Biographical Sketch of Warren Phelps King

King, Warren Phelps; manufacturing business; born, Ithaca, N. Y., Sept. 9, 1865; son of Warren Leander and Mary Eliza Phelps King; educated, Cornell University, class of 1888; married, Buffalo, N. Y., June 2, 1892, Justine McKenna; issue, Warren Griffin King, born, July 6, 1893, and Elizabeth Brewster King, born March 25, 1899; with The Lehigh Valley Coal Co. for five years; New York Car Wheel Works and associated companies, occupying various official positions, for eleven years; pres. Liberty Brass Foundry, Buffalo, N. Y., for four years; vice pres. and treas. The Aluminum Castings Co.; member Society of Automobile Engineers, Cleveland … Read more

Biography of Robert Grostein

Robert Grostein, one of Idaho’s most successful pioneer merchants, has carried on business in Lewiston since 1862 and through the intervening years has borne an unassailable reputation in trade circles, never making an engagement which he has not kept nor contracting an obligation that he has not met. His sagacity and enterprise and moreover his untiring labor have brought to him a handsome competence, and the most envious could not grudge him his success, so honorably has it been acquired. Mr. Grostein is a native of Poland, born in 1835, and is the eldest in the family of four children … Read more

Biography of Frank Johnson

FRANK JOHNSON. – The career of this well-known contractor is a clear case of the promotion of merit. He has acquired an enviable position in the business world from simple integrity and excellence of worth. He was born in Holland in 1844, and came with his widowed mother to New York in 1852. He went soon to Buffalo, and there began to learn the trade of a carpenter and joiner. The war breaking out, and an appeal being made to the patriotic young men of the city, he volunteered as a soldier and served gallantly until the close of the … Read more

Bethel Todd of Buffalo NY

Bethel Todd9, (Edwin H.8, Bethel7, Jehiel6, Stephen5, Stephen4, Samuel3, Samuel2, Christopher1) born April 28, 1858, in Poultneyville, N. Y., died March 13, 1912, in Buffalo, N. Y., married March 15, 1882, Ella S. Cochran, of Onondaga, Mich. He went with his parents from Poultneyville, N. Y., to Port Dalhousie, Ont., Canada, where his father started in the hotel business. At the age of about 15, Mr. Todd obtained employment on a vessel plying on the great lakes, determined to be a sailor, which occupation he followed until his marriage. During the winter of 1881-82 he went to Onondaga, Mich., to … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Nicholas Pfeil

Pfeil, Nicholas; rector St. Peter’s Church; born, Cleveland, Nov. 4, 1859; son of Lawrence and Frances Reinhart Pfeil; educated, St. Mary’s and St. Stephen’s Parochial schools, Canisius College, Buffalo, N. Y., B. A., St. Mary’s Theological Seminary, Cleveland, Ohio; graduated at Canisius College, June, 1878; entered St. Mary’s Theological Seminary, September, 1878; was ordained to the Priesthood, July 1, 1883, at a little over 23 years of age; appointed pastor of St. Patrick’s Church, Hubbard, O., August, 1883; transferred to Holy Trinity Church, March 2, 1884; appointed irremovable rector of St. Peter’s Church, Cleveland, May 9, 1897; director of the … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Arthur Nathan Doud

Doud, Arthur Nathan; civil engineer; born, New York, 1872; son of George C. and Martha Dunbar Doud; graduated High School, Winthrop, N. Y., class of 1895; took three years special engineering course at Clarkson Technical School, Potsdam, N. Y., finished there in 1900; married, Buffalo, N. Y., Sept. 14, 1901, Nellie M. Wilson; two daughters; followed surveying and engineering work in New York state for three years; then engaged on the hydro-electric development on the St. Lawrence River; for two years and nine months member of the engineering corps, War Dept., U. S. Army, as chief of field party on … Read more

Biography of William Edward Delehant

William Edward Delehant, organizer and promoter of the Cardinal Drug Company of Muskogee, conducting both a whole-sale and retail business, has long been recognized as a dynamic force in the commercial circles of Muskogee. Starting in business here with an extremely limited capital, he has steadily developed his interests and the scope of his activities until his position in commercial circles is one of prominence and leadership. He has ever been a man of broad vision in relation to business affairs and his life record should serve as a source of encouragement and inspiration to others, showing what can be … Read more

Biography of James A. Lounsbury M.D.

