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 33
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Origen Storrs came in 1839 from Seneca Falls, New York, being engaged for several years in merchandizing. He was Supervisor, Magistrate and Mayor of the city. He died in 1892.
E. Giddins, Canal Collector, salary $800 a year.
October 7, village Trustees audited C. Leonard's bill, materials for building house for hearse and engine, $17.10.
October 14, Trustees audited S. G. Hamilton's account, $23.14, for repairing hearse.
Visit of Henry Clay, (informal.)
December 9, village Trustees ordered sidewalks on Main, Canal and Buffalo Streets cleaned of snow, etc., by 9 a. m., every day, Sundays excepted. Penalty, $2.50 a day.
IN 1840.
Population of town, over 9,000.
Population of village, 6,088.
February 22, G. H. Boughton elected Canal Commis- sioner by the Legislature. Served three years.
March 24, Act passed by the Legislature authorizing appointment of a Police Justice to reside in the Village of Lockport. Signed by the Governor the same day. Chauncey Leonard appointed Police Justice.
June 13, Log Cabin built. "Great commotion." Logs hauled from every town in the county.
July 4, Corner Stone of New Locks laid.
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SOUVENIR HISTORY OF NIAGARA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
July 31, Spalding's big mill burned at midnight.
August 12, village Trustees required dogs to be regis- tered. Fee $3 annually.
August 18, Canal Commissioners advertised for pro- posals for constructing Main Street bridge; truss work of wood, upon stone abutments.
September. McLeod arrested and placed in Lockport jail, charged with being concerned in sending the steam boat Caroline over Niagara Falls, during the Patriot War.
Ashery at junction of Chapel and Mill Streets.
Colonel H. W. Scovell re-appointed Postmaster.
Isaac Dole was here prior to 1840. Died 1851. Cold Spring Cemetery incorporated. Lockport Glass Works established 1840.
Samuel Works reelected State Senator, eighth Sen- atorial District, for four years.
April 24, Linseed Oil Mill, on Eighteen-Mile Creek, at Olcott Street. Skinner & Kniffen.
November, hanging of Douglass in jail ; first execution in Niagara County, none since.
November, Washington Hunt elected to Congress on the Whig ticket.
First Universalist Church building, corner church and Ontario Streets, finished in the fall of 1843.
IN 1844.
Stone jail built by Messrs. Carpenter.
Jerem Angevine came.
Edward R. Graves married a daughter of Harvey W. Campbell, and spent most of his subsequent life in Lock-
port. He is still living.
Exchange Bank incorporated.
George Chrysler's Broom factory in operation.
A. STEWART GOODING. GEORGE S. GOODING. STEPHEN F. GOODING. SANFORD S. GOODING.
IN 1841.
1841, L. A. Spalding purchased the site of burned mill and built a larger ; capacity 400 barrels flour daily.
O. C. Wright came.
January, Elias Ransom, Jr., appointed First Judge of Niagara County by the Governor.
February 27, L. A. Spalding gave an exhibition of reel- ing silk at the American.
June 23, Niagara County Agricultural Society organ- ized at the Court House.
August 14, Governor Seward, with his staff, arrived in this village ; after a brief stay, left by railroad for Buffalo, via. Niagara Falls.
August 21, State Senate visited Lockport to inspect public works now constructing in this vicinity.
September, north tier of New Locks completed.
November 30, Canal tolls to date, inclusive, $90,239.36.
IN 1842-43.
January 7, Jesse Hawley died suddenly, in Cambria, aged 69 years. He claimed to be the originator of the route of the Erie Canal.
April II, First Universalist Church organized.
1845, Population of Town, 9,314; population of village, 5,807.
Engraved map of village published by J. P. Haines.
Obadiah P. Hoag came from Somerset, where he settled in 1834. Died about 1888, in his ninety-fifth year.
