Daniel B. Niederlander


1895-1964

1895
Born in Buffalo.
Father: Julius N. - Disappeared shortly after Daniel was born.
Mother: Amelia ("Molly") Daniel - Died shortly after Daniel was born.
Brother: Adolph.
Daniel and Adolph raised by maternal aunt Laney and her husband George Magrum in the German section of Buffalo.
1908(?)
Left school after 8th grade.
As teenagers, he and brother Adolph opened printing business using home printing press
1911
At age 16, employed as a junior engineer of the NY Central Railroad.
1912
At age 17, employed as an assistant engineer for the Pennsylvania Railroad.
1914
Entered the military as second lieutenat in WWI; assigned as construction officer at Kelly Field, San Antonio, Texas.
1919 Employed as engineer of construction at John W. Cowper Construction Co. at National Aniline.
1920
Married Grace Eggert Miller. Moved into the house at 169 S. Cayuga Rd., Williamsville, that Daniel had built for his bride and future family.
1922
Child Betty Jean born
1926
Child Molly Grace born
1929-30
Mayor of Village of Williamsville
1944
Named president of the John W. Cowper Co.
1947
Daniel and and his wife buy and restore Williamsville Water Mills.  The Mills were operated by his wife's family from 1864-1908.
1952
Chairman of the Building Committee for Calvary Episcopal Church in Williamsville
1952
Gifts Calvary Episcopal Church in Williamsville a carillon, carillon tower, chapel reredos
1952
One of the founders of the Williamsville Historical Society. Served as the only president until his death in 1964.
1955
Daniel and his wife present to the Williamsville Historical Society a large painting made in 1894 of the Williamsville Water Mills. Painting currently (2012) hangs in the Amherst  Museum.
1956
Named Layman of the Year and received the Bishop's Cross from the Right Rev. Lauriston L. Scaife, Episcopal bishop.
1958-1962 On the Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society Board of Managers
1963-1964
President of the Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society.
As President, he led the successful fight to preserve the 1833 "Chinaman's Lighthouse" at the Coast Guard Base on the Buffalo waterfront, and so the movement gained steam on the Niagara Frontier. Often referred to as the "father" of the historic preservation movement in Western New York.
1963 Named Chairman of the Board of John W. Cowper Co.
1964
Dies.
1975-present
The Buffalo History Museum annually presents the Daniel B. Niederlander Award for outstanding programming by a local education, cultural or heritage organization.




Source: Sue Miller Young, A History of the Town of Amherst NY. Pub. 1965, pp. 149-150


Source: Sue Miller Young, A History of the Town of Amherst NY. Pub. 1965, p. 178
Cowper-constructed buildings:

From left:  Frances Daniel Miller (wife of Edward B. Miller) and daughters: Grace (married Daniel B. Niederlander), Ruth, Sue.
Photo courtesy of Betty Niederlander Murphy.

Sons of Edward B. and Frances Daniel Miller: Edward, Warren (Barney) and Benjamin.
Photo courtesy of Betty Niederlander Murphy.

169 S. Cayuga Rd., Williamsville, the house that Daniel built for his bride and future family in 1919-20.
1982 photo courtesy of Betty Niederlander Murphy.


Source: Joseph A. Grande, Glancing Back: A Pictorial History of Amherst, New York. Pub. 2000. 

Special thanks to Betty Niederlander Murphy and to Buffalo History Museum Librarian Cynthia Van Ness for their assistance in 2012.

Page by Chuck LaChiusa in 2012
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