Tonawanda Village and Town History, transcription (from History of Erie County, Chapter XL, pp 412-426, c1883).pdf

• History of the Town of Tonawanda
• First Settlement
• War of 1812
• Post-War Settlement
• Construction of the Erie Canal
• Railroads and Infrastructure
• Tonawanda in the Civil War
• Formation of the Town of Tonawanda
• List of Supervisors
• The Village of Tonawanda
• Business and Economy
• Education
• The Post Office
• Churches
• Urial Driggs
• John Simpson

THIS town lies in the northwest part of the county, having Tonawanda creek for its northern and Niagara river for its western boundary. It has an extreme length of six miles from east to west, and an extreme width of five miles from north to south. Its area is about twenty-two square miles, and it is entirely situated in township twelve, range eight, of the Holland Company’s survey, except a strip a mile wide along the river which is in the State reservation described in the general history. The surface of the town is generally level: the soil along the Niagara being a clayey loam, while that of the interior is a sandy loam. Ellicott’s creek runs northwesterly through the town emptying into Tonawanda creek near its mouth.

The first settlement was made by Alexander Logan, John King, and John Hershey, who located themselves in the southeast part of the town in 1805. Oliver Standard settled on the Niagara River in 1806, and in the same year John Cunningham, Josiah Guthrie, Ebenezer Coon, Thomas Hannan, and Joseph Hershey located in the town. Henry Anguish came in 1808, making his home near Tonawanda creek, a short distance above the old Tonawanda burying-ground. Robert Van Slyke soon after settled near him. Frederick Buck located on the river, above Standard, in 1809, and not long afterward James Burba made his home still farther up the river, and near the southwest corner of the present town of Tonawanda.

In 1811, Henry Anguish opened a tavern, the first in the town, at his residence. Robert Van Slyke also became a landlord, although somewhat later. During the same year (1811) Robert Simson located himself near Ellicott creek, about a mile above its mouth. At this time the site of Tonawanda village and almost all of the town was a forest. The only road from Tonawanda creek to Buffalo was along the beach of the Niagara River. Another road had been underbrushed but was not used. John P. Martin and a Mr. Stevens settled on Wright’s creek about 1812, but soon moved away. Among the settlers of this period, or a little later, were David Carr [then spelled Kerr], (father-in-law of General T. S. Hopkins, of Williamsville,) who located himself on Tonawanda creek, just outside the site of the village, and Charles Carr, Alvin Dodge, and a Mr. Miller, who made their homes on what was called “The Guide-board road,” running from Tonawanda to Williamsville. John Foster, also, about the same time opened a farm adjoining that of Henry Anguish; he was the pioneer Methodist exhorter of this region. He held services at the house of Robert Simson, at his own house and elsewhere, and was occasionally assisted by Rev. Glezen Fillmore, who came over from Clarence. Mr. Berlin, father of James and John Berlin, Richard Rogers, James Robinson, and Henry Simondon located themselves on the Military road from Tonawanda to Buffalo; their farms being in the order named, beginning at Tonawanda. William Best was the first surveyor in the town; his son, R. Hamilton Best, was the sheriff of Erie County in 1862-'64.

Just before the war of 1812, a block-house was built on the south side of Tonawanda creek, near its mouth. In August of that year it contained sixteen soldiers. A rumor got abroad that the British and Indians had taken possession of Grand Island and might, perhaps, cross to the mainland. The few men of the vicinity were called to the guard-house; a day or two later several hundred British Indians appeared on the shore of Grand Island opposite Tonawanda. The soldiers and citizens were turned out and after parading in sight of the enemy were marched back, and then reappeared with their coats turned wrong side out, to impress the enemy with the idea that a new force had arrived. Whether on account of this strategy, or for other reasons, the Indians did not attempt to cross the river.

Throughout the war the scattered settlers of this region were kept in a constant state of excitement, either on account of threatened attacks from Canada, or by the marching to and fro of bodies of American troops, which were expected to carry the war across the river. After the capture of Fort Niagara by the British, on the 19th of December, 1813, the danger became more serious than before. About a week later, just before the attack on Buffalo, a detachment of the enemy came up from the captured fort, burning every building along the road. They burned the guard-house before mentioned, and all the other buildings in the vicinity, with one exception. There was no village, but there were a few log farm-houses scattered along the road, and we believe, a log tavern on the north side of the creek. The building which was not burned was occupied by Mrs. Francis (a daughter of Robert Simson,) who was sick and unable to flee. Her house was set on fire three times, and each time she crawled downstairs and extinguished the flames; probably the house was of logs, and did not burn easily. The enemy went little if any farther south than Tonawanda at this time.

