USA > New York > The men of New York: a collection of biographies and portraits of citizens of the Empire state prominent in business, professional, social, and political life during the last decade of the nineteenth century, Vol. I > Part 29
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Mr. Dark embodies the best traits of the English character -- industry, independence, and devotion to the acquisition of knowledge. He is a fine type of the self-made and self-educated man. His school days were few ; but he has succeeded by persever- ance and economy of time in enlarging his mental horizon until he has become an intelligently in- formed man in a variety of lines. Close observa- tion and sound judgment have been his guides. He is fond of reading and travel. He wrote, in the form of a diary, an account of a European trip made with several members of his family in 1893. This narrative was published at the request of friends, and the book is thoroughly enjoyable, affording a delightful picture of English home life.
PERSONAL CHRONOLOGY-Thomas Dark was born at Kingswood, near Bristol, England, De- cember 21, 1814 ; received an elementary education, and iearned the mason's trade ; married Elisa Willis of Kingswood in 1833 ; came to the United States, and settled in Buffalo in 1857; has been a mason and building contractor in England and the United States since 1833.
Oliver 3. Eggert has led a markedly useful and successful life along important and difficult lines of commercial activity. He was born in the Key- stone State, but was taken during his infancy to Erie county, New York, and has lived ever since in or near Buffalo. He was unable to carry his education
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beyond the common schools, and even that advan- tage was cut off at the age of sixteen, when he began business life as a clerk in a Buffalo grocery. Three years of this service gave him considerable insight into the elements and principles of business, and thus paved the way for the partnership formed in 1847 with his father, Christian Eggert. They established a general store in the Erie- county village named from their family Eggertsville, and built up there a flourish- ing trade. Mr. Eggert remained in the business until 1862, when he sold his interest and retired.
In the same year the sheriff of Erie county, Robert H. Best, offered the po- sition of under sheriff to Mr. Eggert. The latter had been so much absorbed in business before this that he had found little time for public office ; though he had been elected, in 1858, clerk of the Erie-county board of supervisors. He accepted the position of under sheriff, and fulfilled its duties so effectively that he was himself elected sheriff two years later on the Democratic ticket for the term 1865-67. The responsibilities of this higher office were unflinchingly met and adequately discharged, and Mr. Eg- gert attained a reputation for integrity and business ability that materially pro- moted his subsequent success. Since his retirement from the sheriff's office he has not been in public life, except that in 1871 he was appointed police justice to fill a vacancy.
Mr. Eggert's earlier career thus related has been almost forgotten, and people nowadays think of him as a financier, and more particularly as a man widely informed in the great business of insurance. In 1867 a corporation was organized in Buffalo entitled the Buffalo German Insurance Co., to carry on the business of fire underwriting. Mr. Eggert has been identified with this enterprise from the very begin- ning, having been one of the incorporators and one of the first directors of the company. He held no active executive position, however, until 1874, when Alexander Martin resigned the position of secretary, and Mr. Eggert assumed the duties of the office. In the twenty and more years during which he has con- tinued to hold this position, the affairs of the Buffalo German Insurance Co. have prospered exceedingly. The reason for this cannot be found exclusively in the secretary of the company, because the other
offices and the general management of the institution have been vested in able hands. There is no doubt, however, that the important duties assigned to Mr. Eggert have been most faithfully and efficiently per- formed, and the success of the business must be ascribed in large measure to him. When he became
OLIVER J. EGGERT
secretary the assets of the company were about $447,000 and the net surplus $141,000. By July 1, 1896, the assets had risen to $1,850,000 and the sur- plus to $1,250,000. These comparative figures dem - onstrate clearly the success of the company since Mr. Eggert became its secretary. The insurance business necessarily occupies the chief share of Mr. Eggert's time and thought, but he is also a trustee and second vice president of the Erie County Savings Bank. Mr. Eggert's thorough knowledge of financial subjects and sound judgment in matters connected therewith are of great value in the conduct of banking affairs.