Claudius L. Hoag came with his father, O. P. Hoag, and succeeded him in the possession of the farm now occu- pied by the Odd Fellows' Home. C. L. Hoag, in :868, and his partner at that time in the nursery business, B. Whea- ton Clark, succeeded by crossing in producing the famous Niagara grape, which has proved more valuable than any other Native White American grape. It was introduced by the Niagara Grape Company, who bought the stock in 1879. It has attained a popularity which has extended wherever grapes are known.
IN 1845.
Peter D. Walter came from Richfield Springs, New York, in 1845. He filled various official positions, among them City Treasurer, Clerk of Niagara County, and Mayor of the City of Lockport. He carried on the jewelry busi- ness, and was successful. He died in 1889.
Frank N. Wicker came in 1845. In 1861 he enlisted
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SOUVENIR HISTORY OF NIAGARA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
in the Twenty-eighth Regiment, New York State Volun- teers. In 1863 he was commissioned Lieutenant. After his discharge in 1865, he was appointed second in command of the land laying forces of the Atlantic cable, and at its completion returned to Lockport. In 1869 he was ap- pointed special agent for Alaska, and Collector of Customs at Key West, Florida, in 1873. He is now a government official in New Orleans.
Henry Hoag came. He was for thirty-three years foreman in Carpenter's quarry.
November 7, Lockport and Buffalo telegraph com- pleted. George H. Boughton first operator. This tele- graph line was built soon after the trial line between Balti- more and Washington demonstrated the success of Prof Morse's invention. It was afterwards connected with the New York and Buffalo line.
IN IS46.
April 1, Niagara Cataract issued. Robert H. Stevens, Esq., Editor and Proprietor. "Barnburner."
April 18, Henry K. Hopkins, Esq., died. In 1832, H. K. Hopkins was married to Miss Julietta E. Buell, of Royal- ton; Rev. Mr. O'Flyng, the Methodist minister here, was the officiating clergyman. After the death of Mr. Hop- kins, his widow remained in Lockport for a number of years, giving lessons in drawing and painting. She then removed to Connecticut, where she married Prosper Alex- ander. Upon his death Mrs. Alexander returned to Ni- agara County in 1861, and settled at Royalton Center. The entire journey from Connecticut was made in a two-wheeled chaise, with her adopted daughter, then a mere child, a canary bird and a trunk. The daughter is now Mrs. Charles A. Warren, of the Town of Lockport. Mrs. Alexander died February 2, 1899, at the age of eighty-three years. She was buried in the Mark Hopkins lot, Cold Springs Cemetery, beside her first husband.
John Van Horn came, and took the office of County Clerk. He made l'is home in Lockport ever afterwards, and was a prominent man and faithful official until his death in 1880.
Levi Rogers, bookseller, commenced business in a small store No. 15 Main Street. He was an old man, and was soon succeeded by his son, Samuel Rogers and when the Ballou block was erected on south side Main Street, re- moved to No. 60. Mr. Rogers sold to William H. O'Keefe, who had been his assistant.
Hon. N. Dayton, retired from the Circuit Judgeship, by the new Constitution of 1846, and resumed the practice of law in Lockport, having for his partner, John T. Murray, Esq. In 1845 he was candidate for the office of County Clerk, on the Democratic ticket. Although there was a majority of thousands normally against him, yet he was elected by a majority of hundreds. He died suddenly in 1859.
A line of Daily Stages to Batavia was operated in 1846 by K. Ferren, connecting with the cars at that place.
LOCKPORT ACADEMY.
As early as 1835 measures were taken to establish an Academy in Lockport. Citizens interested in higher edu- cation banded together and subscribed for that purpose. Four lots were purchased on west side of Pine Street, south of La Grange, for $900. A payment of $300 was made, the balance to be paid in three yearly instalments. A com- mittee was appointed to get information in regard to build- ings, cost, etc., but it was soon evident that nothing could
be accomplished with the meagre finances in sight. In 1843 the interest was revived, and in 1846 meetings were held to decide upon a plan of action. In the latter vear the name of S. Caverno appears as an influential factor in the movement. In November, 1846, notice was published of an application to be made to the Legislature to authorize the Trustees of the Lockport Academy to dispose of the Academy lot. A meeting was held at Safford's Hall, Sep- tember 17, 1846, at which a committee of thirteen was ap- pointed "to mature a system of education for this village." At the head of this committee was S. Caverno. A meet- ing of citizens was called at Franklin Hall, October 30, 1846, to hear the report of the committee mentioned above. An act was passed by the Legislature in 1847 creating the Board of Education, and providing for the establishment of the Union School.
