M.C
GENEALOGY COLLECTION
IIIIIIHlfl'iiffillSWlTiK PUBLIC LIBRARY
3 1833 01105 6220
££j-_ ./2fc/e-
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
NEW YORK
A Life Record of Men and Women of the Past
Whose Sterling Character and Energy and Industry Have Made
Them Preeminent in Their Own and Many Other States
BY
CHARLES ELLIOTT FITCH , L. H. D.
Lawyer, Journalist, Educator; Editor and Contributor to Many Newspapers
and Magazines; ex-Regent New York University; Supervisor
Federal Census (N. Y.) 1880; Secretary New
York Constitutional Convention, 1894
ILLUSTRATED
THE AMERICAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY
INCORPORATED
BOSTON NEW YORK CHICAGO
1916
Both justice and decency require that we should bestow on our forefathers
an honorable remembrance — Thucydides
1233355
BIOGRAPHICAL
R^^e^JL^
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
SAGE, Russell,
Man of Large Affairs.
The Sage family was without doubt of
Scandinavian origin, and the name at
first was Saga. When the Norsemen
conquered Normandy, in France, they
generally softened the final "a" tone,
thus making Saga, Sage, and added a
French suffix to denote landed occupa-
tion. To the first Norman Saga or Sage
was added ville or town, thus making it
Sageville, or Sagetown, or land. As these
spread to other countries the name was
subjected to other changes. In Germany
it was Saige or Sauge, the same in Swit-
zerland, while in France it was Le Sage.
The name is first found in England on
the Battle Abbey Roll, in 1066. This
roll was prepared by the monks of Battle
Abbey at the command of William the
Conqueror, to perpetuate the names of
those who took part in the battle of Hast-
ings, which gave him the English throne.
It is there recorded Sageville. All of
the name in England, Scotland and
Wales originated in this way. The fam-
ily was granted a coat-of-arms, which is
used by the American family.
David Sage, American ancestor of the
family in New York, was born in 1639, a
native of Wales. He was one of the first
settlers of Middletown, Connecticut,
where he is of record in 1652. He settled
upon a tract of land now part of the town
of Cromwell, upon the banks of the Con-
necticut river, where some of his de-
scendants yet reside. His will, dated
March 27, 1703, is in the probate office
at Hartford, Connecticut. The stone
marking his grave is still standing in the
Riverside cemetery, on the bank of the
Connecticut river, at the north end of
Main street, Middletown, and gave the
date of his death as March, 1703, o. s.,
and his age as sixty-four years. He mar-
ried Elizabeth, daughter of John Kirby,
in February, 1664. He married (second)
in 1673, Mary Wilcox. His grandson,
Elisha, was a Revolutionary soldier, and
was father of Elisha Sage, who came to
New York, settled in Oneida county, and
married Prudence Risley, probably in
Connecticut.
Russell Sage, son of Elisha (2) and
Prudence (Risley) Sage, was born in the
little settlement of Shenandoah, in
Verona township, Oneida county, New
York, August 4, 1816, and died at Law-
rence, Long Island, July 22, 1906. Two
years after his birth his father re-
moved to a farm near Durhamville, in
the same county, and there remained
until his death in 1854. There young
Russell lived and attended the district
schools in winter and worked upon the
farm the remainder of the year until he
was fourteen years of age, when he was
sent to his brother, Henry Risley Sage,
who had a store in Troy, New York.
The work was hard, but he had his earn-
ings to himself and improved himself by
diligent study. Before he was twenty-
one he had paid off a mortgage on his
father's farm, and was the owner of sev
eral city lots, and of a sloop which he
navigated from Troy to New York.
Later he abandoned his clerkship and
entered into partnership with his brother,
whom he was able to buy out in two
years. In 1839 he sold out his store at a
profit, and entered into the wholesale
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
grocery and commission business with
John W. Bates as partner. The firm in
a short time controlled several branches
of the trade, not only in Troy but in
Albany. He became one of the directors
of the Troy & Schenectady railroad, and
afterwards president of the same, and
held office when the railroad was united
with the general system between Albany,
Troy, and Buffalo. At that time, in 1853,
Mr. Sage was elected a director in the
consolidated company in the New York
Central and served six years. A little
later he became a large owner in the La
Crosse railroad.
In his earlier years Mr. Sage was
deeply interested in public affairs, and
took a prominent part in political mat-
ters in the State of New York. When a
resident of Troy in 1845 he was elected
to the board of aldermen. While hold-
ing this office he was also made treas-
urer of Rensselaer county, the finances
of which were in a tangled condition. He
speedily straightened them out and held
the office for seven years. In 184S he
was a delegate to the National Conven-
tion of the Whig party. He controlled
twenty-eight out of thirty-two New York
delegates, and took a leading part in the
nomination of General Zachary Taylor
for the presidency. It was at his sug-
gestion that the convention nominated
Millard Fillmore for Vice-President,
which selection made him President, for
General Taylor died while in office and
Fillmore succeeded him. In 1850 Mr.
Sage was nominated for Congress by the
Troy Whigs, but owing to the defection
of a faction of the party he was defeated.
He was again nominated in 1852, and
was elected by a small majority. Two
years later he was returned to Congress
by the unprecedented majority of 7,000
votes. During his four years in Con-
gress the great talents of Mr. Sage in
financial matters found recognition in
his appointment as a member of the ways
and means committee, the most impor-
tant committee of the house. He served
also on the invalid pension committee
which had charge of the pensions in-
curred by the Mexican War, and took
part in the five weeks' struggle which
finally resulted in the election of Na-
thaniel Banks as speaker. But the incident
in his professional career which brought
him most reputation was the appointment
of a committee through his efforts to in-
quire into the condition of Washington's
old estate at Mount Vernon, Virginia.
The committee's report bore fruit in the
formation of the Mount Vernon Asso-
ciation, the purchase of the estate, and
its dedication as a permanent memorial
to the father of his country.
The panic of 1857 which ruined so
many while it left him comparatively un-
scathed, had an important effect on his
business career. He had advanced con-
siderable money in the La Cross railroad.
To protect his loans he found himself
compelled to advance still larger amounts,
and finally engaged in three legal pro-
ceedings to become owner of the railroad,
which ultimately extended into the Chi-
cago, Milwaukee & St. Paul system.
During his career he achieved the presi-
dency of no less than twenty transporta-
tion corporations. He was connected in
an official capacity, at one time or an-
other, with the Iowa Central, Union
Pacific, Missouri Pacific, St. Louis, Iron
Mountain & Southern ; Wabash, Texas
& Pacific; Troy & Bennington; Troy &
Boston ; Delaware, Lackawanna & West-
ern ; Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul :
Manhattan Elevated, and other railroads.
He was one of the largest stockholders
in the Manhattan Elevated, and took an
active part in its management. Other
enterprises with which he had been active
A 7 anted Sr. 27. Effrana/t^
aana/ian
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
are the Pacific Mail Steamship Company ;
the Mercantile Trust Company; the Im-
porters and Traders National Bank ;
Western Union Telegraph ; International
Ocean Telegraph; American Telegraph
and Cable Company; the Standard Gas
Light Company, and the Fifth Avenue
Bank, of which bank he was one of the
founders and the only one living at the
time of his death.
In 1863 Mr. Sage gave up his Troy
business altogether and removed to New
York to devote himself to the promotion
of his own and other railroads and to
operations in stocks. He opened an office
in William street, and gave his first at-
tention to Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul
securities. Later he extended his inter-
est to other railroads, and gradually en-
larged his field of operations until it cov-
ered nearly the whole range of stocks
listed on the Exchange. One of the fea-
tures of Mr. Sage's financial career was
his friendship with Jay Gould. They had
come together as promoters of the At-
lantic & Pacific Telegraph Company,
which was later merged into the West-
ern Union.
On December 4, 1901, Mr. Sage, while
in his office, escaped instant death as by
a miracle. An insane crank, Henry W.
Norcross, of Somerville, Massachusetts,
entered the office, carrying a bag loaded
with dynamite, and demanded that the
sum of $1,200,000 be given to him imme-
diately or he would blow up the build-
ing. Mr. Sage, seeing that he was in the
presence of a madman, rose and retreated
from him ; whereupon the maniac ex-
claimed: "Well then here goes," and
lifting the bag high in the air dashed it
violently on the floor. The explosion
which followed blew off the dynamiter's
head, killed a clerk, injured others, and
wrecked the office. Mr. Sage received
wounds, but was able to return to the
office in a few days.
Mr. Sage was a man of remarkable and
varied powers. He could have succeed-
ed in almost any field of action that he
might have chosen. He chose rather the
largest, hardest and most dangerous field
of all — the development of the transpor-
tation system of the country, for he was
above all else, and from first to last, a
promoter and manager of railroads. That
he was also a lender of money, particu-
larly in his old age, was merely an inci-
dent in his long and useful life. "He was
an American and loved his country," said
Henry Clews on hearing of his death.
"My aim in life," so he confessed in an
interview which was published Decem-
ber 19, 1897, in th e "New York Herald,"
"has been to do my share in developing
the material resources of the country. I
have spent millions on the railroad sys-
tem of the United States, and am now
connected with more than twenty thou-
sand miles of railroad and with twenty-
seven different corporations."
Russell Sage was twice married, but
had no children. He married (first) in
1841, Marie, daughter of Moses I.
Wynne, of Troy, New York; she died in
1867. He married (second) November
24, 1869, Margaret Olivia Slocum, born
September 8, 1828, daughter of Hon.
Joseph Slocum, of Syracuse, New York.
STRANAHAN, James S. T.,
Remarkable for Public Spirit.
The life record of James S. T. Strana-
han began April 25, 1808, at the old fam-
ily homestead in Madison county, New
York, near Peterboro, his parents being
Samuel and Lynda (Josselyn) Strana-
han. He traced his lineage to Scotch-
Irish ancestry, of Presbyterian faith —
men of strong, rugged, determined char-
acter, and women of virtue, diligence and
culture. The first of the name of whom
record is left was James Stranahan, who
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
was born in the North of Ireland in 1699.
The orthography of the name has under-
gone many changes, having been in the
following forms: Stranahan, Stracham
and Strahan. The name, however, is de-
rived from the parish of Strachan, Kin-
cardineshire, Scotland. James Strana-
han, the grandfather of him whose name
forms the caption of this review, crossed
the Atlantic to the New World in 1725,
locating in Scituate, Rhode Island, where
he became a prosperous farmer. He
afterward removed to Plainfield, Connec-
ticut, where he died in 1792, at the ad-
vanced age of ninety-three years. His
namesake and eldest son served as a
Revolutionary soldier in the war which
brought independence to the nation, and
lived and died in Plainfield, Connecticut.
James S. T. Stranahan lost his father
when eight years of age, and his boyhood
days were soon transformed into a period
of labor, for his stepfather needed his
assistance in the development of the farm
and the care of the stock. However,
when the work of the farm was ended for
the season, he entered the district schools
and there acquired his early education,
which was later supplemented by several
terms of study in an academy. From
the age of seventeen he depended entirely
upon his own resources. After complet-
ing his academical work he engaged in
teaching school, with the intention of
later fitting himself for the profession of
civil engineer ; but the occupation of trad-
ing with the Indians in the northwest
seemed to offer greater inducements, and
in 1829 he visited the upper lake region.
He made several trips into the wilder-
ness and these, together with the advice
cf General Lewis Cass, then governor of
the territory of Michigan, led him to
abandon that plan, and he returned to his
home.
The elemental strength of his character
was first clearly demonstrated by his
work in building the town of Florence,
New York. From his boyhood he had
known Gerrit Smith, the eminent capital-
ist and philanthropist, who in 1832 made
him a proposition according to the terms
of which he was to go to Oneida county,
New York, where Mr. Smith owned large
tracts of land, and found a manufactur-
ing town. He was then a young man of
only twenty-four years, but the work
was successfully accomplished, and the
village of Florence, New York, was
transformed into a thriving little city of
between two and three thousand. His
active identification with things political
began during the period of his residence
in Florence, for in 1838 he was elected to
the State Legislature on the Whig ticket
in a Democratic district.
A broader field of labor soon engaged
the attention and energies of Mr. Stran-
ahan, who in 1840 removed to Newark,
New Jersey, and became an active factor
in railroad building. In 1844 he came to
Brooklyn, and from that time until his
death he was a most potent factor in the
commercial life, the political interests
and the general upbuilding of the city.
His first official service was as alderman,
10 which position he was elected in 1848,
and in 1850 he was nominated for mayor,
but his party was in the minority and he
was defeated. His personal attributes at
that time were not so well known as they
were in later years, and thus he could not
overcome the party strength of his op-
ponent. However, his nomination served
the purpose of bringing him before the
public, and in 1854, when the country-
was intensely excited over the slavery
question, he became a candidate for Con-
gress, and although he was a strong anti-
slavery man and the district was Demo-
cratic, he was triumphantly elected. In
1857, when the Metropolitan Police Com-
mission was organized, he was appointed
a commissioner, and he was one of the
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
most active members of the board dur-
ing the struggle between the new forces
and the old New York municipal police
force of New York, Brooklyn and Staten
Island, who revolted under the new
leadership of Fernando Wood, then
mayor. Mr. Stranahan had joined the
ranks of the new Republican party on its
organization, and in 1864 he was a presi-
dential elector on the Lincoln and John-
son ticket. In i860, and again in 1864,
he had been sent as a delegate to the Re-
publican National Convention, and at
both times supported the Illinois states-
man, Lincoln, for the presidency. Dur-
ing the Civil War he was president of the
War Fund Committee, an organization
formed of over one hundred leading men
of Brooklyn, whose patriotic sentiment
gave rise to the "Brooklyn Union," a
paper which was in full accord with the
governmental policy, and upheld the
hands of the President in every possible
way. Its purpose was to encourage en-
listments and to further the efforts of the
government in prosecuting the war. Mr.
Stranahan had an unshaken confidence
in the ultimate triumph of the Union
cause, and his splendid executive ability
and unfaltering determination were of
incalculable benefit in promoting the effi-
ciency of the committee. His labors, too,
were the potent element in carrying for-
ward a work in which this committee
was associated with the Woman's Re-
lief Association, of which Mrs. Strana-
han was president. This work was the
establishment of a great sanitary fair,
which has become historical and which
was the means of raising four hundred
thousand dollars to carry on the work of
the sanitary commission in connection
with the war. Mr. Stranahan never
sought public office for himself except
in the few instances mentioned, and then
his nomination came as a tribute to his
ability. T n 1888, however, he was an
elector for Benjamin Harrison, and being
ihe oldest member of the electoral col-
lege, was honored by being appointed
the messenger to carry the electoral vote
from the State of New York to Washing-
ton.
It is almost impossible to give in a
brief biographical sketch an accurate rec-
ord of the great work which Mr. Strana-
han did in connection with the upbuild-
ing of Brooklyn. His name is a familiar
one on account of his labors in behalf of
the park system. Under the legislative
act of i860 he became president of the
Brooklyn Park Commission, and he re-
mained in office for twenty-two years, a
period in which the growth of the city
made demands for a park system that
under his guidance was developed and
carried forward to a splendid completion.
Prospect Park is an everlasting monu-
ment to him. He was also the originator
of the splendid system of boulevards, the
Ocean Parkway and the Eastern Park-
way, which has provided in Brooklyn a
connection of the city with the sea in a
system of drives unsurpassed by any in
the world. The concourse on Coney
Island also resulted from his instrumen-
tality. The element which made Mr.
Stranahan's work different from that of
all others, was that he could foresee possi-
bilities. It was this which led to the de-
velopment of Coney Island, for to him it
seemed that the natural boundary of
Brooklyn on the southwest was the At-
lantic Ocean, and he took steps to secure
the rare advantage of an attractive high-
way from the city to the sea. It seems
that every work with which he was con-
nected proved of the greatest value to the
city.
The enterprises which he managed
were gigantic in volume and far-reach-
ing in effect. For more than forty years
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
he was a director of the Union Ferry
Company, and under his guidance were
developed the great Atlantic docks.
Erooklyn had no warehouse on its water-
front and the region which is now the
Atlantic docks was shallow water at the
edge of the bay when he came to the city.
He foresaw the possibilities of commerce
by establishing docks at this point, and
he labored with a courage and patience
that has scarcely been equaled in the his-
tory of material improvements in the
world. It was twenty-six years from the
time he advanced his plans for the dock
system before the Atlantic Dock Com-
pany made a dividend to its stockholders,
and yet to-day its shipping returns are
greater than those of almost any other
port in the world. Only to the civil engi-
neer is the scope of this wonderful under-
taking familiar. One who has not stud-
ied the science cannot conceive of the
amplitude of this work. Mr. Stranahan
was also connected with the Brooklyn
Bridge Company from its organization,
and was one of the first subscribers to its
stock; he was a member of the Board of
Directors of the New York Bridge Com-
pany, and he served continuously as trus-
tee from the time the work came under
the control of the two cities until June
8, 1885. At the meeting of the trustees
on that date, he occupied the chair as
president of the board, and at that time
his term expired. He also served con-
tinuously as a member of the executive
committee, and upon nearly all of the im-
portant committees appointed during
construction. He foresaw the immense
volume of traffic that would be conduct-
ed over this mammoth span, and insisted
that the original plans should be altered
to insure to the giant structure sufficient
strength to enable it to carry a train of
Pullman cars. Mr. Stranahan consulted
with Commodore Vanderbilt, who agreed
with him in the opinion that the time
would arrive when solid Pullman trains
would run in and out of Brooklyn from
and to far western points.
Mr. Stranahan was twice married. In
early manhood he wedded Marianne
Fitch, who was born in Westmoreland,
Oneida county, New York, and was a
daughter of Ebenezer R. Fitch. For
three years, from 1837 until 1840, they
resided in Florence, New York, and dur-
ing their four years' residence in New-
ark, New Jersey, their two children were
born. Mrs. Stranahan died in Manches-
ter, Vermont, in August, 1866, after
twenty-two years' residence in Brooklyn.
Mr. Stranahan afterwards married Miss
Clara C. Harrison, a native of Massachu-
setts. Before her marriage she was one
of the leaders in educational circles in
Brooklyn, and for a number of years was
principal of a private seminary for the
higher education of young ladies, which
had an enrollment of two hundred pupils,
and fourteen teachers and professors in
its various departments.
Mr. Stranahan passed away in Sara-
toga, September 3, 1898, and his funeral
cortege was the first that ever took its
way to the cemetery through Prospect
Park, Brooklyn.
BARNES, Alfred S.,
Publisher, Philanthropist.
Alfred Smith Barnes, son of Eli and
Susan (Morris) (Bradley) Barnes, was
born in New Haven, Connecticut, Janu-
ary 28, 1817. He attended a Lancastrian
school at Wethersfield, Connecticut, but
upon the death of his father, in 1S27, re-
turned home. At twelve years of age he
was placed under the care of his uncle,
Deacon Norman Smith, residing near
Hartford. Here he worked upon the
farm during the summer, and during the
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
winter attended school under the instruc-
tion of Professor Jesse Olney. In 1830
his uncle opened a shoe store and in-
stalled him as his clerk, but after serv-
ing in that capacity for about a year he
became restless, desiring to engage in
the book business, which he did as soon
as an opportunity offered, entering the
book store of D. F. Robinson, where his
duties were those of youngest clerk. His
remuneration was thirty dollars a year
and his board, his home being with Mrs.
Robinson, who displayed for him the
love and solicitude of a mother. In 1835
the firm of D. F. Robinson & Company
moved to New York, where he com-
pleted his clerkship. In 1838 Professor
Charles Davies, the mathematician, called
upon him with a letter from Hiram F.
Sumner, of Hartford, and this introduc-
tion led to an arrangement for the publi-
cation of his mathematical books. Mr.
Barnes was to be the nominal publisher
at six hundred dollars per year, and at-
tended to the introduction of the books
among the schools, and Professor Davies
was to be the literary and office partner.
They located in the city of Hartford, and
then and there was founded what became
the widely known house of A. S. Barnes
& Company. Soon afterward they agreed
on equal terms as partners, Professor
Davies reserving a copyright
Mr. Barnes at once set out to canvass
the country for Professor Davies' books,
traveling by boat or stage, visiting the
scattered schools, and the small stores
of his own and adjacent states, and be-
came quite versatile in advocating the
Davies' Arithmetics, which were then in
their infancy, but came to be studied by
millions of school children. His efforts
from the outset were successful, he
always making a favorable impression by
his frank and winning manner and un-
mistakable sense of honor. In 1840 the
little concern moved to Philadelphia and
took quarters in a modest store in Minor
street, but remained there only four years
when it was finally removed to New
York, occupying a building on the corner
of John and Dutch streets. The business
steadily increased, and with an enlarged
list of publications, soon required the
two adjacent buildings on John street in
addition. In 1867 Mr. Barnes purchased
the large building on the corner of Wil-
liam and John streets, to which the busi-
ness was again transferred, using the for-
mer buildings in part for the printing
office and bindery. These latter soon be-
came inadequate, however, and necessi-
tated the building of the factory, occu-
pied by the firm in Brooklyn, erected by
Mr. Barnes in 1880 on the site of the old
First Baptist Church.
In 1848 Professor Davies retired from
business connection with Mr. Barnes,
and Edmund Dwight became partner the
same year, retiring the following year,
when Mr. Barnes took into partnership
his brother-in-law, Henry L. Burr, who
continued with him until his death in
1865. S. A. Rollo, a clerk, was admitted
in 1850. Following Mr. Burr's decease,
Alfred C. Barnes, eldest son of Mr.
Barnes, became associated with him, and
also his brother, John C. Barnes. In
1867 Henry W. Curtiss, cousin of Mr.
Barnes, was admitted, and shortly after-
ward Mr. Barnes took into the firm his
son Henry, and later on his nephew,
Charles J. Barnes, in 1879 his son Edwin,
and in 1883-84 his two youngest sons,
Richard and William, were admitted. At
the death of Mr. Barnes his five sons
and nephew were left to carry on the
business, which they did until 1890, when
with several other school book houses it
was merged into the American Book
Company. The name of A. S. Barnes &
Company is still extant and is associated
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
with the publication of miscellaneous
books, church hymnals, etc.
Mr. Barnes was in a remarkable degree
a man of affairs, active, interested and
devoted to all his duties, whether im-
posed or assumed. Aside from his large
book publishing interests, he was at the
time of his death a director of the Han-
over National Bank, the Home Fire In-
surance Company, the Fidelity and Cas-
ualty Company, the Provident Life In-
surance Company, Rochester Gas Com-
pany, a trustee in the Brooklyn Dime
Savings Bank, Cornell University, Ithaca,
the Polytechnic Institute and Packer In-
stitute, both in Brooklyn, a trustee of the
Long Island Historical Society, presi-
dent of the Automatic Fire Alarm Com-
pany, New York, and was associated
with railroads and other institutions. In
benevolent work he was president of the
Brooklyn City Mission and Tract Soci-
ety, connected with the American Board
of Foreign Missions, with the American
Missionary Society as one of its execu-
tive committee, with the Home Mission-
ary Society, trustee of the American
Tract Society, vice-president of the Soci-
ety for the Supression of Vice, and also
of the Association for Improving the
Condition of the Poor of Brooklyn, trus-
tee of the Faith Home for Incurables,
and also of the Aged Men's Home, both
of Brooklyn.
Mr. Barnes was always active and
heartily interested in religious affairs.
In Philadelphia he was connected with
Dr. Albert Barnes' church and in New
York with Dr. Spring's church. On com-
ing to Brooklyn he was made one of the
deacons of the Church of the Pilgrims
(Congregational), to which he brought
his letters soon after the late Rev. Dr.
Richard S. Storrs had been called to its
pastorate. Later, in view of changing
his residence, he became a member of the
Clinton Avenue Church, and was one of
the callers of Rev. Dr. William I. Bud-
ington to its pastorate, and still later of
Rev. Thomas B. McLeod to the same
church upon the decease of Dr. Buding-
ton. He served the church as deacon
and trustee, and was at different times
superintendent of the Sunday school.
Aside from his official positions, he
was most liberal in advancing material
needs of the church and its various char-
ities, and responded to every call liber-
ally and ungrudgingly. With Albert
Woodruff, of Brooklyn, he inaugurated
the Mission Sunday school, as the off-
shoot of an established church, and his
connection with the Warren Street Mis-
sion of Brooklyn, as the pioneer of the
undertaking, was always a pleasure to
him. He was its first superintendent,
and accomplished much for its growth
and prosperity thereafter. A very note-
worthy incident in connection with his
Christian work was the acquirement of
the church building on Classon avenue,
near Butler street. A mortgage was
about to be foreclosed on the property
and several persons were interested in
buying it in. It became a question of
sectarianism, the parties to the purchase
representing distinct creeds, and Mr.
Barnes, believing the section where it
stood was in need of the church of his
own faith, and not finding any one to co-
operate with him, bought it in himself,
and for years kept it in his possession,
although giving its use to a company of
worshipers and helping to support the
minister in charge.
The uppermost desire of his heart was
unquestionably to do good, "that the
world might be better for his having
lived in it." His benefactions will never
be fully known ; he gave liberally and
often. The $25,000 to the Faith Home
in Brooklyn, which enjoys its present
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
quarters mainly through his gift and
efforts, and the $45,000 to the Young
Men's Christian Association of Cornell
University, which resulted in the erec-
tion of Barnes Hall, evidenced some of
his larger benefactions. The Young
Men's Christian Association of Brooklyn,
the Long Island Historical Society, and
many of the benevolent and educational
objects of the city and elsewhere, also
enjoyed his munificence through his life-
time, and were as well the recipients of
considerable sums at his death.
In politics he took an active interest,
though he never filled office, or desired
to do so; he was satisfied to support good
and able men, and was assiduous in influ-
encing others to perform their duty. He
was a Republican as to party, but saw
fit at times to support one of an opposite
faction, but never, it is believed, where
national issues were involved. He was a
temperance advocate, but thought it not
essential to encourage a temperance
party. He argued, "raise the standard
of one of the dominant parties, and tem-
perance and ail good results will surely
follow."
Mr. Barnes married (first) November
10, 1841, Harriet Elizabeth Burr, born at
Henderson Harbor, New York, Septem-
ber 27, 1820, eleventh child of General
Timothy and Mary (Chapin) Burr, of
Hartford, Connecticut. Her father re-
moved with his family in early life to
Western New York, and was stationed
at Henderson Harbor, on Lake Ontario,
during the war of 1812, and later at the
head of the commissary department of
the United States army, and while in
Hartford, Connecticut, was colonel of
the Connecticut regiment. General Burr
was a descendant of Benjamin Burr (or
Burre, as he spelled the name) the
founder of the Hartford branch, who first
appeared as one of the original settlers
of Hartford in 1635. His name, which
appears in the land division of Hartford
in 1630 as an original proprietor and set-
tler, is the first evidence we have of his
presence in America, but as the first set-
tlers there were from Watertown, New-
town and other places near Boston, it is
certain that he was in Massachusetts
some time before his appearance in Hart-
ford, and he may have been one of the
eight hundred who came to America with
Winthrop's fleet in June, 1630. He seems
to have been an active, energetic, thor-
ough business man, and mingled but
little in public affairs, hence but brief
mention is made of him in the records
of the colony. He was the first of his
name in Connecticut, and was admitted
a freeman in 1658. His allotment in the
land division of Hartford in 1639 was six
acres, and he also drew eighteen acres in
the land division of East Hartford, in
1666. He died in Hartford, March 31,
1681, and was buried probably in one of
the hillside cemeteries, long since oblit-
erated. He gave his name to Burr street,
Hartford, which runs west from Main
street. Mary (Chapin) Burr was a
daughter of Deacon Aaron Chapin, of a
prominent family of Massachusetts. Mrs.
Barnes was interested in many charities,
especially in the Home for the Friend-
less, and during the civil war greatly
assisted the Union army through the san-
itary commission.
Mr. and Mrs. Barnes first located in
Philadelphia, from whence they removed
to New York, then to Brooklyn, and in
1853 began the occupancy of a commo-
dious house on Clinton avenue. Two
children were born to them in Philadel-
phia, one in New York, three in Garden
street, and four in Clinton avenue, mak-
ing in all a family of ten children, five
sons and five daughters. In 1866 Mr.
and Mrs. Barnes celebrated their silver
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
wedding. From 1875 to 1881 their sum-
mer home was the attractive cottage at
Martha's Vineyard, and the time he was
able to be there gave Mr. Barnes perfect
relaxation and contentment. On Octo-
ber 27, 1 881, only a few weeks prior to
the fortieth anniversary of their mar-
riage, Mrs. Barnes died, this being the
first severe blow Mr. Barnes had experi-
enced.
Mr. Barnes married (second) Novem-
ber 7, 1883, Mrs. Mary M. Smith. In the
spring of 1884 they went on a European
tour, being absent some thirteen months,
and a few months after their return
moved into their new home on St. Marks
avenue, Brooklyn. Early in the year of
1887 Mr. and Mrs. Barnes went on a
tour west, extending as far as Alaska.
This they carried out, but owing to the
excessive heat they encountered and the
fatigue incident to so long a journey,
together with some anxiety over certain
matters forced upon his mind, Mr. Barnes
was much prostrated, and on their return
to Chicago quite succumbed, being
obliged to remain a week at a hotel, and
was then brought home, with barely suffi-
cient strength to move about. Through
all the trying months which followed, no
more devoted care and loving ministra-
tions, coupled with great self-sacrifice,
were possible than those shown by his
patient wife. His death occurred Febru-
ary 17, 1888.
One of the best and truest tributes to
Mr. Barnes as a man and a citizen was
paid by the late Rev. Dr. T. DeWitt Tal-
mage at one of the meetings in his
church :
The number of men who built Brooklyn and
who have gone into eternal absenteeism is rap-
idly increasing. Pausing a moment to-day on
the New York and Brooklyn Bridge, I read on
a stone pillar the names of those who had been
influential in the building of that suspended
wonder of the centuries. The president. Mr.
Murphy, gone. The vice-president, Mr. Kings-
ley, gone. The treasurer, Mr. Prentice, gone.
The engineer, Mr. Roebling, gone. So our
useful and important citizens from all depart-
ments are passing off. And now, within a few
days, Alfred S. Barnes departed. And yet he
has not disappeared. When our Historical Hall,
and Academy of Music, and Mercantile Library,
and our great asylums of mercy, and our
churches of all denominations shall have crum-
bled — then, and not until then, will our splendid
citizen, Mr. Barnes, have disappeared; for his
brain and heart and head planned them, and
his munificent hand helped support them.
When, at n o'clock last Friday night, this noble
and gracious soul flashed into the bosom of
God, we lost as good a citizen as Brooklyn ever
had. If the queenly wifehood that hovered over
his suffering pillow for four months, until the
fatigue and the devotion became almost a mar-
tyrdom, and the prayers and the love and the
devotion of his children, and the anxieties of
hundreds of thousands of fellow citizens could
have hindered his departure, he would again
have taken his old place at his family table, and
on our philanthropic platforms, and in the pews
of our churches. But his work was done. No
power could keep him down out of the supernal
light or back from the rewards awaiting him.
What a bulwark of credit was his name to the
financial institutions he trusteed or presidented!
What an honor to the universities on whose
scrolls of directors his name was permitted to
appear! And what a reinforcement to the great
benevolence of the day was his patronage. Out
of a warm personal friendship of many years, I
must speak my gratitude and my admiration. In
business circles, for many a long day, his name
will be quoted as a synonym for everything
honorable and righteous, but my thought of him
is chiefly of being the highest style of Christian
gentleman. He was one of the few successful
men who maintained complete simplicity of char-
acter. After gaining the highest position where
he could afford to decline the Mayoralty and
Congressional honors, and all political prefer-
ment, as he did again and again, he was as art-
less in his manner as on the day when he earned
his first dollar. His illumined face was an index
to an illumined soul. I have known many lovely
and honorable and inspiring and glorious Chris-
tian men, but a more lovely or more honorable
or more inspiring or more glorious Christian
man than Alfred S. Barnes, I never did know.
He entered the Kingdom of God himself and all
his family followed him, and upon them may the
/A^y/^
,OCVM.
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
mantle of their consecrated and glorified father
fall, as I believe it has already fallen. What a
magnificent inheritance of prayers and good
advice and Christian example! Well may they
cry out as Elisha did when Elijah went up in
fiery equipage, "My Father, my Father, the
chariots of Israel and the horsemen thereof!"
MELVILLE, Herman,
Author.
Herman Melville, a favorite author of
a generation ago, was born in New York
City, August i, 1819, son of Allan and
Catharine (Gansevoort) Melville; grand-
son of Major Thomas Melville, a mem-
ber of the "Boston Tea Party," and of
General Peter Gansevoort. Allan Mel-
ville was a man of wealth, a prominent
merchant, of literary tastes, and an in-
dustrious traveler; he died in 1832.
Herman Melville passed his youth in
the families of relatives at Albany and
Greenbush, New York. He was of an
adventurous disposition and at the age
of eighteen went on a whaling cruise in
the South Pacific ocean. He had a sad
awakening from his dream of a romantic
sea life, for he was subjected to such in-
human treatment that in the second year
of his voyage he deserted his ship at
Nukahiva, in the Marquesas group of
islands. With a companion he was taken
by a band of cannibals, from whom he
was rescued four months later by an
Australian whaling vessel after a bloody
encounter. For a year he served on board
the rescuing ship, then, having reached
the Hawaiian islands, he joined the crew
of the United States frigate "United
States," and reached Boston in 1844. His
experiences and observations on these
voyages gave him much material which
he utilized in subsequent volumes, to the
great delight of the youth of that day.
He now took up his residence in Lans-
ingburg, New York, where he wrote his
first volume, "Typee," which he sold to
John Murray, the English publisher, in
1845, and which as "Melville's Marquesas
Islands" passed through several editions.
In 1850 he removed to Pittsfield, Massa-
chusetts, where he formed an enduring
friendship with Nathaniel Hawthorne.
In i860 he voyaged around the world,
and after his return in 1863 made his
home in New York City. There, three
years later, he was appointed to a posi-
tion in the United States custom house,
but his health began to give way and in
1886 he resigned. Besides the volume
mentioned above, he was author of vari-
ous works : "Omoo : a Narrative of Ad-
ventures in the South Seas" (1847) >
"Mardi, and a Voyage Thither" (1849) '>
"Redburn" (1849); "White Jacket; or
The World in a Man-of-War" (1850) ;
"Moby Dick; or the White Whale"
(1851) ; "Pierre; or The Ambiguities"
(1852); "Israel Potter: His Fifty Years
of Exile" (1855) ; "Piazza Tales" (1856) ;
"The Confidence Man" (1858) ; "Battle
Pieces, and Aspects of the War" (poems,
1866) ; "Clarel ; a Pilgrimage in the Holy
Land" (a poem, 1876) ; "John Marr and
Other Sailors" (1888) ; "Timoleon"
(1891). In 1892 Arthur Stedman edited
a four-volume edition of "Typee,"
"Omoo," "Moby" and "White Jacket,"
prefacing the set with a critical biog-
raphy. Melville died in New York City,
September 28, 1891.
SLOCUM, Henry W.,
Soldier, Civil Officer, Legislator.
General Henry Warner Slocum, a dis-
tinguished soldier of the Civil War, was
born in Delphi, New York, September
24, 1827. Graduated from the United
States Military Academy at West Point
in 1842, as second lieutenant in the First
Artillery, he served in Florida against
the Seminole Indians in 1852-53, and was
on garrison duty at Fort Moultrie,
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
Charleston Harbor, South Carolina, from
1853 to J 856, when he resigned from the
army, having then the rank of first lieu-
tenant. He practiced law at Syracuse,
New York, and sat in the State Assembly
in 1859. From 1859 to 1861 he was also
an instructor of the State militia, with
the rank of colonel. At the outbreak of
the Civil War he was appointed to the
colonelcy of the Twenty-seventh Regi-
ment New York Volunteers, and partici-
pated in the battle of Bull Run, where he
was wounded. In August, 1861, he was
commissioned brigadier-general of vol-
unteers, and until the summer of 1862
was on duty in the defenses of the
national capital. In June he was assigned
to the command of the First Division,
Sixth Corps, and took part in the Seven
Days' battles under General McClellan.
On July 4 he was promoted to major-
general, and commanded his division in
the Maryland campaign. Under General
Hooker, he had command of the Twelfth
Corps in the Chancellorsville campaign,
and under General Meade at Gettysburg,
he commanded the right wing of the
army during a portion of the battle, and
distinguished himself by saving Culp's
Hill at a critical moment. After the end
of the pursuit of the Confederates into
Virginia, General Slocum was sent west
and from April to August, 1864, com-
manded the District of Vicksburg, Mis-
sissippi. In the Atlanta campaign, from
May to September, 1864, he commanded
the Twentieth Corps, under General
Sherman. In the March to the Sea, he
commanded the combined Fourteenth
and Twentieth Corps, under the desig-
nation of the Army of Georgia, and also
in the subsequent campaign in the Caro-
linas. After the close of the war, he re-
signed from the service, declining a com-
mission as colonel in the regular army,
and took up his residence in Brooklyn,
New York, where he engaged in the prac-
tice of his profession. In 1865 he was
the unsuccessful Democratic candidate
for Secretary of State. He was a presi-
dential elector from New York in 1868.
He was elected to the Forty-first and
Forty-second Congresses (1869-73), an< i
was a member of the Forty-eighth Con-
gress, elected from the State-at-large.
From 1876 to 1884 he was president of
the Brooklyn Board of Public Works,
and a member of the East River Bridge
Commission. He died in Brooklyn, April
14, 1894. A fine bronze heroic equestrian
statue of General Slocum stands near
Prospect Park, Brooklyn, and receives
special honors each Memorial Day from
the military and Grand Army bodies
making up the procession.
BROOKS, Arthur,
Prominent Divine.
Arthur Brooks, clergyman, was born
in Boston, Massachusetts, July 11, 1845,
the fifth son of William Gray and Mary
Ann (Phillips) Brooks, and a brother of
Phillips Brooks.
He was educated at the Boston Latin
School and at Harvard College, from
which he was graduated in 1867. He
pursued his theological course at An-
dover for one year, and at the Divinity
School at Philadelphia for two years,
when he was ordained deacon at Trinity
Protestant Episcopal Church, Boston, in
1870. He accepted the rectorship of
Trinity Church, Williamsport, Pennsyl-
vania, and was there advanced to the
priesthood by Bishop Stevens. In 1872
he accepted a call to St. James parish,
Chicago, Illinois, where he rebuilt the
church destroyed in the great fire, and
greatly advanced the growth of the par-
ish. In the summer of 1874 he accom-
panied his brother, Phillips, on a visit to
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
Europe, and during the next winter de-
livered a lecture before the Anonymous
Club in Chicago, on stained glass, the
result of his observations in the English
cathedrals. In the spring of 1875 he
accepted a call from the Church of the
Incarnation in New York City. The
obligations amounting to $54,500 resting
upon the church property were liqui-
dated, missions were instituted, and nu-
merous charities aided. In the spring
of 1882, when the prosperity of the parish
seemed assured, the church was de-
stroyed by fire, involving a loss of $75,-
000. In this emergency he accepted the
use of Temple Emmanuel Synagogue,
proffered by Rabbi Gottheil, and there he
celebrated the festival of Easter. The
Church of the Incarnation was rapidly
rebuilt, and a magnificent bronze bas-
relief of Bishop Brooks was one of the
works of art added to its adornments.
In 1886, when the work of rebuilding
was completed, Mr. Brooks, accompanied
by his wife, visited Italy, Greece, Arabia,
Palestine, Asia Minor and Egypt, and he
preached on Christmas Day of that year
in the American church in Rome. He
also traversed the desert of Arabia on
camel and horseback, and visited Mount
Sinai. He returned to his parish in 1887.
He took an active interest in the found-
ing of Barnard College for women, lend-
ing to it his countenance and support.
He was present at the church congresses
from their institution, and his addresses
were listened to with great interest. His
last prominent public appearance was the
eighty-second anniversary meeting of
the Virginia Bible Society, where he
made the annual address. In 1891 he
was selected to conduct a retreat for the
clergy in the pre-lenten season at New
Rochelle, New York. The death of
Bishop Brooks in 1893 was a severe be-
reavement, and it fell upon him to pre-
pare such biographies of his brother as
were needed for immediate publication.
Meditating the accomplishment of a more
considerable work, he labored upon it in-
cessantly until his last illness, when it
had neared its completion. A volume of
his sermons, entitled "The Life of Christ
in the World," was published in 1893.
The University of the City of New York
conferred upon him the honorary degree
of Doctor of Divinity in 1891, and he was
elected to membership in the Victoria
Institute. On June 26, 1895, ne em_
barked on a voyage to England, hoping
thereby to recuperate his health, but
growing worse, he sailed for home on the
same steamer, July 9, and died July 10,
1895.
On October 17, 1872, he was married
to Elizabeth M. P. Willard, of Williams-
port, Pennsylvania.
CARR, Joseph B.,
Soldier, Man of Affairs.
The name of Carr is illustrious in the
military annals of the State of New York,
made so by the life and distinguished
services of Brevet Major-General Joseph
B. Carr, a rank and title conferred "for
gallant and meritorious services during
the war." He was of the second genera-
tion of his family in the United States;
his parents being natives of Ireland.
They came to this country in 1824.
Joseph Bradford Carr, son of William
and Ann Carr, was born in the city of
Albany, New York, August 16, 1828, died
at Troy, February 24, 1895. He grew
up in Albany and Troy, in which latter
city he was in the tobacco business from
1842 until 1 861. He early displayed his
love of a military life. On arriving at
the age of twenty-one he joined the Troy
Guards, served in the ranks one year,
and was commissioned second lieutenant.
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
He rose rapidly through successive ranks
until he was colonel of the Twenty-
fourth Regiment New York State Militia,
assuming command July 10, 1859, con-
tinuing until the firing upon Fort Sum-
ter, when he at once offered his services
to his country. April 15, 1861, the Sec-
ond Regiment New York Volunteers was
organized in Troy; on May 10, he was
elected colonel ; four days later the regi-
ment was mustered into the United
States service for a term of two years.
On May 24 the regiment camped near
Hampton, being the first regiment to en-
camp on the "sacred soil of Virginia."
Their first battle was "Big Bethel,"
where they were forced to retreat; they
were at Newport News until May 10,
1862, when Colonel Carr removed his
command to Portsmouth, where he was
assigned to the command of a provisional
brigade consisting of the Second and
Tenth New York regiments and How-
ard's light battery. June 10 he was
ordered with the Second Regiment to
report to General McClellan at Fair
Oaks. He proceeded to the extreme
front, where he was assigned to General
Frank Patterson's brigade, Hooker's divi-
sion, Third Army Corps of the Army of
the Potomac. Owing to absence of its
regular commander, Colonel Carr was
temporarily assigned to the Third Bri-
gade, familiarly known as the Jersey
Brigade, which he led throughout the
battle of the Orchards, June 25, and
through the historical "Seven Days"
fighting. On General Patterson's return
Colonel Carr resumed command of his
regiment at Harrison's Landing. On
July 2, by order of General Hooker, he
superseded General Patterson ; remain-
ing at the head of the brigade until pro-
moted by President Lincoln upon the
personal recommendation of General
Hooker "for gallant and meritorious serv-
ices in the field" to be a Brigadier-Gen-
eral of Volunteers, commission dating
from September 7, 1862. His courage
and coolness under fire was illustrated at
the battle of Bristoe Station ; with a mur-
derous storm of shot and shell that burst
upon his men, General Carr moved about,
cheering them on and encouraging them
by his own daring. His horse was shot
under him ; he coolly mounted an order-
ly's horse and successfully charged the
enemy. He gained on that day the title
of "Hero of Bristoe," which ever after-
ward clung to him. He took part in the
battle of Bull Run, August 30 and 31,
and at Chantilly, September 3, when the
gallant Kearny fell. In these battles he
fully sustained his reputation for cour-
ageous, daring conduct. September 17,
he was transferred to the First Brigade,
composed of troops from Pennsylvania,
Massachusetts and New Hampshire; De-
cember 13 and 14. participated in the
bloody fight at Fredericksburg, where he
lost heavily in officers and men. Janu-
ary 12, 1863, he commanded an expedi-
tion to Rappahannock Bridge. March 30,
he was officially notified by the Secretary
of War that the Senate having failed to
act upon his nomination, he had ceased
to be an officer of the army. General
Hooker, then in command of the Army
of the Potomac, proceeded at once to
Washington, and on the following day
telegraphed General Carr that President
Lincoln had reappointed him, to date
from March 3, 1863. At Chancellorsville,
May 3, after the death of General Berry,
he succeeded to the command of Hook-
er's old division, the white-patched
heroes. He sustained the reputation he
had made on other hard-fought fields,
and was made the subject of special,
laudatory mention in the official report
by Major-General Sickles, the Corps
commander. July 1, 1863, Major-General
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
Humphreys assumed command of the
division and General Carr returned to his
brigade. June 15 he moved with the
Army of the Potomac to Gettysburg,
where on July 2 and 3 he participated in
that memorable battle. During that fight
he was mounted upon a valuable horse,
presented him by friends in Troy, until
the noble animal fell, pierced by five bul-
lets, in the fall injuring the general's leg.
Exhausted and lame as he was, General
Carr refused to retire, but mounted an-
other horse, and continued directing the
movements of his brigade. He lost
heavily in this battle — nearly two-thirds
of his force — while not one of his staff,
orderlies or headquarters horses escaped
injury. After the battle the division gen-
eral and officers of the brigade assembled
at headquarters and complimented him
upon his gallantry. Major-General U. A.
Humphreys, in his official report of the
battle, spoke of him and said : "I wish
particularly to commend to notice the
cool courage, determination and skillful
handling of their troops of the two bri-
gade commanders, Brigadier-General Jo-
seph B. Carr and Colonel William R.
Brewster, and to ask attention to the
officers mentioned by them, as distin-
guished by their conduct." After Gettys-
burg he was at the battle of Wapping,
and in temporary camp at Warrenton,
Virginia. October 5 he was assigned to
the head of the Third Division, Third
Corps, advanced to Warrenton Junction,
and participated in the battles at Brandy
Station and Kelly's Ford. In November
he was one of the principal actors in the
battles of Locust Grove, Robinson's Tav-
ern, and Mine Run. In April, 1864, on
the reorganization of the army, he was
assigned to the command of the Fourth
Division, Second Corps (Hancock's), re-
taining command until ordered by Gen-
eral Grant to report to General Butler,
commanding the Army of the James, who
NY-voiin-2 17
placed him in command of the exterior
line of defense on the Peninsula, head-
quarters at Yorktown. Early in July,
1864, he was ordered by General Butler
to evacuate Yorktown and report to him
at the front for assignment. Obeying his
order, he was sent to Major-General E.
O. C. Ord, who placed him in command
of the First and Third Division of the
Eighteenth Corps. August 4, he was
given command of the First Division of
the same corps and occupied the right of
the line in front of Petersburg. He re-
tained this command until October I,
when he was placed in command of the
defense of the James river, headquarters
at Wilson's Landing. Here he remained
seven months, during which he built two
important forts and strengthened the de-
fenses. May 20, 1865, he was transferred
to City Point, where he remained until
the close of the war. June 1, 1865, he
was brevetted major-general, "for gal-
lant and meritorious services during the
war," to rank as such from March 13,
1865. On being relieved of command, he
returned to Troy, where he was mustered
out of the service.
January 25, 1867, he was appointed by
the Governor of New York, major-gen-
eral of the Third Division New York
State Militia, where he rendered valuable
service during railroad riots of 1877, at
Albany, dispersing the mob and restor-
ing peace and order without the sacrifice
of life or property. He remained in this
command until his death at Troy in 1895.
He was given an imposing military
funeral on February 27 from St. Peter's
Roman Catholic Church, Troy. The
body lay in state and was viewed by
thousands, officers of the army, gov-
ernors, statesmen, representatives of
every department of the service, and a
vast concourse of his fellow citizens at-
tended. He had won distinction by real
work and gallant performance amid the
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
danger of bloody contests, and all "de-
lighted to do his memory honor."
General Carr entered the manufactur-
ing field as the senior partner of J. B.
Carr & Company, operating the exten-
sive chain manufacturing works estab-
lished in 1866, located between Troy and
Lansingburg, and continued at the head
of the concern until his death. He be-
came a factor in the development of other
business enterprises of Troy. He was a
director of the Mutual National Bank;
second vice-president and director of the
Troy City Railway Company. He was
reared in the Catholic church, and never
departed from that faith. He was a Re-
publican, and received the unanimous
nomination of his party in convention at
Saratoga, September 3, 1879, for Secre-
tary of State. He was elected by a large
majority; reelected in 1881, and again in
1883. In 1885 he was the Republican
candidate for Lieutenant-Governor of the
State, but was defeated at the polls. He
was highly esteemed at home and abroad,
many organizations bestowing honorary
membership upon him. He was a com-
panion of the Loyal Legion, and a com-
rade of Williard Post, Grand Army of
the Republic ; member of the Second Reg-
iment Association; Third Army Corps
Association; the Old Guard of New
York ; the Ninth Regiment Troy Citi-
zens' Corps; Burgess Corps of Albany;
vice-president Renssalaer County Sol-
diers and Sailors Monument Association ;
trustee of New York State Gettysburg
Monument Association ; the Troy and
Ionic Clubs of Troy. He married Mary
Gould, born in Canada in 1837.
HUN, Thomas, M. D.,
Practitioner, Instructor.
Thomas Hun, M. D., son of Abraham
and Maria (Gansevoort) Hun, was born
in Albany, New York, September 14,
1808, and died at his residence, No. 31
Elk street, Albany, June 23, 1896. His
father graduated from Columbia College,
immediately afterward took up the study
of law, and forming a partnership with
Rensselaer Westerlo, half brother of the
Patroon of the Van Rensselaer Manor,
acted as agent for Stephen Van Rens-
selaer until his death; He resided in his
house on the east side of Market street
(later Broadway), which was situated
about fifty feet south of Maiden Lane,
which site was later built upon when the
Stanwix Hall Hotel was erected, and he
also owned a well cultivated farm of
about three hundred and seventy-five
acres extending along and northward
back from the Normanskill creek (at the
end of Delaware avenue in 1900), which
place he called "Buena Vista," after the
battle in which General Taylor figured.
On the brow of the hill, he built a summer
residence, which his son Thomas recon-
structed in 1852, at about the same time
the farm was reduced to about twenty-
five acres. He married, in Albany, Sep-
tember 22, 1796, Rev. John Bassett offi-
ciating, Maria, daughter of Judge
Leonard and Maria (Van Rensselaer)
Gansevoort.
Losing both parents at an early age,
Thomas Hun and his sister Elizabeth
were brought up by their maternal grand-
parents, Judge and Mrs. Leonard Ganse-
voort, Jr. He received his earliest educa-
tion as a lad at a private school conducted
by an Englishman and his wife, Mr. and
Mrs. Upfold, and in 1818 entered the
Albany Boys' Academy, where he re-
mained until graduation, following a
complete course which fitted him for col-
lege. He was intelligent and studious,
possessing a decided character, which
accounted for his always standing high in
his various classes. Because of his more
than customary preparation and industry,
when only sixteen years of age, he was
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
able to enter the junior class of Union
College, in the fall of 1824, following his
graduation from the academy, and while
there his "chum" was the popular Pro-
fessor Isaac W. Jackson. He graduated
with honors in 1826, taking the degree of
A. B. After leaving college, he began the
study of medicine, for which he had a
decided leaning, and entered the office of
Dr. Piatt Williams, a practitioner of
eminence in Albany. After serving thus
as a student, he entered the medical
department of the University of Pennsyl-
vania, in 1827, and completing the full
course, graduated in 1830 with the degree
of Doctor of Medicine. He returned to
Albany and commenced to practice with
his former instructor, Dr. Williams.
When the cholera epidemic broke out in
the summer of 1832, a cholera hospital
was instituted in Albany, and he was
appointed one of the physicians. The
death rate was alarmingly high, with
more funerals each day than could be
arranged for, and everyone afraid to mix
with his neighbors. Burning barrels of
tar filled the atmosphere with a heavy
smoke, calculated to purify the air. Dr.
Hun's position was unenviable and heroic.
He discharged his duties with fortitude
and skill, until the closing of the hospital
in the cold weather, when the scourge
was stamped out. In the spring of 1833
he went to Europe to prosecute his
studies further, and excepting two brief
visits to his home, remained there, resid-
ing chiefly in Paris, until 1839. The six
years of foreign study afforded him a
liberal range of experience, attending the
large hospitals, and he gradually limited
his wider range of the sciences to a
knowledge of practice.
During his last year abroad, the Albany
Medical College was organized and incor-
porated, and before his return home in
1839, ne was invited to accept the profes-
sorship of the Institutes of Medicine. He
accepted, and his inaugural address excited
considerable interest and admiration from
its large grasp of principles as well as by
reason of its lucid style and forcible illus-
trations. The students came to regard
his lectures as the most interesting and
instructive, which ability on his part
greatly increased the reputation of the
young college. He continued these lec-
tures until 1858, when he resigned to de-
vote all his time to his practice, which
had grown to be the best in Albany, and
demanded this attention.
When the Albany Hospital was incor-
porated in 1848, Dr. Hun became one of
the board of consulting physicians, and
had subsequently held the same position
with St. Peter's Hospital, Albany. He
was made president of the New York
State Medical Society in 1862, and his
inaugural address attracted much favor-
able comment, despite his theories in
opposition to the traditional ideas of
medical theory and practice. He main-
tained that neither medicine nor the phy-
sician, although both were of importance
in their place, ever cured disease ; that the
curative power rested in nature alone, and
the function of the physician not to
"cure;" but to preside over, watch and
aid the efforts of nature to cure, by recog-
nizing the true character of the disease,
its course, its processes and effects, also
the accidents and dangers to which it is
liable, and thus to be able to secure, as
far as possible, such favorable circum-
stances, aids and conditions as may be
most contributory to the restorative
powers of nature. He was unanimously
called to be dean of faculty of the Albany
Medical College. He was especially
noted as a practitioner for his sagacity
and accuracy in the diagnosis of disease,
and also for his calm, far-sighted compre-
hension of the constitutional tendencies
affecting the case called to his attention.
He was always studiously inclined, con-
19
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
templative and given to thought along
philosophical and metaphysical lines, for
ethical investigation was a delight for
him. No physician in Albany ever stood
higher in the confidence of both the pro-
fession and the public. He was a devout
Christian, worshipping at the Episcopal
Cathedral of All Saints, a man possessing
the warmest of hearts for the distressed.
He had been an alderman, and at his
death was president of the Albany Acad-
emy board of trustees.
Dr. Thomas Hun married, in Albany,
New York, April 29, 1841. the Rev.
Horatio Potter, rector of St. Peter's
Church officiating, Lydia Louisa, daugh-
ter of Hon. Marcus Tullius and his (first)
wife, Cynthia (Herrick) Reynolds. She
was born in Amsterdam, New York, Sep-
tember 11, 1817, died at her residence, No.
31 Elk street, Albany, January 26, 1876,
and was buried in the Albany Rural
cemetery. Her father, Marcus T. Rey-
nolds, an attorney of Albany and one of
the ablest of his times, was born in
Minaville, Montgomery county, New
York, December 29, 1788, son of Dr.
Stephen Reynolds, of Amsterdam, and
died at No. 25 North Pearl street, Albany,
July 11, 1864. Her mother, Cynthia
(Herrick) Reynolds, was daughter of
Benjamin and Cynthia (Brush) Herrick,
the latter a daughter of Richard Brush ;
she was born at Amenia, New York, De-
cember 26, 1794, died at Amsterdam, New
York, November 25, 1820. Benjamin
Herrick was the son of Benjamin and
Sarah (Denton) Herrick. Mrs. Thomas
Hun was widely known through her en-
deavors to alleviate the condition of the
poor and ignorant, as well as in her own
circle, where she was welcomed as one
whose mind had been enriched by a liberal
education and by life-long habits of good
reading and reflection, which gave her a
graciousness of character and brilliancy of
conversation. Her chief interest lay in
planning to reform what was evil and to
aid those oppressed by undue hardships,
in which aim she was always practical in
the carrying out of her admirable ideas.
She felt that the poor needed, even more
than money, sound advice and cordial
encouragement. She purchased and
fitted up a sort of model tenement house,
to occupy which became an esteemed
privilege, and here she watched over
them, inculcating habits of neatness and
saving. She also sought to establish in
the neighborhood of the poor reading
rooms and a place of cheerful resort. In
many other similar ways she led a worthy
life.
HALL, John,
Divine, Author.
The Rev. John Hall was born in County
Armagh, Ireland, July 31, 1829, son of
William and Rachel (Magowan) Hall.
His ancestors were natives of Scotland.
He was graduated in arts from Belfast
(Ireland) College in 1846, and in theology
in 1849, having been matriculated in
1842, and won repeated prizes in profi-
ciency in church history and Hebrew
scholarship. He was licensed to preach
in 1849, an d was a missionary in the
province of Connaught, Ireland, 1849-52 ;
pastor of the First Presbyterian Church,
Armagh, 1852-58; and of the Collegiate
Church of St. Mary's Abbey, Dublin,
1858-67, where he edited the "Evangelical
Witness," built the Rutland Square
Church, and under appointment by the
Viceroy of Ireland was made Commis-
sioner of National Education, and re-
ceived from Queen Victoria the honorary
appointment of Commissioner of Educa-
tion for Ireland.
He visited America in 1867 as delegate
to the Old School Presbyterian Assembly
of the United States at Cincinnati, Ohio.
During his visit he preached for the con-
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
gregation of the Fifth Avenue Presby-
terian Church, New York City, then wor-
shipping on Nineteenth street, and
received a call as pastor which he
accepted after his return to Ireland. His
work in this church resulted in a new
church edifice erected in 1873 at a cost of
over $1,000,000, the largest Presbyterian
church in New York City; the Romeyn
chapel on Seventy-fourth street; a mis-
sion on Sixty-third street ; a Chinese
mission on East Fifty-ninth street, and
numerous other missions and charitable
institutions supported by annual contri-
butions from the parent church of over
$100,000. In January, 1898, he resigned
the pastorate on account of increasing
age, but withdrew his resignation upon
the earnest demand of the congregation,
which promised him such assistance as
might be required. He was chancellor of
the University of the City of New York,
1881-91 ; a member of the council, 1875-
98; a trustee of Princeton Seminary,
1859-83 ; of the College of New Jersey,
1868-98; of Wells College, Aurora, New
York, and of Wellesley College, Massa-
chusetts. He was a member of the Pres-
byterian Board of Church Erection ;
chairman of the Presbyterian Board of
Home Missions, and chairman of the
committee on church extension, New
York Presbytery. He was a member of
the New York Historical Society. He
received the degree of A. B. from Belfast
in 1846; of D. D. from Washington and
Jefferson College in 1865 ; of LL. D. from
Washington and Lee University, and
from the College of New Jersey, Prince-
ton, in 1885, and from Trinity College,
Dublin, in 1890; and of S. T. D. from
Columbia in 1886.
His published works include "Family
Prayers for Four Weeks" (1868) ;
"Prayers for Home Reading" (1873) ;
"God's Word Through Preaching"
(1875) ; "Familiar Talks to Boys" (1876) ;
and "A Christian Home" (1883). Dr.
Hall died at Bangor, County Down,
Ireland, September 17, 1898, and the
remains were returned to America and
buried in Woodlawn Cemetery, New
York City.
He was married, June 15, 1852, to
Emily, daughter of Lyndon Bolton, of
Dublin, Ireland, and of their children,
Robert William became Professor of
Analytical Chemistry in the University
of the City of New York; Richard John,
Professor of Surgery in the College of
Physicians and Surgeons, New York City,
died in Santa Barbara, California, Janu-
ary 23, 1897 ; Thomas Cuming, became
Professor of Theology in Union Theo-
logical Seminary, New York City ; Bolton,
was graduated at Princeton in 1875 ;
Emily C. was the only daughter.
MARVIN, Selden E.,
Soldier, Man of Affairs.
General Selden Erastus Marvin, son of
Hon. Richard Pratt and Isabella (New-
land) Marvin, was born August 20, 1835,
in Jamestown, Chautauqua county, New
York, and died January 19, 1899, in New
York City. His father was a well known
lawyer, jurist, and antiquarian. Selden
Erastus Marvin received his education in
the public schools and academy of James-
town, and at Professor Russell's private
school in New Haven, Connecticut. While
residing in Jamestown he became inter-
ested in military affairs and was quarter-
master of the Sixty-eighth Regiment,
National Guard. At the beginning of the
Civil War he tendered his services to the
government. On July 21, 1862, he was
commissioned adjutant of the One Hun-
dred and Twelfth Regiment New York
Volunteers and mustered into the United
States service, and served until detailed
as assistant adjutant-general of Foster's
brigade, with the army of Southern Vir-
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
ginia, through the Peninsula and Charles-
town campaigns, until August 2.7, 1863,
when he was appointed additional pay-
master of United States volunteers, and
was assigned to duty in the Army of the
Potomac ; he resigned December 27, 1864,
to become paymaster-general of the State
of New York on the staff of Governor
Fenton. On January 1, 1867, he was
appointed adjutant-general of the State
of New York. As paymaster-general he
disbursed upwards of twenty-seven mil-
lion dollars. As adjutant-general he
inaugurated and carried into practical
effect reforms in the national guard which
were greatly needed.
After his term of adjutant-general
expired, he engaged in banking in New
York City as a member of the firm of
Morgan, Keene & Marvin , until the
spring of 1873, when they dissolved. On
January 1, 1874, he went to Troy, New
York, as the representative of Erastus
Coming's interests in the iron and steel
business carried on by the firm of John A.
Griswold & Company, and while there
organized the Albany & Rensselaer Iron
and Steel Company, March 1, 1875. This
corporation was a consolidation of the
establishment of John A. Griswold &
Company and the Albany Iron Works,
and General Marvin was elected a direc-
tor, secretary and treasurer. On Septem-
ber 1. 1885. this concern was succeeded
by the Troy Steel and Iron Company,
which went into the hands of a receiver
in 1893. General Marvin continued as
director, secretary and treasurer of the
company until its business was closed up,
November 1, 1895. He was for several
years a trustee and vice-president of the
Albany City Savings Institution, and on
June 1, 1891, became its president. He
was a director and in 1894 was made
president of the Hudson River Telephone
Company, and was the principal organizer
and promoter of the Albany District
Telegraph Company, of which he became
president in 1895. He was always active
in religious matters, and soon after the
formation of the Diocese of Albany, was
elected its treasurer and treasurer of its
board of missions, serving until his death.
He was vestryman of St. Luke's Church,
Jamestown, and later of St. Peter's
Church, Albany, and was also a member
of the Cathedral Chapter. He was a
member of the State Board of Charities,
having been appointed by Governor
Morton, March 27, 1895. He was a mem-
ber and trustee of the Corning foundation,
on which is built St. Agnes' School, the
Child's Hospital, St. Margaret's House,
Graduate Hall and the Sister House in
Albany. He was also a member of the
board of managers of the Domestic and
Foreign Missionary Society of the Prot-
estant Episcopal church in the United
States, a member of the Fort Orange
Club, and actively connected with several
other institutions of Albany.
He married, September 24, 1868, Kath-
arine Langdon, daughter of Judge Amasa
J. and Harriet (Langdon) Parker, of
Albany, New York, born August 28, 1846,
died July 1, 1907. Children: 1. Selden
Erastus, who succeeded to the charge of
his father's estate. 2. Grace Parker, born
September, 1872, married, June 6, 1901,
Rupert C. King, of New York City ; chil-
dren : i. Catherine Marvin, deceased ; ii.
Rupert Cochrane, Jr., born July 29, 1908.
3. Langdon Parker, September 16, 1876,
graduated from Harvard University, 1898,
and LL. B., Harvard Law School, 1901 ;
private secretary for Hon. Elihu Root on
Alaska boundary commission in London,
1903 ; resides in New York City. 4.
Edmund Roberts, August 10, 1878, gradu-
ated from Harvard University, 1899. 5.
Richard Pratt, August 18, 1882, died Sep-
tember 6, 1883. 6. Katharine Langdon,
August 6, 1889.
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
DEAN, Amos,
Lawyer, Jurist, Author.
Than Hon. Amos Dean, LL. D., no one
in the city of Albany ever gained a higher
position of respect and merited popu-
larity. He was born in Barnard, Ver-
mont, January 16, 1803, and died in
Albany, New York, at his residence, No.
31 Elk street, January 26, 1868. His
father was Nathaniel Dean, and his
mother was Rhoda (Hammond) Dean.
Like many other prominent lawyers
and jurists who found prominence in New
York State, Amos Dean acquired his early
education in the common schools, at
which he fitted himself with the idea of
teaching. He supported himself while
pursuing his academic course preparatory
to entering college, and went to Union
College in 1823, from which he was
graduated in 1826. His uncle, Jabez D
Hammond, was at this time a distin-
guished lawyer and writer, in partner-
ship with Judge Alfred Conkling. It was
in their office that he began studying law,
where he was most diligent, and enjoyed
the nice distinctions and philosophy of
law as a science. To him the study had a
fascination, and he was remarkably well
prepared when admitted in 1829. During
the early years of his practice he was asso-
ciated with Azor Tabor, then an eminent
counsellor. He never assumed to attain
celebrity as an advocate before juries,
where, in those days, a lawyer usually
made his mark in the world at large by
publicity, although he possessed marked
abilities as an orator. His amiability of
disposition, his natural reserve, his
kindly nature, his guilelessness and his
overflowing charity, repelled him from the
theatre of professional strife and conflict,
and he was particularly adapted to the
duties of the office and the counsel room.
It was there he displayed fine traits of
wisdom, prudence and sagacity. Having
23
a character of unimpeachable integrity,
he readily won clients, success and fame.
The great benefit he had obtained by
his own endeavors to pursue courses of
study when young, caused him to appre-
ciate the necessity for furnishing advan-
tages for others, and, impelled by this
idea, he conceived the plan of establishing
associations for the mental improvement
of young men. On December 10, 1833,
he gachered about him a few of his young
friends and expounded to them his
project. No sooner was the matter made
public than seven hundred and fifty young
men enrolled, and on December 13 he was
elected president of the organization
which had assumed the title "Young
Men's Association for Mutual Improve-
ment in the City of Albany." It was
incorporated March 12, 1835, for the pur-
pose of establishing and maintaining a
library, reading-room, literary and scien-
tific lectures, and other means of promot-
ing both moral and intellectual improve-
ment. It continued a debating society
many years, and acquired a collection of
paintings. From this beginning hun-
dreds of kindred institutions have started
and have been a blessing to the country.
Mr. Pean was associated with Doctors
March and />rmsby in 1833, in establish-
ing the Albany Medical College, which
later was to be a department of Union
University. From the day of opening
until 1859 he was its Professor of Medical
Jurisprudence, and when the Law Depart-
ment of the university was established,
he was appropriately chosen one of its
professors, in which sphere his talents
shone most brightly.
He became even better known as an
author, and in that field wielded a wide
influence. He took a keen interest in the
developing science of phrenology, when
little had been done in that line, deliver-
ing a series of lectures which were after
incorporated in a book and made him
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
known as an authority on that interesting
subject. He was, when young-, the
author of a "Manual of Law," which was
of great service to business men ; but he
never lived to see the publication of his
chief literary undertaking, "A History of
Civilization," which consisted of seven
large volumes of about six hundred pages
each, printed by Joel Munsell in 1868.
His "Philosophy of Human Life" was
published by Marsh, Capen, Lyon &
Webb, of Boston, in 1839, and "Dean's
Lectures on Phrenology," by the same
house in 1835. He spoke frequently
before public gatherings on occasions
other than his lectures, delivering the
annual address before the Albany Insti-
tute in 1833, the annual address before
the Senate of Union College, and a eulogy
upon the death of Jesse Buel before the
State Agricultural Society. His indus-
trious research and native ability were
abundant reason to attract attention to
whatever he undertook. For his virtues
in private life that eminent journalist,
Thurlow Weed, spoke in warmly glowing
terms on his demise, saying: "Herein, if
possible, his character was higher and
nobler than in any other walk of life. To
the qualities which we have described, he
united a pleasing address, a quiet de-
meanor, a generosity of sentiment and an
absence of guile that endeared him
strongly to the circle of his companion-
ship."
WILLIAMS, Chauncey P.,
Financier.
Chauncey Pratt Williams, son of Josiah
and Charity (Shailer) Williams, was born
at Upper Middletown (Cromwell), Con-
necticut, March 5, 1817, died May 30,
1894, at Jerseyfield Lake, Hamilton
county, New York.
Mr. Williams spent the last sixty-nine
years of his life in Albany, and became
through his own activities identified with
every progressive public movement in
that city. He was proud of the rugged
character of his ancestor immigrant from
whom, he declared, had sprung a race of
hardy, industrious farmers of the Revo-
lutionary period, reflecting advantage-
ously in himself. That they were of
robust constitutions and lived longer than
the average life is evidenced by the fact
that the combined lives of the first five
generations in America covered a period
of nearly two and a half centuries. Al-
though none had become very wealthy,
by their industry and frugality they were
able to live well and none of them knew
want. It is known that they were greatly
respected as business men of integrity.
There are no records which do not reflect
credit upon the successive generations.
Invariably the earlier branches of this
family reared large families, and their
children were always well trained.
When Mr. Williams was but sixteen
years old he had made such excellent use
of the advantages within his reach that he
was fitted to take a clerkship in the em-
ploy of T. S. Williams & Brothers, who
were carrying on an extensive commer-
cial business in Ithaca. He was transferred
to the Albany branch of this firm in 1835,
where they conducted a large lumber
business in Albany's famous "Lumber
District," when it was in its greatest
business glory, and four years later suc-
ceeded to the business with Henry W.
Sage as a partner.
It was in banking circles that Mr.
Williams made his life record and
achieved a standing as the Nestor of
Albany bankers. He took charge of the
Albany Exchange Bank in 1861, when
the outlook was disastrous in financial
circles, the capital of the institution
largely impaired, and the duty of upbuild-
ing looked insurmountable. Instead of
continuing to dissolution, as was con-
24
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
templated, he extricated the bank and
placed it in the front rank. He suc-
ceeded in making it a loan agent of the
United States Treasury, and throughout
the Civil War made his bank a center of
distribution for the government loans
issued to carry on gigantic military oper-
ations necessary to save the country. In
fact, his bank was regarded as a rallying
point of cheer in the darkest hours of the
Republic. He practiced the principles of
sound finance so successfully that when
in 1865 the bank terminated its existence
as a State institution to reorganize under
the national banking law, it returned not
alone all its capital, but upwards of fifty-
four per cent, in surplus earnings, besides
paying its regular dividends from the be-
ginning of 1863. Under his wise manage-
ment it repaid to its stockholders in
dividends more than one and a half times
the amount of its capital beyond accumu-
lating a reserve amounting to about
seventy-five per cent, of the capital. As
the president of this bank, his reputation
became so widely known that he was
frequently called upon to address gather-
ings, and his advice on large matters was
often sought. He withdrew from this
institution in 1887; but continued as
president of the Albany Exchange Sav-
ings Bank up to the time of his death.
Mr. Williams exerted his great influence
against the greenback theory of an un-
limited paper issue which threatened to
demoralize the currency and degrade the
country's credit, speaking on the plat-
form and through the medium of his pen,
so that his influence was widely spread to
good effect. He gained a reputation by
his successful resistance of the illegal
taxation of the shareholders of national
banks, believing that they were taxed at a
greater rate than other monied capital in
the hands of citizens. Not desiring to
involve his bank in this matter, he took
up the fight individually, and bringing the
issue to a test in 1874, by refusing to pay
the tax on the shares which he owned, so
that his household effects were levied
upon and sold by the authorities ; but at
the end of seven years of litigation the
United States Supreme Court sustained
his position.
He was a strong opponent of slavery,
and as the treasurer of the Kansas Aid
Society founded in Albany in 1854, sent
out to Kansas one of the first invoices of
Sharpe's rifles with which to arm settlers.
Although exempt by age, he sent a sub-
stitute who fought in the Civil War. He
had also a political career, broadly inter-
ested as he was in affairs of his city, and
was elected alderman in 1849. From
1842 to 1857 he was repeatedly the candi-
date of the Liberal party for Congress.
He was a founder of the Congregational
church of Albany, and every good cause
found in him a staunch friend. One of
the reasons for the success attained by
Mr Williams was his wonderful thor-
oughness and his determination to stand
by his principles. He had a fine con-
stitution which enabled him to accom-
plish a great amount of work without
tiring. His love for study as a means of
gathering more knowledge kept him ever
young and concerned in public mercan-
tile affairs.
Chauncey Pratt Williams married at
Whitesboro, New York, September 13,
1842, Martha Andrews, born in Bristol,
Connecticut, daughter of Reuben and
Ruth (Parmelee) Hough.
FARRELL, John H.,
Journalist.
John Henry Farrell, son of James and
Winifred (McGoewey) Farrell, was born
on the Abbey farm on the west bank of
the Hudson, just south of the city of
Albany, in Bethlehem township, Septem-
ber 1, 18m
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
He received his education in a private
school, and later went to St. Charles Col-
lege, Baltimore, Maryland. He was
hardly more than a lad, however, when
he commenced his association with news-
papers, which career was to be so won-
derfully successful, even if the result were
the outcome of much worriment and
requiring great acumen when embarking
for himself. In 1855 he entered the em-
ploy of the late Luther Tucker, who was
both proprietor and editor of "The Culti-
vator and Country Gentleman," remain-
ing associated with that publication for
fifteen years. During this period he fre-
quently contributed to the columns of
"The Argus." "Express" and the "Albany
Evening Journal," and also at the same
time editing the telegraphic matter com-
ing from the front, for in 1863 he had
accepted the appointment of editor of
telegraph for the Associated Press, which
supplied reports to all the Albany papers.
Throughout the Civil War he found this
work much to his liking, and it inciden-
tally broadened his mind. On January 1,
1870, he became city editor of "The
Argus," succeeding Hon. Daniel Shaw.
About this time he considered forming
the "Sunday Press" in conjunction with
the publication of "The Knickerbocker."
On May 1, 1870, the first issue of the
"Sunday Press" appeared, published by
Myron H. Rooker, James Macfarlane, E.
H. Gregory, John T. Maguire and James
H. Mulligan, who were severally city
editors of local dailies ; but in September
the last three sold their interests to Mr.
Farrell. On June 1, 1871, he retired from
"The Argus" to devote himself to the
"Sunday Press," and to secure the free-
dom to publish a daily in connection
therewith. When Messrs. Farrell,
Rooker and Macfarlane failed to secure
"The Knickerbocker," they organized the
"Daily Press," and its first issue appeared
February 26, 1877. Mr. Farrell, however,
26
was able on August 11, 1877, to purchase
"The Knickerbocker" and consolidated it
with the "Daily Press." In March, 1891,
after twenty-one years of partnership, Mr.
Farrell sold his half interest in the papers
to his partners for $50,000, and he forth-
with purchased the "Evening Union," as
also, that same summer, "The Evening
Times," and the "Albany Daily Sun,"
combining all three under the title "The
Times-Union," perceiving a great oppor-
tunity and field for a penny evening news-
paper which could present the best news
in more attractive style than before, deal-
ing with interests of all classes impar-
tially, and conducted on independent lines
in politics. His plant at the starting was
on the south side of Beaver street, about
midway between Broadway and Green
street ; but the quarters were exceedingly
cramped even for a paper beginning its
career, and leaving no room for expansion.
His paper commenced growing in popu-
larity from the very first, for unquestion-
ably he published the most satisfactory
newspaper in the city and section, and
shortly he acquired the property at the
southwest corner of Green and Beaver
streets, formerly used by the "Albany
Morning Express," at that time secured
by the "Albany Evening Journal" and
once occupied as lodge rooms.
Mr. Farrell's ability as an editor who
perceived what the public wanted and
understood just how to present it in most
modern, attractive dress without lowering
the standard, was only surpassed as a
proprietor who could so plan his campaign
in all its details as to bring as well as
merit success, was indicated more and
more as each year passed, by its rapidly
increasing circulation. His success was
all acquired, not given to him by inheri-
tance, by dint of close, persistent applica-
tion to practical principles which he was
capable of evolving. He was known to
give as much attention to all the details,
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
whether a matter concerning the press
or engine room, with the compositors, or
affecting the editing of news, taking a
hand in the work of almost every depart-
ment daily. Thus he knew his tools,
which were his men, most thoroughly,
which was accomplishing its full intent.
