History of Buffalo, (Erie County) New York United States of America

BUFFALO, a city, port of entry, and seat of justice of Erie county, New York, is situated at the eastern extremity of Lake Erie, 2 or 3 miles S. from the commencement of Niagara river: W. from Albany 364 miles by the Erie canal, and 325 miles by the Central railroad, (both of which terminate in this city,) 470 miles N. W. from New York. 22 miles S. S. E. from Niagara Falls, 103 miles N. E. from Cleveland, 290 miles N. by E. from Detroit, and 597 miles E. by N. from Chicago. Lat. 42° 53´ N.; lon. 78° 55´ W. It is regularly, and for the most part, handsomely built, partly on an elevation, and partly on a marsh or low ground, intersected in the southern part by Buffalo creek. This latter portion is the seat of the principal business. The site rises gradually as it recedes from the water's edge, and at the distance of 2 miles becomes an extended plain, 50 feet above the level of the harbor, affording delightful views of the city, lake, Niagara river, and Canada shore. The streets are broad, straight, and usually intersect each other at right angles. Main street, more than 2 miles long, and 120 feet wide, is perhaps the finest in the city, being enclosed on either side with lofty buildings. There are three public squares, Niagara, Franklin, and Washington, all of which are planted with shade-trees, and otherwise ornamented. The harbor is formed by Buffalo creek, and is of sufficient depth one mile from its entrance into the lake, for vessels drawing from 12 to 14 feet of water. It is capacious, and well protected from storms, having a pier or breakwater which extends 1500 feet from the S. side of the mouth of the creek. By thus confining the channel, the bar that originally obstructed the entrance to the harbor has in great measure been washed away by the current. Upon the end of this pier is a light-house, 20 feet in diameter at its base, and 46 feet high. The principal obstruction to the harbor at present, is the ice which at the breaking up of winter is often driven into it by strong westerly winds, where it not infrequently remains long after the lake [p.157] clear. Severed hundred thousand dollars have been expended within a few years past, on this portion of Buffalo creek, in the construction of slips and ship canals to meet the growing wants of commerce. The public buildings are a court house, a jail, 2 market-houses, and about 40 churches, several of which have recently been erected. The Catholic cathedral, not yet completed, will be one of the finest structures of the kind in the United States. St. Paul's and St. John's, (Episcopal,) the North church, and the Central church are distinguished for their architectural elegance.

Among the literary, educational, and benevolent institutions may be mentioned the Buffalo University, chartered in 1846. Connected with it is a flourishing medical college. The Young Men's Association has a library of over 6000 volumes, and sustains an able course of lectures. A society recently organized, denominated the German Young Men's Association, possesses a valuable collection of about 2000 volumes, consisting for the most part of works in the German language. Both of these societies have reading-rooms well supplied with periodicals and newspapers. The female academy is delightfully situated, and endowed to the amount of about $50,000. Buffalo is distinguished for her public schools, and has the honor of being among the very first cities in the state in introducing and perfecting this system of popular education. The schools are under the direction of the city council, and open to the children of all classes free of charge. Buffalo has a marine hospital, founded in 1833, an orphan asylum, and an organization called the Sailors' and Boatmen's Friend Society.

The manufactures of Buffalo are important, especially in the article of iron, in the production of which several large establishments are engaged. The city is supplied with excellent water from Niagara river by a corporation having a capital of $400,000: it is also lighted with gas.

Commerce.-The trade of Buffalo is immense. Its position is such as to render it a great entrepôt, through which much of the commerce between the East and West must pass. The first impulse was given to it by the completion of the Erie canal in 1824. Since then lines of railways have been constructed, opening communication with nearly every section of New York, with the great cities on the Atlantic coast, and in Canada, and with the fertile valleys of the Ohio and the Mississippi. These improvements, with her advantages for navigating the great inland waters, have secured to Buffalo the first rank among the great commercial cities on the north-western lakes. Mother railroad is also projected, to connect with Pittsburg through the Sunbury railroad. This will communicate with the coal regions of Pennsylvania. During the year 1852, there were built at this port 6 steamers, 9 propellers, and 8 schooners, with an aggregate burthen of 8610 tons. There were also commenced in the fall of 1852, to be completed for the spring navigation, 5 steamers, 4 of 1800 tons each, 2 propellers, 4 schooners, one of 360 tons, 1 brig, and 1 steamtug. The aggregate burthen of the vessels to be built during the winter of 1852 and '53 was 11,142 tons. From 1000 to 1200 mechanics are constantly employed at the various shipyards on the creek. There were enrolled and licensed, December 31st, 1852, in the district of Buffalo Creek, 28 steamers, 31 propellers, 33 brigs, 1 barque, and 100 schooners, with an aggregate of 56,523 tons.