When Buffalo was burned, on the 30th of December, the straggling settlers of Tonawanda felt themselves in greater danger than ever and most of them retreated eastward. As the enemy, however, made no more raids across the river, the people gradually returned to their homes, and when a well-appointed American army appeared on the frontier in the spring of 1814, their confidence returned, nor were they again disturbed by an invader.

During the war, we believe in 1814, James Burba, who as before stated had settled in the southwest part of the town of Tonawanda, was murdered by three soldiers of the regular army. They had been ordered to go a mile and a half below Scajaquada creek to see if there were any signs of the enemy. They went three miles below the creek to the house of Burba, who kept a wayside tavern, and probably, after indulging freely in his liquor, endeavored to carry off some vegetables from his garden. He attempted to prevent them and a quarrel ensued, in which they killed him. One of the murderers escaped, but the other two, Charles Thompson and James Peters, were tried and convicted at Buffalo, in June, 1815, and were executed in August following. This was the first trial and execution by civil law within the present county of Erie. The Burba property was afterwards bought by John Foster, the Methodist exhorter, who also kept a tavern.

An incident of pioneer life in this town was related by the late James Harrington, a reputable man, a sixty-years’ resident of Buffalo, long connected with its stage and railroad business, who died a few years ago aged upwards of 80 years. Making his way from an eastern State to Buffalo, in the summer of 1815, he embarked in a vessel at Oswego, landed at Lewiston, on the lower part of the Niagara, and took the road up that river for Buffalo on foot, with his extra clothing in a small bundle, hung on a stick thrown over his shoulder. Arriving at Tonawanda creek, he espied a canoe on the opposite side, but no conveyance on the side where he stood. Standing on the bank, for it was a deep stream, he hallooed to the occupants of a log cabin on the south side, to call someone to set him across. Soon a stout woman came to the door and asked what he wanted. He told her he wanted to cross the creek. “Very well,” said she, “give me a quarter of a dollar and I'll ferry you over.” “But I haven’t got a quarter; eighteen pence is all the money I have left,” replied Harrington; “I will give you that for a passage across.” “No matter,” returned the woman, “a quarter is the price, and if you can’t pay that you can stay where you are.” Harrington was bound for Buffalo. The weather was warm so he threw off his coat, lashed it to his bundle, entered the water, swam across, and trudged on his way, giving little credit to Tonawanda hospitality.

After the war, settlement was again resumed and the forest was steadily cleared away, though not as rapidly as in some other towns. Edward Carney settled in 1816 on Tonawanda Island. His son, James Carney, mentions an unoccupied house then standing, situated near where the road leaves the river, which was soon after fitted up as a schoolhouse; it was the first in that part of the town, and he thinks in the whole town. Ephraim Kelsey was the earliest teacher. Miss Hannah Pettit, now Mrs. Jacob Whitman, attended school under him.

About 1820, Peter Taylor kept a tavern in a hewed log house near the crossing of Tonawanda creek.

It was not until 1823 that any marked change was made. About the beginning of that year the commissioners in charge of the construction of the Erie Canal made a contract with Judge Samuel Wilkeson and Dr. Ebenezer Johnson, of Buffalo, to build a dam near the mouth of Tonawanda creek, as it was intended to use that stream as a part of the canal from its mouth along the northern border of the present town of Tonawanda, and the greater part of Amherst. The work was begun early in the spring and a large number of men were employed. Wilkeson and Johnson also constructed three-fourths of a mile of the canal and built a toll bridge. During the year the village of Tonawanda was laid out. Of this more will be said a little farther on. During 1823 and 1824, and perhaps the early part of 1825, the canal was constructed along the Niagara river from Buffalo to Tonawanda. A tow-path was also made by the side of Tonawanda creek, which became a part of the canal, the whole great work being completed in September, 1825.

Outside of the village the further progress of the town was not marked by any exciting events. The land was steadily cleared off, framed houses were substituted for log ones, the ground was drained where necessary, (as in some places was the case,) and the town gradually took on the appearance of an old and well-cultivated district. The first railroad operated by steam in Western New York, that from Buffalo to Niagara Falls, was opened through Tonawanda in 1836. The Canandaigua & Niagara Falls railroad now, like the one previously named in use as a part of the New York Central, was completed in 1854. The Niagara Falls branch of the New York, Lake Erie & Western, railroad was built in 1870. There were in all about thirteen miles of railroad track in the town.

