George Edward Lattimer

George E. Lattimer, well known among the younger business men of Buffalo, was born in that city thirty-three years ago. After attending the public schools of Buffalo until he was sixteen years old, he made an early start on his commercial career by engaging on his own account in the business of carting coal, ice, and sand. He supplied the sand for some of the largest buildings in Buffalo, and built up a flourishing business. Having shown so much ability while still in his teens, Mr. Lattimer developed even more rapidly with increased experience . He attracted favorable notice among the business men of the city; and one of them, William S. Grattan, was glad to form a partnership with the young man. In the spring of 1886, accordingly, the firm of Grattan & Lattimer was organized for the purpose of carrying on a business in general freight contracting. This venture proved successful from the beginning. Little else could have been expected in view of Mr. Grattan's broad business experience, Mr. Lattimer's special training in the carrying industry, and the excellent judgment of both partners. They were the first firm in Buffalo to contract with the railroads to handle their package freight, and they made such contracts with the Lackawanna, New York Central , and Lehigh Valley railroads. The firm employs at all times a large number of men, and in the busy season as many as a thousand are on its pay roll . At the time of the sound money parade in Buffalo in the presidential campaign of 1896, Mr. Lattimer marched at the head of 500 or more employees of his firm. Mr. Grattan has very important business interests outside of this concern, and necessarily leaves the management of Grattan & Lattimer affairs to the junior partner. As for personal qualities unconnected with business , reference may be made to Mr. Lattimer's great interest in horses. He has owned at different times some of the fastest trotters ever seen on the magnificent parkways of Buffalo. Early in 1897 he was one of the prime movers in the proposed speedway running along Scajaquada creek in the rear of the Buffalo State Hospital. Mr. Lattimer is a devoted Mason , and is a member of all the bodies of that order up to and including the 32d degree . He belongs to DeMolay Lodge, No. 498, F. & A. M.; Buffalo Chapter, No. 71 , R. A. M.; Lake Erie Commandery, No. 20, K. T.; Buffalo Council; and Ismailia Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He belongs likewise to the Masonic social organization called the Acacia Club. 

PERSONAL CHRONOLOGY- George Edward Lattimer was born at Buffalo June 19, 1864; was educated in the Buffalo public schools; engaged in a general carting business in Buffalo, 1880-86; married Annie Jones of Buffalo December 10, 1890; has been a member of the firm of Grattan & Lattimer, general freight contractors, since 1886. 

 The above bibliography was found in the following book: “The Men of New York: A Collection of Biographies and Portraits of Citizens of the Empire State Prominent in Business, Professional, Social, and Political Life During the Last Decade of the Nineteenth Century” G.E. Matthews & Company, 1898.

Captain John Joseph Lattimer Freitus

John Joseph Lattimer Freitus was born on May 27, 1873, in Buffalo, New York. He was the third-oldest child. John followed in his father's footsteps by becoming the captain of several tugboats. He was a colorful figure in the maritime world. It wasn't easy work, as Capt. John experienced broken ribs when helping a tug break ice in Buffalo. He suffered a bruised spine and even survived being thrown into the lake by a tugboat explosion. In 1911, Capt. John and his team raised Commodore Perry's flagship, the Niagara, from the bottom of Misery Bay near Erie, Pennsylvania. This flagship sank during the War of 1812. He continued his salvage business as the President of the American Towing Company, which included raising both sections of the steamer Francis Widlar, which went aground on Pancake Shoals in Lake Superior, tearing away 72 feet of its bottom and finally breaking into two. John was the captain and owner of the tugboat Alva B, which saved the lives of several crew members. The Alva B was wrecked near Avon Lake, Ohio, where the bell of the tug is displayed today at a local park. John insisted that the family's surname was spelled Freitus and could be heard arguing this with his older brother, Capt. George, who insisted it was spelled Freitas. John divorced his first wife, Eva Orr Freitas, in 1917, after which she sued him for non-payment of alimony. An arrest warrant was issued, and a local judge would mediate between the two parties. In 1931, he became the director and vice president of Midland Steamship. John died on May 12, 1947, in Lakewood, Ohio, at the age of 73, and is buried in Sandusky, Ohio.

Isabelle (Freitas) Roller

Isabelle 'Belle' Freitas was born in September 1869 in Buffalo, New York. Her father, John, was 24, and her mother, Mary, was 15. She was the oldest child. Isabelle married John George Henry Roller on November 28, 1889, in her hometown. George was a grocer by trade. They had 10 children (6 boys and 4 girls). Family memories were shared of the children coming home from school and getting to choose anything they wanted for their lunch. Grace picked tomato soup, and George Jr. would pick a can of beans. On Sunday afternoons, the family would take a buggy ride through the country, where they would pass by a gypsy campsite. George would always stop to barter, pretending he would sell them his horses. When economic times were tough, Isabelle (known affectionately as ‘Ma Belle’) would accept the few pennies that were left on the counter by her customers in exchange for the supplies they needed. Isabelle's family (including her mother, Mary Ann) lived at 193 Hamburg Street (original house on the Seawall strip). She died on February 18, 1937, in Buffalo, New York, at the age of 67, and is buried at Forest Lawn Cemetery.

Bridget (Brennan) Knight

Bridget Brennan was born in 1848 in Ireland. With the Great Irish Potato Famine, she emigrated from her homeland and traveled to America in 1862 and made her home in Buffalo, New York.

According to her Granddaughter-in-law, Madeline (Ritzenthaler) Freitas, Bridget came from a very wealthy family (originally from the Northern Ireland country). As she converted to the Catholic faith, her mother disinherited her and declared her dead.

In 1864 at the age of 17 years old, Bridget  married Englishman John Knight who was a stone mason. They had seven children. Their youngest son, Edward, was in the US Navy and fought in the Spanish-American war.  He died due to injuries obtained from the war and buried at the US National Cemetery in Hampton, Virginia.

At the age of 70 years old, Bridget's son, John, moved her to the Erie County Almshouse (poorhouse) in Buffalo, Erie, New York where she spent the remainder of her days.

Emma Elizabeth (Knight) Freitas

When Emma Elizabeth Knight was born on 16 October 1869, in Buffalo, Erie, New York, her father, John, was 36, and her mother, Bridget (nee Brennan), was 21. She was the third oldest among six children. Her father, John, was born in England and her mother, Bridget, born in Ireland which made her generation the first to be American born.

Emma's father died in 1887 when Emma was just seventeen years old. This led to her seeking work to help her mother and younger siblings. Emma became the house maid for John and Mary Ann (nee Lattimer) Freitas family on the 'island' known as the seawall strip. According to daughter-in-law, Madeline (Ritzenthaler) Freitas, Captain George gave Emma a diamond ring which she wore on a chain around her neck. One day the chain fell out of her dress where it was made known of their engagement.

At the age of twenty years old, Emma married Captain George Francis Freitas on 17 March 1890, in her hometown. A devout Catholic, they married at St. Joseph Catholic Church. Their first child was born later that year. They had six children within 15 years. 

Captain George moved their family from Buffalo, Erie, New York to Sandusky, Erie, Ohio in 1903. Emma was an active worker of St. Brigid's parish. She was an avid gardener and could be seen walking through her yard taking care of each of her flower beds. Emma loved playing cards and would often enjoy an afternoon with the ladies in the "Five Hundred Club." Emma had a kind heart and always willing to lend a helping hand to anyone in need. 

Emma died on 28 February 1924, in Sandusky, Erie, Ohio, at the age of 54, and was buried at the Oakland Cemetery.  Emma's death certificate stated her cause of death as "organic head disease" which typically meant having a form of dementia.