PERSONAL CHRONOLOGY- Oliver Jefferson Eggert was born at Petersburg, Penn., Ofte- ber 31, 1828 ; received a common-school education :
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conducted a general store at Eggertsville, Erie county, N. Y., 1847-62 ; married Susan Frick of Eggerts- ville November 15, 1849 ; was appointed under sheriff of Erie county in 1862, and was elected sheriff for the years 1865-67 ; has been secretary of the Buffalo Ger- man Insurance Co. since 1874.
JOSEPH FOWLER
Joseph ffowler has practiced medicine in Buffalo nearly a quarter of a century, and has thus built up an enviable reputation, both professionally as a general practitioner and socially as a cultured gentleman and thoroughly likable associate. He has served the public efficiently in positions of much importance, and is widely known, outside the circle of his immediate practice, as a man of character and responsibility.
Dr. Fowler was born in Saratoga county, New York, shortly before the middle of the century, in the township of Clifton Park. His ancestors were among the early settlers of that part of the state, and both his parents and grandparents were like- wise born in the same community. His preparatory
education was obtained at Half Moon Academy in his native town. He was unable to enter upon pro- fessional studies at the usual and most convenient stage of life, and followed the example of so many eminent men by basing his higher education on the foundation of preliminary teaching. He undertook this work at the age of eighteen, and continued to teach for four or five years. At the end of that time his resources were such that he was able to carry out his plans to fit himself for the medical profession ; and in 1869 he left Saratoga county for the other end of the state, matriculating in the medical department of the University of Buffalo. Taking his degree in 1873, he began practice in Buffalo at once, with the happy results stated in our opening paragraph.
The early career of a young physician in a large city, without special prestige, family connections of value, or other favoring circumstance, is likely to be somewhat thorny ; and Dr. Fowler had no magician's wand with which to dissi- pate the natural and inevitable drawbacks of his early professional environment. His progress, however, was rapid, and the conditions quickly changed for the better. The "personal equation " counts for much in the physician's calling, and Dr. Fowler's engaging manners and genial disposition doubtless helped him onward in the struggle for success. As early as 1881 he was elected one of the coroners for Erie county, and served a term of three years. He has always been a consistent Republican in political affiliations, and has been prominently mentioned at various times in connec- tion with important offices at the certain or possible disposal of his party. His name was before the convention on more than one occasion as that of a suitable candidate for the office of superintendent of education for the city of Buffalo, and in 1889 he received the Republican nomination for the office. He was appointed by Mayor Becker, in 1886, surgeon to the department of police, and has since discharged the duties of that office with ability and zeal.
Dr. Fowler believes in supporting professional societies, and belongs to several, including the New York State Medical Association and the Erie County Medical Society. For ten years he was on the medical staff of the Sisters of Charity Hospital. He believes thoroughly, too, in fraternal associations
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unprofessional in scope, and has taken advanced standing in the ranks of Masons, Odd Fellows, and ·inilar societies.
PERSONAL CHRONOLOGY-Joseph Fowler wat born in Clifton Park township, Saratoga county, V. Y., May 3, 1847 ; was educated in the schools of his satire town; taught school, 1864-69; married Cor- nella F. Cowles of Buffalo in 1867 ; graduated from the medical department of the University of Buffalo in 18;3 ; was elected a coroner of Erie county in 1881 ; aus Republican candidate for superintendent of educa- tion of Buffalo in 1889 ; was appointed surgeon of the department of police in 1886, and has held the position since ; has practiced medicine in Buffalo since 1873.
Joseph JE. Gavin has displayed in the management of private business and public affairs the characteristics and qualities of a suc- cessful financier. Born in Buffalo, he is thoroughly familiar with the history and development of the city, in which indeed he has been no insignificant factor. A genial disposition, intelligent comprehen- sion of business details, executive ability, and fidelity to duty, have commended Mr. Gavin to the attention and confidence of the commercial classes of the city and its people generally. He is in the very prime of a vigorous manhood, progres- sive, popular, and self-reliant. What he has already accomplished augurs a suc- cessful and an honorable future.
Mr. Gavin was educated in the public schools of Buffalo, and pursued his col- legiate studies at St. Joseph's College in that city and at St. Michael's College, Toronto, from which he graduated shortly after attaining his majority. After com- pleting his studies he entered the coal and wood business with his father, on whose death he succeeded to the entire business. In the course of several years Mr. Gavin had the satisfaction of seeing this enterprise grow to large proportions under careful and judicious management.
