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 47
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Mr. Neff is fond of social life. and belongs to various fraternal societies. He is a member of Ancient Landmark Lodge, No. 441, F. & A. M., and of Buffalo Lodge, No. 36, I. O. O. F. He belongs, also, to the Royal Arcanum, and is a charter member of the Odd
Fellows' Club. He attends Calvary Presbyterian Church.
PERSONAL CHRONOLOGY- John William Neff was born at Buffalo March 23, 1862 ; attended public schools ; worked for the Red Line fast-freight company, 1880-88 ; married Eva J. Sloan of Buffalo May 10, 1881, and Elizabeth A. Menzies of Buffalo January 27, 1896 ; was elected a county supervisor from the ith ward of Buffalo in 1891, and was re- elected in 1893 ; was elected auditor of Erie county in November, 1895, for the term 1896-99; has con- ducted an insurance business in Buffalo since 1888.
George 1R. Stearns has practiced his pro- fession in Buffalo, his native city, for nearly a score of years. Indeed, with the exception of the time spent in college, his whole life has been passed in
البدعوهاسـ
JOHN W. NEFF
the Queen City. The story of his career, made up of successful work in high school, university, and medical college, from each of which he graduated with honors, followed by more successful work in
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his chosen profession, is not an eventful one ; but it is none the less interesting.
Born in Buffalo somewhat more than forty years ago, Dr. Stearns obtained his preliminary education in the city schools, beginning with Public School No. 11, and ending with the Buffalo High School,
GEORGE R. STEARNS
from which he graduated in 1871. He then entered the University of Rochester, graduating with the class of '75 and receiving the degree of A. B. In 1878 the same institution gave him the degree of A. M. in course. Dr. Stearns went to New York city to obtain his medical education, be- coming a student in the New York Homeopathic Med- ical College and Hospital and receiving his M. D. degree in 1878. He then spent a year at Ward's Island Homeopathic Hospital, to which he had re- ceived, in competitive examination, an appointment as senior member of staff. The practical experience there gained was of the utmost value to the young physician, and finely fitted him to begin the practice of his profession.
In 1879. therefore, Dr. Stearns returned to Buffalo, and opened an office on Linwood avenue, where he has since remained. He has resisted the modern tendency to limit his field to cer- tain specialties, and has conducted a general prac- tice with gratifying success. In addition to his private practice he holds the position of obstetrician in the Buffalo Homeopathic Hospital, is president of the Training School for Nurses connected with that institution, and is medical director of the ingleside Home of Buffalo. He has served the public as district physician and physician at the county jail.
Dr. Stearns is a member of the Erie County Homeopathic Medical Society, the Homeopathic Medical Society of Western New York, and the New York State Homeopathic Medical Society ; he was elected president of the Western New York society in 1896. He has written articles for these and other scien- tific and professional associations, which have been published in their journals and transactions. While in college Dr. Stearns joined . the Alpha Delta Phi fraternity, and after graduation he was elected a member of the Phi Beta Kappa society. He is a charter member of both the Liberal and University clubs of Buffalo, and expects to become a member of the Sons of the Revolution, in virtue of the active part taken by his ancestors in the early struggle for independence.
From his childhood Dr. Stearns has been connected with the Lafayette Street (now the Lafayette Avenue ) Presbyterian Church, and since 1886 he has been a member of the Session of the society.
PERSONAL CHRONOLOGY-George Ray- nolds Stearns was born at Buffalo March 20, 1853 ; attended Buffalo public schools, and graduated from the University of Rochester in 1875 ; graduated from the New York Homeopathic Medical College and Hospital in 1878, and spent the following year in Ward's Istand Homeopathic Hospital, New York city : married Jennie S. Olver of Buffalo May 25, 1880 : has practiced medicine in Buffalo since 1879.
3obn Gretts has been a foremost figure in the iron industry of Buffalo for half a century. Hle lived in Pittsburg when a young man, and learned there the trade of an iron molder. His long resi- dence in Buffalo began in the year 1845, when he
MEN OF NEW YORK-WESTERN SECTION
took charge of the foundry department of the Buffalo Steam Engine Works. He remained with this con- vern and its successors nearly twenty years, acquir- ing stock in the company, and taking an important part in the business. The panic of 1857 brought disaster to- the Buffalo Steam Engine Works, as to thousands of other concerns ; and the business was reorganized under the style of George W. Tifft, Sons & Co. Mr. Trefts remained with the new firm seven years, and contributed very materially to the success of the business in that period. Chiefly through his skill as an iron worker and knowledge of iron ores, the Tifft firm was able to carry through profitably in 1860 a contract for the manufacture of the rails used in laying the first street railway in Buffalo.
