Copyright © USGenNet Inc., 2015, All Rights Reserved USGennet Data Repository Please read USGenNet Data Repository Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the USGenNet Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ ========================================================================= USGenNet Data Repository NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization. Non-commercial organizations desiring to use this material must obtain the consent of the transcriber prior to use. Individuals desiring to use this material in their own research may do so. ========================================================================= Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== Memorial and Family History of Erie County, New York Vol. I, Biographical and Genealogical The Genealogical Publishing Co., Buffalo; 1906-8 [120-123] GEORGE URBAN, father of GEORGE URBAN, JR., founder of the company which bears his name, was a man of singular executive ability and force of character. The elder URBAN was a native of France, where the URBAN family lived for many generations in the vicinity of the city of Woerth, in Lower Alsace, then a French province, but now a part of Germany. For the most part, the Urbans followed the occupation of farming. GEORGE URBAN, SR., was born Angust 14th, 1820. At the age of fifteen, he came to this country with his parents, PHILIP JACOB URBAN and KATHERINE GASS URBAN, from Morsbrunn, near Woerth, in Alsace, where they both were born. In 1835 the URBANS came to Buffalo, having been preceded, 1828, by GEORGE GASS, MRS. PHILIP J. URBAN's father. The family purchased lands in the northeastern part of Buffalo, ex- tending from what is now Fillmore avenue to Moselle street, south of Ferry. At the present time Woodlawn and Glenwood avenues run through the tract. GEORGE URBAN attended the public schools of Buffalo, and when he became of age assumed a position with MANLY COLTON, who carried on a general merchandise business at the corner of Main and Genesee streets, and with whom MR. URBAN remained until 1846. In that year he purchased the northeast corner of Genesee and Oak streets, where the URBAN block now stands, and set up in the wholesale flour business for himself. In 1870 his son, GEORGE URBAN, JR., was taken into the con- cern as partner, and in 1881 the first roller flour mill in Buffalo was built by them on the lot opposite the original store. The senior GEORGE URBAN was a member of the Buffalo Board of Trade from its be- ginning. He was Vice-President of the Western Savings Bank until his death, and for many years served as Park Commissioner. During the more than half a century of his residence MR. URBAN became one of the foremost German-Americans in Buffalo, and, indeed, one of the leading citizens of the municipality. The East Side Park system, including Humboldt Parkway and the Parade, owe their existence to his energetic and persistent efforts at the time the Buffalo park system was planned. He was a man of few words but very determined character. He paid strict attention to business and built up a valu- able property. He was one of the leading millers of Western New York. MR. URBAN's chief relaxation from business was floriculture and horticulture, his gardens and orchards being the finest in Buffalo or its vicinity at that time. In 1846 MR. URBAN married MARIE KERN, who, like himself, was a native of Alsace, where she was born in June, 1828. Their children, were GEORGE, CAROLINE and WILLIAM O. URBAN. MRS. URBAN died January 30, 1879. MR. URBAN died October 13, 1887, at the age of sixty-seven. They are survived by GEORGE URBAN, JR., and CAROLINE, widow of the late TOBIAS WITMER, JR. WILLIAM C. URBAN, now deceased, married LOUISA W. BURGARD, daughter of PETER BURGARD. WILLIAM C. URBAN is survived by his widow and six children. GEORGE URBAN, JR., was born in Buffalo July 12, 1850. His education was gained at the public schools. At the age of 16 he entered his father's wholesale flour business. He showed great natural aptitude for the business, and in 1870 became a partner, the firm name being Urban & Co. In 1885, on the retirement of the senior URBAN from active business, GEORGE URBAN, JR., became head of the co-partnership, which then consisted of GEORGE URBAN, JR., E. G. S. MILLER and W. C. URBAN. At the present time MR. URBAN is President of the GEORGE URBAN Milling Company, a vast establishment whose brands of flour have become house- hold words and whose output is distributed and sold in all sections of the country. In 1903 MR. URBAN completed his new mill in URBAN street, adjacent to the New York Central Belt Line tracks. This mill is one of the most complete in existence, and is the first mill in Buffalo to be run wholly by electrical motive power, brought from Niagara Falls. MR. URBAN is also First Vice-President of the Buffalo General Electric Company; First Vice-President of the Cataract Power and Conduit Company, and President of the Buffalo and Niagara Falls Electric Light and Power Company. He is President of the Buffalo Loan, Trust and Safe Deposit Company; Director of the Market Bank, and of the Bank of Buffalo, and Director of the Buffalo German Insurance Company and of the Buffalo Commercial Insurance Company; also a Director of the Buffalo Elevating Company, and a Director of the Ellicott Square Company. He was an organizer of the Thomson-Houston Electric Light Company, and served as its President until its consoli- dation with other companies as the Buffalo General Electric Company, of which he became Vice-President. He was an organizer and Director of the Bellevue Land and Improvement Company. MR. URBAN's politics are Republican. During the eventful years 1892-1895, MR. URBAN was Chairman of the Erie County Republican General Committee. In 1896 and 1900 MR. URBAN was Republican Presi- dential Elector from Erie County, and in 1904 Republican Presidential Elector at Large for the State. In October, 1875, MR. URBAN married ADA E. WINSPEAR, daughter of PENNOCK WINSPEAR of Cheektowaga. Their children are GEORGE PENNOCK URBAN, EMMA M. URBAN, ADA JEANNETTE URBAN and CLARA WINSPEAR URBAN. GEORGE P. URBAN is the Secretary and Treasurer of the URBAN Milling Company. MR. URBAN is a member of the Buffalo Chamber of Commerce and of the New York Produce Exchange. He belongs to the Buffalo, Ellicott, Country, Saturn and Park clubs, and is a member of the New York Club and the Republican Club of New York City, and the Whist Club of Rochester. =========================================================================== If you've reached this file through a SEARCH, you can access more of our growing collection of FREE online information by going to the following URL: http://www.us-data.org/ ===========================================================================