It is, however, in the field of politics and public affairs that Mr. Gavin is best known, and has won the greatest distinc- tion. His temperament is such that he rejoices in the ups and downs of political contests, and is never discouraged by defeat nor unduly elated by victory. In Mr. Cleveland's first .KIministration Mr. Gavin was a customs inspector at Buffalo, and served the public faithfully and well in
that capacity. Meanwhile he was making himself felt as a power in local affairs, and in recognition of his strength and ability the Democratic party in 1891 nominated him for comptroller of the city of Buffalo. His election followed by an overwhelming majority, attesting the popularity of the candidate.
Mr. Gavin's record in the office of comptroller is one to which he can always look back with justifiable pride. In this position he established a permanent reputation as a thorough executive officer and an astute financier. Men of both parties applauded his administration of the city's fiscal affairs. He nego- tiated several municipal loans to the great advantage of the city. His skill in this direction elicited the praise of financial journals of repute throughout the United States. He placed one loan in New York city at the remarkably low rate of two and one half
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JOSEPH E. GAVIN
per cent. It was Mr. Gavin who, as comptroller, saved the city over $100,000 by his discovery that the fines collected from criminals had been paid into the county treasury, instead of to the city. Mr.
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Gavin's career in the office of comptroller was so successful that upon the expiration of his term the council, pursuing an unusual course, adopted a reso- lution of public approval ; and the press, irrespective of party, complimented him on the good service be had rendered to the city and the people of Buffalo.
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FRANK T. GILBERT
Mr. Gavin was again the candidate of his party in 1894, this time for congress. It was the Republican tidal-wave year, and the Republican candidate won, though by a margin so narrow as to justify the claim of Mr. Gavin's friends that a different result would have been reached, but for the mistake of many voters who cast the state ballot containing only the names of state candidates.
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Since retiring from the comptroller's office Mr. Gavin has been engaged in the bond business, and has handled successfully over ten million dollars' worth of bonds, including several issues of the city of Buffalo and other municipalities, part of the $9,000,000 state canal bonds, and over $1,000,000 of the last issue of Government 4's.
Mr. Gavin is a member of numerous societies of a social and benevolent character, and is one of the men who can be counted on in behalf of every patri- otic and worthy movement.
PERSONAL CHRONOLOGY-Joseph Ed- ward Garin was born at Buffalo November 14, 1855 ; was educated in public schools, St. Joseph's College, Buffalo, and St. Michael's Col- lege, Toronto ; married Sarah E. Candce of Buffalo October 31, 1881 ; was customs inspector at Buffalo, 1885-89, and comp- troller of the city, 1892-94; has been engaged in the coal and wood business in Buffalo since 1883.
frank C. Gilbert was born in Brooklyn, and began his education in the public schools of that city. Later he attended the public schools of Phoenix, N. Y., whither his parents had moved, as well as Falley Seminary, at Fulton, N. Y. ; and at the age of eighteen he received his diploma from Ames's Com- mercial College in Syracuse.
When about twenty years of age Mr. Gilbert commenced his business career in a country store in Phoenix, in part- nership with his father. After a short but successful business experience, he entered the law office of C. W. Avery of Phoenix, as a student, and remained with him about two years, when he aban- doned the study of the law and returned to commercial pursuits. He accepted a position as bookkeeper with one of the large shipping houses of Buffalo, having moved to that city in 1871. From then until 1880 he was in the employ of William Avery & Co., L. P. Smith & Co., and Lothridge, Gallagher & Co .- firms that were doing a large shipping business at that time on the Buffalo docks.
When William W. Lawson became sheriff of Erie . county in 1880, Mr. Gilbert was appointed one of his deputies, and served in that capacity for one year. At that time John B. Weber resigned his position as under sheriff, and Mr. Gilbert succeeded him, hold- ing the position during the remainder of Sheriff Lawson's administration, as well as during that of Sheriff Koch, who succeeded Mr. Lawson. Mr. Gilbert has only once been a candidate for public office. In 1885 he was nominated on the Republican ticket for sheriff of Erie county, and at the Novem- ber election he was chosen by a plurality of nearly
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3000 votes. His long experience as deputy sheriff and under sheriff had fitted him well for this respon- sible position, and he displayed in the higher office the xune ability that had characterized his conduct in the subordinate positions.