In the war for the Union the young men of Tonawanda took an active part. Colonel Payne's company (D) of the One Hundredth New York Infantry, was raised in this town and the adjoining town of Wheatfield, Niagara county, and a large number of other Tonawandians were scattered through other companies and regiments. Their services are narrated in the chapters devoted to the services of the volunteers in the civil war.

At the time of the first settlement of the territory of the town of Tonawanda it was a part of the town of Erie, Genesee county which extended from Pennsylvania to Lake Ontario, embracing all that part of the present county of Erie west of the “West Transit.” On the organization of Niagara county in 1808 the territory in question became a part of Clarence which covered all the northern part of what is now Erie county. In 1810 it was made a portion of the new town of Buffalo, of which it remained a part for twenty-six years; being transferred with it from Niagara to Erie county in 1821.

On the 16th day of April, 1836, the town of Tonawanda was formed from Buffalo by an act of the Legislature; it comprised the present towns of Tonawanda and Grand Island. The new town was not organized until the next year. The following is a nearly complete list of the first officers elected: William Williams, supervisor; T. W. Williams, town clerk; John T. Bush, Daniel Smith, and Mr. Fosdyck, justices of the peace; Jeremiah Phalin, and James Carney, assessors; John Simson and William Best, commissioners of highways.

Grand Island was formed into a separate town by the board of supervisors of Erie County, in October, 1852.

The following is a list of the supervisors of Tonawanda, with their years of service, from its organization to the present time, so far as they can be ascertained: William Williams, 1837–38; Jedediah H. Lathrop, 1839; Theron W. Woolson, 1840; James Carney, 1846–47; J. H. Phillips, 1848–50; Theron W. Woolson, 1851–54; Warren Moulton, 1855–56; Paul Roberts, 1857–58; Christoph Schwinger, 1859; Emanuel Hensler, 1860–61; David Kohler, 1862–63; Benjamin H. Long, 1864–65; Frederick Knothe, 1866–67; S. G. Johnson, 1868–69; B. H. Long, 1870; Christoph Schwinger, 1871; Frederick Knothe, 1872–73; William Kibler, 1874; J. H. DeGraff, 1875; Philip Wendell, 1876; A. B. Williams, 1877–78; Oscar H. Gorton, 1879–80; James H. DeGraff, 1881–82.

At the present time (1883) the supervisor is R. Holway; the town clerk is William Schwinger and the justices of the peace are Simon Bellinger, S. G. Johnson, Theodore Schneider, and C. W. Sickman.

THE VILLAGE OF TONAWANDA.

There was no village, nor even a hamlet, at Tonawanda until 1823. Mr. Joseph Bush, who was there early in that year, says there was nothing but a log tavern on the south side of the creek and another on the north side. The former had recently been kept, and perhaps was then kept, by Peter Taylor; the latter was kept by Garrett Van Slyke. Mr. Van Slyke was the proprietor of a rope ferry across the creek, and his daughters were in the habit of ferrying travelers over the stream. As already stated, in 1823 Judge Wilkeson and Dr. Johnson of Buffalo took contracts for building a dam at the mouth of the Tonawanda and also three-fourths of a mile of the canal in the immediate vicinity. They, of course, employed a large number of men, and a village of shanties at once sprang up near the mouth of the Tonawanda. Wilkeson & Johnson built a toll bridge across the creek and opened a store on the north side of the creek, in Niagara County. During the year, Albert H. Tracy, Charles Townsend, and other Buffalonians formed a company, bought land, and laid out the village of Tonawanda.

While the canal was in progress, there was a great deal of business at the new village, but after its completion, in the autumn of 1825, the temporary excitement subsided, and there was but little improvement for many years. In 1827, Mr. Urial Driggs opened what we believe was the first store on the south side of the creek and the first in the town of Tonawanda. Mr. Driggs, after fifty-six years have passed, is still carrying on a grocery store at Tonawanda. Mr. Joseph Bush, after acting as a clerk a few years in Wilkeson & Johnson's store, opened one of his own on the south side of the creek. He was in the grocery business at Tonawanda nearly forty years. Roswell Driggs was an early hotel keeper.