November, daily stages to Buffalo. Through in four hours. Connect at Lockport with stages to Rochester.
Benjamin Carpenter elected Member of Assembly.
Rev. J. M. Fuller, pastor of First M. E. Church.
IN 1847.
March 31, Act in relation to Common Schools in the village of Lockport passed by the Legislature.
C. A. Lowber's Stave Mill, corner Van Buren and Adam Street.
June, Hiram Gardner elected County Judge.
G. D. La Mont, County Superintendent of Common Schools.
Lockport Daily Courier started in 1847.
Patrick Griffin an apprentice to the mason's trade with Simpson & Turner.
Exchange Bank building, corner Main and Pine Streets, erected.
E. S. Mack's "Empire Block," northwest corner Main and Pine Streets, built by Simpson & Turner.
Stone building on east side Pine Street, used for sev- eral years past as Police Station No. I, built in 1847. Orig- inally Baright's carriage shop.
Otis Hathaway died, aged 59 years.
Samuel Wright, printer, studied law in early life and was admitted to the Bar in Central New York, practicing his profession in Utica for a number of years. He came to Lockport about 1840, and was soon after Editor and Pro- prietor of the Niagara Democrat and Lockport Balance. He, however, preferred to withdraw from the bustle of busi- ness, and opened a job office, doing all the work himself, up to the time of his death. He was a member of the Board of Education for fifteen years. July 1, 1870, the body of Mr. Wright was found in the canal, and it was supposed that he committed suicide while under temporary aberra- tion of mind.
James Murray, druggist, died. His son Henry suc- ceeded to the business.
Professor Hurlburt, teacher of penmanship, "Long Wharf."
November, wheat $1.25 per bushel.
IN 1848.
An Act abolishing Police Justice for Village of Lock- port took effect.
July 5, Union School opened. On July 4 exercises were held in the lecture room, and an address was delivered by Frederick R. Lord, the Principal-elect. School work commenced on the fifth.
The first Board of Education was composed as follows: Sullivan Caverno, William G. McMaster, Joseph T. Bellah,
SOUVENIR HISTORY OF NIAGARA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
165
DR. ANDREW R. FERGUSON,
' CHARLES H. SCHAD.
HON, ISAAC H. BABCOCK.
ALBERT F. BROWN.
DAVID MAXWELL.
C. M. GARDNER.
DR. CHARLES N. PALMER.
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SOUVENIR HISTORY OF NIAGARA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
Silas H. Marks, Isaac C. Colton, John S. Wolcott, Edwin L. Boardman, Nathan Dayton, Samuel Works, Jonathan L. Woods, Lyman A. Spalding and Hiram Gardner. Only one member of the Board survives, Isaac C. Colton, Esq., whose ninetieth birthday was in April, 1902. Mr. Colton resides with his brother, Rev. W. Colton, in Toledo, Ohio.
Alva Hill elected Sheriff in 1848.
Steam Saw Mill of Stevens, Doty & Pease, Market Street, built 1848.
Drs. Shuler & Gould, (John S. Shuler, William B. Gould.)
1849 AND 1850.
1849, Orsamus Turner appointed Postmaster.
Rev. Reuben Winchell removed from Lockport to Tully, New York, and died there a year after.
March 4, Hon. Washington Hunt appointed Comp- troller of the State of New York by Governor Fish :.
General Orange Mansfield built steam saw mill at Rapids.
MR. AND MRS. SAMUEL MULHAIR.
A. A. Boyce of Lockport, appointed Clerk cf United States Supreme Court. Residence, Utica.
Red Bird Line of Canal Packets. Opposition. Cap- tain Dan H. Bromley, a popular commander.
