Henry L. Colpoys

Henry L. Colpoys

• Father: William Colpoys b. 1829, d. between 1880 and 1900
• Mother: Anna Eliza McNerney b. January 1838, d. 1911

• Henry L. Colpoys was born in February 1864 in New York.
• William Colpoys and Anna Eliza McNerney, appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1870 in Suspension Bridge, Niagara County, New York. Other members of the household included Henry L. Colpoys, George Colpoys and James Colpoys.
• William Colpoys and Anna Eliza McNerney appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1880 in Suspension Bridge, New York. Other members of the household included Henry L. Colpoys, James Colpoys, George Colpoys and William T. Colpoys.
• He married Rosina Ruopp, daughter of John Ruopp and Rosina Zeifang, circa 1892.
• Henry L. Colpoys and Rosina Ruopp appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1900 in Niagara Falls, Niagara County, New York, at 1341 Ontario Avenue. Other members of the household included Lewis Howard Colpoys.
• He was a railroad agent, according to the 1900 census.
• Henry L. Colpoys and Rosina Ruopp appeared in the US federal census of 15 April 1910 in Niagara Falls, Niagara County, New York, at 2113 Main Street. Other members of the household included Lewis Howard Colpoys, William T. Colpoys and Anna Eliza McNerney.
• He was a hotel man, according to the 1910 census.
• The following appeared on 2 September 1917 in The Illustrated Buffalo Express: Falls Bars to Hold Licenses. List of 94 announced by excise commission -- Even ice-man interested.  Special to The Buffalo Express.  Niagara Falls, Sept. 1.-- This was a dreary day for many owners of liquor licenses throughout the city. From early this morning inquiries were made as to who's who in the liquor business. Wine merchants and ??  dealers, who had something at stake, were early on the ground trying to get a look at the lit, but the privilege was denied them. They may have acquired specific information in certain instances, but it was practically impossible for them to inhale all the information they wanted at one gulp.  In all, 152? saloons are due to go out of business by October 1st, under the provisions of the Brown law.  The 84 lucky ones are:  . . .  Henry J. Colpoys, 3118 Main. . . Harry B. Hathaway, 905 North. . . 
• Henry L. Colpoys and Rosina Ruopp appeared in the US federal census of 1 January 1920 in Niagara Falls, New York, at 2113 Main Street.
• He was a disabled hotel proprietor, according to the 1920 census.
• Henry L. Colpoys died on 8 March 1924 at age 60 in Niagara Falls, New York, at 2113 Main Street at his residence.
• Rosina Ruopp became a widow at his death.
• He was interred at Oakwood Cemetery, Niagara Falls, Niagara County, New York.
• The following appeared on 8 March 1924 in the Niagara Falls Gazette: Henry L. Colpoys died at 4 o'clock this morning at his home, No. 2113 Main street, following an illness that extended over a period of eight years. Mr. Colpoys was stricken by paralysis eight years ago and has been in ill health since. For some time past he has been confined to his bed. His condition became critical several days ago and he sank rapidly, death ending his suffering early this morning.
       Mr. Colpoys was 60 years old and was born in Niagara Falls, the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. William Colpoys, early residents of the north end section of the city. Like many of the youth of that part of the city he entered the railroad business early in life and rose to the position of freight agent for the Erie railroad. He held that position several years but retired from it in 1905 to enter the hotel business, becoming proprietor of the United States hotel, at No. 2113 Main street.
       Mr. Colpoys conducted the hoten until 1916, when he suffered a stroke of paralysis. His illness compelled him to retire from the hotel business.
       Before his illness Mr. Colpoys had an active interest in the political affairs of the city and was a police commissioner under the mayoralty administration of the late John M. Hancock. He was a member of the Niagara Falls Fourth Degree Assembly of the Knights of Columbus, the Falls lodge of Elks and the Niagara Falls Exempt Firemen's association. He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Rose R. Colpoys, his son, Lewis H. Colpoys, formerly city building inspector, and two brothers, George J. Colpoys, vice-president, treasurer and general manager of the Cataract City Milling company and a member of the Board of Education, and James F. Colpoys.
       The funeral will be held Sunday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock at the home and at 3 o'clock at the Church of the Sacred Heart in South avenue. Burial in Oakwood cemetery.
• The following appeared on 10 March 1924 in the Lockport Union-Sun & Journal: (Niagara Falls, March 10) Members of the Falls lodge of Elks, the Fourth Degree assembly Knights of Columbus and the Niagara Falls Exempt Firemen's association attended the funeral of Henry L. Colpoys, former police commissioner, which was held yesterday at the home, No. 2113 Main street and later at the Church of the Sacred Heart in South avenue. burial was in Oakwood cemetery.

• Last Edited: 12 Mar 2014