognized financial ability, was elected Treasurer of the company. He died suddenly at Yuma, Ar- izona, in 1878. In Cold Spring Cemetery, a short distance from the entrance, to the right, is a lot surrounded by a sub- stantial iron fence, and on the gate is "Mark Hopkins." This was his property, and as late as 1855 the fence was erected by his order. But he is not buried there. His brother, Henry K. Hopkins, a lawyer, who died here in 1846, fills a grave there, and by his side is his wife, Mrs. Alexander.
Hon. N. Dayton appointed Circuit Judge.
W. W. Whitmore furnished from his Rattlesnake Hill quarry sandstone for the first street pavement in Buffalo.
Thomas T. Flagler came, in 1836, being then twenty- five years of age. He was a printer, and "worked at the case in the Niagara Courier office. He had a small farm on Chest- nut Ridge, east of Cold Spring; walked back and forth daily to his work." In 1838 he became proprietor of the Niagara Courier, which he conducted for four years. After that he was in the hardware business for several years. He was President of the Holly Manufacturing Company from its beginning ; President of Niagara County National Bank for many years, and foremost in many business enterprises. He was a prominent man in the First Presbyterian Church, and an officer for a long time. He was at various times Member of Assembly, Representative in Congress, and an incumbent of other offices. He died in :897, in the eighty-sixth year of his age.
William E, Cooper, a mechanical engineer, came in 1836. He was one of the first locomotive engineers on the old Lockport and Niagara Falls Railroad, "and in the win- ter of 1845-6 constructed the first and only locomotive ever built in Lockport. It was named the 'Independence,' after- wards changed to the 'Jenny Lind.'" In the sixties he was master mechanic on the western division of the New York and Erie Railroad, with headquarters at Dunkirk. For several years before his death he was with the Brooks Loco- motive Works at that place. He died in 1885.
June 6, village Trustees appointed Alanson D. Hunt Common Crier.
Truman Kilborne came about 1836. He died in 1873, aged ninety-four years. His son, Horatio Kilborne, is liv- ing in Lockport, at the age of eighty-two.
Lockport and Niagara Falls Railroad opened. Oper- ated by horse power.
Stephen Sult came in 1836. He was foreman in the construction of the Lockport and Niagara Falls Railroad. He built the first eight-wheeled car on that road. It was long, with a door at each end, and seats running along either side. The cars first used on the road were short, and having three doors on each side, the seats being placed across the car like those in a stage coach. In 1856 Mr. Sult became roadmaster on the New York Central Railroad, between Lockport and Buffalo, and continued in that service until a few years ago, when he retired on a pension. Mr. Sult reached his ninetieth birthday July 21, 1902.
Samuel Works elected State Senator, Eighth Senatorial District, for four years.
Charles F. Mitchell published, in 1836, carefully pre- pared statistics of the business and manufactures of Lock- port at that time.
December 9, village Trustees ordered leather fire buck- ets suspended in every building where fires were kept.
There was an era of speculation all over the country in 1836, in which Lockport participated, in a small way. It brought disaster to many, and the succeeding years show the failure of many hitherto prosperous men and firms.
IN 1837. Rev. William C. Wisner came. Preached his first ser- mon to Second Presbyterian Church on the last Sabbath in May.
First Lutheran Church organized. Rev. John Selmser, pastor.
Mrs. Emily N. Hixson came.
May 16, Benjamin Carpenter appointed Chief Engineer of the Fire Department by the village Trustees.
Elliott W. Cook came. He was a gunsmith, and his rifles attained marked popularity. He raised a company at the breaking out of the rebellion, and was commissioned Captain, May 6, 1861. Promoted to Major September 21, of the same year, and to Lieutenant Colonel the year follow- ing. While living in California, to restore his shattered health, he committed suicide by shooting, in 1877.
George H. Allen, tailor, issued shinplasters, payable in "cabbage," which passed current during the financial strin- gency.
James Murray came from Queensbury, Warren County, New York. Henry Murray, his son, came with him.
August 23 Lockport and Niagara Falls Railroad ad- vertised "Two trips per day by steam power ;" twenty-four miles in about one hour and forty minutes, including stops.
S. Cady Murray came.
Benjamin Lett resided in and around Lockport during the Patriot War.
Silvester Flummerfelt's blacksmith shop was on Main street, a little above Spalding's office, in 1837.
IN 1838.
Canal Bank organized under general banking law, about 1838. William O. Brown, President; George W. Rogers, Cashier. Capital, $100,000.
Second Presbyterian Church, Van Buren street, dedica- ted January 8, 1838.
SOUVENIR HISTORY OF NIAGARA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
161
J. W. LITTLE.
ALMON M. GRAHAM.
GEORGE T. M'COMB.
GEORGE B. THOMPSON.
GEORGE W. WEAVER.