Pierce, Williams & Co.'s Lockport and Rochester Ex- press. Tri-weekly.
Warner H. McCoy opened bookbindery 1849. Still in the business.
O. Turner published "History of the Holland Purchase." G. H. Utley, Rapids; Horace Cummings, Rapids.
William F. Carl, born in Town of Lockport, 1849.
June, Solomon Parmelee appointed Postmaster. Re- moved office to middle store in Boughton's block and pro- cured new fixtures.
1850, population of Town about 12,000; population of Village, 8,861.
Protection Fire Engine Company organized.
Samuel Works appointed Superintendent of this sec- tion of Canal.
Warren Bristol, a young lawyer, went from Lockport to St. Paul, Minn., in 1850. In a short time be commenced the practice of law in Hennepin Company, where Minnea- polis now stands, and was one of the committee that named that marvelous city. He removed soon after to Red Wing. He was elected District Attorney of Goodhue County, and afterwards Probate Judge. In 1864 he was a member of the national convention at Baltimore, which renominated Abraham Lincoln. In 1872 he was appointed by President Grant, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of New Mexico. He was three times reappointed by suc- sessive Presidents. His health, never robust, perceptibly failed, and his death took place January 12, 1890. Mr Bristol came from Minnesota in 1854 to marry Miss Lonisa C. Armstrong, whose family was among the pioneers of Lower Lockport. Miss Armstrong, like Mr. Bristol, had been a teacher in the public schools of Lockport. In 1894 the widow of Judge Bristol brought his remains to Lock- port ; they were deposited in her family lot in Cold Spring Cemetery. She then returned to New Mexico, and is still a resident there.
John Miller came to Town of Lockport.
May 23, James G. Porter was elected Mayor of the Village.
July 4, celebration at the New Gothic Hotel, cn Lock- port and Cambria Plank Road.
Western Band organized.
July 24, village Trustees passed an Ordinance against the running at large of hogs and geese.
September 2, John Jenny was appointed Chief Engi- neer of the Fire Department by the Village Trustees.
October I, board of Trustees of the Village ordered a reservoir built in Main Street, opposite the American, eighty-five feet long, twelve feet wide and eight feet deep, to be filled by a hydrant at Spalding's mill. An iron pipe was laid from the mill through Pine and Main Streets to the Reservoir. This was to supply water to quench fires; but it proved unreliable. It leaked badly, and generally contained no water; especially at times when a fire was raging.
WASHINGTON HUNT ELECTED GOVERNOR.
Hon. Washington Hunt elected Governor over Horatio Seymour by plurality of 262 votes. In 1852 he was de- feater by Governor Seymour. This closed his official life. Returning to Lockport, he purchased the suburban resi- dence north of the village (now the Home for the Friend- less,) where he resided until 1861, when he transferred his home to New York City. He died February 2, 1867. His body was brought to Lockport and the funeral held in Grace Church on the sixth. Interment at Glenwood.
November 7, the block on the corner of Main and Cottage Streets, so long occupied by "Merchants" drug store, was burned.
Having gone over the first half of the Nineteenth Century and made mention of some of the pioneer people and events in the Town of Lockport, want of space ad- monishes the necessity of closing the review. Many inci- dents of the succeeding fifty years might come under the head of pioneer experience, but enough has been cited to give a glimpse of the early trials and also of the later suc- cesses of the courageous men and women who have pre- ceded us.
SOUVENIR HISTORY OF NIAGARA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
167
MARTIN S. JUDGE.
J. A. MARTIN.
JOSEPH W. TURNER.
S. CURT LEWIS.
J. H. PERHAMUS.
D. A. HIXSON.
W. E. HUSTON.
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SOUVENIR HISTORY OF NIAGARA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
BRIEF BIOGRAPHICAL MENTION.