For twenty years his name appeared in
the legislative red book as the Senate
reporter for the New York Associated
Press, back in the days of the Old Capitol
(removed in 1883), and during all that
period he never missed doing his duty,
except when sickness prevented attend-
ance.
He was one of the founders of the
United Press, and for many years its vice-
president. During its first year of exist-
ence he and Mr. Jenkins, of the "Syracuse
Herald," managed its affairs. He was
elected president of the New York State
Press Association at its annual conven-
tion held at Lake George in 1895, by the
unanimous vote of over three hundred
editors. He was a Democrat, ever anxious
to see his party win, and both his sup-
port and counsel were matters much to
be desired. Mayor Swinburne appointed
him, a park commissioner, at the time
when its affairs were controlled by a
board of citizens instead of by a city
department. In financial circles he was
an active associate on a number of
boards, as director of the Albany City
National Bank, vice-president of the
Home Savings Bank and director of the
Commerce Insurance Company. He was
a trustee of St. Agnes' Cemetery Asso-
ciation, and invaluable as such, taking the
work of its larger affairs upon his shoul-
ders and bringing about an increase in its
size, value and beauty. As a trustee of
the Albany Hospital for Incurables he
rendered service never to be forgotten,
and served also as trustee of the Cathedral
of the Immaculate Conception. He was a
charter member of the Fort Orange Club,
and a life member of the Catholic Sum-
mer School at Cliff Haven, on the shore
of Lake Champlain, an institution whose
interests he advanced materially on its
inauguration. He was a trustee of St.
Vincent's Orphan Asylum of Albany and
of the Mohawk & Hudson River Humane
Society, and member of the Chamber of
Commerce, the Albany Institute and of
the Eastern New York Fish and Game
Protective Association. St. John's Col-
lege, Fordham, conferred on him the de-
gree of A. M., in 1891.
He was a man of unbounded energy,
resourceful and progressive in spirit. No
man was more companionable, and per-
sons found him ready to discuss topics
of the day with rare perspicuity and
acumen, especially as concerned great
policies. He was kind to a fault in others
who were weak, zealous in safeguarding
interests committed to his care. As he
was beloved and held as an idol by his
immediate family, it is little wonder that
others spoke well of him. His acts of
charity were conducted unostentatiously,
with frequency and humane kindliness,
by a hand which never seemed closed to
the worthy in distress. It is a fact to be
recalled by those who knew him. best, that
he frequently made it a point in his daily
life to seek ways in which to bring joy
to those in need of cheer, regardless of
whether such appealed or not, and in this
way he is remembered by many of the
hundreds who worked under him. His
success was abundant, and due to con-
sistency of method and steadfastness of
purpose which he ever kept in view. If
he was ever guilty of the natural indis-
cretion of losing his temper or being
ruffled by unpleasant contact with any-
one, he concealed the fact with a self-
control which never prevented him from
continuing the work in hand under low
pressure and avoiding all hindrance by
friction. Naturally warm-hearted and
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
polished in his manner, his suavity and
kindly word counted much in preserving
each acquaintance as a friend.
About a month before his death, a sud-
den and not entirely unexpected sickness
occurring at his office obliged him to
abandon attending to business at his
establishment, and alarmed by the serious
nature of his illness, for several weeks his
family had the best physicians constantly
in attendance ; but on the evening of Feb-
ruary 2, 1901, the long and fruitful life
was ended. He was buried from his resi-
dence, No. 598 Madison avenue, with a
public service held in the Cathedral of the
Immaculate Conception, and laid to rest
in St. Agnes' Cemetery.
John Henry Farrell married Mary
Veronica Gibbons, at Fordham, New
York, June 3, 1869. She was born in New
York City, November 10, 1840. Her
father was John Gibbons, born in Ireland,
a prominent contractor in New York
City, concerned in the erection of the old
reservoir on Forty-second street and
Fifth avenue, and died in that city. Her
mother was Mary McLoughlin, born in
Ireland, died at Fordham, New York.
SHEARMAN, Thomas G.,
Lawyer, Author.
The city of Brooklyn is known through-
out the world as the "City of Churches,"
not so much because of the number of its
religious institutions as because of their
influence on the community. That Ply-
mouth Church has been the most potent
factor in the accomplishment of these
wonderful results goes without saying.
Next to Mr. Beecher, the man who
exercised the greatest influence and
probably did more than any other man
to shape its policy, was Thomas G.
Shearman. He was a man of broad and
liberal views, of cool judgment, calm,
deliberate and dispassionate in his utter-
28
ances, and withal intensely earnest, sel-
dom failing to carry conviction except to
the most prejudiced minds. At the
weekly prayer-meeting his voice was
always heard, and his sayings as well as
Mr. Beecher's were quoted by the press
and echoed and re-echoed from one end of
the country to the other.
Thomas Gaskill Shearman, who might
be termed one of the "Old Guard" of
Plymouth Church, was born in Birming-
ham, England, November 25, 1834. He
came to New York at the age of nine
years with his father, who was a phy-
sician, his mother coming later. Early
overtaken by misfortune through his
father's invalidism, he was thrown on his
own resources, and was self-educated and
self-made ; his intellect was hammered
out upon the anvil of adversity. At the
age of twelve he was out in the world for
himself, his school days ended forever.
At fourteen he entered an office where he
received one dollar per week for the first
year, and two dollars for the second. Out
of his little store of wealth he allowed
himself three cents each day for luncheon ;
but when he heard of Macaulay's "His-
tory of England" he reduced his allow-
ance to two cents, and after two months
bought the first volume.
In 1857 he removed from New York to
Brooklyn, and two years later he was
admitted to the bar. The ensuing seven
years were spent in writing law books,
editing journals, and in other work of this
character. He earned for himself even at
that early period a reputation for accur-
acy and thoroughness, and was known to
the members of the profession as a pains-
taking student. His work attracted the
attention of that eminent jurist, David
Dudley Field, and in i860 Mr. Field
employed him as secretary to the Code
Commission. In 1868 Mr. Field and his
son Dudley took Mr. Shearman into co-
partnership. This was regarded as a high
f t//h?77i <xs / *VCeo4£i4CjM^
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
honor for so young a professional man,
Mr. Shearman being then only thirty-four
years of age. Five years later in 1873,
the firm of Field & Shearman dissolved,
and Messrs. Shearman and Sterling
(John W. Sterling), both members of the
firm of Field & Shearman, entered into
close professional relations under the
name of Shearman & Sterling.
It was about this time that Mr. Shear-
man figured largely in proceedings in
which the Erie Railroad Company was
made a conspicuous litigant. Injunctions
were the order of the day, and Mr. Shear-
man earned even from those who opposed
him the name of being one of the ablest
legal strategists as well as one of the best
informed railroad lawyers in the country.
His originality in devising new and more
effective methods in litigation subjected
him to much criticism, but these methods
were literally copied by his opponents and
critics. His practice of serving injunc-
tions by telegraph, which was the most
severely criticised at the time, has since
been sanctioned by the highest courts in
England, as well as by some of the most
prominent American judges. After the
close of the Henry Ward Beecher trial,
resulting in the acquittal of Mr. Beecher,
mainly through the efforts of Mr. Shear-
man, Shearman & Sterling were retained
in numerous litigations arising out of the
famous gold speculations of 1869, in all
of which they were successful. They were
also largely employed in the foreclosure
of railway companies, the organization
and administration of various corpora-
tions, etc.
Mr. Shearman always took an active
interest in public questions. From his
youth up an advocate of the total aboli-
tion of slavery, he worked vigorously
with the Republican party from 1856 to
1868, but was never a candidate for office.
In respect to tariff, prior to i860, he was
a "protectionist," but he then became a
convert to free trade. From 1880 during
the remainder of his life he devoted much
time to the promotion of absolute free
trade and the abolition of all indirect
taxation. He made numerous addresses
and published several pamphlets upon
these subjects, which awakened much
interest in different parts of the country.
Mr. Shearman was probably as well
known as a public economist as for his
great legal attainments. Among his
most important works, all of which are
recognized as standard publications, are
"Tillinghast & Shearman's Practice"
(1861-1865); "Shearman & Redfield on
Negligence" (1869-8S) ; "Talks on Free
Trade" (1881); "Pauper Labor of Eu-
rope" (1885) ; "Distribution of Wealth"
(1887); "Owners of the United States"
(1889) ; "The Coming Billionaire" (1890) ;
and "Crooked Taxation" (1891).
Mr. Shearman married, January 29,
1859, Miss Elmira Partridge, a daughter
of James Partridge, of Brooklyn. He
died September 30. 1900.
FITZPATRICK, James C,
Civil War Correspondent.
James Charles Fitzpatrick, son of John
Fitzpatrick, a dry goods merchant of
Eighth avenue, New York City, and his
wife, Johanna Tracy, was born November
14, 1841, in New York City. He was
educated in the public schools of that
city, and in 1859 was graduated from the
College of the City of New York, receiv-
ing the degree of A. B., attaining high
honors and standing at the head of his
class in both Latin and Greek. The fol-
lowing year he received the degree of A.
M. from the same institution. He was a
member of the Greek letter fraternity
Theta Delta Chi, and was one of the most
popular.
Mr. Fitzpatrick began his professional
career as a writer of short stories, the
29
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
major part of his earlier efforts being con-
tributions which he sold to the "New
York Ledger." In 1861 he became one
of the staff of the "New York Herald,"
which was a line which suited his inclina-
tion since the time he received his earliest
training, and in which he in time was
well known as he advanced. Upon the
breaking out of the Civil War he was
assigned to field duty as a war corre-
spondent, and during most of that serious
conflict was. attached to the Ninth Army
Corps. For a time he was an aide-de-
camp, with the rank of captain, to
General Burnside, who commanded the
Ninth Corps. He reported, among other
campaigns, the sieges of Vicksburg and
Knoxville, the battle of Fredericksburg,
both attacks on Fort Fisher, and the en-
gagements in the Wilderness. In the
latter campaign he was for a short time a
prisoner in the hands of the Confeder-
ates. During the war he also contributed
drawings of incidents in the field to
"Leslie's Weekly," which made a
specialty of illustrating the entire conflict
as thoroughly as possible, and these draw-
ings by him have recently been repro-
duced in a set of two large volumes be-
cause of their great historical value to
students of the Civil War. He was thus,
it may easily be seen, one of the most
versatile and useful of those who recorded
the incidents of the war, and practically
were making history.
In 1867 he was sent to Albany to report
the proceedings of the Constitutional
Convention of that year, held in the State
Capitol. He likewise represented "The
Herald" in the Legislatures of 1867-68.
In 1870 he was made financial editor and
subsequently city editor, manager of the
newly founded New York "Evening Tele-
gram," and correspondent in charge of
the "Herald" Bureau in the city of Wash-
ington. In 1881 ill health caused him to
resign from the "Herald" staff, and
although for two short periods he was
financial editor of the "New York Star"
and of the "Brooklyn Citizen," the greater
part of his writings in later life consisted
of contributions of a miscellaneous nature
to many periodicals and newspapers. In
politics he was a Republican. He died in
Brooklyn, New York, July 18, 1901.
Mr. Fitzpatrick married, at Albany,
August 4, 1869, Marion Aurelia Mattoon.
Children: 1. Mary Ransom, born in
Brooklyn, New York, May I, 1870; gradu-
ated at Cornell University; in 1910,
principal of public school No. 34, Brook-
lyn. 2. David Mattoon, born at Brook-
lyn, New York, July 6, 1874; by act of
Legislature changed name to David Mat-
toon ; married, at Albany, December 22,
1906, Jennie E. Beckford. 3. John Tracy,
born at Washington, D. C, January 6,
1878; graduated from Cornell Univer-
sity ; admitted to bar of New York State,
1903; assistant legislative reference libra-
rian at State Capitol, Albany. 4. James
Stoddard, born at Washington, D. C,
April 4, 1879; married, at Albany, June
25, 1900, Laura P. Hefferman. 5. Jesse
Arnette, born at Brooklyn, New York,
August 5, 1881 ; married, January 1, 1901,
Florence Broderick ; civil engineer. 6.
Marion Aurelia, born at Brooklyn, New
York, December 28, 1884; graduate of
Cornell University, 1907; teacher in high
school, Hornell, New York. 7. Sarah
Hungerford, born at Brooklyn, New
York, September 7, 1887.
MORTON, Henry,
Scientist, Educator.
Henry Morton was born in New York
City, December 11, 1836, son of the Rev.
Henry Jackson and Helen (McFarlan)
Morton, and grandson of General Jacob
and Catherine (Ludlow) Morton. He at-
tended the Episcopal Academy at Phila-
delphia, and was graduated from the
30
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
University of Pennsylvania, A. B., 1857,
A. M., i860, and took a post-graduate
course in chemistry. With his fellow stu-
dents, Charles R. Hale and Samuel H.
Jones, he translated the Hieroglyphic,
Demotic and Greek texts on the Rosetta
Stone, and prepared the report on the
same published by the Philomatheon So-
ciety in 1859, for which he made all the
chromo-lithographic drawings. He studied
law, 1857-59, an d was instructor in chem-
istry and physics at the Academy of the
Protestant Episcopal Church in Philadel-
phia, 1859-69. He was lecturer on me-
chanics at the Franklin Institute in Phila-
delphia ; was professor of chemistry in the
Philadelphia Dental College in 1863; was
appointed professor pro tempore of chem-
istry and physics in the University of
Pennsylvania during the absence abroad
of Professor John E. Frazer in 1867-68,
and in 1869, when the professorship was
divided, he filled the chair of chemistry.
He was appointed resident secretary of
the Franklin Institute in 1864, delivering
many lectures on light in the Academy of
Music and Opera House, Philadelphia,
which attracted much notice in Europe
and America, and was made editor of the
"Journal" of the Franklin Institute in 1867.
He became president of Stevens Institute
of Technology at Hoboken, New Jersey,
founded from a bequest of Edwin A.
Stevens in 1870. The building was then
being constructed, and President Morton
selected the faculty and arranged the
course of instruction. He was in charge
of a party under the auspices of the
United States Nautical Almanac office,
which made photographs of the total
eclipse of the sun in Iowa, August 7,
1869, securing many successful plates. In
this connection he discovered the true
cause of the "bright line" seen on photo-
graphs of "partial phases" during solar
eclipses. His paper on this subject was
presented by M. Fay to the French Acad-
emy. (See Comptes Rendus, Volume 69,
page 1234). He was a member of a
private expedition to observe the total
solar eclipse, July 29, 1878, at Rawlins,
Wyoming Territory. He was appointed
a member of the lighthouse board in 1878,
to succeed Joseph Henry, deceased, held
the office until 1885, and conducted inves-
tigations on fog signals, electric lighting,
fire extinguishers and illuminating buoys.
The honorary degree of Ph. D. was con-
ferred on him by Dickinson College in
1869 and by the College of New Jersey in
1871 ; also the degree of Sc. D. by the
University of Pennsylvania and LL. D.
by Princeton University, both in 1897.
He was elected a member of the Ameri-
can Philosophical Society in 1867; the
National Academy of Science ; the Amer-
ican Chemical Society and the American
Society of Mechanical Engineers in 1873.
He is the author of many articles on
chemistry and physics, published in
scientific journals of America and Europe.
He was one of the ninety-seven judges
who served as a board of electors in Octo-
ber, 1900, in determining the names
entitled to a place in the Hall of Fame,
New York University. He served as a
scientific expert in numerous important
cases of patent litigation, and by reason
of the revenue so derived was enabled to
contribute to the endowment and enlarge-
ment of the Stevens Institute, to an aggre-
gate amount of $140,000 up to 1901. This
includes, besides a workshop fitted up in
1880, contributions to the fund for the
erection of a chemical building and an
endowment fund for the same of $80,000,
as well as a new boilerhouse and boilers
to supply the entire group of buildings,
costing over $15,000. In 1901 he took a
lively interest in the expedition to ex-
cavate the ruins of Ur of the Chaldees,
and to secure the early setting out of the
same he guaranteed the expenses for the
first year. On February 6, 1902, the
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
institute was further enriched through the
efforts of President Morton by the Car-
negie Laboratory of Engineering erected
at a cost of $65,000 by Andrew Carnegie.
He was married, in 1863, to Clara Whit-
ing Dodge, of New York City. She died
September 20, 1901, at his country resi-
dence, Pine Hill, Ulster county, New
York. Dr. Morton died in New York
City, May 8, 1902.
MURRAY, David,
Educator, Litterateur.
This distinguished scholar and teacher
was born at Bovina, Delaware county,
New York, October 15, 1830. His parents
were Scotch, of the old Murray clan of
Perthshire. They came to America in
1818 and joined the Scotch colony settled
near Delhi. His mother's name was Jean
Black.
With his elder brother, the late Judge
Mur r ay, David Murray, attended the
Delaware Academy, at Delhi, New York.
He prepared for college at the Ferguson-
ville Academy, and entered the sophomore
class of Union College, graduating in
1852, being one of the orators. His class-
mates speak of his personal influence for
good during his student life, as well as
his perfect standing in all of his recita-
tions. He was president of the literary
and debating societies, and of his class at
its meetings and other functions.
On his graduation, he commenced his
lifework as an educator in the Albany
Academy, first as assistant, then as Pro-
fessor of Mathematics, and in 1857 he was
appointed principal of the institution,
which under his charge attained a high
reputation for efficiency, also becoming
financially prosperous. The trustees
gave him the most flattering testimonials
in 1863, when he resigned to become Pro-
fessor of Mathematics and Astronomy in
Rutgers College. Here he built up a dis-
tinguished reputation as a successful
organizer and administrator. He was
always interested in ways beyond his
professorship, and was instrumental in
establishing the Phi Beta Kappa, His-
torical, and Young Men's Christian Asso-
ciation societies, being elected the first
president of these several societies. Also
in both Albany and New Brunswick he
was active in church and Sunday school
work. There is abundant testimony from
his old students of the lasting impression
for good upon their characters. One of
them writes: "What astonished us most
was the ease and habitual courtesy with
which he made us understand that order
and close attention to work were neces-
sities in his classroom, and how many
secrets still undiscovered waited for our
search. His approval became our stand-
ard. We felt it a privilege to be his
student, and we grew to glory in him."
In 1873 ne was called to the great work
of guiding the Japanese to establish their
system of education upon western
methods. The embassy from Japan, con-
sisting of Prime Minister Iwakura and
his associates, who visited America in
1871, invited David Murray to become
superintendent of educational affairs in
Japan, and adviser to the Imperial Minis-
ter of Education. This position he filled,
according to the testimony of the officials
in Japan, in the most satisfactory and
faithful manner from 1873 to I &79-
Kindergarten and public schools, un-
known under the old empire, were estab-
lished throughout the country ; normal
schools for the male and female teachers ;
the Imperial University in Tokio was
reorganized on modern methods ; and
schools for higher education, museums
and libraries, were planned and organized.
On leaving Japan, the Emperor gave him
the following letter: "It is now many
years since you accepted the invitation of
my government to enter its service. You
32
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
have performed your duty with the ut-
most fidelity, and given most important
aid to my subjects in the administration
of educational affairs. I am, therefore,
greatly pleased with your services and
highly appreciate your zeal and ability."
The Emperor also decorated him with
the "Order of the Rising Sun" in recog-
nition of his work, December, 1878.
Since his death, his memory has been
honored in Japan by a sketch of his life
and work, published in the Japanese
"Educational Magazine," by Viscount
Tanaka, who was vice-minister of educa-
tion, associated with Dr. Murray through-
out his connection with Japan. Also the
Japanese Minister and Peace Commis-
sioner Takahira, in public speeches, said
David Murray was the man who laid the
foundation of their modern system of
education. Prime Minister Iwakura said
at an official dinner, "you have opened to
us a pathway to the world of knowledge.
No longer shall we wander from the true
way." The Japanese Minister at Wash-
ington and Consul-General in New York
were represented at his funeral. The
"Tokyo Times" in a notice of his depart-
ure in 1879 said: "During his extended
residence here, Dr. Murray enjoyed a
degree of regard and held a position of
influence surpassed by no foreigner of any
nationality."
Dr. Murray arrived in America, Sep-
tember, 1879, an d in December was called
to Albany as secretary of the Regents of
the University of the State of New York.
It is said that he established this office
on a firm and valuable business working
foundation, which it lacked when he
undertook it. Unhappily, when his office
was moved to the new capitol, the ven-
tilation being imperfect, his room became
impregnated with sewer gas. His health
and physique being most perfect, it was
not until 1886 that he broke down with a
N Y-Vol III — 3 1
severe attack of pachy-meningitis. A
long rest and voyage to Europe restored
him, however, and he resumed and car-
ried on his work until the spring of 1889,
when he resigned and took up his resi-
dence in New Brunswick. Here he
devoted himself to literary work, writing
for the Putnam series the "Story of
Japan." At the time of his death he was
preparing to bring this work down to the
present time. Baron Kentaro Kaneko,
LL. D., in recognition of Dr. Murray's
services to Japan, has made a valuable
addition to the book.
About 1896 Dr. Murray wrote for the
United States Educational Bureau at
Washington the "History of Education in
New Jersey." For the extensive book on
"The Public Service of the State of New
York" he contributed that portion relat-
ing to the organization and work of the
regents. While in Rutgers he published
a "Manual on Land Surveying;" also in
"Scribner's Magazine," in 1873, a popular
exposition of the transit of Venus ; and
in 1874 he was with Professor Davidson
and party at Nagasaki at the time of the
transit.
He contributed to and edited the "His-
tory of Delaware County," New York.
For the Philadelphia Centennial he pre-
pared the volume on "Japanese Educa-
tion ;" and for the American Historical
Association an article on "The Anti-Rent
Episode." He gave lectures on Japan at
Union University and Johns Hopkins
University. In 1876 he prepared and
published a pamphlet and open letter to
Congress, urging the restoration of the
Japanese indemnity fund, $750,000. Later
this indemnity was returned to Japan.
He was called upon for numerous
addresses and monographs. He was a
trustee of Union and Rutgers colleges,
the Albany Academy; secretary of the
trustees of Rutgers College; treasurer of
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
John Wells Hospital for ten years ; and
secretary and treasurer of the special
committee of the New Brunswick Theo-
logical Seminary. He held and executed
his duties of these later institutions up
to March i, 1905, and died March 6 of
that year, ending a life of more than fifty
years af almost ceaseless activity.
He was a member of the Fort Orange
Club, Albany ; University Club, New
York City ; City Club, New Brunswick ;
vice-president and councillor of the
Asiatic Society, Japan ; honorary member
of the Imperial Educational Society,
Tokyo, Japan ; the New Jersey Historical
Society ; and the American Association
for the Advancement of Science. He re-
ceived the degree of Ph. D. from the
University of the State of New York,
and that of LL. D. from Union and
Rutgers colleges.
Dr. Murray was a man who, wherever
his residence might be, made himself felt
in the community for good. He was not
a great talker, but the word fitly spoken
where it was needed, of appreciation of
work well done, of counsel to the student,
was never wanting, as the numerous
testimonies since his death give evidence
with a most pathetic tenderness. He was
a wise and calm and self-reliant man,
eminently modest, not elated by success
or disturbed by failure. He gave time
and thought more than he could well
s^are to the tasks which others devolved
upon him, and the days were not long
enough for the services which he was
ready to undertake in behalf of objects
dear to his heart. His motto was
"Charity beareth all things, believeth all
things, hopeth all things, endureth all
things."
He married, in 1867, Martha A. Neilson,
granddaughter of Dr. John Neilson, of
New York City.
HUNTINGTON, Frederic D.,
Prelate, Author.
The Right Rev. Frederic Dan Hunting-
ton, first bishop of Central New York,
and ninety-third in succession in the
American episcopate, was born at Had-
ley, Massachusetts, May 28, 1819, the
youngest of seven sons of the Rev. Dan
and Elizabeth Whiting (Phelps) Hunt-
ington, grandson of William and Bethia
(Throop) Huntington and of Charles and
Elizabeth (Porter) Phelps, and a de-
scendant of Simon Huntington, who was
born in England in 1629, settled with his
mother in Massachusetts Bay Colony in
1633, and was one of the founders of Nor-
wich, Connecticut, 1660. His father, born
October 11, 1774, was a graduate of Yale
College, Bachelor of Arts, 1794, Master of
Arts, 1797, and Williams College, Master
of Arts, 1798; tutor at Yale, 1796-98;
Congregational minister, subsequently
Unitarian ; published "Personal Memoirs"
(1857), and died m 1864.
Frederic Dan Huntington was gradu-
ated at Amherst College as valedictorian
in 1839, and received his Master of Arts
degree in 1842. He was graduated from
Harvard Divinity School in 1842, and the
same year became pastor of the South
Congregational (Unitarian) Church, Bos-
ton, Massachusetts, which he served until
1855. He was the first preacher to Har-
vard University and Plummer professor
of Christian morals, on the Plummer
foundations, 1855-60. He was also chap-
lain and preacher to the Massachusetts
Legislature for one year. In i860 he re-
tired from the Harvard University and in
March of that year was confirmed in the
Protestant Episcopal church at Cam-
bridge, was ordained deacon in Boston in
September, i860, and priest in March,
1861. He was called as rector of Em-
1233355
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
manuel Parish, Boston, on its organiza-
tion in 1861, and was rector there until
consecrated bishop of Central New York,
April 8, 1869, by Bishops Smith, East-
burn, Potter, Clark, Coxe, Neely, Morris,
Littlejohn and Doane, after having de-
clined the bishopric of Maine in 1866. He
organized the "Church Monthly" with
the aid of Dr. George M. Randall, in 1861,
and became president of St. Andrew's
Divinity School, Syracuse, New York, in
1877. Amherst College conferred upon
him the honorary degrees of Doctor of
Divinity and Doctor of Laws, in 1855 and
1887, respectively, and Columbia Univer-
sity gave him that of S. T. D. in 1887.
Bishop Huntington was the first presi-
dent of the Church Association for the
Advancement of the Interests of Labor.
He was the author of: "Sermons for the
People" (1836; ninth edition, 1869);
"Christian Living and Believing" (i860) ;
"Lectures on Human Society as Illustrat-
ing the Power, Wisdom and Goodness of
God" (i860) ; "Elim, or Hymns of Holy
Refreshment" (1865) ; "Lessons for the
Instruction of Children in the Divine
Life" (1868); "Helps to a Holy Lent"
(1872) ; "Steps to a Living Faith" (1873) '>
"Introduction to Memorials of a Quiet
Life" (1873) ; "The Pastoral Letter of the
House of Bishops at the General Conven-
tion of 1883" (1883) ; "Forty Days with
the Master" (1891), and of occasional
contributions to church periodicals ot.
timely topics affecting the interests of
the working class.
He was married, in 1843, to Hannah
Dane, daughter of Epes Sargent, and sis-
ter of Epes Sargent, the poet. Their son,
James O. S. Huntington, founded the
Order of the Holy Cross in New York
City in 1881, and became known as
"Father Huntington." He was rector of
the Church of the Holy Cross, New York,
and was a missioner and conductor of re-
treats in various parts of the country.
The headquarters of the order were re-
moved to Westminster, Maryland, in
1892. Another son, the Rev. George P.
Huntington, D. D., was rector of St.
Paul's Church, Maiden, Massachusetts,
and St. Thomas' Church, Hanover, New
Hampshire, and professor of Hebrew in
Dartmouth College, also joint author of
"The Treasury of the Psalter." Bishop
Huntington died in Hadley, Massachu-
setts, September 11, 1904.
LANDON, Judson S.,
Lawyer, Jurist, Author.
Judson Stuart Landon, third son of
William and Phoebe (Berry) Landon,
was born in Salisbury, Connecticut, De-
cember 16, 1832, died in Schenectady,
New York, September 7, 1905 He was
born in that part of the town known as
"Lime Rock," and while an infant was
removed to the homestead on "Tory Hill,"
where his father, grandfather and great-
grandfather had lived, and where he
passed his early life, attending the little
old schoolhouse that stands on the slope
of the hill.
He was educated in the Amenia Semi-
nary, Dutchess county, New York, and
New York Conference Seminary, and in
1853 was a teacher of Latin and mathe-
matics in Princetown Academy, south of
Schenectady. He spent a year attending
Yale Law School in 1854, was principal
of Princetown Academy in 1855, and in
1856 was admitted to the bar and began
the practice of his profession in Schenec-
tady, where he subsequently resided. In
1855 Union College conferred upon him
the degree of Master of Arts, and Rutgers
College that of Doctor of Laws in 1885.
He was a supporter of Republican princi-
ples, and in 1856 was elected district attor-
ney of Schenectady county, and reelected
in 1859. In 1865 he was appointed county
judge, and in the same year was elected
35
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
for a term of four years, which he served ;
in the meantime was elected a delegate to
the Constitutional Convention of 1867 in
the Fifteenth Senatorial District.
His public-spirited liberality as a citi-
zen brought his influence to bear in favor
of every popular advance. The improve-
ment of the water and sewer service of his
city owed much to his support, as did
also its hospital and public school sys-
tems. In 1872-73 he was city attorney,
and in the latter year was elected justice
of the supreme court of the State of New
York, for the fourth district, and on the
expiration of his term of fourteen years
in 1887, was unanimously and without op-
position nominated and reelected for a
second term, of fourteen years, which ex-
pired in 1901. From 1884 he served as
one of the justices of the general term of
the third department, designated by Gov-
ernors Cleveland and Hill, until desig-
nated by the latter to act as associate
judge in the second division of the Court
of Appeals in 1891, where he served dur-
ing the existence of that division, when
he returned to the Supreme Court, where
he was assigned to the appellate division
of the third department of the Supreme
Court by Governor Morton in 1895. In
1889 he was designated an associate judge
of the Court of Appeals by Governor
Roosevelt, where he served until the ex-
piration of the term for which he was
elected. In 1902 Governor Odell ap-
pointed him a member of a committee of
fifteen to report to the next Legislature
concerning the condition of the statutes
and laws of the State, and in 1904 he was
appointed by the legislature a member of
the board of statutory consolidation:
Among other public services undertaken
by him were efforts to arouse the world
to secure universal peace and inter-
national arbitration. His judicial career
was marked by fairness and industry. As
a criminal judge, his conscientious, pains-
taking and conspicuous fairness, com-
bined with a sympathy for the accused
which tempered justice with mercy, as
judicial discretion allowed, won the ap-
proval and admiration of the people, the
bar and the bench. When his second
term of office expired, his counsel and
advice were sought in important and in-
teresting business and litigation, chiefly
in the court of appeals.
He early took an active and efficient in-
terest in public affairs and in politics. He
attended the Chicago convention of i860
that nominated Abraham Lincoln for
President, and was firm and unwavering
in his support of the government during
the rebellion. Judge Landon gave twen-
ty-seven years' service on the board of
trustees of Union College, and four years
of that period was president ad interim,
administering the college, advising and
leading the faculty, giving lectures to the
senior classes, and doing all this gratui-
tously and continuously for four years.
His lectures to the senior class on the
Constitution of the United States, and his
lectures before the Albany Law School,
were valuable contributions to public edu-
cation. As an author he produced a
widely celebrated work entitled "The
Constitutional History and Government
of the United States," the fruitage of long
and patient study of the principles under-
lying American political institutions. He
was deeply interested in local history, col-
lected many original documents, and pre-
pared addresses and monographs such as
his "The Burning of Schenectady in 1690."
For "Historic Cities of America" he pre-
pared the chapter on the old Dutch town
of Schenectady. He prepared, delivered
and printed many addresses and lectures,
and was ever ready to serve the call of the
people for instruction or entertainment.
It was said of him that he had a faculty
for friendship. He married, April 26,
1856, Emily Augusta Pierce.
36
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
WELLS, William,
Educator, Lecturer, Writer.
Professor William Wells, Ph. D, LL.
D., was born in New York City, 1820,
died at Schenectady, New York, Decem-
ber 12, 1907. His boyhood and youth
were passed in Philadelphia, Pennsyl-
vania, where his parents removed when
he was nine years of age. His academic
education was obtained in Philadelphia,
where he made good progress toward that
mastery of foreign tongues which later
made him famous. In 1846 he made his
first visit to Europe. He spent a year in
Vienna, as an unofficial attachee of the
American legation, also pursuing studies
at the University. Then he went to Ber-
lin, where he matriculated at the univer-
sity and entered upon a course of study
which led in due time to the degree of
Doctor of Philosophy in 1848. Those
were the days of revolution in Europe,
when Louis Phillipe was driven from the
throne of France, when the Crown Prince
of Prussia, afterwards the Emperor of
Germany, William I., was compelled by
popular hatred to leave his country for a
time ; when Hungary was in open revolt
against Austria, and when the Chartist
agitation threatened revolution even in
England. Professor Wells was deeply
interested in these great events happen-
ing around him. He had an interesting
experience in the Berlin riots that taught
him that he was not able to cope with
the Prussian cavalry. He next went to
the German parliament at Frankfort-on-
the-Main, as secretary to the special
American Embassy to that body. He re-
mained during the entire session as corre-
spondent of the "New York Herald," then
went to Paris, where he spent a college
year as a student at the Sarbonne and the
College de France. Afterwards he trav-
eled over a large part of Europe, return-
ing to the United States in 185 1. He
spent a year in Cincinnati, Ohio, where
he had the honor and pleasure of making
the address of welcome to Louis Kossuth,
on the occasion of the Hungarian patriot's
visit to that city.
In 1852 he was elected Professor of
Modern Languages in Genesee College,
Lima, New York. There he remained
twelve years, during part of the time act-
ing also as principal of the Genesee Wes-
leyan Seminary. In 1865 he was called
to the Chair of Modern Languages and
Literature at Union College, Schenectady,
New York, thus beginning the connec-
tion that was maintained unbroken for
over forty years. In 1872 he received the
degree of Doctor of Laws from the Indi-
ana Asbury University, now known as
De Pauw University. In 1887 the pro-
fessorship at Union College was enlarged
by the addition of the lectureship on cur-
rent history. In the interest of that work
he visited the southern States of the
Union, the West Indies, Mexico, Central
America, Alaska, California, the Rocky
Mountain region, and later made an ex-
tended tour comprising every country of
Europe from the North Cape, with its
strange vision of the midnight sun, to
Greece and Constantinople, Asia Minor,
Egypt, to the Cataracts of the Nile and
the other countries of Northern Africa.
On his return from this, his fourth visit
to the Old World, he was welcomed home
by the alumni of Union College with a
hearty demonstration in New York har-
bor, which attested the deep respect and
affectioa with which he was regarded by
Union College men. The results of his
observations and reflection during his
tours were embodied in a series of lec-
tures, delivered annually to the senior
class and the general public.
In the spring of 1890 Dr. Wells cele-
brated his seventieth birthday and the
37
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
fiftieth anniversary of his entrance upon
the profession of teaching, the same year
marking the completion of a quarter cen-
tury's work at Union College. Fifteen
years longer he continued his connection,
when the burden of years proved too
heavy and he was retired professor emeri-
tus. His beautiful home was on the col-
lege grounds and there he celebrated his
eighty-seventh birthday, April 4, 1907.
He was beloved of the students, to whom
he had endearingly become "Uncle Billy."
At a meeting of the Chicago Alumni As-
sociation twenty-five alumni of the col-
lege banqueting at Chicago sent him this
telegram : "Twenty-five nephews from
Chicago and the Northwest extend heart-
iest greeting, and best wishes for many
years more with Old Union." His activ-
ities were not confined by college walls.
By voice and pen he was long known as
one of the foremost educators. He lec-
tured in all the great cities of the United
States from Boston to San Francisco. He
was the first European correspondent of
the "New York Herald," and during his
last great tour abroad was special corre-
spondent of the "New York Mail and Ex-
press." For over twenty years he was
in charge of the foreign department of
the "Methodist Review," and was a fre-
quent editorial and general contributor to
all the leading papers of the Methodist
Episcopal church. Able articles from his
pen also appeared in the "Independent,"
"Scribner's Monthly" and the "Century
Magazine." He was associated with Dr.
Taylor Lewis in the preparation of the
"Book of Genesis for Lange's Commen-
tary," and translated the Book of Ecclesi-
astes for the same work. When the phil-
anthropist, Daniel Drew, had in contem-
plation the founding of Drew Theological
Seminary, Professor Wells was one of the
men who were called upon for advice and
assistance. He took an active part in the
foundation of the seminary and was ever
after on the board of trustees. He was a
devoted Methodist and for twenty-five
years superintendent of the Sunday
school of State Street Methodist Episco-
pal Church at Schenectady. He was
elected and served as lay delegate to the
general conference of his church in 1872,
the first year laymen were admitted as
delegates. He was again elected to the
general conference of 1876 and served as
one of the secretaries of that conference.
At his death fitting memorials were
passed by different bodies, from which we
quote the faculty in part :
He was not only immensely useful to the col-
lege by his scholarship and attainment, but made
for himself a place in the hearts of the students,
which he kept long after graduation. For nearly
half a century he has been closely and affec-
tionately connected with every one's thought of
the college. As a personal friend Professor
Wells was loved and honored, not only by the
faculty, students and alumni of Union, but far
more widely; for his sympathy and interests had
brought him into connection with many per-
sons and many institutions, and he came to no
work or occupation where he did not attain the
affection as well as the respect of those with
whom he was associated.
The passing years but added to the kindliness
of his nature, to his devotion to the College, and
to his love for his pupils of the past and pres-
ent. Not inappropriately was he called "The
Grand Old Man of Union College."
Professor Wells married, July, 1854,
Alice Yeckley, born at Gorham, Ontario
county, New York, March 15, 1836, died
at Schenectady, April 26, 1906. She was
educated at Genesee Wesleyan Seminary
and Genesee College (afterwards Syra-
cuse University). They removed to
Schenectady in 1865, and there resided
until death. Like her husband, Mrs.
Wells was a devoted Christian worker in
the Methodist Episcopal church, espe-
cially in missions and work among the
young. She was for many years presi-
38
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
dent of the Woman's Foreign Missionary
Society of the First (State Street) Church
and for twelve years president of the
Woman's Auxiliary of the Young Men's
Christian Association. She organized
and was president of the Mother's Club
connected with the Young Women's
Christian Association. She was closely
identified with the social life of the col-
lege, and in all respects was a worthy
helpmeet and companion. One child,
Alice M. Wells, survived her parents, re-
siding in Schenectady. New York.
TILLINGHAST, Charles Whitney,
Man of Affairs.
Charles Whitney Tillinghast, second
son of Benjamin Allen and Julia Ann
(Whitney) Tillinghast, was born in East
Greenwich, Rhode Island, May 23, 1824.
He obtained his early education in pri-
vate schools and then entered Kent Acad-
emy in East Greenwich, Rhode Island.
His educational progress was brilliant
and he frequently earned many honors by
his intellectuality. Subsequently he be-
came a student at Talcot's private school
at Lanesboro, Massachusetts, and his pur-
suits there were crowned with many
achievements.
He accompanied his parents to Troy,
New York, in 1830, and from that time
on to his death his interests were centered
in that city. In 1840 he entered the hard-
ware and iron business as a clerk for
Warren, Hart & Lesley, which firm was
succeeded by J. M. Warren and C. W.
Tillinghast, under the name of J. M. War-
ren & Company. In 1864 Thomas Allen
Tillinghast became a member of the firm,
and June 10, 1879, he died; February 10,
1887, the firm was incorporated as J. M.
Warren & Company, with Joseph M.
Warren, president ; Charles Whitney
Tillinghast, vice-president; H. S. Darby,
treasurer ; and Joseph J. Tillinghast, sec-
retary. Other incorporators were Charles
Whitney Tillinghast, 2nd., son of Thomas
Allen Tillinghast, F. A. Leeds and H.
Frank Wood. September 9, 1896, Joseph
M. Warren died and Charles Whitney
Tillinghast succeeded to the presidency
of the company, November 30, 1897.
Joseph Joslin Tillinghast, who had suc-
ceeded to the vice-presidency when his
brother, Charles W., was elected presi-
dent, died and was succeeded by his
nephew, Charles Whitney Tillinghast,
2nd. The original house of J. M. Warren
& Company was inaugurated in 1809,
when Jacob Hart and Henry Mazro estab-
lished a hardware business in Troy.
There were firm changes and in 1836 Wil-
liam H. Warren became a member of the
firm that has ever since been in the War-
ren name. When Mr. Tillinghast first be-
came connected with the business, the
books were kept in pounds, shillings and
pence, postage between New York and
Troy was eighteen and three-quarter
cents. A private firm started an express
that delivered letters for ten cents, which
rate continued until the government re-
duced the postage to five cents. The firm
of J. M. Warren & Company carry on a
large hardware jobbing business, and in
their one hundred years of business life
have made but three changes in location,
all of which were within a few hundred
feet of the original. The rapid growth of
the business was largely due to the per-
sonal efforts of Mr. Tillinghast. Follow-
ing his advent into the firm the business
increased to such a volume that addi-
tional space was demanded, and they
erected the warehouse on Front street
connecting by a bridge with the main
store situated on the corner of Broadway
and River streets, and in 1870 the large
and spacious building on the same corner
was constructed and has since been the
home of the concern. In the early days
of this house nearly all the hardware sold
39
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
was imported from England and Ger-
many, orders had to be placed from four
to six months in advance and all goods
were manufactured to order, no stock
being carried by manufacturers. A num-
ber of employees have been with the firm
for over a quarter of a century; Samuel
Kendrick, their first traveling salesman,
was with them thirty-five years, and Wil-
liam Bennett was in charge of the iron de-
partment fifty years. In 1872 the com-
pany purchased the Troy Stamping Com-
pany's plant in South Troy and manufac-
ture there tin and sheet iron ware.
Mr. Tillinghast's activity in the com-
mercial life of Troy was marked by un-
flagging industry, intelligent application
to business, and the highest probity and
integrity, which characterized his entire
life. He helped to foster and develop the
financial and business enterprises that
are now the city's pride. He was vice-
president of the United National Bank
of Troy and the Troy Savings Bank;
director of the Security Trust Company ;
director of the Rensselaer & Saratoga
Railroad Company, which was the first
railroad to enter Troy, and on his retire-
ment from the directorate in 1908 the
board of directors passed resolutions of
appreciation and regret. He was one of
the first trustees of the Fuller & Warren
Company which was incorporated De-
cember 31, 1881, and was also most in-
strumental in the establishment and ad-
vancement of the Walter A. Wood Com-
pany, of Hoosick Falls, New York. He
was a member of the Troy Citizens'
Corps prior to the war of the rebellion,
and when the Old Guard was organized,
July 25, 1879, as an auxiliary body, Mr.
Tillinghast was chosen president and
participated in 1878 with the company
in the public escort at the funeral of
Colonel James R. Hitchcock in New
York. He was an honorary member of
the corps at the time of his death.
Mr. Tillinghast was one of the first to
start the project for a new post-office
building in Troy, obtaining the petitions
and statistics for the same, and he was
one of the five citizens named as a com-
mission to select a site for the govern-
ment building. His only connection with
municipal life was for a short period
when he served as president of the pub-
lic improvement commission. He was
deeply interested in Troy's volunteer fire
department, and was one of the charter
members of the old Washington volun-
teer steamer company, having served as
its secretary and later as its captain. In
subsequent years he directed his atten-
tion to the Arba Read steamer company,
and was one of the citizens who pur-
chased the first engine for the company
from private funds. He was instrumen-
tal in the establishment and organization
of the Young Men's Christian Associa-
tion in 1895 and was one of the first trus-
tees. He was also one of the organizers
and trustee of the Public Library of
Troy, trustee of Marshall Infirmary,
trustee of the Episcopal Church Home,
and for several years president of the
Emma Willard Seminary. In June, 1896,
when the movement was inaugurated to
construct the Samaritan Hospital, Mr.
Tillinghast was one of the first citizens
to respond and pledge his support, and
his interest in the development and prog-
ress of the institution never abated. He
was a close friend of the late Rev. John
Ireland Tucker, D. D., who for more than
half a century was rector of the Church
of the Holy Cross, and an intimate friend
of Bishop William Croswell Doane, of
this diocese.
Aside from his business activity and
remarkable record, the work in which
Mr. Tillinghast found most pleasure and
gratification was his connection with the
Troy Orphan Asylum. He served as
vice-president of the institution from
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
1872 to 1876, and was then made presi-
dent, which office he occupied at the time
of his death. It was his life work and
for it he was honored and esteemed. In
his forty years' interest in the welfare of
the orphans he never missed visiting the
asylum every Sunday afternoon unless
detained by illness or absence from the
city. Each of those visits was eagerly
looked forward to by the little ones, who
recognized in him a protector and guar-
dian of the true Christian type. He sel-
dom journeyed to the asylum without
carrying a large package of candy for
the children who always surrounded him.
His interest in the institution grew from
the time the asylum was housed in its
first building on Eighth street, and it
was principally through his labors that
the present beautiful home was erected
on Spring avenue. His philanthropic
acts carried the institution through many
storms. In addition to being unwearied
in his devotion to the interests of the
asylum, he was marvelously successful
in enlisting the interests of others in its
behalf. On May 10, 1892, when the
corner-stone of the new building was laid.
Mr. Tillinghast delivered an address. Mr.
Tillinghast was a member of St. John's
Episcopal Church ; he was elected ves-
tryman July 13, 1879, elected warden
March 29, 1880, and was senior warden
at the time of his death. He was one of
the founders of St. Luke's Episcopal
Church and a member of its first vestry;
the first services were held at that church,
May 17, 1868. He was a member of the
standing committee of the Albany dio-
cese and was chairman of the general
committee of the Church Congress. He
was a Republican all through the exist-
ence of that party.
Mr. Tillinghast was by nature an able
and far-seeing business man, of indomit-
able perseverance and energy, he never
considered such a word as failure when
beginning the accomplishment of any
task he had set himself to perform. Many
of the best enterprises of Troy have been
aided by his wise counsel and means.
His beneficences have been large and nu-
merous, his acts of philanthropy per-
formed in an unostentatious manner, he
was an earnest humanitarian and spent
much of his busy life in unselfish devo-
tion to the welfare of his fellowmen.
Many of those who knew Mr. Tilling-
hast had but slight knowledge of the im-
portant positions he came to fill, and the
weighty responsibilities he carried for
himself and others. He was quiet in
manner and a pleasing conversationalist.
Progressive in his ideas, still his nature
was so tempered that he was successful
in every undertaking he began. He was
a man of unquestioned integrity and his
career was marked by deeds of kindness
that will live while memory lasts. The
magnitude of the operations of the com-
mercial house of which he was at the
head are alike monumental to the genius
of the eminent citizen who has finally
answered the Master's call. Mr. Tilling-
hast married, December 1, 1852, Mary
Bowers Southwick, of Troy. He died
April 27, 1910.
BLESSING, James H.,
Manufacturer, Inventor, Public Official.
For fully fifty years Mr. Blessing was
actively engaged in business in Albany,
although not born there, and he was
known more or less intimately by busi-
ness men and others from the South End,
where his plant had been and thrived for
a great many years, to the North End,
where later was his establishment with
office, and from the river to the Pine
Hills section, for his political life had
brought him into contact with people
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
outside the business centers of the city.
To all of these people he was much more
than a common friend, for they regarded
him as a man of sterling integrity and
business principles, as one possessing
uprightness of character and actuated by
the noblest purposes. Frequently they
sought him for his sound advice, often
for genial and generous encouragement,
and at times for charitable help. They
never went to him in vain. It was not
uncommon for him to offer.
James Henry Blessing was born at
French's Mills, near Sloan's, in Albany
county, September 14, 1837. His father
was Frederick I. Blessing, and his
mother was Lucinda (Smith) Blessing.
When he was about five years of age his
parents moved into Albany, and he was
able thus to attend the city's schools
near where they lived. At the age of
twelve he secured a position as a clerk
in a grocery store, but this did not prove
to his liking. It was so uncongenial that
he cast about for something else to do,
in which, with his heart in his work, he
might the better count upon success to
reward patient effort. He abandoned the
position in 1853 and became an appren-
tice in the machinist trade, which evi-
dently well suited his natural inclination
and accounts for his success all through
life. The new position was with the large
firm of F. & T. Townsend, and there he
completed his term of instruction in 1857,
but remained with this firm until 1861.
This was at the time when Albany was
cast into excitement over the outbreak
of the Civil War. It was a place where
recruiting was going on beneath tents
erected in the broad streets, and a drum-
mer upon the outside kept people's
patriotism at a glow. With the late Gen-
eral Frederick Townsend, he worked
hard over the invention of a novel form
of a breech-loading rifle intended for
army use. From its improvement over
older mechanical devices they contem-
plated great results, and their endeavors
were induced largely through patriotic
motives, for General Townsend shortly
recruited a regiment in Albany with
which he departed for the front, while
Mr. Blessing likewise entered the serv-
ice in defense of the Union, but applying
his ability in his individual field. Mr.
Blessing entered the United States navy
as an acting assistant engineer. He was
very acceptable, for he was an expert
and thoroughly interested in his line. He
participated in both battles of Fort Fish-
er. His enlistment dated under Commo-
dore Porter, March 29, 1864, and he
served continuously, receiving promo-
tions. From 1862 to 1864 he was con-
nected with the construction department
of the New York Navy Yard at Brook-
lyn. No matter what honors came to
him afterward, he cited that period of
his life with greatest pride, for its scope
was the nation's existence, the later honor
a city's advancement. Following the
close of the war, he was engineer in
charge of the steam machinery of the
Brooklyn City Railroad Company.
He returned to Albany in 1866 to ac-
cept the position of superintendent of
the extensive foundry and machine works
of Townsend & Jackson, in the southern
part of the city and upon the Hudson
river front. It was in its day the most
important works of this character for
many miles around, having succeeded to
the firm with which he had served his ap-
prenticeship, and the management had
fullest confidence in his ability. In the
year 1870 Mr. Blessing invented the "re-
turn steam trap," which has become well
known and is used generally in nearly all
parts of the globe. It was regarded as a
great step in advance, and his friends,
perceiving this, were willing to back him
42
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
financially. Leaving the Townsend &
Jackson firm in 1872 he, with General
Frederick Townsend, engaged in the
business of manufacturing and selling
steam traps under the firm name of
Townsend & Blessing. The business
proved a success, and in 1875 the Albany-
Steam Trap Company was formed, with
three stockholders — General Townsend,
the late Henry H. Martin and Mr. Bless-
ing.
Mr. Blessing's mechanical training had
developed many novel and useful inven-
tions, among them steam engines, steam
pumps, steam traps, steam boilers, valves,
steam packing, pump governors, steam
and oil separators, friction clutches, boiler
purifiers, water filters and many other
useful contrivances which the firm manu-
factured. The breadth of his training
and experience led many persons busily
engaged upon inventions to come to him,
and it was often the case that his assist-
ance, freely given, helped to bring about
the perfection of a mechanical appliance
which had failed to work until he gave
it his attention. Often people came to
him, that at his word credence would be
placed in their work.
Before his election as mayor of Albany,
he had held but one public office, that of
supervisor. He represented the Fifth
Ward on the board in the years 1894-95,
and during the latter year was the presi-
dent of that body. After the mayoralty
term he retained an interest in politics ;
but having declined to accept a second
nomination, because of the time demand-
ed from his business and through im-
paired health, he sought no other office,
yet continued as vice-president of the
Fifth Ward Republican organization,
and was a delegate from his ward to the
convention nominating Mayor McEwan.
He was elected the sixty-first mayor at
the election held November 7, 1899, head-
ing the Republican ticket, and was the
first man of that party to be elected
mayor for a period of some twenty years.
The significance of this is that he ac-
complished what a dozen other leading
Albany Republicans had failed to achieve.
Out of the total of 22,848 votes cast, he
received 12,364, and Judge Thomas J.
Van Alstyne, Democrat, 9,995 votes. He
had turned a continuous Democratic ma-
jority into a handsome Republican vic-
tory, and took office on January 1, 1900,
officiating through two full years. He
was the first mayor to serve under the
new charter granted to cities of the sec-
ond class, and, while experimental in
some ways, his administration has gone
into municipal history as one of the most
successful and satisfactory. During his
term, among many important civic
events, were the city's endeavor to cope
with the serious strike of the traction
line; Public School No. 12 was com-
pleted ; the first public bath was opened ;
the city was draped in mourning for Mc-
Kinley ; reconstruction of the Central
railroad's bridge across the Hudson was
completed ; the Chamber of Commerce
was organized ; an enormous ice gorge
at Cedar Hill threatened the business in-
terests, the freshet being the greatest in
forty-three years, and being twenty feet
above the normal required city relief by
the police navigating the streets in boats ;
the Pruyn Library was given to the city
and accepted in a speech by him ; the
Albany Institute united with the Albany
Historical and Art Society ; a children's
playground was inaugurated in Beaver
Park ; the cruiser "Albany" was placed in
commission ; reconstruction of the Cen-
tral railroad's viaduct crossing Broad-
way; coal famine because of the strike
in Pennsylvania fields; Albany County
Bar Association incorporated ; curfew
law advocated at common council hear-
43
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
ings ; the new and costly Union Railway
station opened; Albany connected with
Hudson by an electric line ; Chinese Min-
ister Wu Ting-fang, LL. D., a guest of
the city; the John Marshall centennial
ceremonies held in the assembly cham-
ber; annexation of Bath to Rensselaer;
Dana Park opened and dedicated by Mr.
Blessing; the Schenectady railway run-
ning its first electric cars into Albany;
statistical record at the filtration plant
inaugurated ; completion of the resurfac-
ing of Madison avenue with asphalt; the
Humane Society acquired its own build-
ing, and improvements instituted in
many of the schools. These constitute
the affairs with which he was directly
concerned, either because of his advocacy
and consideration in some form as the
city's executive, or through his personal
solicitude; and they go to show the ad-
vancement of the city's interests in vari-
ous directions as affected by his connec-
tion therewith, while in many minor ways
there was a steady improvement in which
all citizens benefited. In these ways his
term will remain memorable. Mr. Bless-
ing was a member of the American Soci-
ety of Mechanical Engineers, of the Al-
bany Institute, and the Capital City Re-
publican Club. He was an attendant of
the Baptist church, and resided at No.
107 Eagle street.
Mr. Blessing married (first) at Albany,
September 15, 1857, Martha Hutson, who
died July 17, 1866 ; children : Martha, mar-
ried Charles W. Backus, and died in New
York City, January 5, 1907; Lucinda,
died in infancy. Mr. Blessing married
(second) at Pittsfield, Massachusetts,
November 9, 1870, Mrs. Mary (Gilson)
Judd. residing in Albany in 1910. County
Treasurer John W. Wheelock married
Miss Judd, a daughter of his second wife,
and both residents of Albany. Mr. Bless-
ing had also two sisters living in Albany
— Miss Lucretia Blessing and Mrs. Sarah
J. Laning.
Mr. Blessing was not a man of robust
health, although active in attention to
business, and after suffering for a little
more than a week with an attack of
grippe, at the end sank rapidly and died
early in the morning of February 21,
1910. Having always lived a quiet,
domestic life, the funeral was held at his
home to avoid public demonstration, the
Rev. Creighton R. Storey, pastor of the
First Baptist Church, officiating, and
Mayor James B. McEwan issued a proc-
lamation, ordering: "As a mark of ap-
preciation of the impress made by him
upon the life of our city, it is ordered that
the flags be placed at half staff upon all
the city's public buildings, until after his
funeral, and that the heads of city depart-
ments and members of the Common
Council attend his funeral with the
Mayor, in a body."
CUYLER, Theodore L.,
Distinguished Divine.
From early manhood the Rev. Theo-
dore Ledyard Cuyler, D. D., LL. D., de-
voted his labor, his thought and his en-
ergy to the uplifting of his fellow men,
and his name and work formed the most
important chapter in the history of the
Lafayette Avenue Presbyterian Church
of Brooklyn, New York.
He was born in Aurora, New York,
January 10, 1822, and traced his descent
from Huguenots and Hollanders who
came to the shores of the new world at
an early day. Members of the family
were particularly prominent at the bar.
His grandfather practiced with success
in Aurora for many years, and his father,
B. Ledyard Cuyler, also attained to an
eminent position in the legal profession,
but died at the early age of twenty-eight
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
years. The care of the son fell to the
mother, a woman of strong Christian
character, who had marked influence
upon the life of her son. She always
cherished the hope that he might enter
the ministry, and a little pocket Bible
which she gave him he learned to read
when four years of age. Others of the
family hoped that he would become a
lawyer, believing that he could attain dis-
tinction in that profession, and, while he
had the mental ability to become eminent
therein, he determined to enter a calling
that led him into close contact with his
fellow men. At the age of sixteen he be-
came a student in Princeton College, and
three years later was graduated with
high honors. The following year was
spent in Europe, where he formed the
acquaintance of Thomas Carlyle, Wil-
liam Wordsworth and Charles Dickens,
and his visits to those celebrated English
writers were among the most pleasant
memories of his life. Travel broadened
his knowledge, and his mind was stored
with many interesting reminscences of
the sights and scenes which he viewed
when abroad. Upon his return, his
father's family again urged him to be-
come a member of the bar, but his
mother's influence and other agencies in
his life were stronger. When a young
man he was asked to address a meeting
in a neighboring village. Several in-
quirers professed a religious belief that
evening, saying that the young man had
made the way plain to them. This
brought to him a recognition of his influ-
ence and power, and he resolved to de-
vote his activities to the cause of the
Master. His preparatory studies for the
ministry were pursued in the Princeton
Theological Seminary, where, on the
completion of a three-years' course, he
was graduated in May, 1846.
His first ministerial services after being
licensed to preach was as supply to the
church at Kingston, Pennsylvania, where
he remained for six months. Not long
afterward he accepted the charge of the
Presbyterian church in Burlington, New
Jersey, where his labors were so success-
ful that it was felt he should be employed
in a broader field. Accordingly, he left
Burlington to take pastoral charge of the
newly organized Third Presbyterian
Church in Trenton, New Jersey, where
he remained until the summer of 1853.
In May of that year he received a call
from the Shawmut Congregational
Church in Boston, but declined it, and
accepted a call from the Market Street
Reformed Dutch Church in New York
City, where he felt his field would be
broader and more congenial by reason
of the greater demands it would make
upon him. His work there at once at-
tracted public attention. His earnest-
ness, his clear reasoning, his logical argu-
ments and his brilliant gifts of oratory,
attracted large audiences, and his work
among young men was particularly suc-
cessful. For seven years he continued
as pastor of that congregation, and in
i860 entered upon his important work
in connection with the Lafayette Avenue
Presbyterian Church of Brooklyn, New
York. The exodus from New York to
Brooklyn was beginning to be felt about
this time, and the need for better church
accommodations in the latter city had
long been so pressing as to engross the
attention of many earnest Christians. A
conference on the subject was held May
16, 1857, by a number of gentlemen con-
nected with Dr. Spear's "South" Church,
and it was decided to form a "new-
school" church. Soon after its organiza-
tion, Professor Roswell D. Hitchcock, of
the Union Theological Seminary of New
York, supplied the pulpit, and during his
ministry there the church society, first
45
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
numbering but forty-eight souls, in-
creased so rapidly that the little brick
chapel was found inadequate to contain
the audiences. It was a season of
spiritual awakening all over the land, —
the revival of 1858, — and Park Church
(as it was then known) shared in the
general improvement and met the de-
mand upon its accommodations by build-
ing an addition. In January of the fol-
lowing year (1859) Professor Hitchcock
resigned, and was succeeded as pulpit
supply by the Rev. Lyman Whiting, ot
Portsmouth, New Hampshire, who six
months later also resigned, and for an
additional six months the congregation
was without a regular minister.
About this time Dr. Cuyler was offered
the pastorate, but the outlook of his own
church was then so promising that he
declined the call. Shortly afterward,
however, the Dutch church began to fal-
ter in its project of planting its new edi-
fice in the new and growing part of the
city. With keen foresight. Dr. Cuyler
anticipated the rapid change that was
soon to transform unpopulated districts
of Brooklyn, and believed that it would
prove a splendid field for Christian labor.
It was then he took into consideration
the offer of the pastorate of the Park
Church. He visited the Fort Greene sec-
tion of Brooklyn, and then informed the
committee which waited on him that if
their congregation would purchase the
plot at the corner of Lafayette avenue
and Oxford street and erect thereon a
plain edifice large enough to accommo-
date about two thousand people, he
would accept the call. It seemed a great
undertaking for the little congregation,
with its membership of only one hundred
and forty people, but the committee
agreed to the proposition, and within ten
days the purchase of the land was effect-
ed, at a cost of $12,000. At an additional
cost of $42,000 there was erected a splen-
did stone structure, modeled after Rev.
Henry Ward Beecher's church, and hav-
ing also the same seating capacity. Work
began on the new edifice in the fall of
i860, and on March 12, 1862, the com-
pleted church was dedicated. This was
practically the work of Dr. Cuyler, who
in April, i860, was formally installed as
pastor.
He entered upon his work with an en-
thusiasm born of strong determination,
firm convictions and noble purpose. His
brilliant oratory soon attracted the atten-
tion of Brooklyn citizens, and his forceful
utterances, showing forth the divine pur-
pose, appealed to the understanding of
thinking people. The church grew with
marvelous rapidity, and as rapidly as pos-
sible Dr. Cuyler extended the field of his
labors. In 1866 there were more than
three hundred additions, and he felt that
its growing strength justified the estab-
lishment of a mission. Accordingly, in
Warren street, the Memorial Mission
School was organized, the direct outcome
of which was the Memorial Presbyterian
Church, which became one of the strong-
est and most prosperous in that section
of the city. The Fort Greene Presby-
terian Church also had its origin in one
of Dr. Cuyler's mission schools which
was established in 1861, with a member-
ship of one hundred and twelve. The
Classon Avenue Church was also another
direct branch of the Lafayette Avenue
Presbyterian Church. In the twenty-five
years following its incorporation, Dr.
Cuyler's congregation contributed $70,-
000 to city missions, and its gifts as re-
ported for the year 1888 exceeded $53,000.
The Sunday school, the Young People's
Association and the various charitable
and benevolent organizations became im-
portant adjuncts of the church work.
The church membership in 1890 was
46
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
nearly 2,400, and the Sunday school num-
bered 1,600 ranking the third largest in
the General Assembly.
With all these extensive and important
undertakings under his supervision, Dr.
Cuyler also did the work of pastor as well
as of teacher and leader, and perhaps no
man in the Christian ministry ever more
endeared himself through the ties of love
and friendship to his parishioners. For
thirty years he remained pastor of the
Lafayette Avenue Presbyterian Church,
and then voluntarily severed his relations
therewith. He addressed his people in
the following words on Sunday, Febru-
ary 2, 1890:
Nearly thirty years have elapsed since I
assumed the pastoral charge of the Lafayette
Avenue Church. In April, i860, it was a small
band of one hundred and forty members. By
the continual blessing of Heaven upon us, that
little flock has grown into one of the largest and
most useful and powerful churches, in the Pres-
byterian denomination; it is the third in point
of numbers in the United States. This church
has now 2,330 members; it maintains two mis-
sion chapels; has 1,600 in its Sunday school, and
is paying the salaries of three ministers in this
city, and of two missionaries in the South. For
several years it has led all the churches of
Brooklyn in its contributions to foreign, home
and city missions, and it is surpassed by none
other in wide and varied Christian work. Every
sitting in this spacious house has its occupant.
Our morning audiences have never been larger
than they have this winter. This church has
always been to me like a beloved child. I have
given to it thirty years of hard and happy labor,
and it is my foremost desire that its harmony
may remain undisturbed and its prosperity may
remain unbroken. For a long time I have in-
tended that my thirtieth anniversary should be
the terminal point of my present pastorate. I
shall then have served this beloved flock for an
ordinary human generation, and the time has
come for me to transfer this sacred trust to
some one who, in God's good providence, may
have thirty years of vigorous work before him
and not behind him. If God spares my life to
the first Sabbath of April it is my purpose to
surrender this pulpit back into your hands, and
I shall endeavor to cooperate with you in the
search and selection of the right man to stand
in it. I will not trust myself to-day to speak of
the sharp pang it will cost me to sever a con-
nection that has been to me one of unalloyed
harmony and happiness. When the proper time
comes we can speak of all such things, and in
the meanwhile let us continue on in the blessed
Master's work and leave our future entirely to
His all-wise and ever loving care. On the walls
of this dear church the eyes of the angels have
always seen it written, "I, the Lord, do keep it,
and I will keep it night and day." It only re-
mains for me to say that after forty-four years
of uninterrupted ministerial labor it is but rea-
sonable for me to ask for relief from a strain
that may soon become too heavy for me to bear.
A feeling of the greatest sorrow was
manifest throughout the congregation,
many of whom had grown up under his
active pastorate. On April 16, in the
church parlors, a farewell reception was
held, on which occasion a purse of $30,-
000 was presented to Dr. Cuyler — one
thousand dollars for each year of his
service as pastor, the gift indicating in
unmistakable manner the love which his
congregation bore for him.
However, his friends were not limited
to his own congregation, for through his
writings he had become known through-
out the civilized world, and he had many
admirers among those who have been
helped by his earnest and inspiring
words. He was a constant contributor
to the religious journals of the country,
including the "Christian Intelligencer,"
"Christian Work," "The Watchman,"
"Christian Endeavor World," "Evangel-
ist" and "Independent." He prepared
about four thousand articles for the
press, and wrote seventy-five tracts,
many of which were republished in Eng-
lish, German and Australian newspapers.
In 1852 he published a volume entitled
"Stray Arrows," containing selections of
his newspaper writings. He was the
author of eighteen published volumes, of
which "Cedar Christian," "Heart Life,"
47
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
"Empty Crib," "Thought Hives," "Point-
ed Papers for the Christian Life," "God's
Light on Dark Clouds" and "Newly En-
listed" were reprinted in England, where
they had a large sale. The "Empty Crib"
was published after the death of a be-
loved boy, nearly five years of age, and
the subsequent loss of a beautiful and
accomplished daughter was the occasion
of his writing a marvelously touching
production entitled "God's Light on Dark
Clouds." In addition to the works men-
tioned, he was author of the following:
"How to be a Pastor," "The Young
Preacher," "Christianity in the Home,"
"Stirring the Eagle's Nest" and other
sermons, and "Beulah Land." A selec-
tion from his writings, entitled "Right to
the Point," was published in Boston.
Six of his books were translated into
Swedish and two into Dutch.
To a man of Dr. Cuyler's nature the
needs of the world were ever manifest and
elicited his most hearty, earnest and de-
voted cooperation. The great benevolent
movements and reform measures re-
ceived his aid, and he labored earnestly
in behalf of the Young Men's Christian
Association mission schools, the Chil-
dren's Aid Association, the Five Points
Mission, and the Freedmen; while his
work in the National Temperance Soci-
ety was a most potent influence in pro-
moting temperance sentiment among
those with whom he came in contact as
teacher and preacher. He served as presi-
dent of the National Temperance Society
of American. In 1872 he went abroad as
a delegate to the Presbyterian Assembly
in Edinburgh, Scotland, on which occa-
sion he won the warm friendship of many
eminent Presbyterian divines of Great
Britain. His friends were drawn from
the most cultured and intelligent, and
these included Spurgeon, Gladstone,
Dean Stanley, Dickens, Carlyle, Neal
Dow, Lincoln, Horace Greeley and John
G. Whittier.
In 1853 Dr. Cuyler was united in mar-
riage to Annie E. Mathiot, a daughter of
the Hon. Joshua Mathiot, a member of
Congress from Ohio. Her labors ably
supplemented and rounded out those of
her husband. She was in hearty sym-
pathy with him in all of his church work
and in his efforts for the upbuilding of
man, and in a no less forceful, but in a
more quiet way, her influence was ex-
erted for the benefit of God's children.
From the time of his retirement from
the ministry until near the close of his
life Dr. Cuyler devoted his time to
preaching and lecturing in colleges and
to literary work. A monument to his
splendid accomplishments is found in the
Cuyler Chapel of the Lafayette Avenue
Presbyterian Church, which was named
in his honor by the Young People's As-
sociation of that organization in 1892.
A large mission church, seating one thou-
sand people and erected in 1900 by the
Lafayette Avenue Church, in Canton,
China, was named the Theodore L. Cuy-
ler Church. He died February 26, 1909.
DUTCHER, Silas B.,
Man of Affairs, Philanthropist.
Silas B. Dutcher was born July 12,
1829, on his father's farm on the shore
of Otsego Lake, in the town of Spring-
field, Otsego county, New York, son of
Parcefor Carr and Johanna Low (Frink)
Dutcher, grandson of John and Silvey
(Beardsley) Dutcher, great-grandson of
Gabriel and Elizabeth (Knickerbocker)
Dutcher, and great-great-grandson of
Ruloff and Janettie (Bressie) Dutcher,
who were married at Kingston, New
York, in 1700, and in 1720 removed to
Litchfield county, Connecticut. Ruloff
Dutcher is believed to have been a grand-
48
t/Yf, Jh<^fc^>J?
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
son of Dierck Cornelison Duyster, under-
commissary at Fort Orange in 1630,
whose name appears in deeds of two
large tracts of land to Killian Van Rens-
selaer. His maternal grandparents were
Stephen and Ann (Low) Frink, and his
maternal great-grandparents were Cap-
tain Peter and Johanna (Ten Eyck) Low,
and his great-grandfather was an officer
in the Continental army. Johanna Ten
Eyck was a descendant of Conrad Ten
Eyck, who came from Amsterdam, Hol-
land, to New York in 1650, and owned
what is now known as Coenties Slip, New
York City. Another of his ancestors was
William Beardsley, who was born at
Stratford, England, in 1605, came to
America in 1635, settling at Stratford,
Connecticut, four years later, and an-
other one was Harman Janse Van Wye
Knickerbocker, of Dutchess county, New
York.
Silas B. Dutcher attended the public
schools near his father's farm each sum-
mer and winter from the age of four
until the age of seven years, and after
that he had a little more schooling in the
winter season, and one term at Cazenovia
Seminary. He began teaching winter
schools at the age of sixteen, and taught
every winter until he was twenty-two,
working on his father's farm during the
remainder of each year. In the fall of
185 1, owing to a temporary loss of his
voice which prevented him from teach-
ing, he found employment at railroad
construction, but soon became a station
agent and subsequently a conductor, and
for more than three years was employed
on the old Erie Railway from Elmira to
Niagara Falls, New York. He then went
to New York and entered mercantile
business, to which he devoted his ener-
gies through the terrible panics of 1857
and i860 without severe misfortune. In
1868 he was appointed Supervisor of In-
n Y-Voi in— « 49
ternal Revenue, a position which he at
first declined, but was urged by his
friends to accept. Against his own judg-
ment, and, as events proved, greatly to
the detriment of his financial interests,
he took the office. He was unable to give
attention to his own business, his partner
was not equal to its management, and he
soon discovered that all he had accumu-
lated by twelve years of hard work was
scattered and gone, and he was obliged
to sell the real estate he owned to meet
his liabilities.
Even as a boy he had been more or
less interested in politics. His grand-
father was a Democrat, and Silas B.
Dutcher was often called upon to read
his Democratic newspaper to him; his
father was a Whig, and the result was
that he had an opportunity at an early
age to learn something of the claims of
both parties. Before he was twenty-one
he became interested in the question of
freedom, or the extension of slavery in
the territories — the most vital question
of that day — and while yet little more
than a boy, in 1848, did some effective
campaign speaking for General Taylor.
When he went to New York Mr.
Dutcher resolved to have nothing to do
with active politics, but the breaking up
of a Republican meeting in the Bleecker
building in the Ninth Ward brought him
out most decisively, and he was quite
active politically from 1856 to 1861. In
1857 he was president of the Ninth Ward
Republican Association ; in 1858-59 he
was chairman of the Young Men's Repub-
lican Committee; and in i860 he was
president of the Wide-Awake Associa-
tion. During the last year mentioned he
became a member of the Board of Super-
visors of the county of New York. His
business demanded his attention, and
there were other reasons why, in the fall
of 1861, he moved to Brooklyn in order
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
to sever his relations with that body.
William M. Tweed was a member of the
board at that time, and began to develop
some of the schemes which eventually
caused his downfall. Mr. Dutcher was
not willing to vote ignorantly on any
question or to act upon the representa-
tions of other members, who he believed
held their personal interests above the
interests of the county. As a resident of
Brooklyn he again resolved to keep out
of politics, but the riots of 1863 brought
him in close relations with active Repub-
licans, and he found himself again in the
political harness. He held the office of
Supervisor of Internal Revenue from
1868 until 1872, a period of four years,
at first under appointment of Hugh Mc-
Cullough, the Secretary of the Treasury,
and later under appointment of President
Grant. In November, 1872, he was ap-
pointed United States Pension Agent, re-
signing that office in 1875 to accept a
position in the employ of the Metropoli-
tan Life Insurance Company, which he
held until appointed United States Ap-
praiser of the Port of New York by
President Grant, which latter position he
held until 1880. He was Superintendent
of Public Works of the State of New
York from 1880 until 1883, appointed by
Governor Cornell. At the close of his
term in the last named office, President
Arthur requested him to accept the office
of Commissioner of Internal Revenue, to
which he replied that he had held office
fourteen years, and that all he had to
show for that service was a few old
clothes ; that if he accepted the position
tendered him and held it one or more
years, he would retire with about the
same quantity of old clothes as he had at
the beginning, and so much older and less
available for other business, and that the
remainder of his life must be devoted to
making some provision for his wife and
children, and consequently he must de-
cline further office-holding.
He was a member of the charter com-
mission which framed the charter of
Greater New York, appointed by Gov-
ernor Morton, and was appointed a man-
ager of the Long Island State Hospital
by Governor Black, and reappointed by
Governor Roosevelt. He was a Whig
from 1850 to 1855, and became a Repub-
lican at the organization of that party.
After locating in Brooklyn he was the
chairman of the Kings County Repub-
lican Committee for four years, a mem-
ber of the Republican State Committee
for many years, and was the chairman of
the Republican Executive Committee of
the State in 1876. He served as a dele-
gate to several Republican national con-
ventions, and was on the stump in every
presidential campaign from 1848 to 1888.
From the time he became a resident of
Brooklyn until the consolidation was
consummated, Mr. Dutcher was an ad-
vocate of the consolidation of Brooklyn
and New York. As a member for four
years of the Brooklyn Board of Educa-
tion, he exerted all his influence for the
advancement of the public schools. As
a member of the Charter Commission for
Greater New York, he labored earnestly
to secure equal taxation and home rule
for the public schools, believing that the
system and management were better than
in Manhattan, and better than any other
submitted to the community. No work
of his life gave him more satisfaction
than the results in the charter on these
two points. He also took an active in-
terest in Sunday school affairs, and was
superintendent for ten years of the
Twelfth Street Reformed Church Sun-
day school, at a time when it was one of
the largest schools in the State.
Mr. Dutcher resumed business to some
extent in 1885, when he formed a copart-
50
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
nership with W. E. Edminster in a fire
and marine insurance agency, which ex-
isted for a number of years. He was one
of the charter trustees of the Union Dime
Savings Institution of New York City,
organized in 1859, and became its presi-
dent in 1885. In the spring of 1901 he
was invited to and accepted the presi-
dency of the Hamilton Trust Company.
He was for twenty years a director in the
Metropolitan Life Insurance Company,
and was a director in the Garfield Safe
Deposit Company and the Goodwin Car
Company. He was a member of the
Dutch Reformed Church, treasurer of the
Brooklyn Bible Society, one of the man-
agers of the Society for Improving the
Condition of the Poor, a member of the
Brooklyn and Hamilton clubs and of the
Masonic fraternity, and president of the
Association of the Brooklyn Masonic
Veterans in 1896.
When Mr. Dutcher took up his resi-
dence in Brooklyn the population of the
city was about 275,000. What is now the
Park Slope was then open fields. The
small settlement known as Gowanus was
all there was south of Flatbush avenue.
He witnessed the city grow from a little
more than a quarter of a million souls to
more than a million and a quarter, the
Park Slope transformed into one of the
finest residential sections of the city, and
the three or four churches in that part of
Brooklyn increase in large measure. He
knew every one of Brooklyn's mayors
from George Hall, the first executive,
down to the time of his death, and also
knew personally every Governor of the
State of New York, from William H.
Seward to Benjamin B. Odell, except
Governor William C. Bouch and Gov-
ernor Silas Wright. His political career
was one to note with respect. He was
never an applicant for any office that he
filled, and he never became a dependent
on a political office. Every public em-
ployment to which he was called was a
business employment and he fulfilled its
duties in a way to prove his fitness for
private employment and his life exhibited
a union of public and private service
which was creditable citizenship.
Mr. Dutcher married, February 10,
1859, Rebecca J. Alwaise, a descendant
of John Alwaise, a French Huguenot,
who came to Philadelphia in 1740. Her
grandmother was a descendant of John
Bishop, who came from England in 1645,
and settled at Woodbridge, New Jersey.