Soon after 1823, a post office was established, bearing the name of Tonawanda. Mr. Bush was the postmaster during many years. The village increased but slowly, though now and then a small advance was made in the lumber business. Henry P. Smith was the pioneer lumber dealer. John Simpson had sawmills and a planing mill at Tonawanda as early as 1840. He and others secured the attention of the Cleveland Commercial Company, who made an earnest attempt to develop the resources of Tonawanda, about or before 1850. They purchased five hundred feet of river frontage and erected an elevator with a storage capacity of 250,000 bushels and capable of elevating 2,000 bushels per hour. The company also laid out several new streets, gave a large square to the public, and sold numerous lots to laboring men on long credit. But the circumstances were not propitious, and for several years the elevator stood substantially without business. It was burned about 1857. Several of the members of the Cleveland Commercial Company died, its lots in Tonawanda were divided between its members, and its enterprises were all abandoned.

After the war, business began to revive, and about 1870 the lumber trade assumed important proportions. With all other kinds of business, it suffered a serious depression during the financial crisis of 1873 and the succeeding years, but there was all the time a very large quantity of lumber and timber brought from Canada and Michigan, and during the last three or four years, the trade has been more prosperous than ever.

J. S. Thompson, Lockman & Woods, Fassett & Bellinger, P. W. Scribner, Peter Misner, and A. B. Williams were the principal dealers in Tonawanda, together with the Export Company, J. H. DeGraff & Co., Gratwick, Smith & Fryer, J. M. Chapman, James Norris, and others, in North Tonawanda, Niagara County. They built miles of dock and have hundreds of acres of ground covered with lumber brought from Michigan and Canada, for distribution by rail to points south and east. The lumber yards have side tracks from the different railroads running in every direction through them, with switch engines, which are kept busily engaged in drawing cars to and fro. The Tonawanda Lumber Association, composed of dealers on both sides of the creek, was formed in 1873.

Tonawanda is not a port of entry, though considering the amount of import business transacted there, it would certainly seem as if it ought to be. There is a deputy collector on each side of the creek, the one in Erie County reporting to the collector at Buffalo, and the one in Niagara reporting to the one at Suspension Bridge. A vessel bound hither usually clears for “Tonawanda” and then enters and pays duties on whichever side she breaks bulk. P. S. Humphrey is the collector on the south side, and Frederick Somers on the north side.

The shingle business was carried on by J. A. Bliss very extensively for many years. He closed out in the fall of 1882. J. Batt engaged in The same occupation during the late war, and also did a good business. This establishment is now in the hands of J. S. Bliss, who cuts 400,000 shingles daily. J. S. Thompson began the manufacture of shingles in 1881 and turns out 200,000 daily. He was formerly in partnership with R. J. Wilder; he employs forty hands.

Leaving the principal business of Tonawanda, we will glance at other professions and occupations.

Lawyers.— John T. Bush, who had studied law in Buffalo under Henry K. Smith, began practice in Tonawanda in 1836. He was not, however, a permanent resident, spending a large part of his time in Buffalo. He served two terms in the Assembly and one in the State Senate. He is now a wealthy resident on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls. His brother, William T. Bush, began the practice of law in Tonawanda in 1837. He was also elected to the Assembly and was United States Marshal under Fillmore’s administration. He continued in practice until a few years since when he retired. He is still a resident of Tonawanda. W. W. Thayer, ex-Governor of Oregon, located in Tonawanda in 1855 and practiced several years. D. H. Long began practice in 1856 and continued until 1878, when he died. George Wing began practice in 1868, but in a few years removed to Buffalo. Willis J. Benedict came a few years later than Mr. Wing and after a brief practice also removed to Buffalo. Elias Root and F. L. Clark practiced in partnership from July 1877 to May 1882, when the former removed to Dakota and the latter formed a partnership with W. B. Simson, which was dissolved in January 1883. Both gentlemen are now practicing in Tonawanda. Charles W. Sickman, who resides in Tonawanda, has an office in Buffalo.

Physicians.— Dr. Jesse F. Locke was the first resident physician of Tonawanda, though Dr. Thomas, who resided in Niagara County, had practiced there previously. Dr. Locke came about 1838 and practiced until his death in 1860. Dr. Frederick F. Hoyer, a native of Herkimer County, came in 1849, and it is noticeable that two other physicians, (Dr. Ware and Dr. Gail,) located at Tonawanda on the same day that he did. They remained, however, but a short period, while Dr. Hoyer has been in active practice in Tonawanda until the present time. Drs. Leonard and Dieffenbach came somewhat later and remained but a short time. Dr. W. D. Murray located in Tonawanda about 1857, and is still in practice there. The later physicians now practicing in the village are: Dr. H. B. Murray, Dr. Simson Cook, and Dr. C. Rollin Cobb.