A greater degree of historical interest attaches to Mr. Trefts's connection with the petro- leum industry. Soon after Colonel E. 1 .. Drake "struck oil" in August, 1859, near Titusville, Penn., and thereby set in motion one of the greatest industrial forces of the century, Mr. Trefts inter- ested himself actively in the oil business both as an operator and as a manufacturer of mechanical appliances used in the production of oil. He made the castings for the engine used to pump the Drake well. In 1860 he associated himself with P. S. Willard, and leased a part of the Shaffer farm, not far fromn Colonel Drake's original discovery. In operat- ing their well here they used the first engine that ever drilled with a rope, as well as the first set of jars ever employed in oil production. These jars were in- vented by Mr. Willard, and were ill adapted to their purpose, so that the well was not a success, resulting in a "plugged hole." Relic hunters inter- ested in the subject may pleasantly em- ploy themselves in excavating these jars, as they are still in their untimely grave, buried under $1800 worth of experience.
Mr. Trefts's next venture was on the Ham McClintock farm, near Oil City. In attempting to drill this well his work- inen became discouraged, and were dis- posed to abandon operations, so that Mr. Trefts took charge of the work per- sonally. After dislodging three sets of tools left in the well by former drillers, he vindicated his faith by discovering a well that yielded 200 barrels of oil a day. A few weeks after this he succeeded in com-
pleting the well-known Van Slyke well on the Widow Mcclintock farm. He had no interest in this well, which was owned by John Van Slyke and C. M. Farrar. Work had been abandoned on the well, but Mr. Trefts felt so confident that oil could be found there that he undertook further explora- tions at his own expense. His judgment proved excellent, as the well produced 2500 barrels of oil a day.
These ventures in the oil country had not inter- fered with Mr. Trefts's regular occupation at the Tifft works in Buffalo. On the contrary, his experience as an actual producer of oil helped him materially in later life as a manufacturer of the various machines used by oil operators. In other parts of the busi- ness as well Mr. Trefts was particularly successful. For many years the propeller wheels made by him
JOHN TREFTS
were deemed more durable than any wheels else- where obtainable. This superiority was the result of his knowledge of iron, and ability in mixing various kinds of ore so as to produce the maximum
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strength in the finished product. By the year 1864 he had acquired such a mastery of his business, and had attained such a reputation among buyers of foundry products, that he felt able to give up his position at the T'ifft concern, and embark in busi- ness on his own account. He formed a partnership,
EDWARD K. EMERY
accordingly, with Chillion M. Farrar and Theodore C. Knight, under the style of Farrar, Trefts & Knight, for the purpose of establishing a foundry, machine shop, and general iron works. In 1869 Mr. Knight retired from the firm; but the other partners, under the well-known style of Farrar & Trefts, have carried on the business ever since. Their resources at first were slight ; but their ex- perience, energy, and character ensured ultimate success. The business expanded year by year until now the firm is known throughout the iron trade as one of the most successful concerns in its line in the country. Boilers of all kinds, propeller wheels, steam engines, iron and brass castings, and a multi- tude of special mechanical appliances used in vari-
ous industries, are some of the famous " F. & T." products. The works of the concern occupy three acres of valuable land in Buffalo.
PERSONAL CHRONOLOGY-John Trefts passed his youth in Pittsburg ; was in the employ of the Buffalo Steam Engine Works and their successors, 1845-64 ; engaged in oil production, 1859- 64; has conducted a foundry and general iron works at Buffalo since 1864.
Edward Ik. Emery, elected to the bench of the Erie County Court in 1895, has worked hard all his life, and has reaped a reward consistent with his efforts and deserts. Though not far be- yond the period of life allotted to "young men," he has already solved the problem of prosperity, and has made his future secure. His success is the more noteworthy from the fact that he selected a field of labor in which rewards are long delayed, and never come by chance, or as the result of anything but work and worth.