The children of Mr. and Mrs. Dutcher
were : DeWitt P., Edith May, Elsie Re-
becca, Malcomb B., Jessie Ruth and Eva
Olive. Mr. Dutcher died February 10,
1909.
DE VINNE, Theodore L.,
Art Printer, Author.
Theodore Low De Vinne, one of the
most accomplished printers of his day,
and a founder of the New York Typothe-
tse, was born in Stamford, Connecticut,
December 25, 1828, son of the Rev. Dan-
iel and Joanna Augusta (Low) De Vinne.
He acquired a common school educa-
tion, and at an early age entered the
office of "The Gazette," at Newburgh,
New York, and learned the printer's
trade, remaining there four years. In
1849 he came to New York City and took
employment in the printing house of
Francis Hart, and ten years later he be-
came junior partner in the firm of Fran-
cis Hart & Company. At the time of the
death of Mr. Hart in 1877, Mr. De Vinne
became manager of the business, and in
1883 it was incorporated by Theodore L.
De Vinne & Company. Mr. De Vinne
became world-wide known as a most ac-
complished printer, and recognized as a
foremost leader in improvement in the
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
art of typography. He printed the "St.
Nicholas" magazine from 1873, and "The
Century" from 1874. He was one of the
founders and the first secretary of the
New York Typothetse, and president of
the United Typothetae of America, 1887-
88; a president of the Grolier Club, and
a prominent member of the Aldine Asso-
ciation, and of numerous art and literary
clubs both in the United States and in
Europe. He was a frequent contributor
to leading art journals and other period-
icals, and was author of the following
published volumes: "Printer's Price
List" (1869) ; "Invention of Printing"
(1876) ; "Historic Types" (1884) ; "Chris-
topher Plantin" (1888) ; "Plain Printing
Types" (1900) ; "Correct Composition"
(1901); "Title Pages" (1902); "Book
Composition" (1904) ; "Notable Printers
of Italy During the Fifteenth Century"
(1910). Columbia and Yale Universities
conferred upon him the honorary degree
of Master of Arts.
He married, in 1850, Grace Brockbank,
daughter of Joseph Brockbank, of Wil-
limantic, Connecticut; she died May 7,
1905. Mr. De Vinne died February 16,
1914.
JAMES, Henry,
Prolific Author.
Henry James was by common consent
one of the leading American writers of
his day, yet one of the least frequently
read by the masses.
He was born in New York City on
April 15, 1843, son of the Rev. Henry
James, a noted clergyman and Sweden-
borgian. His brother, the late William
James, attained world-wide fame as a
psychologist.
Henry James's education gave wide
latitude to his inclinations. After spend-
ing many years in the schools of Switzer-
land and France, he returned to Amer-
ica and entered the Law School of Har-
vard University. In 191 1 Harvard hon-
ored him with the Degree of Humane
Letters. Even before crossing the ocean
for the first time as a youth, Mr. James
had been deeply interested in the society
of other lands. He himself relates how
he spent many boyhood hours pouring
over the pages of "Punch," absorbing
English traditions and atmosphere, for
which he held the greatest admiration.
While a student at Harvard his literary
inclinations were disclosed. It was his
wont to shut himself up in his room for
several days at a time, refusing food, ex-
cept what was brought to him, and de-
voting himself entirely to the task of
evolving plots, characters, skillful de-
scription and dialogue. While at that
institution he came under the influence
of James Russell Lowell.
In 1869 he went abroad for the second
time, on this occasion to make his home
in Paris. He soon found, however, that
London and nearby spots in England
fitted his temperament better. He pur-
chased a fine estate at Rye, on the sea-
coast of Sussex, about seventy miles from
London. He returned to this country
but once since, and then after an absence
of twenty-five years. The European war,
beginning in 1914, seemed to have
touched his heart harder than did the
American struggle of half a century be-
fore. He was deeply disappointed when
he realized the United States did not in-
tend throwing its armed forces to the as-
sistance of the allies and the succor of
Belgium.
In 1915 Mr. James became a British
subject. In a statement he gave the fol-
lowing reasons for changing his allegi-
ance : "Because having lived and work-
ed in England the best part of forty
years; because of my attachment to the
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
country, my sympathy with it and its
people ; because of long friendships, asso-
ciations and interests formed here, all
have brought to a head a desire to throw
my moral weight and personal allegiance,
for whatever it may be worth, into the
scale of the contending nations in the
present and future fortune."
Mr. James was made welcome by the
English. The King bestowed upon him
the Order of Merit, through the medium
of Lord Bryce. There are only eleven
civilian members of this order, which was
instituted as a mark of special distinc-
tion for naval or military service, or for
work in art, literature and science.
Not long afterwards Mr. James was
taken seriously ill. While his malady
was not of an acute nature, he was told
by his physicians that it would prove
fatal within a few months. He was one
of the few novelists said to have never
been interviewed. He always refrained
from answering critics and from explain-
ing passages in his books. In his works
published since 1908 Mr. James wrote a
special preface to each, giving its history
and certain autobiographical notes which
he knew would be appreciated by his
many admirers. His use of language
was masterly. He was so conscientious
of detail that he sacrificed simplicity to
such an extent that his long, involved
sentences became a tradition. He was
noted for his unfailing flow of words, and
his subtle blendings and shadings of
thought. Throughout his many works
were cryptograms of a type most puz-
zling to his readers.
Among his works were: "Watch and
Ward," 1871 ; "A Passionate Pilgrim,"
1875 ; "Doderick Hudson," 1875 ; "Trans-
atlantic Sketches," 1875 ; "The Amer-
ican," 1877; "French Poets and Novel-
ists," 1878; "The Europeans," 1878;
"Daisy Miller," 1878; "An International
Episode," 1879; "Life of Hawthorne,"
1879; "A Bundle of Letters," 1879; "Con-
fidence," 1879; "Diary of a Man of Fifty,"
1880; "Washington Square," 1880; "The
Portrait of a Lady," 1881 ; "Siege of Lon-
don," 1883; "Portraits of Places," 1884;
"Tales of Three Cities," 1884; "A Little
Tour of France," 1884; "Author of Bell-
traffic," 1884; "The Bostonians," 1886;
"Princess Casamassima," 1886; "Partial
Portraits," 1888; "The Aspern Papers,"
1888; "The Reverberator," 1888; "A Lon-
don Life," 1889; "The Tragic Muse,"
1890; "Terminations," 1896; "The Spoils
of Poynton," 1897; "WhatMaisie Knew,"
1897; "In the Cage," 1898; "The Two
Magiis," 1898; "The Awkward Age,"
1899; "The Soft Side," 1900; "A Little
Tour in France," 1900; "The Sacred
Fount," 1901 ; "The Wings of the Dove,"
1902; "The Better Sort," 1903; "The
Question of Our Speech and the Lesson
of Balzas (lectures), 1905; "American
Scene," 1906; "Italian Hours," 1909;
"Julia Bride," 1909; "Novels and Tales"
(24 vols), 1909; "Finer Grain," 1910;
"The Outcry," 191 1, and "Small Boys
and Others," 1913.
When in 191 5 Mr. James took up his
permanent residence in England, and be-
came a British subject, his health was
failing, and his death occurred on Febru-
ary 28, 1916, at his residence in Chelsea.
HARRIMAN, Edward Henry,
Capitalist, Financier.
Edward Henry Harriman was born at
Hempstead, Long Island, February 25,
1848, son of Rev. Orlando and Cornelia
(Neilson) Harriman, grandson of Or-
lando and Anna (Ingland) Harriman, and
great-grandson of William Harriman, a
native of Nottingham, England, and a
member of the Worshipful Company of
Stationers in London, who came to Amer-
53
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
ica in 1795 and settled in New York City.
His father was a man of broad education,
and as a young man served as junior prin-
cipal of the academy at Ossining, New
York. He took orders in the Protestant
Episcopal Church, was assistant rector at
Tarrytown, New York, and for five years
was rector of old St. George's Church, at
Hempstead, Long Island ; his later years
were passed in Jersey City, New Jersey.
Edward H. Harriman was educated at
Trinity School, New York City, and in
Jersey City, New Jersey. He began his
business career as a clerk in a broker's
office in Wall street, New York City. He
manifested great aptitude for the details
of the business, and soon realized the
possibilities of large financiering. At the
age of twenty-two he opened a brokerage
office in his own name and made his ap-
pearance on the floor of the Stock Ex-
change as a member and trader. In 1872,
two years later, he founded the banking
firm of Harriman & Company, with James
and Lewis Livingston as partners, and
his younger brother, William M. Harri-
man, subsequently became identified with
the firm. Shortly after the year 1890 Mr.
Harriman began to give his entire time
and abilities to railroad interests, com-
mitting the banking business to his
brother, William M. Harriman, with
Nicholas Fish and Oliver Harriman (a
cousin) as partners. From the outset,
Edward H. Harriman was successful in
his enterprises, and was recognized as an
operator of remarkable foresight and
judgment. His first active interest in
railways grew out of his acquisition of
stock in the Sodus Bay & Southern and
the Ogdensburg & Lake Champlain rail-
roads, two small lines in northern New
York, in both of which he became direc-
tor. In 1883 he was elected a director of
the Illinois Central Railroad Company,
and with which his service continued
until his death. He was elected vice-
president of the company in 1887, but re-
signed the position in 1890. In 1893 he
participated in a reorganization of the
Erie Railroad Company, undertaken by
J. Pierpont Morgan, and his signal suc-
cess in this transaction led him to devote
his activities toward the constructive re-
organization of other lines. Having made
a thorough study of railways and railway
management, he came to the conclusion
that there was urgent necessity for their
expansion and improvement — an enlarge-
ment of their capacity to serve the public.
Many important roads were then in a
demoralized financial condition, and some
of them practically bankrupt. They were
poorly equipped, and various western
roads particularly were without adequate
traffic on account of crop failures and a
general paralysis of business. Mr. Harri-
man was made a director of the Union
Pacific Railroad Company in December,
1897, was elected chairman of its execu-
tive committee, May 23, 1898, and presi-
dent, June 7, 1904, which offices he held
until his death. The Union Pacific sys-
tem, was soon brought to comprise the
Union Pacific, the Oregon Short Line,
and the Oregon Railway & Navigation
roads. After the death of Collis P. Hunt-
ington in 1900, the Union Pacific re-
sources were used to secure the controll-
ing interest in the Southern Pacific Com-
pany, this carrying control of the Central
Pacific railway, the Oregon & California
railroad, the Southern Pacific railroad,
the South Pacific Coast railway, and Mor-
gan's Louisiana & Texas Railroad &
Steamship Company, as well as many
short feeder roads. Mr. Harriman be-
came a director and chairman of the exec-
utive committee of the Southern Pacific
Company in April, 1901, and president on
September 6, offices he also held until his
death. The Southern Pacific Company
also operated a line of boats from Galves-
ton and New Orleans to New York. The
54
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
services rendered by Mr. Harriman to
the great region served by the Union
Pacific and Southern Pacific systems
directly, and indirectly to the entire coun-
try, are incalculable. While managing
the immense interests of his systems so
as to make them profitable, Mr. Harriman
also devoted them to the service of the
public, frequently without compensation.
When San Francisco was visited by an
earthquake and conflagration, he at once
realized that the sufferers could be re-
moved from hunger and suffering more
quickly than they could be relieved by
gathering and carrying supplies to them,
and accordingly he removed two hundred
thousand people and their belongings to
the surrounding country. Besides a gen-
erous personal contribution, he ordered
his railways to transport without cost the
gifts of food and supplies which the
American people sent to the stricken city,
and in this way his railroads gave prob-
ably about a million dollars in free freight
service.
In 1899, while planning an outing to
Alaska for his family, Mr. Harriman con-
ceived the idea of making it a scientific
expedition. After consultation with the
officers of the Washington Academy of
Sciences, a number of noted scientists
were made members of the party, among
them five biologists and zoologists, three
ornithologists, five botanists, three geolo-
gists, a glaciologist, an anthropologist,
an entomologist, three artists, two physi-
cians, a mining engineer, a forester, a
geographer, two taxidermists and two
photographers. Mr. Harriman bore the
entire expense of the expedition, and pub-
lished a record of its results in three
sumptuous volumes. In 1903-04 Mr.
Harriman was president of the New York
State Commission appointed by Governor
Odell to participate in the Louisiana Pur-
chase Exposition, and in that capacity
delivered one of the opening addresses.
He was very fond of children, and the
most conspicuous illustration of the prac-
tical character of this interest is the Boys'
Club of New York, the oldest and largest
club of its kind in the world, of which he
was president from the time he organized
it in 1876 until his death. He erected a
club house at a cost of nearly $250,000,
and habitually paid its financial deficits,
at times amounting to more than a thou-
sand dollars a month. In the club rooms
ten thousand boys from the so-called
slums of New York find free facilities for
giving expression to their talents and am-
bitions, absolutely without any formal
attempt at religious or moral instruction.
Unquestionably Mr. Harriman will be
remembered as one of the most notable
financiers and railroad men of the world.
In boldness, broadness and accuracy of
conception and in vigor and success of
execution, he had no equal in contempo-
rary business, and in the short span of
years that his activities covered, no single
individual in the world's financial and in-
dustrial history ever accomplished greater
results or rendered more substantial pub-
lic service in the development and admin-
istration of private enterprise. His bril-
liant achievements brought great honor
to his name, but their price to him was
death, for in the fulness of his success he
died a martyr to labor and responsibility.
No man of such character and accom-
plishments could escape opposition and
criticism, but these to Mr. Harriman were
but spurs to greater and better endeavors,
and the great good he did in the promo-
tion of commerce and the development of
the resources of the West will be the
measure by which his life's work will be
tested. Personally Mr. Harriman was a
congenial companion, a great favorite
among his associates, and always a leader
in whatever was going on in the club and
social life of New York City.
Mr. Harriman married, at Ogdensburg,
55
EXCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
New York, September 10, 1879, Mary W.,
daughter of William J. Averell, who bore
him six children. He had an intense love
for the family circle, and he inculcated in
his children a proper regard for the con-
ventionalities of fine breeding, a due ob-
servance of their responsibilities towards
the various charitable institutions of the
metropolis. To carry out one of the plana
initiated by him, Mrs. Harriman, within
a few months after his death, conveyed
to the State of New York from the Harri-
man estate ten thousand acres and the
sum of $1,000,000 for the extension and
development of a State park, which was
designed through the assistance of other
large gifts to preserve as a public park
along the west bank of the Hudson river,
one of the most picturesque landscapes in
the world, extending from Fort Lee to
Newburgh, over a distance of sixty miles.
While Mr. Harriman maintained a city
residence in New York, his country home
was on an estate of 25,000 acres at Arden,
in the Ramapo Hills, Orange county. New
York, where his death occurred, Septem-
ber 9, 1909.
POTTER, Henry C,
Prelate of Protestant Episcopal Church.
Henry Codman Potter was born in
Schenectady, New York, May 25, 1834,
son of Alonzo and Maria (Nott) Potter,
his mother being a daughter of the famous
Eliphalet Nott, for sixty-five years presi-
dent of Union College. His father was
Bishop of Pennsylvania ; his uncle, Hora-
tio Potter, Bishop of New York ; of his
brothers, Clarkson Nott Potter was a
Congressman from New York for sev-
eral terms ; Robert B. Potter was a briga-
dier-general in the Civil War; Howard
Potter was a distinguished banker: Ed-
ward T. Potter was a well-known archi-
tect, and Eliphalet Nott Potter was presi-
dent of Union and afterward of Hobart
College.
Henry Codman Potter was educated at
the Episcopal Academy in Philadelphia,
and graduated from the Theological Sem-
inary of Virginia in 1857. He was or-
dained to the priesthood October 15, 1858,
and was at once called to be rector of
Christ Church, Greensburg, Pennsyl-
vania. In 1859 ne was called to St. John's
Church, Troy, New York, and seven
years later went to Boston as assistant
minister on the Green foundation of Trin-
ity Church, which position he held for
two years. In May, 1868, he was called
to the rectorship of Grace Church, New
York City, where for fifteen years he
labored unceasingly, not only in the serv-
ice of the church, but as a citizen devot-
ing himself freely to the betterment of
the City of New York along social and
educational lines. During this period his
uncle, Bishop Horatio Potter, of New
York, was advanced in years, and, having
asked for an assistant, in 1883 Henry C.
Potter was elected Assistant Bishop, and
was consecrated at Grace Church, Octo-
ber 20, 1883. He at once entered upon
episcopal duties, Bishop Horatio Potter
almost immediately withdrawing from
active administration, leaving the burden
of the work upon the nephew, and who
from the beginning manifested his emi-
nent fitness for the task. Bishop Horatio
Potter dying in 1887, Henry C. Potter
entered upon the bishopric of a diocese
the largest in point of population of his
church in America, and having, at the
time of his death, 405 clergymen, 257
church edifices, 256 parishes and mis-
sions, 81,388 communicants, 3,820 Sun-
day school teachers, and 41,835 Sunday
school scholars.
Bishop Potter's labors in Grace Church,
while he was yet a rector, formed an
epoch in church history, and, it may also
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
be said, made a new chapter in sociology.
Here he defined the mission of the church
as one that should meet man's human as
well as his spiritual needs. The tide of
population had been rapidly sweeping
northward and away from Grace Church.
The question of removal was mooted, but
the young rector resolutely turned his
face toward the poor, the lowly, the hum-
ble, and the needy of the neighborhood,
and wrought out a quality of Christian
socialism that promoted sociability and
drew the neighborhood together in a com-
mon interest. Under his rectorship the
influence of Grace Church extended itself
in many directions. The chapel in East
Fourteenth street was continued as a suc-
cessful mission. Grace House, Grace
Church Day Nursery and the chantry
were added to the group of church build-
ings, while the beauty of the edifice itself
was much enhanced, increased by the ad-
dition of the graceful marble spire, the
chimes, a new chancel, and new windows.
Mr. Potter, while yet a rector, was secre-
tary of the State Charities Aid Associa-
tion, and one of the founders of the Char-
ity Organization Society ; and he was
also secretary of the house of bishops for
fifteen years, a service which was of great
value to him and when he himself came to
be a bishop. He passed part of one sum-
mer at the pro-cathedral in Stanton street,
in order to observe for himself the condi-
tions under which the poor dwell in one
of the most crowded districts of New
York. As a member of the National Civic
Federation, he was frequently called upon
as an arbitrator in controversies between
employers and employees. As bishop he
administered the diocesan affairs with
wisdom and great breadth of view, and
his time and strength were spent unceas-
ingly to build up, to vitalize and to ex-
tend the work of his church. His inter-
est extended throughout the entire do-
main of conscientious citizenship. On
various public occasions his voice was
raised at moments when it found an echo
throughout the land, three instances being
especially notable. The first was on the
occasion of the Washington centennial
celebration, of which President Nicholas
Murray Butler, of Columbia University,
said : "I like to remember the service
Bishop Potter did — and it was a bold
service — -when he stood on a historic occa-
sion in the pulpit of old St. Paul's and in
the presence of a President of the United
States said what was in his heart about
corruption in our public life and the cor-
roding influence of the spoils system in
politics. The whole nation, east and
west, north and south, rose to its feet in
splendid appreciation, not only of his
courage, but of the sure instinct which
led him to seize that dramatic moment
to say to every American what under
other circumstances perhaps but few
Americans would have heard." Again,
in 1895, there was a movement for the re-
form of city politics, and an effort to
throw off the yoke of Tammany, but the
men to whom the city should have been
able to turn in her hour of need had no
better remedy to suggest than an alliance
with the machine of the opposing political
party. Only a group of citizens, members
of the comparatively unimportant good
government clubs, had the courage to
protest against such a sacrifice of princi-
ple. In vain they appealed to the leading
men of New York to aid them in their
effort, but only Bishop Potter clearly saw
the issue and made it plain in a letter
which was posted on the boardbills all
over the city as a campaign appeal. The
third occasion was when the alliance be-
tween the city police and criminals had
been forced upon his knowledge by the
neglect and insolence with which the pro-
tests of the vicar of the pro-cathedral in
Stanton street were received by the local
police captain, and where the conditions
57
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
were such that the young girls of the
neighborhood were not safe in the streets.
His public letter to Mayor Van Wyck
opened the eyes of the people to the ex-
istent frightful conditions, and caused a
real moral awakening, if not the defeat
of the Tammany candidate at the ensuing
election. Characteristic of his entire
career was his activity in public affairs,
and he valued such extra-clerical oppor-
tunities as a part of the prophetic func-
tion of his ministry. At the same time
he was never too remote a Christian to
be out of reach of human relations, nor
too much a man of the world to forget
the sacredness of his calling.
The project of building the magnifi-
cent Cathedral of St. John the Divine,
though conceived in the mind of Bishop
Horatio Potter, would have ended in
failure but for the unceasing efforts of
his bishop-nephew, Henry C. Potter. In-
corporated in 1873, the work progressed
slowly with no great degree of public in-
terest, but, after many vicissitudes during
a period of eight years, the cornerstone
was laid in 1892, and at the time of his
death about $3,500,000 had been contrib-
uted for its erection. The honorary de-
grees conferred upon Bishop Potter were:
Doctor of Divinity by Harvard, Union
and Oxford (England) ; Doctor of Laws
by Union, University of Pennsylvania,
Yale, Cambridge (England), and St. An-
drews (Scotland), and Doctor of Civil
Law, Bishops College (Canada). He was
the author of "Sisterhoods and Deacon-
esses" (1873); "The Gates of the East"
(1877) ; "Sermons of the City" (1881) ;
"Waymarks" (1892); "The Scholar and
the State" (1897) ; "Addresses to Women
Engaged in Church Work" (1898) ; "God
and the City" (1900) ; "The Industrial
Situation" (1902) ; "Man, Men and Their
Masters" (1902) ; "The East of To-Day
and To-morrow" (1902) ; "Law and
Loyalty" (1903) ; "The Drink Problem"
(1905) ; "Reminiscences of Bishops and
Archbishops" (1906). Bishop Potter was
married first, in 1857, to Eliza Rogers
Jacobs, of Spring Grove, Lancaster, Penn-
sylvania ; and (second) in 1902, to Mrs.
Elizabeth Scriven Clark, widow of Alfred
Corning Clark, of Cooperstown, New
York. Bishop Potter died at Coopers-
town on July 21, 1908, and on October 20,
the twenty-fifth anniversary of his conse-
cration, his body was placed beneath the
floor of the altar in the crypt of the great
cathedral which owed so much to his
effort.
ALVORD, Thomas G.,
Lawyer, Legislator.
Thomas Gold Alvord was born at
Onondaga, New York, December 20, 1810,
of English and Dutch antecedents. His
paternal ancestor, Alexander Alvord, emi-
grated to this country from Somerset-
shire, England, in 1634, and settled in
East Windsor, Connecticut. His mater-
nal ancestor, Abram Jacob Lansing, came
from Holland in 1630 and located at Fort
Orange (now Albany), New York. He
became the patroon of Lansingburgh,
which place is named after him. A num-
ber of his ancestors were soldiers in the
Revolution, and his paternal grandfather
served also in the French and Indian
wars. His father, Elisha Alvord, mar-
ried Helen Lansing, at Lansingburgh.
Thomas Gold Alvord received his early
education at the academy at Lansing-
burgh, New York, and afterward matri-
culated at Yale College, from which he
was graduated at the age of eighteen.
He subsequently studied law, and in
October. 1832, was admitted to the bar.
In January. 1833, he entered upon the
practice of his profession at Salina, now a
portion of Syracuse, New York. In 1846
he gave up his law practice and engaged
in the manufacture of lumber and salt, in
58
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
which he attained a high degree of suc-
cess. In i860 Mr. Alvord gave up the
lumber part of his business and there-
after devoted himself entirely to the
manufacture of salt. He held various
local offices at Salina, and in November,
1843, was elected to the New York As-
sembly, and from that time forward his
name was prominently connected with
the history of his native State. From
1864 to 1866 he was Lieutenant-Governor
of New York, and from 1867 to 1868 was
a member and vice-president of the State
Constitutional Convention. In 1861 Mr.
Alvord was made permanent presiding
officer of the Union Convention which
met in Syracuse in that year. He rend-
ered valuable service to New York as a
legislator, displaying great ability in the
formulating of salutary laws and the tact
to secure their adoption ; his cogent logic,
directness of speech, acute discernment,
and ready grasp of every point at issue,
together with his untiring industry, im-
posing presence and commanding man-
ner, making him a power in the New
York Assembly. Mr. Alvord was speaker
in 1858 and 1864, and was the first
speaker of the Assembly when it met in
1879 m the new capitol at Albany, and
occupied the new chamber for the first
time. He died in Syracuse, New York,
October 25, 1897.
PIERREPONT, Edwards,
Lawyer, Jurist, Diplomat.
Edwards Pierrepont, a distinguished
New York lawyer and jurist, was a
native of Connecticut, born at North
Haven, March 4, 1817, son of Giles Pier-
repont and Eunice, daughter of Jonathan
Munson, and great-grandson of Joseph
Pierrepont, who settled in North Haven,
his father having given a valuable prop-
erty to the town for public use. The pro-
genitor of the family in this country, John
Pierrepont, was the younger son of a
great family in Nottingham, England,
and came to the United States in 1650,
settling at Roxbury, now a suburb of
Boston, Massachusetts. Six years after
coming to America, he purchased three
hundred acres of land in Roxbury, and
there married Miss Stow, of Kent, Eng-
land, who was the mother of his son
James, one of the chief founders and
promoters of Yale College.
Edwards Pierrepont was prepared for
college by the Rev. Noah Porter (after-
ward president of Yale College), and
entered that institution and graduated
with the class of 1837, receiving one of
the highest class honors, that of class
orator. In 1840 he was graduated from
the New Haven Law School. He entered
upon the practice of his profession at
Columbus, Ohio, in partnership with P.
C. Wilcox of that city. In 1846 he per-
manently located in New York City,
where he had resided for some time. In
1857 he was elected judge of the Superior
Court of that city, and resigned in i860
in order to resume his practice. Judge
Pierrepont took a deep and patriotic
interest in the Civil War. His first
speech, and which brought him promi-
nently before the public, was made a year
and a half before the outbreak of hos-
tilities, in which he forecast the dread-
ful struggle. He was one of the most
active members of the noted Union De-
fence Committee, and, when the Massa-
chusetts troops were attacked in Balti-
more, in April, 1861, and all communica-
tion with the national capital cut off,
Judge Pierrepont was selected as one of
a committee of three to make their way
as best they could to Washington, his
associates being William M. Evarts and
Thurlow Weed. In 1862 he was appointed
by President Lincoln, in connection with
General John A. Dix, to act as a conv
missioner to try the prisoners of state
50
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
that were confined in the different forts
of the United States. In 1864 he took a
prominent part in the effective alignment
of the War Democrats who favored the
reelection of Abraham Lincoln.
In 1867, Judge Pierrepont was elected
a member of the convention for framing
a new constitution for the State of New
York, and served on the judiciary com-
mittee with great efficiency. He was
also in the same year employed by Hon.
W. H. Seward, Secretary of State, and
Henry Stanbury, Attorney-General, to
conduct the government prosecution
against John H. Surratt, indicted for
being a party to the murder of President
Lincoln. In 1868, President Grant ap-
pointed Judge Pierrepont to the position
of United States Attorney for the District
of New York, which he occupied until
1870, when he resigned. He at once be-
came one of the most active members of
the Committee of Seventy, formed to take
action against the "ring frauds" in the
New York City municipal government.
In 1871, when the Texas & Pacific rail-
road was organized under charter by the
United States, he was made a director,
counsel, and treasurer of the road, and the
following year visited Frankfort and
London on business for the company.
Judge Pierrepont was proffered the ap-
pointment of Minister to the Court of
Russia by President Grant in May, 1873,
but declined the honor. In 1875 he
accepted the portfolio of Attorney-Gen-
eral of the United States in President
Grant's cabinet. While filling this posi-
tion he argued for the government all the
more important cases, among which were
the noted Arkansas Hot Spring case, and
the Pacific railway case. He was also
called upon by Hamilton Fish, Secretary
of State, to give an opinion upon a great
question of international law in which
were discussed the questions of nation-
ality and acquired nationality, and his
opinion gave him a wide reputation both
in Europe and America. In 1876 he was
appointed Envoy Extraordinary and
Minister Plenipotentiary to the Court of
St. James. When President Grant
visited Europe during the second year of
Judge Pierrepont's mission, the latter
named urged upon the Queen's ministers
the propriety of according the same pre-
cedence to the former President of the
United States that had been given to the
ex-ruler of France. This was gracefully
acceded to, and other countries followed
the precedent set by Great Britain.
While abroad, Judge Pierrepont devoted
much attention to the financial system of
England. He returned to the United
States in 1878, and at once resumed the
practice of his profession, at the same
time taking an active interest in financial
questions, and writing considerably upon
the subject. In 1887 he wrote an article
advocating an international treaty, claim-
ing that by convention the commercial
value of the silver dollar might be
restored. He also published various
orations and addresses. Judge Pierre-
pont was awarded the honorary degree of
LL. D. from Columbian College, Wash-
ington, D. C, in June, 1871, and in 1873
Yale College conferred upon him the
same degree. During his residence in
London, Oxford bestowed upon him the
degree of D. C. L., the highest honor the
university confers. He died in New York
City, March 6, 1892.
SWINBURNE, John,
Sanitationist.
Dr. John Swinburne, whose fame prin-
cipally rests upon the creation of the
quarantine station in New York Harbor,
was born at Deer River, Lewis county,
New York, May 20, 1820. His father
dying when he was only twelve years
old, at that early age he was called upon
60
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
to face the realities of life by not only
self-support, but by contributing to the
maintenance of his mother and her other
children. He labored upon a farm during
the summer, and attended the public
schools in winter. His meager educa-
tional advantages were supplemented by
a two years' course at the Fairfield Acad-
emy, and in 1842 he entered the Albany
Medical College, from which he was
graduated in 1846, first in his class, hav-
ing entirely maintained himself during
his years of study. He had mastered a
thorough knowledge of anatomy, and
was at once appointed college demon-
strator in that department, and occupied
the position for four years. He then
established a private school of anatomy,
which he afterwards closed in order to
attend to the demands of a very exacting
personal practice. In 1859 and 1861 he
read papers before the New York State
Medical Society that were published in
the society reports. In the latter year,
the first of the Civil War period, General
John F. Rathbone appointed him chief
medical officer in charge of the sick at the
depot for the sick at Albany, New York.
In April, 1862, the need of surgeons on
the battle-field having become most
urgent, he tendered his services to Gov-
ernor Morgan as volunteer surgeon with-
out compensation, and he was at once
commissioned, and ordered by General
McClellan to repair to Savage Station,
which was about to become an important
point in the opening military campaign.
There he established a depot, having
been given full powers and command so
far as pertained to a surgeon in charge
of sick and wounded. When the Army
of the Potomac retreated from Savage
Station on June 29th, thousands of
wounded soldiers were necessarily left on
the battle-field, and although Surgeon
Swinburne was free to retire with the
army, as did the majority of the surgeons,
he remained to care for the sick and
wounded, braving capture rather than
desert his post, remaining for a month,
and until all the wounded had been re-
moved. His humane conduct and pro-
fessional ability won the esteem of the
Confederate authorities, who appreci-
atively recognized the fact that he had
paid the same attention to their own
wounded soldiers as he did to those of the
Federal army. Dr. Swinburne applied to
General Stonewall Jackson for a pass to
visit the various hospitals in the vicinity
where the wounded Federal prisoners
were confined, and the general, in grant-
ing the pass, in a very complimentary
note informed him that he was not to be
considered a prisoner of war, and that
the pass would safeguard him through the
lines wherever he desired to go.
In 1864, Governor Seymour appointed
Dr. Swinburne to the position of Health
Officer of the Port of New York, and the
Republican Legislature at once confirmed
the appointment. He was reappointed
by Governor Fenton in 1867. When he
assumed control of quarantine duties,
there were absolutely no provisions for
effectually carrying out its purpose ; the
only means was a floating hospital, and
this vessel in a leaky condition. During
his administration, continuing from 1864
to 1870, Dr. Swinburne succeeded in con-
structing, at a minimum cost of $750,000,
and in face of the greatest opposition, the
docks and buildings in the lower bay,
known as Swinburne Island and Hoffman
Island, both built on banks that were near
the surface at low tide, and which to-day
constitute the best quarantine in the
world.
After his retirement from his position,
and while traveling in Europe, in 1870,
Dr. Swinburne was invited to form the
American Ambulance Corps for service
during the Franco-Prussian War. From
his arrival in Paris, September 7, 1870, to
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
his departure, March 18, 1871, his efforts
and those of his assistants were such as to
excite the astonishment of the people and
the admiration of the medical profession.
The ambulance service was conducted on
the most extensive scale, with results that
far surpassed those obtained by the
French surgeons, and the entire expense
was defrayed by Americans residing in
Paris. The French government decorated
Dr. Swinburne a chevalier of the Legion
of Honor and with the Red Cross of
Geneva in acknowledgement of his
services. After he returned from Europe
he settled at Albany, New York, where
he soon had an extensive practice. He
was elected mayor of that city in 1882,
but his election was contested, and he
obtained his seat only after fourteen
months litigation. As a Republican, he
was elected to Congress in 1884. He
established the Swinburne Dispensary,
wherein ten thousand persons were
annually treated, entirely at his own
expense. As a medical and surgical
expert, he was perhaps more frequently
called to the witness stand, in the most
important medico-legal cases, than any
other member of the medical profession
in the State.
Dr. Swinburne's biographer has writ-
ten that "There is something phenome-
nally grand in the active, self-denying
and busy life of John Swinburne as a
surgeon on the battle-field; as a health
officer contending with the terrible dis-
eases of cholera, small-pox and yellow
fever, saving the people from their de-
structive ravages for years, and finding
the means not only to check but to sup-
press these diseases ; as a philanthropist,
establishing sanitariums, hospitals and
dispensaries for the care and treatment
of the poor. His quiet benevolence, yet
bold aggressiveness in fighting error and
corruption in high places, both in profes-
sional and official stations, gave his life a
charm unequaled in the past, and has won
for him the admiration of the masses of
the people." Dr. Swinburne died at
Albany, New York, March 28, 1889. His
biography was compiled and published by
the Citizens' Association of Albany, New
York.
AUGUR, Christopher C,
Soldier of Mexican and Civil Wars.
General Christopher Colon Augur was
born in New York in 1821. He entered
the United States Military Academy at
West Point, was graduated in 1843, and
during the next two years served on
frontier duty. In 1845 he was brevetted
second lieutenant of the Fourth Infantry,
and, joining with his command the Army
of Occupation in Texas under General
Taylor, took part in the advance to the
Rio Grande in 1846. He was promoted
to first lieutenant February 16, 1847, an< i
served through the remainder of the
Mexican War as aide-de-camp to General
Hopping, after whose death he was called
to the staff of General Caleb Cushing, and
was engaged in the battles of Palo Alto
and Resaca de la Palma. On August 1,
1852, he was promoted to captain, and
acquitted himself with great courage and
judgment in the Indian troubles in
Oregon during 1855-56.
The threatening conditions in the south
caused his recall to the east early in 1861.
On May 14th he was commissioned major
of the Thirteenth Infantry, and placed in
command of the cadets at West Point.
On November 12th following he was com-
missioned brigadier-general of volunteers,
and given command of a brigade in Mc-
Dowell's corps in the defences about
Washington. In July, 1862, he was trans-
ferred to the command of a division under
General Banks in the Army of Virginia,
and served through the Rappahannock
campaign, receiving a severe wound in
62
&. <£
I
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
the battle of Cedar Mountain, Virginia.
For distinguished and meritorious serv-
ice in that battle he was appointed major-
general of volunteers August 9, 1862, and
brevetted colonel in the regular army.
General Augur was relieved from active
service shortly after the fall of Harper's
Ferry, upon being appointed by Congress
a member of the military commission
charged with investigation of the sur-
render of that important post. He re-
joined his command in November, and
accompanied General Banks through the
Louisiana campaign in 1862. In 1863 he
was placed in command of the district of
Baton Rouge, Louisiana; was promoted
to lieutenant-colonel of the First Infantry,
July 1, 1863, and commanded the left wing
of the army besieging Port Hudson, Mis-
sissippi, which surrendered July 9th. He
received the brevet of brigadier-general
March 13, 1865, for gallant service at the
capture of Port Hudson, and the brevet
of major-general at the same date for gal-
lant and meritorious service in the field
during the war. Thereafter General
Augur continued in service as com-
mander of various military departments,
commanding at Washington, 1863-66. He
received promotion to the colonelcy of the
Twelfth United States Infantry, March
15, 1866, and was mustered out of the
volunteer service September 1st. He
commanded the Department of the
Platte until 1871, having been commis-
sioned brigadier-general of the United
States army March 4, 1869; and com-
manded other departments — of Texas,
until 1875 ; °f the Gul f until l8 7 8 ; and °f
the South and of Missouri until 1885,
when he was retired.
On August 15, 1886, General Augur
was dangerously wounded by a negro
ruffian whom he attempted to chastise for
using foul language in front of his house
in Washington. General Augur died in
COLFAX, Schuyler,
Statesman, Vice-President.
Schuyler Colfax was born in the city
of New York, March 23, 1823, being a
posthumous child. He was a grandson
of General William Colfax, who was born
in Connecticut in 1760, and was captain
commandant of Washington's guards. At
the close of the Revolutionary War Cap-
tain Colfax married Hester Schuyler, a
daughter of General Philip Schuyler, and
their third son was named Schuyler. He
occupied the position of teller in the Me-
chanics' Bank of New York City, and
died while he was still a young man.
Schuyler Colfax, son of Schuyler Col-
fax above mentioned, attended common
schools in New York, but before he was
eleven years of age went into employment
in a store. His mother married again
and with her family, including Schuyler,
went to Indiana, settling in New Carlisle.
Young Schuyler's stepfather, Mr. Mat-
thews, having been elected auditor of St.
Joseph county, made his stepson his
deputy, and took him to South Bend,
which, from that time forward, became
the home of Mr. Colfax. Here, while dis-
charging his regular clerical duties, young
Colfax took an interest in journalism, and
during two winters was in Indianapolis
as senate reporter for the "State Journal."
In 1845 Mr. Colfax became editor and
proprietor of the St. Joseph "Valley
Register," and the new paper soon came
to be considered one of the very best in
the State, and achieved a wide circulation.
As a Whig, Mr. Colfax was a very ardent
admirer of Henry Clay. He was a
member and one of the secretaries of the
Whig National Convention of 1848, which
nominated General Taylor for the presi-
dency. In 1851 Mr. Colfax was nomi-
nated by the Whigs of his district as their
candidate for Congress, and lacked few
votes of being elected, although the dis-
63
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
trict was normally strongly Democratic.
In 1852 he was a delegate to the National
Convention which nominated General
Scott for the presidency. General Scott
was, however, defeated, and the begin-
ning of the last days of the old Whig
party had come. In 1854 Mr. Colfax was
nominated for Congress by the People's
Convention, called in opposition to the
principles of the Kansas-Nebraska bill,
and was elected by a very large majority.
He entered the memorable Thirty-fourth
Congress on the first Monday of Decem-
ber, 1855, and was prominent in the excit-
ing struggle which resulted in the elec-
tion of Nathaniel P. Banks of Massachu-
setts as speaker, upon the one hundred
and thirty-fourth ballot. Mr. Colfax soon
came into prominence in Congress, and
was recognized as one of the most effec-
tive orators in the newly formed Republi-
can party. He was continued in Congress
by successive reflections until 1869. He
had by this time become prominently
known through the country for his strong
anti-slavery sentiments, and his temper-
ance principles and practice. He was one
of the acknowledged leaders of the oppo-
sition to the Lecompton constitution, and
generally to the admission of Kansas as
a slave State. When the great political
conflict broke out, Mr. Colfax was in the
thick of it. "He held that success was a
duty, due not only to Republican prin-
ciples, but to the age and the country,
and that any concession, short of prin-
ciple, necessary to insure that success,
was not only wise and expedient, but also
patriotic and obligatory." In the Thirty-
sixth Congress Mr. Colfax was made
chairman of the committee on the post
office and post roads, and to him is given
the credit for the establishment by Con-
gress of the daily overland mail from the
western boundary of Missouri to San
Francisco.
After the election of Mr. Lincoln to the
Presidency, great pressure was brought
to bear upon him for the appointment of
Mr. Colfax to a place in his cabinet as
Postmaster-General, but the President
appointed Montgomery Blair to that
office. During the Civil War, Mr. Colfax,
in his place in Congress, continued to
actively sustain by voice and vote the
principles which he had always held. On
the organization of the Thirty-eighth
Congress he was elected speaker upon the
first ballot, being the first newspaper
editor ever elected to the speaker's chair.
In this position Mr. Colfax made a most
favorable impression upon both parties
by his courtesy, and by his thorough
knowledge of parliamentary law. A
notable incident of his career as speaker
occurred in April, 1864. Mr. Long, of
Ohio, made a speech from his place in the
House of Representatives, in which he
practically abandoned the Union to its
fate, declaring the rebellion to be in the
right, and the war organized by the north
to be unjust and wrong. Under the
excitement produced by this speech, Mr.
Colfax left the speaker's chair, calling for
another member of the House to preside,
and went upon the floor of the House to
move the expulsion of Mr. Long, and
supporting the motion with a stirring and
aggressive speech. He afterward, how-
ever, modified his resolution of expulsion
by changing it to one of censure, in which
form it was passed by a large majority.
On May 7, 1864, Mr. Colfax was pre-
sented by citizens of his own State with
a set of silver of beautiful design and
artistic execution, as a testimonial of their
regard for his public services. Mr. Col-
fax was twice reelected as speaker, each
time by an increased majority. On April
14, 1865, Congress having adjourned, as
he was about to start on an overland
journey to California and Oregon, he
visited the White House in the early
evening and bade President Lincoln
64
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
good-bye. The President invited him to
accept a seat in his box at Ford's Theatre,
for that evening, but the invitation was
declined on account of Mr. Colfax's prior
engagements. On that night Mr. Lincoln
was shot by the assassin, J. Wilkes Booth.
After his return from Washington to
South Bend, Indiana, Mr. Colfax deliv-
ered one of the most eloquent of all the
eulogies on the Martyred President, and
repeated it by request on April 30th, in
Chicago.
In May, 1868, Mr. Colfax was nomi-
nated by the Republican National Con-
vention at Chicago for Vice-President on
the ticket with General Ulysses S. Grant,
and entered upon the position of president
of the Senate on March 4, 1869. In 1871
General Grant offered him the position of
Secretary of State in his cabinet, but the
offer was declined. In 1872, although his
name was mentioned for renomination for
Vice-President, he was defeated in the
convention. In December of the same
year, he declined the position of editor-
in-chief of the New York "Tribune." In
1872 and 1873 the character of Mr. Col-
fax, as was the case with several other
of the most prominent men in Congress
and out of it, was attacked on account of
the Credit Mobilier scandal. It was
charged against persons thus accused that
they had accepted certificates of stock or
money from the officials of the Union
Pacific Railway Company, as compen-
sation for their influence in Congress in
behalf of the company's schemes. An
investigation by the judiciary committee
of the House resulted in a report, which,
while it technically acquitted Mr. Colfax
of having committed any offense after he
became Vice-President, nevertheless did
not entirely relieve him from public
suspicion on this point. As a conse-
quence, Mr. Colfax suffered during the
remainder of his life from what he and
his friends asserted were unjust and un-
reasonable charges.
Mr. Colfax passed the latter part of his
life at his home in South Bend, Indiana,
frequently delivering public lectures in
his own and other States. He died in
Mankato, Minnesota, January 13, 1885.
STANFORD, Leland,
Man of Large Affairs, Philanthropist.
Leland Stanford was born in Albany
county, New York, March 9, 1824, son of
Josiah Stanford, a prosperous farmer,
who also took contracts for the building
of roads and bridges and aided in the
construction of the Albany & Schenectady
railroad (now a part of the New York
Central system), one of the earliest in
America.
Leland Stanford, fourth of Josiah Stan-
ford's seven sons, passed his early life
on his father's farm, "Elm Grove," and
at school nearby. At the age of twenty
he took up the study of law, and in 1845
entered the office of Wheaton, Doolittle
& Hadley in Albany. A few years later
he moved to Port Washington, Wiscon-
sin, on Lake Michigan, where he prac-
ticed law four years with moderate suc-
cess. In 1852 the loss by fire of all his
property, his library included, wrecked
his plans; and he determined to push
further west. In the summer of that year
he reached California, where three of his
brothers were established in business in
the mining towns. Receiving him into
partnership, he was placed in charge of a
branch establishment at Michigan Bluff,
in Placer county. In this new occupation
he developed business qualities of which
he had been unconscious, and four years
later he established himself in San Fran-
cisco, where he founded an independent
mercantile house which soon became
known as one of the most substantial on
the Pacific coast.
Y-Vol III — s
65
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
On the formation of the Republican
party, Mr. Stanford became interested in
politics, and in i860 was made a delegate
to the national convention at Chicago
which nominated Abraham Lincoln for
the Presidency. On Lincoln's inaugura-
tion in 1861, Mr. Stanford spent some
time in Washington, and the President
repeatedly advised with him in regard to
the political attitude of the Pacific coast.
In the autumn of the same year he was
elected by an overwhelming majority to
the governorship of California, an office
which he occupied with such conspicu-
ous success and such general popular
approval, that on his retirement from
office a joint resolution was voted by both
parties in both branches of the Legisla-
ture tendering to him "the thanks of the
people of California for the able, upright
and faithful manner in which he has dis-
charged the duties of Governor for the
past two years." Prior to his election as
Governor Mr. Stanford had been chosen
president of the newly organized Central
Pacific Railroad Company, and after
leaving the executive -chair he devoted all
his energies to the execution of the great
task of building the Pacific slope section
of the transcontinental railway. The
apparently insuperable difficulties en-
countered and overcome in laying the
track from Ogden to San Francisco, par-
ticularly through the passes of the Sierra
Nevadas, have often been described. The
cost of construction of this portion of the
line alone, a hundred miles in length, was
more than $20,000,000. On May 10, 1869,
Mr. Stanford drove the last spike of the
Central Pacific road, thus completing
the route across the continent. The
entire Central Pacific system, with its
leased lines, eventually embraced a mile-
age of 4,303 miles. It also operated the
Sacramento & Colorado River Steamship
line, making a total mileage of 4,793 miles.
Mr. Stanford was also president of the
Occidental & Oriental Steamship Com-
pany, the Japan & China line running in
connection with the Central Pacific
system.
He married, in 1848, the daughter of the
late Dyer Lathrop, sheriff of Albany
county, whose father was an officer in the
Revolutionary War. It was many years
after the marriage before a child was
born to them — a son, who was given his
father's name, and to whose future the
parents became entirely devoted. The
child grew to be sixteen years of age, and
was remarkably bright, intelligent and
affectionate. In 1884, while the family
was sojourning at Florence, Italy, the lad
was taken ill with typhoid fever, and
soon passed away. A most remarkable
occurrence is told in this connection.
While Governor Stanford was watching
by his boy's bedside, wearied with the
prolonged care, he dropped asleep, and
in that sleep he dreamt that his son said
to him: "Father, don't say you have
nothing to live for ; you have a great deal
to live for; live for humanity, father."
While this dream was passing through
the brain of the father, death took the
child. So utterly prostrated by his Joss
was Mr. Stanford that but for the impres-
sion of his dream, and the reflections upon
it, the most serious consequences might
have occurred to himself. Determined to
carry out the idea suggested, he made up
his mind to found the great university
which bears his son's name — the Leland
Stanford Junior University. This institu-
tion, to which he gave 83,000 acres of
land, valued at $8,000,000, is located
twenty-eight miles from San Francisco,
is entirely unsectarian, and affords equal
facilities to both sexes. The entire endow-
ment of the institution is estimated at
$20,000,000. The estate, called "Palo
Alto," contains a lot of about ten acres
which is used as a burial place by the
Stanford family and for persons con-
66
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
nected with the university. In 1885 Mr.
Stanford was elected as a Republican to
the United States Senate from California,
to succeed J. T. Farley, Democrat. In
1891 he was reelected. As a Senator,
Mr. Stanford took a prominent part in
legislation, and was an earnest advocate
of plans for the relief of the people from
financial burdens.
Mr. Stanford was a liberal patron of
art, and possessed a valuable collection of
paintings at his elegant residence in San
Francisco. "Stanford Farm," his favorite
country seat, is situated at Menlo Park, in
the Santa Clara valley, about forty miles
from San Francisco. A magnificent villa
stands in the center of four hundred and
fifty acres of park and lawn. Thousands
of superb trees make this estate one of
the most remarkable arboreta in the
world, the owner's aim having been to
gather there a sample of every tree which
can be made to grow in the soil of Cali-
fornia. At one time Mr. Stanford also
had a residence in New York City. After
his election to the Senatorship he took a
house in Farragut Square, Washington,
close by the residence of Baron de Struve,
Minister from Germany. He died at his
home, "Palo Alto," California, June 20,
1893-
CROSBY, Howard,
Clergyman, Educator.
The Rev. Howard Crosby was born in
New York City, February 27, 1826, a
great-grandson of William Floyd, one of
the signers of the Declaration of Inde-
pendence, and a grandson of Dr. Ebenezer
Crosby, who was surgeon to Washing-
ton's Life Guard during the Revolution-
ary War, and subsequently a professor
in Columbia College. His father, Wil-
liam B. Crosby, inherited from Colonel
Henry Rutgers nearly all of the present
seventh ward of New York, and, until
John Jacob Astor accumulated his vast
landed property, was one of the largest
real estate owners of his time. He de-
voted himself to the care of his property,
and to deeds of public benevolence and
private charity.
Howard Crosby, son of William B.
Crosby, entered the University of the
City of New York at the age of fourteen,
graduated when eighteen, and at twenty-
five was appointed to the professorship of
Greek in that institution. In the follow-
ing year he was elected president of the
Young Men's Christian Association of
New York. In 1859 he was made Pro-
fessor of Greek in Rutgers College, New
Brunswick, New Jersey, then under the
presidency of Theodore Frelinghuysen,
to which institution his great-uncle,
Colonel Henry Rutgers, of the Revolu-
tionary army, had given his name and
liberal donations. Meantime Professor
Crosby was also a theological student,
and in 1861 he was duly ordained in the
ministry and became pastor of the First
Presbyterian Church of New Brunswick,
also retaining his professorship. In 1863
he resigned both positions to accept the
pastorate of the Fourth Avenue Presby-
terian Church of New York. In the fol-
lowing year he was elected one of the
council of the University of the City of
New York, and not long afterward was
chosen its vice-president, a position he
held until the time of his death. In 1870
he was elected chancellor of the univer-
sity, and, still retaining his pastorate, he
served in that capacity until 1881. From
1872 to 1881 he was one of the American
company of revisers of the Bible. In
1873 he was chosen moderator of the
General Assembly of the Presbyterian
church, and in 1877 was its delegate to
the Pan-Presbyterian Council in Edin-
burgh, Scotland. In addition to his
clerical and educational work, Dr. Crosby
was active in benevolent and reformative
67
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
affairs of a public character. In 1877 he
founded and acted as president of the
Society for the Prevention of Crime, an
organization seeking by means of 'state
and municipal legislation, to restrict the
use of spirituous liquors, and his labors
in that direction received such general
approval that in 1888 he was appointed
by the Legislature a member of the State
commission to revise the excise laws.
Dr. Crosby wrote commentaries on the
Books of Joshua and Nehemiah, and on
the entire New Testament, a volume of
Yale lectures, as well as ten other works
of a religious or semi-religious character,
besides scores of pamphlets, and almost
innumerable articles for the reviews. He
took an active part in the advancement of
the international copyright law, and was
a member of the American committee to
revise the New Testament. The degree
of D. D. was awarded him by Harvard
College in 1859, that of LL. D. by Co-
lumbia University in 1871. Dr. Crosby
died of pneumonia, in New York City,
March 29, 1891.
BELKNAP, William W.,
Civil War Soldier, Cabinet Official.
General William Worth Belknap was
born in Newburg, New York, September
22, 1829, son of General William Gold-
smith Belknap, who was prominent in the
Mexican War, and was brevetted briga-
dier-general for services at the battle of
Buena Vista.
William, W. Belknap entered Princeton
College in 1848, and after his graduation
became a student in the law office of
Hugh Caperton, of Georgetown, D. C.
He was admitted to the bar in 1851, and
removed to Keokuk, Iowa, where he
opened a law office, and formed a part-
nership with R. P. Lowe, afterward Gov-
ernor of the State. He became prominent
as a lawyer and as a Democratic politi-
cian, and in 1857 was elected a member of
the State Legislature. On the outbreak
of the Civil War, he was commissioned
major of the Fifteenth Regiment Iowa
Volunteers, and at the battle of Shiloh
covered himself with honor. Here he was
severely wounded, but remained on the
field until the close of the first day's
fighting. Throughout the war the fullest
confidence was reposed in Belknap by
Grant, Sherman, McPherson, and every
other general under whom he served.
Every promotion which he received he
won on the battlefield. In 1864, after
the battle of Atlanta, he was promoted to
the rank of brigadier-general, and placed
in command of the Iowa Brigade, at the
head of which he marched to the sea
under Sherman, and at the close of the
war he was in command of the Fourth
Division of the Seventeenth Army Corps.
General Belknap was offered a field
officer's commission in the regular army,
but declined it. In 1865 he was appointed
collector of internal revenue in Iowa, and
he held that position until October 13,
1869, when General Grant appointed him
Secretary of War. He held this place
until March 7, 1876, when he was charged
with official corruption, and was permit-
ted to resign. He was afterward im-
peached by the House of Representatives
before the Senate, on the accusation that
he promised to appoint Caleb P. Marsh
to the charge of a trading department at
Fort Sill, in consideration of a sum of
money to be paid quarterly to Belknap or
his agent. The impeachment proceedings
were quashed in the Senate on the ground
of lack of jurisdiction, but, on the ques-
tion of guilty or not guilty, thirty-seven
voted guilty, and twenty-three not guilty.
It was generally believed among those
best informed regarding the details of this
scandal, that General Belknap was inno-
cent of complicity as to the improper acts
charged against him, and that he was
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
even ignorant of the facts of the case.
After his retirement from public life,
General Belknap resided for some time in
Philadelphia, but from 1876 until the time
of his death he lived in Washington, and
carried on the practice of law success-
fully. He was found dead in his bed on
October 13, 1890, and is supposed to have
died some time on the previous day,
which was Sunday, October 12th. Gen-
eral Belknap was three times married ;
his first wife was a sister of General Hugh
T. Reid ; after her death he married Miss
Carita Tomlinson, and after her death,
in 1870, he married her sister, Mrs. John
Bower, of Cincinnati.
AGNEW, Cornelius Rea,
Physician, Sanitationist.
Cornelius Rea Agnew was born in New
York City, August 8, 1830, son of William
and Elizabeth (Thomson) Agnew. His
early ancestors were Huguenots, who in
consequence of persecutions fled to Ire-
land, and settled near Belfast, where they
intermarried with Scotch-Irish families
and became identified with the Reformed
Presbyterian church. The first of the
family in America was John, grandfather
of Dr. Agnew, who established a large
commission and shipping business in
New York City.
Dr. Cornelius Rea Agnew received his
early education in private schools, and
entered Columbia College in his six-
teenth year, and from which he was
graduated in 1849. He began the study
of medicine under Dr. J. Kearney Rogers,
a surgeon and eye specialist, and con-
tinued his studies in the College of Phy-
sicians and Surgeons, New York City,
from which he was graduated in 1852, and
in the New York Hospital. He practiced
medicine for a year in what is now
Houghton, on Lake Superior, and then,
having been offered an appointment as
surgeon of the Eye and Ear Infirmary of
New York City, he went to Europe to
further prepare himself for the duties of
that position. After studying in the hos-
pitals of Dublin, London and Paris, he
returned to New York City, where in
addition to his position in the Eye and
Ear Infirmary, he also cared for a large
general practice, and acquired great
experience in eye and ear diseases. In
1858 he was appointed Surgeon General
of the State of New York. During the
Civil War he served for a time as medical
director of the State Volunteer Hospital
in New York ; and was subsequently head
of the society to obtain medical supplies
for regiments passing through New k'ork
to the seat of war. In 1864 he indus-
triously aided in organizing the United
States Sanitary Commission, on which
he served with unremitting zeal. Dr.
Charles J. Stille says, in his "History of
the United States Sanitary Commission :"
"Dr. Agnew exhibited a practical skill,
executive ability, and at all times a per-
fect generosity of personal toil and
trouble in carrying on the commission's
work, which gave him during its whole
progress a commanding influence on its
councils. It is not too much to say that
the life-saving work of the commission at
Antietam, the relief which it afforded on
so vast a scale after the battles of the
Wilderness, and the succor which it was
able to minister to the thousands of our
soldiers returning to us from rebel
prisons, diseased, naked and famishing,
owed much of their efficiency and success
to plans arranged by Dr. Agnew, and
carried out at personal risk and incon-
venience under his immediate superin-
tendence." With Drs. Wolcott Gibbs and
William H. Van Buren, Dr. Agnew drew
for the United States Quartermaster's
Department plans which were subse-
quently carried out in the Judiciary
Square Hospital at Washington, and par-
69
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
tially followed in the pavilion hospital
system of the war. He was one of four
who founded the Union League Club in
New York City in aid of the national
cause at the outbreak of the rebellion.
In 1868 he founded the Brooklyn Eye and
Ear Hospital, and in 1869 the Manhattan
Eye and Ear Hospital of New York. He
was for many years a manager of the New
York State Hospital for the Insane at
Poughkeepsie, and he served as trustee
and subsequently as president of the New
York school board. He served as secre-
tary of the first society organized in New
York for sanitary reform, and aided in
preparing the first draft of the city health
laws.
Dr. Agnew was a member of the
Medico Chirurgical Society of Edinburgh,
Scotland; the New York Academy of
Medicine, Pathological Society and Medi-
cal and Surgical Society ; the American
Ophthalmological Society, of which he
was also president, and the New York
Academy of Sciences, and president of
the Medical Society of the State of New
York. He wrote voluminously on medical
subjects for many scientific journals, and
also published several short works in
pamphlet form. He died in New York
City, April 18, 1888.
BUTTERFIELD, Daniel,
Volunteer Soldier of the Civil 'War.
General Daniel Butterfield was born at
Utica, New York, October 31, 1831. He
was graduated from Union College in his
eighteenth year, and afterward for a time
was engaged in the service of the Mohawk
division of the New York Central rail-
road. He subsequently became general
superintendent of the eastern division of
the American Express Company.
From his youth he had an ambition for
military life. He served in the New York
militia in the Seventy-first and Twelfth
regiments from 185 1 to 1861, and was
colonel of the latter regiment at the
breaking out of the rebellion, when he led
it to the front, and was with the advance
into Virginia. He was soon commis-
sioned lieutenant-colonel in the United
States regular army, and brigadier-
general of volunteers. He served through
the Peninsular campaign, was wounded
at Gaines's Mills, and covered the retreat
to and from Harrison's Landing. He
took part in all the battles of August and
September, 1862, and was promoted to
major-general of volunteers November
29th, and commissioned colonel of the
Fifth United States Infantry, July 1, 1863.
He commanded the Fifth Corps at Fred-
ericksburg, Virginia, and was chief-of-
staff of the Army of the Potomac in the
Chancellorsville and Gettysburg cam-
paigns, and was wounded in the battle
of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. In 1863 he
was transferred to the Army of the Cum-
berland, and became chief-of-staff of the
consolidated Eleventh and Twelfth
corps under General Hooker at Lookout
Mountain, Tennessee, Missionary Ridge,
and several subsequent actions. He
commanded a division of the Twentieth
Corps in the Georgia campaign under
General Sherman, and was brevetted
brigadier-general and major-general in
the regular army for gallant and meritor-
ious services. He was the originator and
author of the system of army corps
badges, flags, and other identifying de-
vices adopted in the Army of the Poto-
mac, and after followed in other armies.
He was the author of a standard work on
"Camp and Outpost Duty for Armies in
the Field." After the war General But-
terfield had charge of the recruiting
service, and of the forces in New York
harbor, commanding Governor's Island,
David's Island, and Bedloe'-s Island, 1865-
69.
Resigning from the army, General But-
70
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
terfield became Assistant United States
Treasurer in New York City and after-
wards organized and built a railway in
Central America. He planned, organized
and commanded the civic parade on the
third day of the Washington Centennial
celebration in New York, May i, 1889,
the largest movement of civilians in a
public demonstration ever known on this
continent or in modern history also. He
organized and moved the great demon-
stration at the funeral of General Sher-
man, as the representative of Generals
Howard and Slocum. In 1891 he was
elected president of the Society of the
Army of the Potomac, of which body he
was the principal founder. He was for
thirty years a trustee of the Citizens'
Savings Bank in New York City, and
was in 1893 the only living member of
that board who had been with the bank
from its foundation. He was president
of the National Bank of Cold Spring, hi9
country home. He declined the Republi-
can nomination for Congress in the Tenth
Congressional District of New York City
in 1891.
In September, 1886, at St. Margaret's,
Westminster, England, General Butter-
field married Mrs. Julia L. James, of
New York, the Bishop of Bedford and
Canon Farrar performing the ceremony.
He died in 1901.
GRACE, William R.,
Financier, Mayor of New York.
Hon. William Russell Grace, eldest son
of James and Ellen Mary (Russell)
Grace, was born at Riverstown, Cove of
Cork, County Queens, Ireland, May 10,
1832. He early displayed that bold, deter-
mined, and self-reliant spirit which char-
acterized his ancestors. At the age of
fourteen, believing that the rural districts
of Ireland held no future for him, he left
school and home, and, working his way
on a sailing vessel, came to New York
City. There he obtained employment,
but two years later returned to his home
in Ireland. His father, in the hope of
finding opportunities in South America
for repairing his shattered fortunes, em-
barked in 1850 for Peru, and the son ac-
companied him to that distant land.
Entering the shipping house of Bryce &
Company, at Callao, as a clerk, William
at once demonstrated a marked capacity
for business, and two years later was
admitted to partnership in the firm,
which thereupon became Bryce, Grace &
Company, and subsequently Grace Broth-
ers & Company (Michael P. Grace, Wil-
liam's younger brother, being admitted as
a partner). The only American house of
consequence in Callao, and having agen-
cies in all the principal ports of Peru and
Chili, with excellent connections in the
United States and England, the firm
rapidly rose to distinction, and for many
years acted as representative for Baring
Brothers. During our Civil War it
rendered important services to the United
States government. Callao was then the
principal basis for naval supplies on the
west coast of South America, and vessels
of the United States navy frequently
called there. All the native and English
commercial houses decided to refuse
them credit for supplies ; whereupon Mr.
Grace's firm promptly placed its entire
resources at their disposal.
In 1865, his health having become
seriously impaired, he left Peru, being
succeeded in the management of the busi-
ness by his brother. After a brief stay
in the United States he revisited Ireland,
purchasing a large estate in the northern
part of Queens county. Finding that the
surrounding landlords had entered into a
very unjust combination against the
working people in the matter of wages, he
declined to become a party to their selfish
arrangement, paid the highest rates pre-
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
vailing elsewhere, and in the end com-
pelled the other proprietors to join in the
same course of fair dealing. With the
full recovery of his health Mr. Grace felt
an impatience to resume active business
life, and, placing the Irish property in the
charge of his brother, John, he located
in New York and in 1868 established the
house of W. R. Grace & Company. In
this venture his abilities secured for him
a high degree of success from the begin-
ning, and his firm has long been one of
the most eminent in the shipping trade in
the American metropolis, and one of the
most widely known throughout the
world. At the same time the original
Peruvian concern continued its career
with increasing prosperity. In 1886 it
became the agent of various foreign
creditors of Peru for the settlement of
claims ; and under this arrangement,
through the management of Michael P.
Grace, an adjustment was effected in 1890
which involved the payment of the enor-
mous sum of $290,000,000 in gold.
In 1891 Mr. Grace organized and estab-
lished the New York & Pacific Steamship
Company, Limited, with seven large
steamships, constructed specially for the
requirements of the trade of his house,
plying between New York and Guaya-
quil, Ecuador, by way of the Straits of
Magellan. Incidental to his business in-
terests, he acquired valuable nitrate of
soda properties in Chili, and sugar estates
and cotton mills in Peru, besides taking a
leading part in railway development in
both countries. In New York City, aside
from his immediate interests, he was
identified with many other large business
enterprises. He was president of the
Export Lumber Company, the Ingersoll
Sergeant Drill Company, and the Hamil-
ton Banknote Company, vice-president of
the Fernbrook Carpet Company, director
of the Lincoln National Bank, the Lin-
coln Safe Deposit Company, and the
Terminal Warehouse Company, and re-
ceiver of the Continental Life Insurance
Company, whose affairs he wound up
satisfactorily.
As a citizen of New York, he was
actuated at all times by an earnest and
conscientious public spirit. A Democrat
in political belief and national affiliations
he represented that section of his party
which was opposed to the domination of
Tammany in the metropolis. In 1880
and again in 1884 he was elected mayor of
the city as the candidate of the anti-Tam-
many element of the Democracy. Both
his administrations were characterized by
a thorough and vigorous application of
the principles of municipal government
for which he stood, reform of corrupt
abuses, and elevation of the standards of
public service. His name will always be
remembered in the history of the city as
that of one of its best mayors. In the
sphere of national affairs also he exer-
cised a commanding influence, being de-
voted heart and soul to the ideas and
policies represented by Grover Cleveland,
and contributing powerfully to the elec-
tion of Mr. Cleveland in 1884 and 1892.
The movement to erect a monument to
General Grant at Riverside Park began
during his administration, and the Grant
Monument Association was organized
with Mayor Grace as president. He bent
his whole energies to accomplish the
object, and over half a million dollars
was raised. The association subsequently
came under the management of the
Grand Army of the Republic, General
Horace Porter being the leading spirit,
the remainder of the money was raised,
and the monument was completed.
In his private character Mr. Grace was
a man most loyal to obligations and
friendships, and of forceful but genial and
charming personality. His charities were
extensive, and were distinguished by a
particularly practical tendency. In 1879,
-J2
Brevel Major <
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
the year of the great famine in Ireland, he
contributed half of the relief cargo of the
United States warship "Constellation,"
besides paying incidental expenses.
Many of his benevolences, in times of
public distress, in New York City and
elsewhere, were given in large checks to
religious organizations, which, however,
were not sent in his own name, and the
source of which was never known, except
to a very few. In conjunction with his
wife and his son, Joseph P. Grace, he
gave, in 1897, the sum of $200,000 for the
establishment of the Grace Institute, a
training school for young women and
girls, in the interest of making them self-
supporting; and to this institute he left
an additional amount of $100,000 in his
will. He was president for many years
of the Sevilla Home for Children, whose
property, under his care, was increased
more than three times in value.
He purchased a beautiful property at
Great Neck, Long Island, for a summer
home, which he named "Gracefield," for
his ancestral home in Ireland. Here he
found peace and recreation from the cares
of business life, and with his family, en-
joyment in the society of friends who
partook of his hospitality.
He married, September 11, 1859, Lilius
Gilchrist, daughter of George W. and
Mary Jane (Smalley) Gilchrist. He died
in New York City, March 21, 1904.
AVERELL, William W.,
Cavalry Leader in Civil 'War.
General William Woods Averell, a bril-
liant cavalry officer in the Civil War, was
born at Cameron, Steuben county, New
York, November 5, 1832, the place of his
birth being not far from the location of
the Soldiers' Home at Bath, New York.
His grandfather was a captain in the
Revolutionary War.
He was appointed to the United States
Military Academy at West Point on July
1, 1851, and graduated from that institu-
tion in 1855 with the rank of brevet
second lieutenant of Mounted Rifles. In
the following May he was commissioned
full second lieutenant, with which rank
he was engaged on the Indian frontier,
and was severely wounded. He declined
promotion as first lieutenant of the Sixth
United States Cavalry, May 14, 1861,
accepting the same rank in the Third
Cavalry (mounted rifles), the same
date, and with which he took part in the
battle of Bull Run, and in the defences of
Washington City. In August, 1861, he was
commissioned colonel of the Third Penn-
sylvania Volunteer Cavalry Regiment.
His regiment was assigned to the Army
of the Potomac, and he was actively en-
gaged in its various engagements, notably
at Kelly's Ford, Virginia, for which he
was brevetted major, March 17, 1863 ; and
at Droop Mountain, Virginia, where he
was brevetted lieutenant-colonel ; on the
Salem expedition in Virginia, where he
won the brevet of colonel, December 15,
1863, for gallant and meritorious services,
and that of brigadier-general, March 13,
1865, and for gallant and meritorious
services at the battle of Moorfield, Vir-
ginia, that of major-general. In the
regular service General Averell was pro-
moted to captain July 17, 1862, and he
resigned May 18, 1865. The character of
the services rendered by General Averell
may be illustrated by one of his
despatches to the War Department: "My
column has climbed, slid and swam 340
miles since December 8th."
After the war, in 1868 President John-
son appointed General Averell to be
Consul-General of the United States to
the British provinces. In 1869 he re-
turned to the United States and engaged
in business, becoming president of the
Asphalt Pavement Company. He was
the inventor of a system of electric con-
73
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
duits, and a process by which ore is con-
verted into steel at a single operation. He
was placed on the retired list of the army
with the rank of captain and brevet
major-general. He was assistant inspec-
tor-general of the Soldiers' Home of the
United States. He died in 1900.
SMALLEY, George W.,
Newspaper Correspondent.
George Washburn Smalley, familiarly
known in England as "the Dean of Amer-
ican Correspondents," was born at
Franklin, Massachusetts, June 2, 1833,
and died in London, England, April 4,
1916. He was graduated from Yale Col-
lege in 1853, read law at Worcester, Mas-
sachusetts, in the office of George F.
Hoar, and after a course of study at the
Harvard Law School was admitted to
the bar in 1856, and practiced in Boston,
Massachusetts, until 1861. By conviction
a radical in affairs public, political and
social, he had been actively affiliated with
Garrison, Phillips, and their associates.
At the opening of the Civil War he
entered the service of the New York
"Tribune" as correspondent in the field,
going to South Carolina, and thence to
Virginia, and was with the Union army
in the campaigns of the Shenandoah and
the Potomac. After the battle of Antie-
tam (September 17, 1862), in which he
served as a volunteer aide to General
Joseph Hooker, Mr. Smalley rode horse-
back thirty miles to a railroad train for
the north, hastened as fast as it would
carry him to New York City, wrote his
famous account of that battle on the cars
while en route, and furnished it to his
journal in season to enable the "Tribune"
to publish his accounts of the engagement
in advance of all its contemporaries. The
letter was worthy to make his reputation
as a war correspondent, for, written at
the speed with which it was produced, it
was unsurpassed, perhaps unequaled, by
any effort of the kind made during the
whole four years of the conflict. It
fixed his place in journalism, if he chose
to have one. The same year he was mar-
ried to Phoebe Gamant, of Boston, Mas-
sachusetts, adopted daughter of Wendell
Phillips, and was attached to the editorial
staff of the New York "Tribune." Dur-
ing the draft riots in the summer of 1863
in the city of New York, he was one of
four members of the editorial corps who
were associated in organizing and con-
ducting the defence of the "Tribune"
building against the rioters. The build-
ing is spoken of by one of their number
as having been a perfect arsenal of ex-
plosives after the Monday night in July
when an attack was made upon it and
repelled by the police.
In 1866 Mr. Smalley went to Europe at
a day's notice, to observe and report for
"The Tribune" the war between Prussia
and Austria. In May, 1867, he went to
England with power to organize "The
Tribune's" European bureau, and estab-
lished himself in that city permanently
as its manager. In the Franco-Prussian
War (1870) he went to the field, and his
letters and dispatches to "The Tribune"
from the seat of that struggle were all
received at London, where they were
edited by the bureau established under
Mr. Smalley's supervision, and then
transmitted by cable to New York. The
partnership between the London "Tele-
graph" and the New York "Tribune" in
the collection and issue of this news, thus
executed by Mr. Smalley, was pronounced
by the English war-historian Kinglake
"an era in the journalism of Europe."
Since that time, while holding a continu-
ous residence in London as the represen-
tative of "The Tribune," Mr. Smalley left
England from time to time for profes-
sional visits to Paris, Berlin, and other
political centers. Upon occasions of in-
74
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
terest and through his letters to the
"Tribune," the American public was kept
apprised of the events of European and
especially of English affairs and society,
in what has been doubtless the best for-
eign correspondence of any American
journal. In 1878 Mr. Smalley was ap-
pointed special commissioner from the
United States to the Paris Exposition.
In 1890 he published "London Letters
and Some Others," in two volumes. In
191 1 he published his "Anglo-American
Memories," followed in 1912 by a second,
which contained intimate accounts of the
many prominent men he had met and
great events he had observed and re-
ported, and which attracted much atten-
BRIGGS, Charles A.,
Theologian.
The Rev. Charles Augustus Briggs, one
of the most scholarly theologians and
independent thinkers of his day, was born
in New York City, January 15, 1841, son
of Alanson and Sarah Mead (Berrian)
Briggs.
He was a student at the University of
Virginia from 1857 t0 i860. In 1861, at
the outbreak of the rebellion, he served
for three months with the army, then
entered the Union Theological Semi-
nary of New York, remaining until 1863.
For three years he was engaged in mer-
cantile pursuits in New York City, then
going to Germany, where he studied at
the University of Berlin until 1869. Re-
turning home, he was ordained by the
Presbytery of Elizabeth, New Jersey,
June 30, 1870, and the same year became
pastor of the church in Roselle, New
Jersey, which he served until 1874, when
he was called to the Union Theological
Seminary, and where he occupied the
chair of Hebrew and Cognate Languages
until 1890. In 1891, by the munificence
of Mr. Charles Butler, a chair of Biblical
Theology was endowed, and Dr. Briggs
was installed therein until 1904, and leav-
ing it to become Professor of Theology
and Symbolics, and so serving the re-
mainder of his life. From 1880 to 1890
he was editor of the "Presbyterian Re-
view." In 1892 he was brought to trial
for heresy before the Presbytery of New
York, and was acquitted ; but the fol-
lowing year was suspended by the
General Assembly. He later connected
himself with the Protestant Episcopal
church, and became deacon in 1899, and
priest in 1900.
His brilliant scholarship, exactness in
investigation, enthusiasm and courage
brought him world-wide fame. At the
centenary celebration of the University
of Edinburgh in 1884, the degree of Doc-
tor of Divinity was conferred upon him —
a distinguished honor, granted to only
three Americans besides himself, a recog-
nition not only of the rank he had attained
in his own seminary, but of the estima-
tion in which he was held abroad as a
profound theologian. Yet, he was fallen
upon troublous times. His investiture as
Professor of Biblical Theology in Union
Theological Seminary brought upon him
condemnation by the Presbyterian Gen-
eral Assembly. For some time he had
provoked the criticism of his fellow-pres-
byters by his utterances with reference
to the verbal inspiration of the Bible.
Before the action of the General Assem-
bly there had been indications of conflict.
Dr. Briggs was a recognized power, an
exponent of opinions widely held among
Presbyterians, but also widely denounced
by others of the same sect. Respected as
an original thinker and conscientious stu-
dent, some were disinclined to reject his
utterances ; others were more cautious in
their acceptance of his judgment. Dr.
Briggs, with a dignified self-respect not
inconsistent with entire modesty, in reply
75
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
to strictures made upon him, by Dr.
Shedd, prior to the meeting of the Pres-
bytery of New York, before which he had
been summoned, said: "There are two
things in which I may claim to be a spe-
cialist ; one of them is in the theology of
the Old Testament, and the other, the
Westminster Confession. I have studied
the Westminster documents repeatedly
in all the great libraries of Great Britain.
I have gathered in the library of the
Union Theological Seminary, the best
library of the Westminster divines out-
side the British Museum. I have studied
these divines with enthusiastic devotion
for many years." On the basis of such
preparation he asserted his right to speak
with authority, claiming that new doc-
trines had come into the field, new ques-
tions had arisen, of which the West-
minster Confession could not have had
knowledge, and that the thoughts of men
had widened. Dr. Briggs had published
several works in which he presented his
views without hesitation and with intense
vigor. His lectures before his classes
made a profound impression, but for some
years no vigorous outspoken protest was
made. In January, 1891, in an elaborate
address before the Union Theological
Seminary, he declared that "there are his-
torically three great fountains of divine
authority — the Bible, the church and the
reason." He contended that "the major-
ity of Christians from the Apostolic age
have found God through the church." He
declared reason to be "The Holy of Holies
of human nature," in which "God pre-
sents himself to those who seek him."