At the expiration of his term of office Mr. Gilbert again gave his attention to business matters. He became interested in various commercial and manu- facturing enterprises, and spent much of his time, specially during the winter, in Florida, where he acquired a large quantity of valuable real estate, and where he now has profitable orange groves. When George H. Lamy became sheriff of Erie county in 1895, he urged Mr. Gilbert to become under sheriff. Mr. Gilbert accepted the appointment, and still holds the position.
Aside from his business and official connections, Mr. Gilbert is one of the best-known members of the Masonic fraternity in western New York. He is Past Master of Washington Lodge, No. 240, Free and Accepted Masons. He is a member of Keystone Chapter, No. 163, Royal Arch Masons, of which he is also Past High Priest. He is Eminent Commander of Hugh de Payens Commandery, No. 30, Knights Templars. He is Illustrious Po- tentate of Ismailia Temple, ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He is a member of Keystone Council, No. 20, Royal and Select Masters, and a 32d degree Mason, belonging to the Buffalo Consistory. Mr. Gilbert is especially proficient in all the beautiful ceremonial work of these Masonic lodges.
Mr. Gilbert has always been a Repub- lican, and has taken an active interest in politics and in all public matters, and he has occasionally written for the press upon public questions of the day. He is not a member of any religious denom- ination, but is a regular attendant at the Unitarian Church, and is in hearty sym- pathy with its principle -the Fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man.
PERSONAL CHRONOLOGY- Frank T. Gilbert was born at Brooklyn October 1, 1846 ; was educated in the public schools, at Falley Seminary, and at Ames's Commercial College, Syracuse ; married Helen A. Briggs of Phoenix, N. Y., October 10, 1866 ; engaged in business in Phoenix, 1868-69 ; stu.lied law, 1869-71; went to Buffalo in 1871, and en- gazed in mercantile pursuits until 1880 ; was appointed
deputy sheriff of Erie county in 1880 and under sheriff in 1881, and was elected sheriff in 1885; has been under sheriff of Erie county since January 1, 1895.
Charles H. Gould is one of the young men who by their own unaided energy and perseverance have worked their way to wealth, social position, and prominence. He was born in Batavia, N. Y., where he passed his boyhood. He was educated in the public schools of his native town, and prepared himself for college. He was unable, however, to carry out his plans in this regard, as his father met with business reverses. Thrown thus upon his own resources, Mr. Gould naturally turned his thoughts toward Buffalo, the largest city in his vicinity ; and thither he went in 1869, a young man of twenty, to earn his own livelihood.
CHARLES A. GOULD
He was first engaged with a large mercantile firm, and there gained the business experience that was to be so beneficial to him in after years. Gradually he began to take an active part in politics. There
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was a stirring local campaign in Buffalo in 1870, and Mr. Gould's interest in political matters dates from that time. He showed taste and decided abil- ity for public affairs, and it was not long before he had become prominent in local Republican councils. In 1878 he was appointed deputy postmaster of Buf- falo, and served in that position for two years. Then he was appointed collector of customs for the district of Buffalo Creek, by President Garfield, and served from 1880 to 1884, when the Democrats came into power with the first election of President Cleveland. During all these years Mr. Gould was one of the leaders of his party in Erie county, tak- ing a prominent part in many Republican campaign organizations, and acting for many years as a mem- ber of the Republican county committee.
With Mr. Gould's retirement from office there began a third period in his life. He had been an accountant and a public official. He now became a manufacturer, and in this field he has since con- tinued with steadily growing success and prosperity. He bought an interest in the Henry Childs Steam Forge in South Buffalo, which he ran for a number of years with marked success. In 1887 he purchased ground at Black Rock, and built a large steam forge of his own, which he equipped with the very best modern appliances for the manufacture of shafting, locomotive driving axles, car axles, links and pins, and other railway appliances. Success attended the new undertaking.