Born in East Aurora, Erie county, in 1851, Judge Emery spent his youth and early manhood after the manner of many young men in the country dependent on themselves for a professional education. By teaching school in winter and farm- ing in summer he acquired sufficient means to pursue the study of law. Pro- ceeding to Buffalo for that purpose, he gave his days and nights to legal research with characteristic earnestness, and was admitted to the bar in 1877. He began the practice of law in Buffalo at once, and soon became known as a trustworthy adviser in all legal matters. This favor- able reputation was confirmed in his further prac- tice, and he was regarded during his later years at the bar as one of the ablest of the younger attorneys in Erie county.
Like so many other lawyers, Judge Emery began early in his career to take a keen interest in polit- ical affairs. His convictions on public questions have harmonized with the principles of the Republi- can party, and for many years he has enjoyed the confidence of Republican leaders and shared their counsels. He first came prominently before the public as a candidate for office in the fall of 1886, when he received the Republican nomination for the assembly in the old 5th Erie-county district. He was elected that year and again the next, and
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served on important committees in the assembly in the sessions of 1887-88. For the next few years his law practice was so large that he thought it inexpedi- ent to re-enter political life, though he continued to follow public affairs closely. In the fall of 1895, however, when the Republican party offered him pro- fessional and political honors at once in the nomina- tion for the office of county judge, he wisely decided to accept the candidacy. He was elected by a major- ity of more than 8000 votes over his Democratic opponent, and on January 1, 1896, began his term of six years.
Judge Emery has many traits of mind and charac- ter that make him prominent in social life, and he has a wide circle of friends. He belongs to various fraternal organizations, including the Masonic order, the Odd Fellows, and the Royal Arcanum.
PERSONAL CHRONOLOGY -- Edward Kellogg Emery was born at East Aurora, N. Y., July 29, 1851 ; attended the district schools and academy of his native town; taught school and studied law, and was admitted to the bar in 1877 ; married Clara B. Darbee of East Aurora October 7, 1886 ; was mem- ber of assembly, 1887-88 ; practiced law in Buffalo, 1877-95 ; was elected judge of the Erie County Court in 1895 for the term 1896-1901.
Byron D. Gibson, long a leading merchant of East Aurora, N. Y., and latterly a prominent man in the public affairs of the town, was born there in September, 1859. He was educated in the district schools of his native town, and in the academy at the same place. His father, Chisman Gibson, carried on a clothing and boot and shoe business at East Aurora for nearly forty years, and Byron entered the store at the age of nineteen for the purpose of acquainting himself thoroughly with mercantile af- fairs. He remained with his father until the latter's death in 1890, when he pur- chased the business from the estate. He has since conducted the enterprise with the success that might have been pre- dicted from his long experience and excellent school of commercial training. The store is still located in the same place where the elder Mr. Gibson began business in the middle of the century : the establishment has been for many years one of the landmarks of the village.
East Aurora has come to be a good deal of a town, and its population extends over a correspond- ingly wide area. The original Gibson establishment was located in the western part of East Aurora, in the village called Willink. Deeming it desirable to reach the important trade at the other end of the town, Mr. Gibson formed a partnership, in March, 1891, with A. E. Hammond, for the purpose of carrying on a business in clothing and general furnishings in the territory not covered by the Wil- link store. This project was successfully carried out, and Mr. Gibson now has a flourishing trade in both his individual establishment and his partner- ship concern.
Having lived in East Aurora all his life, and taken a leading part in the business and social affairs of the community, Mr. Gibson gradually attained
BYRON D. GIBSON
political prominence as well. In March, 1892, he was elected trustee of the village for two years. At the expiration of this term he received the honor of an election as president of the village of East
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Aurora ; and in the following year he was re-elected to this office. In March, 1895, he was also elected supervisor from the town of Aurora for two years. On this occasion the Democrats paid him the indirect but conspicuous compliment of nominating no one against him. On November 20, 1889, Mr. Gibson
WARREN B. HOOKER
was appointed postmaster of Willink, and held the office four years, 1890-93.
