admin SIDWAY FAMILY. The Sidway family of Buffalo is of English origin. James Sidway of Dudley Woodside, England, came to America about the time of the Revolutionary War. Entering the Continental army as a drummer-boy in Capt. Henry Godwin’s company of Col. Wessenfel’s New York Regiment, he served until the regiment was mustered out. He died in Buffalo March 18, 1836. His grave in Forest Lawn Cemetery was the first one marked by Buffalo Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution.
James Sidway married Rebecca Milks August 14, 1781. They had two sons, William and Jonathan. The pioneer history of navigation interests on the Great Lakes is woven with the life of Jonathan Sidway. Jonathan Sidway was born in Goshen, N. Y., on the 1st of April, 1784. He came to Buffalo about 1812. Here he was at first engaged in the shipping business. Jonathan Sidway married Parnell St. John, daughter of Gamaliel C. and Margaret K. St. John of Buffalo, January 1, 1826. Mrs. Sidway was born June 6th, 1801, at Aurelius, near Auburn, Cayuga County, N. Y., and died April 29, 1879. She was in her thirteenth year when the town was burned by the British and Indians in 1813. It is an interesting fact that the St. John house, which was located on the west side of Main street about midway between Court and Mohawk streets, was the only house left standing. Of the nine children, the following grew to maturity: Katherine (Mrs. Asaph S. Bemis) of Buffalo; Jonathan, who married Caroline B. Taunt of Buffalo; Franklin and James Henry Sidway.
The death of Jonathan Sidway, senior, occurred on July 21, 1847.
Franklin Sidway, son of Jonathan Sidway, is one of Buffalo’s leading citizens. Mr. Sidway’s business activities have covered a period of many years and have represented commercial pursuits, banking, land and many other interests. In addition to his business enterprises, Mr. Sidway has always borne a prominent part in the social life and general citizenship of Buffalo. He was born in Buffalo July 23, 1834, educated in private schools, Canandaigua Academy, George W. Francis’s school at Yonkers, and other institutions. He made a trip to Europe in 1853. On his return to Buffalo he organized the firm of Sidway, Skinner & Moore, general ship chandlers and grocers, and the partnership continued to exist to the time of the Civil War.
About the middle period of the war Mr. Sidway was commissioned Colonel of Volunteers, with authority to raise a regiment. He recruited several companies, but owing to the fact that the payment of bounties was stopped about the time he began to organize the regiment, the organization was not completed, and the men were afterward transferred to another regiment.
Later he became Cashier and afterwards Vice-President of the Farmers’ & Mechanics’ National Bank, and continued until the affairs of the institution were wound up in 1898.
Mr. Sidway has served as Trustee of the Buffalo Savings Bank and the Buffalo City Cemetery (Forest Lawn). He is at the present time identified with many business interests. He is a life member of the Buffalo Library, a member of the Historical Society and former Treasurer and a trustee of the Buffalo General Hospital. He has all his life preserved a keen interest in athletics and out-door sports. He was a member of the old Forester Gun Club, was one of the first four-oared crews ever organized in Buffalo, and was President of the Buffalo Toxophiliter, the Archery Club of Buffalo. He is a member and Ex-President of the Buffalo Club, was for a number of years President of the Falcon wood Club; and at the present time belongs to the Country and Ellicott clubs.
In 1866 Mr. Sidway married Miss Charlotte Spaulding, daughter of the late Hon. Elbridge Gerry Spaulding. The surviving children are: Harold Spaulding, a resident of Pittsfield, Massachusetts, married Mary Chase of Buffalo. They have two children, James and Franklin; Frank St. John; Edith, who married William Allan Gardner, have two children, William Hamilton, and Nancy Strong Gardner; Clarence Spaulding, married Genevieve C. Kingston, daughter of Edward J. Hingston of Buffalo. They have two children, Elbridge Spaulding and Charlotte.
A life rich in promise, but cut short ere its fruition, was that of James H. Sidway, brother of Franklin Sidway. James H. Sidway, who was Assistant Foreman of Taylor Hose No. 1, of the old Volunteer Fire Department, suffered death by a deplorable fatality at the early age of twenty-five, being instantly killed January 25, 1865, at the American Hotel fire, in Buffalo.
SOURCE: Memorial and Family History of Erie County New York; Volume I