He cited Newman as "finding God in the
church," and Martineau as "one who
could not find God in the church or in the
Bible, but did find him enthroned in his
own soul ;" and Spurgeon who "assails
the church and reason in the interests of
the authority of scripture." Upon these
utterances were founded the charges
made against him ; he was summoned be-
fore the New York Presbytery, which
dismissed the case; but in the General
Assembly in May, 1893, the decision of
the Presbytery was reversed, and he was
suspended from the ministry, but he con-
tinued his labors at the Union Theolog-
ical Seminary.
Among his published works are : "Bib-
lical Study, its Methods and History"
(1883) ; "American Presbyterianism, its
Origin and Growth" (1885) ; "Messianic
Prophecy" (1886); "Study of Higher
Criticism with special reference to the
Pentateuch" (1883) ; "Hebrew Poems of
the Creation" (1884) ; "Poem of the Fall
of Man ; Series of articles of Hebrew
Poetry" (1886); "Opening Address on
Biblical History" (1889) ; "Schaff-Lange
Commentary on Ezra" (1876) ; "Address
on Exegetical Theology" (1876) ; article
in Encyclopedia Brittannica on "Presby-
terianism in the United States ;" the
"Right, Duty and Limits of Biblical Criti-
cism" (1881) ; "Whither? A Theological
Question for the Times" (1889) ; "How?
A Series of Essays on the Revision Ques-
tion" (1890) ; "Authority of the Holy
Scripture" (1891) ; "The Bible, the
Church, and the Reason" (1892) ; "The
Higher Criticism of the Hexateuch"
(1893); "The Messiah of the Gospels"
(1894); "The Messiah of the Apostles"
(1895); "General Introduction to the
Study of the Holy Scripture" (1899). He
died June 8, 1913.
DI CESNOLA, Emmanuele,
Distinguished Archaeologist.
Emmanuele Pietro Paolo Maria Luigi
Palma Di Cesnola was born in Rivarolo,
near Turin, June 29, 1832. His family
originally came from Spain in 1190, but
resided in Piedmont after 1282, and as
early as the fourteenth century. The Pal-
mas were immensely rich and invested
76
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
with feudal power over twenty-two towns
and villages in Naples, in Sicily, and in
the region near Turin.
Cesnola received a collegiate educa-
tion with a view to his preparation for
the priesthood, but the war which in
1848 broke out between Austria and Sar-
dinia changed the direction of his life.
Leaving college he volunteered as a pri-
vate soldier in the Sardinian army. In
February, 1849, for military valor he was
promoted to a lieutenancy in the Ninth
Regiment of the Queen's Royal Brigade,
on the battle-field at Novara. He was
then the youngest commissioned officer in
the Sardinian regular army. After the
close of the war he was sent to the Royal
Military Academy at Cherasco, from
which he was graduated in 1851. He
served in the army several years, took
part in the Crimean war, and at the end
of i860 came to America, landing in New
York. On the outbreak of the Civil War
in 1861, he entered the volunteer service
as lieutenant-colonel of the Eleventh New
York Cavalry Regiment. In 1862 he was
commissioned colonel of the Fourth New
York Cavalry Regiment; led his brigade,
attached to the Eleventh Army Corps, for
several months, and for his heroic con-
duct on the battle-field in a charge on
June 17, 1863, he was complimented by
General Kilpatrick, and at the same time
was presented with the sword of that
officer. In leading the fifth charge on that
day he was severely wounded, was made
prisoner, and was confined for over nine
months in Libby Prison, Richmond, Vir-
ginia. He planned an escape of the Union
prisoners with the provision that a
cavalry force under Kilpatrick, Custer and
Dahlgren should create a diversion by a
swift movement about the city of Rich-
mond. However, Secretary of War Stan-
ton declined to give his consent, and the
plan was not carried out. Cesnola was
with Sheridan throughout the campaign
in the Shenandoah Valley, and when the
term of service of his regiment expired
he remained at the head of Devin's bri-
gade, at the written request of General
Wesley Merritt, his division commander.
President Lincoln in 1865, in the presence
of Senator Ira Harris and the Hon. Wil-
liam H. Seward, conferred upon him the
brevet rank of brigadier-general, and ap-
pointed him the American Consul at
Cyprus, and he became an American
citizen. He remained in Cyprus until
1877, when the consulate was abolished.
While holding this office, he rendered
such inestimable service that it is char-
acterized by Sir Henry Layard as "adding
a new chapter to the history of art and
archaeology," by making archaeological ex-
plorations in that island and collecting a
large number of antiquities, afterward dis-
played in the Metropolitan Museum of
Art, and which furnished the long missing
link connecting Egyptian and Assyrian
art with that of Greece. Many literary
and scientific societies of Europe and
America conferred upon General Cesnola
honorary membership. King Victor Em-
manuel and Humbert of Italy bestowed
upon him several knightly orders, as did
the King of Bavaria. In 1882, King Hum r
bert of Italy caused a large gold medal to
be struck in his honor, and sent him as a
New Year's gift. In 1897, through the
Secretary of War, he received the con-
gressional medal of honor for which he
had neither applied nor authorized anyone
to do so in his name, and which was be-
stowed upon him for his brilliant cavalry
charges on June 17, 1863. In 1878 he was
elected a trustee and secretary of the
Metropolitan Museum of Art, and when
the museum was transferred from Four-
teenth street to Central Park, the trustees
unanimously made him chief director,
Columbia University and Princeton Col-
77
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
lege conferred upon him the honorary de-
gree of LL. D. in 1880. He was the
author of several works relating to his
discoveries in Cyprus.
In June, 1861, he was married to Mary
Isabel, daughter of Captain Samuel Ches-
ter Reid, of the United States navy, the
heroic commander of the privateer "Gen-
eral Armstrong." General Cesnola died
November 21, 1904.
SCHURZ, General Carl,
Soldier, Statesman, Litterateur.
Carl Schurz was born March 2, 1829,
near Liblar, Prussia, Germany. He re-
ceived instruction under his father and
at eleven years of age was sent to the
Gymnasium at Cologne, where he gradu-
ated in 1847. He matriculated at Bonn
University in 1847; m J 849 his connec-
tion with the revolution caused him to
discontinue study there. While there he
fell under the spell of Professor Johann
Gottfried Kinkel, an orator, poet, and
idealist. In Bremen, Kinkel established
the "Bonner Zeitung", and Schurz became
his assistant editor and reporter; for a
time Schurz edited the paper alone. Later
Schurz went to Bavaria, joined the revo-
lutionary forces, was appointed a lieuten-
ant, and was made prisoner, but escaped
to Switzerland. Later he went back to
Germany incognito, and effected the res-
cue of Kinkel, and they took refuge in
Paris. In 1851 Schurz went to London;
he there married and came to New York.
Shortly afterward, Schurz settled in Phil-
adelphia, where he studied English and
law. In 1855 he traveled through several
western States, and in 1856 returned to
Europe with his family. He returned to
this country again late that summer and
made his residence at Watertown, Wis-
consin.
The newly formed Republican party
had nominated Fremont for president,
and the issues of anti-slavery enlisted the
sympathies of Schurz, who made speeches
in his native language to the Germans of
Wisconsin. In 1857 he was nominated
over his own protest for Lieutenant-Gov-
ernor of Wisconsin, and was defeated ;
the other candidates on the Republican
ticket were elected. During that cam-
paign, Schurz spoke in the English lan-
guage. In 1858 he enlisted in the Lincoln-
Douglas contest in Illinois, in which he
met Lincoln. In the Republican State
Convention of 1859, Schurz was again
nominated for Lieutenant-Governor of
Wisconsin, but declined. Early in 1859
he was admitted to the Wisconsin bar,
and settled to practice at Milwaukee. As
a speaker he was in constant demand, and
the law was practically abandoned.
Schurz was a member of the National
Republican Convention of i860 at Chi-
cago, and chairman of the Wisconsin
delegation. He secured the adoption of
a plank in the national platform, which
declared against the impairment of poli-
tical rights of foreign-born citizens, and
pledged the party to oppose natavistic
legislation then pending. The convention
nominated Lincoln for President, and
Schurz was made the Wisconsin repre-
sentative on the committee to inform Lin-
coln of his nomination. Schurz made a
strenuous campaign, and soon after Lin-
coln was inaugurated he was made Min-
ister to Spain. Schurz presented his cre-
dentials in Madrid, July 16. 1861, but the
war impelled him to return to acquaint
the President with the situation abroad ;
so he resigned as Minister. He was ap-
pointed brigadier-general of volunteers by
President Lincoln, and on June 10, 1862,
received command of the Third Division
of Sigel's corps at Harrisonburg, Vir-
ginia. Shortly afterward he participated
in the Second Battle of Bull Run. and was
C^ <yo<AsiA^K
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
among the officers commended by the
Secretary of War. On March 14, 1863,
he was made major-general of volunteers.
Later, in the movements that eventuated
in the battle of Chancellorsville, he com-
manded a division, and participated in the
battle of Gettysburg, July 1, 2 and 3, 1863,
where for a time on July 1st he com-
manded the Eleventh Corps. With his
division he was sent to the relief of Chat-
tanooga, Tennessee, late in 1863, partici-
pated in the movements in and around
Chattanooga that eventuated in the battles
of Lookout Mountain and Missionary
Ridge, and also went to the relief of
Knoxville, in December, 1863. In March,
1864, he commanded a recruiting camp at
Edgefield, Tennessee. During the presi-
dential campaign of 1864 he was a speaker
for Lincoln. In the winter and spring of
1864-65 he served in various military ca-
pacities, and rejoined General Sherman
in North Carolina and was present at the
surrender of General Joseph E. Johnston,
April 26, 1865, whereupon he resigned his
commission.
After the war, the question arose as to
the legal status of the States that had
seceded. Schurz contended that they
should not be readmitted to full privileges
until guarantees were given of their ac-
ceptance of the emancipation of the slaves.
President Johnson commissioned Schurz
to visit the Southern States, and report
to him their physical condition and the
state of sentiment. His report, recom-
mending a fuller investigation by Con-
gress, was made the basis of subsequent
legislation by Congress during the "Re-
construction" period.
Soon after, he became Washington cor-
respondent of the "New York Tribune."
In May, 1866, he became editor of the
"Detroit Michigan Post," and in 1867 he
became co-editor and joint owner of the
"Westliche Post," St. Louis, Missouri.
He visited Germany in 1868, and was
granted an audience with Prince Bis-
marck, who showed him special courtesy.
Schurz was a member of the Missouri
delegation to the National Republican
Convention in 1868, of which he was tem-
porary chairman, and he secured the adop-
tion of a provision in the platform recom-
mending general amnesty for most of the
Confederate soldiers. In 1869 the Legis-
lature of Missouri elected him United
States Senator, the first German born
citizen to attain that distinction in the
United States. His career in the Senate
was noted for his signal ability as a de-
bater and parliamentarian ; and clearness
and precision in argument. He opposed
Grant's San Domingo annexation policy,
which he virtually defeated. He opposed
the "carpet-bag" rule of the South, but
when the States accepted the abolition of
slavery, he was the first to taken positive
measures to restore the disfranchised citi-
zens to full citizenship. To accomplish
that end he secured the election of Ben-
jamin Gratz Brown as Liberal Demo-
cratic Governor. His speeches in the Sen-
ate on the currency question and resump-
tion of specie payments were models of
sound financial doctrine. He began the
agitation for tariff reform, and made the
first effort to secure civil service reform.
These efforts brought him into conflict
with men then in power, and in 1872 he
headed a movement to force the nomina-
tion of a Reform candidate. The conven-
tion called by Schurz and held in 1872,
at Cincinnati, however, nominated Gree-
ley for President on the Democratic
ticket, whom in the end he reluctantly
supported in preference to Grant, on re-
form issues alone.
When Schurz's term in the Senate ex-
pired, he was given a complimentary din-
ner in New York on April 27, 1875. He
visited Europe again in 1875, and was
79
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
banquetted in Berlin by admiring Ameri-
cans then abroad, which was attended by
many Germans of distinction. As soon
as he returned he was appealed to by the
Ohio Republicans to speak for Hayes and
sound money, and enlisted in the cam-
paign, which resulted in the election of
Hayes as Governor. The following year
he launched a movement to secure an un-
biased expression of non-partisan senti-
ment similar to that of his campaign of
1872, but when Hayes was nominated for
President on the Republican ticket, he
cast his lot with the latter in preference
to Tilden on the Democratic ticket. Hayes
pledged himself to inaugurate Civil Serv-
ice Reform, if elected, and Schurz made a
strenuous campaign for him, who was
finally declared to be elected, and Schurz
was made Secretary of the Interior. He
organized a system of promotion based
upon merit, and was the first high official
of the government to inaugurate serious
reforms in the Civil Service. He also
gave personally the same attention to his
official duties that he was accustomed to
employ in his own private business, re-
formed abuses, and reorganized the In-
terior Department on a more efficient
basis.
In 1881 he accepted the joint editorship
of the New York "Evening Post", with
E. L. Godkin, and Horace White ; how-
ever, he withdrew in December, 1883,
with the intention of taking up his per-
sonal memoirs and other historical work.
He was not pleased with the attitude
of the Garfield-Arthur administration on
civil service and other reform movements,
and endorsed Cleveland for President,
who was elected. Meanwhile he had be-
come a foremost character in the Na-
tional Civil Service Reform Association,
organized by his friend, George William
Curtis; and, after the death of Curtis,
Mr. Schurz became president of the As-
sociation, being reelected annually from
1892 to 1901. He opposed ihe "imperial-
ism" of the McKinley administration,
after the Spanish-American War of 1898,
and continued to advocate the principles
of democracy as he conceived them, until
his death. He was a forceful orator and
an eloquent speaker, with complete com-
mand of both the English language and
his native German.
Carl Schurz edited his speeches, pub-
lished by J. B. Lippincott & Co. in 1885.
He was the author of a "Life of Henry
Clay," which was published in 1887, by
Houghton, Mifflin & Company ; and
wrote an "Essay on Abraham Lincoln"
published in 1887. He was contributing
editor to "Harper's Weekly" from 1892 to
1898, and prepared "Carl Schurz's Rem-
iniscences," in three volumes, published
in 1909 by Doubleday, Page & Co. "The
Life of Henry Clay" has been pronounced
to be the best history of Henry Clay and
his times ever written, while "Schurz's
Reminiscences," prepared during the last
three years of his lifetime, sparkle with a
pleasant wit, interwoven with a beautiful
Addisonian style.
Death came to Carl Schurz on May 14,
1906, in New York, after a winter's so-
journ in the South. It cut short the story
of his life in those reminiscences, and
with his passing there appeared many
eloquent tributes to his memory in the
current literature of the day. Since that
time a memorial fund was raised, which
was expended in the erection of a statue
of Carl Schurz on Morningside Heights,
New York, where it now stands as a per-
petual memorial of America's first great
political reformer.
Carl Schurz married, July 6, 1852, in
London, England, Margaretha, daughter
of Heinrich Christian and Agathe Marga-
rethe (Ahlf) Meyer, of Hamburg, Ger-
many. After Schurz and his wife estab-
80
:/. Au
H
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
lished their home at Watertown, Wiscon-
sin, she devoted herself to literary and
educational work, establishing a Froebel
Kindergarten there in 1856, which was
the first of its kind in America. Her
school was followed by another in 1858,
at Columbia, Ohio, and in 1859 by a third
at Boston, Massachusetts. Afterward,
such schools became fixed in the educa-
tional systems of many cities of this
country. Mrs. Schurz died March 15,
1876, in New York.
SIGEL, General Franz,
Educator, Soldier, Journalist.
General Franz Sigel was born in the
Grand Duchy of Baden, Germany, No-
vember 24, 1824, third child and eldest
son of Moritz and Anna Marie Pauline
(Lichtenauer) Sigel.
Young Sigel was at Carlsruhe, a cadet
in the Military Academy, where he gradu-
ated in 1843, and was commissioned lieu-
tenant. After a duel with an adjutant of
his battalion, he resigned and went to
Heidelburg to study law, when news of
the proclamation of the Republic in Paris
came in February, 1848, and which inau-
gurated the revolutionary movement that
swept over Germany, Austria and Italy.
Sigel organized an independent battalion
at Mannheim. He joined in the uprising
of 1848, which proved a failure, and he
fled to Switzerland. In the spring of 1849
the revolutionary movement broke out
anew. Sigel returned to Carlsruhe and
became Minister of War under the revo-
lutionary government. On May 25 he
was given command of the army on the
Neckar, and led his troops in an engage-
ment at Heppenheim. The plan of cross-
ing the border into Wiirtemberg had to
be abandoned on account of the objec-
tions to entering a foreign state. Sigel
resumed his duties as Minister of War,
11 v-voi m-6 8
and was again placed in command of the
army. Shortly afterwards the revolution-
ary government enlisted the services of
General Ludwig Mieroslawski, the Polish
revolutionist, who appointed Sigel adju-
tant and second in command. Sigel took
part in several engagements, but the revo-
lution failed, and Sigel took refuge in
Switzerland, where he wrote revolution-
ary articles for the newspapers. In April,
185 1, the Swiss government decided that
his presence was no longer desirable, and
General Sigel was escorted by gendarmes
through Switzerland and France, and
there permitted to take a boat to Eng-
land. It was at a cafe in Paris, which he
was permitted to visit, that he made the
personal acquaintance of Carl Schurz.
The two revolutionary officers were
introduced by General Shimmelpfennig,
who later commanded a brigade of vol-
unteers in the Civil War in the United
States.
General Sigel landed at Southampton
in 1851, and went to London, where he
supported himself by playing the piano
in the Chinese Exhibit at the Crystal
Palace. The next year he came to New
York and kept a cigar store. He gave
lessons in Italian, mathematics and fenc-
ing, and corresponded for German and
English papers. For a time he was a
surveyor and draftsman, and assisted
with the plans of the projected Crystal
Palace in New York. In 1854, he married
Elise Dulon, the eldest daughter of Dr.
Rudolph Dulon, and for several years
taught mathematics, mechanics, transla-
tion, and American history, in the Ger-
man-American school of his father-in-law.
Three time a week he drilled the pupils
and gave instructions in tactics. In the
evening he taught English in a night
school. He also conducted a German-
American Sunday school at the Turn
Hall, was teacher of fencing, and for a
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
time was president of the Turn-Verein,
wrote for the "School of the People,"
wrote for the Turn-Verein a manual of
gymnastics and fencing, and translated
Scott's tactics for the Turners. From
1855-57 he was instructor in tactics of
the Fifth New York Regiment of Militia.
For about a year he edited and published
"The Review," a military, technical and
literary monthly magazine for the militia,
Turners and other societies. In 1857 he
accepted a position as teacher in the Ger-
man Institution of St. Louis, with a yearly
salary of $800. In April, i860, he received
his final citizenship papers, on the eve of
his election as a director of the School
Board of St. Louis.
At no time did Sigel have any sympa-
thy for the principle of slavery and the
doctrine of secession, and he was an ardent
supporter of Lincoln. After the secession
of South Carolina he engaged in organiz-
ing and drilling a company to meet the
preparations made by Governor Jackson,
of Missouri, who sympathized with the
South. The secessionists established a
camp with the intention of taking the
arsenal in St. Louis, with its military
stores. The United States government
sent Captain Nathaniel Lyon to command
the Union troops at St. Louis, and when
Lincoln's first call for volunteers came, it
found citizens in St. Louis prepared.
Under the leadership of Lyon, Blair and
Sigel, Camp Jackson was taken, and the
United States Arsenal saved. General
Sigel organized the Third Missouri Regi-
ment, made up entirely of German-Ameri-
cans, and became its colonel. In com-
mand of a brigade he marched against
the secessionists at Carthage, in South-
west Missouri, and attacked them vigor-
ously with fifteen hundred men, July 5,
1861 ; but was obliged to fall back to
Deep River, where he reorganized his
force and became attached to the army of
General Nathaniel Lyon. In the battle of
Wilson's Creek, where Lyon fell, he gained
the rear of the Confederates, but the
death of Lyon created confusion, and
Sigel was overwhelmed and obliged to re-
treat.
Sigel, promoted to brigadier-general,
was by General Fremont given command
of a division, and later of two divisions,
and ordered to join the army of General
S. R. Curtis, and took part in the battle of
Pea Ridge, Arkansas. Soon after he was
commissioned major-general, and on June
1, 1862, he was given command of the
forces at Harper's Ferry and Maryland
Heights, and followed "Stonewall" Jack-
son to Winchester, Virginia. On June
25, 1862, he was given command of the
First Corps, Army of Virginia, and was
present at the battle of Cedar Mountain.
He commanded the forces along the Rap-
pahannock river, having in addition to
his own corps a division of General Banks,
and a division of the Ninth Corps. At the
Second Battle of Bull Run he opened the
battle by attacking "Stonewall'' Jackson,
near Groveton. In the beginning he
gained decided advantage, and it was his
corps that covered the retreat to Wash-
ington, which ended the conflict.
In September, 1862, Sigel commanded
the Eleventh Corps and the Grand Re-
serve Division, which was present but did
not participate in the battle of Fredericks-
burg. In the disputes resulting from the
Second Battle of Bull Run, Sigel was in-
volved, and personal relations became so
difficult that he deemed it wise to resign
his command of the Eleventh Corps, just
prior to Chancellorsville, and he accepted
a command in the Department of the Le-
high, with headquarters at Reading, Penn-
sylvania, and was stationed there when
the battle of Gettysburg was fought.
Soon afterward, owing to illness, he was
obliged to accept a leave of absence.
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
Returning to duty in February, 1864,
he was given command of the Depart-
ment of West Virginia, and was defeated
by a superior force under General John C.
Breckinridge, near Newmarket. In con-
sequence, he was relieved and placed in
charge of the division guarding Harper's
Ferry. In July, 1864, he successfully de-
fended Maryland Heights against Gen-
eral Early, giving time for the Sixth and
Nineteenth army corps to reach the na-
tional capital and save it from capture.
The administration, however, had lost
confidence in Sigel, and he was relieved
of his command and ordered to Baltimore,
and he resigned in May, 1865.
While a resident of Baltimore, he edited
the "Baltimore Wecker," a German news-
paper. He took an active part as a
speaker in promoting the reelection of
President Lincoln. In 1866 he removed
to New York City. President Grant ap-
pointed him Collector of Internal Reve-
nue, and in 1869 he was the Republican
candidate for Secretary of State, but the
Democratic ticket was elected. President
Grant appointed him a special member of
the commission which visited Santo Do-
mingo, and reported to Congress in favor
of annexation. The same year he was
elected Register of the City of New York,
the Reform Democratic party joining the
Republicans in giving him a majority of
the votes cast, and he served to January,
1875. For President in 1880, General
Sigel warmly supported Hancock, and
thereafter was known as a Democrat up
to 1896, when he supported McKinley,
having no sympathy with the monetary
teachings advocated by Bryan. He served
the city of New York as equity clerk in
the office of the county clerk, and in 1885
President Cleveland appointed him Pen-
sion Agent at New York, and he filled
that office with credit, 1885-1888. After
his retirement he continued to reside in
New York City, lecturing throughout the
country on military and historical sub-
jects, in advertising business, and for
several years published the "New York
Monthly," a journal printed part in Ger-
man and part in English, devoted to the
interests of German-American citizens.
By special act of Congress he was granted
a pension of $1,200 per annum.
He died at his home in New York City,
August 21, 1902. A full length portrait
in oil of General Sigel occupies a place in
the court house in Carthage, Missouri,
the scene of one of his early battles. An
equestrian statue in Forest Park, St.
Louis, was unveiled in 1906. Franz Sigel
Park in the Bronx, New York City, was
named for him. In 1908 a statue was
placed on Riverside Drive, New York
City, and at the unveiling of the statue,
prominent in the marching procession
were noted Grand Army posts, with
members being German-American soldiers
who had served under General Sigel in
Missouri and Arkansas, and others who
were in his Virginia campaign.
General Franz Sigel married, in Janu-
ary, 1854, Elise Dulon, sister of Rudolph
Dulon, who was born in the city of
Bremen, Germany, and died in New
York, December 18, 1905.
WOODFORD, Stewart L.,
Soldier, Diplomatist.
General Stewart Lyndon Woodford
was born in New York City, September
3, 1835, son of Josiah Curtis and Susan
(Terry) Woodford, and eighth in descent
from Thomas Woodford, a native of Bos-
ton, Lincolnshire, England, who settled
at Dorchester, Massachusetts, in 1635,
and became one of the founders of Hart-
ford, Connecticut. His great-grandfather,
William Woodford, of Farmington, Con-
necticut, was a soldier in the Revolution,
83
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
and his grandfather, Chandler Woodford,
of Avon, was in the War of 1812. Through
his mother, General Woodford descends
from one of the original settlers of South-
old, Long Island.
Steward L. Woodford was prepared for
college at the Columbia Grammar School,
New York City, and was graduated from
Columbia University in 1854. He studied
law in 1858, was admitted to the bar, and
became a member of the law firm of
Woodford & Ritch. For more than half
a century he continued in active practice,
and among other firms was a partner in
1870 of the firm of Arnoux, Ritch &
Woodford, and in 1910 became senior
member of Woodford, Bovee & Butcher.
Early in life he began to take an active
interest in public affairs. He was a dele-
gate to the Republican National Conven-
tion of i860, which nominated Lincoln
for the presidency, and was messenger of
the Electoral College of New York to
Washington, bearing the votes of his
State for Lincoln. Early in 1861 he was
appointed Assistant United States Dis-
trict Attorney for the Southern District
of New York, and as such had charge of
the bureau which conducted all the block-
ade cases and such litigation as grew of
the war. He resigned in 1862 to enter
the army, enlisting in the One Hundred
and Twenty-seventh Regiment New York
Volunteers, in which he was made captain,
and later was promoted to lieutenant-
colonel. He was judge advocate-general
of the Department of the South, provost
marshal-general and later chief-of-staff to
General Ouincy A. Gilmore, commanding
that department. He was the first mili-
tary governor of Charleston, South Caro-
lina, after its capture by the Federal
forces, and was then transferred to the
command of Savannah, having been pre-
viously promoted to colonel and brevetted
brigadier-general for gallantry in action.
At the close of the war General Wood-
ford returned to law practice, but was
again drawn into public life. In 1866 he
was elected on the Republican ticket Lieu-
tenant-Governor of the State of New
York. In 1870 he was the Republican
candidate for Governor, and was defeated
by John T. Hoffman ; his friends always
insisted that he been elected and counted
out, a contention which was confirmed by
the ante mortem confessions of William
M. Tweed and A. Oakly Hall. In 1872
he was elector-at-large and president of
the Electoral College of New York, and
in the same year was elected to Congress
from the Third Brooklyn District. In
1877 he was appointed United States Dis-
trict Attorney for the Southern District
of New York by President Grant, and
was appointed in 1881 by President Gar-
field, who also offered him his choice
between three foreign missions, which
General Woodford declined, preferring to
remain in the practice of his profession.
He was delegate to the Republican Na-
tional Conventions of 1872, 1876 and 1880,
and was prominent in the last two as a
candidate for the vice-presidential nomi-
nation, withdrawing in 1876 in favor of
William A. Wheeler, and in 1880 himself
placing Chester A. Arthur in nomination.
In 1875, although a New Yorker, he par-
ticipated in the Ohio gubernatorial cam-
paign, conducting a series of joint debates
with General Thomas Ewing, the leader
of the Ohio Democracy, on the question
of the resumption of specie payment.
Rutherford B. Hayes was elected Gov-
ernor upon this issue, and this decision
in favor of sound money fixed the attitude
of the parties and restored the financial
credit of the nation. Meanwhile General
Woodford had resumed his law practice,
his firm becoming Arnoux, Ritch &Wood-
ford. In 1896 he was appointed by Gov-
ernor Morton one of the commissioners
84
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
to frame the charter of the Greater New-
York. In 1896, during the sound money
campaign, he again came forward as an
ardent advocate of safe and honest cur-
rency. As permanent chairman of the
Republican State Convention at Saratoga
he delivered the keynote speech, and later
took part in the campaign, speaking
throughout the country in advocacy of
sound money. In 1897 President McKin-
ley appointed him United States Minister
to Spain, a post which, owing to the com-
plications regarding Cuba, was the most
responsible in the entire diplomatic serv-
ice. Among his earliest communications
to the Spanish government was one ten-
dering the good offices of the United
States toward establishing permanent
peace in Cuba, an offer which was not
accepted. General Woodford distin-
guished himself by the coolness, firmness
and tact with which he met the delicate
and complicated situation growing out of
the unfortunate letter of Senor Polo y
Bernabe, and the closely following de-
struction of the battleship "Maine,"
events which greatly inflamed public
opinion in America. General Woodford's
policy of authorizing the Spanish govern-
ment to publish in full all negotiations
conducted by him, excited the surprise of
the ministers, and became famous as the
"new American diplomacy." He remained
in Madrid until April 21, 1898, when he
was informed that diplomatic relations
were severed, and received his passports
before he had an opportunity to present
the ultimatum of the United States, re-
quiring that within forty-eight hours
Spain should relinquish all claims to
sovereignty in Cuba. Returning home,
he declined a commission as major-gen-
eral tendered by President McKinley, and
continued titular minister to Spain until
September, 1898, when he resigned. He
was a member of the New York State Re-
publican Convention of 1898, which nomi-
nated Roosevelt for Governor, and as
chairman of the committee on resolutions
reported the platform announcing the
position of the party in New York on the
Cuban question. He was active in the
succeeding campaign of Governor Hughes,
whom he placed in nomination for the
presidency at the Republican convention
in Chicago. He was president of the Hud-
son-Fulton Commission in 1909, and after
the celebration in New York was sent by
the government to Europe to present
gold medals to the rulers whose countries
sent battleships to the celebration. He
was decorated by the German Emperor
with the Prussian Order of the Crown of
the first class, and was granted audiences
by the Queen of Holland, the President of
France, the King of Italy, and the King
of England. He was also decorated with
the Order of the Rising Sun, second class,
by the Emperor of Japan, the highest
decoration conferred upon foreigners.
General Woodford was married in 1857
to Julia E. Capen, daughter of Henry T.
Capen, of New York. She died in June,
1899 ; he married (second) September 26,
1900, Isabel, daughter of James S. Han-
son, who survived him. At the time of
his decease he was commander-in-chief
of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion,
and a member of the Grand Army of the
Republic, the Sons of the Revolution, the
Society of Colonial Wars, the New York
Chamber of Commerce, the Pilgrim So-
ciety, the Lawyers' Club, the University
Club, the Century Club, the Lotos Club,
and the Republican Club of New York,
the Union League and Hamilton clubs of
Brooklyn, and the New England Society
of both New York and Brooklyn. He
was for many years a trustee of Cornell
University: was a director in the City
Savings Bank of Brooklyn ; and general
counsel and director in the Metropolitan
85
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
Life Insurance Company. The degree of
A. M. was conferred upon him by Colum-
bia, Trinity and Yale colleges ; that of
LL. D. by Trinity, Dickinson and Mari-
etta colleges ; and that of D. C. L. by
Syracuse University. He was a member
of the Delta Psi and D. K. E. fraternities.
General Woodford died at his home in
New York, February 14, 1913.
SIBLEY, Hiram,
Loader Among Men.
Great leaders are few. The mass of
men seem content to remain in the posi-
tions in which they are placed by birth,
experience or environment. Laudable am-
bition, ready adaptability and a capacity
for hard work are essential elements of
success, and in none of these require-
ments was Hiram Sibley ever found lack-
ing. It is not a matter of marvel, there-
fore, that he occupied a preeminent posi-
tion among the builders of Rochester and
the promoters of progress and develop-
ment in various sections of the country.
In fact, his interests were so wide, that
he was a man not of one locality, but of
the nation. The eminence to which he
attained was due also to the fact that he
had the ability to recognize the opportune
moment and to correctly appraise the
value of a situation and determine its pos-
sible outcome. It was these qualities that
enabled him to enter upon his first great
work in amalgamating and coordinating
the forces that led to the establishment
of the Western Union Telegraph Com-
pany. The history of the invention of the
telegraph is too well known to need re-
iteration here. The great majority of the
members of Congress and the men promi-
nent in the country doubted the worth of
the ideas which found birth in the fertile
brain of Samuel F. B. Morse. Not so
with Mr. Sibley, and with wonderful pre-
science he recognized what this might
mean to the country and his executive
ability was brought to play in the organ-
ization of what is now one of the most
useful and powerful corporations of the
world.
No special advantages aided him at the
outset of his career. On the contrary, he
was deprived of many advantages which
most boys enjoy. A native of North
Adams, Massachusetts, he was born Feb-
ruary 6, 1807, and was the second son of
Benjamin and Zilpha (Davis) Sibley,
who were representatives of old New
England families that had been founded
on American soil at an early epoch in the
history of our country. He had com-
paratively little hope of acquiring an
education, but nature endowed him with
a strong mind and keen discernment. He
possessed, also, much mechanical genius,
used every chance which he had for its
development, and before he had attained
his majority was master of five trades.
His mechanical knowledge and his skill
proved an important factor in the sub-
stantial development of Monroe county.
Years later, in an address made to the
students of Sibley College, on a visit to
Ithaca, he gave utterance to words which
were typical of his own life, saying:
"There are two most valuable posses-
sions, which no search warrant can get
at, which no execution can take away,
and which no reverse of fortune can
destroy; they are what a man puts into
his head — knowledge ; and into his hands
—skill."
Mr. Sibley used every opportunity to
acquire both, and therein lay the founda-
tion of his wonderfully successful career.
At the age of sixteen he became a resi-
dent of Western New York, locating
first in Livingston county, where for sev-
eral years he carried on business as a
wool carder, machinist and iron founder.
'"'"" y/,/7,.
%
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
In 1829 he came to Monroe county and
the following year entered into partner-
ship with D. A. Watson, in the building
and operation of a saw mill and factory
for the construction of wool carding ma-
chines. They also began the manufacture
of agricultural implements, having the
first blast furnace and machine shop in
Monroe county. Around the new enter-
prise there sprang up a flourishing vil-
lage which was called Sibleyville. In
his business Mr. Sibley gave employment
to eighty men, but later he and his part-
ner were called elsewhere by more exten-
sive business interests, and the town
gradually sank into decadence, so that
only the mill and the shop mark its site
at the present time.
Having been elected sheriff of Mon-
roe county in 1843, Mr. Sibley removed
to Rochester, where he afterward con-
tinued to reside. Previous to this time
he had become deeply interested in the
experiments of Professor S. F. B. Morse
and Stephen Vail in telegraphy, and in
1840 had gone to Washington with Pro-
fessor Morse and Ezra Cornell to secur
an appropriation of forty thousand dol-
lars from Congress to build a telegraph
line from Washington to Baltimore.
They were successful in their mission,
and the success of the line and the sub-
sequent development of telegraphic com-
munication is now a matter of history.
Quickly following on the successful estab-
lishment of this pioneer line, several tele-
graph companies were organized but they
met with financial disaster. With firm
faith in the invention and with a keen
foresight which recognized possibilities
and the influence it would have on the
world's progress, Mr. Sibley bought the
house patents and with other Rochester
capitalists organized the New York &
Mississippi Valley Printing Telegraph
Company on April 1, 1851. The first
hundred miles of the line were finished
that year. Three years later the company
leased the lines of the Lake Erie Tele-
graph Company. At this time Ezra Cor-
nell was in possession of valuable grants
under the Morse patent and controlled
the Erie & Michigan Telegraph Com-
pany. Mr. Sibley then opened negoti-
ations with Mr. Cornell, and in 1856 the
companies controlled by them were
united by acts of the Wisconsin and New
York legislatures under the name of the
Western Union Telegraph Company.
For ten years Mr. Sibley was president
of the new company and for sixteen years
a leading member of its board of directors.
During the first six years of his presi-
dency the number of telegraph offices
was increased from one hundred ar '
thirty-two to four thousand and the prop-
erty rose in value from two hundred and
twenty thousand to forty-eight million
dollars.
It was Hiram Sibley who projected the
Atlantic and Pacific line to California, ar '
it was built under his direction and con-
trol. His associates of the Western
Union were unwilling to undertake the
enterprise as a company and Cyrus W.
Field, Wilson G. Hunt, Peter Cooper, and
others, engaged in large undertakings at
the time, whom he strove to interest in
the matter, also deemed the project pre-
mature. With a persistence and confi-
dence in the soundness of his judgment
which were characteristics of the man,
he then presented his project to Congress
and was heartily supported by Howell
Cobb, Secretary of the Treasury. June
16, i860, an act was passed encouraging
the project and granting an annual su 1
sidy of forty thousand dollars for ten
years, and on September 22, his offer to
construct the lines was officially accepted.
The Overland Telegraph Company was
organized in San Francisco, and, the two
companies uniting their interests, the
Pacific Telegraph Company came into
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
existence. Five months later the line was
opened from ocean to ocean — ten years
in advance of the completion of a trans-
continental railroad ! A profitable invest-
ment from the start, this line, March 17,
1864, was merged into the Western Union
Telegraph system. Before the success of
the Atlantic cable was assured Mr. Sibley
was interested in a project to unite the
old and the new world electrically by way
of Behring Strait. In the furtherance of
that enterprise he made a visit to Russia
in 1864-65, and was received most cor-
dially by the Czar, who assigned to his
American guest the second place of honor
at state functions, the French ambassador
alone taking precedence of him. The
Russian government entered into hearty
cooperation with the American projectors
for the establishment of the line, which
would undoubtedly have been built had
not the Atlantic cable been put into suc-
cessful operation about that time.
The purchase of Alaska by the United
States government was first suggested
during an interview Mr. Sibley was hav-
ing with regard to the projected Behring
Strait telegraph line with Prime Minister
Gortschcoff. Mr. Sibley was asked how
the American company proposed to ac-
quire right-of-way across the territories
of British America and the Hudson Bay
Company. He replied that he thought
there would be little difficulty in securing
a right-of-way over the territory referred
to, except in the case of the Hudson Bay
Company ; that while in London he had
submitted the matter to the directors of
the Hudson Bay Company, who did not
welcome the proposition with enthusiasm
and as a consequence he thought it might
be necessary to acquire a considerable
interest in the Hudson Bay Company.
The minister asked him what would be
the probable cost to the American com-
pany, to which Mr. Sibley replied stating
a considerable sum which drew from the
minister the remark that it was not worth
any such sum ; that Russia would sell the
whole of Alaska for a sum not much
bigger. At the end of the interview Mr.
Sibley asked the minister whether he
intended his remark in regard to Alaska
to be taken seriously and whether he
might bring it to the attention of the
United States government. To which
the minister replied that he was quite
serious and had no objection to the sug-
gestion being made to the United States
government. Mr. Sibley lost no time in
communicating this suggestion to Gen-
eral Cassius M. Clay, at that time minister
of the United States at the Court of
Russia, who in turn at once communi-
cated the information to Secretary Se-
ward at Washington. The result, of
course, is known to everybody.
In addition to his labors for the intro-
duction of the telegraph, Mr. Sibley was
largely instrumental in promoting other
enterprises, for with wonderful foresight
he believed in the rapid development of
the western country. After the war,
prompted more by the desire of restor-
ing amicable relations than by the pros-
pect of gain, he made large and varied
investments in railroads in the south and
did much to promote renewed business
activity. He became extensively inter-
ested in lumber and salt manufacturing
in the west and was the owner of nearly
three hundred and fifty farms in Ford
and Livingston counties, Illinois. At one
time he possessed forty-seven thousand
acres in Ford county alone, and on his
land he made splendid improvements of
a substantial and extensive character. He
also established a large seed-raising busi-
ness in Rochester, with warehouses in
this city and Chicago, and undertook to
supply seeds of his own importation and
raising and others' growth, under a per-
ut>
^-«-»-l
^M -a-^JL ^
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
sonal knowledge of their vitality and
comparative value. He instituted many
experiments for the improvement of
plants, with reference to their seed-bear-
ing qualities, and built up a business as
unique in its character as it was unprt
cedented in amount. He was president
of the Bank of Monroe and connectc
with many other Rochester institutions
that led to the upbuilding of the city.
His broad, humanitarian spirit, how-
ever, was manifest in many other ways.
His deep appreciation of the value of
education and his desire for the mental
improvement of America was substantial-
ly manifested in a most practical way.
He endowed a number of institutions for
the promotion of learning and established
Sibley Hall for the use of the library of
the University of Rochester, at a cost of
one hundred thousand dollars. He gave
to it many valuable volumes and provided
for the free use of the library by the
public. He was one of the trustees to
incorporate the Reynolds Library. He
also endowed the Sibley College of Me-
chanical Arts at Cornell University at a
cost of two hundred thousand dollars, and
thus set in motion a movement of intel-
lectual advancement, the influence of
which is incalculable.
Mr. Sibley was particularly happy in
his home life. He married Elizabeth M.
Tinker, a daughter of Giles and Zilphia
(Knight) Tinker, who were natives of
Connecticut. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Sibley
were born the following named children :
Louise, who became the wife of Hobart
F. Atkinson, and died in 1868, at the age
of thirty-four, leaving two children —
Elizabeth, wife of Arthur Smith, and
Marie L., who married Harry H. Perkins ;
Giles B., who died at the age of two
years; Hiram Watson, of Rochester; and
Emily, the wife of James S. Watson.
Like her husband, Mrs. Sibley delighted
in doing good, and was long actively con-
nected with the Church Home of Roches-
ter, to which she was a generous con-
tributor. Mrs. Sibley also erected St.
John's Episcopal Church, in North
Adams, Massachusetts, her native village,
at a cost of twenty-five thousand dollars,
and a few years later she added a chancel
at a cost of twenty-five thousand dollars
more. Her private charities and benefac-
tions were many, for her heart was most
sympathetic, and the worthy poor never
sought her aid in vain. She has passed
away, and Mr. Sibley died July 12, 1888,
after reaching the eighty-first milestone
on life's journey, but as long as the his-
tory of America and its progress shall be
recorded his name will be closely inter-
woven therewith, for what he did in the
promotion of its telegraphic and railroad
interests and also by reason of his efforts
for educational advancement. Of him a
contemporary biographer has said: "He
amassed wealth, but was most generous
and helpful in his use of it. His asso-
ciation with one of the most important
inventions the world has ever known,
would of itself class him among the fore-
most men of the nineteenth century, but
his nature was so broad, his resources so
great and his mentality so strong, that
his efforts in that line were but the initial
step in a most active and useful career,
whereby the world has been enriched
materially, mentally and morally."
JONES, W. Martin,
Lawyer, Humanitarian.
At the head of the legal profession are
some of the finest characters and the most
undoubted talents produced by twentieth
century civilization, and the honor of a
place in this list was the just due of the
late W. Martin Jones, of Rochester, New
York. There is no career that offers
89
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
greater opportunities for a man of the
incisive type of mind than the practice of
the law. Here the man whose mental
gifts are of the highest order finds scope
for their use and opportunity for con-
tinual improvement in the contact with
others that are pitted against him. But
it was not in his legal practice alone that
Mr. Jones earned the commendation and
won the admiration of all right thinking
men ; he was a well known leader in the
cause of temperance, and it is owing
largely to his efforts that that cause has
made the forward strides it has achieved
in recent years. As a statesman Mr.
Jones also proved his worth, as a perusal
of the following lines will show. He was
a son of Thomas P. Jones, born in Builth,
Wales, and Lodoiska (Butler) Jones, wno
was born at Crown Point, New York,
and who was related to Benjamin F.
Butler. She was a woman of brilliant
mind and strong character, traits which
she transmitted in rich measure to her
son, the subject of this sketch.
W. Martin Jones was born in Manlius,
Onondaga county, New York, July 24,
1841, and died after a year's illness, May
3, 1906. He was a child of tender years
when his parents removed to Knowles-
ville, New York, and there obtained his
elementary education. He prepared for
college at Albion Academy, from which
he was graduated, and was about to
matriculate at Yale College when the out-
break of the Civil War caused him to
change his plans. He had formed the
acquaintance of Edwin D. Morgan, the
War Governor of New York, and when this
gentleman became a United States Sen-
ator, Mr. Jones was selected to act as his
private secretary, an office he filled two
years. He became the private secretary
of Secretary of State William H. Seward
in 1864, acted in the same capacity to his
son, Frederick W. Seward, and so capable
did he prove himself in this responsible
post, that he was advanced to the post
of chief clerk of the Consular Bureau in
the State Department. Almost morbidly
conscientious in looking after all the
details of this office personally, the close
application this necessitated frequently
kept him at work until long after mid-
night in order to prepare the necessary
instructions to United States representa-
tives in all parts of the world, watching
Confederate blockade runners, and guard-
ing the interests of the republic in foreign
countries. During this time he was in
close touch with everything that con-
cerned the President and his cabinet, and
was frequently made aware of plots
against the government or those high in
office, and took the necessary steps to
counteract all such plans. He was
present in Ford's Theatre, not twenty
feet away from President Lincoln when
the latter was assassinated. At the close
of the war Mr. Jones was appointed
United States Consul at Clifton, Canada,
his resignation from the Consular Bureau
being very regretfully accepted by Mr.
Seward. He was in Clifton five years,
and while giving faithful attention to the
discharge of his consular duties, utilized
his spare time in the study of law, and
upon his return to the United States in
1871 took up his residence in Rochester,
New York. In due course of time he
was admitted to the bar, and it was not
long before he had climbed the legal
ladder, achieving a position of such
prominence that some of his cases are
quoted as authoritative all over the
country.
The cause of temperance engaged the
attention of Mr. Jones at a very early
age. He was but ten years of age when
he became a Cadet of Temperance, and
some years later became a member of the
order of Sons of Temperance. He affili-
90
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
ated with the Order of Good Templars
in 1867, and soon became a leading spirit
in that organization ; he was elected
Grand Chief Templar of New York State
in 1879, was the incumbent of this office
for four consecutive years, and served as
treasurer of the International Body of
Good Templars for a period of seven
years. Politically a Republican for many
years, he yet regarded the Prohibition
movement as the most important issue
of the time, and when the Republican
party failed to redeem its temperance
pledges, made at the Richfield Springs
Convention of 1882, he gave his entire
support to the Prohibition party, and was
a pioneer candidate on its tickets, at a
time when he knew he would only invite
ridicule and persecution, but he had the
courage of his convictions and remained
true to his principles. He was a candi-
date for Attorney-General in 1885, and
for Governor in 1888, of the State of
New York, upon the Prohibition ticket,
and in the following campaign he received
the largest Prohibition vote ever cast in
the State of New York, running ahead of
the National ticket. In the Free Silver
campaign of 1896, Mr. Jones took a posi-
tion in favor of the gold standard, and
as the Prohibition party failed to recog-
nize any issue except the cause of temper-
ance, and as the Republican party ap-
peared to recognize the merit of this
cause, Mr. Jones again gave his support
to the Republican party, and stumped the
State of Michigan against the Hon. John
P. St. John, who had been the Prohibition
candidate for President of the United
States in 1883, and who was then advo-
cating free silver.
Mr. Jones entertained most decided
opinions on the question of international
peace and was a decided supporter of
international arbitration. In 1896, when
the Venezuela boundary question was the
subject of heated discussion, Mr. Jones'
opinions were well known, and at a meet-
ing of the New York State Bar Asso-
ciation he was chosen as a member of a
committee of nine, appointed for the
purpose of considering the question of
arbitration between Great Britain and the
United States. Hon. Chauncey M. Depew
and Professor John Bassett Moore, of
Columbia University, were appointed
advisory members of this committee.
Mr. Jones set forth his views at the first
meeting of this committee, and called
attention to the difficulties attending
arbitration where only the litigants are
the arbiters, and forcibly advocated the
establishment of a "permanent interna-
tional court of arbitration" composed of
representatives of several nations. At
this meeting he and Hon. Walter S.
Logan, of New York, were appointed a
sub-committee, and had in charge the
duty of devising and presenting to che
full committee a plan for such a court ; the
duty of drafting the desired resolutions
fell upon Mr. Jones, and the report which
he prepared was successively approved,
without alteration or amendment, by the
sub-committee, the whole committee and
the Bar Association itself, at a special
meeting called to consider the matter,
and a committee was then appointed to
present the memorial to the President of
the United States. Hon. Edward G.
Whitaker, president of the Bar Associ-
ation, Judge William D. Veeder, chair-
man of the committee, and Mr. Jones
made this presentation, April 21, 1896,
and the ablest journals of the day com-
mented favorably on both the memorial
and the report, and the Albany Law Jour-
nal, having published both in full, closed
an approving editorial as follows : "We
believe the plan of the Bar Association
is well devised and properly considered
and it should be, if nothing more, at least
a step toward some practical result." The
memorial is here given in full :
9'
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
To the President:
The Petition of the New York State Bar
Association respectfully shows:
That impelled by a sense of duty to the State
and Nation and a purpose to serve the cause of
humanity everywhere, your Petitioner at its
annual session held in the City of Albany on the
22nd day of January, 1896, appointed a commit-
tee to consider the subject of International
Arbitration, and to devise and submit to it a plan
for the organization of a tribunal to which may
hereafter be submitted controverted inter-
national questions between the governments of
Great Britain and the United States.
That said committee entered upon the per-
formance of its duty at once, and after long
and careful deliberation reached the conclusion
that it is impracticable, if not impossible, to form
a satisfactory Anglo-American Tribunal, for the
adjustment of grave International controversies,
that shall be composed only of representatives
of the two governments of Great Britain and
the United States.
That in order that the subject might receive
more mature and careful consideration, the mat-
ter was referred to a sub-committee, by whom an
extended report was made to the full committee.
This report was adopted as the report of the
full committee, and at a special meeting of the
State Bar Association called to consider the
matter and held at the State Capitol in the City
of Albany, on the 16th day of April, 1896, the
action of the committee was affirmed and the
plan submitted fully endorsed. As the report
referred to contains the argument in brief, both
in support of the contention that it is imprac-
ticable to organize a court composed only of
representatives of the governments of Great
Britain and the United States, and in support
of the plan outlined in it, a copy of the report
is hereto appended and your Petitioner asks that
it be made and considered a part of this Peti-
tion.
That your Petitioner cordially endorses the
principle of arbitration for the settlement of all
controversies between civilized nations and it
believes that it is quite within the possibility
of the educated intellects of the leading Powers
of the world to agree upon a plan for a great
central World's Court, that, by the common
consent of nations, shall eventually have juris-
diction of all disputes arising between Independ-
ent Powers that cannot be adjusted by friendly
diplomatic negotiations. Holding tenaciously to
this opinion, and conscious that there must be a
first step in every good work, else there will
never be a second, your Petitioner respectfully
but earnestly urges your early consideration of
the subject that ultimately, — at least during the
early years of the coming century — the honest
purpose of good men of every nation may be
realized in devising means for the peaceful solu-
tion of menacing disputes between civilized
nations. Your Petitioner therefore submits to
you the following recommendations:
First: The establishment of a permanent
International Tribunal to be known as "The
International Court of Arbitration."
Second: Such court to be composed of nine
members, one each from nine independent
states or nations, such representative to be a
member of the Supreme or Highest Court of
the nation he shall represent, chosen by a major-
ity vote of his associates, because of his high
character as a publicist and judge and his
recognized ability and irreproachable integrity.
Each judge thus selected to hold office during
life, or the will of the Court selecting him.
Third: The court thus constituted to make
its own rules of procedure, to have power to
fix its place of sessions and to change the same
from time to time as circumstances and the
convenience of litigants may suggest and to
appoint such clerks and attendants as the Court
may require.
Fourth: Controverted questions arising be-
tween any two or more Independent Powers,
whether represented in said "International Court
of Arbitration" or not, at the option of said
Powers, to be submitted by treaty between said
Powers to said Court, providing only that said
treaty shall contain a stipulation to the effect
that all parties thereto shall respect and abide
by the rules and regulations of said Court and
conform to whatever determination it shall
make of said controversy.
Fifth: Said Court to be opened at all times
for the filing of cases and counter cases under
treaty stipulations by any nation, whether rep-
resented in the Court or not, and such orderly
proceedings in the interim between sessions of
the Court in preparation for argument and sub-
mission of the controversy as may seem neces-
sary, to be taken as the rules of the Court pro-
vide for and may be agreed upon between the
litigants.
Sixth: Independent Powers not represented
in said Court, but which may have become
parties litigant in a controversy before it, and
by treaty stipulation have agreed to submit to
its adjudication, to comply with the rules of the
Court, and to contribute such stipulated amount
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
to its expenses as may be provided for by its
rules or determined by the Court.
Your Petitioner also recommends that you
enter at once into correspondence and nego-
tiation, through the proper diplomatic channels
with representatives of the governments of
Great Britain, France, Germany, Russia, The
Netherlands, Mexico, Brazil and the Argentine
Republic for a union with the government of
the United States in the laudable undertaking
of forming an International Court, substantially
on the basis herein outlined.
Your Petitioner presumes it is unnecessary
to enter into further argument in support of the
foregoing propositions than is contained in the
report of its committee, which is appended
hereto, and which your Petitioner has already
asked to have considered a part of this petition.
Your Petitioner will be pardoned, however, if
it invite especial attention to that part of the
report emphasizing the fact that the plan herein
outlined is intended, if adopted, at once to meet
the universal demand among English-speaking
people for a permanent tribunal to settle con-
tested international questions that may here-
after arise between the governments of Great
Britain and the United States.
While it is contended that it is wholly im-
practicable to form such a tribunal without the
friendly interposition of other nations on the
joint invitation of the Powers who united in its
organization, it is very evident that a most
acceptable permanent International Court may
be speedily secured by the united and harmoni-
ous action of said Powers as already suggested.
Should obstacles be interposed to the accept-
ance by any of the Powers named by your Peti-
tioner, of the invitation to name a representa-
tive for such a Court, on the plan herein gen-
erally outlined, some other equally satisfactory
Power could be solicited to unite in the creation
of such a Court.
Believing that in the fulfillment of its destiny
among the civilized nations of the world,
it has devolved upon the younger of the two
Anglo-Saxon Powers, now happily in the en-
joyment of nothing but future peaceful pros-
pects, to take the first step looking to the
permanency of peace among nations, your Peti-
tioner, representing the Bar of the Empire
State, earnestly appeals to you as the Chief
Executive officer of the government of the
United States, to take such timely action as
shall lead eventually to the organization of such
a tribunal as has been outlined in the foregoing
recommendations. While ominous sounds of
martial preparation are in the air, the ship
builder's hammer is industriously welding the
bolt, and arsenals are testing armor plates, your
Petitioner, apprehensive for the future, feels
that delays are dangerous, and it urgently
recommends that action be taken at once by
you to compass the realization of the dream of
good men in every period of the world's history,
when nations shall learn war no more and en-
lightened reason shall fight the only battle
fought among the children of men.
And Your Petitioner Will Ever Pray.
Attested in behalf of the New York State Bar
Association at the Capitol in the City of Albany,
N. Y., April 16th, 1896.
Ed. G. Whitaker, President.
L. B. Proctor, Secretary.
Copies of this memorial were sent to a
number of foreign governments and to
prominent people throughout the world,
including the Czar of Russia. In 1899,
when the Czar of Russia issued his call
for a disarmament conference, to be held
at The Hague, the New York State Bar
Association called another meeting, and
Mr. Jones, as chairman of a special com-
mittee, was appointed to draw up resolu-
tions relative to the subjects to be dis-
cussed by the proposed conference. The
fact was at once recognized that dis-
armament alone was an impracticable
course, and that the first step toward
universal peace must be the establish-
ment of an international court to which
all nations might turn. The memorial
which was drawn up in pursuance of this
idea was substantially the same as that
prepared in 1896, above referred to.
Copies of it were sent by the State De-
partment of the United States govern-
ment to the delegates at the first Hague
Conference, where it became known as
the "American Plan." The organization
of the Hague Court was largely the result
of the influence of this memorial upon
that conference. At first there was much
opposition to any such scheme, particu-
larly on the part of Germany, but the
plan won and so the first step was taken
93
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
toward the ultimate goal of universal
peace. Numerous nations have taken
their disputes to this court for settlement.
Mr. Jones joined the Masonic order while
residing in Washington, was a member
of Valley Lodge, Free and Accepted
Masons, and of Monroe Commandery,
Knights Templar, of Rochester ; the
American, New York State and Roches-
ter Bar associations ; Mohonk Lake Peace
Conference ; Bibliophile Society of Bos-
ton ; Society of the Genesee; American
Peace Society, and Independent Order of
Good Templars. He was a delegate, in
1904, from the New York State Bar Asso-
ciation to the International Congress of
Lawyers and Jurists, at St. Louis.
Mr. Jones married, July 5, 1871, Ger-
trude M. Nicholls, at Buffalo, New York,
a woman of fine mental caliber, which
proved of great worth to her gifted hus-
band. One of their children died in
infancy, the others are: Gertrude Min-
nie, W. Martin, Jr., and Abram Nicholls.
W. Martin, Jr., born December 20, 1874,
attended School No. 15, Professor Hale's
preparatory school, Mechanics' Institute
and University of Rochester, receiving
the degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1899.
He studied law with his father, and was
admitted to the bar in 1901. He practiced
law and engaged in mining business. He
is a member of Rochester, New York
State, and American Bar associations ;
Company A (Eighth Separate Company),
Third Infantry, National Guard, State of
New York ; American Society for Judicial
Settlement of International Disputes.
Abram Nicholls, born January II, 1886,
attended schools Nos. 11 and 15, East
High, University of Rochester, receiving
the degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1909.
He studied law with his brother, and was
admitted to the bar in 191 1, and has prac-
ticed ever since. He is a member of the
Rochester Bar Association, Young Men's
Christian Association and Dante Alighieri.
HARRIS, James,
Representative Citizen, Public Official.
Honored and respected by all, there
was no man who occupied a more enviable
position in all circles than the late James
Harris, of Fairport, Monroe county, New
York. Success is determined by one's
ability to recognize opportunity and to
pursue it with a resolute, unflagging
energy. Success results from continued
labor, and the man who accomplishes his
purpose usually becomes an important
factor in the business circles of the com-
munity with which he is identified.
Through his energy, progressiveness and
executive ability, the late James Harris
attained a leading place among the repre-
sentative men of his community and his
well spent and honorable life commanded
the admiration of all who knew him,
either personally or by reputation.
William Harris, Sr., his grandfather,
descended from an honorable Scotch an-
cestry, whose sterling characteristics
have been transmitted to their descend-
ants in rich measure, became a leader in
public thought and action in the com-
munity in which he lived. He emigrated
to America in 1802, and established his
first home in Montgomery county, in a
Scotch settlement founded by Sir Wil-
liam Johnson. He married Mary Kil-
patrick, a native of the highlands of Scot-
land, whose ancestry can be traced to the
days of Wallace and Bruce.
William Harris, Jr., eldest son of Wil-
liam and Mary (Kilpatrick) Harris, was
eighteen years of age when he came to
this country with his parents. A very
short time after his marriage he removed
to the Genesee country, his wife's father
and family coming with them. They
were leaders in this community from its
earliest days. Mr. Harris organized the
first school in that section and taught it
in 1810, and the early intellectual develop-
94
VtA^ut^^O
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
ment of the country rested chiefly on his
shoulders. Later he removed to a farm
in Penfield, on which he resided until his
death in December, 1842. He was a Pres-
byterian in religious faith, a Whig in
political opinion, and was considered a
wise counselor by all who knew him. A
contemporary biographer has said of
him:
Endowed with the attributes of a fine nature
and gifted with an unusual amount of intellec-
tual ability, he was a man of rare judgment, of
deep penetration and of great energy.
Mr. Harris married, in April, 1806,
Sallie Shoecraft, eldest daughter of John
Shoecraft, a patriot of the Revolutionary
War, who enlisted from Ulster county,
New York, and served under General
Washington. At the conclusion of this
struggle he married, in Washington
county, New York, Betsey McKee, of
Scotch parentage, whose family had been
prominent in the settlement of that part
of the State, but who later removed to
Fulton county. When they removed
with Mr. Harris, they all settled at what
is now Webster, Monroe county. Mr.
Shoecraft and his two sons were members
of the State militia during the War of
1812. Mr. and Mrs. Harris had eleven
children, of whom the eldest, a son, died
in early manhood, and the youngest, a
daughter, died in infancy. The others
were: Mary K., married Abner O.
Osborn ; Betsey M., married John M.
Watson ; Sallie, married Albert Ray-
mond ; William, a farmer, became the
owner of the old homestead, and died
there in September, 1886; Martha, mar-
ried Hiram W. Allen ; George F. ; Robert ;
James, of whom further; Peter, also an
agriculturist.
James Harris, son of William and Sallie
(Shoecraft) Harris, was born in Webster,
New York, July 7, 1821, and died at
Fairport, New York, March 6, 1911, after
a gradual failing of about a year. He
was an apt pupil at the district schools
in the vicinity of his home, and for two
terms attended the sessions of a select
school in the village of Penfield. Under
the able guidance of his father his educa-
tion was continued at home, after leaving
school, by means of well selected reading
and diversified study. At the age of
nineteen years, Mr. Harris was well
fitted to enter upon the profession of
teaching, and during the next seven years
he taught in a district school during the
winter months, his summers being spent
in assisting his father in the cultivation
of the latter's farm. That he was re-
garded as a man of understanding and
ability even in his earlier years is evi-
denced by the fact of his being chosen i
fill the office of justice of the peace whc
he was but twenty-one years of age, and
was the incumbent of this office four
years. The cause of education had ever
appealed to him very strongly, and he
was subsequently chosen as town super-
intendent of schools, and as town clerk.
He was one of the incorporators of the
old Penfield Seminary in 1857, and served
as one of its trustees during the entire
period of its existence. When this insti-
tution had outlived its usefulness, he was
appointed a member of the committee to
procure the passage of a legislative act
authorizing the sale of the property to
the Penfield graded school. In 1843 Gov-
ernor William C. Bouck appointed Mr.
Harris as captain of a uniformed company
of militia, attached to the Fifty-second
Regiment, later being advanced to the
rank of major. With all the demands
which these public offices made upon Mr.
Harris, he yet found time, in 1850, to
establish a general mercantile business,
which he conducted with a large amount
of success until 1857. At not infrequent
intervals he was called upon to act as
administrator of numerous estates, and
95
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
he was a commissioner in the distribu-
tion of lands. As an agriculturist Mr.
Harris was eminently successful, and
was the owner of valuable farm property
in various sections. He took up his resi-
dence on the old homestead farm, east
of the village of Penfield, April I, 1866,
and resided there until his removal to
Fairport in 1904. Even after taking up
his residence there he was accustomed to
superintend the management of his farms,
his son, Charles L., having the active
management of them.
In the political life of the town Mr.
Harris was also a prominent figure.
Originally a Whig, he affiliated with the
Republican party upon its formation, and
always took a keen interest in the public
affairs of the community. In 1853 he was
elected supervisor of Penfield by one of
the largest majorities ever accorded a
candidate, and was honored by reelection
to this office fifteen times during the fol-
lowing twenty-two years, an enviable
record. While the office was at no time
a sinecure, during the Civil War period it
brought with it additional responsibilities
for its incumbent, which were met by Mr.
Harris in a masterly manner. Firm in his
support of the Union, he did all he could
to promote its interests. Not long after
the fall of Fort Sumter a special tow
meeting was called for the purpose of
adopting suitable measures and appoint-
ing a Committee of Public Safety, Mr.
Harris being chosen as one of the three
members of this committee. He served
in this capacity until again elected to the
office of supervisor in the spring of 1864,
when the business of the committee was
entrusted entirely to his discretion and
so continued until the end of the recon-
struction period which followed the close
of the war. In the discharge of these
important and arduous duties he mani-
fested executive ability of a high order,
keen foresight, a thorough understanding
of the situation, and an intense loyalty
to the best interests of the county. With
the cooperation of many of the leading
citizens of the community, he filled the
town's quota without a single inhabitant
being drafted, save a few who were
drafted early in the war during the act
conferring option of service or a pay-
ment of three hundred dollars each. His
method was a purely business transaction.
The call had been for one-year men and
the town offered a bounty of five hundred
dollars to each volunteer. Realizing that
men could be had for three years without
increasing the bounties if the bonds were
converted into cash, he wisely discrimi-
nated in favor of the longer term of en-
listment, raised the necessary money and
filled the quota with three-year men to
the number of sixty-three, and bonds
were issued to the amount of thirty-one
thousand five hundred dollars, and when
the war closed the State of New York,
under the law equalizing bounties, paid
back nearly two-thirds of this sum, or
about twenty thousand dollars to the
town. As a member of the board and
chairman of its finance committee he was
largely instrumental in promoting the law
which changed the system formerly pur-
sued in the county treasurer's office to
its present status, involving not only the
disposition of public moneys but of
returned taxes as well. As he was the
first treasurer elected after the passage
of this law, he put it into operation during
his three years' term, which commenced,
October 1, 1876. After the close of this
term of office he never again consented
to hold public office, although frequently
solicited to do so. For many years he
was a member of the Baptist church, and
a regular attendant at its services. He
was a member of the Monroe County
Historical Societv, and a charter member
96
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
of the Association of Supervisors and Ex-
Supervisors of Monroe County, and was
unanimously elected as its president, Au-
gust 7, 1895.
Mr. Harris married (first) December
I, 1847, Martha M. Pope, who died Janu-
ary 1, 1880, a daughter of William Pope,
of Penfield. He married (second) Feb-
ruary 21, 1883, Mrs. Horace P. Lewis, a
widow, and daughter of Charles Lacey,
formerly of Poughkeepsie, New York.
Children by first marriage: James Dar-
win, a farmer at Fairport; Robert, born
in 1856, died in 1887; Mary K. ; George
H., junior member of the law firm of
Werner & Harris, of Rochester, and w
married Hattie Higbie, of Penfield, and
has children: Donald, Duncan, and Adair.
By the second marriage there were chil-
dren : Charles Lacey, who was gradu-
ated from the University of Rochester,
now resides on home farm in Penfield ;
Angie K., who was graduated from the
Fairport High School in the training class,
taught in the Honeoye Falls schools, and
then in a Fairport school; became the
wife of L. Waynebaumer.
O'CONNOR, Joseph,
Journalist, Essayist, Poet.
American journalism has attained the
dignity of a profession, the "fourth
estate," recognized, by the talent and
consecration enlisted in its service, as on
a par with the other three known as "the
learned professions." It is safe to say
that there are scores of writers on the
press to-day who in style and substance
will not suffer by comparison with the dis-
tinguished English essayists of the eight-
eenth century; but their multiplicity
diminishes their eminence. The plain has
been lifted to the peaks; the individual is
lost in the crowd. Ego rex, dominant in
journalism for three-quarters of a cen-
N Y-Vol IH-7 97
tury, has abdicated his throne, whether
for good or for ill, it is not presumed here
to determine. It is the paper now that
speaks, not the man behind it. Freneau,
Leggett, Bryant and Webb, Croswell,
Weed and Prentice, Greeley, Raymond,
Dana, Curtis and their compeers have dis-
appeared and few are they who have suc-
ceeded to their chairs. These few, it
were, perhaps, invidious to mention; but
in their circle Joseph O'Connor unques-
tionably belongs, although the large part
of his work was done on the provincial,
rather than the metropolitan press.
Joseph O'Connor, of Celtic lineage, of
the sept of the O'Connors of Offaly, the
son of Joseph and Mary (Finlay) O'Con-
nor, was born at Tribes Hill, Montgomery
county, New York, December 17, 1841.
His father was a man of scholarly tastes,
but endowed with only a small portion
of worldly wealth. He died at West Ber
gen in 1854 from injuries received in
saving a friend from being thrown before
a locomotive by a frightened horse. The
family then moved to Rochester, where
Joseph entered school, and having pre-
pared for college and received a scholar-
ship, studied at the University of Roches-
ter and was graduated in 1863.
Some desultory newspaper work was
followed by a short term in a stone-yard,
where he learned his father's trade, stone-
cutting, probably in uncertainty as to his
future course. It was a mere episode, but
one to which he afterward looked back as
a valuable experience. This was followed
by a year or two of service as teacher of
Latin in the high school, during which
time he studied law and was admitted to
the bar. He had just opened an office,
however, when to oblige a friend he acted
as reporter on the Rochester "Democrat"
in his friend's absence ; and thus began
what proved to be his life-work. Shortly
after he was made editor-in-chief ; but his
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
fundamental proclivities were of the Jef-
fersonian school, and he was therefore
restive on the staff of a Republican sheet.
He remained, however, with the "Demo-
crat" until 1873. In that year he became
editor of the Indianapolis "Sentinel," a
noteworthy Democratic journal of large
State influence, with which he remained
until 1875, when he became associate
editor of the New York "World" under
Manton Marble, forming one of the bril-
liant group that made the "World"
famous, acting, for a time, as the
"World's" Washington correspondent.
In 1879 he left the "World," going as
associate editor to the Buffalo "Courier"
when David Gray, that accomplished
writer, of poetic soul, was editor-in-chief.
Three years later, upon the retirement of
David Gray, he was promoted to the
editor's chair, resigning in 1885. It is an
open secret that his resignation was
induced by his inability to approve the
administration or the personality of
Grover Cleveland, his judgment of whom,
whether well or ill-conceived, was an
honest one. In 1886 he was called to edit
the Rochester "Post-Express," then an
independent journal, and for ten years
filled the position with power and bril-
liancy. In 1896 the paper was resolved
into a Republican organ, and Mr. O'Con-
nor at once severed his connection there-
with, refusing as always to become the
protagonist of any party, reserving his
privilege to write as he believed. On his
retirement from this editorship it was
said of him that he had done more than
any other man to elevate the tone of
Rochester journalism. That was true ; he
was courteous, sympathetic, just, con-
scientious, cultured ; he uniformly aimed
to do the best for the community; he
always sought to recommend to the atten-
tion of his readers whatsoever made for
purity and goodness, and he put into the
work of the day as much literary finish
and original thought as great capacity
and great effort might furnish ; his profes-
sional motives squared with his upright
character.
After a year as editor of the Buffalo
"Enquirer," Mr. O'Connor returned to
Rochester and in 1898 began writing for
the "Post-Express" a column under the
title "The Rochesterian," which he con-
tinued until his death. It was signed
with his initials, being understood, there-
fore, as the expression of his own opin-
ions, for which he alone was responsible.
During this time he wrote also extended
reviews of important books for the same
paper and for the New York "Times."
Two volumes of selections from his news-
paper work and his other writings were
published in 191 1 with the title of "The
Rochesterian."
Beside his newspaper work Mr. O'Con-
nor was an occasional contributor to
magazines on any subject that interested
him. He was an undisputed authority
on Civil War history and contributed to
Appleton's "Encyclopedia of Amer-
ican Biography." During the first Mc-
Kinley administration, he was urged by
his friends for the post of minister to the
Netherlands, but did not press the ap-
pointment.
As a poet, he had an unusual gift of
sympathetic expression, and at the earn-
est solicitation of his friends published a
volume of his verse. He wrote the "Ode,"
at the celebration of New York Day at
the World's Columbian Exposition, and
the "Commemorative Ode" read on the
occasion of the hundredth anniversary of
the British evacuation of Fort Niagara,
this being one of his most charming com-
positions.
He had a genius for helpfulness and in
no way did he express it more than toward
the younger members of his profession.
He was ever ready to respond to a plea
for help, and from the vast storehouse
98
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
of knowledge was ready and even eager
to give. Yet he was so modest that he
would again and again excuse himself
from speaking in public, though all were
eager to hear the man with whose written
speech they were so familiar. He lived
most unostentatiously and made no effort
to impress the public with his attain-
ments, loving scholarship for scholar-
ship's sake. His last appearance in public
was at the annual roastfest of the Roches-
ter Newswriter's Club at which he was
the guest of honor. His speech, the event
of the evening, was one in which he spoke
clearly, forcibly and feelingly of what he
thought a newspaper should be. One of
his marked characteristics was a keen
sense of humor. He possessed an in-
exhaustible fund of anecdotes and was a
charming story teller. His humor was
without sting, free from sarcasm, but
sparkling and always spontaneous. He
died suddenly, as he would have wished,
while sitting in his chair, at his home in
Frank street, Rochester, October 9, 1908.
He married, November 26, 1877, Evan-
geline, daughter of Reuben and Almira
(Alexander) Johnson, and sister of Ros-
siter Johnson, the encyclopedist and his
lifelong friend. She survives him with
one daughter. Mrs. O'Connor graduated
at the Rochester Free Academy, and pur-
sued literary studies in conjunction with
her husband. She has translated Flamini's
"History of Italian Literature," also other
books from the German and Italian, and
is the author of "Index to Hawthorne's
Works (with sketch of his life) ;" "Index
to Works of Shakespeare," "Famous
Names in Fiction," and has contributed
largely to encyclopedias.
Mr. O'Connor was a member of the
Delta Upsilon, Greek letter fraternity,
and one of the original board of trustees
that erected the chapter house in Strat-
hallan Park. He was also a member of
the Genesee Valley and Rochester Whist,
social clubs, and of the Fortnightly, Pun-
dit and Browning, literary clubs, before
whom he read many papers. At the risk
of something of repetition, the present
writer ventures to append the personal
note that he wrote in the "Post-Express"
at the time of Mr. O'Connor's death :
In the death of Joseph O'Connor, a brilliant
light in letters has been extinguished For
many years it has been radiant in verse, in scho-
larship, and in journalism. Many gifts were his.
He had the soul of a poet, receptive of all that
was best in art and literature, expressive in his
fair and stately measures. His memory was
singularly acute, retentive and serviceable — a
mine of wealth from which he freely drew. He
ranged the entire field of letters, familiar alike
with the masters of the Elizabethan and Vic-
torian ages. He knew the bye-ways, as well as
the broad ways, of English thought, and was
well acquainted with the paths which the classic
and the later European authors pursued, and
was an accomplished linguist. His knowledge
was wide, various and precise. Choosing jour-
nalism as his profession, he dedicated to it exact
information of his country's history, its states-
men and heroes, a keen perception of its political
and social needs, a constant sympathy with
purity and wisdom in the conduct of its affairs,
and a style in writing remarkable for lucidity,
coherence and strength. He emphasized his
abhorrence of all that was mean and debasing
in words that stung and slew. Cleaving to all
that was upright and true, his words were brave
and inspiring — exalting journalism. More than
all, was his absolute fealty to his convictions,
from which neither flattery nor menace could
deflect him and which, more than once, cost
him position and apparently preferment His
sincerity was rock-ribbed in his nature and
commanded a respect and wielded an influ-
ence rarely accorded to one of his calling.
Thus equipped he became one of the lead-
ing journalists of the land, to whom his asso-
ciates deferred and whom the community ac-
claimed. His literary essays were of the most
charming character. His appreciations and
criticisms were erudite, searching and exhaus-
tive. In them were gems that sparkled and an
exquisite finish that revealed his artistic quality.
Had he confined himself to literature, it is possi-
ble that he might have had larger repute, but
he could not have had larger usefulness. In
conversation, with his copious stores of learning,
99
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
he was essentially fascinating. Nights with him
were ambrosial; I recall many such. It is some-
times hard to reflect that a journalist writes as
in sand, and that the advancing waves obliterate
his tracings, but Joseph O'Connor did so much
to enlighten and elevate his day that one may
hope that much which he said may endure, that
his grace and skill and force may still abide.
We, who knew him well, grieve that he has
gone, that hand-clasp and heart-talk with him
have ceased, but we rejoice that he labored so
earnestly and achieved so greatly, and led us
along so many ways that were instructful,
delightful and ennobling.
SHERWOOD, Hon. George,
Clergyman, Legislator.
In the life of the late Hon. George
Sherwood, of Binghamton, New York,
there were elements of greatness because
of the use he made of his talents and
opportunities, and because of his fulfill-
ment of his duty as a man in relation to
his fellowmen, and as a citizen in relation
to his State and country, and last, but not
least, as a minister of the Gospel. Place
and preferment were never solicited by
him, and partisan connections were con-
sistently avoided, yet honors were con-
ferred upon him by his fellow citizens
which have eluded the covetous grasp of
those who have formed parties to attain
them. The space he filled in the com-
munity in which he lived was wide and
influential. His family was an ancient
and honorable one.