The Press.— The Tonawanda Herald was established before 1853. After changing hands several times it was purchased by S. O. Hayward, in 1854, who changed its name to the Niagara Frontier. Subsequently, he again changed it to the Tonawanda Enterprise. Save during a brief interval, Mr. Hayward has conducted the paper as editor and proprietor from 1854 to the present time. It is an eight-page, sixteen-column sheet, is independent in politics, and has attained a good circulation.

The Daily News was established in 1878, by George S. Hobbie. At that time it had but three columns on each of its four pages. Increased circulation brought increased size, and it now has five columns per page.

[There is also a paper called, the Tonawanda Herald, published by Chapman & Warner, in North Tonawanda, Niagara County.]

The State Bank of Tonawanda was established May 1, 1883, with the following officers: President, James H. DeGraff; Vice-President, Edward Evans; Cashier, Benjamin L. Rand; Directors, J. H. DeGraff, E. Evans, C. Schwinger, W. D. Murray, T. S. Fassett, H. Smith, and B. L. Rand. Capital, $100,000.

Merchants, Grocers, Etc.— Urial Driggs has been in the mercantile business in Tonawanda most of the time since 1827. S. G. Johnson established himself in the same business in 1848 and has been engaged in it most of the time since. He has been a justice of the peace several terms, was a justice of sessions in 1860, and was the supervisor of the town in 1868 and 1869. William Kibler was an early merchant in Tonawanda; his store is now owned by Joseph Powell. James A. Pinner established himself in business in 1853 and still carries it on. Christoph Schwinger came not long afterwards and was very successful. Louis F. Green is also one of the grocers of that period. Simon J. Locke established the drug business as a specialty shortly before the late war. His store is now owned by C. H. Scoville, who took possession in 1881. A hardware store was established by Sherman & Campbell, about the time of the late war. It was transferred to O. H. Gorton in 1870 and is still under his management. Lyman G. Stanley opened a drug and stationery store in 1866, but since 1872 has confined himself to the sale of drugs alone. Christian Diedrich opened a store in 1867; he died in 1883, and his widow now carries on the business. Nice & Hinkey built a fine brick block in 1867 and have since carried on a large hardware business. A. H. Crown had a general store for many years after the late war. The establishment was purchased in 1880 by J. Wolf & Sons, who carry it on as a dry goods store only. Christian Miller opened the first furniture store in the village in 1870. William H. Hepworth, A. L. Karner, and L. Silverstone have all been in the dry goods business for several years. J. H. Kohler and J. B. Huff have both engaged in the boot and shoe business during the year 1883.

Manufactures.— The Tonawanda Pipe Works were established in 1857 by J. S. Hobbie. He manufactures water and gas pipe, and steam pipe casing; also sawed and cut shingles. The Tonawanda Pump Works were erected in 1870 by William Grieser, who manufactures two hundred pumps annually. The brick yard owned by Edward Hall was established by him in 1871; it produces 3,000,000 bricks annually. William Simson also engaged in the manufacture of brick in 1880. William M. Gilley [Gillie] erected a machine-shop in 1883. The Tonawanda Brewery was built by George Zent just after the close of the late war. It was burned some years afterward, but was rebuilt by Mr. Zent. This property was sold in March, 1883, to the Niagara Brewer's Association, a stock company consisting of eighty members. The officers are: Christian Schwinger, president; J. R. Holway, secretary; Dr. W. D. Murray, J. R. Holway, Martin Riester, L. Smith, Jacob Stockmeyer, and William Kibler, directors. The company brews one hundred and fifty barrels per day. The Tonawanda Vinegar Works were established in May, 1883, by L. P. Rose & Son. They manufacture eight barrels of vinegar per day.

The Village Government.—The village of Tonawanda was incorporated on the 7th day of January, 1854. It then included what is now known as North Tonawanda, situated in Niagara County. There were four wards, of which one was north of the creek. The first officers were John R. Wheeler, president; Theron W. Woolson, Jesse F. Locke, and Henry F. Hill, trustees; Franklin T. McCollor, clerk; Hiram Newell, treasurer; William Hay, collector; Elijah Cooley, Gideon Hulbert, and Thomas J. Keith, assessors; Levi Waite, pound-master.

In 1857, the residents of that portion of the village situated in Niagara County, having become discontented on account of the superior power wielded by the part lying in Erie County, procured the passage of an act withdrawing them from the jurisdiction of the village. Since then, Tonawanda has been entirely unconnected, legally, with North Tonawanda. The present officers are: Charles W. Sickman, president; M. Scanlon, C. Schwinger, H. G. March, A. A. Bellinger, and Frederick Schwartz, trustees; Fayette A. Ballard, clerk; James B. Huff, treasurer; Thomas McGinnis, collector; Theodore Hardleben, W. W. Parker, and George Fatzer, assessors; David Kohler, street commissioner; George Schrier, pound-master.