Mr. Gibson is a firm believer in fraternal socie- ties, and supports several by membership and regu- lar attendance. He belongs to Blazing Star Lodge, No. 694, F. & A. M. ; to East Aurora Chapter, No. 282, R. A. M. : and to the Masonic Life Association of Western New York. He is also an Odd Fellow, attached to Aurora Borealis Lodge, No. 642, and a member of the Royal Arcanum.
PERSONAL CHRONOLOGY- Byron D. Gibson was born at East Aurora, N. Y., September 12, 1859 ; was educated in district schools and Aurora Academy ; was a clerk in his father's store at East Aurora, 1878-90 ; married Hattie A. Holmes of
East Aurora September 4, 1882 ; was postmaster at Willink, 18:00-93 ; was trustee of the village of East Aurora, 1892-94, and its president, 1894-06 ; toa. elected supervisor of the town of Aurora in March, 1895, for two years ; has conducted a clothing store at East Aurora since 1890.
Warren JS. fbooker, a son of John and Philena Hooker, was born in Perrysburg, Cattaraugus county, New York, in 1856. His father was a native of Vermont, and his mother, Philena Waterman, of Massachusetts. They set- tled on a farm in Cattaraugus county, and lived honorable and useful lives pro- longed in each case beyond the psalm- ist's allotment of three score years and ten.
Warren was reared upon his father's farm, and became accustomed early in life to such toil and discipline as gave him strength for future achievement. Aside from the district school he was educated at Forestville Academy, from which he graduated with honor in 1875. Soon after this he began the study of law with the late John G. Record of Forest- ville. He was admitted to the bar of the Supreme Court in 1879, and prac- ticed law in Chautauqua county until he moved to the West in 1882.
In 1884 he returned to western New York, and entered upon the active prac- tice of his profession in Fredonia. He has remained there ever since, and has attained abundant success in both pro- fessional and political life. In 1878 he was elected special surrogate of Chautau- qua county for a term of three years. He was elected supervisor of the town of Pomfret in 1889 and again in 1890, receiving at the latter election the unusual compliment of the support of both political parties.
In the fall of 1890, at the age of thirty-three, Mr. Hooker received the nomination of the Republican party for congress in the 34th congressional district. comprising the counties of Chautauqua, Cattaraugus. and Allegany, and was elected by a majority of 5726. He was re-elected in 1892, and again in 1894, when he received 15,300 plurality. In 1896 he was nominated once more, and was elected to the 55th congress by a plurality of 27,426 votes. These repeated political triumphs have been achieved in a district distinguished for intelligence,
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and for the zeal and ability with which political honors are contested.
In the 54th congress Mr. Hooker held the impor- tant and coveted position of chairman of the com- mittee on rivers and harbors. The bill that he then presented to the house in that capacity was not only passed in both branches of congress by large majori- ties, but was afterward carried over a presidential veto. The measure provided for an appropriation larger than that of any previous bill on the subject ; but the expenditures authorized were so judicious and so equitably distributed that the bill was not attacked by the press, nor by the opposition speakers in the campaign of 1896.
Mr. Hooker's success as a politician is not acci- dental, but is due to his able discharge of duty, and to the benefits that he has conferred upon his con- stituents. Industrious, ambitious, self- reliant, pleasing in manner, commanding in presence, Mr. Hooker may confidently look forward to a continuance of public favor and of political honors.
In September, 1884, Mr. Hooker was united in marriage with Etta E. Abbey, a daughter of Chauncey Abbey, lately president of the Fredonia National Bank, and long a prominent citizen of Chau- tauqua county. They have two children, Sherman Abbey and Florence Elizabeth.
PERSONAL CHRONOLOGY - Warren Brewster Hooker was born at Perrysburg, N. Y., November 24, 1856 : was educated at Forestville ( N. Y. ) Acad- emy ; studied law, and was admitted to the bar of the Supreme Court in 1879; was elected special surrogate of Chautau- qua county in 1878; married Etta E. Abbey of Fredonia, N. Y., September 11, 1884 ; was supervisor of the town of Pom- fret, 1890-91 ; has been member of con- gress since 1891 ; has practiced law in Fredonia since 1884.