In addition to $34,052,798 worth of goods received by shipping, $819,737 worth of goods were brought by the State Line railroad, making the total value of all the imports received at Buffalo from the West in 1852, $34,872,535, being an increase from 1851 of about $3,000,000. The value of the imports from Canada the same year amounted to $1,068,585, and by canal, $41,810,398. The value of the exports from Buffalo by canal in 1852 was $21,049,908, and from the [p.158] district of Buffalo Creek to Canada, $840,800. The duties collected at this port amounted, in 1843, to $4346; 1846, $12,389; 1849, $46,939; 1852, $69,723. The shipping enrolled and licensed in the district of Buffalo Creek, June 30th, 1852, amounted to an aggregate of 49,614 3/9 7/5 tons.

There are in Buffalo 10 banks, 2 savings institutions, and upwards of 40 fire, marine, and other insurance companies and agencies. About 15 newspapers are issued here. Among the hotels, the American, the Clarendon, and the Mansion House, on Main sweet, and the Western Hotel, on the Terrace, near the Niagara Falls Depôt, may be named as the most prominent.

Buffalo was originally laid out by the Holland company in 1801. In 1812 it became a military post. In December, 1813, it contained 200 houses, all of which, except two, were burned by a party of British and Indians. As a compensation for their losses by this disaster, Congress granted the inhabitants the sum of $80,000. An act, incorporating it a city, was passed by the legislature in April, 1832. It is divided into 5 wards, and governed by a mayor and common council, annually elected. Population, in 1810, 1508; 1820, 2095; 1830, 8653; 1840, 18,213; 1850, 42,261; 1853, estimated, 60,000.

Biographies:

James Henry Beard, artist, was born at Buffalo, N.Y., June 14, 1812; son of Capt. J. H. Beard, the pioneer master of a brig on Lake Erie. When he was a child his parents removed to Painesville, Ohio, where he had the ordinary backwoods facilities for an education. His artistic genius was fired by the sight of a rudely carved figurehead on a small Lake Erie craft. He made for himself a paint stone and muller to grind his colors; he also made his stretchers, prepared his canvas, made his brushes, his easel and palette, and indeed all the materials he used, and at fourteen years of age began to paint portraits, in which he became very adept, having for sitters, before he was twenty-five, Presidents Harrison and Tyler; Henry Clay, Salmon P. Chase and John Quincy Adams, and other distinguished men of that day. He was married to Mary Carolina, daughter of Colonel Carter, a soldier in the war of 1812. His first original composition, "The North Carolina Immigrants," which was exhibited at the National academy of design in 1846, gave him an extended reputation, and won for him an honorary membership to the academy. He enlisted in the Union army at the outbreak of the civil war, and saw service in the corps of Gen. Lew Wallace, attaining the rank of captain. In 1870 he settled in New York, and was elected to a fellowship in the National academy of design. His most popular pictures are those of animals, most of which have been engraved by Knoedler. "Out All Night," "Our Mutual Friend," "Streets of New York," were dog pictures, which sold for from$3,500 to $7,000. "A Peep at Growing Danger," "The Widow," "The Parson's Pets," "Attorney and Clients," "There's Many a Slip," "Consultation," "Blood will Tell," "Don Quixote and Sancho Panza," "Don't You Know Me?" "Heirs at Law," "Which Has Pre-emption?" "You Can't Have this Pup," "My Easter's all Spoilt," "I don't Believe One Word of It," "The Detected Poacher," "Don't You Come Here," "The Mississippi Flood," "A Barnyard," "'Ll Yer Gimme Some? Say!" are the titles of some of his prominent pictures. In his eightieth year Mr. Beard painted "The Last Victim of the Deluge," which was exhibited with his portrait of General Sherman at the fall exhibition of the National academy of 1891, and attracted a great deal of attention and comment. His four sons, James Carter, Henry, Frank, and Daniel adopted art as their profession and became noted artists. He died in New York city April 4, 1893.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