CHIARLES E. DICKINSON.
H. M. WITBECK.
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SOUVENIR HISTORY OF NIAGARA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
Bernard P. Alberty came.
First Free Congregational Church organized June 7, 1838. Building corner Niagara and Church streets ded- icated July 23, 1840.
Solon S. Pomeroy came. Learned the printer's trade in Niagara Courier office under T. T. Flagler ; was later an as- sistant editor of the Lockport Daily Courier. He was con- nected with the press in Lockport for over thirty years. Was Canal Collector in 1855-6; Member of Assembly in the lat- ter year ; was Captain and afterwards Major in the New York National Guard. Mr. Pomeroy is still in the editorial har- ness at Glens Falls, New York.
James Scribner came.
John Anderson came from Canada. He was a shoe- maker in his earlier years. Was one of the partners in the Journeymen's Shoe Shop. Mr. Anderson was a Constable for several years, and an early Chief of Lockport police. He died.in 1898, aged seventy-nine years.
Edward Simmons came and commenced the jewelry business, which he carried on successfully until his death, in 1892.
June 8, Mrs. Papworth, with her little son, fell through High Bridge and was killed, striking on the towpath. The boy had a leg broken. She had in her arms a girl baby, which she had the presence of mind to turn onto the floor of the bridge, as she was falling. The girl was unhurt.
June 12, village Trustees ordered High Bridge closed, on account of the accident.
Lockport Bank and Trust Company organized August 23, 1838. W. Hunt, President; L. C. Woodruff, Cashier. Located in the building previously occupied by the Lock- port bank.
September II, village Trustees ordered clerk to procure candlesticks and candles for use of the board previous to next meeting.
November 28, Tuscacora Fire Engine Company No. 2 organized in Lower Town.
Deacon John Gooding, patron of Pioneer Hill and after whom Gooding Street was named, removed to Lockport, Illinois and died there in 1840, in fiftieth year of his age.
Among the descendents of Deacon Gooding, represen- tatives of four generations are shown in the illustrations. . Stephen F., son of John ; A. Stewart, grandson; George S., great grandson, and Sanford S., great great grandson, all now living.
Citizens held meeting at Eagle Tavern and decided to establish a night watch for the village.
May 27, village Trustees appointed Mark Hopkins clerk. (His handwriting was beautiful.) Trustees also paid N. Leonard, bookseller, 44 cents for quills.
Dr. L. W. Bristol came and opened an office for the practice of dentistry. For over half a century the doctor was prominent among the dental surgeons of Western New York. He still survives in his eighty-sixth year.
Joshua Wilber came in June, 1839, a lad in his fifteenth year, from Providence, Rhode Island. Four days and nights were spent in coming from New York City. From Albany to Utica the journey was made by rail, in an old-fashioned car. Albany was left in the morning and Utica reached late in the afternoon. From there the progress was by canal packet. Leaving Rochester in the morning, Lockport was reached by eleven o'clock the same night. He has spent all the intervening years (except two) in this place. At first, he worked at the tailor's trade ; in 1849 learned the printer's art, for over 45 years he sold drugs and medicines,
using daily the scales and some of the bottles, etc., used by Dr. G. W. Merchant in his Lower Town Drug Store, the same store having lineally descended through four pro- prietors. He now occupies his time in looking up ancient local history, in the hope of compiling the chronicles of the city he loves so well.
Chauncey Keep came from Cortland County, New York.
Marvin H. Webber came from Cambria, New York.
Rev. P. Costello was the second Priest of St. John's Church.
High bridge was taken down. It was located just west of the Bissell (now Thompson) mill, over the canal. It is stated that no iron was used in its construction; wooden pegs being employed in place of spikes.
Seth Pierce was in business here prior to 1839.
Amos and S. B. Kinne settled at Rapids on Tonawanda Creek and marked out a village.
James Murray took the drug business established some years previously by Dr. Sharp.
William Bowne was in business here prior to 1839.
September 4, President Martin Van Buren visited Lockport on his tour through the country preparatory to the Presidential Election of 1840. He came from Niagara Falls on the old Lockport and Niagara Falls Railroad, and as soon as the train hove in sight around the hill at Gooding Street, cannon boomed in the Lower Town to welcome His Excellency. Several companies of uniformed militia were drawn up in front of the old Lockport House as he descended from the car, while bands played. He was immediately taken to a carriage and escorted by the military to the resi- dence of Judge Washington Hunt, corner of Market and Adam Streets, where breakfast was served. A procession was then formed, and the distinguished guest was taken up Market Street hill to the American Hotel. On the upper piazza Judge Hiram Gardner welcomed him to Lockport, and the President replied. He was then conducted to the lower corridor, where citizens were introduced and shook his hand, passing in line before him. The same day be con- tinued his journey east.
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