Brief mention is made of the following, although their principal record comes after the close of the foregoing chronicle :
Potter Palmer, in 1851, opened a store at No. 6 Main Street, Ringueburg block. His stock consisted of dry goods, groceries, shoes, glassware, etc., as was then the custom of trade. He did a fair business, but felt that in a wider field he could accomplish much more. In 1852 he sold his store in Lockport and went to Chicago, with a capital, is is said, of less than $6,000. His sales the first year in Chicago were $73,000. In 1865 he retired from mercantile life, holding more than $2,200,000 in government bonds. In thirteen years his sales had risen from $73,000 to $7,000,000 a year. He died at Chicago, May 4, 1902. His fortune was estimated at $25,000,000.
Mrs. Belva A. Lockwood is another person in whom Lockport can claim an interest, she having been a resident here many years ago. The place of her nativity was the neighboring Town of Royalton; time, 1830. Her maiden name was Bennett. In 1848 she married Uriah H. McNall. a young farmer of Royalton, who died in 1853. After the death of her husband, Mrs. McNall graduated in Genesee College, taking her second degree in Syracuse University. In 1857 she was Preceptress of the Union School here ; Prof. E. A. Charlton, being the Principal. The advertise- ment of the Board of Education reads: "Mrs. McNall is a graduate of Genesee College, and is recommended as a lady of more than ordinary ability and success in teaching."' In 1868 she married Rev. Ezekiel Lockwood, a Baptist min- ister, and at one time a Chaplain of the Second District Regiment, at Washington, D. C. She graduated to the National University Law School and was admitted to the bar in 1873, and to the United States Supreme Court in 1879. Dr. Lockpood died in Washington, of general de- Lility, in 1877.
Mrs. Helen Holmes Charlton is worthy of mention in this connection, being a native of Lockport, and a daughter of a pioneer, Hon. Alfred Holmes. She was among the first students at the Union School, and was still there when Prof. Edwin A. Charlton, of New Hampshire, came to take charge of the Institution in 1857. He remained until the spring of 1861. In 1862 Prof. Charlton and Miss Helen Holmes were married in Lockport. Prof. Charlton con- tinued teaching in different places, the last being Platteville, Wisconsin, where he presided over the First State Normal School of Wisconsin, when he retired, and in 1879 purchased the Broadhead, (Wis,) Independent, a weekly paper, which largely prospered under the editorship of himself and wife. Mr. Charlton died in 1896. Since that time his widow has edited the sheet with marked ability and has been the senior member of the publication firm.
Recollections of Early Days. BY AN OLD TIMER.
"LUCY LONG."
In the old packet days, previous to the opening of the Rochester, Lockport and Niagara Falls Railway, June 30, 1852, Lockport had four packets each day, two from the east and two from the west. The one due from the east at IO a. m. made connections with the Lockport & Niagara Falls Railroad and there was always a crowd on hand to witness its arrival. Sometimes it was late. There was a character always on hand named John Moye, better known
as "Lucy Long," as he was continually singing or whistling that song. He was a peanut peddler, and quite a mimic. When the packet was late he would cross the canal and get behind the piles of stones, always piled there for shipment in those days. Placing his hands up to his mouth he would imitate the packet horn so perfectly that people in waiting at the Lockport House across the street would rush out and
JAMES B. HILL.
over to the dock only to find it was "Lucy Long," and "Lucy" on the towpath giving them the laugh. Many will remember "Lucy Long.'
HAD BEEN RETAINED BY THE OTHER PARTY.
Old timers recollect Robert Stevens, the lawyer, wit and wag. In the early forties he was President of the Board of Trustees of the then Village of Lockport. During the winter of 1842-3 a series of revival meetings were held in the old First Presbyterian Church, by the great revival- ist Burchard. One morning Burchard called on Robert Stevens at his office in lower Main Street and introduced himself, saying he was engaged on the Lord's side, and would very much like to have Mr. Stevens engaged also, as being President of the Village, it would have great weight, etc. Bob sat with his feet up on the box stove, smoking his cigar, and finally said: "Yes, Mr. Burchard, that is true, but I am compelled to say I have received a retainer from the other party."
OPENING OF THE ERIE ROAD.
