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 [86-89] GEORGE BRUSH WALBRIDGE, son of DAVID WALBRIDGE, was born in Bennington, Vermont, September 14, 1814. About 1830 he came to Buffalo and became a clerk in the wholesale grocery of AUGUSTUS COLSON. In 1835 Col. IRA A. BLOSSOM established him in the grocery business, him- self becoming a special partner. Later MR. WALBRIDGE became the senior member of the firm of WALBRIDGE & HAYDEN. In 1849 MR. HAYDEN retired, and a new firm was organized under the style of GEORGE B. WALBRIDGE & Company. In 1847 the store was destroyed by fire, but was rebuilt the next spring. Shortly afterward MR. WALBRIDGE sold his interest and retired. In the meantime MR. WALBRIDGE had become interested in lake transportation. He built several sailing vessels and later purchased the steamers Tecumseh, Diamond and Fashion, forming, a regular line between Buffalo and Cleveland. Afterward MR. WALBRIDGE established a line of propellers between Buffalo and Grand Haven, Michigan, and also ran boats to Chicago, Milwaukee and other ports. In politics he was a Whig. In 1849 he was President of the Board of Trade, and was one of the original trustees of the Buffalo Female Academy. In January, 1836, MR. WALBRIDGE married Miss Wilhelmina C. L. COLSON, daughter of the REV. KARL COLSON of Meadville, Pa. Of the children the following survive: CHARLES E., and HARRY WALBRIDGE of Buffalo; MRS. CHARLES WARREN Butler of Plainfield, N.J.; MRS. HENRY WOODLEY MUSSON of Kansas City; MRS. EDWARD POTTER BOWEN of La Salle, N.Y. The second son, GEORGE B. WALBRIDGE, JR., died in March, 1880, at Plainfleld, N.J. CHARLES ELIPHALET WALBRIDGE was born in Buffalo July 24th, 1841. He attended the public and old Central High School. At 15 years of age he became a clerk with PRATT and Company, hardware dealers, until the breaking out of the Civil War; In September, 1861, at the organization of the 100th Regiment New York Volunteers, he was commissioned Second Lieutenant of Company H. The 100th bore a gallant part in the Peninsular Campaign under McCLELLAN, in 1862 and 1863, took part in the operations on Folly and Morris Islands, and the siege of Fort Wagner. He was rapidly promoted to First Lieutenant, and then to Captain. He was assigned to staff duty and at different periods was detailed as regimental brigade, and division quartermaster, and United States Quartermaster of Volunteers. For several months he was Chief Quartermaster of the district of Florida. In 1864 he was sent to Virginia, being made Depot Quarter- master for the Army of the James. At the close of 1864 he directed the shipment of the two famous expeditions against Fort Fisher. At the request of GEN. TERRY, MAJOR WALBRIDGE, as he had been brevetted, was assigned to the former's staff as Chief Quartermaster of the Tenth Army Corps, with the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. His new position took him to North Carolina, where he remained on duty until he resigned from the service, October, 1865. Returning to Buffalo in 1866 he re-entered the employ of PRATT & Co., this time as buyer. Here he remained until February, 1869, when he went into business on his own account, through the purchase of the old hardware concern of HADLEY & NICHOLS, dealers in hardware and house furnishings. Under MR. WALBRIDGE's direction the business was improved and extended until, in 1873, a removal to the Sherman block on Washington street was justified. More extended business develop- ments made another removal necessary, this time to a fine structure on the corner of Washington and South Division streets. In 1886 the long established business of PRATT & Company was absorbed. In 1900, a change in commercial conditions made a corresponding change in the enterprise conducted by MR. WALBRIDGE desirable. Accordingly the fine and commodious structure now occupied at 392 to 394 Main Street was erected. Constituting the present firm of WAL- BRIDGE & Co. with COL. WALBRIDGE are his brother HARRY, and the latter's son, NEWMAN. From childhood COL. WALBRIDGE has been connected with the North Presbyterian Church, and for many years a member and President of its Board of Trustees. He is President of the Buffalo Seminary, a trustee of the Buffalo Savings Bank, a Companion of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion, and a member of Bidwell-Wilkeson Post, No. 9, G. A. R. COL. WALBRIDGE married in Brooklyn, N.Y., on September 3, 1868, ANNIE F. NOBLE, daughter of CAPT. JAMES and ANNE (WATSON) NOBLE. CAPT. NOBLE commanded a vessel in the British navy and was lost in the wreck of his ship in the China Sea. Five children were born of the union: WILHELMINA VON COLSON (MRS. WILDER S. BUFFUM) of Dobbs Ferry, N. Y.; ISABEL E. and LOUISE H. WALBRIDGE, both of Buffalo, and two sons who died in infancy. =========================================================================== 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/ ===========================================================================