Even in educational matters, the south side is entirely separate from the north. Union school district No. 3, of Tonawanda, erected a large, three-story brick schoolhouse in 1870, in which a flourishing graded school has since been carried on. There are now about four hundred scholars, under the charge of T. B. Dates, as principal, assisted by a corps of Normal graduates.

The Post Office of Tonawanda was established between 1825 and 1830. It was kept many years by Joseph Bush. Jacob Kibler was appointed postmaster during the administration of President Fillmore; S. G. Johnson during that of Pierce; Christian Eggert during that of Buchanan; R. W. Driggs under that of Lincoln; S. O. Hayward under that of Lincoln; and Henry Stanley also under that of Lincoln. Mr. Stanley died shortly after his appointment and was succeeded by his widow, who remained postmistress seventeen years. Robert L. Koch, the present...The postmaster was appointed under the administration of President Hayes and re-appointed under that of Arthur. The gross receipts for the fiscal year ending May 4, 1883, were $4,774.96. The office receives an average of about five hundred letters and five hundred papers daily.

The Methodist Episcopal Church of Tonawanda.—John Foster, a local preacher, preached the first Methodist sermon in Tonawanda, at the house of Robert Simson about 1816. Three years after this, Mr. Simson sold a small tract to the school district, on which a school house was built where Mr. Foster preached for a number of years. In 1830 Mr. A. H. Tracy donated a lot on South Canal Street, in the village of Tonawanda, to John Simson (son of Robert), for church purposes. That gentleman circulated a subscription for a Union Church, and after obtaining $400, added $1,600 himself, and built a church worth $2,000. The building was occupied by Methodists, Presbyterians, Baptists, and Universalists, all represented by John Simson, Urial Driggs, and Levi Zimmerman, as trustees.

In 1842 James Sweeney, John Sweeney, and Mr. Gaundey [Goundry?] donated to John Simson a lot on Tremont Street, twenty-two feet front, for a church and schoolhouse. Mr. Simson added thirteen feet to the lot, upon which he built a church and shed, at a cost of $2,500. Mr. Simson paid $2,000 himself and raised the rest by subscription. The society was incorporated December 17, 1842; Lewis Deming, Jesse F. Locke, and Nathaniel Cummings being elected trustees. In consequence of a defective title, it was reorganized April 17, 1854, when the following trustees were elected: James A. Pinner, Orson Shepard, Orrin Dutton, George Shesler, Hiram Newell, Theron W. Woolson, John Simson, Charles H. Calkins, and Erastus Chamberlain. John Simson deeded the property to the Methodist Episcopal Society, July 4, 1867. The following pastors have served the church: B. F. McNeal, 1859; W. L. Leake, 1860; J. Timmerman and R. C. Foot, 1861; C. P. Clark, 1862 and '63; C. D. Burlingham, 1866; J. McEwen, 1867 and '68; Z. Hurd, 1869 and '70; C. P. Clark, 1871; S. Smith, 1872 and '73; H. Vosburgh, 1874 to '76; G. H. Dyer (during whose last year a new church was commenced) 1877 to '79; L. D. Watson (during whose pastorate the new church was completed) 1880 and '82. The church property is worth $20,000.

The Catholic Church of Tonawanda.— This church began its work in the building known as the Sacred Heart, now the old school house, under the auspices of Father Francis Uhlrich, in the year 1850. In 1862 Father Uhlrich and his congregation erected St. Francis’ Church, a commodious stone structure, there being then a membership of about fifty families. Father Aloysius Bachmann took charge as resident pastor, August 9, 1874. The church now contains about two hundred families and has an average attendance of about two hundred and fifty children in the school. A handsome two-story brick schoolhouse was erected during the year 1883.