James A. Lounsbury, M. D. In the career of Dr. James A. Lounsbury there had been demonstrated the fact that an individual can dominate in more than one direction, and that some of the most prominent citizens and successful business men are those who have branched out from their original field of endeavor and directed their abilities towards perfecting various business interests as well as raising the standard of their communities. When he entered upon his active career it was as a laborer in the prolific field of medicine, but subsequent interests wooed him away from his profession and took … Read more

Biography of Seth H. Powers

Seth H. Powers was born at Long Point, Canada, June 26, 1843. He is the son of Richard Powers, a farmer and stock-dealer of Vermont. His mother’s maiden name was Phoebe Howard, a native of Canada. His parents died when he was very young, and he then came to the United States and was educated in Ohio and New York. He served a long apprenticeship at the blacksmithing and machinist trade in Buffalo, New York, and has since followed that business in various States of the Union without interruption, except during the time he was in military service during the … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Thomas A. Burke

Burke, Thomas A.; surgeon; born, Cleveland, April 18, 1864; son of Thomas A. and Ellen Shannon Burke; A. B., Canisius College, 1885; A. M., same college, 1892; Western Reserve Medical College, 1888; married, Cleveland, 1892, Lillian G. McNeil; three children; after graduating in medicine, received appointment as house surgeon at City Hospital; later assistant to supt. Cleveland State Hospital; 1890, appointed visiting physician to St. Alexis Hospital, and later to same position Charity Hospital; 1902, elected coroner Cuyahoga county; re-elected 1906 U. S. pension examiner in President Cleveland’s administration; has made three trips abroad to study in London and Vienna … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Vernon H. Burke

Burke, Vernon H.; attorney-at-law; born, Saybrook, O., Dec. 22, 1865; son of John F. and Minerva C. Stewart Burke; educated, Canisius College, Buffalo, N. Y., Stratton’s Business College, The University of Notre Dame; B. A., C. E., LL. B. degrees; married, Cleveland, Dec. 21, 1892, Matilda B. Hahn; one son, Vernon A. Burke, Jr.; Republican; served on police bench by appointment; senator from Cuyahoga county, 1896-1900; vice chairman Cuyahoga County Republican Committee; has been a trial lawyer; pres. James F. Allen Contracting Co., Cleveland Smelting Co., Idle-wild Co.; sec’y Guest & Buell Co., Fleishman & Smith Co.; director The Cleveland … Read more

Biography of Hon. Andrew Jackson Thayer

HON. A.J. THAYER. – Few of the pioneers of Oregon are more worthy of having their memories perpetuated for their worth and services to the state than the late Judge Thayer. Andrew Jackson Thayer, the second child of Gideon Anne (Dodge) Thayer, was born in Lima, Livingston county, State of New York, on the 27th of November, 1818. He received an academic education at what was known as the Wesleyan Seminary, afterwards the Wesleyan University, studied law in the office of Doolittle & Thayer, the latter being his cousin. He was married to Melissa D. Chandler on the 9th of … Read more

Biography of Hon. William Wallace Thayer

HON. W.W. THAYER- William Wallace Thayer, the present chief justice of the supreme court of Oregon, came to this state in 1862. He was born at Lima, Livingston county, New York, July 15, 1827. His boyhood was spent upon a farm in that county, where he attended the common schools and received the meager instruction that the times and circumstances of farm life afforded. But an early love for books and a retentive memory, characteristics that mark him even to-day, supplied what was lacking in his school education. He became a wide reader of standard literature; and, having determined to … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Sieg Harzfeld