Thomas Sherwood, of "Sherwood For-
est," England, was born in 1586, and died
at Fairfield, Fairfield county, Connecticut,
in October, 1655. He came from Ipswich,
England, in April, 1634, in the ship
"Francis," with his wife, Alice, and four
children — Ann, Rose, Thomas and Re-
becca. He is first heard of here as a
resident of Massachusetts, but he was in
Fairfield county as early as 1645. He is
mentioned in the first volume of the Colo-
nial Records as having: bought land in
Fairfield county in 1653. By his first wife,
Alice, he had eight children, and by his
second wife, Mary Fitch, he had four,
the names of all being (not in order of
birth) : Jane Thomasine, Margaret Sarah,
Hannah, Rose, Thomas, Rebecca, Ste-
phen, Matthew, Mary, Ruth, Abigail and
Isaac.
Isaac Sherwood, son of Thomas and
Mary (Fitch) Sherwood, was born in
1655, and died in 1739. He had land
grants at Eastchester, New York. In
1678 he was of Rye, New York, and in
1687, of Westport, Connecticut. He
married Elizabeth Jackson, and had chil-
dren: Daniel, Isaac, John, David, Abigail,
Thomas and Elizabeth.
Thomas Sherwood, son of Isaac and
Elizabeth (Jackson) Sherwood, died at
Albany, New York, August 5, 1756, in
the French and Indian War, in which he
was captain of Whitney's company. He
married Eleanor Churchill, of Green
Farms, Connecticut, who died October 1,
1754-
John Sherwood, son of Thomas and
Eleanor (Churchill) Sherwood, married,
March 24, 1761, Mary Gorham. Chil-
dren : Asa, of further mention ; Levi,
born June 17, 1764; Ellen, February 23,
1766; Abigail, November 18, 1770; John,
September 10, 1773; Hezekiah, twin of
John ; Hannah, July 28, 1776.
Asa Sherwood, son of John and Mary
(Gorham) Sherwood, was born July 4,
1762. He was a soldier in the Revolu-
tion, enlisting at Fairfield, Connecticut,
February 1, 1777; was also in the Second
Connecticut Regiment, under Colonel
Swift, and in the Fourth Connecticut,
under Colonel Meigs. He married Molly
Phillips, daughter of a New York City
merchant, who had also a son in the Con-
tinental army, captured by the British
and confined in one of the prison ships,
but finally released through the influence
of the father. Children : Isaac, William,
iJcotcio ©lictwoo3
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
Asa, David, Gorham, John, Sally and
Nabby.
Isaac Sherwood, son of Asa and Molly
(Phillips) Sherwood, was born probably
at Guilford, New York; married Amy
Budlong, of Cassville, New York. Chil-
dren: Johanna, married Frank Ursley,
and lived at Waverly ; Ira, married Mary
Wallace, and lived at Genegantslet, New
York; Asa, died young; Mary, married
William Thomas, and lived at Pontoosuc,
Illinois ; Eliza, married David Leach, and
lived at Webster, Illinois ; Stephen, mar-
ried Clara Babcock, and lived at Greene ;
Sarah, married Albert Sprague, and lived
at Binghamton ; George, whose name
is at the head of this sketch ; Amy, mar-
ried Myron Stanton, and lived at Greene ;
Lucy, married Joseph Bixby, and lived at
Waverly; Sophronia, married Thomas
Cowan, and lived at Port Crane ; Daniel,
died in infancy ; Mandana, married Edwin
Adams, and lived at Binghamton ; David,
married Rosanna Warner, and lived at
Greene.
Hon. George Sherwood, son of Isaac
and Amy (Budlong) Sherwood, was born
in McDonough, Chenango county, New
York, January 18, 1821, and died in Bing-
hamton, New York, May 24, 1903. He
was the owner of a quantity of land in
Binghamton, where he was a farmer and
prominent citizen. Prior to the Civil War
he was a sincere Abolitionist. He was
for many years a leading member and
local preacher of the First Baptist
Church. He was baptized by the late
Rev. R. A. Washburn into the fellow-
ship of the Baptist church, at Genegant-
slet Corners (now extinct or merged into
other Baptist churches), and later was a
member of the church at Upper Lisle.
He removed to the town of Windsor,
Broome county, in 1857, and was a
member of the Baptist church in that
place. In 1865 he came to Binghamton
and became a member of the First Bap-
tist Church, where he served faithfully
and was an honored and valued member.
In 1894, on the organization of the Park
Avenue Church, he became a constituent
member of it. In all of his church life,
of more than three score years, he was
an earnest and faithful laborer in the
Master's service, and was ever ready to
do any work that he could to promote the
interest of the church and to advance
the cause of Christ. To this end he con-
tributed liberally of his money, time and
talents, of which he was abundantly re-
sourceful. In him his pastor always
found a true, wise and helpful counselor,
and he was ever ready to render all the
assistance that lay in his power. He was
a fluent and earnest speaker, and very
often occupied the pulpits of the pastor-
less churches in a very acceptable man-
ner. He was kind and good to the aged
and infirm, and often conducted religious
services in the homes of those who were
unable to attend church. He was a man
of strong and deep convictions, ever
battling for the right, and yet he always
did this in a quiet and unassuming, yet
firm and impressive manner. His Chris-
tian home life in the family was delight-
ful and winning, and his children now
look back upon it with sweet pleasure
and the kindliest remembrances.
In public life he was most highly
respected and admired, and his integrity
was never questioned in any manner, for
he always lived above reproach, and was
as consistent, firm and true in all his
public duties and the matters entrusted
to him as he was in his private and church
life. He held the office of supervisor of
his town when the present County Poor
House was erected, and was one of the
committee in charge of that work. He
represented his county in the State Legis-
lature for the years 1873-74-75. There
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
was the crowning work of his life, for
in that body, through his earnest, heroic
and indefatigable efforts, he secured the
passage of the bill, and the appropriation
from the State, that gave to this section
of New York State the Susquehanna
Valley Home, of Binghamton, for orphan
and destitute children, one of the
worthiest institutions of its kind in the
country. When others said to him he
could never succeed in accomplishing
these measures, he only worked the
harder and adopted other methods, and
was untiring in his efforts to carry out
his long cherished plans, and he left no
stone unturned, but from the Governor
and the leading politicians of both parties,
down to the individual members, he con-
tinued his persistent and unceasing
efforts until they were crowned with ab-
solute success. In this matter, as in all
others in which he was interested, he had
the respect and confidence of the leaders
in the Legislature. They felt that he was
right, and they admired his perseverance,
his courtesy, his energy and his integrity
of character. He succeeded in his efforts,
and was one of the trustees of the home
from that time until his death. He was a
recognized leader in the temperance
cause, and was much sought for to make
addresses to the public on this subject
far and wide. He was always very
earnest, entertaining and interesting in
his addresses, and it was a pleasure to
listen to him.
Mr. Sherwood married, April 8, 1849,
Mary Ann Jeffords, born February ij,
1828, died November 28, 1906, a daughter
of Allen Cleveland and Ann Eliza (Robin-
son) Jeffords; granddaughter of Amasa
Jeffords, born at Woodstock, Connecti-
cut, in 1748, married (first) Sally Cleve-
land, (second) Sarah Clifford ; and great-
granddaughter of John Jeffords, a soldier
at the battle of Bunker Hill, in 1775, and
whose father was killed in the French and
Indian War. Children: 1. Florence, who
married, June 25, 1874, Charles Emery
Bliss (see Bliss line forward), and has a
son, George C. S., born April 18, 1877, at
Towanda, Pennsylvania, who is engaged
in the wholesale dry goods business at
Binghamton, and married, June 25, 1902,
Katherine Shieder, and has children :
Emery, Robert Leon and Barbara Ruth.
2. Viola, who was for twenty years a
teacher in the grammar schools of Bing-
hamton, being at the time of her death
principal of the Main Street Grammar
School. She was an earnest worker in
the First Baptist Church. For years and
up to the time of her death she taught one
of the largest classes in the Sunday school
and exerted a marked influence on the
young people with whom she came in
contact. She died July 1, 1903. 3. Judge
Carl G., a resident of South Dakota, where
he has been prominent in political affairs,
serving as State Senator and member of
the first constitutional convention, and is
now a judge of the Circuit Court; mar-
ried, February 10, 1885, Nellie Fountain,
and has had children : George Fountain,
Harry Allen (deceased), Mary Carlton
and Dolly Viola. 4. William J., married,
October 31, 1902, Iona May Bills, and has
had: Nellie, Mason William (deceased),
and Harold. 5. Grace Eliza, born in
Binghamton, married September 1, 1898,
Charles F. Parker, born September 11,
1871, and has children: Harry Sherwood
and Carl Sherwood.
The Bliss family is believed to be the
same as the Blois family of Normandy,
gradually modified in spelling to Bloys,
Blysse, Blisse, and in America to Bliss.
The family has been in England, how-
ever, since the Norman Conquest, but is
not numerous and never has been. The
coat-of-arms borne by the Bliss and Bloys
families is the same: Sable, a bend vaire,
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
between two fleurs-de-lis or. Crest: A
hand holding a bundle of arrows. Motto :
Semper sursam. The ancient family
tradition represents the seat of the Bliss
family in the south of England, and be-
longing to the yeomanry, though at
various times some of the family were
knighted.
Thomas Bliss, progenitor of the Amer-
ican family, lived at Belstone Parish,
Devonshire, England. He is supposed to
have been born about 1555-60, and he
died about 1636. Little is known of him
except that he was a wealthy landowner,
and was a Puritan, perscuted on account
of his faith by civil and religious author-
ities, under the direction of the infamous
Archbishop Laud ; that he was mal-
treated, impoverished and imprisoned.
When the parliament of 1628 assembled,
Puritans, or Roundheads, as they were
called by the Cavaliers, or Tories, accom-
panied the members to London. Two of
the sons of Thomas Bliss, Jonathan and
Thomas, rode from Devonshire on iron-
grey horses, and remained for some time
— long enough, anyhow, for the king's
officers and spies to mark them, and from
that time they, with others who had gone
on the same errand to the capital, were
marked for destruction. The Bliss
brothers were fined a thousand pounds for
their nonconformity, and thrown into
prison, where they lay for weeks. Even
their venerable father was dragged
through the streets with the greatest in-
dignities. On another occasion the offi-
cers of the high commission seized all
their horses and all their sheep except one
poor ewe, that in its fright ran into the
house and took refuge under a bed. At
another time the three sons of Thomas
Bliss, with a dozen Puritans, were led
through the market place in Okehampton,
with ropes around their necks, and also
fined heavily. On another occasion
Thomas was arrested and thrown into
prison with his son Jonathan, who even-
tually died from the hardships and abuse
of the churchmen. At another time the
king's officers seized the cattle of the
family and most of their household goods,
some of which were highly valued for
their age and beauty, and as heirlooms,
having been for centuries in the family.
In fact, the family being so impoverished
by constant persecution, was unable to
pay the fines and secure the release of
both father and son from prison, so the
young man remained and the father's
fine was paid. At Easter the young man
received thirty-five lashes. After the
father died, his widow lived with their
daughter, whose husband. Sir John Cal-
cliffe, was a communicant of the Church
of England, in good standing. The rem-
nant of the estate was divided among the
three sons, who were advised to go to
America to escape further persecution.
Thomas and George feared to wait for
Jonathan, who was ill in prison, and they
left England in the fall of 1635 with their
families. Thomas, son of Jonathan, and
grandson of Thomas Bliss, remained in
England until his father died, and then he
also came to America, settling near his
uncle of the same name. At various times
the sister of the immigrants sent to the
brothers boxes of shoes, clothing and
articles that could not be procured in the
colonies, and it is through her letters, long
preserved in the original but now lost,
that knowledge of the family was handed
down from generation to generation.
Children of Thomas Bliss: Jonathan,
died in England, 1635-36; Thomas, of
further mention ; Elizabeth, married Sir
John Calcliffe, of Belstone ; George, born
1591, died August 31, 1687, settled in
Lynn, Massachusetts, and later at Sand-
wich in that province, and at Newport,
Rhode Island ; Mary.
Thomas Bliss, son of Thomas Bliss, the
immigrant, was born at Belstone, Devon-
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
shire, England, about 1585, and died in
1639. He married in England, about
1612, Margaret Lawrence, born about
1594, died August 29, 1684. After the
death of her husband, she managed the
affairs of the family with great prudence
and judgment. Children: Ann, born in
England, married Robert Chapman, of
Saybrook, Connecticut; Mary, married
Joseph Parsons ; Thomas ; Nathaniel ;
Lawrence ; Samuel, born in 1624 ; Sarah,
born in Boston, 1635 ; Elizabeth, born in
Boston in 1637, married Myles Morgan,
founder of Springfield ; Hannah, born at
Hartford, 1639; John, of further mention.
John Bliss, son of Thomas and Mar-
garet (Lawrence) Bliss, was born at
Hartford, Connecticut, in 1640, and died
September 10, 1702. He removed to
Northampton in 1672, and was there
through his sister's trial for witchcraft.
He removed to Springfield in 1685, and
soon afterward to Longmeadow, where
he spent the remainder of his life. He
married, October 7, 1667, Patience Burt,
born August 18, 1645, died October 25,
1732, a daughter of Henry Burt, of
Springfield. Children: John, born Sep-
tember 7, 1669; Nathaniel, January 26,
1671 ; Thomas, of further mention ; Jo-
seph, 1676; Hannah, November 16, 1678;
Henry, August 15, 1681 ; Ebenezer, 1683.
Thomas Bliss, son of John and Patience
(Burt) Bliss, was born at Longmeadow,
October 29, 1673, died there, August 12,
1758. He married, May 27, 1714, Mary
Macranny, born November 2, 1690, died
March 30, 1761, daughter of William and
Margaret Macranny. Children, born at
Longmeadow: Mary, December 4, 1715 ;
Thomas, May 3, 1719; Henry, December
5, 1722; Henry, of further mention. The
first Henry died young.
Henry Bliss, son of Thomas and Mary
(Macranny) Bliss, was born August 21,
1726, died February 7-8, 1761. He was a
farmer at Longmeadow. He married
Ruby Brewer, of Lebanon (published
December 22, 1749). The widow and
children removed, in 1765, to Lebanon,
Connecticut, and afterward to Bernards-
ton, Massachusetts. Children: Thomas,
born December 7, 1750; Solomon, No-
vember 8, 1 751; Calvin, of further men-
tion; Henry, June 7, 1757; Huldah, July
2. 1759-
Calvin Bliss, son of Henry and Ruby
(Brewer) Bliss, was born at Colerain,
Massachusetts, May 14, 1754, died in Oc-
tober, 1849. He was a farmer at Bernards-
ton, and about 1800 removed to Shore-
ham, Addison county, Vermont. He was
a soldier in the Revolution in Captain
Ephraim Chapin's company, Colonel Rug-
gles Woodbury's regiment, August 17,
1777, and is said to have held a commis-
sion in Washington's army. He mar-
ried, June 26, 1777, Ruth Janes, born
May 11, 1756-57, daughter of Ebenezer
and Sarah (Field) Janes, of Northfield,
Vermont. Children: Ruby, born 1778;
Philomela, June 11, 1782; Huldah; Solo-
mon, of further mention ; Martha, Sep-
tember 15, 1788; Ruth, June 10, 1790;
Mehitable, May 17, 1792; Calvin, May
14, 1794; Henry, March 27, 1796; Oliver
Brewster, July 6, 1799.
Solomon Bliss, son of Calvin and Ruth
(Janes) Bliss, was born April 9, 1786, and
died at Willet, New York, June 6, 1861.
He settled at Preston, Chenango county,
New York. He married, January 1, 1808,
Anna Packer, born at Guilford, Vermont,
June 30, 1786, died at Henderson, New
York, January 14, 1866. Children: Eunice
P., born July 28, 1809; Amanda P., July
5, 1813, died young; Lydia J., January
11, 1815; Ruth, January 11, 1817; Joshua
P., at Preston, April 29, 1818; Ruth C,
July 17, 1820; Calvin J., of further men-
tion ; Ira G., July 27, 1824.
Calvin J. Bliss, son of Solomon and
Anna (Packer) Bliss, was born at Pres-
ton, New York, May 22, 1822, and settled
104
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
in Willet, Cortland county, New York ;
he married, September 18, 1850, Betsey
A. Landers, of Willet. Children : Charles
Emery, of further mention ; Cora L., born
September 9, 1870, at Binghamton, died
August 9, 1871.
Charles Emery Bliss, son of Calvin J.
and Betsey A. (Landers) Bliss, was born
at Willet, July 5, 1851, and was educated
in the public schools of Binghamton and
in the academy. For a number of years
he was in the dry goods business, then
followed a few years on the farm, when
he again returned to the dry goods busi-
ness at Binghamton. He was deacon of
the Baptist church and superintendent of
the Sunday school for many years. His
death occurred, July 30, 1900. He mar-
ried Florence, daughter of the Hon.
George Sherwood, as previously men-
tioned.
FOWLER, Albert Perry,
Lawyer, Financier, Useful Citizen.
The story that follows of the life of
Albert Perry Fowler, lawyer, banker, and
business man of Syracuse, New York,
will be told in great part in the words of
his friends and intimates, for as during
his lifetime his fellows were ever seeking
to bestow upon him some new trust and
responsibility as evidence of their confi-
dence, so in death he was a man they vied
in honoring. The forty-seven years of
his life were marked by achievement in
quality and in measure such as few men
attain to in a long lifetime, and he passed
to his long rest amid the general grief of
men of high and important station, who
mourned the death of one upon whom
they leaned, whose worth they had appre-
ciated, and whom they had come to hold
in loving affection. It had been one of
his strongest characteristics that, con-
fronted by necessity for action, he pur-
sued the course he decided upon with
every nerve and every energy bent upon
its completion, and when the critical con-
dition of his health was made clear to
him, he dropped his work and journeyed
south in search of new strength. But
instead of improving his condition became
worse, and from Southern Pines, North
Carolina, he hastened to New York for
medical treatment, and for three weeks
battled against his unseen foe in a New
York hospital, resisting defeat with all
the power of his mind and body until May
20, 191 5, when he succumbed to his
disease. There was no department of the
life of the city of Syracuse that did not
lose something in his passing, for his
service was wide and his influence all
pervasive.
Albert Perry Fowler was a son of
Albert and Janette (Perry) Fowler, his
father a resident of Onondaga Valley,
New York, well known in business circles
in Syracuse, where he was long connected
with the wholesale dry goods firm of D.
McCarthy & Company. Albert Perry
Fowler was born at Onondaga Valley,
November 6, 1867, died in Post-Graduate
Hospital, New York City, May 20, 1915.
As a youth of seventeen years he was
graduated from the Onondaga Academy,
and at that time took the entrance exami-
nations for Cornell University, deferring
matriculation, however, until 1887, gradu-
ating in 1891. His college course was a
most favorable indication of the useful-
ness of his later career, for in addition
to holding satisfactory grade in his classes
he entered extensively into the many
branches of college life, winning particu-
lar honors in literary fields. He was
elected to membership in the Delta Up-
silon fraternity, and served as editor of
the "Cornell Sun," the daily college paper,
was on the staff of the "Cornellian," the
annual, and during his senior year was
editor-in-chief of the "Era," the weekly
publication. After graduation, with the
105
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
degree of Bachelor of Arts, he entered
the law offices of Knapp, Nottingham &
Andrews, the members of the firm being
Judge Martin A. Knapp, Edwin Notting-
ham, and Justice William S. Andrews,
and was admitted to the bar in 1893.
Soon afterward he became a partner of
Alfred W. Wilkinson, under the name of
Wilkinson & Fowler, Mr. Wilkinson sub-
sequently moving to New York City,
where he is a well known and successful
patent attorney. In 1897 Mr. Fowler
and Justice Leonard C. Crouch formed
the firm of Fowler & Crouch, Irving Dil-
laye Vann, son of Judge Irving G. Vann,
being later taken into the firm, which
became Fowler, Crouch & Vann. This
it remained until Mr. Crouch was elected
to the bench of the Supreme Court, and
then, upon the admission of Mr. Crouch's
brother-in-law, the firm title changed to
Fowler, Vann & Paine. All through the
years of his law practice, even while
handling responsibilities that had no bear-
ing upon his profession, Mr. Fowler was
everywhere recognized as a leader of the
Onondaga county bar. He accepted and
faithfully administered the trusteeship of
many large estates and was also the legal
representative and manager of the estates
of several of the best known men of the
region, including the late E. B. Judson,
Simon D. Paddock, and Myron C. Mer-
riman. George W. O'Brien, president of
the Onondaga County Bar Association,
wrote of Mr. Fowler's legal career:
"Albert P. Fowler stood high in the legal
profession in this city and county. He
was greatly respected, not only among
the lawyers but in business circles. He
was democratic, maintained the highest
ideals, and observed the strictest integ-
rity. Whatever his task, it was performed
with enthusiasm and with thoroughness."
From the time his associates first ob-
served his innate and unusually brilliant
business ability his services were in great
and constant demand. For more than ten
years he was a director of the First Na-
tional Bank, serving as vice-president for
nearly five years, was general counsel for
the bank, and one of the most active of
its officers. He was a director of the
Onondaga Pottery Company, was one of
the organizers and directors of the Syra-
cuse Dry Goods Company, which concern
succeeded D. McCarthy & Company, his
father's firm, was a director of the Onon-
daga Hotel Corporation, and was identi-
fied with the New Process Gear Company
and the Frazer & Jones Company. He
was an influential member of the Syra-
cuse Chamber of Commerce, and of this
organization was a director, vice-presi-
dent, and chairman of the executive com-
mittee. He brought to the work of the
chamber a resistless enthusiasm and a
sturdy pride in the commercial standing
of his city, and his wise discretion and
sound business judgment were of great
value in shaping the policy of the Cham-
ber of Commerce. In an outline of Mr.
Fowler's notable business accomplish-
ments there must be mentioned his re-
ceivership of the American Exchange Na-
tional Bank, the liquidation of whose
affairs was a complicated and lengthy
matter, entailing protracted litigation.
Mr. Fowler's support and generous aid
were always at the disposal of those of
the city's institutions whose aims were
high and whose existence brought credit
to the city. He led in the fund raising
campaign for the Hospital of the Good
Shepherd, was a loyal friend to the Syra-
cuse Free Dispensary, and urged the or-
ganization of the Central Hospital Coun-
cil until that projected body became a re-
ality. He was also conspicuously en-
gaged in the work of the Associated Char-
ities during its period of reorganization a
few years before his death. Of his life
A*&&
**7
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
and his services to his city Douglas E.
Petit, treasurer of the Onondaga County
Savings Bank, wrote :
I regarded Albert P. Fowler as one of the most
useful, if not the most useful citizen of Syra-
cuse during the past decade. We owe the
Onondaga Hotel to him more than any other
person. He injected life into the Chamber of
Commerce when it was moribund and made it
an effective organization. He was the life of
the hospital campaign. These are only a few
of the things that he did. He was always ready
to help in any public enterprise, provided he
could keep in the background. He disliked the
limelight. For that reason the people of Syra-
cuse do not generally know the debt they owe
to him. He gave of himself freely — too freely
for his own good. His private life was without
reproach. His friendship was something to be
proud of, because it was not lightly given. He
will be sincerely mourned.
Another of his works whose influence
was felt beyond the confines of his city
was performed as a member of the board
of managers of the State Custodial Asy-
lum for Feeble-Minded Women, at New-
ark, to which office he was appointed by
Governor Charles E. Hughes. Misman-
agement of the affairs of the asylum had
brought the institution into bad public
odor, and Mr. Fowler's choice was in ac-
cordance with the popular demand that
a man of strong purpose and unimpeach-
able motives be placed in a position with
power to act in the reclamation of the
asylum. To this end he labored with his
accustomed fidelity and zeal, and when
the baleful influences had been removed
and their effects remedied, he resigned his
trust.
In the social life of Syracuse he and
his family held prominent position, their
home on Oak street being always open in
the entertainment of their many friends.
He was an interesting and brilliant con-
versationalist, a man of wide information,
broad interests, and liberal views. He
was a charter member and one of the first
directors of the University Club, of Syra-
cuse, also belonging to the University
Club of New York. Out-of-door life
always held a strong appeal for him, and
as opportunity offered he indulged this
liking, holding membership in several
athletic and country clubs. Rarely is
there a man of whom, in all his varied
relationships, naught but good can be
spoken when he has left his earthly
walks, but just such was true of Mr.
Fowler. The personal tribute of Thomas
W. Meachen, president of the New Pro-
cess Gear Corporation, is here worthy of
repetition as voicing the sentiments of
Mr. Fowler's many friends :
The death of Mr. Fowler is a distinct, a seri-
ous loss to the city of Syracuse. His remarkably
sound judgement, his genius for close research,
his high ability as an organizer, his indefatigable
industry were cheerfully and unreservedly given
to the promotion of all good causes for which
our city is and has been striving. How greatly
his services will be missed by the Chamber of
Commerce, by our charitable associations, by
all our hospitals, only those who are in close
touch with the management of these various
organizations can know. The loss to his inti-
mate friends, of whom I am proud to count my-
self one, is irreparable. "He was faithful."
Albert P. Fowler married Florence Dil-
laye Vann, daughter of Judge Irving G.
Vann, and had children : Catherine, Al-
bert, Ruth, and Elizabeth.
WRIGHT, Alfred,
Manufacturer, Man of Affairs.
It was a privilege to know Alfred Wright.
The following summary of his wonderful
character is from his friends and official
associates of the Rochester Board of Park
Commissioners, men who knew him well
and who deemed his friendship an honor:
On the passing away of Alfred Wright the
Park Commissioners of the city of Rochester
sustain a serious and corporate loss. His heart
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
early enlisted itself in the park project, because
he saw that it would add to the sum of human
happiness, and where his heart went his judg-
ment, energy and generosity followed in unre-
served consecration. Decidedly a first citizen,
his presence, counsel and labors were by us in
constant and appreciative demand; to be de-
prived of them therefore is a loss most regret-
table.
Furthermore, we cannot withhold our willing
tribute to his personality, so peculiar, so persua-
sive, so admirable, so generous, and so alto-
gether irreproachable, a personality it is seldom
one's good fortune to discover. Affable, ap-
proachable, sensible, he won universal respect
and confidence. He abounded in works of un-
heralded benevolence; his sympathies were
always alive and ready for exercise under the
sanction of a wise, business-like judgment.
In the commercial world, which for him was
continental in extent, his name and character
were standards of excellence and probity.
(Signed) George W. Elliott,
Richard Curran,
William C. Berry.
To receive such a tribute from contem-
poraries is honorable, to merit it, glorious.
When life's activities redound only to the
benefit of the doer, little praise is due, but
when good results to a community, as did
from Alfred Wright's life, all honor is
willingly, abundantly and justly offered.
Pure and sweet as the perfumes that bore
his name was his life, and while his fame
was world-wide as a manufacturer there
was never a time when the stress of busi-
ness life caused him to forget his duties
as citizen or the obligations which he
owed to his fellow-men, and few of his
contemporaries were identified with so
many enterprises of a public and charit-
able nature.
Alfred Wright was born at Avon, Liv-
ingston county, New York, November 6,
1830, died in Rochester, New York, Janu-
ary 18, 1891. He was educated in public
schools and at Genesee Wesleyan Semi-
nary, Lima, New York, locating in Roch-
ester at the age of twenty years, continu-
ing his residence there until his death,
forty-one years later. He was connected
with the hardware business until 1866,
then entered the path of business en-
deavor that led to fame and fortune. His
business ventures began in a small way,
but his disposition to do things well led
him to delve deep into the study of so
fascinating a branch of manufacture as
the distilling and fabrication of perfumes,
with the result that Alfred Wright's per-
fumery won popular approval. When in-
creased demand set in he enlarged his
quarters, and after becoming firmly estab-
lished as one of the leading manufacturers
in this country erected a factory on West
and Willowbank avenues, the most mod-
ern and complete plant of its kind in the
whole world. From city and state he
passed to national fame, and from na-
tional to international renown as a manu-
facturer of perfumery. It is an attempt
to "paint the lily" to speak of the world-
wide fame of Alfred Wright's perfumes
or to speak of the great volume of busi-
ness he transacted. That is common his-
tory, but the personality and character of
the man who won so prominent a position
in the commercial world is of deepest in-
terest. His capacity for work was enor-
mous and in addition to his large private
concerns he was a trustee of the Me-
chanics' Savings Bank, a director of the
Commercial Bank, a trustee of the Roch-
ester Electric Light Company, and as a
member of the Chamber of Commerce
aided in promoting the business interests
of Rochester.
He was a Republican in politics, as an
advisor sought after by the local leaders
of the party, and had he so desired could
have secured for himself almost any office
within the gift of the people, but while
ever inspired by a sincere desire to be of
service to his fellow-men, he steadfastly
refused all offers of political preferment.
The office that he did accept was that of
Park Commissioner, for there he saw that
108
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
he could be of real and definite service.
He also served for eight years as chair-
man of the Republican Business Men's
Committee and rendered hearty service
in behalf of the candidates of his party.
How well he performed his duties as
Park Commissioner the tribute from his
fellow members of the board tells. He
served as trustee of the City Hospital,
trustee of Wesleyan Seminary at Lima,
vice-president of the Humane Society,
president of the board of trustees of the
Brick Church (Presbyterian), and held
fraternal relations with the Masonic order.
Time and energy consuming were these
varied activities, but they show Mr.
Wright's public spirit, his devotion to
philanthropy, and his large-hearted in-
terest in all that concerned the welfare of
his fellow-men. His benevolences were
many, but he gave very quietly and with-
out ostentation, his right hand never
knowing the doings of his left. Warm of
impulse and sympathetic, he loved his
fellow-men ; approachable and companion-
able, he gave as freely to the social side
of life as he could, numbering his friends
among the leading men of the city. His
life was a blessing to the public, his mem-
ory is revered, and to those of his immedi-
ate family he left a name unspotted and
irreproachable, in honor enduring.
Mr. Wright married (first) Maria
Gould, who died about 1869. He married
(second) Mary J. Hunter, who died in
1877. He married (third) Mary D. But-
terfield, who survives him. Child of first
wife: Alfred. Children of second wife:
John S., Marian H., Margaret J., wife of
Roland C. Dryer.
ADAMS, Mvron,
Civil War Veteran, Clergyman.
The life of Myron Adams, "sweet, pure
and noble," left its impress indelibly not
only on the lives of those with whom he
came in contact but upon the trend of
modern thought. Many through his
efforts have been brought into a clearer
understanding not of creed, of dogma, of
superstition or religion, but of Christi-
anity. Gifted with wonderful mental
power, he was a close follower of Him
who came not to be ministered unto but
to minister. For almost twenty years he
occupied the pulpit of the Plymouth
Church in Rochester. Although his life
span covered little more than a half cen-
tury he lived to see the teachings which
in his early ministry awakened strong
opposition, in his later life endorsed by
many who had formerly opposed him. He
took no pride in this aside from the fact
the world was drawing nearer to the truth
and was accepting the spiritual revelations
of the gospel without attempting to estab-
lish the historicity or to accept with cre-
dence the traditional or the figurative.
Myron Adams, the youngest son of My-
ron and Sarah (Taylor) Adams, was born
at East Bloomfield, New York, March 12,
1841. Following the completion of a pre-
paratory course in Waterloo Academy he
matriculated in Hamilton College as a
member of the class of 1863. Less than
two years after the beginning of the war
he put aside his text-books to espouse the
Union cause, enlisting with many other
students of Hamilton in 1862 as a member
of the One Hundred and Twenty-sixth
New York Infantry, which was immedi-
ately ordered to the front. Sometime later
he was promoted to the rank of lieuten-
ant in the signal corps of the regular army
and served upon the staff of General Can-
by at New Orleans. In 1864 he joined
Farragut and was at the famous battle of
Mobile Bay, acting as signal officer on
board the "Lackawanna." In May, 1865,
he was the bearer of dispatches to the
war department, conveying the news of
the surrender of the last Confederate
troops east of the Mississippi river. He
109
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
was offered the rank of major but refused
it. Mere "honors" had no attraction for
him. He believed in the worth of the
man and public recognition, as such, pos-
sessed no value for him.
After his death he was honored by his
old army comrades and the following was
published at that time :
A new Grand Army post is to be instituted in
this city to-morrow evening, to be called the
"Myron Adams Mounted Post, No. 640." It is
doubtless known to all our readers that all
Grand Army posts are named after dead com-
rades. No living soldier is thus honored. It is
especially appropriate that now the name should
be chosen of that dear citizen of Rochester
whom we freshly mourn, whose young life was
consecrated to his country, and whose whole
career was dedicated to the truth, as it was
given him to see the truth. The new post
honors itself in honoring the name of one so
noble, so lovely, and of such crystalline purity
of soul as was Myron Adams.
When the war was over Mr. Adams
became a student in the theological semi-
nary at Auburn, New York, and while
there formed the acquaintance of Hester
R., the daughter of Professor S. M. Hop-
kins, whom he married. One son was
born of this marriage, Samuel Hopkins
Adams, who is now well-known as a
writer and journalist. Myron Adams en-
tered upon his pastoral work at the Union
Springs (New York) Presbyterian Church
in 1868, and a year later accepted a call
to the Dunkirk Presbyterian Church,
where he remained until he became pas-
tor of the Plymouth Congregational
Church of Rochester in 1876. He con-
tinued to fill this pulpit throughout his
remaining days and became a forceful
factor in the life of the city, albeit one of
the most modest, unassuming and retiring
of men. His influence, however, will re-
main as a moving force *n the lives of
men long after the great builders of com-
mercial and industrial enterprises, the
promoters of great schemes of trade and
profit will have been forgotten.
Mr. Adams was what the world has
been pleased to term an independent
thinker. When his judgment, resulting
from close and earnest study, found fal-
lacy in any teaching or doctrine, he re-
nounced it and in unmistakable terms.
When he came to accept the verity of any
vital idea he proclaimed it. From the be-
ginning of his pastorate he attracted at-
tention and from the first displayed what
the conservative term eccentricities of
theological opinion. In the Presbyterian
church of Dunkirk he was observed as an
independent and vigorous thinker, always
rewarding the attention of his hearers by
his forceful, original way of putting
things. From the beginning of his min-
istry he was a student, a searcher for
truth ; and when his investigation brought
to him some doubts concerning the doc-
trines of the Presbytery he continued his
studies and though it brought down upon
him the criticism of brethren whom he
dearly loved in the Presbyterian church,
he fearlessly proclaimed his views. He
was steadily growing into a dislike of
ecclesiasticism and rigid orthodoxy. He
felt more and more hampered as a Pres-
byterian and it was with a feeling of relief
that he received and accepted the call
from the Plymouth Congregational Church
of Rochester.
Here Mr. Adams entered upon work in
a congregation of intelligent and cultured
men and women who were in hearty sym-
pathy with him in his positive rejection
of certain orthodox dogmas. He came to
reject utterly the dogma of everlasting
punishment. In explanation of this he
remarked that his experience on the field
of battle and amid the carnage of the
great fight of Mobile Bay, when scores of
men fighting bravely for their country
were swept out of life in an instant, made
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
the thought that any such men were only
plunged into "fiercer flames below" im-
possible to him. Nor did he believe in
plenary inspiration. Upon these charges
he was called before the Ontario Associ-
ation in the closing months of the year
1880. Upon their charge he stood self-
confessed. He freely acknowledged that
he did not know the answer to some ques-
tions but he did believe firmly and fully in
the infinite love and goodness of God.
After this action of the church Mr.
Adams went on to develop more fully the
theological ideas which he already held in
the germ. He believed in evolution, not
of the materialistic but of the theistic
kind, that the world from the beginning
has been going through a process of de-
velopment that is bringing it nearer to
truth and to the conception of the pur-
poses of Christianity. Throughout his
ministry his preachings set forth the
truths of the universal Fatherhood of God
and the duty of man in his relations to
his fellowmen.
Mr. Adams was not gifted with that ex-
ecutive force and power of coordination
which results in the upbuilding of a large
church. He was not even an eloquent
pulpit orator, yet he spoke vigorously,
earnestly and decisively upon those sub-
jects which seemed to him of vital in-
terest to mankind. He never sought to
upbuild his church by any attempt to make
himself popular with his parishioners.
On the contrary he was rather reserved,
desiring that those who attended his serv-
ices should come to hear the great truths
which he uttered rather than because of
any interest in him. His sermons were
robust in thought and in expression rather
unconventional, yet admirable for their
originality and vigor.
"He was an advanced thinker," said one
who knew him intimately, "along ethical
and sociological lines, who in his absolute
sincerity and freedom from prejudice in
search for the truth was almost without
a peer. His opinions were formed not
according to rule laid down by theologi-
cal seminaries or by any other influence
but by the conclusions which he had
reached himself after a careful and accu-
rate survey of the grounds of belief. He
had an eminently logical, trained mind,
which looked thoroughly into all sides of
a question and then went straight to the
root of the matter, and in forming his
opinions no fear of consequences deterred
him in the least." He had an extreme
dislike of cant and religious affectation of
all kinds. Simplicity pervaded his whole
life. He never attached to his name the
letters indicating the Doctor of Divinity
degree which was conferred upon him by
a collegiate institution, nor did he wish
others to use it.
At his death Dr. Landsberg said: "In
nature's realm he received a training
which neither academy nor college can
supply, which develops the intuition of
the prophet and the poet, which expands
the imagination and which made his ser-
mons and even his ordinary conversation
so rich in striking illustrations that none
ever became tired of listening to him and
none ever could listen without receiving
fresh knowledge and noble impulses for
purity and goodness." Mr. Adams had a
most hearty love of nature. He rejoiced
in the beauties of sky, of plain, of wood-
land, of river and of lake, and his summer
vacations at Quisisana on the banks of
Owasco lake were periods of rare happi-
ness to him. He rejoiced in butterflies
and beetles, in the tiny manifestations of
life as well as in the great beauties of
nature, and found much pleasure in micro-
scopic investigation, possessing for some
years a fine instrument which he after-
ward presented to Hamilton College. He
was an active member of the Rochester
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
Academy of Science and for several years
its president. He believed in utilizing all
of his individual forces, his physical as
well as his mental powers, and in him the
"dignity of labor" found expression. He
obtained genuine delight from the use of
tools and constructive work of that nature
and could build a house or boat, as well
as give scientific classification to insect
life. His reading and investigation covered
the widest possible range. He spoke be-
fore the Fortnightly Club, of which he
was a member from its organization in
1882, upon the most varied subjects, in-
cluding "Schopenhauer;" "Henry W.
Grady's Side of the Southern Question ;"
"Coleridge and Inspiration ;" "Milton and
Vondel;" "Hymenopterous and Human
Society, or Bees, Ants and Humans, So-
cially Considered;" "The Persecutions of
the Quakers;" "Theorists;" "Biography,
Socrates, and Others." His opinions were
given to the world through two published
volumes — "Continuous Creation" and
"Creation of the Bible," and the title of
the former perhaps is the best exponent
of his own belief.
In manner Myron Adams was one of
the most gentle and most kindly of men.
In everything he was singularly unselfish
and no one ever applied to him in vain for
aid. All who came in contact with him
had the greatest admiration and respect
for his wonderful intellectual attainments
and at the same time were deeply im-
pressed by the kindly, loving nature
which he showed to every one. While
passing far beyond the many in mental
realms, he retained the spirit of the light-
hearted boy. Always with ready answer
and often with quick wit, his replies were
nevertheless kindly and considerate and
even when he felt called upon to condemn
a course of action or of thought he mani-
fested the utmost spirit of charity and of
love for those whom he thus opposed.
One of the Rochester papers at the time
of his death said editorially: "It is not a
conventionalism to say that the death of
Myron Adams is a severe loss to this
community; it is the exact and feeling
expression that will come to the lips of
every person that knew him. The extinc-
tion of a life that has for a quarter of a
century been making for liberality of
thought and righteousness in conduct
leaves a void that can never be filled in
the same way. There remains only the
sweet remembrance of its presence and
the strong impulse to high thinking and
doing that it always exerted. But this
is a most precious heritage — one that will
be deeply and reverently cherished."
There was such a unanimity of opinion
concerning the superior mentality, the
integrity of purpose and the high ideals
exemplified in Mr. Adams' life that per-
haps this review cannot better be closed
than by quoting from two other editorial
writers in the Rochester press. One of
them said:
Myron Adams' life was singularly true to the
noblest ideals. As scholar, soldier, minister of
the gospel, he delved and struck and taught for
the uplifting of men. He was a soldier of con-
science who left the halls of learning at Hamil-
ton College to fight for an idea. He was among
many who left that institution with the inspira-
tion of liberty and the faith of true Americans
in the ideas of the fathers, who broke away from
all trammels and put trust in the masses of men.
Myron Adams was honest and just with himself
as with every man. He claimed for himself
what he granted to everyone, the right to think,
to examine in the light of reason, experience
and research. Early attracted to the observation
of natural phenomena Mr. Adams had seen
what he considered a better interpretation of the
ways and purposes of the all-wise Creator than
could be gleaned from ancient men who attrib-
uted to Him human passions and revenge. It
was in his trust in the great verities of human
life and of nature that he found strength and
surpassing peace.
12
J p-WL^7^_
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
Following are excerpts from the tribute
of another writer:
In attempting to give an idea of him to those
who knew him not we should say that Mr.
Adams was the most distinctively American of
the men we have known. In his way of looking
at things, in his way of doing things, in his way
of saying things, in his consideration for the
rights of others, in his easy maintenance of his
own rights, in his candor of thought, in his reti-
cence of emotion, in his quaint fun, in his
fertility of resource, in his moral strength, in
his mental alertness and power, he was the
flower and fruit of the farm life of the north.
Among the affections of modern city society
and in the discussion of great controversial
themes, he seemed to carry with him the sug-
gestion of the lilac blossom, the orchard and
the meadow. You felt at once the reality of the
individual and recognized his opinions as ulti-
mate human facts, not faint conventional echoes.
Without knowing it, he was a type of American-
ism; and, unconscious of the glory, he bore upon
his forehead the crism of sacrifice with which
the great Civil war had touched its soldiers.
ATKINSON, Hobart Ford,
Financier and Philanthropist.
A life more full, more useful and more
blessed than that of Hobart Ford Atkin-
son is rarely chronicled. Personally one
of the most lovable of men, his sympathy
was quickly awakened by any story of
distress and his was a ready hand to re-
lieve. The success of his friends pleased
him and his hand was warmly extended
in heartfelt congratulation. He preached
little but he practiced much and men
loved him for his goodness, his sunny dis-
position, and his keen sense of humor,
qualities that age but intensified. For
nearly three-quarters of a century he had
been identified with Rochester's banking
interests, and wherever men value in-
tegrity, justice, honorable purpose and
ability, there his memory shines brightly
and can never be forgotten. He was
a conservative banker but one whose
N Y-Vol III-8 I
methods inspired confidence, the most
valuable of all bank assets. Lofty was
his position in the financial world, charm-
ing his personality, pure and blameless
his private life, most valuable his work
for church, charity and philanthropy.
Financiers sought his counsel in times of
stress, depositors and friends asked his
advice, the discouraged came to him for
the kindly word and sympathy they were
sure to hear, all trusted, all confided in
him, and all loved him. The dean of
Rochester bankers, he won the position he
held by personal fitness and the wealth
that came to him he used wisely.
Hobart Ford Atkinson was born in
Rochester, October 5, 1825, his birthplace
a two-story frame house on the north side
of Main street, just east of St. Paul street.
He died at his residence in East avenue,
in his native city, August 14, 1908, after
an illness of less than a week. He came
from an old English family, his parents
being William and Elizabeth (Ford) At-
kinson.
He was educated in the best schools
Rochester then possessed, and after com-
pleting a course of English study he made
his entrance into the business world. He
was then in his sixteenth year and well
equipped mentally as well as physically
for life's battle. He spent his first year
in business as clerk in the grocery store
of Shepard Garbett on Exchange street,
the Mechanics' Bank Building now oc-
cupying the site of the old store. He con-
tinued in mercantile life until 1843, then
became an employee of the old Commer-
cial Bank. Asa Sprague was then presi-
dent of that bank, George R. Clark,
cashier, Charles Hubbell, teller. He won
the attention and the commendation of
these men by the decided banking ability
he displayed, by his promptness, his
cheerful disposition and by his willing-
ness to perform any task given him. He
13
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
was rapidly promoted and when Mr. Hub-
bell resigned his position as teller, young
Mr. Atkinson was appointed his suc-
cessor. He rilled that post so capably
that in course of time he became cashier.
He occupied the cashier's desk until the
bank passed out of existence, repaying all
stockholders in full.
In 1875 when the new Commercial
Bank was organized and quartered on the
site of the old bank, Mr. Atkinson was
elected its first president. He had then
acquired honorable standing in Roches-
ter's financial world and later was elected
vice-president of the Bank of Monroe. He
continued executive head of the Commer-
cial Bank until 1891, then resigned to de-
vote his entire time to the management
of the Bank of Monroe of which he was
vice-president. On November 9, 1900, the
Bank of Monroe merged with the Alli-
ance Bank, Mr. Atkinson being chosen
president of the amalgamated institution,
a position he held with honor, ability, and
success until his death. In March, 1871,
he had been chosen a trustee of the Roch-
ester Savings Bank, the oldest institution
of its kind in the city, and upon the death
of James Brackett in 1904, he was elected
to succeed him as president, a position
which he also held the remainder of his
life.
As president of these two strong influ-
ential banks Mr. Atkinson wielded un-
usual power, but this power he used
wisely and under his able guidance they
increased in strength and usefulness. He
was the last of a group of Rochester's dis-
tinguished men whose names are closely
interwoven with the story of the city's
development and from his entrance into
official banking circles he was associated
with all that was best in business and
social life. Of all that galaxy of stars
that illumined Rochester's business firma-
ment, no name shines more brightly than
that of Hobart F. Atkinson, he whose
long life of eighty-three years was an
example the younger generation may
safely emulate.
Nothing that tended toward progress,
or the betterment of a city's life, morally
or materially, but had his support. He
was senior warden of St. Andrew's Prot-
estant Episcopal Church ; for fifteen years
was president of the Episcopal Church
Home; was a governor of the Rochester
Homeopathic Hospital ; was the first
president of the Genesee Valley Club. In
church and philanthropic movements he
was ever active, influential and helpful,
yet so modest withal that few realized
the far-reaching effects of his institutional
labors or the scope of his private benefac-
tions. He met all issues as presented,
calmly and fairly, shirked no responsi-
bility, evaded no duty, and as he lived, so
he died, unafraid.
ELSNER, Henry L., M. D., LL. D.,
Eminent Physician.
A graduate and post-graduate of the
colleges and universities of two conti-
nents, a practicing physician of Syracuse,
New York, for thirty-six years, a member
of the faculty of the College of Medicine,
Syracuse University, as Professor of
Medicine, for thirty-four years, an author
of standard medical works widely known,
an ex-president of the Medical Society of
the State of New York, and for many
years one of the foremost consulting
physicians of the State, the late Dr. Eis-
ner was classed among the great physi-
cians of his day. He came rightly by his
love for the medical profession, his father,
Dr. Leopold Eisner, having been an emi-
nent physician of Syracuse, and to his son
transmitted traits upon which foundation
he built a most successful professional
edifice.
114
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
Dr. Henry Leopold Eisner was born in
Syracuse, New York, August 15, 1857,
son of Dr. Leopold and Hanschen Eisner.
After acquiring a classical education he
entered the College of Physicians and
Surgeons in New York City, whence he
was graduated M. D., class of 1877. He
spent a year in post-graduate study in
Vienna, and in 1879 began general prac-
tice in Syracuse. In 1881 he became a
member of the faculty of the College of
Medicine, Syracuse University, and con-
tinously, up to the time of his decease,
filled a chair in that institution, at the
same time meeting the demands of his
own private practice, which was an ex-
tensive one. As the years brought him
experience, and deep study great learning,
he was frequently called in consultation
and his name as a consultant was known
for beyond local limits. In addition to his
duties as professor of medicine in the Col-
lege of Medicine, he was physician to St.
Joseph's Hospital and president of the
staff, consulting physician to the Syra-
cuse Hospital for Women and Children,
and held a similar relation to the Hospital
of the Good Shepherd, all this being in
addition to his duties as private prac-
titioner and consulting physician. Dur-
ing the years of his professional life he
made many trips abroad, spending con-
siderable time in hospitals and clinics in
European cities. Dr. Eisner contributed
largely to the literature of his profession
and was one of the best known medical
writers. His contributions to medical
journals were extensive, while before
local, state and national medical societies
he read many carefully prepared papers.
He was the author of a work on the
"Prognosis of Disease," upon which he
spent considerable time, including eight
months' of European research. This work,
published early in 1916, was the first work
devoted exclusively to the science of fore-
telling the course and event of disease.
Dr. Eisner was a member of the New
York State Medical Society, Onondaga
County Medical Society, Central New
York Medical Association, Syracuse
Academy of Medicine, New York Acade-
my of Medicine, American Climatological
Association, Nu Sigma Nu, and Alpha
Omega Alpha. Syracuse University hon-
ored him with the degree of LL. D., on
June 9, 1915, Dr. Eisner being the second
member of the faculty to receive this
tribute, Dr. Henry Didama, dean of the
college for many years, being the first.
Dr. Eisner was unanimously recom-
mended by the faculty of the College of
Liberal Arts, was confirmed without dis-
sent by the University Senate, and elected
unanimously by the trustees of the uni-
versity, Chancellor Day paying a high
tribute to Dr. Eisner as a consultant
member of the college faculty and friend
of the university. Dr. Eisner was of the
Jewish faith, and politically a Republican.
Dr. Eisner married, January 5, 1881,
Pauline Rosenberg, born in Rochester,
New York, January 8, 1859, daughter of
David and Amalie Rosenberg. She was
educated in the schools of her native city,
and after her marriage resided in Syra-
cuse, their home being known as one of
the most hospitable in the city. Mrs. Eis-
ner was in the deepest sympathy with her
husband's work and allowed nothing to
stand in the way of its fullest develop-
ment. Those who knew her well called
her an ideal physician's wife in that she
was always ready to subordinate social
engagements or anything else to her hus-
band's comfort and convenience. To the
young students and physicians who as-
sisted Dr. Eisner in his work she was a
true and kindly friend and they were
welcome and familiar guests at her table,
and it was due to her thoughtfulness that
many of them were enabled at different
times to come into personal contact with
some of the greatest men in their profes-
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
DUNN, Col. George W.,
Civil War Veteran, Man of Affairs.
The characters and deeds of good men
should be sacredly preserved, not only for
the happiness and satisfaction which such
a record will give to all those immediately
related to them, and to their posterity, but
also for the good example which the lives
of such men furnish to the young of our
land, thus further advancing the true in-
terests of our country. Such a life was
that of the late Colonel George W. Dunn,
of Binghamton, New York, whose bene-
ficial influence in politics, journalism,
business affairs, and as a soldier, cannot
be overestimated, exerted, as it was,
through these channels on all classes of
the community. In political affairs he be-
came noted for his aptitude in grappling
with details, and for his accurate and
keen perception and judgment. As a
business man he was progressive and far-
sighted. As a soldier, his conduct in-
spired those in contact with him with the
same heroism that animated his own
breast. He inherited these sterling traits
from honored ancestry and, although the
limits of this article will not permit going
into detail, it is not amiss to give a short
account of the origin of the Dunn family.
This ancient patronymic is supposed to
be derived from the Gaelic "dun," meaning
a heap, hill, mount; and by metonmy, a
fortress, castle, tower. Another origin
would be from the Saxon "dunn," signify-
ing brown, swarthy. The former deriva-
tion is favored by the coat-of-arms. The
illustrious family of Dunne have as their
heraldic blazon : Azure, an eagle dis-
played, or. Crest: In front of a holly
bush, a lizard passant, or. Motto : Mul-
lach abu (The summit forever). The
name was anciently written O'Duin,
whence come the forms Doyne, Dun,
Dunn and Dunne. In England and Ire-
land there are many people of prominence
bearing this surname ; among them Albert
Edward Dunn, member of Parliament;
Right Rev. A. H. Dunn, Bishop of Que-
bec ; and some surgeons of eminence and
officers in the army and navy. Among
contemporary Americans are : Jesse James
Dunn, a Democratic politician and asso-
ciate justice of the Supreme Court of
Oklahoma ; Mrs. Baker Dunn, the writer,
of Hallowell, Maine ; Edward Joseph
Dunne, the Bishop of Dallas, Texas ; and
Finley Peter Dunne, the immortal "Mr.
Dooley." The earliest American pioneer
of the name of Dunn appears to have been
Richard, who was a freeman at Newport,
Rhode Island, in 1655, and served as
deputy in 1681, 1 705-7-8-9-1 1. William
Dunn, born in the North of Ireland, came
to Pennsylvania in 1769; served in the
Revolution, and founded Dunnstown in
Clinton county ; he left a numerous pos-
terity. There were many of the name
in New England by the middle of the
eighteenth century, for no less than forty-
nine Dunns are found on the Massachu-
setts Revolutionary Rolls. A branch of
the family settled in New York State at
an early date, the father of Colonel Dunn,
John Dunn, having been born in Albany
county, while his mother, Isabella (Black)
Dunn, was descended from the New Eng-
land stock.
Colonel George W. Dunn was born in
the old town of Chenango, Broome
county, New York, November 27, 1840,
and died at his home, No. 62 Carroll
street, Binghamton, New York, Novem-
ber 27, 1914. The town of Chenango and
the village of Binghamton furnished him
with his early educational advantages,
and he was then a student at the Susque-
hanna Seminary, and also pursued a
course at a business college. He had just
about completed his thorough prepara-
tion for a business career, when the ouL-
17
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
break of the Civil War prevented his en-
tering upon it at that time. Patriotic and
enthusiastic to a degree, he enlisted in
May, 1861, in Company C, Twenty-
seventh Regiment New York Volunteer
Infantry, and was later appointed ser-
geant. He was taken a prisoner at the
First Battle of Bull Run, and was held
at Richmond, New Orleans and Salis-
bury until June 1, 1862, when he was
paroled. He returned to the Union lines
and was subsequently exchanged. His
health had become seriously affected dur-
ing his detention in the ill-ventilated
prisons of the South, yet he at once again
volunteered his services in the army.
During the summer of 1862 the One
Hundred and Ninth Regiment of Infantry
was raised in Broome, Tioga and Tomp-
kins counties, Broome county furnishing
the largest number of men. Colonel Dunn
recruited Company D for this command
and was elected its captain, his commis-
sion dating from October 10th, although
the regiment was mustered into service
August 27th. The arduous service of the
One Hundred and Ninth Regiment com-
menced in May, 1864, in the Campaign of
the Wilderness, and was continued almost
without even temporary relief until the
final surrender in 1865. At Spottsylvania
Captain Dunn was wounded, although
not seriously. July 14th he was promoted
major, and after the terrible mine explo-
sion at Petersburg, Virginia, July 30th,
Colonel Catlin having lost a leg and Major
Stillson also having been wounded, the
command of the regiment devolved upon
Major Dunn. For meritorious service as
line and field officer Major Dunn was sub-
sequently advanced to the rank of colonel,
by which title he has ever since been
known. May 8, 1865, in accordance with
general orders authorizing the retirement
of officers who had served continuously
for three years he was honorably dis-
charged from service.
After his return from the war Colonel
Dunn engaged in business in Elmira, New
York, but he remained there but one year.
He then joined a mining expedition to
Honduras, Central America, but the ill
effects of the tropical climate necessitated
his return north in the fall of 1866. In
1868 he was appointed superintendent of
Public Documents published by Congress
at Washington, and retained this position
until he was elected sheriff of Broome
county, New York, in the fall of 1875.
At the expiration of his term of office as
sheriff he became prominently identified
with the consolidation of "The Bing-
hamton Republican" and "Binghamton
Times," the two leading daily papers of
the city, and upon the organization of the
publishing company thus effected, was
chosen treasurer and business manager of
the corporation. He remained the efficient
incumbent of this office until his appoint-
ment as postmaster, December 20, 1881,
in which office he served until 1886. Dur-
ing his term of office he introduced many
time saving innovations, and the free de-
livery system was established in the city
under his supervision. After his retire-
ment from this office he engaged in the
real estate business in partnership with
Peter K. Burhans, and at the same time
became interested in several manufactur-
ing enterprises, thus becoming a promi-
nent factor in the industrial history of
Binghamton and remaining so for many
years. He served as president of the
Binghamton General Electric Company;
vice-president of the Bundy Manufactur-
ing Company; director of the Susque-
hanna Valley Bank ; trustee of the Che-
nango Valley Savings Bank; director and
vice-president of the Strong State Bank ;
director of the Binghamton, Leicester-
shire & Union Railroad Company, and of
the Binghamton Wagon Company; was
at one time manager of the Equitable Ac-
cident Association ; president of the Board
iS
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
of Trustees of the now well-known Bing-
hamton State Hospital and member of the
City Excise and Police Commission. On
March 13, 1889, he was reappointed post-
master, and served until November 6,
1893; he was clerk of the Assembly in
1894; and, February 16, 1897, was ap-
pointed by Governor Black to the office of
state railroad commissioner, a position
he filled until 1906. Always a loyal Re-
publican, his time was unstintedly de-
voted to the promotion of the party wel-
fare, and the honors he received from the
city, county and state appointing powers,
were but the well deserved reward for
services and fealty. For many years he
was annually chosen as a delegate to the
Republican State conventions, also served
as a member of the State committee, and
was county committeeman-at-large. He
was active in the interests of the Bing-
hamton Club, of which he was a member
many years, as he was also of Watrous
Post, Grand Army of the Republic.
Colonel Dunn married, November 15,
1870, Sarah M. Thomas, who survived
him five weeks. She died January 5, 1915.
Their daughter, Mrs. Horace Wardner
Eggleston, and a grandson, George Dunn
Eggleston, survive him. We cannot
better testify to the high esteem in which
Colonel Dunn was universally held, than
by quoting from an editorial which ap-
peared in the "Binghamton Republican
Herald" at the time of his death, and from
the expressions of regret, so deeply and
sincerely voiced by men of eminence in
the community. From the paper we quote
as follows:
A very gentle and a very brave spirit passed
from this world when Colonel George W. Dunn
answered the Great Roll Call. — A complete biog-
raphy of Colonel Dunn would be like a history
of Binghamton in all its phases since Mr. Dunn
came to the years of manhood. He touched life
here at so many points, was so active and help-
ful, that the force of his energy and wisdom was
felt everywhere. No worthy cause was neg-
lected by him, whether it was of great or small
import. His time, his money, his advice, his
sympathy, were at the service of the community.
— Of Colonel Dunn's long and impressive career
in politics the public knows much, for his years
of political power were passed under the white
glare of publicity, a glare that showed nothing
to his discredit Of his secret deeds of good-
ness the public as a whole, knows little, but
those he helped do know much of them and his
passing will bring with it to hundreds the feel-
ing that their warm-hearted friend is gone,
never again to hold out to them the eager hand
of assistance. To his office and to his home
came many with appeals for assistance. They
were never denied. — The martial deeds of Colo-
nel Dunn are written large in the history of the
Nation he risked so much, in company with his
devoted comrades, to serve. — Yet when he re-
turned to civic life he would seldom discuss his
experiences in the Great Conflict. But recently
one of his comrades was telling of that terrible
time, during the Battle of the Wilderness, when
the fighting 109th Infantry was kept for hours
under a terrific rebel fire, waiting for the time
for it to go into action. Company D, said Colo-
nel Dunn's comrade, was before the salient of
the rebel position on that part of the field. The
minie balls came crooning over the field, the
shells were bursting all along our line, but we
could not stir. The regiment was crouched
down, as ordered, waiting for the word to
charge, but Colonel Dunn walked along back
of our company, speaking words of encourage-
ment and resolution. We begged him to cease
exposing himself, but he refused. His example
had a powerful effect upon the morals of the
whole regiment. To a newspaper friend who
tried to get Colonel Dunn to discuss this inci-
dent the Colonel said: Oh, I was not as brave as
the rest. I didn't take any more chances than
Winfield Stone, who was as tall crouching down
as the most of us were standing up. The men
crouching down were worse off than I was, be-
cause I could relieve my nerves by walking
about, but they had to be still and take their
punishment. Let's talk about the weather. The
bond of friendship thus formed was strong dur-
ing the following years. The boys of the old
regiment looked upon Colonel Dunn as their
true friend and leader and he kept in close touch
with them to the last. In good times and in bad,
he was their adviser and helper, when any of
them needed it. He visited the sick, closed the
eyes of the dying, aided the widows and orphans,
19
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
made long journeys over the bleak hills in winter
to lonely farm houses for their sakes, and was
present with his boys whenever his presence
would cheer and bring joy to them and theirs. —
As a political leader Colonel Dunn's power was
great. He was the personal friend of Grant,
Piatt, Depew, Roosevelt, McKinley, Hanna, Can-
non, and other leading Republicans. — Colonel
Dunn was always eager to help promote the suc-
cess of religious and educational efforts. All
movements for better public service had his ap-
proval. — Not to see Colonel Dunn's familiar
figure on the streets, nor to hear his cheery
words of advice, not to have him as a wise coun-
sellor in affairs in general, will be a great loss to
the people of this community. Yet with this sense
of loss will go the feeling that his long and useful
life has left behind it influences for good that will
have their weight through the coming years.
Death has taken him in a physical sense, but can-
not rob his friends and co-workers of the mem-
ories of his manliness, wisdom and tenderness of
heart.
Supreme Court Justice George F. Lyon
said:
Colonel Dunn was a courageous soldier, modest
and unassuming, a most entertaining companion,
a man of more than ordinary foresight and ability,
sympathetic, tender-hearted, kind to the poor; a
generous giver in an unpretentious way from
whom no applicant wearing a Grand Army button
ever went away empty-handed; a most loving
and devoted husband and father, a good neighbor,
a man who did not desert his friends when a
wave of unpopularity swept over them. The recol-
lections accompanying intimate acquaintance with
such a man are to be highly treasured.
George B. Curtiss said:
The Colonel was a very modest man, one who
never boasted of his achievements, in fact he was
one of the bravest soldiers and best citizens of
this country during the Civil War period. He
was one of the best known and most popular men
of the state. He was recognized as a man whose
opinion could always be relied upon. Whatever
position he took on any question, he was known
to be honest and sincere. He was conspicuous
among prominent men of the State for his loyalty
to his country, to his party and to his friends. A
man of great natural abilities, of good judgment,
possessed of courage and stamina, of extraordi-
nary ability to do what he believed in and stood
for. He was a very rare man, and possessd of un-
usual and extraordinary qualities and attained his
position through real work and genuine qualities.
TEXTOR, Reynolds,
Representative Citizen.
Into what Zangwill fitly named the
"melting pot" of New York flows in a
constant stream of increasing volume the
material from which America builds her
highest type of naturalized citizenship.
It is of course conceded that in the influx
one finds the very dregs of humanity, but
in so small a quantity as to be almost
negligible. The immigrant to America
is the man who has felt within him the
stirrings of an ambition impossible of
realization in his native land, and under
the conditions in which he lives and
works. He is the dissatisfied man, who
chafes against the bonds of caste, which
though they may not be aggressively
proclaimed, are nevertheless too rigid to
be broken by his mediocre ability. He is
the thinker, the earnest worker, the man
with visions and the desire and ability, if
he is given a chance, to fulfill them.
America offers him the consummation
of all that he desires — and not only that —
offers to teach him the means to secure
it. Appreciating these gifts only as one
does who has never had them, he utilizes
them to the full extent of their value.
And he offers in return a gratitude almost
unintelligible to the native American, and
an eagerness to uphold the traditions and
customs of his adopted land, to become
identified and to further the best for
which is stands. It is of such material,
the best from all the nations of the globe,
that America is constructing the future
of its greatness. The lives of these men
of foreign birth who become our citizens
are lives that count. They are men that
achieve things, and the life so meagerly
7^y^)
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
sketched here is an example of the work
and accomplishment of the average Ger-
man-American.
Reynolds Textor was born in Prussia,
June ii, 1836, a son of the sturdy and
upright middle class. He was educated
in the excellent Volkeschule of his native
town, under the system of education
which Germany has wisely made com-
pulsory up to the age of fourteen years.
When he reached fourteen years Mr. Tex-
tor came to America, dependent for the
most part on his own resources. He
entered the upholstery business at first
as an apprentice, working himself up in
the course of his twenty-one years con-
nection with the business to the owner-
ship of an upholstery store on Sixth
avenue in New York City. He gave up
his store in 1867 and entered the employ-
ment of the Equitable Life Assurance
Society, with which concern he remained
for forty-eight years, holding positions of
gradually increasing importance. At the
time of his death, which occurred on Feb-
ruary 7, 191 5, Mr. Textor had been for
some years a general agent for the com-
pany.
Mr. Textor was married on November
26, 1872, to Laura Bergen, daughter of
Rudolph and Eva (Heine) Bergen. Mrs.
Textor, who is his second wife, survives
Mr. Textor and resides at No. 401 East
Seventeenth street, Brooklyn. Their son,
who is the only child, is Rudolph Textor,
born February 1, 1874. He is married
to Charlotte C. von Glahn, daughter of
Theodore and Catherine von Glahn. They
have one child, Marjorie Textor. The
children of Mr. Textor's first marriage
are: Mrs. Lillian Smith, deceased; Mrs.
Ethel Hull, wife of Dr. Hull, of New
York City; and Edwin A. Textor, who
married Bertha Bose, of New York City ;
his son is Arthur R. Textor.
Mr. Textor was deeply interested in
singing, and was an important member
of the Liederkranz Club of this city, being
one of that famous organization's charter
members and trustees. He was for years
active in its far reaching work. He was
a member of no other organizations,
either social or fraternal. He was a man
of pleasing personality, and possessed a
large number of friends in whose estima-
tion he was highly rated. There is no
truer gauge of the character of a man
than that of his home life and his rating
in the eyes of his family. To them all the
pettiness of his nature, if it includes any,
is revealed, and to them also are shown
his highest virtues. In concluding, no
greater tribute can be paid Mr. Textor
than the recording here of the devotion
of his entire family.
HETHERTON, Edward S.,
Public Official, Civil 'War Veteran.
Major Edward S. Hetherton, very
widely known in Grand Army circles, as
well as in political matters, died at his
home on Argyle Road, Flatbush, October
12, 1914. Major Hetherton was of the
type of men who always inspire confi-
dence and who are ever ready when duty
calls. It is such men who, when the
nation was in danger through secession
and other baneful influences, prevented
its destruction. When the integrity of
the nation was threatened he was among
the first to respond to the call for
defenders, and his course throughout the
Civil War reflected credit upon himself
and encouraged those about him to fulfill
to the utmost their dangerous duties. In
civil life he was equally efficient and
capable, and was identified with some of
the leading enterprises of his native city.
Always just and fair, he was placed in
positions of responsibility where judg-
ment was required and prompt action
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
brought results. He was trusted by the
highest in authority, and never in any
manner betrayed the confidence reposed
in him. He was energetic and efficient
to the end, and continued about his duties
despite the inroads of a fatal disease, until
exhausted nature could no longer fulfil
its functions, and then laid down his
responsibilities and met his end with the
fortitude and high courage which had
characterized his entire career.
Major Hetherton was born December
25, 1843, in New York City, the son of
Irish parents, who met and were married
in New York City, where all their chil-
dren were born. At the outbreak of the
Civil War, soon after the completion of
his seventeenth year, he enlisted as a
drummer in the Second Regiment of the
United States Artillery. Subsequently
he became principal musician in the
Second Regiment, United States Volun-
teers, and was discharged on March 4,
1866. When only twelve years of age
he enlisted as a musician in the regular
army, and received instruction on the
fife and drum on Governor's Island, in
New York Harbor. He ran away from
home to enlist, was enrolled October 1,
1856, and discharged September 30, 1861,
at Fort Pickens, Florida. He reenlisted
May 21, 1862, at Fort Independence, in
Boston Harbor, and soon after received
order to report for duty to General
Daniel Ullman at No. 200 Broadway,
New York City. After April 6, 1863, he
joined the Eleventh United States Infan-
try. His term expired in March, 1865,
but he continued in the service until the
following year, as above noted. He
served under Generals Arnold and Mc-
Clellan. and was in the Nineteenth
Army Corps. During the last ten years
of his life he resided in the Flatbush sec-
tion of Brooklyn, was a member of St.
Rose de Lima Church of Parkville, and
was a member of the Holy Name Society,
auxiliary of that body. His remains were
laid to rest in Mount Olivet Cemetery.
In politics Major Hetherton was an Inde-
pendent. He was long in the public
service as mayor's messenger, beginning
with Mayor Abram S. Hewitt and con-
tinuing under all his successors to the
present time, a period of twenty-seven
years. He thus became acquainted with
many of New York's most famous men,
and was a carrier of numerous important
messages to men in high official life. At
the time of his death he was commander
of Phil Kearny Post, No. 8, Grand Army
of the Republic, and at many times rep-
resented this post in grand encampments.
In the early days of the Fifth Avenue
Stage line he was its first starter. He
was a member of the Grand Army Mem-
orial Committee and the Nineteenth
Army Corps Veteran Association. Major
Hetherton was a man of excellent qual-
ities, of sound judgment, warm sym-
pathies and generous heart, and was high-
ly esteemed wherever known. He was
very faithful to every duty which de-
volved upon him, and will long be
mourned by all who knew him.
He was married on Thanksgiving Day,
1875, to Sarah A. Burnop, daughter of
Philip and Margaret Burnop, natives of
England. Major and Mrs. Hetherton
were the parents of eight children, of
whom four are now living: Ella; Joseph
Burnop, married Susan Dolan, and has
children : Mary, Margaret, Virginia and
Edward ; William Howard ; Edna, wife of
George Kimpel, one son, George Edward
Kimpel.
GARDNER, John H.,
Medical Investigator.
Among the many distinguished families
of Albany, eminent in various fields of
life, perhaps none have contributed more
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
to the advancement and general enlight-
enment of the community than the old
Gardner family of this place, which has
boasted among its members several who
have been men of science, and broad in
their views and sympathies.
One of the best known scions of this
family was the late Mr. John H. Gardner
who, though by the accident of birth was
a native of New York City, made Albany
in his after life the scene of his worldly
activities and the beneficiary of his dis-
tinguished attributes. Mr. Gardner was
born at the old Bowery Hotel in New
York, on October 24, 1840, this hotel
being famous for its ownership by John
Jacob Astor, and for many years one of
the best known landmarks of the great
metropolis.
Mr. Gardner's father, John H. Gardner,
was a very noted man in his time, promi-
nent along many lines, but identified more
especially with the "Scientific American,"
of which he was editor for many years.
His son inherited the scientific bent of
mind which distinguished the older man
par excellence, and himself in later days
contributed abundantly to the world's
storehouse of knowledge. After he had
acquired the rudiments of his education,
Mr. Gardner, then a resident of Brooklyn,
attended the Brooklyn Polytechnic Insti-
tute ; he was also a pupil for some time
of a private academy at White Plains,
New York. He was quite young at the
outbreak of the war between the States,
but hastened to join the colors, and
enlisted in the service of the Union as a
regimental commissary, of the Third New
York Cavalry. He served his country
loyally and well, and became a commis-
sioned officer ; in later years, after the
close of the long and bloody hostilities
that devastated the country, he was a
member of the Military Order of the
Loyal Legion.
Mr. Gardner devoted many years of his
life to travel, going abroad several times
and making extensive tours of the Con-
tinent. He made a trip around the
world in company with the late Thomas
Dickson, president of the Delaware &
Hudson Canal Company. But his most
important expedition to foreign lands was
for the purpose of making a scientific
investigation of the properties of sulphur
water for medicinal purposes. Prior to
this time he had established, in connec-
tion with his father and brothers, all
interested as he was in science and the
properties of matter, a hotel at Sharon
Springs where he had opportunity to
pursue his investigations in regard to
mineral waters. Here he passed the
greater part of the time in which he was
not occupied in travel, engaged in scien-
tific pursuits and experimenting in mineral
waters. This hotel, founded in 1861, was
conducted continuously at Sharon Springs
for many years, and proved of almost
unlimited benefit to all those who flocked
to the place on account of the healing
qualities of the water thereabouts. Mr.
Gardner himself was its manager, and
devoted himself to its upkeep with all the
enthusiasm which marked his character ;
remaining there all of the time in which
he was not engaged in foreign travel.
On November 25, 1873, Mr. Gardner
was married to Susan E. McClure, a
daughter of Archibald McClure, whose
parents came to this country from Scot-
land and settled in New Scotland, Albany
county, New York, where he was born,
founding the family of that name, some
of whose members have since become
famous in the history of the country. Mr.
McClure was a pioneer drug man in
Albany, settling there when the city was
considerably less populated than it is at
the present time. Mrs. Gardner's mother
was Susan Tracy (Rice) Gardner, daugh-
123
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
ter of Colonel Rice, who distinguished
himself in the War of 1812. Mr. and
Mrs. Gardner were the parents of two
children, Susan and Julia Jacques. The
last named daughter is the wife of Her-
bert T. Whitlock, mineralogist for the
State of New York.
Mr. Gardner died December 16, 1891, at
the age of fifty-one years, and was buried
in the Rural Cemetery at Albany. He
was a member of the Union League Club
of New York City for more than twenty
years, and had an extensive acquaintance
in that city as well as throughout the
entire country and in foreign lands. The
development and advancement of this
part of the State owed much to his energy
and enlightened perceptions, and to the
scientific mentality of a man who
delighted in research and the knowledge
of nature. He made many and important
discoveries along the lines in which he
was most interested, of which those who
have come after him have enjoyed the
benefit.
BROWN, Alexander John,
Representative Citizen.
In sporting circles in Brooklyn for the
past three decades or so there has appear-
ed no name that will be longer remem-
bered than that of Alexander John Brown
whose death at his home at No. 356 St.
Mark's avenue, on October 3, 1915,
removed from the community one of its
most picturesque figures and a citizen of
public spirit and energy.
Born in Brooklyn, December II, 1855,
Mr. Brown was a lifelong resident of that
city and had become most closely iden-
tified with its life. He was educated in
the parochial school in connection with
St. Joseph's Catholic Church, and at an
early age began to take a very practical
interest in politics. He was a strong
supporter of the principles and policies
of the Democratic party, allied himself
actively with the local organization there-
of, and soon became an important factor
in the situation in that part of the city.
In time he grew to be the leader in his
ward, and for many years played a promi-
nent part in Democratic campaigns in
Brooklyn. But it was in connection with
the sporting activities of the community
that he was most active and best known,
both as a promoter and an active par-
ticipant in athletic games, especially base-
ball. As a young man he joined the
famous old Fulton Market Baseball Nine
and made a reputation in the national
game that extended far beyond the limits
of his home city. Both at this time and
later he received many offers from the
managers of professional teams to join
their ranks but, although some of these
were tempting enough, he refused to
abandon his amateur status which he
valued highly. A little later he became a
member of the equally celebrated Reso-
lutes, one of the best teams in the Brook-
lyn Amateur League, and there continued
the splendid game which had brought
him into prominence. In the year 1892
he became associated with Tom O'Rourke
and with him took up the management
of the Coney Island Athletic Club, an
enterprise that was highly successful and
under the auspices of which a number of
the greatest ring encounters of the time
were held. Among these should be men-
tioned the much-talked-of, long-heralded
Jeffries-Sharkey fight and others of equal
celebrity. Mr. Brown took an active per-
sonal part in the arrangement of these
bouts and himself acted as referee in
many minor battles. Mr. Brown was a
man of strong religious beliefs and was
all his life associated with the church, in
the parochial school of which he studied
as a boy, St. Joseph's, and was a liberal
supporter of the work of the parish.
24
CCC-t^c^t^t^/
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
On January 22, 1904, Mr. Brown was
united in marriage with Margaret E. Gil-
martin, a native of Brooklyn, and a daugh-
ter of Thomas and Margaret (Kenny)
Gilmartin, who came from Ireland. To
Mr. and Mrs. Brown three children were
born, one of whom, a charming little
daughter, Florence Mamie Brown, sur-
vives her father and now dwells with her
mother at the residence at No. 356 St.
Mark's avenue.
Mr. Brown's devotion to athletic games
and sports was remarkable, nor did it
diminish, as is so often the case, with the
departure of youth. Up to within a very
few years of his death he was to be seen
every afternoon taking part in the daily
games held in the Parade Ground at
Prospect Park, an occupation of which
he never tired. He was especially noted
as a pitcher and his home contains many
trophies, prizes and tributes won by his
skill in this particular realm. Besides
this fondness, however, his tastes were of
a kind that led him rather away from
than into very extended social relations.
He was devoted to his home and family
and sought his recreation there and in
that intercourse rather than in clubs or
organizations of a kindred nature. He
was a man of broad and democratic views
and instincts and was extremely popular
among other men, possessing hosts of
friends whose sorrow for his loss is a very
real one. None of the many who came in
contact with him failed to be attracted to
him and his name will live in the meitir
ories of more than it is the lot of the aver-
age man to do.
SAMMIS, William Augustus,
Public Official.
One of the representative men of
White Plains was removed from the
scenes in which he had long been a con-
spicuous figure when the late William A.
Sammis passed away. For many years
Mr. Sammis had been the proprietor of
the celebrated Sound View Stock Farm,
and during the long period of his resi-
dence in the town had filled with credit
the offices of tax collector and justice of
the peace.
William A. Sammis was born June 9,
1843, m Flushing, New York, where he
received his education and passed the
years of his early manhood. To what
occupations these years were devoted we
are not precisely informed, but they were
evidently such as to fit him for the respon-
sible part in life which he afterward
played. While still a young man Mr.
Sammis became a resident of White
Plains, in the course of time becoming one
of its best known and most highly re-
spected citizens. As proprietor of the
Sound View Stock Farm he exhibited rare
administrative abilities and held a com-
manding and influential position in the
community. From the beginning of his
residence in the town Mr. Sammis took a
most lively interest in public affairs,
identifying himself with the Republicans.
His personal popularity, together with
the confidence felt in his ability and
integrity, caused him to be frequently
requested to become a candidate for office,
but to all such appeals he remained for
some time unresponsive. The affairs of
the Sound View Stock Farm, which ad-
joined the Gedney Farm and also the
large estate of Paul G. Thebaud, absorbed
his entire attention. At length, however,
in 1899, he accepted the nomination for
justice of the peace, filling the office so
greatly to the satisfaction of his fellow-
citizens that he was chosen for a second
term, serving in all until 1903. In 1907
he was elected town tax collector and
made a record collection. The secret of
his popularity was always to be found in
the implicit trust inspired by his sterling
qualities.
[25
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
The personality of Mr. Sammis was
extremely attractive and we can hardly
be accused of exaggeration in saying that
every man, woman and child in White
Plains was his friend. He was affection-
ately addressed as "Uncle Billy," and so
universal was the use of the title that few
knew him by any other name. He was a
very familiar figure upon the streets of
White Plains, driving into town every
day for the purchase of supplies and
always sure of meeting hosts of friends.
His discernment was of the kind which
sees the best in every one and the kindli-
ness of his nature led him to speak well
of all. How greatly he is missed none
but those who knew and loved him could
tell. His face, so expressive of the char-
acter and disposition which endeared
him to all who were ever brought into
contact with him, is vividly present in
their remembrance.
Mr. Sammis married Elizabeth W.
Wilkins, daughter of the well known
proprietor of the Wilkins Stage Coach
Line in New York City which had its
starting-point near the site of the present
Park Avenue Hotel. Mr. and Mrs. Sam-
mis were the parents of four daughters :
Emma, now the wife of John L. Coles, of
Mamaroneck; Jessie, now the wife of
William S. Verplanck, of White Plains;
Annie, now the wife of Marvin N. Horl-
vin, of Mamaroneck avenue; and Mary,
who resides with her widowed mother.
Of what Mr. Sammis was in his family
circle it is impossible for a stranger to
speak. Only those near and dear to him
could do justice to his qualities in the
relations of husband and father.
On July 14. 1912, his town and county
were rendered poorer by the death of this
estimable man and model citizen. Dur-
ing the thirty-seven years of his residence
in White Plains, William A. Sammis pre-
sented in the blameless conduct and even
tenor of his daily life an example of public
and private virtue, of the essential qual-
ities which go to build up a prosperous
community, to maintain high ideals, to
strengthen popular faith in them and to
aid in their realization. To many the
personal loss was irreparable, as may be
imagined even from our imperfect effort
to delineate those features of his char-
acter which made him so profoundly
respected and sincerely loved. It is but
a few years since the bodily presence of
this good man and useful citizen was
withdrawn from, our sight, but his work
lives after him and he has left a record
which is an encouragement and an inspi-
ration not only to his contemporaries but
also to those who shall come after him.
COSGRIFF, Andrew,
Civil War Veteran, Mining Expert.
No man can be called truly successful
whose success is not the result of his own
efforts. Regardless of what advantages
in the way of education, inborn talent or
genius, or pecuniary resources may or
may not have been laid open to him, what
a man has made of himself, per se, is in
the world's reckoning of his status, his
success or failure. Therein is manifested
the spirit of independence upon which our
nation is founded, for which our fathers
fought, and counting it dearer than life,
went to their deaths to preserve unto us,
a spirit fostered and developed in no other
way than in actual struggle with life.
Not the man who has fallen heir to an
established fortune, but the man whose
only fortune has been his God-given
strength and brain, whose only tools his
indomitable courage and indefatigable
perseverance, is the ultimate success.
Success and self go hand-in-hand, and
from this fact has logically been evolved
the colloquial "Americanism," of which
[2<>
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
we may be duly proud, self-made. Truly
the late Captain Andrew Cosgriff, who
was president and one of the owners of
the Haverstraw Electric Light, Heat &
Power Company until it was sold to the
Rockland Light & Power Company, about
1903, was a conspicuous example of this
high and honorable type of American
citizenship. He was a representative and
prominent member of the community, and
in every way identified himself with its
best interests and efforts. The Cosgriff
coat-of-arms is as follows : Or. A chevron
between three garbs gules. Crest : A
tiger's head erased, affrontee proper.
Captain Cosgriff was a native of New
York City, born May 29, 1831, died Janu-
ary 29, 1916, son of Philip and Annie
(Martin) Cosgriff. Captain Cosgriff was
in every sense of the word a self-made
man, and a man whose success was all
the more to be wondered at because of
the serious disadvantages under which he
was obliged to labor at the very outset of
his life. At the early age of six years he
was left an orphan. Having no relatives
in New Yurk City, he went to Cattarau-
gus county, New York, where he spent
his early life, remaining until nineteen
years of age with his adopted parents,
Judge Benjamin Chamberlain and wife,
the former named having been the county
judge of Cattaraugus county, New York.
Andrew Cosgriff assisted in the office,
and also acquired a very good education,
attending the public schools and also hav-
ing private teaching, Dr. Saunders, the
family physician, having been his teacher.
Later he had charge of considerable of
Judge Chamberlain's property. Andrew
Cosgriff later took up the study of the
science of practical engineering in Cat-
taraugus. Upon attaining his majority
he returned to the metropolis and fol-
lowed his trade with the Hudson River
railroad for twelve years. Upon the
expiration of this time, he assumed the
responsible and important position of
superintendent of engineers on the Har-
lem railroad, which post he held for four
years.
During the Civil War he enlisted in
the engineering department of the United
States navy, and for four and a half years
saw active service as master machinist in
the brilliant campaigns of Admiral Far-
ragut in the West Gulf Blockading
Squadron. For the greater part of his
time he was in charge of the Ship Island
repair shop and afterwards of the Navy
Yard at Pensacola, Florida. Upon the
close of the war he left the service of the
United States government and took up
mining. His advance in this field was
very rapid, though he had never had the
college or so-called technical training,
and he soon became an expert, his first
experience being gained in the oil regions
of Pennsylvania. Later he was employed
in a mechanical capacity and sent to Cali-
fornia, when the mining fever was at its
height. He subsequently went to the
gold and silver fields of Nevada, and from
mechanical expert he gradually broadened
the scope of his abilities in such a way
that he became general mining expert.
In 1868 he was engaged to go to South
Carolina to assume charge of a gold
mining venture there and he also engaged
in the same business in Virginia. In the
same year he accepted a position as super-
intendent of the famous Tilly Foster Iron
Mine in Putnam county, New York, and
continued in that capacity for twenty-one
years, or until 1889, when in consequence
of a slight accident he decided to give up
mining.
A man whose life has been one of
ceaseless and successful activity finds it
hard to reconcile his restless and eager
spirit to the inactivity of retirement.
Captain Cosgriff was no exception to this
127
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
rule, and finding a life of leisure unsuited
to his tastes and inclinations, he again
decided to engage in some pursuit, and
accordingly entered into partnership with
Messrs. Conklin and Foss, in the Rock-
land Lake Trap Rock Company, which
was conducting an extensive and profit-
able business at that time. Four years
later this partnership was dissolved and
the Cosgriff Trap Rock Company, of
which Captain Cosgriff was vice-presi-
dent and general manager, was formed.
After the death of Messrs. Hedges and
Smith this was sold to the Clinton Point
Stone Company in order to close up the
estate of the aforenamed men. In 1894
Captain Cosgriff, in conjunction with
General I. M. Hedges, became an owner
of the Haverstraw Electric Light, Heat &
Power Company, which was sold to the
Rockland Light & Power Company, the
former named having been the president
and the later named the secretary and
treasurer. This company conducted a suc-
cessful business and gave employment to
a large number of employees, thus being
an important and potential factor in the
development and upbuilding of the com-
munity.
Captain Cosgriff, although upholding
all the responsibilities which fall upon
the shoulders of an important member of
any community, kept entirely out of
politics during his life, although during
his residence in Tilly Foster, incident to
his management of the mine, he served in
the capacity of postmaster, discharging
his duties in an efficient and capable man-
ner. During his extensive travels in early
life he met men of all classes in life, and
through democratic contact with them he
became thoroughly versed in the ways
and means of men and things, was a close
student of human nature, and a man of
broad and fair views, was an interesting
companion and excellent conversation-
alist. He was a man of public spirit and
enterprise, active in promoting the wel-
fare of his community and in bettering
the conditions of those in his employ, and
thus ranked among the representative
men of Haverstraw, men whom it is an
honor and delight to record.
On August 22, 1858, Captain Cosgriff
married Jane Lewis, daughter of Abram
and Catherine Morris, and widow of
Henry Lewis. Her parents were resi-
dents of Hudson, Columbia county, New
York. She was born May 4, 1824, died
January 24, 1902. The Morris coat-of-
arms is as follows : Gules, a lion rampant
or, charged on the breast with a plate.
Crest : A demi lion rampant or, holding
between the paws a plate. Captain and
Mrs. Cosgriff were the parents of two
daughters: 1. Annie C, married John M.
Sloane, deceased, and they had three
daughters: Sarah H., died April 22,
1914; Margaret M., and Esther M. 2.
Lucy J. Both daughters reside at the
family home on Hudson avenue, Haver-
straw.
BUNNY, John,
Inimitable Actor.
It is the fashion among the "intellec-
tuals" of to-day to belittle the value of
laughter. They can tolerate and even
indulge in the grim smile that answers a
certain vein of grim humor, almost as
acid as grief itself, but with the side-
shaking, ear-splitting, soul-clearing roars
of the mob they have little sympathy and
turn for relief from such sounds to their
depressing Ibsens and Maeterlinks, in the
strange belief that to be pessimistic is to
be wise, that despair is the final phil-
osophy. The instinct of the man in the
street is much surer. Were he asked if
he approved of laughter he might be at a
loss for an answer, but he pays it the
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
far greater compliment than approval, by
seeking it at all costs and wherever it is
to be found. And surely there is as much
that is good and even sacred in laughter
as in tears. It is more nearly related to
the object of all existence, if it be
admitted that happiness is that object, as
it certainly must be. Carlyle did indeed
inquire by what act of parliament was it
decreed that we should be happy and
adjured to seek blessedness instead, but
truly in the best sense of the terms they
are one and the same thing for it may
very cogently be urged that as it must
be that to be blessed is to be happy, so
also to be happy is to be blessed. And
if this be so it is not less undeniable that
one of the large factors of happiness is
wholesome mirth and laughter. And
now if it be asked where such wholesome
mirth and laughter is to be found, it may
be replied without hesitation in the farces
and the horse-play of the people. As
Chesterton remarks the tragedies of the
people "are of broken hearts, their
comedies of broken heads." The man
who supplies food for this healthy human
craving for fun is a true benefactor and
deserves to the full the popular honor
that is showered upon him. Turn not
up your noses, O you supercilious artists
and critics, if he wins his applause be-
cause he is clumsy and always hits the
wrong man or makes love to the wrong
woman, or never ascends a stairs with-
out falling down again; of such stuff is
our best laughter made, such are the
jests of Rabelais, the antics of Falstaff,
while the great comedy of Cervantes is
but a sort of sublimated music hall farce
with Don Quixote as the countryman in
town and the windmill a gigantic police-
man. Of such also was the fun of John
Bunny, whose death on March 26, 1915,
at his Brooklyn home removed from our
midst one of the most deservedly popular
NY-VolIII-S 129
of all those who have made the moving
picture the medium of success.
John Bunny was of English ancestry
on his father's side and of Irish on his
mother's, but was himself born on the
Island of Manhattan, September 21, 1863.
He was the first of nine generations who
did not follow the sea and the second in
that same period that was not a member
of the English navy. The Bunnys came
from the famous English coast town of
Penzance and his mother, who was a Miss
Eleanor O'Sullivan, from County Clare,
Ireland, where her family was prominent
and highly respected. After the usual
schooling obtained by the New York boy,
Mr. Bunny followed in the steps of the
millions and secured the position of clerk
in a store in the city. It does not appear,
however, that he was particularly suc-
cessful in this part of his career and he
used to tell a most amusing story at his
own expense concerning it. According
to him he approached his employer after
a few months' work and tactfully sug-
gested that an increase of salary would
be appropriate to be met by that awful
personage with the remark that he had
been on the point of discharging the
young man as worthless. He went on to
say that as far as he could see, his clerk
was able to do but two things well, i. e.,
to make faces and talk loud, and he sug-
gested that he try the stage. Whether or
not the suggestion was meant in earnest,
it was taken so and the long career as an
actor was commenced. At first it was a
part in a cheap "minstrel show," which
proved to be an excellent training for him,
especially his last work, with its oppor-
tunity for pantomimic action and facial
expression. Several such engagements
followed one another until in 1883 he was
given a part in a play with the happy title
of "The Stranglers of Paris." The play
had a short run at the Park Theatre, but
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
it gave Mr. Bunny an opportunity to
show his talent and gained him an en-
trance into the realm of legitimate drama.
From that time onward, for nearly thirty
years, Mr. Bunny acted almost uninter-
ruptedly and has taken minor parts in the
companies of such world famous men as
Edwin Booth and Lawrence Barrett. It
was in such an atmosphere that his ideals
were developed and his abilities trained in
such parts as Shakespeare's clowns, for
his gifts from the first were markedly of
the comic order. As Touchstone, for in-
stance, he distinguished himself highly,
and it became easy for him to secure en-
gagements with the best companies. He
was given parts by Henry W. Savage,
William A. Brady, Charles and Daniel
Frohman and many others, and supported
at various times Miss Maude Adams,
Miss Annie Russell and others of the
great popular favorites. But while he
did well his great success did not come to
him except with the entrance of a new
form of acting and a new stage, a stage
that has already wrought profound
changes in the whole theatrical world.
This was the moving picture which has
grown to such amazing proportions with-
in little more than five years. At the
time of its appearance the moving picture
was regarded with some contempt by the
average actor, and they were few indeed
who entered it as a profession that were
not driven there by necessity. It was not
so with Mr. Bunny, who from the first
perceived the great possibilities in the
thing, not merely from the commercial
standpoint, but as a vehicle of wholesome
amusement and instruction to great
masses of people who could not other-
wise come within the healthful influence
of the theatre. So it was that he did not
scorn a half-casual proposal made to him
at that time that he should become a
"film artist." On the contrary so strong
was his belief in the new form that he did
what was considered a most foolish thing
by the majority of his professional friends
by declining an excellent engagement on
the regular stage and accepting what
seemed far less desirable in moving pic-
tures. He never had any reason to regret
his decision, particularly from a business
point of view, for he rapidly emerged into
great prominence and ultimately became
the most popular actor in that form of
amusement. The accounts of the fabu-
lous sums earned by him are probably
exaggerations, but there is no doubt
whatever that the Vitagraph Company,
for whose productions he acted consid-
ered him as one of their most drawing
artists and it is well known that the con-
cern does not stint its outlay in securing
what it requires. And truly it could afford
to be liberal in this case for Mr. Bunny's
popularity was simply phenomenal. With
the last few years moving picture houses
have sprung up all over the civilized
world and have even penetrated the un-
civilized, and wherever the films have
gone there also has gone John Bunny.
His face is doubtless one of the best
known to the world to-day and would
doubtless be recognized over a larger area
and in more diverse scenes than most of
the crowned heads or the great statesmen
of the times. His death was finally
brought about by overwork at the head of
his own company, which was supporting
him in a play known as John Bunny in
Funnyland.
Mr. Bunny was married, January 23,
1890, to Clara Scallan, of New York, a
daughter of William and Annie (Merry)
Scallan, of New York, both of whom were
on the stage. Mrs. Bunny herself became
an actress at an early age and it was
through her work that she met Mr. Bunny.
To them two children were born, George
Henry and John, now (1916) aged twen-
130
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
ty-three and twenty-one years, respec-
tively.
The personal character of John Bunny
was a very marked one ; like almost all of
the men whose function is to make us
laugh he had a deeply serious side to his
nature which, however, never eclipsed the
kindliness and good cheer that seemed to
radiate from him. It did strongly influ-
ence his purposes and ambitions, how-
ever, which were of a high type and very
serious matters to himself. His ideal of
his profession and function was extremely
high and he had already accomplished and
anticipated taking part in other work
which should prove of eminent value to
thousands of people. One of the things
he enjoyed most was taking the part of
the immortal Pickwick, the scenes for the
picture being made upon the very roads
used by Dickens as the background of his
great work, and he had an even more am-
bitious project in view, involving a jour-
ney to Spain and much elaborate prepara-
tion for a setting of Don Quixote, and
other of the great Spanish romances and
plays. The feeling wellnigh of idolatry
with which he was regarded by the masses
of people never altered these ambitions in
the smallest, nor did it change the essen-
tial democracy of his nature, which led
him to treat all whom he came in contact
with as his friends and brothers. Emi-
nently characteristic of the sane and
pleasant view which he took of the world
and life was his disposal of the wealth
that came to him. He left, it is said,
practically nothing at his death, but every
week of his life he shared equally his sal-
ary with his wife, thus providing for her
most amply now that his great earning
power has ceased entirely. He was the
kindliest of men and devoted to his fam-
ily, fulfilling all the relations of private
life with the same consistency that he did
the more conspicuous tasks of his public
career.
SLOAN, Samuel,
Prominent Business Man.
The late Samuel Sloan, of Rochester,
New York, was one of those men whose
lives and characters form, the underlying
structure upon which are built the hopes
of American institutions. The careers of
such men as he show the possibilities
open in a commonwealth like New York
to those who possess good business abil-
ities, and the high integrity that informs
alike the good citizen and the good busi-
ness man. His ambition along the worth-
iest lines, his perseverance, his steadfast-
ness of purpose and tireless industry, all
furnish lessons to the young business man
of coming generations, and the well
earned success and esteem he gained
j'rove the inevitable result of the practice
of these virtues. His whole life was de-
i oted to the highest and best, and all his
endeavors were for the furtherance of
those noble ideals he made the rule of his
daily life. The success he won as a busi-
ness man never elated him unduly, nor
caused him to vary from the modest sim-
plicity of his manner. His was a nature
of singular sweetness, openness and sin-
cerity, and he probably never had an
enemy. Any estimate of his character,
however, would be unjust did it not point
to the natural ability and keen mental
gifts which he improved by daily and
hourly use. He succeeded better than the
average business man because he had a
wider intellectual equipment than the
ordinary shrewd business man. He had a
profound knowledge of human nature, his
judgment was sound and unerring, his
personality strong and dominating, and
his power over other men was not the
result of aggressiveness, but of the mo-
mentum of character.
Samuel Sloan, son of Timothy Sloan,
was born near Belfast, Ireland, in 1828,
and died in Rochester, New York, Sep-
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
tember i, 1903. He was educated in his
native country, and he soon realized the
fact that the New World offered better
opportunities for advancement to a young
man of energy and ambition, and, imbued
with this idea, he came to the United
States in 1848. Upon his arrival here he
at once set about securing a suitable posi-
tion, and this he found in the first whole-
sale dry goods house on Broadway, New
York City. This house was largely en-
gaged in the Australian shipping busi-
ness, and as it became necessary to send
a representative of the business to Mel-
bourne, Australia, in 1854, Mr. Sloan was
selected for this responsible post, and rep-
resented the interests of the firm in Aus-
tralia until i860, when he returned to this
country. Shortly after his return, he took
up his residence in Rochester, New York,
where he became associated in a business
partnership with R. E. Sherlock, in the
conduct of a steam and gas fitting busi-
ness, the firm name being Sherlock &
Sloan. This association was a mutually
profitable one, the business expanding
from time to time, until it was broken by
the death of Mr. Sherlock, when Mr.
Sloan became the sole proprietor. Gradu-
ally the sale of plumbers', steamfitters'
and engineers' supplies had been added,
until the business had grown to one of
much importance, and the annual sales
were correspondingly large. In the mean-
time Mr. Sloan had become more or less
closely identified with a number of other
business interests of varied character and
scope. In financial circles he was a factor
to be reckoned with, and was president of
the Mechanics' Savings Bank, and a mem-
ber of the board of directors of the Gene-
see Valley Trust Company. The private
life of Mr. Sloan was as useful and ex-
emplary as his public career. In the cause
of religion he was an active worker, and
served as elder of the Central Presby-
terian Church for more than thirty years,
while his material support of this institu-
tion was a most generous one. His dona-
tions to charitable purposes were also
large, and he was a member of the board
of directors of the Rochester City Hos-
pital, and one of the original trustees of
the Reynolds Library. His personal in-
terest in both of these institutions never
abated, and he furthered their advance-
ment and growth to the best of his ability.
Mr. Sloan married (first) in 1865, Mary
Eveline Vosburgh, who died in 1882; he
married (second) 1885, Mrs. Hanna (Cur-
tis) Jones, who died in 1897. By his first
marriage he had one son, William Eyres .
Sloan, who is now at the head of the large
establishment founded by his father. It
may truly be said of Samuel Sloan that
earnestness and thoroughness were the
keynotes of his character. The serious
spirit which marked the commencement
of his business career remained with him
throughout his life. He could not do any-
thing without putting his entire mind and
heart into the undertaking, and under
those conditions, it was but natural that
success should attend his efforts.
LATUS, George,
Business Man.
The due reward of merit, it is often
claimed, is generally withheld until death
has rendered its payment vain and a tardy
honor paid to the memory of him whose
right was recognition in his lifetime is all
that can be done to make amends for past
neglect. It is probable, however, that this
is less the case in communities where
truly democratic institutions prevail, such
as the United States, than of other parts
of the world, since the peoples of these
communities are ever on the outlook for
ability and talent which are recognized as
the most valuable of marketable commodi-
132
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
ties. It was surely not true in the case of
George Latus, whose name heads this
brief article and whose death on April 17,
1915, was a loss to the whole community,
for from his youth onward his business
capacity met with the recognition it de-
served, and he forged for himself a promi-
nent place in the business world and
a position of regard in the hearts of his
fellow citizens. New York City was the
scene of his life-long activities and his
home until within a few years of his
death, when he removed to Mount Ver-
non, without, however, giving up the busi-
ness connections in the city.
George Latus was born November 6,
1852, in that part of New York City that,
perhaps, more than any other, retains its
old-time atmosphere, Greenwich Village,
as it is still known. Here he passed many
years of his life and here it was that he
engaged in business. After completing
his education, which he did at the local
public schools, Mr. Latus entered the
butcher's business, establishing himself at
No. 124 Greenwich avenue, where the
enterprise prospered from the outset. The
success that he met with was fully de-
served for he brought to his work the ut-
most devotion and the soundest of busi-
ness principles were observed by him in
all his dealings. It was in the year 1880,
when Mr. Latus was twenty-eight years
of age, that he founded the butcher busi-
ness, and during the thirty-five years in
which he continued it there was a steady
increase of trade until it was one of the
largest houses of the kind in that neigh-
borhood. In spite of the fact that he re-
moved to Mount Vernon in 1909, he con-
tinued to actively manage its affairs until
his death.
On December 21, 1872, Mr. Latus was
united in marriage with Caroline Bender,
of New York City, a daughter of Theo-
bold and Caroline (Brown) Bender, of
that place. To them were born two chil-
dren, Caroline, now Mrs. F. A. M. Bryant,
of Mount Vernon, and Julia, now Mrs. A.
Q. Elgar, of Wakefield. Mr. Latus is sur-
vived by his wife and two daughters, the
former at the present time making her
home at No. 118 South Eighth avenue,
Mount Vernon.
KIPP, George Washington,
Representative Citizen.
In the death of George W. Kipp the
city of Ossining lost one of its most
prominent, influential and useful citizens.
He was a man of the highest integrity, of
warm heart and generous impulses, de-
voted, next to his home and family, to the
promotion of the public welfare and the
improvement of the condition of man-
kind. Mr. Kipp was descended from a
very early American family, which was a
very ancient one in Holland. The name
is of Dutch origin and has been promi-
nently identified with New York from a
very early period continuing down to the
present day. There is some dispute of
authorities as to the parentage of the im-
migrant ancestor, who was probably de-
scended from Rulof Kype, of Holland.
The name was sometimes written Kype
after its arrival here.
Henry Hendricksen Kip came before
1643 to New Amsterdam with his wife
(probably Tryntje Droogh) and five chil-
dren. That he was a man of consequence
is shown by the fact that his arms were
painted on one of the stained windows in
the first Dutch church of New York. He
was a tailor by occupation and is some-
times called Henry Snyder Kip. He re-
ceived a patent, April 28, 1643, °f a ' ot
east of the fort on the present Bridge
street near Whitehall, where he built
house and shop. Being incensed by
the cruelty of Director-General Kieft, by
^33
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
whose order more than one hundred In-
dians, men, women and children, were
brutally massacred, he boldly opposed the
director-general and refused to join in any
recognition of him. The latter was very
shortly recalled and immediately there-
after Kip became a leading man in the
community. He was appointed a member
of Governor Stuyvesant's council, Sep-
tember 25, 1647, and again in 1649-50. He
was appointed schepen, or magistrate,
February 2, 1656, and admitted to all the
rights and privileges of a burgher, April
11, 1657. He subscribed to the oath of
allegiance to the British government in
October, 1664, and was assessed with
others in the following year to pay for the
maintenance of soldiers in the garrison.
Both he and his wife were members of
the Dutch church. He died at Kippen-
burg, the date being unrecorded and the
location being unknown. Jacob Kipp,
second son of Henry H. Kip, was born
May 16, 1631, in Amsterdam, Holland,
and died about 1690, in New York. In
1647, when sixteen years old, he was a
clerk in the provincial secretary's office at
New Amsterdam, and in December, 1649,
was acting clerk in Director Stuyvesant's
council. He was appointed, January 27,
1653, the first secretary of the court of
burgomasters and schepens. He resigned
this office, June 12, 1657, and engaged in
brewing and also conducted a store. He
was a member of the board of schepens in
1659, ! 662-63-65-75, and was president of
the board in 1674. Among others he peti-
tioned for the establishment of a village
in the Wallabout district, across the East
river, where he had lands, but probably
never lived there. He, or his father, se-
cured a patent of one hundred and fifty
acres on the East river at what is still
known as Kipp's Bay, and built a house
there in 1655. This was rebuilt in 1696
and was occupied a short time during the
Revolution as a headquarters by General
Washington. It stood on East Thirty-
fifth street and remained until 1851, when
it was torn down. His city home was on
what is now Exchange place in 1657, and
he owned several houses on lots in that
vicinity, his residence being in 1665 on
Broad street near Exchange place and
probably continued there until 1674. In
1686 his residence was described as "be-
yond the fresh water," probably meaning
the farm homestead above described. He
married, March 8, 1654, Maria, daughter
of Dr. Johannes and Rachel (Monjour)
de la Montagne, born January 26, 1637, at
sea off Madeira, while the parents were
en route for America. She was living in
1701. Dr. de la Montagne was born in
1592, a Huguenot of great learning, and
served in the governor's council and as
vice-director at Fort Orange (Albany).
Johannes Kipp, eldest child of Jacob and
Maria (de la Montagne) Kipp, was bap-
tized February 21, 1655, in New York,
and was a brewer in that town, where he
died in 1704. He married, September 4,
1681, Catharine, daughter of Dr. Hans
and Sara (Roelofs) Kierstede. Benjamin
Kipp, youngest child of Johannes and
Catharine (Kierstede) Kipp, was born in
1703, and settled in Westchester county,
New York, where he purchased a farm of
four hundred acres, and died May 24,
1782. He served as justice of the peace
under the Colonial government. He mar-
ried Dorothy Davenport, who died Sep-
tember 3, 1807. Abraham Kipp, third son
of Benjamin and Dorothy (Davenport)
Kipp, was born March 23, 1743, in New
York City, and married Phebe, daugh-
ter of Samuel Haight. Samuel Kipp, only
son of Abraham and Phebe (Haight)
Kipp, married Elizabeth Cypher, and they
were the parents of Abram Kipp, born in
September, 1798, in New York, died at
Sing Sing, April 30, 1887. He was a use-
34
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
ful citizen, engaged in business in Ossin-
ing, then called Sing Sing, where he was
a furniture dealer and undertaker. He
married, April 10, 1822, Sarah Smith, born
October 11, 1804, died July 7, 1890, daugh-
ter of Caleb Smith, born 1753, and his
wife, Elizabeth (Sherwood) Smith, born
January 6, 1762, died January 27, 1848.
Their children were: Samuel C, Leonard
R., Elizabeth A., Benjamin Franklin,
Abraham, George Washington and Mary
Elizabeth.
George Washington Kipp was born De-
cember 16, 1842, at Sing Sing, and grew
up in his native place, enjoying the ex-
cellent educational advantages afforded
by the grammar school of that village.
He was an independent and industrious
youth, and determined some time before
attaining his majority to engage in a busi-
ness career. At the age of eighteen years
he entered the wholesale dry goods house
of Haviland, Lindsay & Company of New
York City. Here his keen business sense
and devotion to the interest of his em-
ployers gained him rapid promotion, and
he became one of the most useful em-
ployes of the establishment. His leisure
time was not spent in dissipation, but he
endeavored to improve his knowledge by
study and cared for his earnings in a
shrewd and proper way, so that he was
soon enabled to engage in business on his
own account. At the age of twenty-eight
years he became a partner with his father
in the furniture and undertaking business
at Sing Sing, under the title of Abram Kipp
& Son. At this time the father was more
than seventy years of age, and he very
gladly relinquished the responsibilities
and principal labors of the business to his
son and partner, and in course of time a
nephew, S. C. Kipp, Jr., became a partner
in the business, which was conducted
under the name of G. W. & S. C. Kipp, Jr.
The continued success of the business,
which was long ago founded at Ossining,
was largely due to the business ability,
high character and popularity of George
W. Kipp, who had multitudes of friends
among the people of Ossining and vicin-
ity. In the early days of the business the
facilities and methods now in vogue did
not prevail, but Mr. Kipp was always
alert for opportunities to improve his
business, and every improvement was
adopted by him among the first. He was
gifted with a high order of intelligence,
and his kind and affable manner, his sin-
cere sympathy with the unfortunate and
bereaved, and his prompt and careful at-
tention to every detail gained him great
popularity, and he continued to prosper
until his death, which occurred January
10, 1908.
Mr. Kipp was ever anxious to aid in
the development and progress of the com-
munity and in promoting not only its
business interests but its moral and social
betterment and the general welfare of
humanity. For three years he served as
a member of the board of trustees of the
village, and gave to the public business
the same careful attention and honest
effort which characterized the conduct of
his private affairs. He was interested in
the Ossining National Bank, of which he
was for some time vice-president, and
was a member of the Point Sennasqua
Rod and Reel Club of Ossining. With
his family he was affiliated with the
Methodist Episcopal Church of Ossining,
and was ever a promoter and supporter of
all efforts of this body toward the emanci-
pation of humanity from sorrow and deg-
radation. His influence lent a mighty
power to the work of the church, and his
departure to a better home on high was
very widely and sincerely mourned. In
him the youth about him found a most
worthy example for emulation, and his
noble life and worthy efforts contributed
r 35
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
to the advancement and moral progress
of many who knew him.
He was married, October 8, 1873, in
Sing Sing, to Alice Sophia Hapgood,
daughter of Thomas Emerson and Nancy
Sophia (Brigham.) Hapgood, of that city,
descendants of an old New England fam-
ily and among the most useful and ex-
emplary citizens of Ossining. Mr. and
Mrs. Kipp were the parents of a son and
daughter: Howard Hapgood, born Feb-
ruary 16, 1877; and Dorothy Grace, born
June 19, 1892. Together with their mother,
they cherish in loving remembrance the
virtues and many admirable qualities of a
most devoted husband and kind father.
SCULLY, Michael Patrick,
A Leader Among Men.
Yonkers, like most American cities, is
rich in self-made men, many of them of
foreign birth, but good, loyal citizens,
nevertheless. Among these must be num-
bered the late Michael Patrick Scully,
proprietor of a popular cafe and the pos-
sessor of much political influence. Mr.
Scully's career, brief though it was, was
exceptionally notable and gave much
promise for the future.
Michael Patrick Scully was born in Ire-
land, that land of beauty, wit and valor,
which has given to the United States
some of her most useful and influential
citizens. It was in the country of his
birth that Michael Patrick Scully received
his education, and at the age of sixteen,
filled with the bright anticipations of ad-
venturous youth, he crossed the sea in
quest of fame and fortune. To his adopted
country the young man brought some-
thing more than ambition, being endowed
with the sense and industry necessary for
the attainments of his ends. His first em-
ployment in Yonkers was that of a driver,
and from this humble beginning he ad-
vanced steadily step by step, alert to seize
opportunity and ready to turn it to the
best account. His means accumulated,
his reputation for ability and honesty in-
creased with them and a bright future
opened before him. In the course of time
he became the proprietor of a well known
and very successful cafe.
This progressive and open-minded
young Irishman, while always remaining
a true son of his native land, identified
himself, from the day when he set foot
on American soil, with the life of his
adopted country. In politics, from the
outset, he took the keenest interest, and
in order that he might take part in them
early proceeded to be naturalized. In
1904 he had the gratification of becoming
legally an American citizen and thence-
forth to the close of his life was actively
associated with the work of the Demo-
cratic party. Fitted by nature for leader-
ship, it was not long ere he came into his
own. Followers flocked around him, at-
tracted by his enthusiastic fidelity to what
he believed to be the right cause, and at
the time of his death he had been for five
years the Democratic leader of his ward.
With all his devotion to politics Mr.
Scully was no office-seeker. Strongly
urged to become a candidate for alder-
man he steadily refused. Place and pref-
erment had no attractions for him. Legi-
timate power, domination for worthy
ends, influence over the minds and thus
over the actions of men he dearly loved
and his fellow-citizens were not slow in
according it to him. For a number of
years there was no more popular man in
Yonkers than Michael Patrick Scully.
Emphatically was he a man of large
heart, of warm and generous feelings.
Never could he resist an appeal from the
unhappy and to a story of "hard luck" none
ever knew him to turn a deaf ear. His
cheery countenance, his hearty greeting,
136
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
his cordial voice in welcome or encourage-
ment — all these are still fresh and vivid
in the minds of his hosts of friends.
Among the organizations to which Mr.
Scully belonged were the Benevolent and
Protective Order of Elks, the Moose, the
Eagles and the Ancient Order of Hiber-
nians. He was enrolled in the Liquor
Dealers' Association, and served as treas-
urer of the Hawthorne Pleasure Club of
Yonkers. He was a member of the Roman
Catholic church.
Mr. Scully married Theresa, one of the
eight children of Thomas and Catherine
(Conlon) Keenan, natives of Ireland. In
his own country Mr. Keenan was a farmer
on a large scale. Mr. and Mrs. Scully
were the parents of one child: Theresa
Marie Scully. Mrs. Scully, a woman of
charming personality, was ever the pre-
siding genius of her husband's home and
his true and helpful comrade, sharing and
aiding in the accomplishment of his aspi-
rations and ambitions. Notwithstanding
his convivial tastes, Mr. Scully was a true
lover of home and family. In her widow-
hood Mrs. Scully has become the wise
and capable manager of her husband's
business.
A lover of horses and a fine judge of
their good points, Mr. Scully was also ex-
tremely fond of motoring, and it was in
the enjoyment of this form of recreation
that he met his untimely death. On Oc-
tober 5, 191 5, in an accident to the car in
which he was driving, he suddenly passed
away, at the early age of thirty-four.
Grief for his loss was general and sincere.
All felt that a promising career had been
abruptly and prematurely cut short. What
can be added to a record like this? — the
record of a man of forceful character and
noble nature. The eulogy of Michael Pat-
rick Scully is written in the hearts of his
numberless friends.
WILLS, Charles John,
Representative Citizen.
The talents and abilities of men are as
varied and numerous as their occupations
and there is no line of activity that has
not its great figures who have shown the
rest of the world how best to engage
therein. But though this is so, and, from
an abstract point of view, the world teems
with brilliant men, yet in any given time
or place it is a comparatively small group
of talents that meets with the recognition
of this same world, which is always per-
fectly definite in its preferences and,
while welcoming with ardor the chosen
type rigorously excludes all others from
its favors and its rewards. In one age it
will be courage, in another it may be the
gift of song, one land may value wood-
craft, another religious fervor and so on
up and down the whole gamut of human
gifts and characters. However this may
be it is quite obvious that the particular
quality that this epoch and this people
desire and demand with no uncertain
voice is the grasp of practical affairs, the
insight into material relations that marks
the successful business man, the financier
and the organizer of industries. It is per-
haps equally obvious that of all the civil-
ized peoples of the present it is the German
race that exhibits in the largest number of
its people the highest degree of these par-
ticular traits in demand in the world to-
day. If any illustration of this fact were
needed it might be found in the remark-
able number of men of that race who
occupy leading places in the business
world not only in Europe, but in this
western republic, of the citizenship of
which they make up so large and impor-
tant an element. Typical of the best type
of his successful countrymen was the late
Charles John Wills, of New York City,
whose death there on July 1, 1914, re-
37
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
moved one of the most capable and suc-
cessful of the city's hotel men and a citi-
zen of broad public spirit.
Born March 28, 1869, in Frankfort-on-
the Main, Germany, Mr. Wills passed
four years of his life there, coming to this
country in 1873 and going to the West,
where he remained for a number of years.
He made his home in Minneapolis,
Minnesota, and it was there that he
made his entrance into the business of
hotel management, in which he was so
successful. This entrance was a humble
one and consisted of a position on the
staff of the West Hotel in Minneapolis.
His talent for business affairs, his clever-
ness in grasping detail and his industry
in his work quickly drew upon him, the
favorable regard of his employers, and
he was advanced rapidly to more respon-
sible positions. It was to some extent
due to this early training, which made it
necessary for Mr. Wills to become ac-
quainted with every detail of the business,
that he later was so capable in the posi-
tions that he held, when the management
of some of the greatest hostelries in the
country devolved in a large degree upon
his shoulders. The knowledge that comes
from personal, first-hand experience is the
most sure, and it was this that Mr. Wills
possessed. The skill and capacity dis-
played by Mr. Wills in managing the
West Hotel were not to remain hidden,
and his reputation as a practical man
spread beyond the borders of the western
city, beyond those of the State and
reached as far as the great eastern metrop-
olis, New York. Consequently, it was
not long after the opening of the Holland
House in that city that Mr. Wills was
called thither to take the post of assistant
manager, in which capacity he was a most
able lieutenant of the proprietor, Gustav
Baumann. He remained with this famous
old hotel for thirteen years as assistant
manager and the last two years as man-
ager. At the time of the organization of
the company which projected the great
Biltmore Hotel in New York City, Mr.
Wills became identified with these inter-
ests and did considerable work in their
cause in California for one year before
the actual opening of the hotel in this city.
The latter event took place on December
31, 1913, and Mr. Wills was appointed
manager thereof with the management of
the office force. A few years preceding
his installation in his important post Mr.
Wills had suffered from a severe attack of
typhoid fever and never recovered his
health entirely, this probably being due
to the fact that he resumed hard work be-
fore entirely regaining his strength. A
serious affection of the throat glands fol-
lowed, involving dangerous operations,
and although he afterwards did a great
deal of hard work he never experienced
the same robust health that he had known
prior to his illness. He was not destined
to enjoy the prerogatives or labor at the
tasks of his new office for long, and it was
but a few brief weeks after the hotel's
opening that he was obliged to take a rest
on account of his health. He was never
to return. For a time he travelled in
Georgia, seeking to regain his strength,
and a short time before his death returned
to his home in New York. Mr. Wills was
prominent in social circles in New York.
He was a member of the Minnesota Soci-
ety which is formed entirely of men in the
city who have come from the State of
Minnesota, and he belonged to the Bay
Head Yacht Club. He had a strong taste
for outdoor sports and pastimes in gen-
eral. He attended the All Angels Epis-
copal Church.
On October 17, 1892, Mr. Wills was
united in marriage with Helen Cynthia
Emory, a daughter of William H. and
Ada (Herring) Emory. Mr. Emory was
138
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
a native of Maryland and his wife of
Gouverneur, St. Lawrence county, New
York, while Mrs. Wills was born in Una-
dilla, Otsego county, New York. To Mr.
and Mrs. Wills was born one child, a
daughter, Helen Gertrude. Mrs. Wills
survives her husband and at present
makes her home at No. 321 West Ninety-
fourth street, New York City.
There is always an element of the tragic
in the visit of death when it occurs in
youth or in the prime of life, and this is
but rendered the more acute when the life
that is thus untimely brought to an end is
one in which noteworthy achievement
seems to give promise of an even more
brilliant future. This was certainly the
case in the career of Mr. Wills, whose
powers and faculties were at their prime
when his days were thus abbreviated.
This sketch cannot be more fittingly
closed than by a quotation from a memo-
rial written of him at the time of his
death by a warm personal friend who had
known him ever since his coming to
America in his youth. This tribute ap-
peared in the "National Hotel Reporter"
and read in part as follows:
There was in the case of the late Charles J.
Wills that which proves the inscrutability of the
ways of Providence. Having worked his way up
by sheer force of personal determination, com-
pelling respect for his strict probity and unfail-
ing dependability, he had attained to large meas-
ured facility in his chosen pursuit and was in line
for advancement to one of the most responsible
positions of practical hotel keeping. Then, right
in the prime of vigorous manhood, he was
stricken by the hand of disease and, notwith-
standing he made a long and heroic fight against
its encroachments, was at last compelled to yield
and to graduate into an untried field.
Here follows a brief summary of the
events in Mr. Wills' life after which the
article goes on to say :
Perfect in physical makeup, with no lack of in-
tellectual endowment, Mr. Wills schooled and
disciplined his native faculties, expending them
with energetic loyalty to the interests of his em-
ployer. More than a half decade ago Mr. Willis
underwent a siege of typhoid fever. It is prob-
able that his devotion to duty and his o'er ween-
ing desire for accomplishment tended to his ulti-
mate undoing. Against the cautioning of those
having his best interests at heart, Wills resumed
his work-a-day harness ere he was in full pos-
session of normal strength. Poor Wills never
fully regained his strength, and although he sub-
sequently accomplished an enormous amount of
work, very difficult and trying at times, it is
evident that he kept going, much of the time, on
sheer force of will. But his work here is done;
his terrestrial course is completed. He leaves
an unblemished record, and those called most
keenly to mourn his early taking off possess the
consoling memories of an affectionate husband
and a kind and considerate father. Hoteldom
has suffered the loss of an energetic and re-
sourceful factor of a class of which there are
none too many.
STANBROUGH, Lyman Truman,
Lawyer, Public-spirited Citizen.
Although a graduate in law and duly
admitted to the bar it was not as a lawyer
that Lyman T. Stanbrough was known
and respected, but as a capable, upright
business man who honorably conducted
his own private business and faithfully
administered many important trusts com-
mitted to him. He was a man of genial,
generous nature, very companionable and
neighborly, a fine type of the American
citizen and business man, whom all de-
light to honor. From earliest infancy
until death he was a resident of Owego
and from the termination of his college
years in 1888 had been actively engaged
in business in Owego, a village for which
he felt all the affection of a "native son".
He took an active interest in all that
tended to advance and elevate the com-
munity and whether in business, church,
civic improvement or fraternity bore a
full part. Public spirited and charitable,
he gave largely of his means but ever
139
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
refused all offers of political preferment,
believing he could best serve as a private
citizen ; and in the language of his breth-
ren of the Tioga county bar, in resolu-
tions of respect, "The community has lost
one of its foremost, strongest, most gener-
ous and progressive citizens, whose judg-
ment and advice in matters of public in-
terest and public improvement, were uni-
versally sought and appreciated, and
whose assistance was freely given."
Lyman Truman Stanbrough was born
in Newburgh, New York, January n,
1864, died in Owego, Tioga county, New
York, early Sunday morning, October 19,
1913, at his residence on Front street. He
was the eldest son of John Blake Stan-
brough, Doctor of Dental Surgery, and
business man of Newburgh and Owego,
and his wife, Adeline Truman. At the
time of his birth his father was practicing
dentistry in Newburgh, but the following
May located in Owego where he ended
his days, proprietor of a prosperous hard-
ware and plumbing business. Dr. Stan-
brough died January 20, 1908; his wife,
Adeline (Truman) Stanbrough, is now a
resident of Owego.
Lyman Truman Stanbrough began his
education in Owego Free Academy and
after graduation from that institution
passed to Cornell University. Deciding
upon the profession of law, he studied
under Charles A. Clark, and H. Austin
Clark, of the Tioga County bar, and with
McFarland, Boardman & Piatt, of the
New York City bar, being admitted to
practice in 1887. He then took a course
at Columbia Law School, receiving his
degree of LL. B. class of "88". During
his student years he received appointment
to a cadetship in the United States Mili-
tary Academy at West Point, but resigned
the honor before matriculation.
Although learned in the law and duly
qualified Mr. Stanbrough never practiced
actively, but as counsel and executor of
large estates, his legal learning was of
the greatest value to him and the interests
he represented. After his father's death
he conducted the hardware and plumbing
business for the benefit of the J. B. Stan-
brough estate, during the course of his
career settled several large estates, was
executor and trustee of the Lyman Tru-
man (his maternal grandfather) estate,
until his death, and completed his legal
life work in effecting the reorganization
of the Champion Wagon Company, In-
corporated, of which he was vice-presi-
dent. His broad knowledge of the law,
his high sense of honor, and his strict
integrity, would have placed him in the
front rank at the bar, had he used his
talents and gifts in general practice, but
even in his limited professional associa-
tion with his brethren of the bar they
learned fully to appreciate him most
highly.
Public spirited and generous he gave
freely to church, charity and village. One
of his gifts made in conjunction with his
aunt, Mrs. Emily Gere, was the complete
outfitting of Defiance Hook and Ladder
Company, with new uniforms. He was a
vestryman of St. Paul's Protestant Epis-
copal Church, an office to which he was
elected to succeed his honored father. He
consented to serve the village as super-
visor from 1896 to 1900 and in the man-
agement of public affairs as well as in his
private business he demonstrated his busi-
ness ability and efficiency.
He entered into close relations with his
townsmen in the various fraternal orders
and other organizations, belonging to
Ahwaga Lodge, No. 587, Free and Ac-
cepted Masons ; Jerusalem Chapter, No.
47, Royal Arch Masons ; Sa-sa-na Loft
Tribe, Imperial Order of Red Men ; De-
fiance Hook and Ladder Company, of the
Owego Fire Department ; and was at one
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
time trustee of the local lodge of Elks.
His out-of-town club was the New York
Athletic, his college fraternity Kappa Al-
pha, of Cornell University.
He had been for years a member of the
board of directors of the First National
Bank of Owego, and in that body, as well
as in the vestry of St. Paul's, his views,
opinions and propositions were listened
to with respect, his sound judgment as
well as his legally trained, acute mind
rendering him a wise counselor as well
as a safe leader. He rests in Evergreen
Cemetery, remembered as the kindly,
genial friend, the public spirited citizen,
the loving son, husband and father.
Mr. Stanbrough married, January 27,
1904, Jane Barton, daughter of George W.
and Mary (Watson) Barton, who sur-
vives him with one daughter, Margaret.
GATES, John Warne,
Manufacturer, Man of Affairs.
With the period in which American in-
dustries expanded most rapidly, the name
and fame of John W. Gates are insepara-
bly associated. He wasn't a product of
the time ; he was one of the compelling
forces that created new conditions. No
captain of industry had a stronger person-
ality. In many respects he was selfmade
But his Americanism, his shrewdness, his
generosity, his grit, he inherited. He
came from a family that wasn't afraid.
For nine generations in America the
Gates family persevered, despite adver-
sity. Stephen Gates, who came from
England to Massachusetts on the good
ship "Diligent" and settled in Hingham
in 1638, could trace his ancestry back
ten generations to Thomas Gates, the
sturdy squire of Higheaster and Thur-
steubie. The grandson of this Thomas
Gates was Sir Geoffrey Gates, a knight
much celebrated in his day. Sir Geoffrey's
grandson was another Geoffrey, famed as
a warrior. To the two Sir Geoffreys were
attached the chiefest titles ornamenting
the Gates family tree. Yet from Thomas
Gates onward, the Gates family in Eng-
land, in each succeeding generation, was
represented by men of substance and
standing, men who championed their own
opinions.
Tenth in descent from Thomas Gates,
the squire of Higheaster, a man worthy of
note in 1323, Stephen Gates, the founder
of the Gates family in America, receives
mention in the early history of Massachu-
setts chiefly because of his force of char-
acter.
From Stephen Gates, who first settled
at Hingham, Massachusetts, in 1638, to
John Warne Gates, who was born in Tur-
ner Junction, now West Chicago, Illinois,
on May 18, 1855, the story of the Gates
family is like unto the annals of other
pioneers. They migrated always west-
ward not proceeding great distances, yet
each generation generaly lived very near
the edge of civilization. As wilderness
after wilderness was penetrated to be con-
quered, a succeeding Gates family was
with the vanguard.
From Massachusetts Bay over the Blue
Hills of Connecticut and from thence
eventually to Otsego county, New York,
the Gates family progressed. Warham
Gates, born and raised in Otsego, moved
to Ohio so soon as he attained manhood.
At Parkham, Ohio, his son, Ansel Avery
Gates, first saw the light. True to family
tradition when he was grown, Ansel
Avery went West to assist in subduing
the wild country. Locating at the edge
of the "big woods" in North Central Illi-
nois, he confronted the difficulties that
beset a farmer in a new region.
Ansel Avery Gates married into a
family of American antecedents almost
equal to his own. He wedded Mary
141
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
Warne, the descendant of Thomas Warne
who, arriving in America in 1682, was one
of the twenty-four proprietors of the
Eastern Division of New Jersey. Thomas
Warne, the New Jersey proprietor, though
coming from Dublin, could count among
his ancestors many noblemen and others
that performed important service for Eng-
land in the battle of Agincourt and else-
where, inasmuch as the written genealogy
of the Warnes begins with a bold-hearted
hero who was made sheriff of Shropshire
in 1066.
Mary Warne, who had a twin sister
named Susan, was born in Warren county,
New Jersey, on March 22, 1826. Through
life she was distinguished for piety, kind-
ness, and good deeds. Particularly, with
the utmost truth, it could be said of her
that she was all that a wife and mother
should be. Members of the Gates family
were bound together by ties of unusual
affection. The wife of Ansel Avery Gates
was best known as the mother of John
W. Gates. The magnificent hospital at
Port Arthur, Texas, which he richly en-
dowed is her enduring memorial.
Ansel Avery Gates had four sons; the
eldest, George W., was a volunteer in the
Union army during the Civil War and
gave his life for his country before he
attained the age of twenty ; the next two,
Gilford and Gilbert W., were twins. Gil-
ford died in infancy ; Gilbert W., at the
age of nineteen, met a more tragic fate.
Adventurous, self-reliant, keen to do busi-
ness, Gilbert W. Gates had gone to Kan-
sas. Returning, he had for a traveling
companion an older man named Alex-
ander Jester. To secure the team, wagon,
goods and what money the young man
had, Jester murdered Gates. Caught, tried,
convicted and sentenced to be hung, Jes-
ter managed to escape from the prison in
Missouri where he was confined. For
more than thirty years he remained at
liberty. Eventually he was met by his
sister who recognized him, denounced
him as a murderer and caused his arrest.
Retried for the murder of Gilbert W.
Gates, he again escaped punishment; this
time because Jester was eighty-one years
old, the jury allowed him the benefit of a
possible doubt as to his identity.
Youngest of the sons of Ansel Avery
Gates, John W., was destined to be the
most important, best known member of
the Gates family. At Turner Junction,
where his boyhood days were passed and
where he went to the public school, he
first attracted attention as a diligent
youth ; at the Naperville Academy he
made excellent progress in his studies,
and always he was commended as a duti-
ful son. Even at the age when most boys
are described as thoughtless, he was busi-
ness-like, purposeful. He arrived at ma-
turity early. Before he was nineteen, he
not only had engaged in business for him-
self, but also he had courted and married
Dellora Roxana, daughter of Edward and
Martha E. Baker. In the selection of a
life partner he was wise and fortunate.
He realized it. In choosing associates,
not many have been more discerning than
John W. Gates. Nor did he ever forget
to make adequate return for assistance
rendered at any time during his eventful
career.
Gifted with ability to see ahead, willing
to take risks because he trusted his own
judgment, a worker, a strategist, a finan-
cier, John W. Gates outclimbed others to
the heights of success, chiefly because he
had the larger vision and the greater cour-
age. He showed how competent he could
be, while he was yet a boy. Money,
earned by performing laborious tasks on
neighboring farms, enabled him to buy a
half interest in a threshing outfit. Suc-
cessful in his first investment, he quickly
availed himself of the next opportunity.
[42
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
At the age of eighteen, he sold his interest
in the threshing machine and bought a
small hardware business at Turner Junc-
tion. The shrewd young store-keeper,
brought in contact with barbed wire, at
once saw possibilities that others then
failed to see. Acquaintance with Isaac L.
Ellwood, who, with Joseph F. Glidden,
had just begun to manufacture barbed
wire presented a chance that John W.
Gates eagerly grasped. Realizing almost
before anyone else did how useful barbed
wire fencing would be to the cattlemen of
the West and Southwest, he traveled
through the country introducing and sell-
ing the new fence material.
Success, such as he achieved as a sales-
man would have satisfied most men. But
he wasn't content to be a salesman,
merely. The manufacturing end of the
barbed wire business now appealed to
him. He commenced to make barbed
wire in St. Louis and made good from the
very outset. He progressed so prosper-
ously that, in a short time, a consolidation
was effected with Clifford & Edenborn
and the big plant resulting was known as
the St. Louis Wire Mill. One big factory,
however busy, failed to keep him oc-
cupied. He bought and built more wire
mills. These properties and their acces-
sories were comprised in the Consolidated
Steel & Wire Company. Previously re-
stricted to the manufacture of barbed
wire he enlarged his enterprises and in-
cluded in the industries he and his associ-
ates controlled all kinds of wire and wire
products. The merger of these great in-
terests became the American Steel and
Wire Company. Mr. Gates was chairman
of the executive committee of the Ameri-
can Steel & Wire Company. When the
company that controlled the bulk of
American wire production was acquired
by the United States Steel Corporation, Mr.
Gates exchanged many of his steel secur-
ities for cash and employed his money
elsewhere. As a special partner in his
son's banking and commission house
(Harris, Gates & Company, 1902-04, and
Charles G. Gates & Company, 1904-07,
called the "House of Twelve Partners")
he was regarded as one of the most power-
ful men who contended for the mastery of
the stock market. Those that heretofore
had been supreme, couldn't intimidate
him. He fought financial battles success-
fully with the best of them. His ability
as a speculator and his command of mil-
lions prevented him from ever being over-
come. One exploit of his that Wall street
never will forget, was the coup by which
he obtained control of the Louisville &
Nashville Railroad in 1902. Yet withal
his great achievements were constructive
rather than speculative. He was the
prime mover in the organization of the
United States Realty and Improvement
Company. The assistance of Mr. Gates
made possible the construction of the
Plaza Hotel and the great Hippodrome,
New York's most capacious and spectacu-
lar playhouse. He organized the Texas
Company and created in the petroleum
districts of the Southwest a competing
company able to withstand Standard Oil.
Interested in the Kansas City Southern
Railroad, he studied the development of
Southeastern Texas. He was instrumen-
tal in having Port Arthur made a port of
entry. His representations, despite the
fiercest opposition, brought about the im-
provement of the harbor and other water-
ways adjacent to Port Arthur. He rein-
vested millions in the Tennessee Coal
Iron and Railroad Company and in the
Republic Iron & Steel Company, two con-
cerns that were strong competitors of the
Steel Trust. He sold his holdings in
Tennessee Coal & Iron when that big
company was purchased by the United
States Steel Corporation. His interest in
Republic Iron & Steel he held firmly until
his death. Stricken with a complication
43
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
of ailments, in Paris, where he had gone
for his annual vacation, Mr. Gates died on
August 9, 191 1.
Judged according to his achievements
and character, John W. Gates was one of
the great men produced in an epoch of
millionairs. Few of his contemporaries
had his breadth of view. Independent,
strong, quick to act, audacious, tenacious,
generous, he never feared to meet a
mighty opponent nor sought to crush the
weak. When he first became prosperous,
his first thought was to make suitable
provision for the comfort of his parents.
At St. Charles, Illinois, he erected for
them a beautiful home, supplied with
every luxury they might desire.
His affection for his brother, Gilbert
W., caused him to have the search for
Alexander Jester persistently continued
for over thirty years. For his only son,
Charles Gilbert, he entertained great
hopes and some of his hardest financial
battles were fought to ensure the young
man's prestige. His virtues were of a
rugged order, his charities, large, numer-
ous and unadvertised. Of his many benefi-
cences, only two were accorded publicity
with the consent of Mr. Gates. They
were the Port Arthur College and the
Mary Gates Hospital founded in memory
of his mother. Politically, Mr. Gates
was always affiliated with the Republi-
can party; his church connections were
Methodist; the clubs to which he be-
longed were: Lawyer's Club, Railroad
Club of New York, Auto Club of America,
Chicago Athletic Association, Whitehall
Club, Whist Club, Tolleston Club of Chi-
cago, The Chicago Club, Manhattan Club,
New York Club, Boston Club of New
Orleans, Atlantic Yacht Club, Country
Club of Westchester County, Columbia
Yacht Club, Calumet Club, Chicago,
Coney Island Jockey Club, Brooklyn
Jockey Club.
NEARING, Lucius Alexander,
Eminent Dentist.
Although a man nearing life's prime
when he located in Syracuse, Dr. Nearing
practiced his profession in that city for
nearly half a century of his eighty-five
years. He came of a long lived race, his
father living to be eighty-four, his brother
and sisters also living to advanced ages.
His early life was spent on the home farm
at Pompey Hill, but he found he pos-
sessed a natural aptitude for working
with tools and abandoned the farm for a
trade, then from a trade advanced to a
profession. His magnificent constitution
and invariable good health which carried
him far into the ranks of octegenarians
he attributed to the years spent in out-of-
door work on the farm, and in the build-
ing operations with which he was con-
nected. He was deeply interested in the
welfare of his adopted city, ranked high
in his profession, was honorable and loyal
in his citizenship and was held in high
esteem in his community. The Nearings
came to Onondaga county, New York,
from Connecticut, Dr. Nearing's father
coming in 1800, and locating with his
brother on a two hundred acre tract at
Pompey Hill, which they personally
cleared of timber and brought under cul-
tivation.
Lucius Alexander Nearing was born at
Pompey, Onondaga county, New York,
December 10, 1824, died in Syracuse, New
York, April 6, 1910. He attended the
public schools in winter months, but from
an early age worked as his father's farm
assistant until attaining his majority. He
was a natural mechanic and fond of work-
ing with most any kind of tools. As soon
as he was legally free from parental re-
straint he abandoned farm work and
learned the carpenter's trade with a
Pompey builder. He worked for several
VU^^JLm^AI^J^
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
years at this trade during the summer
months, becoming a skilled workman and
eventually a contractor and builder. Dur-
ing the winter months, when outside
building operations were discontinued, he
worked at cabinet and joiner work with
Mr. Morley, the village undertaker and
cabinet maker. In 185 1 he married and
moved to Rochester, New York, there
entering the employ of C. J. Hayden,
cabinet maker and furniture dealer and
mayor of Rochester, who was a brother of
Dr. Nearing's wife.
He did not long continue at his trade
in Rochester for after deciding he was
better qualified for other things he deter-
mined to become a dentist. He studied
with Dr. A. J. Morgan, of Rochester, and
after attaining a sufficient degree of pro-
ficiency returned to Pompey and began
practicing dentistry among his old friends.
He continued in Pompey until 1863, when
he decided his skill and knowledge could
be employed to better advantage in a
larger place. He selected Syracuse as a
location, rented and fitted up offices and
in 1863 began practice. He won public
favor and for forty-seven years continu-
ously practiced his profession in that city.
He enjoyed perfect health, and in full
possession of all his faculties he min-
istered to the needs of his clientele until
his last illness, three weeks prior to his
death. For several years his son, Dr.
George Edward Nearing, had been asso-
ciated with him in practice. His half a
century in the dental profession began
when dentistry was hardly regarded as a
profession, the medical profession doing
extracting and little other dental work be-
ing attempted outside of the great cities.
Dr. Nearing's natural deftness with tools
made him easily master of the dentist's
instruments and as the demand for better
dental work spread, the mechanical part
of his profession was quickly acquired.
He grew with the years, kept pace with
N Y-Vol III— 10 I
all dental advance and was always in the
van of professional progress.
Dr. Nearing was one of the founders of
Central Church Disciples of Christ and for
many years was one of its honored elders.
He met every demand made upon him
as a professional man, citizen, or neigh-
bor, and held the unvarying respect of all
who knew him. He devoted himself
closely to his profession, mingling little
in political affairs, but was deeply in-
terested in all public questions and keenly
alive to his responsibilities as a citizen.
Dr. Nearing married, in 185 1, Mary A.
Hayden, sister of Mr. Hayden, for many
years a leading furniture dealer of Syra-
cuse. He left two children : George Ed-
ward Nearing, D. D. S., associated with
his father in practice and his successor,
and a daughter, Mrs. Jennie E. Mosher.
Mrs. Nearing survived her husband but a
short time, her death occurring October
24, 191 1, aged eighty-four years.
SMITH, Franklin,
Journalist and Editorial 'Writer.
For many years a worker in the jour-
nalistic field and an editorial writer of
national fame, the late Franklin Smith,
of Rochester, was above and beyond the
general conception of a journalist. From
early manhood he was a deep student of
economics and sociology and the strongest
of American writers on these subjects, his
articles being eagerly sought for by the
leading reviews, many of them also ap-
pearing in pamphlet form. In his early
career he became a devoted student of
Herbert Spencer, and he was soon one of
the most intelligent and lucid expounders
of Mr. Spencer's philosophy. But he was
an evolutionist of the advanced school
and scorned the misinterpretation of his
master which made brutality the main
element in development and left the al-
truistic forces out of account. In a re-
45
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
view of "First Principles." some two
years prior to his death, Mr. Smith gave
a popular exposition of what evolution
really is. In an autograph letter to him,
the aged and distinguished philosopher
pronounced it the best popular exposition
of the principles of evolution that had
appeared in the press of England or
America since the first publication of his
works, half a century ago.
The most striking thing about Mr.
Smith was the intensity of his individual-
ity. He was an advocate of "individual-
ism in philosophy" and his overmastering
impulse was loyalty to his mission as a
man. He felt that he was put on earth
to think out great problems conscienti-
ously, make his thought known, act on
it, and abide by what he conceived to be
the truth, no matter how the current of
popular opinion ran. He believed his
personality to be in the nature of a divine
trust, not to be betrayed by surrender to
mere conventionalities, but to be asserted
as an influence in the life about him. No
man took more to heart any tendency in
society or the nation toward what he be-
lieved folly or wrong. Public evil touched
him as it touches few men. As a jour-
nalist his inclination was toward that
school that sets opinions above news and
that considers it the mission of the news-
paper to instruct rather than to amuse.
He studied a great theme carefully and he
sought to lead rather than to follow the
impulses of a community. He was a man
of high ideals, and of a serious cast of
mind, although there were many flashes
of humor in his conversation. He re-
spected the opinions of others and in his
discussions sought truth not controversy.
The welfare of his fellow-men was ever
nearest his heart, and through education
and moral training he ceaselessly strove
for the uplift of humanity.
He believed in the practical application
of the Golden Rule. Strict integrity,
146
absolute fairness and unselfishness were
to him simple and common-place rules of
conduct, whether of the individual or the
nation. His political system had for its
basis the maxim that the least possible
government is the best possible govern-
ment ; he believed that the more the fol-
lowers of industrial pursuits were left to
themselves the more they contributed to
the welfare of their fellows. The chief,
if not the only functions of government,
were the preservation of order and en-
forcement of justice. He believed that
benefit to the individual should be in pro-
portion to individual merit. He insisted,
therefore, that every man should have a
free field for his activities, and that the
government should not interfere with this
principle by conferring special favors
upon anyone. It pained him to see the
strong and powerful commit aggressions
upon the weak and helpless. Against
such aggressions he waged a relentless
war during his entire life. His supreme
faith in humanity led him to appeal to
the better natures of his readers and
hearers, and he hopefully looked forward
to the time when war should be no more
and mankind should dwell together in
peace, all energies being devoted, not to
the destruction but to the upbuilding of
the entire race. His cheerful confidence
in the ultimate triumph of all that was
good was a constant inspiration. In his
private life he was kind, loyal, lovable,
tender-hearted, and honest-minded, a
sincere friend of humanity, a real lover
and benefactor of the race, and modestly,
devotedly, conscientiously, he spent his
entire life usefully in behalf of his fellow-
men.
Franklin Smith was born in South
Granville, Washington county, New York,
October 3, 1853, the son of Pascal C. and
Ann P. Smith, and was a grandson of Dr.
Horace Smith, who practiced medicine
during the middle of the last century for
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
nearly fifty years in South Granville and
the neighboring country. Franklin Smith
obtained his early education in the dis-
trict school of South Granville, the Union
school in West Pawlet and the academy
at Poultney, Vermont. Before he was
ten years of age he discovered in his
grandfather's library an edition of Rol-
lin's "History of Greece" that he devoured
with avidity. From that time he became
an indefatigable reader and student of
history, political economy, sociology and
philosophy. Until the age of sixteen years
he worked upon a farm in the summer
and attended school in the winter. In the
summer of 1871, while at work in South
Granville, he conceived the idea of attend-
ing Cornell University at Ithaca, New
York, and through the assistance of
friends, Mr. Ezra Bullock and Mr. John
Baker, he went to Ithaca in September of
that year, and entered the university in
the class of 1875. ^ n order to obtain the
money for his college course, he worked
upon the university farm the first year,
and the two succeeding years he worked
in the university printing office, having
previously learned the art of setting type
in Granville. While at college he devoted
as many hours as possible aside from his
regular studies and work to reading in
the university library. During his senior
year he became the secretary of President
White, a position he occupied until he
graduated, and during that time he de-
veloped a taste for literary work, in which
in later years he so distinguished himself.
Also during his senior year he did a large
amount of special work, and was awarded
a prize for an essay that he prepared on
"The Vernacular Literature of the Middle
Ages in its Relation to Romanism." Al-
though poorly prepared when he entered
the university, handicapped by the lack of
funds, and compelled as he was to main-
tain himself by his own exertions, he was
graduated with high honors. He was
chosen as one of the commencement ora-
tors, the subject of his oration being
"Rousseau as a Philosopher of the French
Revolution." He had the novel distinc-
tion of having expended the least amount
for his college course of any member of
his class. He then threw himself into
literary work with all the energy and
perseverance he possessed, and to his
wonderful energy and indomitable per-
severance was due his rapid and perma-
nent advancement in the field of journal-
ism. The helpful mind of President White
stimulated his researches and in the
latter's private library many were the
hours of delightful reading and conversa-
tion by master and pupil. The friendship
thus founded ever endured.
After his graduation from Cornell, Mr.
Smith went to Rochester, New York, and
became a reporter on the "Democrat and
Chronicle," and shortly afterward was
promoted to the position of night editor
and then associate editor. For ten years
he remained with that paper, writing
editorials that challenged the attention
not only of the Rochester community
but also of the press throughout the
country, much of his work being attrib-
uted to the editor-in-chief of that paper.
In 1886 he became the first editor-in-chief
of the "Cosmopolitan Magazine," and re-
mained with it until the change in owner-
ship two years later. He then became
one of the editorial writers on the New
York "Evening Post," and remained
there several years, and in 1892 returned
to Rochester to accept the managing
editorship of the "Union and Advertiser."
He remained in that city from that time
until his death, being connected as editor
with the Rochester "Herald" and "Post-
Express." As a writer, he may have had
many equals, but he surely had few
superiors. His sentences were never in-
volved ; they were short, crisp and in-
cisive. The editorials that he prepared
47
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
from day to day were well considered,
and were written with the utmost care
and precision. During this period he
wrote a vast amount touching upon cur-
rent events, and upon political, financial,
economic and sociological questions. For
a number of years prior to his death he
wrote for a number of monthly maga-
zines, and among his essays, many of
which were published in the "Popular
Science Monthly," are the following: "A
Fiction of Political Metaphysics;" "An
Object Lesson in Social Reform;" "The
Despotism of Democracy;" "The Real
Problems of Democracy;" "Signs of De-
cadence in the United States ;" "An Apos-
tate Democracy;" "A State Official on
Excessive Taxation ;" "Reversions in
Modern Industrial Life;" "Politics as a
Form of Civil War;" and "Peace as a
Factor in Social and Political Reform."
These essays are models of a clear, accur-
ate, and vigorous literary style. He was
himself his most severe critic, and his
published articles, therefore, did not
reach the press until they had undergone,
at his hands, a most painstaking revision.
Mr. Smith intended to publish his essays
in book form, but the work was inter-
rupted by his untimely death. Singular
as it may seem Mr. Smith developed no
marked taste or aptitude for literary
work until his senior year in college. His
early ambition was to study medicine.
His grandfather and an uncle on his
father's side had been physicians, and it
seemed to him that by heredity and
natural tastes, he was adapted to per-
petuate that profession in his family.
But circumstances prevented the realiza-
tion of this ambition.
Mr. Smith possessed a striking and
attractive personality. He impressed one
as a profound student and scholar. His
presence commanded attention in any
assemblage of men, and he made friends
wherever he went, who became firmly
attached to him by reason of his strong
personality, and his kind, generous and
sympathetic disposition. He was a
most entertaining conversationalist, pos-
sessing a vast fund of information that
he had acquired in his newspaper work
and by constant and careful reading and
investigation. But what was of more
importance, he had thoroughly digested
all the information that he had thus
acquired. He was slow in reaching con-
clusions, and reached them only after
thorough investigation and profound
thought; he was at all times prepared to
defend the opinions that he had thus
formed against the attacks of anyone.
Nevertheless, he had great respect for the
opinions of others, but he insisted that
those opinions should be based upon
something that appealed to reason.
Mr. Smith married, in 1884, Emma E.
Home, of Rochester, a woman of marked
ability, who survives him. Mr. Smith
died at his home in Rochester, Novem-
ber 5, 1903. His work was well done
and unselfish. His reputation was un-
tarnished. He died highly respected and
esteemed by all who knew him, and his
friends missed his personality and his
master mind. The community in which
he lived and made his influence for good
felt sustained an irreparable loss. What
better tribute can a man have, and what
better record can he leave behind?
PARKER, Charles Edward, LL. D.,
Lawyer. Eminent Jurist.
There are but few members of the
present New York bar who practiced be-
fore Judge John Mason Parker and but
few who have not practiced before his
son, Judge Charles Edward Parker.
There were many points of similarity in
the careers of these two illustrious sons of
the Empire State. Both achieved great
fame as able jurists; both were justices
148
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
of the Supreme Court of the State of New
York; both had long experiences as trial
and law judges ; both had fine legal minds
stored with a wealth of legal knowledge
and both were devoted to the scrupulous
discharge of their exalted duties. The
elder Parker sat on the bench of the Su-
preme Court for a period of sixteen years,
six of which he was a justice of the gen-
eral term of the Supreme Court, a position
practically identified with that held by his
son, except that the latter had been the
presiding judge of the Appellate Court.
Judge John Mason Parker died in 1873,
aged sixty-eight years, being a justice of
the general term at the time of his death.
He was a member of the Chemung county
bar for several years, and from 1858 until
1859 represented his district in Congress.
In the fall of 1859 he was elected a justice
of the Supreme Court and after several
years on the circuit was designated by
Governor Hoffman a justice of the gen-
eral term. He served for six years on the
appeal bench, until his death.
Charles Edward Parker, the son, for
nearly a score of years was a justice of
the Supreme Court of New York and for
more than half of that time the presiding
justice of the Appellate division, third
department. He reached the constitu-
tional age limit of seventy years, and in
1906 retired, leaving the bench with a
record as a jurist unsurpassed for judg-
ment, fairness and legal learning. He
retired to his beautiful home in Owego
enjoying the confidence and respect of
his associates on the bench, his brethren
of the bar, and of litigants whose cases
he heard. The farewell proceedings at
Albany exemplified the affection and
honor in which he was held by his breth-
ren of the bench. At that time the
judges of the Appellate division paid him
affectionate and well deserved tribute and
all hearts were touched at the official
parting. A former member of the court,
Justice D. Cady Herrick, acted as spokes-
man for the judiciary, and David Bennett
Hill, ex-governor, ex-United States Sen-
ator and sage, expressed to the retiring
judge his high estimate of his eminence
at the bar and on the bench. Governor
Hill's speech was a gracious and graceful
tribute from one of the State's greatest
men to a wise and upright judge, before
whom he had practiced as a lawyer.
Three years after his retirement, Judge
Parker closed his earthly career full of
years and honor.
Charles Edward Parker was born in
Owego, New York, August 25, 1836, and
after a long and eminent service as lawyer
and jurist died in the city of his birth,
March 2, 1909. He was the son of John
Mason Parker, congressman and jurist.
He prepared at Owego Academy, then
entered Hobart College, whence he was
graduated, Bachelor of Arts, class of
1857. At Hobart he affiliated with Alpha
Delta Phi and throughout his long life
cherished a high regard for that frater-
nity. It was also Hobart, his well-beloved
alma mater, that, forty-three years later,
in 1900, conferred upon him the degree of
Doctor of Laws.
After graduation he began the study of
law under the direction of his honored
father, then a member of Congress, but
a practitioner at the Tioga county bar,
later a justice of the Supreme Court of
the United States. In 1858 he was admit-
ted to the Tioga county bar and quickly
forged to the front as an able lawyer and
advocate. He gained the confidence of
the public as well and in 1867 was chosen
a member of the New York Constitu-
tional Convention and with one exception
was the youngest member of that body.
He continued in successful practice until
1883, then forever retired from the ranks
of practicing lawyers to don judicial
ermine. He was elected judge of Tioga
county in 1883, but was not allowed to
149
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
serve out his term as on November 8,
1887, he was chosen by the voters of his
State to the high office of Supreme Court
Judge. His first years on the Supreme
Bench were devoted to circuit work, but
on the creation of the Appellate division
of the Supreme Court under the consti-
tution of 1895, he became a member of
that body, Third Judicial Department,
and its presiding justice. The Appellate
Court consists of five members of the
Supreme Court and in dignity and im-
portance ranks next to the State Court of
Appeals. He continued on the Supreme
Bench until December, 1906, then, in the
fullness of his intellectual power, but
physically on the wane, retired having
reached the constitutional limit of age.
The remaining three years were spent at
Owego, amid the scenes of his youth and
earlier legal triumphs, well preserved in
all but power of walking. He was held
in high esteem by his townsmen as friend
and neighbor, while his death was mourn-
ed by an entire State. Letters of con-
dolence came from men of eminence from
all parts of the State, the press without
an exception vieing in their expressions
of respect for the dead jurist. His funeral
was attended by men of high official and
professional positions and by a large con-
course of citizens.
Judge Parker married, in 1865, Mary,
daughter of Judge Thomas Farrington,
of Owego.
RUSSELL, Archimedes,
Expert Architect.
Archimedes Russell, architect, late of
Syracuse, New York, was not a man who
led an exalted or pretentious life, but one
which was true to itself and its pos-
sibilities, and one to which the biographer
may revert with respect and satisfaction.
He was a man of strong intellectual force
and mature judgment, of absolute integ-
rity and high motives, and was strong in
his support of the ethics of his profession.
Secure in his own ability, he was inclined
to assist rather than to retard the prog-
ress of his competitors. Kind of heart
and of a cheerful disposition, he was also
firm and fearless in his defence of the
right at all times, and would never lend
himself to anything that in his opinion
would not bear the light, dealing fairly
with both clients and contractors. These
noble qualities he inherited from an hon-
ored ancestry.
The name of Russell is compounded
of two Norman and French words — Roz,
meaning castle, and El, a synonym for
Eau, meaning water. The name was first
given to a castle in Lower Normandy in
1045, ar, d implied a tower or castle by
the water. Hugh, son of William Bert-
rand, was invested with this stronghold
and took its name, calling himself Hugh
Rozel, from which came Rosel, Rousel,
and the present orthography. The Bert-
rand ancestry is traceable as far back as
the seventh century, to the Norwegian
Zarls, to Rerick, the first King of Nor-
mandy, down through King Harold, who
reigned there in 885. William Bertrand
and his sons — Roger, Hugh, Theobold
and Richard — accompanied William on
his first expedition to England, and re-
ceived large grants of the public domain
confiscated from the subjugated Saxons.
They were the founders of the English
Russells. John Russel, who lived in the
sixteenth century, was of this descent, a
son of James, in the west of England.
He rose in favor with Henry VIII., held
many offices, and was one of Henry's
executors. Upon the accession of Ed-
ward VI. he continued near to the throne,
and distinguished himself at St. Mary's
Cyst, and was created Earl of Bedford.
The fourth Earl of Bedford was a
Georgian statesman, and Lord John Rus-
sell was Premier of England in 1846 and
150
CMf(lAi^Lt^^^cL^j d\U^t-<^l_.
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
again in 1865. William H. Russell, the
famed war correspondent, known as
"Bull Run" Russell, is another of the
name and lineage. In this country we
have had the Hon. John E. Russell and
William A. Russell, Massachusetts con-
gressmen, and Governor William E. Rus-
sell. The armorial bearings of the Rus-
sells was : Crest : A demi lion, rampant,
collared sable, studded or, holding a cross
of the shield.
Moody Russell, father of Archimedes
Russell, was born in Alfred, Maine, Sep-
tember 1, 1808, and died in Andover, Mas-
sachusetts, in 1904. His ancestors were
members of the Plymouth Colony, Mas-
sachusetts, and the greater part of his
life was spent in Andover, where he was
a noted contractor and builder. He mar-
ried Fannie Wardwell, also a descendant
of members of the Plymouth Colony, who
was born in Andover, Massachusetts, No-
vember 5, 1802, and died October 22, 1892.
Archimedes Russell was born in An-
dover, Massachusetts, June 13, 1840, and
died in his beautiful home, No. 617 Gene-
see street, Syracuse, New York, Aprii 3,
1915. He acquired his education in the
public schools of his native town, and at
the early age of thirteen years was ap-
prenticed to Charles S. Parker, a carriage
and sign painter, and was thus occupied
for a period of two years, after which he
again attended the schools of his native
town, and also assisted his father in the
extensive building and contracting busi-
ness he controlled. He had almost attain-
ed his majority when he entered the office
of John Stevens, a well known architect
of Boston, and remained with him two
years. December 4, 1862, he came to
Syracuse, and from that time until his
death he was identified with the interests
of that city. He became associated with
Horatio N. White, an architect, in whose
employ he remained until he established
himself in the practice of his profession
independently, January 1, 1868, and prac-
ticed it alone until January 1, 1906, when
he formed a partnership with Melvin L.
King which continued until his death.
His talent as an able and gifted architect,
of rarely original ideas was undisputed,
and earned much commendation far and
wide. Among the numerous buildings he
designed some of the most notable are
as follows: Onondaga County Clerk's,
Onondaga County Court House, and
Snow and Greyhound buildings ; Con-
gress Hall ; Church of Assumption School
House, of Providence ; Crouse Memorial
College ; Third National Bank ; Crouse
Stable ; dwellings for Jacob Amos, H. S.
White, Dr. G. D. Whedon, J. S. Crouse,
L. D. Denison, and many others in Syra-
cuse ; the Sibley and McGraw buildings
of Cornell University ; Presbyterian
church and D. H. Burrell residence, at
Little Falls ; Warren Miller mansion and
Herkimer Second National Bank, at
Oswego ; Otsego County Court House ;
Cortland House, at Cortland; and others
innumerable. From 1881 to 1885 he
served as a fire commissioner, and was
president of the Board of Fire Commis-
sioners, 1884-85. He served as supervisor
from the Seventh Ward in 1884, 1886-87,
always giving his political support to the
Republican party. He was chairman of
a commission composed of the late Stan-
ford White and others to investigate the
Assembly Ceiling scandal, when Dennis
McCarthy was senator. When ex-Vice-
President Levi P. Morton was Governor
of the State of New York, he appointed
Mr. Russell as a member of a commission
to complete the State Capitol. The indi-
vidual members of this commission
were: Lieutenant-Governor Saxon, Su-
perintendent of Public Works ; State En-
gineer, Ira N. Hedges, s civilian ; Archi-
medes Russell, architect. About three
years after the appointment of this com-
mission the capitol was completed.
J 5i
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
Mr. Russell married, June 30, 1864, in
Boston, Massachusetts, Susan M. Bart-
lett, of that city. She survives her hus-
band, and still lives in Syracuse. Mr.
Russell was always ready with a friendly
greeting, a cheery smile, or a word of
encouragement, and these qualities en-
deared him to those with whom he was
associated, while the strength of his char-
acter, his laudable ambition, and his
earnest purpose gained him a place of
prominence among the leading business
men of the city.
FOWLER, Thomas Powell,
Lawyer. Railroad Official.
A lawyer by profession but for a
quarter of a century, 1888-1912, president
of the New York, Ontario & Western
railroad, Mr. Fowler was better known
to the business than the professional
world, in fact he was one of the most
widely known railroad executives in the
United States. To a great executive
ability, fully demonstrated in many fields,
he added a wisdom in the management of
men that was most remarkable. He drew
men to him by his pleasing personality,
and held them by fair treatment and a
consideration for their welfare that made
every employee a friend. When in 1912
he retired from active management of the
New York, Ontario & Western he carried
with him the esteem of all his subordi-
nates, who as a testimonial of this esteem
presented him with a handsome loving
cup.
Mr. Fowler was a descendant of Revo-
lutionary and Colonial ancestors, son of
Isaac Sebring and Mary (Ludlow) Fow-
ler, who at the time of his birth were
residing in Newburgh, New York.
Thomas Powell Fowler was born Oc-
tober 26, 1851, died at his summer home
"Belair," Warwick, New York, October
11, 1915. After completing courses at
College Hill, Poughkeepsie, he studied in
Germany and then entered Columbia Law
School whence he was graduated Bach-
elor of Law, class of "74." After gradu-
ation he was admitted to practice at the
New York bar, practiced actively in New
York City for several years, but gradually
became absorbed in railroad management
that took him from the professional field,
although he always retained his connec-
tion with the New York bar.
In 1879 he became a director of the
Shenango & Allegheny railroad, and
from that time forward his services were
in demand, his trained legal mind and
keen business ability rendering him a
valuable addition to the directorates of
many transportation companies. In 1881
he was elected a director of the Lehigh &
Hudson River railroad; of the Western
Pennsylvania & Shenango Connecting
railroad in 1883 ; the New York, Ontario
& Western railroad in 1884; appointed
receiver of the Shenango & Allegheny
railroad, March 31, 1884; and in succes-
sion became associated with the director-
ates of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe
railway ; Gulf, Colorado & Santa Fe rail-
way ; Lehigh & Hudson river railroad ;
Santa Fe, Prescott & Phoenix railway;
California Eastern railroad; Randsburg
Railway Company ; Santa Fe Pacific rail-
road; Southern California Railway Com-
pany; English Association of American
Bond & Share Holders, Limited.
His connection with the New York,
Ontario & Western railroad began in
1884 as a director. Four years later he
was elected president, a position he filled
with highest honor and efficiency until
1912 when he retired leaving the system
in greatly improved physical and financial
condition, with a loyal working force
thoroughly organized and capable. To
follow Mr. Fowler's career through its
many avenues of activity would be to
write a history of many of the great
52
J£rtirrirlj pfrwritig*
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
railroad systems of the United States for
he held no sinecures, but gave himself
unreservedly to the duties of any position
he accepted during his business life. His
greatest work, however, is manifest in the
executive management of the New York,
Ontario & Western, a road, once a re-
proach, that he left an important part
of a great railroad system.
While emphatically a man of affairs
Mr. Fowler was not unmindful of his
obligations as a citizen, meeting these
honorably and in all things measuring up
to the full stature of American manhood.
He was senior warden of St. James'
Protestant Episcopal Church, Seventy-
first street and Madison avenue, New
York, and met his fellowmen in social
intercourse in the Metropolitan, Grolier,
Down Town and Tuxedo clubs. His
patriotic ancestry opened wide the doors
of the orders based on Revolutionary
ancestry, and he was a member of the
Sons of the Revolution.
Mr. Fowler married, April 20, 1876, in
the Brick Presbyterian Church, Fifth
avenue and Thirty-seventh street, New
York, Isabelle, daughter of Benjamin
Franklin and Ruth (Seely) Dunning.
Children: Ruth Dunning, Louisa Orso,
Isabel Wilson, Alice Dunning, Katherine
Sebring, Eleanor Rumsey, Franklin Dun-
ning, Thomas Powell, Jr., and Ludlow
Sebring Fowler.
LEVERICH, William,
Clergyman.
The crest of the Leverich-Leveridge
family is thus described: Argent. A
chevron between three matchlocks, sable.
Crest: A leopard's face, proper. Motto:
Virtute et opera.
"The learned and Rev. William Lev-
erich than whom his descendants need
wish no better ancestry" appears on the
pages of Colonial history as a man of
singular piety and learning, and as a true
soldier in the Christian warfare.
Like the great Apostle he was a man
of many journeys, the founder of many
churches, the friend, counsellor and
pastor of his people. Or we can see him
with Bible in hand, telling the Indians
in their native tongue of One who loved
them, and gave Himself for them. We
find the following in Freeman's "History
of Cape Cod," "He who does not think
of his ancestors will be negligent of his
posterity" and signed William Leverich.
So we, his descendants in this distant
day, love to honor his reverend name in
this the land of his adoption.
The Rev. William Leverich was born
in England in 1605, and was a son of Sir
Sabille Leverich, of Drawlington Hall,
Warwickshire. The name originated
with a Baron Liebrich who came with
William the Conqueror in 1066 and the
family is mentioned on the Doomsday
Book. John Sabille Leverich was knight-
ed by Queen Elizabeth in 1562. The
name has been variously spelled, but
Leverich, or Leveridge are both used in
the Colonial records, and signifies, "Rich
in love."
The Rev. William Leverich was a
graduate of Emmanuel College, Cam-
bridge, England, taking A. B. in 1625 and
A. M. in 1629.
Though born and educated in the
Church of England, his sympathies were
early enlisted on the side of the Non-
conformists. So he left the bosom of
Motherchurch to arrange himself with
the band of seventy Puritan ministers
who fled over the seas for "freedom to
worship God." Some merchants from
Bristol, England, had settled at Dover,
New Hampshire, of which Captain
Thomas Wiggins was superintendent. In
1632 he went to England in the interests
of the colony, and on October 10, 1633,
returned on the ship "James" with thirty
S3
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
others, "and among them," says the
record of Winthrop "was the Rev. Wil-
liam Leverich, a godly minister." They
landed at Salem, and reached Dover on
the last Sunday of October and the tree
was still standing a few years ago under
which the Rev. William Leverich de-
livered the first sermon ever preached by
an ordained minister in the State of New
Hampshire. The Church of Dover cele-
brated in October, 1883, t^ e two hundred
and fiftieth anniversary of its existence,
and on that occasion many paid their
graceful tribute to the memory of the
saintly scholar and apostle, William
Leverich, the first pastor of the church at
Dover.
In 1635 he moved southward to Boston,
forming the friendship of the two most
noted divines of the day, viz, the Rev.
John Cotton and Rev. John Eliot. It was
the latter who first suggested to him the
study of the Indian tongue for which he
afterwards became so noted, and of whose
labors Palfrey, Hubbard, Marten and
others bare record. He was also placed by
Dr. Cotton Mather in his classis "among
the first great men." After a short asso-
ciation with the Rev. Ralph Partridge at
Duxbury, Massachusetts, in 1637, Mr.
Leverich, with ten others, came to Sand-
wich, Cape Cod. They were soon joined
by fifty more from Duxbury and
Plymouth, and a church was formed with
William Leverich as pastor. By the
theoretic principles of Puritanism, no one
was allowed to sell lands without the
consent of the minister, so here at Sand-
wich a church was built by this influence
whose power was felt throughout the
colony. The Indians were numerous
about Cape Cod, and William Leverich
accordingly acquired their language, and
they were ever his devoted followers,
while their orderly and peaceful lives
throughout his pastorate attested to his
faithfulness among them. The early
years of his pastorate at Cape Cod were
peacefully passed, but as the town grew
refractory spirits found entrance, "in-
veighing against the minister and magis-
trates to the dishonor of God." Captain
Miles Standish and Thomas Prince tried
to throw oil on the troubled waters. To
prevent the entrance of those whose fit-
ness was questioned, the law more
emphatically enforced that none be ad-
mitted to town rights without the consent
of Mr. Leverich, and the town authorities.
This offended many, and they turned
their animosity toward the minister,
accusing him of novelties in religion, of
using the services of the English Church
in Holy Communion and baptism, which
was often practiced during the first years
of the church in Salem.
In 1647 we nn d William Leverich em-
ployed by the Society for the Propagation
of the Gospel in New England for work
among the Indians, extending his labors
to the Plymouth Colony, and be it said
to the eternal honor of John Eliot, Wil-
liam Leverich and many others, that dur-
ing their ministries never was peace
broken by the horrors of Indian warfare.
In view of Mr. Leverich's success
among the natives, the society approved
and directed that he should turn his atten-
tion to the Indians of Long Island. So in
1652, with a dozen or more of his parish-
ioners, he explored the country about
Oyster Bay, Long Island, and in 1653
with these friends of Sandwich, he left
Cape Cod for the shores of Long Island,
"The Isle of Shells." Mr. Leverich de-
sired to form a colony on Long Island, so
with Peter Wright and Samuel Mayo,
they purchased a tract of land of the
Indians at Oyster Bay and Huntington.
It is curious to see the consideration
given for these lands, viz. Indian coats,
kettles, hatchets, awlblades, shovels, and
as much wampum as would make four
pounds sterling. This was signed by the
•54
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
mark of Assiapum, the sachem, and a
paper was given to the rest of the com-
pany admitting them to equal rights, and
in ten years there were fifty landholders.
During five years Mr. Leverich labored
at Oyster Bay among the Indians, but
with never a conspiracy among them.
But we could have seen him teaching in
the Indian wigwams amid the terrors
of pestilence, giving them bread, or even
a cup of cold water in the name of the
Master. "The salaries," says Mr. Wood,
"of these first ministers were raised as
other taxes, and the amount fixed in
money was really paid in produce or
cattle."
Mr. Leverich built the first grist mill
at Huntington, and the writer has a re-
ceipt of forty pounds for it from one
Henry Whitney.
On the records at Albany in 1660, Gov-
ernor Stuyvesant writing to the directors
of the West India Company at Amster-
dam, Holland, says : That the Rev. Wil-
liam Leverich was to sail on the first out-
going vessel for the purpose of obtaining
medicines for the colonies. It was the
following year before he sailed, and in
1663 the medicines were sent to "the Eng-
lish clergyman versed in the art of
physic," for it was a common thing
among the university educated theo-
logues to attend the lectures of the
medical professors.
On Mr. Leverich's return to Hunting-
ton in 1662, from Holland, his congrega-
tion gave him a quantity of land, and
also built a parsonage for him. The first
church was erected in 1665, the congre-
gation prior to that worshipping in the
Town Hall. In 1662 William Leverich
went to Newtown, Long Island, to pur-
chase lands for his sons, Caleb and
Eleazar, and as Newtown at that time
was destitute of spiritual guidance he
remained and ministered to them for a
while, but still keeping oversight of the
church at Huntington. In 1665 he re-
turned to the last place, and we find the
name of William Leverich on the Nicoll
patent, both at Newtown and Hunting-
ton.
In 1669 the people of Newtown having
been for nearly ten years without any
minister, except for Mr. Leverich's so-
journ among them, now turned their
attention to him, and with the leading
citizens, constables and overseers pre-
sented their proposals, but he did not
leave the pastorate of Huntington until
1670. Says Mr. Davenport, "Some have
wondered why he left a place so endeared
to him, by the ties of friends and fortune,
but he was getting in the decline of life,
and it was no doubt the desire to pass the
evening of it in the bosom of his family
that decided the change." There was
perfect harmony on either side, and re-
gret at his loss for Huntington.
The first church edifice at Newtown
(that is the Puritan Church) was erected
in 1671. In 1675 the Indian wars in New
England caused great apprehension of an
outbreak on Long Island, and Newtown
was placed in a state of siege. But not
so had the red man learned of William
Leverich and others, and the fearful tide
of savage warfare never passed over its
peaceful towns.
The closing years of the Rev. William
Leverich's life were rest and peace — until
early in 1677 he fell asleep, "he was not
for God took him."
The Rev. William Leverich left two
sons, Caleb and Eleazar, the former tak-
ing out letters of administration on his
father's estate, June, 1777, bearing the
signature of Governor Andros. Caleb
was born during his father's settlement
at Cape Cod. and he married Martha,
widow of Francis Swain. His name
appears among the freeholders of New-
town, December 4, 1666, and he enjoyed
the esteem of his townsmen, and was one
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
of the original members of the Presby-
terian church. His children were John,
Mary and Eleanor. Eleazar died child-
less.
John Leverich, St., and grandson of
Rev. William Leverich, left a widow
Hannah, and four children: John, Wil-
liam, Elnathan and Samuel. John, Jr.,
died before his father.
Prior to the Revolution, by the Eng-
lish law, the eldest son was the heir. But
John Leverich, Sr., divided his estate
equally among his four sons: John, Jr.,
William, Samuel and Elnathan.
In 1781, by an indenture in the pos-
session of the writer, Sacket Leverich,
son of John, Jr., deceased, for the
sum of twelve hundred pounds, lawful
money of the colony, receives three-
fourths of his three uncles undivided
estate. John Leverich, Jr., was born in
1696, and married (first) Amy Moore,
(second) Susannah, widow of John
Sacket, and (third) Sarah, daughter of
Sil as . He died in 1780, leaving
four children. His eldest son, John, mar-
ried his stepsister, Elizabeth Sacket, and
left three children: Sacket, Amy and
Richard. In their day commenced the
stormy times of the Revolution. The old
farm, bought by Caleb Leverich for his
sons, was during the bitter strife for in-
dependence, truly the scene of great
activity. For some part of the time there
was stationed on it 1168 men, viz. "The
Royal Highland Forty-second Regi-
ment," the celebrated Black Watch,
Thomas Sterling, commandant. Many
were the stories told about his honorable
■treatment of all, forbidding his soldiers
to commit any depredation, and several
times when they transgressed his rules
they received no sympathy if met with
disaster. Cholera carried away quite a
number, they were buried in a corner of
the farm, and the burial place was marked
by a pile of stones called a cairn, every
soldier passing was required to -hrow a
stone upon it. Some years ago the spot
was excavated for a railway and human
remains were found, great wonder was
caused as to whom they belonged to,
until the family was consulted and the
secret explained. One workm-m received
twenty-five dollars for a skull with every
tooth perfect in it. Colonel Sterling,
Lady Sterling, and two of the officers of
the Royal Highland Forty-second oc-
cupied a portion of the house.
On the occasion of his leaving, the
inhabitants of Newtown drew up an
address to Colonel Sterling, and his
officers, thanking them "for their very
equitable polite, and friendly conduct dur-
ing their winter's stay "at the Leverich
home. It was returned by Colonel Ster-
ling in the same spirit and courtesy.
John Leverich, son of John Leverich,
Jr., as aforesaid, left three children:
Sacket, Amy and Richard, of whom the
first two died single. Amy was be-
trothed to a British officer, but he died in
England whither he had gone to settle
his affairs. John Leverich died at New-
town, September 18, 1780. Richard, his
son, "best known as Deacon Leverich
was highly esteemed in his time." He
was a great reader, theologian, mathe-
matician, and deacon of the Presbyterian
church at Newtown for nearly fifty years.
In his lifetime the Colonial customs were
still retained. The crops were planted,
and harvested by his staff of blacks, who
were in return schooled and treated al-
most as one of the family ; the girls were
also sent to school, taught needlework,
sewing, etc. Deacon Leverich was a
strict Calvinist like his Puritan ancestor,
and would quote for his youthful blacks
the couplet:
You must not work, you must not play
Upon God's Holy Sabbath Day.
•fir ^Hhtvryvdbt
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
Deacon Richard Leverich married
(first) Amy Titus, with whom he lived
nearly fifty years. At her death he mar-
ried Nancy Lane, by whom he had two
daughters, Amy E. Leverich, and Susan
M. Leverich. He died at a ripe old age
in 1836, at his residence in Trains
Meadow, Newtown, Long Island. His
widow died in New York in 1874.
Amy E. Leverich married Charles E.
Cannon, of New York, to whom were
born two daughters : Ada Cannon, and
Elizabeth Leverich Cannon. She died
September 27, 1911.
Ada Cannon married Henry W. Lyon,
of Bridgeport, Connecticut. They have
one daughter, Ada Willis Lyon, who
married Harold C. Rood, of Hartford,
Connecticut. They also have one daugh-
ter, Henrietta Lyon Rood, born Septem-
ber 6, 1913.
BARNETT, George F.,
Strong and Useful Character.
It sometimes happens that true great-
ness lies fully as much in living a clean,
sturdy life, performing well each day's
duties, and lending a helping hand to a
fellow traveler on the road, as it does in
mighty deeds of valor. The man who
can live through more than the allotted
three score years and ten of the wear and
tear of everyday life, and when the final
summons comes can go before his Maker
with a clear conscience and perfect faith,
to receive his reward, leaving a memory
cherished and beloved for all that goes to
make life worth living for those around
us, is a truly great man. Such an one was
George F. Barnett, who died in Brock-
port, at the age of ninety-three, having
spent nearly all of his long, busy life in
that place since attaining his majority.
He was called "one of the strongest and
most useful characters in the com-
munity," and from the time he arrived in
Brockport, in 1826, until his death in
1897 he was classed among its most
respected and worthy residents, his in-
fluence increasing as his opportunities
widened.
George F. Barnett was born in Bridge-
water, Oneida county, New York, in the
year 1804, and it was there he spent his
boyhood and received his educational
training, attaining early manhood. He
came to Brockport, as stated above, in
1826, and his first occupation was as
architect and builder. In 1840 he formed
business relations with the McCormick
Harvester Company, and was largely in-
strumental in making the reaper manu-
factured by that firm a success. After
five years he severed his connection with
that company and entered the employ of
Seymour & Morgan, with whom he re-
mained until the dissolution of the firm.
He then entered the business field on his
own account, and in 1850 established
agricultural works in Brockport, and
from that time until his retirement in
1886 he was an active factor in the com-
mercial life of the city, earning a well de-
served and much needed rest, which he
enjoyed the remaining years of his life.
Mr. Barnett was at first a Whig in his
political inclination, and later a Repub-
lican, being a staunch supporter of the
principles of his party. He never sought
nor held public office, preferring to help
fill the rank and file of good citizen-
ship, of which there is always so much
need, his life conforming at all times to
a true Christian standard. A friend of
long standing, and therefore well able to
speak, said of him :
As a man he was a representative of that ster-
ling class of early settlers whose uprightness,
truth and honesty, whose appreciation of educa-
tional and church privileges and devotion to our
free institutions have imparted special and distin-
guished character to Western New York and
made it a great factor in the history of our coun-
157
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
try during a most eventful period Mr. Barnett,
while of a genial, kindly disposition, was level-
headed, true and sturdy, and had the happy fac-
ulty of getting on the right side of questions and
issues that demanded his decision and quietly but
firmly maintaining the ground he had taken. He
was a man who trained his children to love and
honor the principles he maintained and exempli-
fied. He had a sympathetic eye for struggling
integrity and merit, and there are many hearts
that have warmed with gratitude at the remem-
brance of his helping hand.
Another has said of him :
No man had wielded a more powerful influence
for good in this whole region than he. Simple
honesty, unvarying gentleness, combined with ex-
ecutive ability of a high order, were especially
prominent traits in his character and gave him
such a standing among business men of Western
New York that his advice was constantly sought
by them. It was in his home, however, that the
brightness and cheerfulness of his disposition par-
ticularly shone.
Mr. Barnett was married in 1828 to
Catherine Lyell Thorpe, of Montgomery
county, New York. Mr. Barnett pur-
chased land on which he built the house
which was their pleasant abode for so
many years, Mrs. Barnett proving a true
helpmate to her husband and a faithful
and loving mother to her children, of
whom there were five, two surviving:
Mary H. and Frances C, who made their
home with their father through his de-
clining years. James M. Barnett, one
of their children, now deceased, was a
resident of Grand Rapids, Michigan,
president of the Old National Bank. Mrs.
Barnett passed away in 1883, beloved and
mourned by all who had ever had the
privilege of her acquaintance.
Mr. Barnett was one who participated
in life with a sincere enjoyment, and had
a peculiarly reciprocative nature, appre-
ciating to the fullest extent a favor shown
him. As the evening of his days gradu-
ally closed around him his mind became
more firmly fixed on spiritual things and
he experienced a great spirit of thankful-
ness to his Maker for the many hours of
happiness and the blessings bestowed
upon him, evidencing it by a fondness for
the comforting, old-fashioned hymns of
his earlier days, which he was often
heard softly singing to himself in the
twilight. His was never a solemn
religion, for he shed around him the sun-
shine of a hopeful spirit, a kindly con-
sideration, and the desire that everyone
should have the most advancement pos-
sible for them to attain. Well may his
friends sum up his eulogy in these few
words— "He was one of nature's noble-
JONES, Frank Adelbert,
Prominent Physician.
In presenting to the public sketches of
the lives of our prominent citizens, we
have endeavored to choose those men
who, by their superior attainments in
some particular walk of life, have risen
to prominence among their fellows, and
whose characteristics and individuality
have raised them above the ordinary run
of mortals. In every profession and in
every line of business it is the few and
not the many who rise to eminence, and
it is these few who give tone and char-
acter to our society, and shape the destiny
of the communities in which they reside.
The late Dr. Frank Adelbert Jones, of
Rochester, New York, was a representa-
tive of a family distinguished both in
public service and in the learned profes-
sions. A close student of his profession,
thoroughness was, perhaps, his most dis-
tinguishing characteristic, and while he
was ever on the alert for any improve-
ment of a scientific nature that would
advance the cause of medicine or surgery,
before adopting it he made himself master
of every detail connected with the subject,
and his comments and conclusions were
[58
-r^LU/
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
in consequence interesting and illumina-
tive. Dignified in appearance, and at the
same time intensely active, quick and
sure in movement, his face and mam:
while giving assurance of strong will and
inflexible purpose, indicated also that
sincere geniality which never failed to
inspire cheerfulness and courage. Above
all, he may truly be said to have radiated
optimism, a quality indispensable to the
successful physician. His father, Dr.
Ambrose Jones, was a physician in Char-
lotte, New York, as was also a brother,
who is now deceased.
Dr. Frank Adelbert Jones was born in
Charlotte, New York, October 23, 1849,
and died at his home, No. 309 Lake ave-
nue, Rochester, New York, March 9, 1913,
after an illness of one week's duration.
His elementary education was acquired
in the public schools in the vicinity of his
home, after which he attended the local
academies, from which he was graduated,
and then matriculated at the Buffalo
Medical College, from which he was
graduated in the class of 1869, the degree
of Doctor of Medicine being conferred
upon him. He at once established him-
self in the practice of his profession, his
first location being on Buffalo street, now
Main street west, Rochester; he next
went to Charlotte, New York, where he
was associated in practice with his father
for a time, leaving there to go to Grand
Rapids. Michigan, which town had just
had a "boom," and remained there for a
period of three years. In 1874 he re-
turned to Charlotte, New York, where
he practiced until 1893, when he returned
to Rochester, which was the scene of his
medical practice until he passed away.
So conscientious was Dr. Jones in the
discharge of the duties connected with
his professional work, that it may in truth
be said that it brought about his death,
for the attending physicians were all
agreed that he might readily have thrown
off the attack of pneumonia to which he
succumbed had not his vitality been
sapped by overwork and overstudy. Al-
though naturally of a fine constitution, he
made greater demands upon it than
nature would permit. He excelled in
surgical work, although the larger part
of his practice was a general one.
Throughout his career he followed the
rule of paying as great and undivided
attention to the calls of the poor as he
did to those of his wealthy class of
patients, and in attending the former
class, it was frequently done without a
fee being demanded or accepted. None
but those who now feel the loss of his
charitable ministrations are aware of the
extent of his benevolence, for he was un-
ostentatious in the extreme. He was
president of the Monroe County Medical
Society; a member of the Rochester
Academy of Medicine; New York State
Medical Society; American Medical As-
sociation; Rochester Pathological Soci-
ety and Central New York Medical As-
sociation, and of the Masonic fraternity.
His religious affiliation was with the
Central Presbyterian Church of Roches-
ter, of which he was a member. He was
a charter member of the One Dozen and
One Club, an organization composed of
physicians and their wives, and formed in
defiance of the old superstition ascribing
ill luck to the number thirteen. Dr.
Jones was the first member of this asso-
ciation to be called to the hereafter, after
meeting for twenty-six years. His per-
sonal appearance was far more youthful
than the number of his years would war-
rant, but this was probably the result of
his optimistic disposition, and of his fond-
ness for the society of the young, with all
of whom, big and small, he was a favorite.
"A man of deeds and not of words" was
one of the comments made concerning
him by Dr. Albertson, pastor of the
Central Presbyterian Church.
59
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
Dr. Jones married, November 25, 1869,
Elizabeth R. Welles, daughter of Ran-
dolph and Mary E. (Vandemark) Welles,
of Seneca county, New York, formerly of
Connecticut. Mrs. Jones survives him
with their only daughter, Grace L. There
was a son, Welles, born in 1875, who died
in 1876.
BROWNING, John Hull,
Financier, Manufacturer.
John Hull Browning was descended
from Anglo-Saxon ancestors through a
long line, resident in New England, and
typified those qualities of industrious
application, sound judgment and energy
which conquered a wilderness upon our
New England coast, at the same time
conquering savage foes, and established
firmly a modern civilization. The oldest
form of the name bears the German spell-
ing Bruning, and it later came to be
rendered in various ways. According to
the poet, Robert Browning, the earliest
form of the name was de Bruni, which
was the Norman-French name of one of
the ancient German tribes which in-
habited the shores of the Baltic Sea, in
Northern Germany. In high German the
form of the name is Brauning. The
Brunings are supposed to have migrated
from Germany to England, where the
Anglo-Saxons changed the spelling to
Browning, to suit their own tongue. The
termination "ing" in the German lan-
guage means a meadow or low pasture-
land, and hence the origin of the name as
applied to inhabitants of the low
•meadows.
Nathaniel Browning, son of Mrs. Eliza-
beth Browning, was born in London
about 1618, and died at Portsmouth,
Rhode Island, when about fifty-two years
old. Mrs. Browning and her husband
appear to have been non-Conformists,
and the persecution that followed them
was probably the cause which led Na-
thaniel Browning to embark for America
soon after he came of age, in the year
1640. Landing at Boston he proceeded
to Portsmouth, where he was made a
freeman in 1654. This means that he was
of good standing in the church, and that
he was eligible to participate in the
councils and government of the colony.
He married, about 1650, Sarah, second
daughter of William and Mary Freeborn,
who sailed from Ipswich, England, in
1634.
Their son, William Browning, born
about 1651, at Portsmouth, lived to be
nearly eighty years of age, a farmer at
North Kingstown, Rhode Island. He
was made freeman in 1684, and was twice
married, (first) in 1687 to Rebecca,
daughter of Samuel and Hannah (Porter)
Wilbur, granddaughter of Samuel Wilbur
and John Porter, both of whom were
original settlers at Portsmouth. His
second wife's name was Sarah.
John Browning, youngest son of Wil-
liam and Rebecca (Wilbur) Browning,
was born March 4, 1696, at South Kings-
town, Rhode Island, and died in 1777, at
Exeter, same state, in his eighty-first year.
He was made a freeman in 1744, and was
a farmer, residing near the coast in South
Kingstown, where he had large landed
possessions. He married, April 21, 1721,
Ann, daughter of Jeremiah and Sarah
(Smith) Hazard, granddaughter of Thom-
as Hazard, the immigrant progenitor of a
notable American family.
Thomas Browning, the eldest son of
this marriage, born in 1722, in Kings-
town, died there in 1770. During his ac-
tive life he was a farmer in Hopkinton,
Rhode Island, and was made a freeman
in 1742. Like his parents, he was a
Quaker, served as justice of the peace at
Little Compton, and was captain of the
local militia company. His first wife,
Mary, was a daughter of William and
160
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
Mary (Wilkinson) Browning, and they
were the parents of William Thomas.
William Thomas Browning, born May
ii, 1765, in South Kingstown, was a
farmer in Preston, Connecticut, where he
built a farm house, standing half in Pres-
ton and half in North Stonington, which
is still standing in good preservation. He
married Catherine, daughter of Robert and
Catherine (Guinedeau) Morey, of New-
port, Rhode Island.
Their fifth son, John Hazard Browning,
was born July 28, 1801, at the Browning
homestead in Preston, where he was
reared. He became a merchant in Mill-
town, Connecticut, and later in New Lon-
don. In 1833 he moved to New York
City, and engaged in the dry goods busi-
ness, at the corner of Fulton and Water
streets, as senior member of the firm of
Browning & Hull. This business was
greatly extended, and in 1849 was closed
out, and in association with two others,
Mr. Browning engaged in the general
merchandise trade in California, his part-
ners removing thither. Mr. Browning re-
mained in New York, where he manu-
factured and purchased goods which were
shipped to California for sale. Three
times the store was burned, without in-
surance, resulting in a total loss. In
1857 Mr. Browning withdrew from all
activity, except as a special partner
with his son, who conducted a clothing
store under the firm name of Hanford &
Browning. This subsequently became
Browning, King & Company, which now
has stores in the principal cities of
the United States. Mr. Browning mar-
ried, September 21, 1829, Eliza Smith
Hull, of Stonington, daughter of Colo-
nel John W. and Elizabeth (Smith)
Hull, and they were the parents of four
sons and a daughter. The Hull family is
also of ancient origin, and springs from
Rev. Joseph Hull, who was born in Somer-
setshire, England, about 1594, and was
N Y-Vol iii-n 161
rector of Northleigh, Devonshire, Eng-
land, about fourteen years. With his wife,
Agnes, he embarked for America in 1635,
and shortly afterward became pastor of
the church at Weymouth, Masachusetts.
He was prominent in local affairs, and
presided over several churches in Massa-
chusetts, and subsequently, for nine years,
at York, Maine. After ten years in Europe
he became pastor at Dover, New Hamp-
shire, where he died. He was the father
of Captain Tristram Hull, born in Eng-
land, in 1626, who joined the Society of
Friends, and resided at Yarmouth and
Barnstable, Massachusetts. His son,
Joseph Hull, born at Barnstable, 1652,
was governor's assistant in Rhode Island
four years, and suffered much persecution
because of his affiliation with the Friends,
in which society he became a minister.
His son, Tristram Hull, lived in Westerly,
Rhode Island, and was the father of Ste-
phen Hull, whose son, Latham Hull, died
in North Stonington, Connecticut. His
son, John W. Hull, resided in that town,
and was a colonel of the local militia. He
married Elizabeth Smith, of Waterford,
Connecticut, and they were the parents of
Eliza Smith Hull, born May 26, 1812, died
April 21, 1875. She was married, Septem-
ber 21, 1829, to John Hazard Browning,
and became the mother of John Hull
Browning, of further mention.
John Hull Browning, youngest child of
John Hazard and Eliza Smith (Hull)
Browning, was born December 25, 1842,
in Orange, New Jersey, where the family
has been for some time established. After
pursuing a course in the New York
Academy, he embarked upon a business
career in his twentieth year, entering the
wholesale clothing firm of William C.
Browning & Company, which business
was very successful, and John H. Brown-
ing ultimately became interested in vari-
ous financial and business enterprises.
Soon after 1883 he succeeded the late
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
Charles G. Sisson as president of the
Northern Railroad of New Jersey, which
position he occupied twenty-two years.
He was secretary and treasurer of the
East & West Railroad of Alabama, and
for twenty years was president of the
Richmond County Gas Company, in what
is now Greater New York. For some time
he was treasurer of the Cherokee Iron
Company of Cedartown, Georgia, and he
was a director in the Citizens' National
Bank of Englewood, New Jersey. Mr.
Browning made his home in New York
City, but maintained an attractive sum-
mer home at Tenafly, New Jersey. He
was deeply interested in organized char-
itable work, both in New York and New
Jersey, and in association with his wife
erected a fresh air children's home at
Tenafly. While he was essentially a busi-
ness man, a director in many profitable
enterprises, Mr. Browning always had
time for a reasonable amount of recrea-
tion, and devoted much thought and care
to benevolent work in the interest of man-
kind in general. He died suddenly in the
Erie ferry-house at the foot of Chambers
street, New York, October 26, 1914. He
married, October 19, 1871, Eva B. Sisson,
daughter of Charles Grandison and Mary
Elizabeth (Garrabrant) Sisson. Mr. Sis-
son was a projector, contractor and rail-
road president, one of the most useful
citizens of New Jersey during more than
a quarter of a century's residence in that
State. He was a grandson of William
Sisson, one of five brothers, from Sois-
sons, in Normandy, France, all of whom
settled in Rhode Island, a majority of
them participating in the American Revo-
lution. One, Nathan Sisson, endured
terrible hardships on board British prison
ships in New York Harbor. Major Gilbert
Sisson, son of William Sisson, was a
native of North Stonington, Connecticut,
where he was a merchant, and married
Desire Maine, a woman of unusual talent,
the seventh daughter of a large family, of
French descent. They were the parents
of Charles G. Sisson. Mr. and Mrs. John
Hull Browning were the parents of a son,
John Hull Browning, born October 6,
1874.
SEYMOUR, William H.,
Manufacturer, Inventor.
The town of Brockport, Monroe county,
New York, is justly noted for its manu-
facturing interests, and not the least noted
of these is the one with which the late
William H. Seymour was connected for
so many years, greatly to the advance-
ment and development of the interests of
the town. It is not often given to man to
attain the age of more than a century, and
to have had during the greater portion of
his life an important place in the business
life of the community, yet this was the
case with Mr. Seymour, whose mental-
ity was apparently unaffected and un-
weakened almost to the last. The history
of business in the United States is full of
instances of men who, by dint of their
peculiarly constructive ability as born
leaders of men, have out of modest begin-
nings built up colossal fortunes, and have
put into operation enterprises that have
furnished work to many others. These
are generally men whose native resource-
fulness and indomitable energy would in
any circumstances inevitably have brought
them into the leadership of civic growth
and development. An invaluable example
of a man of this type was the late Mr.
Seymour. The admirable traits possessed
by him were inherited from a long line of
distinguished ancestry, the family being
one of great antiquity in England, and
among the earliest settlers in New Eng-
land.
Richard Seymour, the American pro-
genitor of the family, was one of the early
settlers of Hartford, Connecticut. The
162
Vr xs
2 >v b %J~\*^^
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
seal on the will of Thomas Seymour,
eldest son of Richard Seymour, bears the
impress of two wings conjoined in lure,
the device of the English Seymours from
the time of William de St. Maur of Pen-
how. A "Bishop's Bible," printed in 1584,
in the possession of Hon. Morris Wood-
ruff Seymour, has on one of the fly-leaves
a drawing of the arms of the Seymours of
Berry Pomeroy, viz. : Two wings con-
joined in lure, quartered with the Royal
Arms as granted by Henry VIII. to Edward
Seymour, Duke of Somerset, and the leg-
end: "Richard Seymour, of Berry Pom-
ery, heytor hund. in ye Com. Devon, his
Booke, Hartford, in ye Collony of Con-
necticut in Newe England, Annoque
Domini 1640." Among the many distin-
guished descendants of Richard Seymour
may be mentioned: Major Moses Sey-
mour, of Litchfield, a Revolutionary
officer of distinction, and Sheriff Ozias
Seymour, his son ; the Hon. Thomas
Seymour, first mayor of Hartford; Cap-
tain Thomas Youngs Seymour, a gallant
soldier of the Revolutionary War; Gen-
eral Truman Seymour, who served with
distinction in the Mexican War ("Hero
of Chapultepec") ; Thomas H. Seymour,
grandson of Mayor Seymour, was United
States minister to Russia, and governor
of Connecticut ; Judge Origen Storrs
Seymour, of Litchfield, chief justice of
Connecticut, son of Sheriff Ozias Sey-
mour; Hon. Edward W., Hon. Morris
W. and Rev. Dr. Storrs O. Seymour, sons
of Chief Justice Seymour; Hon. Henry
Seymour, of Pompey, New York, one of
the commissioners who built the first
Erie Canal ; his son, Governor Horatio
Seymour, of New York, and his sisters:
Julia Chenevard Seymour, who married
Roscoe Conkling, and Helen Clarissa
Seymour, who married Ledyard Link-
laen ; Major-General Truman Seymour,
United States army; Hon. Horatio Sey-
mour, for many years United States sen-
ator from Vermont, and a great friend of
Daniel Webster, who considered him the
best lawyer in New England in his day;
Rt. Rev. George Franklin Seymour, late
Protestant Episcopal Bishop of Spring-
field, Illinois; and the late Professor
Thomas Day Seymour, of Yale. William
H. Seymour's ancestors on both sides of
the family have been noted for their lon-
gevity for some generations. Major
Moses Seymour, uncle of Mr. Seymour,
was honored for gallant service in the
War of the Revolution.
John Seymour, born about 1640, son of
Richard Seymour, the immigrant, married
Mary, daughter of John and Margaret
(Smith) Watson, and their eldest child
was John Seymour, born June 12, 1666, in
Norwalk. He was a distinguished man,
member of the General Assembly, and
held various town offices. He married,
December 19, 1693, Elizabeth, daughter
of Lieutenant Robert and Susanna (Treat)
Webster, the latter a daughter of Hon.
Richard Treat, of Wethersfield. Robert
Webster was a son of Governor John
Webster, of Connecticut. The seventh
son of John (2) and Elizabeth (Webster)
Seymour, was Moses Seymour, born Feb-
ruary 17, 171 1, in Hartford, where he
passed his life, and died September 24,
1795. He married Rachel Goodwin, bap-
tized January 22, 1716, in Hartford, died
July 23, 1763, daughter of Nathaniel and
Sarah (Coles) Goodwin, great-grand-
daughter of Ozias Goodwin, ancestor of
the large family of that name. Ozias
Goodwin was born in 1596, in Essex
county, England, and married there Mary,
daughter of Robert Woodward, of Brain-
tree, Essex. Ozias Goodwin's house, in
February, 1640, was on the highway lead-
ing from Seth Grant's to Centinal Hill,
on what is now Trumbull street, near
Church street, Hartford. Later he re-
moved to the lot on the highway from the
mill to the old ox pasture. He was one of
163
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
the company that signed an agreement, in
1659, to remove to Hadley, Massachu-
setts, but did not go. He died in the
spring of 1683. His second son, Nathaniel
Goodwin, born about 1637, was admitted
freeman in 1662, and was one of the
townsmen of Hartford in 1682. He mar-
ried (first) Sarah Coles, of Hatfield, Mas-
sachusetts, formerly of Farmington, Con-
necticut. Their eldest child was Na-
thaniel Goodwin, born July, 1665, ensign
of the North Company, of Hartford,
weaver by occupation, died March 12,
1746. He married (second) September
14, 1699, Sarah, daughter of John Easton,
born November 15, 1675, died January 2,
1740. One of their fourteen children was
Rachel Goodwin, wife of Moses Seymour.
She was the mother of Major Moses and
Captain Samuel Seymour, of the Revolu-
tionary War.
Captain Samuel Seymour, son of Moses
and Rachel (Goodwin) Seymour, was
born January 21, 1754, in Hartford, and
died November 14, 1837, at Lichfield, Con-
necticut. After the Revolution he settled
at Litchfield, where he was associated
with his brother, Major Moses Seymour,
in the manufacture of hats. He married,
in Litchfield, June 20, 1788, Rebecca
Osborn, born October 11, 1763, died July
17, 1843, daughter of John and Lois
(Peck) Osborn. They had children: Har-
riet, born March 24, 1789; James, April
20, 1791; Charles, March 13, 1793; a son,
born March 13, died September 30, 1794,
unnamed ; Clarissa, January 23, 1800 ; and
William H., mentioned below.
William H. Seymour was born in Litch-
field, Connecticut, July 15, 1802, and died
at Brockport, New York, October 6, 1903,
having lived for almost one hundred and
one and a quarter years. Until the age of
sixteen years he lived in his native town,
and there acquired his education, and the
commencement of his business training.
He then went to Clarkson, Genesee
county, New York, to become a clerk in
the store which had been established there
by his brother, James. The business was
removed to Brockport, in 1823, and after
James Seymour, who was the first sheriff
of Monroe county, had removed to Roch-
ester, William H. Seymour remained as
proprietor of the store at Brockport, a
general mercantile establishment, and to
it added the purchase and shipment of
grain. During the administration of
President Jackson, the post office was
located in his store and he had charge of
it. The manifold duties of these combined
enterprises requiring expert assistance,
Mr. Seymour had at various times as
partners, Joseph Ganson and then Hol-
lister Lathrop. D. S. Morgan was ad-
mited to partnership prior to 1844, and
about one year after the association with
Mr. Morgan was formed, these two
gentlemen and Thomas Roby, a brother-
in-law of Mr. Seymour, established a
foundry for the manufacture of stoves
and other castings. This was the nucleus
of a business which later achieved inter-
national reputation. In 1847, while still
a member of the firm, Mr. Roby died, and
the business was then carried on by Mr.
Seymour and Mr. Morgan. Since the
beginning of the nineteenth century reap-
ing machines had been manufactured in
a desultory fashion, but there had been no
regular production of this intensely useful
and practical machine until 1846, when
the first one hundred machines of this
kind were constructed by Seymour, Mor-
gan & Company for Cyrus H. McCor-
mick. Shortly before this time Mr. Sey-
mour had been told that when Mr. Mc-
Cormick was in Washington getting a
patent on the seat on his machines, he
was informed by D. Burroughs that his
brother-in-law, Mr. Backus, of Backus,
Fitch & Company, of Brockport, would
most likely manufacture his reaper for
him. In the preceding fall, he also
64
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
learned Mr. McCormick had brought his be necessary in the manufacture of self-
reaper to Backus, Fitch & Company and
had it tried in cutting wheat. It had no
seat for the raker, who walked behind
and raked off the sheaf. In the succeed-
ing winter Mr. McCormick brought his
patterns for castings to Backus, Fitch &
Company, but as they could only make
a small number he called on Seymour,
Morgan & Company, then engaged in the
manufacture of stoves, and they agreed
to make for the harvest of 1846 one hun-
dred of these reapers, which had a seat
for the raker. Mr. Jenner made the
patterns for the castings, Mr. McCormick
directing in the construction of his first
machine, as he brought no machine to
the firm to serve as a pattern. During
the next year they made two hundred
reapers for Mr. McCormick, but feeling
that they could not agree to pay his
patent fee of thirty dollars on each ma-
chine, they subsequently began the manu-
facture of a reaper brought out by George
F. Barnett, which they believed did not
infringe on Mr. Cormick's patent. They
built three hundred that year and were
sued by Mr. McCormick, so they aban-
doned that invention and commenced the
manufacture of reapers after plans per-
fected by Mr. Seymour, the new machine
being know as The New Yorker. Mr.
Seymour obtained a patent on this and
had manufactured five hundred of them
when he was restrained by an injunction
granted to Mr. McCormick by Judge
Nelson, of the United States Court, Mr.
McCormick contesting the right of any
other manufacturer to place reapers upon
the market. However, it is an indisputa-
ble fact that the firm of Seymour, Morgan
& Company was the first to manufacture
reapers reguarly in this country. In Feb-
ruary, 1857, Mr. Seymour disposed of his
interests in his patents on his reaper, yet
reserved his rights as far as they might
raking reapers, to D. S. Morgan for his
interest in a farm in Hamlin. Until 1875
he remained at the head of the iron
foundry enterprise, then withdrew and
devoted his time and attention to the
manufacture and sale of lumber, in asso-
ciation with his son Henry W., until 1882,
when he withdrew from all active share
in business enterprises.
From that time he lived retired at
Brockport, the only interruptions being
occasional journeys with one or the other
of his children. In 1883, accompanied by
his children, he traveled for a period of
five months, the countries visited being
Great Britain, Germany, Italy and France.
In 1888 he paid another visit to England,
this time in the company of a daughter
and son-in-law. In 1893 ne spent a con-
siderable time at the World's Exposition
at Chicago, but after 1895 he preferred
the quiet and rest of his own home, and
no longer took any trips of note. In
recognition of the importance of his work
in establishing one of the great industries
of this country, the National Association
of Agricultural Implement and Vehicle
Manufacturers elected him as an honorary
member of their organization in 1900.
Upon the occasion of the one hundredth
anniversary of his birth the whole town
of Brockport made holiday. The church
bells pealed a greeting in strokes of ten
from each tower thus numbering the hun-
dred years ; the flag was raised on the
town hall in his honor, and neighbors and
friends decorated their homes in honor of
the event ; friends came from far and near
to offer their heartfelt congratulations,
and a delegation was sent from his native
town, Litchfield, which he had been in the
habit of visiting from time to time. A
century plant was one of the choice and
appropriate gifts among the many which
were tendered, and a centerpiece for the
165
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
table was composed of one hundred Sweet
Williams, bordered with Rosemary "for
remembrance." At the reception held in
the afternoon all classes and all ages were
represented, for during his long and use-
ful life he had ever had a warm heart for
the poor, the infirm and for children, and
all were accounted his friends. One of
his old workmen said on that occasion:
"I worked for you steady, Sir, for forty
years, and I always got my pay;" while
a friend and neighbor said: "In all the
years Mr. Seymour has lived here no one
ever could say a word against him. His
name stood for absolute integrity." A
remarkable feature was the trustworthi-
ness of the memory of Mr. Seymour. Al-
though he was but ten years of age at
the time of the outbreak of the War of
1812, he remembered incidents and scenes
of that time vividly, and his powers of
description made his reminiscences very
entertaining. For many years he had
spent considerable time in reading, and
his apt and correct quotations aroused
the comments of all who heard him.
Billiards and whist were also favorite
forms of entertainment with Mr. Sey-
mour.
Mr. Seymour married, April 16, 1833,
Narcissa Pixley, of Columbia county,
New York, and of their five children, the
following named attained maturity: Hon.
Henry W., who died in Washington, Dis-
trict of Columbia, leaving a widow and
one daughter, Helen ; Helen, who mar-
ried W. B. Sylvester; James H., unmar-
ried, whose home is at Sault de Sainte
Marie, Michigan. Mr. Seymour kept fully
abreast of the times and in touch with
the best thoughts of the day, down to his
latest years. To whatever he undertook
he gave his whole attention, and he was
a loyal friend and a genial, kindly gentle-
JUDSON, Edward B., Hon.,
Authority on Banking Matters.
To acquire distinction or great pros-
perity in the business pursuits which give
to the country its financial strength and
credit requires ability of the highest order.
This fact is apparent to all who tread the
busy thoroughfares of the business world.
Ordinarily merit may attain a respectable
position and enjoy a moderate compe-
tence, but to rise to one of the first places
of monetary credit and power can only be
the fortune of a rarely gifted personage.
Eminent business talent is a combination
of high mental and moral attributes. It is
not simple energy and industry; there
must be sound judgment, breadth of ca-
pacity, rapidity of thought, justice and
firmness, the foresight to perceive the
course of the drifting tides of business
and the will and ability to control them,
and, withal, a collection of minor but im-
portant qualities to regulate the details of
the pursuits which engage attention. The
subject of this memoir, the Hon. Edward
B. Judson, late of Syracuse, affords an
exemplificaton of this talent and in the
theater of his operations he achieved a
reputation which placed him among the
first of the distinguished business men of
New York State.
Hon. Edward B. Judson, of Connecticut
parentage and old New England ancestry,
was born in Coxsackie, New York, Janu-
ary 11, 1813, and died at his home in Syra-
cuse, New York, January 15, 1902. He
had celebrated his eighty-ninth birthday
the Saturday prior to his death, and the
day before his death was at his desk in
the bank, which he had served so faith-
fully as its president for almost thirty-
nine years. His education was an excel-
lent one, both in his refined home and in
the schools which he attended, and he be-
came well equipped for the active busi-
[66
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
ness of life. His first position in business
life was as a clerk in the banking house
of his uncle, Ralph Barker, in Coxsackie,
and there he gained the valuable experi-
ence which so well fitted him to cope with
the responsibilities of his later life. About
the year 1835 he decided to establish him-
self in business independently, and ac-
cordingly associated himself with his
brother, W. A. Judson, in the manufac-
ture of lumber at Constantia, Oswego
county, New York ; later they conducted
a lumber commission business in Albany,
New York, for a period of twenty years.
This one interest was not, however, suf-
ficient for the energy and ambition of Mr.
Judson, so that he also engaged in the
manufacture of iron at Constantia, and
while he was a resident of that town, at
the age of twenty-six years, represented
his district in the General Assembly dur-
ing the sessions of 1839-41, the commu-
nity having honored him with election to
this office, and during his incumbency of
it he served as chairman of the committee
on cities and villages and the State Luna-
tic Asylum.
In 1849 Mr. Judson took up his resi-
dence in the city of Syracuse, and from
that time until his death that city felt the
beneficial influence of his varied activities.
He had been living in it but a year
when he became one of the organizers
and the first vice-president of the Mer-
chants' Bank, and was ever afterward an
authority in banking matters. When the
Salt Spring Bank was organized in 1852,
Mr. Judson was elected a member of its
first board of directors, was the first
cashier of the institution, and was actively
identified with its control until 1857. In
that year he resigned from these respon-
sibilities in order to lend his assistance to
the organization of the Lake Ontario
Bank of Oswego, of which he became
cashier and chief executive officer. This
institution was remarkable for the char-
acter and high position of its stockholders,
among whom were: John A. Stevens,
president; C. H. Russell, vice-president;
Henry F. Vail, cashier of the Bank of
Commerce, New York City; Erastus
Corning and H. H. Martin, president and
cashier of the Albany City Bank; Rufus
H. King and J. H. Van Antwerp, presi-
dent and cashier of the State Bank of
Albany; J. B. Plumb, president of the
Bank of Interior, Albany; Hamilton
White, Horace White, John D. Norton
and Thomas B. Fitch, presidents respec-
tively of the Onondaga County Bank,
the Bank of Syracuse, the Merchants'
Bank and the Mechanics' Bank, all of
Syracuse ; G. B. Rich, president of the
Bank of Attica, Buffalo; Luther Wright,
president of Luther Wright's Bank,
Oswego; and Thurlow Weed, John
L. Schoolcraft, David Hamilton, John
Knower, Frederick T. Carrington, George
Geddes and William A. Judson.
In 1863, during the troublous times of
the Civil War, Mr. Judson was called to
Washington by the Hon. Salmon P.
Chase, then secretary of the treasury,
who sought his counsel as to what might
be best accomplished in making necessary
changes and regulations in the banking
laws of the country. When Mr. Judson
returned to Syracuse, at the request of
Mr. Chase, he organized the First Na-
tional Bank of Syracuse, which is re-
corded as No. 6 in the archives at Wash-
ington. So safe and conservative was the
policy on which this institution was or-
ganized that it remained firm and stead-
fast during financial panics which innu-
merable other banks were unable to with-
stand. Mr. Judson was chosen chairman
of the executive committee of the Na-
tional Banking Association in 1864, and
was the incumbent of this office eleven
consecutive years ; he was one of the first
two vice-presidents of the Trust and De-
posit Company of Onondaga, a corpora-
167
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
tion founded in 1869. He was one of the
organizers of the Metropolitan Trust
Company of New York City, and became
a member of its first board of trustees.
He was one of the organizers of the
American Express Company, and was a
member of its board of directors and of
its finance committee until his son, Ed-
ward B. Judson, Jr., took his place about
the year 1890. He was actively connected
with a number of other business enter-
prises of equal importance, one of which
was the Syracuse Glass Company, of
which he was president for a time, and
with which he was connected for a period
of eighteen years. Another field of his
activity was in railroad matters. He was
one of the incorporators in 1870, and be-
came the first treasurer of the Syracuse
Northern Railroad Company; for some
years was a member of the board of di-
rectors of the Syracuse & Oswego Rail-
road Company, and for a time was a
member of the directorates of the New
York Central Railroad Company and the
Bank of Syracuse. He assisted in the
organization of the Salt Springs Solar
Coarse Salt Company, and was one of its
directors from that time until his death.
He gave his consistent and unvarying
support to the Republican party, but was
never desirous, after coming to Syracuse,
of holding public office; the only excep-
tion he made to this rule was in 1868,
when he allowed his name to be used as
a nominee for the office of presidential
elector. Charitable and philanthropic to
a degree, Mr. Judson was identified with
every project in the city which had for its
object the assistance of those less fortu-
nately circumstanced. He was a trustee
of the Old Ladies' Home, and treasurer
of St. Joseph's Hospital. His religious
affiliation was with the May Memorial
Church, in which he served as president
of the board of trustees. As a trustee
and vice-president of Wells College, at
Aurora, New York, he greatly furthered
the interests of that institution, and he
held official position in a number of other
organizations.
Mr. Judson married, October 15, 1846,
Sarah Williams, a daughter of Codding-
ton B. Williams, of Syracuse. They had
only one child who lived beyond infancy,
Edward B., of whom further.
Edward B. Judson, Jr., was born in
Syracuse, New York, December 21, 1854,
died in that city, January 16, 1910, from
an attack of pneumonia after an illness
of but two days. As a youth he attended
the school conducted by Dr. Isaac Bridg-
man, in Syracuse, and after being gradu-
ated from this institution of learning, en-
tered the employ of the Syracuse Glass
Company, of which his father was presi-
dent. Three years later he became the
senior partner in the firm of Judson &
Ryder, engaged in the manufacture of
matches, in West Water street. When
they sold this concern to the Diamond
Match Company Mr. Judson became asso-
ciated with his father in the Salt Springs
Solar Coarse Salt Company, and also de-
voted a portion of his time and attention
to the building of the Grape Street Car
Line, which was being constructed by the
Seventh and Eleventh Ward Railroad
Company. Mr. Judson was elected a
member of the board of directors of the
First National Bank in 1881, and upon
the retirement of Mr. John Crouse in
1888, was elected to the vice-presidency,
and thereafter devoted the greater part of
his time to the interests of the bank, and
upon the death of his father in 1902, he
succeeded to the presidency of this insti-
tution. He was also from 1890 to the
time of his death a member of the board
of directors of the American Express
Company and of the Metropolitan Trust
Company of New York. In addition to
this position he was, at the time of his
sudden death, president of the Onondaga
n,S
ARTHUR JENKINS
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
Pottery Company and the Salt Springs
Solar Coarse Salt Company, and vice-
president of Pass & Seymour. During
the twenty-nine years that Mr. Judson
was identified with the First National
Bank of Syracuse he had come to be
widely recognized as a sound, progressive
banker, a business man of unswerving in-
tegrity, good judgment and enterprising
spirit, and, like his father, as generous as
he was modest in his benefactions.
Mr. Judson married, May 27, 1886, Har-
riet, daughter of Rev. Joachim Elmendorf,
D. D., and Sarah Bull, his wife, and they
were the parents of one child, Esther
Judson, who married, February 8, 191 1,
James Douglas Morgan, M. D., of Mon-
treal, Canada.
JENKINS, Arthur,
Prominent in Journalistic Work.
Not too often can be repeated the life
history of one who lived so honorable and
useful a life and who attained to such dis-
tinction as did the late Arthur Jenkins,
president and general manager of "The
Syracuse Herald," Syracuse, New York.
His character was one of signal strength
of purpose and lofty aim. To him noth-
ing was hard or impossible. Well dis-
ciplined in mind, maintaining a vantage
point from which life presented itself in
correct proportions, judicial in his attitude
toward both men and measures, guided
and guarded by the most inviolable prin-
ciples of integrity and honesty, simple and
unostentatious in his self-respecting and
tolerant individuality, such a man could
not prove other than a force for good in
whatever relation of life he might have
been placed. His character was the posi-
tive expression of a strong nature and
his strength was as his number of days.
The record of his life finds a place in the
generic history of the State, and in this
compilation it is necessary only to note
briefly the salient points of his life's his-
tory. It is useless to add that both the
community and the State were honored
by his active life and splendid achieve-
ments, and that he stood as an honored
member of a group of men whose in-
fluence in civil and economic affairs was of
a most beneficent order.
David Jenkins, father of Arthur Jen-
kins, came from Coventry, England, in
the early part of the decade beginning
with the year 1840. He married Emma
Brearley, an English girl, then living in
Canada.
Arthur Jenkins was born in Buffalo,
New York, in 185 1, and died at West
Baden, Indiana, November 8, 1903, in the
prime of life. He was a very young child
when his family removed to Milwaukee,
Wisconsin, and in the public schools of
that city he was educated until he had
reached the age of fourteen years. This
brief education was, however, supple-
mented throughout his life by unusually
keen powers of observation and a remark-
ably retentive memory. His first business
position was that of messenger for a firm
of commission merchants in Milwaukee,
but the ambitious lad was not satisfied
with a position of this kind, and it was
not long before he became identified in a
business capacity with the First National
Bank of Milwaukee, a position he left in
order to enter the employ of the whole-
sale drug house of Bosworth & Sons. He
was but little more than sixteen years of
age when he entered into the profession
with which he was so successfully identi-
fied until his early death. He obtained a
position in the press room of Starr &
Sons, Printers, and felt then that he had
formed a connection with what was to be-
come his life work. It was not long be-
fore he found employment in the com-
posing room of "The Milwaukee Daily
News," and there he not only completed
his training as a practical printer, but
169
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
gained an insight into the details con-
nected with newspaper work. For several
years Mr. Jenkins then worked as a jour-
neyman printer, but as he was very desir-
ous of seeing something of the world, he
followed his chosen vocation in various
places, and in the course of following this
mode of life was employed at Chicago,
Illinois ; Madison, Wisconsin ; and work-
ed his way through Illinois and the Ohio
Valley to Pittsburgh, and the oil regions,
finally locating in Syracuse, New York,
early in the year 1871. Although so
young, he had so well utilized his time
that the desire for change and novelty
had worn off, and he felt ready to make a
permanent home for himself. This he
proceeded to do in Syracuse, where he
was engaged for some years in journal-
istic work, notably with the editorial end
and also with the managerial department
of a newspaper, and having made many
friends, felt emboldened to establish him-
self independently in the newspaper world.
January 15, 1877, saw the practical com-
mencement of this plan, in the first issue
of "The Evening Herald," which, as Mr.
Jenkins was destitute of capital, but de-
termined in purpose, he borrowed on
mortgage and the newspaper was begun
with the sum of two hundred and sixty-
five dollars. So successful was the begin-
ning of this enterprise that in June of
the following year Mr. Jenkins organized
the Herald Company, of which he became
the president and general manager. Bold
though this step appeared to be, proofs
were soon forthcoming that it had not
been a rash one, for the sound business
judgment and strong executive ability of
Mr. Jenkins overcame all difficulties and
placed the enterprise on a firm basis from
the start. The course of "The Evening
Herald" has been a steadily upward one,
and it is the leading daily newspaper of
Syracuse and Central New York and is an
invaluable power in molding the public
opinion of Middle New York. So popular
did it become that in May, 1880, a Sun-
day edition of the paper was commenced,
which has met with as continuous a
support as that accorded to the evening
edition.
Endowed with foresight of a remark-
ably high order, Mr. Jenkins was one of
the first to recognize the benefits to be
achieved by newspaper publishers from
cooperative action. Consulting with
others in the same line of endeavor, Mr.
Jenkins was one of the charter members
of the National Associated Press, organ-
ized in 1878, and was chosen as a member
of the board of directors. Continuing his
activities in the same direction, he be-
came one of the chief organizers of The
United Press, was a member of its board
of directors, and served as its business
manager during a part of the year 1882.
He was also the chief organizer of the
present Associated Press, as he was the
one to suggest the idea of its formation.
The entire career of Mr. Jenkins was
one to excite the admiration and commen-
dation of those familiar with his history,
for by a straightforward and commend-
able course he had made his way from a
somewhat humble environment to an ex-
alted position in the business world, win-
ning the hearty admiration of the people
of his adopted city and earning a reputa-
tion as an enterprising, progressive man
of affairs and a broad-minded, charitable
and upright citizen, which the public was
not slow to recognize and appreciate. He
was one of those solid men of brain and
substance so essential to the material
growth and prosperity of a community,
and one whose influence was willingly
extended in behalf of every deserving en-
terprise that had for its object the ad-
vancement of the best interests of the
community.
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
ELY, Samuel Mills,
Highly Useful Citizen.
Although he was of Connecticut birth,
the long and useful life of Samuel Mills
Ely from its fifteenth year was spent in
Binghamton, New York, where he built
up one of the important wholesale houses
of the city and won enviable reputation
as a man of the highest standing and
righteous life. To those of his day and
generation, his memory is fresh and fra-
grant, to those who follow him his life
is an example worthy of emulation. His
life was an open book to be read by all
men, modesty and simplicity marking its
daily course. His thoughtfulness, be-
nevolence and generosity were ever dis-
played in his intercourse with his fellow-
men. In the church he was a ceaseless
worker and his interest continued until
his last hours. He gave wisely, his giving
covering a wide field. He was a success-
ful business man, citizen, and a loyal
friend. He did not use tobacco in any
form, believing it injurious to health and
a habit to be avoided ; therefore he barred
it from his store, although he was a
wholesale grocer, and tobacco was a large
item in such a business.
Samuel Mills Ely was born in Chester,
Connecticut, at the Ely homestead, Octo-
ber 24, 1837, son of Richard and Mary
Caroline (Buck) Ely, who were married
in Rome, New York, September 12, 1829.
His sister, Mary C. Ely, now resides in the
Ely homestead at Chester, Connecticut.
Their father, Richard Ely, was born in
Essex, Connecticut, August 6, 1798, fol-
lowed the occupation of farming, and held
various town offices. His wife was born
May 5, 1799. The forebears of the Ely
family were from England and were early
settlers of Lyme, Connecticut, and the
history of the family is one of honor and
usefulness.
Samuel Mills Ely attended private
schools in Chester and later a grammar
school at Deep River, Connecticut. His
entire business life was spent in Bing-
hamton, New York, where he began his
active career in the employ of his uncle,
Hon. Charles McKinney. In 1865 he
formed a partnership with S. & E. P. Mc-
Kinney in the grocery business in Bing-
hamton. In 1873 he withdrew and estab-
lished the wholesale grocery and import-
ing house of S. Mills Ely & Company, of
which he was president at the time of his
death. In 1876 he formed a partnership
with E. F. Leighton that continued un-
broken for thirty-two years, terminating
on Mr. Leighton's death in 1908. Their
business was very prosperous and was
conducted according to the highest stand-
ards of fair dealing. Mr. Ely organized
with Roswell J. Bump and Mr. Leighton,
the Binghamton Chair Company, one of
Binghamton's most successful manufac-
turing corporations. He was a member
of the Board of Education of Bingham-
ton, of Binghamton Club, and of the
First Presbyterian Church of Bingham-
ton, in which he was an office holder for
many years, up to the time of his death,
which occurred in Binghamton, May 5,
1909. Over half a century had been spent
in good works and in all that time there
were few movements tending to the ex-
pansion or moral unlift of his adopted city
that he did not heartily lead in and sup-
port. Consistent in all things, his home
life, his business affairs and his church
life were ordered along the same lines of
uprightness, he never sanctioned or en-
gaged in any business deal not in accord-
ance with his religious convictions. No
greater work in the name of charity was
ever carried on by a private individual in
Binghamton. If he had a greater interest
in one form of benevolence over another,
it was in the Fresh Air Movement and the
Humane Society, but the Presbyterian
church and the Young Men's Christian
171
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
Association also found in him a friend
that never failed. He gave a library-
building to Chester, Connecticut, in mem-
ory of his father and mother. His sum-
mer home on Mt. Prospect, Binghamton,
he gave to the city for a public park prior
to his death, which beautiful park bears
his name, and although he did not live to
see the realization of his dream for a com-
plete park system, his generosity and
public spirit will inspire those who follow
him.
Mr. Ely married at Binghamton, New
York, October 10, 1867, Mary Hart Haw-
ley, of Binghamton, daughter of Elias
and Adaline Hawley. They had one son
and one daughter: Richard Hawley Ely,
born July 29, 1868, died October 8, 1869.
Clara May Ely, born December 19, 1876,
lives in Binghamton, and was one of the
executors of Mr. Ely's estate, with Mr.
John R. Clements, general manager of S.
Mills Ely Company.
In his last will and testament, one of
the most public-spirited documents and
one of the finest examples of practical be-
nevolence ever probated in the county, Mr.
Ely remembered nearly every public char-
ity in his city and left to the First Presby-
terian Church trust funds for carrying on
two benevolent enterprises, the care for
the poor of Binghamton and home mis-
sionary work among the foreign-born ele-
ment of the city. The following other
institutions, remembered generously in
his will, indicate the wide extent of his
interest : Young Men's Christian Asso-
ciation, Young Women's Christian As-
sociation, Susquehanna Valley Home,
Binghamton City Hospital, Broome
County Humane Society, Home for Aged
Women, all of Binghamton ; Robert Hun-
gerford Institute of Eatonville, Flordia ;
Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions,
Presbyterian Board of Home Missions,
Auburn Theological Seminary. Not the
least praiseworthy feature of Mr. Ely's
will was the generosity with which he
remembered his employees. His recom-
mendation that they take the value of
their bequests in stock of the business he
developed from a small beginning into a
strong enterprise was another thought
for the future that deserves recognition.
To weld his employees thus into one com-
mercial whole demonstrates his practical
wisdom. When, at the age of seventy-
two years he died, he left behind the
record of a life unsullied by any unworthy
deed.
POTTER, Alfred Benedict,
Public Benefactor.
The record of the life of Alfred Bene-
dict Potter, late of Fairport, New York,
is in the main uneventful as far as stir-
ring incidents or startling adventures are
concerned, yet it was distinguished by
the most substantial qualities of char-
acter. His life history exhibits a career
of unswerving integrity, indefatigable
private industry, and wholesome home
and social relations — a most commend-
able career crowned with success. It is
the record of a well balanced mental and
moral makeup, strongly marked by those
traits of character which are of special
value in such a state of society as exists
in this country. A community depends
upon business activity. Its welfare is due
to this, and its promoters of legitimate
enterprises may well be termed its bene-
factors. Such a man was Alfred B. Pot-
ter. He belonged to a family which is one
of the most ancient and numerous in
America. No less than eleven different
immigrants of the name came to New
England during the seventeenth century.
So far as is known none of these immi-
grants was related to any other. The
family has included many noted ecclesi-
astics and other professional men, as well
as men eminent in statesmanship and
72
C^CZ^/^ — :>
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
other walks of life. The name is sup-
posed to be of French origin.
Alfred Benedict Potter, youngest son
of the late Henry S. Potter, of Pittsford
and Rochester, New York, was born in
Pittsford, February 16, 1833, and died at
his home in Potter place, Fairport, New
York, August 11, 1896. He was still a
young lad when his parents removed with
their family to Rochester, and there he
lived until his marriage, when he removed
to Fairport, which remained his place of
residence until his lamented death. A
memorial tablet to his memory has been
placed in the Methodist Episcopal church
and is a fitting and appropriate remem-
brance of his quiet, noble life. Mr. Pot-
ter married, in 1864, Hulda A. Thayer,
of Lakeside, New York, a woman of un-
usual qualities of mind and heart, and
possessed of those graces which com-
mend her to the love and kindly regard
of all who know her. Mr. and Mrs. Pot-
ter had children: Mrs. Alice Potter
Howard, of Rochester; Bertha L. ; Mrs.
Frank D. Rusling, of Indianapolis, Indi-
ana; and Frederick T., of Fairport. Mr.
Potter was essentially a home man, and
although very busy all the time, he never
permitted other things to detract his
attention from home, where he found his
greatest enjoyment. At the time of his
death it was repeatedly said: "Fairport
has lost a man she could ill afford to
lose," and among those with whom he
had been associated there came a deep
sense of personal bereavement, for he
was a man who tied other men to him by
the strongest cords of respect, confidence
and friendship. It was a great privilege
to have enjoyed his friendship, and even
his companionship, for he was an inspira-
tion to others, and his influence on those
with whom he came in contact was
always uplifting. He held to a high stand-
ard of business ethics and had no use for
trickery or anything savoring of dishon-
esty. Painstaking and thorough in every-
thing he did, he demanded of others that
their work should be well done, and he
never deviated from this high standard
for himself and others. This fundamental
element of his character probably had as
much to do with his success as anything
else, for it commanded the respect and
confidence of the business world. He was
an active factor in all church work, much
of his time and influence being used in
that direction. Personally, he was genial
and unassuming, and he enjoyed a wide
circle of friends.
MERRELL, Gaius Lewis,
Manufacturer, Representative Citizen.
To record simply the happy fulfillment of hon-
orable ambition, suggests more adequately than
anything else the final estimate of Mr. Merrell's
character. His life was guided by high conceptions
of personal honor and he exemplified through
many years their actual realization both in the
active world of business and the intimate life of
his home. His controlling motives were single
in purpose. Though his business career began
modestly it rested from its inception upon the
basic principle of fair dealing, whether in open
cooperation or friendly competition with others.
Forty years of successful and honorable busi-
ness bear their own faithful witness. To have
established a reputation unquestioned for honor-
able dealing and financial trustworthiness is to
accomplish the utmost possible. This Mr. Merrell
and his associates did. The corporation bearing
his name to-day is rated second to none for its
high reputation. The splendid standing of such a
corporation means ultimately the steadfast honor
and moral probity of its founders.
Mr. Merrell was a man who wove the fabric of
his life out of a clear conscience. He followed
patiently and undeviatingly the clear path laid down
by his ideals of honor. In his presence and in his
practice right and wrong parted company. To
know him intimately in his home life was a privi-
lege shared by few. There his genuineness ex-
pressed itself most completely. He was faithful
and affectionate to the utmost to her who shared
his life and upon those who bear his name he has
bestowed an inheritance passing the accumulated
fortune of a successful business career.
173
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
As a man of quiet tastes Mr. Merrell sur-
rounded himself with modest enjoyments. His
sympathies were broadly expressed and his gener-
ous nature knew no bounds. His active interest
in large matters of public welfare was no less
known than his sustaining participation in all
humane and philanthropic work. For many years
he found satisfaction in the faith of the Unitarian
church and embodied in his life the fundamental
spirit of its teachings.
Those who admire simplicity find satisfaction in
his character. Upon his city and his business he
conferred distinction; upon his family and his
friends he bestowed the strength and charm of a
well rounded life. Though passed away, he still
lives as a potent influence for all that is good in
the memory and life of his loved ones and his
friends. — Rev. Albert Willard Clark.
Gaius Lewis Merrell was born in
Greene, New York, May 14, 1843, died in
Syracuse, New York, February 7, 1909.
He was the son of Oliver Dunbar Merrell,
and a descendant of Nathaniel Merrell,
who came from England in 1634 and set-
tled in Newbury, Massachusetts.
When a youth of sixteen years he came
to Syracuse and from the year of his
coming (1859) that city was his home and
the scene of his activity. His first posi-
tion was with Bowen's Grocery and Can-
ning Establishment and there he gained
an intimate knowledge of a business that
he was destined to follow with such
marked success. In 1869 he formed a
partnership with Oscar F. Soule and
began the manufacture of canned goods
under the firm name of Merrell & Soule.
At that time all canning was done by
hand, a slow and expensive method that
did not commend itself to Mr. Merrell's
business ideas. After a great deal of
experiment he finally perfected the proc-
ess of canning now in use in large plants
and is also the inventor of many of the
machines now used in the canning of
vegetables. The business prospered and
was conducted under the original firm
name for several years. After the admis-
sion of Frank C. Soule this was changed
and the partnership became the Merrell-
Soule Company. With this change and
addition to the managing heads, other
lines were added and food products of
many kinds became important lines in
the company's output. After incorpora-
tion the large plant on the salt reserva-
tion was erected and with the constant
additions and improvements that have
been made is one of the best equipped
and modernly conducted plants in the
State.