The First Presbyterian Church.— This church was organized on the 29th of May, 1852, by the Rev. A. T. Rankin, D. D. The first officers and members were as follows: elders, Daniel Butts, Thomas J. Collins, and William R. Allen; trustees, Henry P. Smith, Daniel Butts, and Henry Hill; other members, Catharine Collins, Emeline Butts, Mehitable G. Locke, Thankful Taber, Mary Taber Payne, Amanda M. Taber, Margaret Hoyt, Jane T. Atwater, Lereina Goodrich, Amarilla Patterson, Elizabeth Lafflin, John Churchill, and Phebe Cherry. Mr. Collins is still an elder of the church; Mrs. Taber, Mrs. Payne, Elizabeth Lafflin, and Mrs. Cherry are the only other members remaining of the original number. The following is a list of the pastors and regular supplies from the organization of the society down to the 1st of January, 1883: A. T. Rankin, D. D., Arthur Burtis, D. D., William Hancock, E. W. Kellogg, R. R. Sutherland, D. D., A. B. Robinson, A. F. Hale, and W. C. Macbeth. The Rev. William Alfred Gay, for ten years the pastor of the Breckenridge Street Presbyterian Church of Buffalo, has been supplying this congregation since the 1st of January, 1883, during which time two large debts have been paid and many important improvements made. The church edifice, built of pressed brick, has a very large audience-room with stained windows and a fine organ. The following are the officers of the church: Pastor, William Alfred Gay; session, T. J. Collins (stated clerk), Thomas McConkey, and William Baker; trustees, George W. Tong (president), E. W. Betts, F. L. Clark, J. F. Vincent, George Herschel.

The Church of Christ of Tonawanda.— This church is undenominational, its members being known only as Disciples of Christ. It was organized March 27, 1853, when Asa Ransom and Samuel Kinsey were appointed overseers; it then numbered forty persons. Their house of worship, a brick edifice, was erected on the corner of Broadway and Seymour Streets in the year 1855. Its dimensions were sixty-two feet by thirty-four with a seating capacity of about four hundred. During the year 1882 it was remodeled and repaired at a cost of about $2,000. The following are the names of the resident preachers: J. J. Moss, J. D. Benedict, J. M. Bartlett, C. L. Streight, H. C. Parsons, J. C. Goodrich, Geo. Lobingier, L. Osborne. The present membership, including fifteen non-residents, is one hundred and fifty-five. The following are the present officials: Asa Ransom, Daniel Bellinger, and Edward Evans, trustees; Asa Ransom, William McLaren, and L. Osborne, overseers; Daniel Bellinger, Giles Schell, and Benjamin L. Rand, deacons.

The Free Methodist Church of Tonawanda was organized in 1860. It originated in religious meetings held at the house of Father George Goodenough, and at the first organization there were but fifteen members. The Rev. W. W. Brown is their present pastor. G. W. Goodenough, George Low, Ira W. Rose, M. B. Shearer, D. F. Horton, L. P. Rose, and Daniel Hall are officers of this society.

The German Baptist Church of Tonawanda was organized in December, 1872. The first mission was held in Evans’ Hall. In 1875 the present church building was erected, and in December, 1876, the Rev. E. E. Chivers preached the dedication sermon. In October, 1879, the regular organization of this society was recognized by the German Baptist Church. The first officers were: Rev. R. Otto, pastor; A. Bauer, deacon; T. Otto, secretary and treasurer. The present officers are: Rev. R. Otto, pastor; F. Miller, secretary; H. Smith, treasurer. The church has a membership of forty persons.

Urial Driggs, of Tonawanda, was born in the town of Marcellus, on the banks of Nine Mile Creek in Onondaga County, N. Y., November 15, 1802, and when ten years of age, moved with his father, Roswell Driggs, to Ontario, Wayne County. About one year preceding the building of the canal, the father removed to Grand Island; from there soon went to the old Fields farm, and thence to the village of Tonawanda, where he kept the Tonawanda House, and died when fifty-six years of age.

Urial Driggs labored under adverse circumstances during the early years of his life. His parents not being greatly supplied with riches, he was partly sent adrift to shift for himself. He worked on a farm for five dollars a month, taking his pay in wheat, which he sold at three shillings a bushel; or cut cordwood for two shillings a cord. During the few years he attended school, he worked his way by assisting at home during his leisure hours and working Saturdays. When eighteen years of age, having acquired a small amount of means, he started a grocery, which is now under the proprietorship of his only son, Roswell W. Driggs. His business prospered finely and assisted him greatly in the care of his father’s family, of which he had nearly the entire charge.

As his financial abilities increased, Mr. Driggs purchased large quantities of real estate, of which a large part was village lots and upon which he has erected a number of buildings. At the present time, though over eighty years of age, he is personally superintending the erection of a half-dozen houses.