Soon after the erection of this new plant he took up the manufacture of what is now known as the Gould automatic coupler. He was not satisfied with plac- ing the Gould equipment on American railways, but in 1895 succeeded in introducing it abroad, and it is now in use on several of the largest railways of England. In fact, the Gould system seems likely to become the standard for English railways, and to change entirely their old method of vestibuling cars. The Gould Coupler Co. was organized with Mr. Gould as its president. Later the Gould Steel Co. of Anderson, Ind., was formed, with Mr. Gould as president of this latter concern, also. Since 1889 Mr. Gould's home has been in New York city, where the main offices of these companies are situated.
A picturesque episode of Mr. Gould's life is the establishment of the town of Depew. Need of better railroad facilities led him to look about for a new site, which he found near the village of Lancaster, . N. Y. Within three years a tract of farming land ten miles from Buffalo was transformed into a thriv- ing industrial community of several thousand people. In this transformation Mr. Gould has been one of the chief factors ; and he was the originator of the
general plan. The Buffalo Investment Co. was formed with Mr. Gould as president, and about 1300 acres of land were bought. The New York Central road took 100 acres for new shops; and the Gould Coupler Co: took 50 acres, on which they erected one of the largest malleable iron works in the country. The forge at Black Rock was destroyed by fire in the summer of 1895. It was a disheart- ening loss, but Mr. Gould with indomitable push immediately decided to rebuild at Depew with in- creased facilities and modern appliances.
Personally Mr. Gould is of a very social nature. He is a lover of yachting, and is commodore of the Douglaston Yacht Club, as well as a member of the New York, American, and Larchmont yacht clubs. Other organizations of a social nature with which he is connected are the New York Athletic, Repub- lican, and Engineers' clubs of New York city ; the Buffalo and Ellicott clubs of Buffalo ; the Chicago Club ; the Manufacturers' Club of Philadelphia ; and the Flushing Club of Flushing. He is a gen- erous giver to church and benevolent objects. He is senior warden of the Episcopal Church of the Holy Nativity in New York city, and is president of St. Andrew's Free Hospital for women at Harlem.
PERSONAL CHRONOLOGY- Charles Albert Gould was born at Batavia, N. Y., January 13, 1849 ; was educated in publie schools ; went to Buffalo in 1869, and began work as an accountant ; married Adelaide Stocking of Batavia September 1, 1869 ; was deputy postmaster of Buffalo, 1878-79, and collector of customs there, 1880-84; went into business for himself as a partner in a steam-forge com- pany in 18833, and later established a forge of his own ; is president of the Gould Coupler Co. of Depew, N. Y., and the Gould Steel Co. of Anderson, Ind.
S. S. Green is an eminent physician of Buf- falo, whose life has been somewhat more varied and active than that of most professional'men. He is a lineal descendant of Samuel Green, who came to this country from England in 1630, and settled in Boston. Dr. Green is a native of Vermont, and is one of a family of fourteen children. He received his primary education in the common schools and in local academies, and then attended Nine Partners' Friends' College at Washington, N. Y. He had determined to become a physician, but as he was without means to carry on his medical studies he now taught school for two years to obtain the necessary funds. He then entered the medical department of the Univer- sity of Michigan, and after a year there became a medical student in the University of the City of New York, from which he graduated in 1864 with honors.
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The Civil War was at its height when Dr. Green took his degree, and his first step after graduation was to offer his services to the government as assistant surgeon in the navy. Perhaps he inherited a patriotic nature from his ancestors, one of whom was General Nathanael Greene, one of the most distinguished officers of the Revolution, who received from congress a gold medal and a vote of thanks for his brilliant military achieve- ments. Dr. Green was appointed acting assistant surgeon in the United States navy, and after a few weeks at the Brook- lyn Navy Yard he was ordered to New Orleans, where he reported to Admiral Farragut for duty. He was assigned by him to the United States steamer " Ari- zona," afterwards Admiral Thatcher's flagship. Dr. Green served on board the " Arizona" for one year, and was then promoted to the post of examining sur- geon, and charged with the examination of men who were transferred from the army to the navy. While performing the duties of this position he was stricken with yellow fever, and for over three weeks was confined in the naval hospital at New Orleans. Seven men died around him, but his excellent constitution res- cued him from the terrible grasp of the disease. He resumed his post of duty. and served in the navy until he was hon- orably discharged at the close of the war.
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