George Maltby Love, soldier, was born in Buffalo, N.Y., Jan. 1, 1831. He served three months in the 21st N.Y. militia, May-August, 1861; one year in the 44th N.Y. volunteers as lieutenant, participating in the battles from Hanover Court House to Malvern Hill; and as major and colonel of the 116th N.Y. volunteers from Sept. 5, 1862, to the close of the war. He commanded the regiment in the Department of the Gulf, at the battle of Plain's Store, La., May 21, 1863, and at the assault on Port Hudson, La., May 27, 1863, where he was severely wounded. He was promoted to the rank of colonel, July 16, 1863, and engaged in the Red River campaign, his regiment being assigned to the 1st brigade. 1st division, 19th army corps, Gen. W. B. Franklin, taking part in the battles of Sabine Cross Roads, April 8, 1864, Pleasant Hill, April 9, and Cane River, April 23, 1864. The 19th corps, Gen. W. H. Emory, was then ordered to join the Army of the Potomac, and arrived in Washington in time to take part in repelling the invasion of Early. He took part in the battles of Winchester, Sept. 19, Fisher's Hill, Sept. 22, and Cedar Creek, Oct. 19, 1864. He was brevetted brigadier-general of volunteers, March 7, 1865, for gallant and meritorious services at the battle of Cedar Creek, Va., and also received a bronze medal of honor from the secretary of war. He was mustered out of the volunteer service, June 8, 1865, and entered the regular service, March 7, 1867, as 2d lieutenant in the 11th infantry. He was brevetted 1st lieutenant, March 7, 1867, for Plain's Store; captain for Port Hudson; major for Cedar Creek, and lieutenant-colonel for gallant and meritorious services during the war. He was transferred to the 16th infantry, April 14, 1869; promoted 1st lieutenant, March 1, 1875; and was retired, March 15, 1883, for disability incurred in the line of duty. He died in Buffalo, N.Y., March 19, 1887.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Daniel D. Bidwell, soldier, was born in Buffalo, N. Y., in 1816, and was connected with the city government and the state militia. At the outbreak of the civil war he joined the Federal army as a private in the 65th N.Y. volunteers, gaining promotion to the rank of captain, and shortly afterwards formed the 74th N.Y. volunteers, of which he was commissioned colonel. He served meritoriously in the more important battles of the war, notably in the peninsular campaign, and at the battles of Harrison's Landing, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. He twice commanded a brigade, and was promoted brigadier-general in 1864. He distinguished himself for gallantry in the Shenandoah campaigns in 1864, and a few months later fought at the battle of Cedar Creek, Va., where he was killed, Oct. 19, 1864.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Charles Coleman, Caryll, painter, was born in Buffalo, N.Y., in 1840. He was educated in the public schools of Buffalo and in 1859 went to Europe, where for two years he studied in France and Italy. In 186l he returned to the United States and served out a three years' enlistment in the Union army. He returned to Europe in 1866 and opened a studio in Rome. He was elected a member of the London art club, and in 1881 associate of the National academy of design, New York city. His more important pictures include Interior of Chapel adjoining Sala del Cambria at Perugia; The Bronze Horse of St. Mark's, Venice (1877); The Troubadour, The Young Monk, and Nuremberg Towers, exhibited at Philadelphia at the Centennial in 1876; Decorative Panel at the Paris Exposition of 1878; Venice, Ancient aud Modern (1880); Remote Quarter of Paris in 1878 (1881); Capri Interior, Capri Reapers and Head of Capri Girl (1886).

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Local Historical and Genealogical Records:

From: History and Genealogy of the Ancestors and Family of Captain Israel Jones of Barkhamsted Connecticut. By Asahel Wellington Jones. Published by Laning Co., 1902.

History of Buffalo, (Erie County) New York

Local History Notes:

Biographies:

Local Historical and Genealogical Records: