Danser, Dr. Earl George - Erie County

DR. EARL GEORGE DANSER, Medical Examiner for Erie County, is a man who has won distinction both as a member of the medical profession and as a public official.

Dr. Danser's ancestry is derived from New England. His grandfather, Nathaniel Danser, came thence to Western New York early in the last century, and was one of the pioneers of Erie County.

George Danser, the father of Earl G. Danser, was born on his father's farm in the town of Clarence in 1824, and died in 1871. He was a farmer; also owned one of the first threshing machines operated in Erie County.

In 1850 George Danser married Esther Cummings, born 1835, a daughter of Simeon R. Cummings of Clarence. The surviving children are: Aletha (Mrs. Clark D. Bosworth) of Clarence; Anna D. (Mrs. Henry H. Hewitt) of Kenyon, Minn.; and Dr. Earl G. Danser.

Earl George Danser was born at Mansfield's Corners in the town of Clarence, Erie County, N. Y., December 18, 1857. He attended the public schools and the Parker Union School at Clarence, graduating in 1879. Prior to and after his graduation he taught school. Later he became a clerk in the Canal Collector's office under Charles M. King, for one year.

In the meantime Mr. Danger took up the study of medicine with Dr. Henry Lapp of Clarence. He later entered the College of Medicine of the University of Buffalo, from which he graduated in 1884. He engaged in practice at Wilson, Niagara County, until 1885, when he removed to Elba in Genesee County. In 1887 he came to Buffalo.

In 1901 Dr. Danser was elected Coroner of Erie Count}'. After he had served three months and a half, the State Legislature passed a bill abolishing the office and creating that of Medical Examiner, Dr. Danser being selacted for the place. January 1, 1906, he was again appointed by the Supervisors for the regular term of three years.

Under the provisions of the law there was committed to Dr. Danser the organization of the office. The importance of the task can hardly be exaggerated when one takes into account the fact that so large a city as Buffalo comes under the Medical Examiner's jurisdiction, and when it is further considered how far-reaching are the relations of that official with questions of order, public safety and even of criminal jurisprudence. Dr. Danser set about his work with a scientific thoroughness worthy of all praise. The law of Massachusetts furnished some valuable precedents, and Dr. Danser proceeded to organize his own department on a similar basis, with the result that in economy, precision of method, and completeness of the records preserved, his administration has far excelled anything accomplished under the old system.

Under Dr. Danser's administration the expenses of the office of Medical Examiner are almost precisely one-half of the amount incurred under the law providing for Coroners.

Dr. Danser is among the leading members of the Erie County Medical Society. He is prominent both in the Masonic fraternity and in the ranks of Odd Fellowship. He is affiliated with Hiram Lodge of Masons, Buffalo Consistory, Adytum Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, and Ismailia Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He belongs to Bailey Lodge, No. 553, I. O. O. F., and Lake Erie Encampment, of which he is past Chief Patriarch, being also Past District Deputy of District No. 4, and he is besides a member of Canton Perch of the uniformed rank of Odd Fellows, and attends the Presbyterian Church.

On the 15th of August, 1894, Dr. Danser married Miss Rose Bleiler of Buffalo.

SOURCE: Memorial and Family History of Erie County New York; Volume I