6. | BEWLEY, Richard C was born on 14 May 1875 in Lockport, Niagara County, NY (son of BEWLEY, Joseph and HOWE, Mary); died on 17 Sep 1946 in Lockport, Niagara County, NY. Notes:
Lockport NY Union Sun Journal - 3/8/1929
To Richard Bewley. Lockport-born
and Lockport-ralsed, with foresight
to see into the future, and confidence
enough In his home town to
invest heavily in it, Lockport owes
the existence of the building which
today rises, a little more than a year
after, from the ashes of the Hodge
gejaaf and Merchant's Oargling
oil Building.
Acclaimed by many at the time
as one of the greatest eetestrophes
ever visited upon the city, Mr. Bewley
had no such thoughts concerning
the devastation wrought by the
memorable fire of February 25, 1928.
Ta his vision it wss not a catas
trophe, except in that it caused ir-
reparable losses to some, but rather
an opportunity to build for a greater
and better Lockport.
Had Vision
But let Mr. Bewley tell the story
of that inspiration in his own words.
"A year ago," he says, "as I stood
and watched the fire which burned
the Hodge Building and Merchant's
Garling OIl Building, the thought
came to me that Lockport was in
need of a modern, up-to-date office
building,, and I made up my mind
that that was what I would do. I
will leave it to the public to decide
how far I have succeeded."
That he has succeeded in providing
Just what he vlsioned when he
stood that Saturday afternoon in
February a year ago and watched
the flames eat up what had been
one of the city's largest office and
store buildings, is beyond question.
The Bewley building of 1928, when
completed, win stand as a monument
to his genius, faith and ability,
as one of the most modern office
and store structures in any
city, any where. It is modern in
every respect, fireproof throughout,
and a vast credit to ths city.
Richard Bewley was born in Lockport
on May 14. 1878. He was a native
of "Lowertown" from whence
came some of the most distinguished
citizens of Lockport, men who in
later years were to make the name
of their home town to be remember-
ed through their own efforts, as Mr.
Bewley has done.
Re acquired his early education at
the old Clinton Street School. That
fundamental knowledge which he
was taught there was to be the basis
and the foundation for the practical
education which has made him a
self-made man.
Left School Early.
Re tamed to his first mercantile
ventuer at the early age of twelve
yean, when the majority of boys
are giving their thoughts only to
marbles, kites and tops, and obtained
a position, at the munificent salary-
of three dollars a week, in the
store of Fred B. Bute.
At the age of nineteen, he purchased
the grocery business of P. H.
Carrier at 398 Market street, which
he conducted successfully for twelve
years.
The year 1898 marked two import-
ant milestones in his life. The first
was his marriage to Frances M
Stegman, and the second his pur-
chase of what at that time was
known as the Peterson farm on Lake
avenue. Six children were born of
his marriage, four sons and two
daughters, of which Mr. Bewley
speaks with pride.
His purchase of the Peterson farm
was followed by the location there,
at the intersection of Lake Avenue
anl the Old Niagara Road, of the
Lockport Canning Company. A few
years later he established the Lyndonville
Canning Company, and the
Bewley Brothers Canning Company
at Middleport.
"Boost Home Town."
Mr. Bewley had visions, has always
had visions of a greater Lockport,
expanding as time goes on.
With this vision in mind he and his
brother. George C. Bewley, formed,
in 1913, the Bewley Realty and
Building Corporation. Its purpose
was to provide a greater Lockport
with better homes, and for this purpose
the tract which afterward became
Bewley Parkway was purchased
and developed.
There are many other milestones
in Mr. Bewley's life, a life crowded
with achievement, and a purposeful
life, but they would make a book. He
to essentially a self-made man, winning
his Way to prosperity by his
steady, untiring energy. Industry and
fidelity of purpose, rather than by
accident of birth or favoritism of
fortune. His motto has been "Keep
plugging away, get results, and boost
your home town."
ALSO
Lockport NY Union Sun Journal - 9/18/1946
Richard Bewley died September
17, 1946. He is survived by his wife
Elmore W.,, four sons and two
daughters George R., Charles c.,
Joseph G., Francis D., Mrs. Arthur
Brown of Lockport and Mrs. Herman
Smith of Newfane. He is also sur-
vived by two brothers and one sis-
ter george C., William and Mrs. C.
Irving Fisher of Lockport. Friends
will be receive at the home on
Lake Avenue until 11 o'clock Fri-
day morning September 20, 1946.
The remains will be removed to
Christ Church to lie in state until
2 P.M. at which time funeral serv-
ices will be held.
ALSO
Lockport NY Union Sun Journal - 9/18/1946
A member of one of Lookport's
oldeat and best known families.
Richard C. Bewley, 71, owner of the
Bewley Building, and brother of
State Senator William Bewley died
early Tuesday evening at his home
in Lake Avenue of a heart attack.
Although he had been under a doctor's
care he visited the Bewley
Building on Monday.
Born May 14, 1875, in East Lockport,
the fourth son of Joseph and
Mary Bewley, he was educated in
the obi Clinton Street School.
At the age of 12 years Mr. Bewley
obtained his first job as a
three-dollar-a-week clerk In the
store of Fred E. Hule. Seven years
later, when only 19, he purchased
the grocery business of F. H. Carrier.
296 Market St., which he conducted
successfully for 12 years.
FOUNDED CANNERY
About 1900 Mr. Bewley founded
the Lockport Canning Company at
Lake Avenue and the Old Niagara
Road. A few years later he established
the Lyndonvilie Canning
Company and became associated
In the establishment of the Bewley
Brothers Canning Company, Middleport.
Of late years Mr. Bewley had retired
from active participation in
the canning business to devote full
time to the operation of the Bewley
Building, a four-story business and
office building at Main and Market
Streets which he erected in 1929.
He took a great pride in this structure
which occupies the site of the
former Hodge and Merchant's Gargling
Oil Buildings that were destroyed
In one of Lockport's biggest
fires.
A lifelong member of Christ Episcopal
Church, Mr. Bewley served as
vestryman for many years. He was
treasurer of the, Odd Fellows
Temple Association, having served
as a trustee since 1928. He was a
member of Constellation Lodge, 184
IOOF, and Lockport Lodge 4L
BPOE.
Since ISM Mr. Bewley had lived
in Lake Avenue, just north of the
city limits on the former Peterson
farm. The Bewley Canning Company
plant was built on a part of
this farm.
LEAVES SIX CHILDREN
The same year he bought the
farm, Mr. Bewley was married to
Frances M. Stegman. To them six
children were born. Mrs. Bewley
died in 1999 and later Mr. Bewley
married Elmore Wicker who survives
him.
Besides his wife and brother, Mr.
Bewley leaves two daughters, Mrs.
Herman Smith, Newfane and Mrs.
Arthur Brown, Lockport; four sons,
George R. Charles O, Joseph H.
and Francis D. Bewley, another
brother, George C. Bewley, and a
slater, Mrs. C. Irving Fisher, all of
Lockport.
The body will be at the home In
Lake Avenue until Friday noon
when it will be taken to Christ
Church to lie in state until the funeral
services at 2 o'clock. The Rev.
John S. Carrie will officiate. Assisted
by the former rector, the
Rev. H. Irvine Lynds. Burial will be
in Cold Springs Cemetery.
Richard married STEGMAN, Francis Marie about 1898 in New York. Francis (daughter of STEGMAN, George and Frances Roseitha) was born in Jul 1876 in New York; died on 22 May 1929 in Lockport, Niagara County, NY. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]
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