3obn MCEwen, well known among the successful business men of Allegany county, was born in New York city in 1849. His father, Duncan McEwen, L came from the Highlands of Scotland, and learned the machinist's and mill- wright's trades in Glasgow. He was a man of high character and exceptional ability, and ultimately obtained the position of superintendent of one of the large government shipyards at Liver- pool. He was ambitious, however, to have a busi-
ness of his own, and wisely decided that America promised the quickest realization of his hopes. In April, 1849, accordingly, he embarked with his family from Liverpool in one of the first steamships constructed for ocean traffic. They made the pas- sage in eighteen days, then regarded as marvelously quick. John was born the day they landed in New York city.
After sojourning in various places, Duncan MeEwen finally established himself in Wellsville, Allegany county, in May, 1854. Beginning operations mod- estly -a lathe and a drilling machine, indeed, comprised his entire plant at first - he enlarged his business prudently as opportunity offered, and laid the foundations in his little foundry and machine shop for the magnificent business afterward developed therefrom by his sons. At the time of his death,
JOHN MCEILEN
however, in February, 1864, the works were hardly self-sustaining, and John McEwen, his eldest son, was still a boy. The shop was rented for a few years, therefore, while John and William, the next
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son, prepared themselves to take up the business. By 1868 they felt ready to carry on the work, and formed the firm of McEwen Brothers.
This was nearly thirty years ago, when both the brothers were under age and comparatively inex- perienced. They had traits of mind and character, however, that more than countervailed these de- ficiencies, and they achieved a rare degree of success. Suffering a temporary setback in October, 1876, when their plant was burned, they at once erected a substantial brick building, and equipped the same with the finest and latest machinery. The firm now employs about sixty workmen, and manufactures annually engines, boilers, mill and general machinery valued at $125,000 or more. They make a specialty of fitting up tanneries, and for twenty-five years past they have furnished the machinery for all the tan- neries within 150 miles of Wellsville, including the enormous plant at Costello, Penn., the largest in the world. John McEwen has been the head and front of the concern from the beginning, and its success may be ascribed in a superior measure to his energy and business sagacity.
Aside from his career as a manufacturer Mr. McEwen deserves mention as a public-spirited citi- zen. In political matters he has long been an im- portant factor in the Republican party of Allegany county, though he has felt unable to neglect his business interests in the way that public office might require. He was a delegate, however, to the Re- publican national convention held at Minneapolis in 1892. He is a Knight Templar Mason of St. John's Commandery, Olean. His connection with the Wellsville, Coudersport & Pine Creek railroad illus- trates both his public spirit and his ability as a financier. The road was originally planned man; years ago, but work was abandoned after eight miles had been graded. In 1890 it was rumored that Hornellsville capitalists intended to build a compet- ing line that would seriously retard the growth and prosperity of Wellsville. Under the circumstances Wellsville deemed it highly important to put its road through at once. Mr. McEwen personally circulated the paper for subscriptions; and he was elected president and general manager of the new company, and gave close attention to the construction, equip- ment, and operation of the road. The enterprise was highly successful, and when the road was sold, in 1895, the stockholders realized a handsome profit on their investment.
PERSONAL CHRONOLOGY-John Mc Ewen was born at New York city April 21, 1849 ; moved to Wellsville, Allegany county, N. Y., in 1854 ; married Emma Alger October 30, 1879 ; began business as a
manufacturer of machinery at Wellsville in 1868, and has continued the same since.
Sheridan McArthur Horton, though he has barely reached the prime of life, has already attained success in various lines of activity -as a teacher, lawyer, promoter, farmer, banker, and judge. His lineage will bear close scrutiny, and will lead the examiner back to Puritan stock. He was born in a country town in Allegany county, New York, shortly before the middle of the century, and spent bis boyhood and youth under the harsh but wholesome discipline of farm life. His early education was obtained in the common schools, in Friendship Academy, and in the Belmont graded school. At the age of seventeen he began to teach, and continued in that occupation during a great part of the time for the next seven years. Before he had reached his majority he was made president of the Allegany County Teachers' Association.
He was fond of teaching, and would doubtless have been very successful in the profession, had he decided to make that his life-work. The law was attractive to him, however, and in 1871, simultane- ously with his teaching, he began to fit himself for the bar. He studied first at Angelica with Judge James S. Green and D). P. Richardson, afterward reading law at Belmont with Judge Hamilton Ward and General Rufus Scott. He was admitted to the bar January 8, 1874, and began practice three weeks later at Friendship.
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