In the history of commercial development in Kansas City, Sieg Harzfeld deserves mention, nor is his reputation in this connection of a local nature. On the contrary his name is widely known in the great trade centers of the country and extensive and important business concerns owe their success in large measure to his capable management and sound business sagacity. Mr. Harzfeld is a native of Buffalo, New York, and a son of Colonel Albert Harzfeld, who volunteered for service in the Civil war and won the rank of colonel ere the cessation of hostilities. Both he and his wife … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Edmund E. Allyne

Allyne, Edmund E.; manufacturer; born, Cleveland, Dec. 25, 1874; son of Joseph and Anna Allyne; common school education; married, Cleveland May 14, 1902, Mildred Ford; issue, Mildred Vernon, born Aug. 23, 1903, Rollin Ford, born May 12, 1905, and Stanley Rodman, born Jan. 24, 1913; served five years Co. K, 5th Inft., O. N. G., 1893 to 1898; started in Jan., 1900, what has grown to be the largest aluminum foundry business in the world with plants in six states. He was the pioneer in the manufacture of aluminum castings, making commercially first casting in 1908. This metal did not … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Charles R. Briggs

Charles R. Briggs, portrait-painter, Charleston; was born in Washington Co. N. Y., Jan. 5, 1816; his father was a farmer and carriage-manufacturer in Easton; at the age of 17 years, he left home, and going to Troy, apprenticed himself to the trade of a coach-painter; he remained there four years and helped to paint the first passenger-coaches on the Albany & Schenectady Railroad; thence he went to Buffalo, N. Y., and entered the employ of Benjamin Rathbone, the great contractor of that city; about a year later, he went to New York City, and thence, shortly afterward, came West; this … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Joel Haven Fuller

Fuller, Joel Haven; manufacturer; born, Cleveland, Sept. 6, 1851; son of William and Catherine M. Haven Fuller; educated, common, graded and preparatory schools, Cleveland and Oberlin, O.; married, Buffalo, N. Y., Sept. 12, 1888, Lillian Beatty Turner; issue, one daughter, living and one son, deceased; Republican in National polities, Independent in State, County and Municipal; left school at 17, to take clerkship with C., C., C. & St. L. R. R. Co.; served several years then in County Auditor’s office, and later served thirteen years in office of the Standard Oil Co.; left their employment in 1890, to engage in … Read more

Biography of Dr. John Parmenter

Dr. John Parmenter, for almost a quarter of a century engaged in the active practice of the medical profession, is a man of noble impulses, sound judgment, keen perceptions and remarkable force and determination of character. Honorable in every relation of life, he commands the respect and confidence of all with whom he comes in contact, whether professionally or in private life. It is unnecessary to say that as a physician he commanded the esteem of his fellow citizens; the record of his daily life is ample testimony to this fact. As he devoted the best years of his life … Read more

History of Buffalo New York

Buffalo Village from the Light House, 1828

“History of the City of Buffalo and Erie County” by Henry Perry Smith offers a comprehensive account of the development and significant events in Buffalo and Erie County, New York. Published in 1884 by D. Mason & Co. in Syracuse, New York, this two-volume work delves into the early settlement, growth, and transformation of the area. Volume II focuses on the history of Buffalo, New York. For the detailed history of Erie County, readers should refer to Volume I.

Red Jacket Monument, Forest Lawn Cemetery, Buffalo, New York

Red Jacket, Sagoyewatha, or Keeper Awake

Much has been said of the speaking ability of this noted Indian. A good example of one of his famous speeches was one that was delivered to a missionary named Cram who visited the Senecas, in 1805. This missionary requested a council with the Senecas, claiming that he had an important message to deliver to them. When the people had assembled, Cram gave a speech in which he told the Indians that they had never worshipped God in a decent manner but that they and their fathers had been in great darkness and error. He informed them that he had … Read more