The opening of the Lockport & Buffalo branch of the New York and Erie Railroad, September 15, 1879, was an important event to Lockport. It created a great change in freight rates and was of decided advantage to shippers and receivers as well. Freight that had been twenty-eight cents per 100 pounds between Buffalo and Lockport dropped to six cents and Lockport received the benefit. Lockport was bonded for $100,000 to build the road; the bonds have been paid, and now the International Railway Company are running their cars to almost every manufactory in the city thereby giving them double opportunities to ship their products by rail. The first train on the line from Buffalo to Lockport was officered by the following: W. J. Jackman, Conductor; Marshall G. Burton, Engineer, and Dell Still- man, Baggageman.
The second train was H. S. Chapman, Conductor ;
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SOUVENIR HISTORY OF NIAGARA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
HENRY TIMANUS.
CHARLES T. RAYMOND.
WM. JACKSON.
A. I. KNOWLES.
JOHN R. EARL.
HENRY HULSHOFF.
J. FRANKLIN RYAN.
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SOUVENIR HISTORY OF NIAGARA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
Frank Eastman, Engineer; Frank Baker, Baggageman.
Messrs. Jackman and Chapman are now prominent business men of Lockport. Mr. Jackman is proprietor of the Niagara House and H. S. Chapman the executive head of the Field Force Pump Company.
A FIFTY DOLLAR BET-STAGE COACH VS. RAILROAD.
The Lockport & Niagara Falls Railroad was built in 1836 and opened for traffic in 1837. It was at first operated by horse power. In 1839 the first locomotives were placed in commission. They were second hand, from the Albany and Schenectady Railroad, and were named the 'DeWitt Clinton" and "Tuscarora." At this time there was a great rivalry between the stage coach and railroads. The rail- road ran a spur from the junction about three miles south of Lewiston down the mountain. This branch was always a horse railroad. One morning at Lewiston, the late George W. Rector, who ran a stage coach from Lewiston to Niagara Falls, and Alva Hill, conductor on the main line, were in Lewiston together, both soliciting for pas- sengers. They became engaged in a heated argument as to the superiority of their respective lines. Finally a bet was made of $50 as to which should land his passengers at Ni- agara Falls first.
The distance by rail was ten miles, by coach seven miles. An even start was made from the front of the Frontier House. Up Main Street they went on a gallup, then began the ascent of the mountain. When Hill reached the junc- tion his steam horse was there. Hurrying the transfer of passengers and baggage, he mounted the engine himself as engineer and steamed away at the rate of twelve miles an hour.
At what was afterward Suspension Bridge, the roads crossed each other. For a mile or so before reaching the crossing they ran almost parallel. Rector could be seen across the field flinging his old "Kadiah," while Hill was hurrying his firemen to stoke in the wood. It was every- body's race at this time, but just before the crossing there was a curve and small embankment. The engine, snorting and puffing, jumped the track and Rector, yelling like a Camanche Indian, crowded ahead of the engine and landed his load at the Falls first and won the fifty.
RACE WITH THE LOCOMOTIVES.
When the locomotives first began to run on the rail- road there used to be much racing between the Indians and their ponies and the steam horses. Just east of the White Church the main road and railroad ran side by side for a mile or more. When the train came thundering along ten or twelve miles an hour the Indians were generally i eady for a race. Sometimes a dozen were on the field. It was fun to see them, and hear them whoop. For a short distance they could outrun the iron horse.
THE OLD NIAGARA COUNTY COURT HOUSE.
This old building, which was torn down in 1892 to make room for the erection of the new jail, will recall to the minds of many old citizens, and especially our attorneys, many in- teresting and famous cases that have been tried within its walls. The old building has been closely interwoven with the history of our county.
When it was first proposed to erect a Court House in this county a great deal of trouble was encountered in selecting a site, but Messrs. James McKeown, Abraham Keyser and Julius Hatch, the commission appointed by Gov- ernor De Witt Clinton in the fall of 1821, selected the present site and the building was completed during the fall
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