My Genealogy Hound

WILLIAM E. CANDEE, the well-known capitalist and secretary-office manager for the Martin Anti-Fire Car Heating Co., who is also interested in various enterprises which, when completed, will materially add to the prosperity of our city, was born in Buffalo, Erie county, New York, October 14, 1844, and is the son of Fernando C. and Maria W. (O’Brien) Candee. Eber Candee (grandfather) was a native of Oxford, Connecticut, a carpenter by trade, and was one of the mechanics who helped to build the State House in Hartford. He removed to Onondaga county, this State, in the year 1800, and again to Erie county, where he died, in 1875, at the advanced age of ninety years. Fernando C. Candee is a native of Onondaga county, this State, but removed to Erie county with his father, while yet a boy, and afterwards went to Buffalo and secured a position as clerk. In 1862 he again moved, this time to New York city, engaging in the machinery business, and continued to reside there until 1889 when he came to Dunkirk, and now makes his home with his son, the subject of the sketch. Politically he is a republican, a man of strict methods in his business transactions, an untiring reader of standard literature, and is now seventy-six years old. He married Maria W. O’Brien, a young woman from Wilkes-Barre, Pa., in 1842, and she is still living, having passed seventy-three years of age.

William E. Candee resided with his parents in Buffalo until sixteen years had passed over his head, receiving a good education in the schools of that city. At the age mentioned he came to Dunkirk and secured a position as clerk in the freight department of the Buffalo and Erie railroad, and remained so engaged until March, 1863, and then went on the road as traveling salesman for the Buffalo Scale company, but his heart was full of patriotism, and feeling that his services were needed to preserve intact his country, in July of the same year, although less than nineteen years old, he enlisted in Co. I, 16th regiment, New York Cavalry, remaining in the service until mustered out Septemper 22, 1865, which was three weeks before attaining his majority. He was discharged, having attained the rank of regimental quartermaster-sergeant, having enlisted just before, Mr. Candee was on duty in New York city during the draft riots. When he received his discharge he went to New York and secured employment as a clerk in the machinery business, remaining until 1867, when, coming to Dunkirk, engaged with H. & E. S. Coleman, millers and pork packers, as book-keeper, being connected with them until they quit business; then, it being 1868, he went to the oil country and staid a year, but returned to Dunkirk and entered into partnership with H. Coleman & Co., hardware merchants, following this until the Centennial year, when he moved on the farm, which has a magnificent vineyard on it, still owned by him in Dunkirk town, and entered the Fredonia Chemical company as its treasurer and accountant until they disposed of their business to R. B. Day, with whom he remained until 1888. In the latter year he accepted the position he now holds — one of responsibility and trust — secretary and office manager for the Martin Anti-Fire Car heating company. Mr. Candee is probably without a superior as an accountant; has helped, and is frequently called as an expert in settling and balancing the books of banks and corporations.

In 1867 he married Grace Coleman, daughter of Harlan Coleman, deceased, of Dunkirk, and has one son and two daughters: Jean McGregor, Bertram Coleman and Marian Camille.

W. E. Candee is a member of the Episcopal church, is a prominent Mason, belonging to Irondequoit Lodge, No. 341, and all the other masonic bodies, and a republican of more than ordinary influence in the councils of the party.