In 1849, he was made Superintendent of thirty miles of the canal, and the annual expenses under his administration were cut down from $64,000 to $34,000, for running the boats and keeping the ditch in repair. After leaving the canal department, he took an interest in a warehouse in Buffalo, together with an interest in a line of fifteen boats, and at the same time dealt very heavily in cordwood and lumber. He also owned a grocery store on the dock, and a dry-goods store which was managed by his partner, while he looked after the other business; and he supplied the steamers with wood.

During all this time he had kept business steadily moving in Tonawanda, and besides his grocery, also owned a dry-goods store, and for a time was proprietor of the Tonawanda House. After holding his interest in Buffalo three years, he sold out and, by the advice of his wife, decided to retire from active business life. Ease and retirement, however, were contrary to a nature such as his and brought on sickness, till by the advice of his physician he began active operations again and has from that time to this, been unceasingly employed superintending his varied interests.

Mr. Driggs is a member of the Presbyterian church, and financially has not failed to remember the needs of his people. He is a staunch Republican, and during the Rebellion was an active supporter of the war measures. He has been married three times. His first wife Lucy Ann Wait, was married May 23, 1827, and died June 3, 1868, having had four children, of whom Roswell W. and Mrs. Amanda Karner are the only ones living. The two children who died were Urial B. and Aurora Polly Ann. His second wife Mrs. Anna Driggs died September 12, 1882. His third wife Mrs. Harriet S. Bedell, was the daughter of John Laflin, who removed from Connecticut to Vermont in 1820, when his daughter was fourteen years old. She was married in 1830 to Ira Bedell who came to New York and settled first in Tonawanda and subsequently on Grand Island. Mr. and Mrs. Driggs were married on St. Patrick's day, March 17, 1883, which is also her birthday.

John Simson came with his father, Robert Simson, to Tonawanda, August 16, 1811. He was the first child and was born in Warren, N. Y., May 19, 1803. His ancestors migrated from Scotland to the north of Ireland in the days of William the Conqueror.

Robert Simson was born May 30, 1727, and in 1761, came to America with his three children, Mary, James and John, and settled in New York. John Simson was born August 13, 1753, and March 26, 1778, married Jane Adams, by whom he had eleven children. He served seven years in the Revolutionary war, under Washington. His ancestors were wealthy and he inherited considerable property which was principally loaned to the Government, which returned for pay Continental script that was not redeemed during his lifetime. In 1816, he freed all his slaves.

Robert, his only son, was born November 15, 1782. In 1810, he traveled through the western part of New York State in search of his future home, and in 1811, moved his family into the wilderness on a tract of land still retained by his descendants, and which is about a mile above the village of Tonawanda on Ellicott Creek. He was Captain during the War of 1812, and had charge of the guard-house, which was then the refuge for the town in times of trouble. He was a fine singer and was always buoyant and full of life, possessing those enjoyable qualities that make soldiers popular, and General Scott frequently visited him and was a great friend of his family. His wife, Lydia Moffitt, born September 15, 1784, and married April 8, 1802, was of Welsh descent and a strong adherent of the old English Church.

In 1813, the British entered the village of Tonawanda and burned the guard-house and all the dwellings except one—the house of Mrs. Francis. She was upstairs, sick in bed and not able to flee with the others to the woods, and three times when her house was fired she crawled out of bed and downstairs and extinguished the flames. The consternation among the people was very great at this time, and Mrs. Simson, after burying her large kettle in the middle of Ellicott Creek, and marking the place, went east to a place then called Big Tree, in Genesee County, N. Y., where they remained until 1816.

At the age of eighteen, Mr. John Simson sought a fortune for himself, and notwithstanding the adverse circumstances of the first few years of his life, under which he labored, has been eminently successful.

He has always been prominent in business circles, and in church has been an official over sixty years. In April, 1834, he was married to Frances Long, whose married life of forty-seven years was terminated by her death, March 24, 1881. As they toiled through life and were blest, so they forgot not the wants of others, having bequeathed many thousands of dollars to their church, for the upbuilding of colleges and places of worship.

Mr. Simson has repeatedly occupied positions of public trust in his town and county, and in the year 1872 he represented the Fourth Assembly district of Erie County in the State Legislature, where he was a prominent member of the Canal committee, and was one of those wise legislators who first advocated the doctrine of making the canals of the State free.

Mr. Simson has always been connected with the lumber trade at Tonawanda village, and after some years of toil, succeeded in practically drawing the attention of the Cleveland Transportation company to Tonawanda, and secured for the village the obligation on their part, to build a dock, an elevator and warehouses, all of which they faithfully did. He has himself practically retired from business, but his sons-in-law, A. B. Williams and J. W. DeGraff are extensive lumber dealers.