Mr. Merrell continued as executive
head of the Merrell-Soule Company until
his death, guiding its affairs with wisdom
and in accord with his own progressive
ideas. He had few interests in the busi-
ness world outside his own company but
aided in all the movements tending to
promote the welfare of Syracuse and her
institutions. He was an active member
of the Chamber of Commerce and at one
time served as its vice-president. He was
a member of the Historical Association
and of the patriotic societies to which the
military service and early colonial records
of his ancestors entitled him, membership.
Mr. Merrell married, January 28, 1874,
Mary A., daughter of Dr. Stephen and
Dolly Ann (Smith) Seward, who died
November 3, 191 1. The children : Irving
Seward, born October 12, 1875 ; Lewis
Charles, born October 25, 1877; Oliver
Edward, born March 12, 1880; all resid-
ing in Syracuse ; and Arthur Howard,
born June 17, 1886, died January 21, 1887.
CLARK, Bracket! H.,
Prominent in Kodak Industry.
History is no longer a record of wars,
conquests and strife between man and
man as in former years, but is the account
of business and intellectual development,
and the real upbuilders of a community
are they who found and conduct success-
ful commercial and industrial interests.
74
^H^S^.
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
In this connection Brackett H. Clark was
widely known, being one of the directors
and secretary of the Eastman Kodak
Company from its organization in 1884
until his death. He was also financially
connected with the Clark Paint & Oil
Company, but not active in its manage-
ment.
Mr. Clark was born in Salem, Massa-
chusetts, January 17, 1821. His youth
was passed in that locality, and for some
time he resided in Virginia and in New
York City prior to his arrival in Roches-
ter in 1857, and from that time forward
he was connected with the business inter-
ests of that city. In the year of his ar-
rival he began operating a stave factory
at the corner of the Erie canal and Lyell
avenue and engaged in the manufacture
of staves until 1884. The length of his
continuation with this enterprise proves
its success. The business gradually de-
veloped along healthful lines and he en-
joyed a liberal patronage. Each forward
step he took in his career brought him a
broader outlook and wider view, and hav-
ing demonstrated his power and capacity
in the business world, his cooperation
was sought by the Eastman Kodak Com-
pany, which he joined upon its organiza-
tion in 1884, becoming a director and sec-
retary. To know the history of Roches-
ter in the last three decades is to know the
history of the Kodak Company. It has
become the leader in this line of business
in the world and one of the most impor-
tant enterprises of the city, contributing
not only to individual success, but also
to the growth and development of Roches-
ter through the employment which it fur-
nishes to many hundred people. Mr.
Clark brought to his new work keen dis-
cernment and native intellectual strength,
and as the years passed by he aided in no
small measure in the marvelous develop-
ment of this enterprise, which has now
reached mammoth proportions.
Mr. Clark was a Republican in politics.
He held membership in Plymouth Church,
in the work of which he was much inter-
ested, contributing generously to its sup-
port and doing all in his power for its
development. He served as a trustee and
deacon and the value of his labor in be-
half of the church was widely recognized
by all who were associated with him in
that organization. He was benevolent
and kindly, liberal in his views, and
possessed a charity that reached out
to all humanity. His efforts toward
advancing the interests of Rochester are
so widely recognized that they can be
considered as being no secondary part of
his career of signal usefulness. His death
occurred March 22, 1900, and thus passed
away one who enjoyed to the fullest ex-
tent the confidence and respect of all
classes of people.
Mr. Clark was married to Lucretia
Bowker, of Salem, Massachusetts, a
daughter of Joel Bowker, one of the old
Salem merchants. She died April 8,
1912. Two sons: 1. Daniel R., married
Helen J. Ross, of Wiscoy, New York, Jan-
uary 6, 1876; two daughters: Helene
Rogers and Mary Lucretia. 2. George H.,
married Adele Hathaway, of Rochester,
December 11, 1900; three sons: Brackett
H., Halford Rogers, and Donald Richard-
son.
TRACY, Osgood V.,
Ciril 'War Veteran, Man of Affairs.
Not all men order their lives to their lik-
ing; nor yet are all men true to their
own selves in living as nearly to their
ideals as possible, and attaining to such
heighths as their opportunities and tal-
ents render readily accessible. The late
Colonel Osgood V. Tracy, of Syracuse,
New York, did not lead a pretentious or
exalted life, but one which was true to
itself and its possibilities, and one to
75
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
which the biographer may revert with
respect and satisfaction. A man of strong
intellectual force and mature judgment,
his character found its deeper values in
the wellsprings of absolute integrity and
most exalted motives. The surname of
Tracy is a very ancient one. It is taken
from the castle and barony of Tracie,
near Vire Arrondissement, of Caen,
France. The first of the name of whom
there is record is Turgis de Tracie, who,
with William de la Ferte, was defeated
and driven out of Main by the Count of
Anjou, in 1078, and was in all probability
the Sire de Tracie mentioned in the battle
of Hastings. The coat-of-arms of the
family was borne in the twelfth century,
and is: Or, an escallop in the chief dex-
ter, between two bendlets gules. Crest:
On a chapeau gules turned up ermine en
escallop sable, between two wings ex-
panded or. The parents of Colonel Tracy
were James Grant and Sarah (Osgood)
Tracy, the former named died in 1850,
and one of his great-grandfathers, Joseph
Vose, was a colonel in the First Massa-
chusetts Regiment, the greater part of his
service being with the Lafayette Division
during the War of the Revolution.
Colonel Osgood V. Tracy was born in
Syracuse, New York, June 25, 1840, died
in Syracuse, New York, January 31, 1909,
and interment was in Oakwood Cemetery.
He attended the public and high schools
of his native city, being graduated from
the last named institution at the age of
sixteen years, a member of the first class
that had been graduated from it. One
year was spent in a finishing course at
the Albany Academy, and, thus well
equipped, he entered upon his business
career. He found his first position in
the general offices of the Binghamton
Railroad Company of Syracuse, resigning
the duties of this post for a clerkship in
the coal offices of E. R. Holden.
Intensely patriotic by nature, Colonel
Tracy enlisted, August 28, 1862, in Com-
pany I, One Hundred and Twenty-sec-
ond Regiment, New York Volunteer In-
fantry, leaving Syracuse with the rank
of sergeant-major. His brave and meri-
torious conduct soon earned him advance-
ment, and he was successively second
lieutenant, first lieutenant, adjutant and
captain. In the Shenandoah Valley he
displayed exceptional bravery, and for
this was breveted major of the United
States Volunteers ; for gallant service
during the closing campaign of the war
and before Petersburg, he was breveted
lieutenant-colonel of the United States
Volunteers. He was inspector-general of
the Third Division, Sixth Army Corps,
Army of the Potomac, during the last
year of the war. At the battle of the
Wilderness he was taken prisoner, and
with General Shaler and many other offi-
cers was taken to Lynchburg, Virginia.
While there he met Colonel Mortimer B.
Birdseye, of the Second New York Cav-
alry, who had arranged to escape. Colonel
Tracy joined him and they walked from
Lynchburg to Harpers Ferry, having
many narrow escapes from capture be-
fore reaching the Union lines. He was
honorably discharged from the United
States government in July, 1865.
When the close of the war left Colonel
Tracy free to pursue the more peaceful
occupations of his usual life, he accepted
a position with C. C. Loomis & Company,
wholesale dealers in coffees and spices,
and two years later became a member of
the firm, the name under which they
operated being changed to read : Ostran-
der, Loomis & Company. Colonel Tracy
became the sole proprietor of this exten-
sive business in 1886, and in 1893 admit-
ted as partners, Charles Sedgwick Tracy
and John Hurst, the firm operating under
the style of O. V. Tracy & Company.
The conduct of this business, however,
was not sufficient occupation for the
/6
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
active mind of Colonel Tracy, and he be-
came identified with a number of other
enterprises. When the Solvay Process
Company was organized in 1884, Colonel
Tracy became a member of its board of
directors, and served in this office until
the time of his death. He was the first
secretary of this company, and later be-
came treasurer of the corporation. He
was a director and secretary of the First
National Bank of Syracuse, and was for
a long period of time a member of the
board of trustees of the Onondaga County
Savings Bank. Upon the creation of the
Intercepting Sewer Commission by the
State Legislature, Colonel Tracy was ap-
pointed as one of the three members by
Mayor Alan C. Fobes. He was at once
chosen as chairman, and in this position
his wise counsel was of inestimable ad-
vantage. His social affiliation was with
Root Post, Grand Army of the Republic,
and the Military Order of the Loyal
Legion of the United States. He was one
of the original directors of the Historical
Society.
Colonel Tracy married, June 19, 1867,
Ellen Sedgwick, a daughter of Charles B.
Sedgwick, and they had children: Charles
Sedgwick, James Grant, Lyndon San-
ford and Frank Sedgwick.
The men who served by Colonel Tracy's
side in the war say that he was a brave
soldier and was always most considerate
to his men, whose esteem he held. His
associates in business say that he was
most thorough and untiring and pos-
sessed rare ability in that line. He was
always public-spirited, and was ever
ready to aid in public matters.
TRACY, William G.,
Veteran of Civil War, Lawyer.
William G. Tracy, brother of Colonel
Osgood V. Tracy, was born at Syracuse,
New York, April 7, 1843. He graduated
N Y-Vol HI-12
from the Syracuse High School in the fall
of 1858. In the following spring he en-
tered the Bank of Salina, and was book-
keeper of that bank when the war be-
tween the North and South broke out.
He was a member of Butler's Zouaves
and enlisted in the Third New York
Regiment, where he was made fourth cor-
poral. He served in that regiment until
September, 1861, when he was promoted
to be a first lieutenant in the Twelfth
New York Volunteers. He served as such
until February, 1862, when the regiment
was consolidated with the Twelfth New
York Volunteers from New York City,
and he was mustered out as a super-
numerary officer. He then west West
and enlisted in the Tenth Indiana Regi-
ment. He served in that regiment as a
private soldier, marching twice across the
states of Kentucky and Tennessee. On
October 1, 1862, he received his discharge
to accept a commission in a New York
regiment. He became a second lieuten-
ant in the One Hundred and Twenty-
second New York; was appointed aide-
de-camp on the staff of Major-General
Henry W. Slocum, and served in that
capacity during the remainder of the war.
He was severely wounded at the battle
of Chancellorsville, May 2, 1863, his right
arm resected and three and one-half
inches of bone removed therefrom. He
returned to duty in August, 1863, and
thereafter served on the staff of Major-
General H. W. Slocum in the East and
the West until the end of the war. He
was brevetted major towards the close
of the war, and afterwards given a medal
of honor for gallantry at the battle of
Chancellorsville. At the battle of Ben-
tonville, North Carolina, March 19, 1865,
he was slightly wounded in the right leg.
After the war he entered a bank in
Syracuse, and in the spring of 1866 com-
menced the study of law in the office of
Sedgwick, Andrews & Kennedy. About
177
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
a year after his admission to the bar,
when Judge Andrews became a member
of the Court of Appeals, 1875, he was
succeeded in that firm by Charles H.
Sedgwick and Mr. Tracy. The firm be-
came Sedgwicks, Kennedy & Tracy, and
so remained until 1877, when the Sedg-
wicks having retired the firm became
Kennedy & Tracy, and so remained until
1884, when Mr. Kennedy was made a
judge of the Supreme Court. He was
succeeded by G. A. Forbes and Wilbur
M. Brown, the firm becoming Forbes,
Brown & Tracy. In the year 1890 Mr.
Forbes was elected a judge of the Su-
preme Court, and Mr. Brown retired from
the practice of the law. The firm of
Tracy, McLennan & Ayling was then
formed, composed of Mr. Tracy, Peter B.
McLennan and Charles F. Ayling. In
1892 Mr. McLennan was elected justice
of the Supreme Court in place of Judge
Kennedy, retired by the age limit, who
resumed the practice of the law, and the
firm of Kennedy, Tracy, Mills & Ayling
was formed, composed of Judge Kennedy,
Mr. Tracy, Albert M. Mills and Mr.
Ayling. This firm was succeeded in 1901
by the present firm of Tracy, Chapman
& Tracy, composed of William G. Tracy,
George D. Chapman and James G. Tracy.
William G. Tracy is a member of the
Military Order of the Loyal Legion of
the United States, the Onondaga Golf
and Country Club, the Sedgwick Farm
Club and Root Post, Grand Army of the
Republic.
He married, September 24, 1903, Marion
Gill, daughter of Daniel F. Gill, of Syra-
cuse ; no children.
KNOWLTON, Mark Dean,
Business Man and Inventor.
The late Mark Dean Knowlton, who
for many years was one of the prominent
and influential business men of Roches-
ter, gaining not only success, but also
an honored name as the result of the
straightforward business principles which
he ever followed, was a man of marked
strength of character and intellectual abil-
ity, the architect of his own fortune, a
man whose mind was ever occupied with
mighty projects for the advancement and
welfare of the city of his adoption. He
was born at Milford, New Hampshire,
October 5, 1840, son of Samuel Dean and
Nancy J. (Shattuck) Knowlton, the for-
mer named a shoemaker and retail dealer
in shoes.
Mark D. Knowlton attended the com-
mon schools of Milford and the Milford
Academy, completing his studies at the
age of sixteen years. He then went to
Nashua, New Hampshire, and served an
apprenticeship at the trade of blacksmith-
ing and carriage manufacturing, but he
did not follow this for any length of time,
having an opportunity to purchase a paper
box manufactory, which he operated suc-
cessfully, although at the time of pur-
chase he was totally unacquainted with
that line of work, but soon made himself
master of every detail by persistent appli-
cation thereto. For a time he was located
in Nashua, New Hampshire, removing
from that city in 1866 to Chicago, Illinois,
where he continued in the paper box
manufacturing business until the great
Chicago conflagration, the greater part of
his capital being swept away by that
calamity. Being a man of great strength
and force of character, he overcame these
obstacles which to many others seemed
unsurmountable, and not only retrieved
his own lost possessions, but assisted
others in regaining a footing. He was
not in such terrible straits as many of his
friends, as his home was not destroyed,
this being in South Evanston, where, by
the way, he held the only public office
in his career, that of justice of the peace.
Shortly afterward he located on the west
178
An -XVy litr**™-^.
[^NOWLTON
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
side of the city of Chicago, where he re-
sumed operations, but again was burned
out and once more practically lost all his
possessions, and subsequently he joined
the W. C. Ritchie Company. While associ-
ated with that firm he devoted consider-
able time to completing the invention of
his machine for paper box manufacture,
on which he had been working for some
time, and when completed and placed on
the market it revolutionized the entire
trade. In March, 1891, Mr. Knowlton
disposed of his business interests in Chi-
cago and removed to Rochester, New
York, where under the style of Knowlton
& Beace he started the manufacture of
machinery for making paper boxes. This
connection continued until May, 1904,
when Mr. Knowlton purchased his part-
ner's interest and continued business
under the name of M. D. Knowlton Com-
pany. Later he patented a number of
appliances and machinery, all used in
box-making, and became widely known
as an inventor of great ability, largely
giving his time to the business, which was
subsequently organized as a stock com-
pany, the officers being Mark D. Knowl-
ton, president; Fred K. Knowlton, vice-
president ; Annie D. Knowlton, treasurer,
and Mrs. Fred K. Knowlton, secretary.
From the beginning it proved a profitable
enterprise, developing steadily and great-
ly, giving employment to over one hun-
dred operatives in the factory, thus con-
tributing to the prosperity of that section
of Rochester. The business has not de-
clined since the death of Mr. Knowlton,
owing to the fact that his son and daugh-
ter are still in office, both of whom pos-
sess in marked degree the executive abil-
ity and keen business discernment of their
father, with whom they were so closely
associated in business. Mr. Knowlton
was also the principal owner of the stock
of the Auburn Ball Bearing Company.
This still constitutes a part of the estate
and the business is practically managed
by Miss Annie D. Knowlton, with her
brother's assistance, these two being the
executor and executrix of their father's
large estate.
Mr. Knowlton married, October 5, 1864,
Abbie E. Currier, daughter of Alfred and
Abbie (Worcester) Currier, of Massachu-
setts, her father being a railroad man.
Children: 1. Annie Dean, above referred
to, who greatly resembles her father in
personal appearance as well as in the
splendid business qualities which he dis-
played. 2. Grace E. 3. Hattie Gertrude.
4. Fred Kirk, above referred to, ob-
tained his education at Purdue Univer-
sity and Columbia College ; married Eliz-
abeth Kent Stone. 5. Ola. The family
are members of the Central Presbyterian
Church, of Rochester. The mother and
daughters reside at No. 6 Granger place,
where they have a fine residence. Mr.
Knowlton was a dutiful son, a devoted
husband, a loving father, ever mindful of
the welfare and comfort of those near and
dear to him, and his death was felt most
severely in the home, where he spent the
greater part of his leisure time and to
which he was so devoted. It was also felt
in business, church and social circles.
BACON, Byron H.,
Proprietary Medicine Manufacturer.
Byron H. Bacon, who established and
conducted a substantial productive indus-
try of Rochester and continued an active
and honored factor in business life in the
city until his death, was a native of Leroy,
New York, and after acquiring a good
education was engaged in the furniture
business in his native town for a number
of years. In 1891 he began the manu-
facture of medicines which were placed
upon the market under the name of the
Byron H. Bacon medicines. His output
included as the principal remedies, the
179
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
Celery King and Dr. Otto's Cough medi-
cines, which were sold by agents and ad-
vertising wagons all over the country,
covering nearly every State in the Union,
with main offices at No. 187 West ave-
nue in Rochester. Mr. Bacon gave nine
years of his life to the conduct of this
business, which grew in volume until it
had reached extensive and profitable pro-
portions.
Mr. Bacon was married to Amelia Ech-
lin, of Leroy, New York, who was born
in Canada, and they became the parents
of three sons : Harold A., Goodell Weles
and Ronald Henry. Mr. Bacon was a
man of domestic tastes, devoted to his
family, and found his greatest pleasure at
his own fireside. He considered no per-
sonal sacrifice on his part too great if it
would promote the welfare and happiness
of his wife and children and he was a
man who was well liked and respected by
all. His widow has since become Mrs.
Van Dusen and she resides at No. 4 Alli-
ance street.
DAVIDGE, Sherwood B.,
Manufacturer, Financier.
The prosperity of any community, town
or city depends upon its commercial activ-
ity, its industrial interests and its trade
relations, and therefore among the build-
ers of a town are those who stand at the
head of the business enterprises. Promi-
nent among the leading business men of
Binghamton, New York, was the late
Sherwood B. Davidge, whose intense
activity and energy yet enabled him to
find time for club life and social duties.
He was alert and enterprising, possessing
the progressive spirit of the times, accom-
plishing in business circles what he
undertook, while his geniality and defer-
ence for the opinions of others made his
circle of friends almost co-extensive with
the circle of his acquaintances.
James Davidge, his grandfather, was
born in Somersetshire, England, in 1786,
and married there. He came to America
with his family in 1818, settled at Liberty,
Sullivan county, New York, and died
there at an advanced age, being the oldest
resident of the town at that time.
John Davidge, son of James Davidge,
was born in Somersetshire, England,
about 1810, and died at Newark Valley,
Tioga county, New York, in 1880. His
earlier years were spent at Liberty, New
York, from whence he removed to Lake
Como, Wayne county, Pennsylvania,
from that town to Hancock, Delaware
county, New York, and then to Newark
Valley. In the last mentioned place he
engaged in the tanning business as a
member of the firm of Allison, Davidge
& Company, and Davidge, Landfield &
Company, and became very prosperous.
He married Eunice Burr, who died in
Newark Valley in 1898. Of this mar-
riage there were children: Edson Greg-
ory, James, Sherwood B., whose name
heads this sketch ; Harriet Elizabeth,
George Gifford, Samuel Philip, Mary D.,
John, and William Munson.
Sherwood B. Davidge, son of John and
Eunice (Burr) Davidge, was born at
Liberty, Sullivan county, New York, Oc-
tober 17, 1843, a °d died at his home, No.
31 Front street, Binghamton, New York,
December 10, 191 1. His death was as
beautiful and peaceful as his life had
been, coming calmly on Sunday morn-
ing just as he was preparing to go to
church. His education was commenced
in his native town, and continued and
completed in Poughkeepsie, New York.
Upon its completion he entered upon his
business career, his first independent step
in this direction being when he engaged
in the mercantile business in Hancock,
New York. In 1866 he was admitted as
a partner of the firm of Davidge, Land-
field & Company, mentiond above, and
80
y/^j^^
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
later he became actively identified with
tanning interests at Berkshire, New
York ; English Center, Pennsylvania ; and
Torpedo, Pennsylvania. His executive
ability in business affairs was soon the
subject of comment in the circles in
which he was engaged, and he was an
important factor to be reckoned with.
In 1894 he sold his tanning interests to
the United States Leather Company. He
removed to Binghamton about 1901, and
there purchased the Jones property, in
which he resided until his death. His
connection with business enterprises was
an extensive and varied one, a partial list
of the companies with which he was
identified officially and otherwise being
as follows : With T. B. Crary and Robert
H. Rose, of Binghamton, in the Alden-
Batavia Natural Gas Company; he was
the president of this, and a vice-president
of the Akron Natural Gas Company ;
vice-president and a director of the Cot-
ton State Lumber Company of Meehan
Junction, Mississippi ; a director of the
Bayless Pulp and Paper Company; a
director in the Dare Lumber Company,
of Elizabeth City, North Carolina ; a
director of the People's Bank and the
Chenango Valley Savings Bank of Bing-
hamton. His religious affiliation was with
the First Congregational Church of Bing-
hamton. Fraternally he was a member
of Newark Valley Lodge, Free and Ac-
cepted Masons; Owego Chapter, Royal
Arch Masons; Utica Commandery,
Knights Templar; Kalurah Temple, An-
cient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic
Shrine. He was also a member of the
Binghamton City and Country clubs.
Mr. Davidge married, in 1877, M. Ella
Ayer, of Newburgh, New York, who sur-
vives him with two sons: S. Richard, of
Binghamton ; and Warren A., a resident
of Denver, Colorado. Mr. Davidge was
the center of a large circle of friends, and
the high esteem in which he was held was
expressed in editorials which appeared in
various papers at the time of his death.
The limits of this article will permit the
reprint of only one, as follows :
The death of Sherwood B. Davidge removes a
man who was, in the broadest and truest sense, a
representative of all that is best in the commer-
cial, social and religious life of Binghamton. It
is the custom to speak of the wealth of a city in
terms of its commercial and industrial greatness.
But this is a mistake. The real wealth of any
community is found in the character of the men
and women whose energy and intelligence place
them in positions of leadership in its enduring
activities. Mr. Davidge was such a leader. Com-
ing to Binghamton with his reputation already
established as a business man of unquestioned in-
tegrity and of remarkable discernment and force,
he took at once a prominent place in the life of
the community. During his residence here he was
actively identified with the business growth of the
city, but his influence extended far beyond his
merely commercial interests. Countless friends
feel in his death a keen personal loss. And in the
religious and philanthropic activities of Bingham-
ton his personality was an unfailing power for
good. The city is the poorer for the death of one
who devoted himself to what was highest and best
in the life of the community.
DAVIS, Henry W.,
Financier, Legislator.
The true measure of a man's success is
what lives after him, the things that out-
live the transitory existence, for we are
only remembered "by what we have
done." It may be only sowing in the
heart of some unknown and obscure per-
son a seed of helpfulness and good cheer,
which grew and developed into a sturdy
tree bearing good fruit, which in due time
rendered a like service to countless others,
a service so far-reaching that from one
kindly act it is as impossible to estimate
the good done as it is to gather up the
perfume spread royally around them by
the fragrant flowers. We might say of
the life of Henry W. Davis it could not
be measured by the standard of business
181
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
success, for there are men who have
attained greater power in that line, nor
by the prosperity which he was able to
surround himself with, to a certain extent,
for there have been wealthier men, but
he possessed the lovable characteristics
that are not the accompaniment of gold
always, and the respect and esteem of his
neighbors and friends were his as a man,
an individual, a personality, not as a
figurehead in the community, and through
such qualities came his popularity.
Henry W. Davis was born in 1807, in
the State of New York. When he was
nine years of age his father removed with
his family to Galway, New York, where
he remained until 1827. In that year
Henry W. Davis made his advent in Mon-
roe county, which was still to a consid-
erable degree in the pioneer stage. He
settled in Pittsford, where he found em-
ployment with Henry S. Potter, a mer-
chant, as clerk, and remained at this occu-
pation for several years, which might be
regarded as the beginning of his subse-
quent successful career. He was about
twenty-five or thirty years of age when he
became identified with the old Rochester
Bank, his first connection with that insti-
tution being as exchange cashier and for
a quarter of a century he ably and effi-
ciently filled that office and occupied a
position of prominence in financial circles
in the community. After retiring from
the active work in the bank he removed
to Churchville, where he bought a farm
on which he made his home until his de-
mise, which occurred in 1884. He re-
moved to his country home about 1852
and was ever afterward actively inter-
ested in agricultural matters, and ener-
getic in his promotion of all kindred in-
terests. His prudent and conservative
measures won him success in business
affairs and he was recognized as one of
the leading agriculturalists of his section
of the country.
Mr. Davis was also a man of influence
in public life, doing his most effective
work in the ranks of the Democratic
party, in which he closely adhered to the
principles of the early leaders. He served
on the Board of Supervisors and also rep-
resented his district in the General As-
sembly, in both of these bodies his work
was characterized by strictest fidelity and
conscientious regard for what he con-
sidered his duty. He never considered
public office as a means of personal
emolument, but rather as a most sacred
trust and evidence of confidence placed in
one by his fellowmen. a confidence that
should never be abused.
Henry W. Davis married Sarah Louise
Selkirk, and they became the parents of
six children, who are all deceased.
Mr. Davis died February 26, 1884, and
was buried in the Churchville Cemetery.
Mrs. Davis died December 12, 1907. Mr.
and Mrs. Davis were both affiliated with
the First Presbyterian Church and active
workers in that organization. Mr. Davis
had a personality that called forth words
of praise and appreciation from his many
friends, for although a man of much deci-
sion of character and strong opinions, un-
faltering in his defense of what he deemed
to be right, he was just and generous in
spirit, and a gentleman in every thought
and action. His residence of almost sixty
years in the county was during the time
of development, so that in truth he might
be called one of the "Early Builders," and
among those who built wisely and well
for the succeeding generations to emu-
late.
Henry W. Davis, Jr., son of Henry W.
Davis, Sr., was born in Churchville, New
York. During his early life he attended
the local schools and assisted with the
work on his father's large farm. Later
he became a breeder of fine cattle, having
splendid herds of registered Galloway
cattle, and after his father's death he
182
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
conducted the operations on the home-
stead farm in a successful manner up to
the time of his death, May 5, 1904. He
was a man of character and integrity,
took an active interest in community
affairs, and was honored and esteemed by
all with whom he came in contact. He
was a member of Churchville Lodge, Free
and Accepted Masons, and also held
membership in the Ancient Arabic Order
Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, of Roches-
ter. He married Emma Bell Scott, of
Churchville. Children: 1. Samuel, owner
of and interested in fine riding and driv-
ing horses; married Edith Walker, of
Virgil, New York ; he makes his home in
Churchville, as does also his mother. 2.
Marabelle, who became the wife of Ray-
mond G. Carroll ; they reside in Philadel-
phia, Pennsylvania, Mr. Carroll being
connected with the Curtis Publishing
Company.
MANDEVILLE, Wilber J.,
Prominent Seedsman.
Wilber J. Mandeville, deceased, was
born in Webster, Monroe county, New
York, February 9, 1852, and was a son
of Edward Mandeville. He was reared
in Rochester and completed his education
in De Graff Military School. Through-
out his entire life he was connected with
the seed business, Rochester largely
being a center for that line of commer-
cial activity in the United States. He
bought out the business of John Board-
man in 1875 and admitted in 1879 his
brother-in-law, Herbert S. King, to a
partnership under the firm style of Man-
deville & King. This relation was main-
tained until the death of Mr. King in 1890,
when he formed a partnership with Fred
A. King under the same firm name. A
few months before his death, in 1902, the
business was incorporated under the
name of the Mandeville & King Company,
which still continues. Mr. Mandeville
secured a very liberal patronage and pros-
pered in his undertakings, using every
energy to enlarge his business and make
it a prosperous concern. He was only a
child at the time of his father's death and
was early thrown upon his own resources,
so that he deserved much credit for what
he accomplished.
In his political views Mr. Mandeville
was a Republican, and he belonged to St.
Luke's Church at Rochester, in which he
served as a vestryman. His life was in
many respects exemplary and he enjoyed
in large measure the confidence and esteem
of those with whom he came in contact.
In his business career he was found thor-
oughly reliable and trustworthy and all
who knew him recognized in him the in-
herent force of character and capability
which enabled him to advance from a
humble financial position to one of afflu-
ence.
Mr^Mandeyille married, June 14, 1876,
Harriet King, a daughter of Jonathan
King, who came to Rochester in 1825
from Massachusetts. Her mother was
Sarah Sibley King, of Brighton. Her
father settled on Sophia street in Roches-
ter and cleared the land there, for at that
time it was swampy. He continued to
make his home upon that place through-
out his remaining days and contributed
in large measure to the substantial up-
building of the city. His daughter, Mrs.
Mandeville, is the only member of the
family now living. By her marriage she
became the mother of three children,
Edna King, Lois Sibley and Arthur Wil-
ber.
COBB, Amos Hubbell,
Pioneer in Canning Industry.
Typical of the successful business man
and the useful citizen was the late Amos
Hubbell Cobb, of Fairport, New York,
83
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
who was one of the pioneers in the can-
ning industry, which is one of such great
importance in the State of New York.
He was progressive and farseeing in busi-
ness and private life, and could look back
with pride and pleasure upon the work
which he had accomplished, and which
earned him the commendation of all.
Amos Hubbell Cobb, son of Tyler
Perry and Catherine (Hubbell) Cobb,
was born in Greenville, Greene county,
New York, September 28, 1840, and died
in Fairport, Monroe county, New York,
August 27, 1891. Until the age of ten
years he lived with his parents, and
attended the district schools in the vicin-
ity of his home, then went to Camden,
Oneida county, New York, and there
made his home with his cousin, Ezra A.
Edgett, later of Newark, Wayne county,
New York, and assisted him in planting
the first field of sweet corn ever used for
canning in the State of New York. Thus
was started the canning industry in this
State, which has grown to such impor-
tance, and has added so greatly to its
prosperity. Mr. Edgett subsequently
founded the Wayne County Preserving
Company, which is now the oldest estab-
lished cannery in the State. Until he had
attained young manhood Mr. Cobb re-
mained with his cousin, and during this
time acquired a full and accurate knowl-
edge of the canning industry, in all its
branches. He then went to the City of
New York, where he was employed by
the firm of Kemp, Day & Company, and
formed a partnership with U. H. Dud-
ley & Company in 1863, both important
houses in the canned foods business. In
1868 he severed his connection with these
firms and became associated with the
paper commission business of Goodwin,
Cobb & Company, as a member of the
firm. This was an importing house, with
connecting offices in Liverpool, England,
and was the first firm to import soda ash
to this country by steamer. Mr. Cobb
removed to Fairport in 1881, having pur-
chased of Ezra A. Edgett the canning fac-
tory which the latter had estabished
there in 1873, as a branch of the Wayne
County Preserving Company, of Newark,
New York. Mr. Cobb was at the head of
this industry for a period of ten years,
during which he managed it with skill
and ability, and earned the respect and
commendation of his fellow citizens. It
was known as the Cobb Preserving Com-
pany, was incorporated, and is now con-
ducted along the lines inaugurated by
Mr. Cobb by his widow and two sons,
with the following official board : Mrs.
Cobb, president; Amos H. Cobb, of
Rochester, vice-president; and Clarence
S. Cobb, of Fairport, secretary and treas-
urer.
Mr. Cobb married, in 1864, Angie M.
Hodgeman, who is still a resident of
Fairport. In addition to the sons men-
tioned above, Mr. and Mrs. Cobb were
blessed with a daughter : Angie, who mar-
ried Stanley Shepard, of Rochester ;
Frederick D. H. Cobb, of Rochester, who
died February 11, 1914, formerly secre-
tary of the Cobb Preserving Company;
and George Watson Cobb, of Montclair,
New Jersey, vice-president and general
manager of the Sanitary Can Company,
also assistant general manager of sales
American Can Company.
TRUESDALE, George,
Attorney and Public Official.
Rich indeed is the man who at the end
of a life of eighty-two years can leave
behind him so wonderful a record as to
call forth from friends and men with
whom he had often been in legal combat
such an expression as contained in the
following resolutions adopted by the
Monroe County Bar Association in honor
of their dead comrade.
184
O^^ir^^^^ifTK
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
Ripe in years and rich in experience, George
Truesdale, for more than fifty years a familiar
figure among us, has passed on to the great
beyond. As we pay our affectionate tribute to
his memory, we need not, as we often must, pause
to wonder at Providence's mysterious ways, for
he was well past the goal of four-score years;
and those who knew him best can in their mind's
eye see him, as he passed out of this life, do so
with a cheery wave of the hand, simply because
his work was done. In his career at the bar,
covering the unusual span of fifty-eight years, he
not only won for himself an enviable record for
industry, ability and integrity, but performed
some very distinguished services. In his conduct
of the famous Standard Oil conspiracy cases,
tried at Buffalo while he was in the prime of his
strength, he greatly enhanced his reputation and
few lawyers have received such a tribute to their
ability and learning as is found in the reports of
these cases with regard to Mr. Truesdale. Kind,
genial and honorable, full of sunshine and good
humor, no one ever came from his presence with-
out having felt the radiance of these splendid
qualities, and by them he endeared himself to all
who knew him in an unusual degree. Complete
as his life was, he will be greatly missed by his
brethren of the profession.
George Truesdale was of the third
generation of his family in the United
States, his grandfather coming from
Ireland with his son Samuel and settling
in Monroe county, New York, about 1822,
the Erie Canal then being in course of
construction. Samuel Truesdale, born in
Ireland, was a young boy when his
parents came to Monroe county, and
there lived the long years of his after
life. He became one of the substantial
farmers of the town of Greece and took
an active part in public affairs, serving
his community as assessor and commis-
sioner of highways. He married Charity
Cummings, born in Pennsylvania, who
bore him seven sons and two daughters.
Samuel Truesdale died in 1886, his wife
in 1884.
George Truesdale was born at the home
farm in the town of Greece, Monroe
county, New York, November 19, 1833,
died at his home, No. 135 Fulton avenue,
Rochester, New York, May 14, 1916. He
spent his early life on the farm and in the
intervals of school life aided in its culti-
vation. He attended the Podunk district
school and after exhausting its advan-
tages continued his education at Geneseo
Academy and Benedict's Academy, there
completing his preparation for college.
He then entered the classical department
of the University of Rochester, whence
he was graduated class of 1857. He
chose the profession of law and after
adequate study passed the required ex-
amination and in 1858 was admitted to
practice at the Monroe county bar. For
fifty-eight years from his admission Mr.
Truesdale continued in active practice
only surrendering to the grim enemy.
But whether in youthful manhood, vigor-
ous middle age, or in the "sere and yellow
leaf," he was devoted to his clients' inter-
ests, transacted a large general practice,
presented his carefully prepared cases
with force and vigor, with close reasoning
and logical deduction which won and
retained for him position among the
ablest members of the Rochester bar.
His clients were among the prominent
men of his city and he was connected
with many of the important cases tried
in the Monroe county courts, as well as
being called as counsel outside his own
bar. In 1861 he was elected justice of the
peace, at that time there being but two
or three men in the entire city holding
that office. He acted as justice for three
years, then resigned and formed a part-
nership with Frederick DeLano, the law
firm of DeLano & Truesdale continuing
in successful practice for several years.
Mr. Truesdale, after serving a term as
State Commissioner of the United States
Deposit Fund, was elected police justice
of Rochester, holding that office four
years, 1877-81. Later he formed a part-
185
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
nership with his son, Stephen C. Trues-
dale, and as G. & S. C. Truesdale they
were associated in practice with offices at
No. 448 Powers Building until death re-
moved the senior partner.
He was a member of the Monroe
County Bar Association for over half a
century, and was a member of lodge,
chapter and commandery of the Masonic
order, the Independent Order of Odd
Fellows and the Improved Order of Red
Men. He was president of the board of
trustees of the North Presbyterian
Church, his associates of the board serv-
ing as pall bearers at his funeral. He is
buried in Mt. Hope Cemetery.
Mr. Truesdale married (first) in 1861,
Sarah Cole, of Greece, New York, who
died in 1889. He married (second) in
1899, Mary A. Todd, who survives him.
By his first marriage Mr. Truesdale had
two sons and four daughters: 1. Stephen
C, born May 3, 1862, admitted to the bar
in 1887, practiced with his father until
his death, and is now his successor in the
business of G. & S. C. Truesdale; he is
attorney for and actively interested in the
Profit Loan Association ; is a well known
clubman ; member of the Masonic order,
and interested in the sports of the out-of-
doors; he married, in December, 1887,
Agnes B. Huther, of Rochester. 2.
Samuel M., a machinist. 3. Fannie G.,
married Warren B. Huther, and has a
son, George T. Huther. 4. Jessie A.,
residing in Rochester. 5. Mary F., mar-
ried Sidney R. Clark, of New York City,
and has a son Truesdale. 6. Alice C, died
in infancy.
NORTON, A. Tiffany,
Journalist.
From youth "Colonel" Norton, as he
was universally known, was identified
with newspaper work as his father's
assistant, as reporter, correspondent,
editor and publisher of his own journal
for twenty years, and from 1894 until his
death as court reporter, assistant tele-
graph editor, assistant editor and editor
of the "Democrat and Chronicle," Roches-
ter, New York. He was one of the best
known newspaper men of Western New
York and was also author of historical
works of value. His "History of Living-
ston County" is a most valuable work
and his history of "General Sullivan's
Campaign in Western New York" is a
most intersting presentation of that won-
derful campaign recognized as accurate
in all its detail. He wrote all his articles
with the greatest care and pains and was
a most zealous, industrious worker for his
employer's interest. While he ever made
the paper's interest paramount, he was
loyal to the reporters under his control
and held the unvarying friendship and
respect of the entire staff. Many men
won their reportorial reputation under
Colonel Norton and to them his passing
was a matter of genuine personal regret.
They admired his upright, manly char-
acter, appreciated his editorial ability and
knew that fair treatment would always
be accorded them. Years have passed
since he laid down his pen, but his name
is interwoven with many of the best
traditions of the "Democrat and Chron-
icle," and his memory is yet lovingly
cherished by those who were privileged
to work under the unassuming man
whom they called "Chief."
A. Tiffany Norton was born at Mount
Morris, Livingston county, New York,
September 5, 1844, died at his home No.
74 Manhattan street, Rochester, New
York, October 11, 1901. Not long after
his birth his parents moved to Geneseo,
New York, where his father, James T.
Norton, a pioneer newspaper publisher of
Livingston county, founded and edited
o.cclcj O, ^£^lf&
V-
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
the "Livingston Republican," he also at
one time being county treasurer. After
the death of his father, the son succeeded
him as editor and publisher of the "Re-
publican," but later sold the paper and
became special correspondent for Cincin-
nati papers. About 1870 he moved to
Lima, New York, there purchasing the
"Lima Recorder," a paper he edited and
published for nearly twenty years. Those
were years of great development for Mr.
Norton and he became widely known in
newspaperdom as a conscientious, able,
fearless editorial writer. While in Lima
he wrote his history of the Sullivan cam-
paign previously referred to. That was
not his first historical work, he having
previously, while a resident of Geneseo,
written a history of Livingston county,
a work which was begun by Lockwood
L. Doty, of Geneseo. In 1890 Colonel
Norton sold the "Lima Recorder" which
he had owned and published for about
twenty years, and for a full year gave
himself a much needed rest. In 1891 he
located in Rochester, where for a time he
was engaged in the printing business. In
1894 he became a member of the re-
portorial staff of the "Democrat and
Chronicle" as court reporter, soon after-
ward becoming assistant telegraph editor,
later city editor. In 1897 he became
editor-in-chief, a position he most capably
filled until his lifework ended, when he
was called to the just man's reward.
While most unassuming in manner,
Colonel Norton was a man of determined
character and great firmness where a
principle was involved. He was eminent-
ly fairminded and in his editorial work
never allowed himself to deviate from a
most careful and just presentation of his
argument or comment. He was respected
by all who knew him and he made the
editorial department of his paper a forum
for full, free and high-minded discussion
of live issues. In early manhood he be-
came a member of the Presbyterian
church. At Lima he was superintendent
of the Sunday school for several years
and a pillar of strength to the church, his
pastor feeling sure of his willing aid in
every form of church work. In Roches-
ter he was an attendant at St. Peter's
Church, was faithful in every sense, was
a Christian and a gentleman. In his
social relations he was most kindly and
cordial, delighting in the society of his
friends, but was happiest and at his best
in his own home circle. He is buried in
Temple Hill Cemetery in Geneseo, New
York, the village in which he spent his
childhood and early manhood.
Mr. Norton married, January 26, 1871,
Matilda E., daughter of V. P. Whitbeck,
who survives him with her only son,
Herbert E. Norton, a grocer in business
at No. 200 Saratoga avenue, Rochester.
ROBSON, James Adam,
Lawyer, Jurist.
Standing well over six feet in height,
and well proportioned, Judge Robson
was as commanding in his personal ap-
pearance as he was lofty in intellect and
culture. He was a polished gentleman, a
profound thinker, conservative, but not
narrow, warmly genial, even charming in
his manner, the best beloved and highly
respected of Ontario county's famous
sons.
Judge Robson was of the third Amer-
ican generation of his family. His father,
James Robson, an Englishman, came to
this country in 1820. He took up a large
tract of land in the center of the town of
Gorham, Ontario county, New York, and
left three sons to perpetuate his name.
These sons, William, James and John,
were all large land owners, prosperous
farmers and successful business men.
187
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
William, the eldest son, inherited the
homestead farm originally containing
eight hundred acres ; James Robson, the
second son, owned three hundred and
•fifty acres in lot nineteen ; while John, the
third son, owned two hundred and
seventy acres in lot twenty-seven. John
Robson married Isabella Telfer, and had
seven children : James A., the dead
jurist whom a State mourns; Jane I.;
Anne; Mary, deceased; Nellie, deceased;
Phoebe I. and Frances ; four of the sisters
with their honored brother constituted
the home group at "Spring Farm" until
the circle was broken by death.
James A. Robson was born in Gorham,
Ontario county, New York, January I,
185 1, died at his home, "Spring Farm,"
Stanley, New York, near Canandaigua,
February 1, 1916, son of John and Isabella
(Telfer) Robson. Until he was fourteen
years of age he attended the district
public school ; then for a year was a
student at Haveling High School, Bath,
New York. After another year as
student at Canandaigua Academy, he
entered Yale University, whence he was
graduated Bachelor of Arts, class of 1873.
Choosing the law as his profession he
entered Columbia Law School, New
York City, there continuing a student
until 1876, when he was awarded his
diploma and degree of Bachelor of Laws.
After graduation he located in Canan-
daigua, was admitted to the Ontario
county bar and began practice. From
1876 until 1903 he continued in practice
there, absolutely devoted to his work,
winning the highest respect of his
brethren and conducting an extensive
practice in all State and Federal courts
of the district. On October 19, 1903, he
was appointed a justice of the Supreme
Court of the State of New York to suc-
ceed William H. Adams, deceased. In
November, 1904, he was elected for a full
term of fourteen years. On January 8,
1907, he was appointed associate justice
of the fourth department of the Appellate
Division which meets at Rochester, and
in January, 1912, was redesignated for
the same position. He was a Republican
in politics, and a bachelor.
Numerous were the expressions of
regret and sorrow which followed the an-
nouncement of the eminent jurist's death.
Justice Arthur E. Sutherland said:
"The death of Justice Robson is a great
loss to the State and a deep bereavement
to a host of friends. He had a thoroughly
trained and legal mind and the judicial
temperament and was absolutely devoted
to his work. His brethren of the bench
and bar were greatly attached to him.
He was a gentleman in the truest sense
of the word, and we share a common
sorrow in his passing from among us."
Justice Nathaniel Foote who sat with
Justice Robson on the Appellate Bench
was so overcome by the news of the death
of his associate with whom his relations
were most intimate that he could hardly
express himself. "Justice Robson was a
tower of strength in the courts of the
State" he said. "His death is a personal
loss to all who knew him. His was a
great mind. His sympathies were broad
and his personal charm endeared him to
all his friends and associates."
Philetus Chamberlain, speaking from a
long acquaintanceship with Justice Rob-
son said: "His was one of the grandest
characters I have ever had the privilege
of knowing. He had one of the best legal
minds and he was the strongest man in
equity cases who has ever sat on the
bench of this district."
At a meeting of the Rochester Bar As-
sociation high tribute was paid Judge
Robson, and a memorial adopted. Judge
Stephens, county judge, after sketching
the life of the dead jurist, said : "He had
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
the ideal qualities of the judge. Perhaps
the most notable of these was the atmos-
phere of dignified serenity and calm
strength which ever pervaded his mind;
a mind active and resolute, yet detached
from the worries and strain of every day
work, which so often overcome weaker
men. Master of keen analytic powers,
he paid a courteous defence to all opin-
ions honestly held. Absorbed in the
human aspects of every litigated dispute,
he yet did not allow any theory of social
justice to form or modify his judicial
opinion on the law as it was. Preposses-
sions and prejudices were ruthlessly cast
aside. From such equipment could pro-
ceed only sound, impartial, reasoned
judgments. These great qualities gave
to his commonwealth a judge who
achieved justice in accordance with the
forms of law. An enduring monument to
his splendid judicial career is found in
his opinions published in the reports. As
his thinking was clear, direct and virile,
so also was the expression of those
thoughts. His opinions will live to in-
struct and inspire future generations of
lawyers. We falter in the expression of
our appreciation of him in his personal
relations to those who came within the
charmed circle of his companionship lest,
though we speak in impartial phrase, so
modest was he, we should offend our sure
conviction of what he would have us
do at this hour; he would not have us
praise nor tarry long where he has fallen,
but rather that each in his place should
go forward with quickened step toward
the realization of better ideals; but yet
he would not deny to us the contempla-
tion of those simple virtues that moulded
a heroic personality in a frame of heroic
proportions. Doing kindly things was
his habit ; he knew no other way ; he was
charitable in his thought of others and
reticent in blame; reserved, well poised,
self controlled, firm in his friendships,
unyielding except to the right, hating
nothing but hypocrisy, loving all that is
true; he was quiet with the quietness of
the strong, and gentle with the gentle-
ness of the great. Conscious of our own
sense of loss we remember in generous
sympathy the keener bereavement of his
kindred whose comfort can be assured
in the wealth of cherished memories that
is theirs."
HOYT, David,
Prominent Financier.
During the long business life of David
Hoyt he developed a love for the banking
business which amounted almost to a
passion and he was known throughout
the State as one of the most enthusiastic
members of the State Savings Bank Asso-
ciation, and of the Savings Bank Branch
of the American Bankers' Association.
In his own city he had risen to the front
rank among the financiers of Rochester,
was dean of the banking fraternity, his
active connection extending over a period
of half a century. One of the most inter-
esting events of the Rochester business
world in 191 5 was the celebration of the
fiftieth anniversary of his connection with
the Monroe County Savings Bank, and
at the dinner given to Mr. Hoyt a large
silver vase was presented him on which
was engraved his name, dates of service,
also the names of the bank's trustees and
officers.
His years, seventy, were spent in his
native city and he was a party to the
wonderful development of Rochester for
half a century. When he entered the
employ of the Monroe County Savings
Bank, the deposits were $1,523,000. When
he laid down the burden half a century
later they were $25,000,000. He was one
of the founders of the first trust company
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
in Rochester in 1868 and was equally
interested in church, political and social
organizations, manifesting intense public
spirit and a high order of citizenship. Of
genial disposition, he had many warm
personal friends and in the business world
his name stood for all that was manly,
upright and honorable.
The name Hoyt under a variety of
spellings such as Hoit, Hoyte, Hoyet,
Hayte, Haight or Hite, is found in New
England records at an early date. The
American founder, Simon Hoit, landed at
Salem in 1629, was one of the first settlers
of Charlestown and later moved to Dor-
chester, thence to Scituate, Massachu-
setts. About 1639 he located at Windsor,
Connecticut, where he was granted land
in 1640. He seems to have been pos-
sessed of a spirit of unrest, for notwith-
standing his already frequent changes of
residence he moved to Fairfield, Connec-
ticut, and was granted land there in 1649,
later settling at Stamford, Connecticut,
where he died according to Stamford
records, September 1, 1657. He had six
sons and three daughters by his two
wives, they seemingly inheriting their
father's restless, adventurous spirit, and
twenty years after their father's death
there was not a Hoyt living in any of the
towns named except Stamford. The
branch to which David Hoyt belongs
located in Danbury, Connecticut, and his
grandfather and his father David Hoyt
were both born there. David Hoyt, Sr.,
early in life came to Rochester with his
father who was one of the pioneer busi-
ness men, successfully conducting a
cooperage plant. David Hoyt was promi-
nently engaged in business as a stationer.
He married Mary M. Bullen.
David Hoyt, son of David and Mary M.
(Bullen) Hoyt, was born in Rochester,
February 18, 1846, died in his native city
at his home, No. 493 University avenue,
February 16, 1916, lacking but two days
190
of completing his seventieth year. Al-
though his father was head of a large and
prosperous stationery business, that line
of activity did not appeal to the son, and
after completing his public school course
of study he entered the employ of Ward
& Brother, private bankers on State
street, with whom he remained about five
years. He was fifteen years of age when
he first engaged with Ward & Brother,
and from that time until his death, fifty-
five years later, he was continuously en-
gaged in banking in Rochester. With
the exception of the five years noted,
those years were spent in the service of
the Monroe County Savings Bank, an
institution he helped to develop from a
stripling to a giant. In 1865, being then
twenty years of age, he first entered the
employ of that bank, beginning as head
bookkeeper. He continued in trusted
confidential, clerical capacity for eighteen
years, then became an official of the bank
by election in 1883 to the office of secre-
tary-treasurer, a position of responsibility
he held for thirty-two years. He gave to
the Monroe County Savings Bank all of
his energy and business ability, confining
himself to that institution and its inter-
ests, the only exception being in 1868
when he aided in the organization of
Rochester's first trust company and be-
came a member of its first board of direc-
tors. That institution was originally
called the Rochester Safe Deposit Com-
pany, and for twenty years occupied
quarters in the Monroe County Savings
Bank but in 1888 changed its title to the
Rochester Trust & Safe Deposit Com-
pany, moving then to its own building at
Main, West and Exchange streets.
Mr. Hoyt's hobby or ruling passion,
however, was for savings banks and
everywhere he preached their value. He
was one of the most active members of
the New York Savings Banks Association,
and as a member of the executive council
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
of the American Bankers' Association,
was particularly devoted to the savings
banks branch. He was widely known
throughout the State for his insistent
championship of the savings banks' prin-
ciple and was an authority, frequently
consulted on their organization and man-
agement. The years brought him valu-
able experience, wisdom and ripened
judgment, while the reputation he held
from youth for uprightness but grew in
strength, no blot marring his record as a
financier.
A Democrat in politics and interested in
public affairs, National, State and local,
Mr. Hoyt took no part in party affairs
except in an advisory capacity, nor did he
ever accept public office. He was a mem-
ber of Christ Protestant Episcopal
Church from its organization and for
many years served as vestryman. Social,
genial and public-spirited, he entered
heartily into the social and philanthropic
organizations of his city ; was a governor
of the Homoeopathic Hospital and the
well-known clubs, Rochester, Genesee
Valley, Rochester Country and Roches-
ter Athletic, claimed him as an active and
interested member. Mr. Hoyt continued
in good health until a short time previous
to his death, which occurred on February
16, 1916.
Mr. Hoyt married, in 1868, Elizabeth
R., daughter of Martin B. and Susan
(Watts) Breck, her parents also early
settlers in Rochester. Mrs. Hoyt sur-
vives her husband with two sons: Martin
B., member of the firm of C. P. Ford &
Company, shoe manufacturers, and Burr C.
KNOX, Seymour Horace,
Representative Business Man.
Seymour Horace Knox, who was re-
garded as one of the nation's captains of
industry, and who originated the Five and
Ten Cent Store, died at his home, No.
1045 Delaware avenue, Buffalo, New
York, May 16, 191 5. He was descended
from William Knox, who, according to
the history of Blandford, Massachusetts,
came to that town from Belfast, Ireland,
m I 737- There was a large settlement of
Scotch-Irish in this town. John Knox,
son of William Knox, was born about
1730, and probably came with his father
to Blandford, where he lived, evidently
following farming, as did his father. Cap-
tain James Knox, son of John Knox, was
born as early as 1750, and was a private in
Captain John Ferguson's company, Colo-
nel Timothy Danielson's regiment, from
Blandford, from April 20, 1775, to August,
and later in the year. He was sergeant
in 1777, from Blandford, in Captain Aaron
Coe's company, Lieutenant-Colonel Tim-
othy Robinson's regiment. Oliver and
John, sons of Adam Knox, were also
soldiers from Blandford. Afterward,
James Knox was known as captain, and
doubtless held a commission in the militia
as captain. In 1790 he appears to be a
resident of Hillside, Massachusetts, ac-
cording to the first Federal census, but
he must have removed soon to Broome
county, New York, as the history states
that he came there in 1786, or a little later.
The same authority states that he was an
officer in the Revolution, and we have
given his record as sergeant. He is said
to have been one of Washington's life-
guards. James Knox, son of Captain
James Knox, was born September 25,
1788, and died February 10, 1865, at Rus-
sell, New York, where he followed farm-
ing most of his active life. He held the
rank of captain. His son, James Horace
Knox, was born November 21, 1824, at
Russell, New York, where he died March
12, 1894. He was a farmer all his active
life, and with his family was a member of
the Methodist Episcopal church. He
191
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
married, February 6, 1855, Jane E. Mc-
Brier, born February 19, 1837, died Janu-
ary 27, 1891, daughter of Henry McBrier.
Seymour Horace Knox, son of James
Horace and Jane E. (McBrier) Knox, was
born April n, 1861, in the village of Rus-
sell, St. Lawrence county, New York. He
received his early education in the district
school. At the age of fifteen he taught a
country school, though he himself never
attended a high school. When seventeen
years old Mr. Knox went to Hart, Michi-
gan, where he found employment as a
clerk. After working there two or three
years he moved to Reading, Pennsylvania,
in which place the first five and ten cent
store was started. Mr. Knox's cousin,
F. W. Woolworth, went into partnership
with him. The store was a success from
the start, and it was the beginning of the
chain of more than eight hundred five and
ten cent stores, now under the manage-
ment of F. W. Woolworth & Company,
of which Mr. Knox was vice-president.
Messrs. Knox and Woolworth conducted
the store for a year, at the end of that
time selling it to a local man. They went
to Newark, New Jersey, and opened an-
other store of the same nature. This store
also was sold out, and Mr. Knox and his
cousin went to Erie, Pennsylvania, where
they continued in business for several
years. The store there was conducted by
Woolworth & Knox. After buying out
his cousin's interest Mr. Knox left the
place in charge of a subordinate and came
to Buffalo. At that time he was twenty-
nine years of age, and he opened his first
store in this city in the Old Palace Ar-
cade, in Lafayette Square, in the early
'8o's. While he was getting his business
under way here, he met Grace Millard, of
Detroit, Michigan, whom he later mar-
ried.
The Buffalo store was opened and Mr.
Knox laid the foundation for the syndi-
cate of five and ten cent stores that were
to be opened in different parts of the
country. The S. H. Knox & Company
syndicate was formed, and this grew until
it had control of about one hundred stores.
In 1912 there was a merger of the F. W.
Woolworth Company, S. H. Knox & Com-
pany, F. M. Kirby & Company, E. P.
Charlton & Company, C. S. Woolworth
and W. H. Moore. The new corporation
was styled the F. W. Woolworth Com-
pany, was capitalized at $65,000,000, and
Mr. Knox, in addition to having a heavy
interest, was made vice-president. He
continued in that position until the time
of his death. His wonderful genius for
organization contributed in no small
measure to the success of the great com-
bination, which controlled about eight
hundred stores. That he and the other
officers were wide awake to all opportun-
ities is indicated by the fact that in the
last two years since the time of the
merger fifty new stores were opened in
England. These were conducted by a
separate company, but were under the
management of the F. W. Woolworth
Company. Mr. Knox also was a member
of the executive committee of this com-
pany.
The business activities of Mr. Knox
were not, however, limited to the five and
ten cent stores. For years he had been
connected with many of the leading finan-
cial and industrial interests of the city.
In 1897 Mr. Knox first became identified
with the Columbia National Bank, which
then was located at the corner of Pearl
and Church streets. He was vice-presi-
dent of this bank until he brought about
the merger of the Marine National and
Columbia National banks, the business
being combined under the name of the
Marine National Bank. At the time of
the union he was president of the new
bank, but resigned that place and con-
tinued as chairman of the board of direc-
tors. He was active in the formation of
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
the Bankers' Trust Company, occupying
the office of vice-president, and he also
was interested in the Central National
Bank. Among the large industries which
he helped to manage as director are the
following: Rogers-Brown Iron Company,
Jacob Dold Packing Company, Missis-
sippi Central Railroad, United States
Lumber Company, Great Southern Lum-
ber Company, the Clawsen & Wilson
Company, and the Henz-Kelley Company.
Mr. Knox was a liberal patron of art
and music. Numerous valuable paintings
were presented to the Albright Art Gal-
lery by him, and for a time he was a
director of the Philharmonic Society. His
private collection of paintings in his home
was one of the finest in the city. Mr.
Knox always had a fondness for the farm,
and this liking manifested itself when he
devoted much time to breeding horses,
and to the development of what is now
the Ideal Stock Farm at East Aurora.
On this farm of about five hundred acres
Mr. Knox built a beautiful house and
spent his summers there. He had large
racing stables and raised some fast horses.
For more than twenty-five years Mr.
Knox was identified with almost every
interest which had to do with the develop-
ment of Buffalo. His sagacity and judg-
ment were keenly valued, and for a long
time no enterprise of importance was
launched before he was consulted. In all
his business activity he always main-
tained an enviable reputation for fairness
and integrity. He always remembered
his boyhood days, and in memory of them
several years ago he endowed a school
building at Russell. He went back and
laid the cornerstone of the building. Mr.
Knox was a thirty-second degree Mason,
and held membership in Hugh de Payens
Commandery, Knights Templar; Ancient
Landmarks Lodge, Free and Accepted
Masons ; the Buffalo Club ; the Country
Club ; the Town and Country Club of
n Y— vol in— 13 193
Lockport ; the Elma Country Club, and
the Hardware Country Club of New York.
He was an independent Democrat, and a
trustee of the Delaware Avenue Baptist
Church, but not a member.
Mr. Knox married, June 11, 1890, Grace,
daughter of Charles and Sarah (Avery)
Millard, of Detroit, Michigan, and had
children : Gracis Millard, born March 7,
1893, died July 30, 1895 ; Dorothy Vir-
ginia; Seymour Horace, born September
1, 1898; Marjorie.
In November, 1915, Mr. Knox went
South for his health, but this not proving
beneficial he resorted to the more bracing
climate of Atlantic City, New Jersey. He
did not receive the benefit he expected,
and returned home on the advice of his
physician, his condition at the time of de-
parture being serious. On his return
home he was able to sit up, though only
members of his family and close friends
were permitted to converse with him. On
Saturday night, May 15, 1915, at 9 o'clock,
Mr. Knox lost consciousness, and failed
gradually until the end came. His body
was interred in Forest Lawn Cemetery.
The Rev. Dr. Andrew V. V. Raymond,
pastor of the First Presbyterian Church,
and the Rev. Dr. S. V. V. Holmes, pastor
of the Westminster Presbyterian Church,
officiated. Mr. Knox was survived by his
wife, a son and two daughters.
SHUART, William Dean,
Lawyer and Jurist.
By birth and residence Judge Shuart
was a lifelong citizen of Monroe county,
New York. No man was more widely
known and every acquaintance was a
friend. He was surrogate of Monroe
county, 1868-84, ar >d of polished courtesy,
winsome manner, sympathetic, yet strong,
he so realized the ideal surrogate that his
administration of that office became the
model and the emulation of his successors.
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
As a lawyer he keenly appreciated the re-
lation of trust which should exist between
attorney and client and served with an
eye single to the rights and interests of
those who were so fortunate as to secure
his professional services. A faithful coun-
sellor, a loyal soldier and a just judge, he
filled every station and discharged every
duty, rounding out more than half a cen-
tury of usefulness and service. Viewing
his character and his life in its complete-
ness, his work in its variety, his relations
with his fellow-men in their complexity
the verdict "well done good and faithful
servant" must be rendered. The world
was better for his life and the influence
of that life did not end with his death.
William Dean Shuart was born August
ii, 1827, at Mendon, Monroe county, New
York, and he died in Rochester, April 22,
1900, death coming very suddenly without
previous illness. He was educated at
Genesee Wesleyan Seminary at Lima,
New York, an institution of high merit
conducted under the auspices of the Meth-
odist Episcopal church. He decided upon
the profession of law and began study
under the direction of his uncle, Denton
G. Shuart, an eminent member of the
Monroe county bar, surrogate of the
county, 1852-56. He also studied under
the preceptorship of Smith & Cornwall,
lawyers of Lyons, New York, and in May,
1850, was admitted to the Monroe county
bar. He at once began practice in Roches-
ter and in course of time took rank among
the foremost men of the Rochester bar.
He practiced without interruption until
1862 ; then enlisted in the Union army and
until the close of the war in 1865 he
served as paymaster with the rank of
major.
After the war ended he returned to
Rochester, resumed law practice until No-
vember, 1867, when he was elected surro-
gate of Monroe county, having previously
served a term as city attorney of Roches-
ter. He was twice reelected surrogate,
serving continuously in that important
and responsible office for sixteen years,
1S68-84. His learning and ability richly
qualified him for the office he held, but it
was as well his kindliness of heart, cour-
teous bearing and sympathy which im-
parted to his court that atmosphere of
serenity so grateful to the widows and
orphans whose rights were there pre-
served and safeguarded. He retired from
the office with the highest respect of the
attorneys who had appeared as counsel
before his court and with the best wishes
of every person whose interests had been
the subject of that court's concern. He
was absolutely just and impartial, his sole
desire being to carry out in a legal way
the provision of all wills and where the
law was charged with the distribution to
see that every form was complied with,
the rights of minors and widows fully sus-
tained, and no one wittingly wronged.
On his retirement from the surrogate's
office Judge Shuart formed a partnership
with William A. Sutherland, and together
they practiced in Rochester until death
dissolved the connection. Many young
men studied under Judge Shuart, among
them Arthur E. Sutherland, who also be-
came a partner, continuing until appointed
county judge in 1896. As a lawyer Judge
Shuart was learned and highly capable, a
safe counsellor, a careful and conscien-
tious adviser. He was honorable in the
extreme in all his relations with his
clients, and in the management of their
interests was most scrupulous and exact.
His private character was without stain
or flaw, his entire life uplifting and en-
nobling and an inspiration to his friends.
His domestic life was most happy and in
his home his many virtues shone the
brightest. He was one of the manliest of
men, yet possessed of the courtesy, gentle-
ness and consideration of a woman, and
was the friend of all who were weak or
194
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
in need of a helping hand. He was espe-
cially interested in young men and con-
stantly aided them to success.
He was an honored member of the Ma-
sonic order, belonging to Frank H. Law-
rence Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons ;
Ionic Chapter, Royal Arch Masons ; Cy-
rene Commandery, Knights Templar, and
in Scottish Rite Masonry held the thirty-
second degree; affiliated with Rochester
Consistory. He ever retained a lively in-
terest in his army comrades and until his
death was a member of George H. Thomas
Post, No. 4, Grand Army of the Republic.
Judge Shuart married, September 22,
1852, Hannah S., daughter of Peter and
Mary (Ross) Shoecroft, of New York.
Mrs. Shuart survives her husband, re-
siding at No. 360 East avenue, Rochester.
Two daughters were born to Judge and
Mrs. Shuart: Stella, who resides with
her mother, and Gertrude, wife of Wil-
liam N. Tubbs, of Syracuse, New York.
A striking evidence of the great respect
and esteem in which Judge Shuart was
held by the Monroe county bar was seen
by the large gathering held in the trial
term room of the court house on April 23,
1900, for the purpose of taking action on
his death. Justice John M. Davy, of the
Supreme Court (now also deceased), was
chairman of the meeting. Judge Davy
appointed a committee to prepare a suit-
able memorial, the committee consisting
of George A. Benton, W. F. Coggswell,
Charles A. Baker, S. D. Bentley, H. M.
Hill and C. M. Williams. When the
memorial was presented and adopted
Judge Benton was appointed to present
it to the appellate division and the trial
and equity terms of the Supreme Court,
and Judge Sutherland was named to pre-
sent it to the Surrogate Court. Addresses
of eulogy were delivered by John Van
Vorhis, George Raines, P. B. Hatch and
O. H. Stevens, after which Judge Davy
appointed John Van Vorhis, J. A. Adding-
ton, P. B. Hulett, F. B. Fanner, Charles
B. King, H. W. Morris, H. W. Conklin,
Nathaniel Foote and Adelbert Cronise to
represent the bar at the funeral of their
departed comrade and friend.
GARDINER, Richard,
City and County Official.
Although a comparatively young man
Mr. Gardiner had been so very active in
public life that the achievement of seem-
ingly a longer life was apparent. Death
came to him suddenly at the ball park
while watching a game between Roches-
ter and Newark teams. Could he have
ordered the manner of his going out, one
cannot but believe he would have so
ordered it, for he was so active, so ener-
getic and so full of life, vigor and useful
planning, that a period of helpless in-
action would have been a sore trial. He
was a native son of Rochester and there
engaged in business, but it was as city
and county official that he was widely and
favorably known.
Richard Gardiner was born in the ninth
ward of the city of Rochester, November
6, 1867, died May 10, 1910. He was edu-
cated in public and parochial schools, dis-
playing even in early life promise of
future usefulness. He conducted a cloth-
ing store on State street until shortly be-
fore his death and was successful as a
business man. At the age of twenty-five
years he made his entrance into public
official life, his first office that of school
commissioner, to which he was elected in
1892, serving from the second ward.
Later he resigned from the board to
accept appointment as overseer of the
poor, an office he held most creditably for
six years. During his term of office there
was much distress in the city, caused
by the panic of 1893, and in alleviating
this distress Mr. Gardiner displayed his
promptness and ability to deal with an
195
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
emergency. He established a city stone-
yard and there gave employment to hun-
dreds of men in need of work. He was
also instrumental in bringing about a re-
form in the manner of transporting the
injured to the hospitals, abolishing the
system of taking them in police patrol
wagons and establishing the present am-
bulance system. When elected to repre-
sent Rochester in the New York House
of Assembly Mr. Gardiner proved a most
valuable member. He served on impor-
tant committees and was very helpful in
securing appropriations for much needed
improvements. One hundred thousand
dollars was obtained for school purposes,
a new West avenue lift bridge for which
five' thousand dollars was appropriated
by the Armstrong bill and other improve-
ments for Rochester were secured with
his aid. On April 8, 1902, he was ap-
pointed county purchasing agent, the new
law creating that office having gone into
effect a few days prior to his appointment.
He filled the office most acceptably until
the next county election, then was chosen
by ballot to fill the same office. He con-
tinued in that office until his death, each
succeeding reelection showing increased
pluralities. He possessed rare executive
ability and in no office he ever held was
he found wanting. Patience, upright-
ness, clear, farsighted vision distinguished
him and marked him a superior man. His
associates of the Board of Supervisors
expressed their regret at his death by offi-
cial action and attended his funeral in a
body. His fellow members of the Second
Ward Republican Committee also adopted
resolutions of respect. He was a mem-
ber of the Rochester Club, the Country
Club, the Rochester Whist Club, Benevo-
lent and Protective Order of Elks, Knights
of Columbus and Cathedral Church (Cath-
olic).
Mr. Gardiner married Edith Scoles,
daughter of John and Elizabeth (Thomas)
Scoles, of Rochester. Mrs. Gardiner sur-
vives him with a daughter, Edith Eliza-
beth.
ELWOOD, Frank Worcester,
Lawyer, Banker.
Frank Worcester Elwood was born in
Rochester, New York, April 4, 1850, the
son of Isaac R. and Anna Elizabeth
(Gold) Elwood. His father was promi-
nent both in business and politics, clerk
of the State Senate from 1843 t0 l &47
inclusive and accumulated a handsome
estate.
Frank Worcester Elwood obtained his
preliminary education in the schools of
his native city and in 1869 he entered
Hobart College, remaining there about a
year, where he joined the Sigma Phi fra-
ternity to which he was always devotedly
attached, did much to advance its inter-
ests and was greatly beloved by its mem-
bership. He subsequently matriculated at
Harvard University, where his associa-
tions were of the most desirable and re-
fined character, being affiliated with the
Hasty Pudding Club, A. D. Club, Delta
Kappa Epsilon (honorary) "Der Verein"
and the Glee Club. He was graduated
Bachelor of Arts with the class of 1874.
After graduation he attended the Har-
vard Law School until May 1, 1876, when
he was obliged to intermit his studies be-
cause of a serious accident. He resumed
them in the fall, joining the second year
class at the law department of Columbia
University, attaining his Bachelor of Laws
degree in May, 1877. He continued his
preparation for the profession in the office
of the Hon. George F. Danforth in
Rochester, and in June, 1878, was admit-
ted to the bar of New York State. The
care of his estate and other business mat-
ters obviated from engaging actively in
96
g^^uwao W^L^-^^^
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
the practice of the law, and from Septem-
ber, 1881, until July, 1883, he was in part-
nership with A. S. Hodges, of New York
City, in banking and stock brokerage in
Rochester, under the firm name of F. W.
Elwood & Company, and continued in the
same business in partnership with T. L.
Scovill, under the same firm name for
about a year and a half. He was also a
member of the Chicago Board of Trade
and of the National Petroleum and Min-
ing Exchange of New York. He be-
stowed much of his time, energies and
loving thought to the erection and super-
vision of the Elwood Memorial Building,
which stands at and notably adorns the
famous "Four Corners," a splendid speci-
men of architecture, at once a testimony
to his business sagacity and artistic taste
and a monument of his filial affection.
Never seeking or even desiring political
preferment he was ever ready to give a
helping hand to all associations for the
welfare of the community and the promo-
tion of good government. Thus he served
as vice-president of the Rochester His-
torical Society, was a member of the Sons
of the American Revolution, member of
the Board of Park Commissions, the
Chamber of Commerce, the Municipal
Reform League and the Forestry Asso-
ciation. He was also president of the
Rochester Club, a member of the Genesee
Valley Club and of the University Club
of New York City. He was the founder
of the Men's Club of St. Paul's Church.
He attended French School, near Paris,
for two years, and was a linquist of note,
a great scholar. Of fascinating address
and gracious hospitality he was an orna-
ment of social and of scholarly inclination
at home and in intellectual circles. He
was an honorable, high-minded gentle-
man, whose memory is precious in many
hearts.
He married, April 4, 1885, at Rochester,
Frederica (Pumpelly) Raymond, who
survives him, with a daughter, born Feb-
ruary 8, 1890. He died June 8, 1899, at
his residence in East avenue, still the
home of his wife and daughter. By her
previous marriage his wife has a daugh-
ter, Victoria Raymond, now Mrs. Walter
W. Powers.
MAHON, Patrick,
Active Business Man and Churchman.
Although hardly yet in the prime of his
splendid manhood at the time of his
death, Mr. Mahon had for years been
prominent and probably accomplished
more active work in the short time allot-
ted him than others in double the years.
He was a pillar of support not only to his
own church, the Cathedral of Rochester,
but to all the other churches and charities
in the city and diocese. No matter what
the call or how laborious the work per-
taining to the numerous charities attached
to his beloved church, his support was
never found wanting. As a church man
he was most devoted, but he was best
known from the Atlantic to the Pacific
as an Irish patriot of the noblest type,
and when the history of Ireland's struggle
for freedom is written his place therein
will not be less than the most illustrious
of his time. He was a patriot in the
double sense that while he loved the land
of his adoption, he still revered the
memory of the land which gave him birth.
He was a man of peculiar parts, he had
the courage of his convictions and if he
considered any action proper no amount
of labor and expense prevented him from
carrying it out. He had a wonderful
faculty for enlisting others in support of
his plans, his magnetism and sound com-
mon sense inspiring all who came within
the radius of his influence. He was the
founder, father and one of the most active
members of the Monroe County Land
League, an organization for which he
197
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
labored unceasingly, for on the success
of the American Land League he felt the
future success of the Irish people de-
pended. As a business man he was just,
honorable and correct in all his dealings
and of such extraordinary ability that his
high qualities were universally recog-
nized. As a citizen he was keenly sen-
sible of his duty and ever ready to assume
and perform any service imposed upon
him. He was constant and true in his
friendships and in his home circle loving,
kind and indulgent.
Patrick Mahon, son of John Mahon,
was born in County Cavan, Ireland, in
1S38, died in Rochester, New York, Feb-
ruary 1, 1881. He was brought to the
United States in 1842, his parents locating
in Newark, New Jersey. The lad was
educated in parochial schools. He began
business life with a New York City com-
mercial house, but in 1853, through the
influence of Mr. Fitz Simmons, he came
to Rochester with that gentleman who
was then a member of the firm of Owen
Gaffney & Company, later Burke, Fitz
Simmons, Hone & Company. He began
as errand boy, soon was made entry clerk,
finally becoming head bookkeeper. He
was tried out in many difficult positions
and so satisfactorily did he meet every
test of his powers that in 1866 he was
admitted a partner. He developed a
strong business ability and was recog-
nized as a man of high principles, sterling
worth and strict integrity. He continued
a partner in the dry goods house of Burke,
Fitz Simmons, Hone & Company until
his death, winning the truest regard of
his business associates and attaining en-
viable prominence in the business world.
Great as were the energies he devoted
to his business, he had other important
interests. He was a friend to every good
work and to the church and her charities,
he gave not only of his substance but of
his business and executive ability.
Prompt, fiery, tireless, patient, painstak-
ing and indomitable, he could endure no
failure. What he undertook must suc-
ceed, and once enlisted in a cause, who-
ever failed or flagged, he was reliable. He
was devoted to Ireland, her cause was his
cause and her friends his friends. He was
a prominent member of the Fenian
Brotherhood and was treasurer of the
fund that equipped the ship "Catalpa"
(of which he was part owner) which
rescued from penal servitude in Australia
six members of the brotherhood who had
been in the British army and were under
conviction and sentence for treason. He
was founder of the Monroe County Land
League, a member of the Celtic Club and
in constant communication with friends
of Ireland at home and abroad. He was
a close reader of the Irish press and no
significant event or drift of opinion
escaped his quick intelligence. Had he
devoted his talents and energies in the
same degree to American politics, he
would have gone high in public life. He
was one of the chief organizers of the
Catholic Times Publishing Company in
Rochester, and at the time of his death
was a director and treasurer of that com-
pany. In politics he was a Republican,
and in religious faith a Roman Catholic,
a devoted and prominent member of St.
Patrick's Cathedral for many years. He
was also a leading member of the Young
Men's Catholic Association. He passed
from life with mind unclouded, fortified
by the strengthening sacraments and
ministrations of the church, the tender
devotion of his wife and family, the
genuine respect of the community, at
peace with God and the world.
Patrick Mahon married (first) Mary
McQuillan, who died in 1864, leaving a
daughter, Mary Evelyn. He married
(second) February 14, 1871, Kate C. Mc-
Roden, who survives him, daughter of
Michael McRoden, who was born in
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
Monaghan, Ireland, in 1817, died in
Rochester in 1844; became one of the best
known clothing merchants of the city ; he
was a man of high character, most scru-
pulous in his integrity, greatly esteemed
by all who knew him. His wife, Julia
McRoden, died aged fifty-six years, a
woman of lovely disposition, leaving two
daughters, Mrs. Patrick Mahon, and Mrs.
James Mooney, of Buffalo. Mr. and Mrs.
Mahon were the parents of five children :
Patrick Vincent, Corinne L., Arthur J.,
Julia D. (Mrs. George P. Gilman), Alex-
ander.
CORTHELL, Elmer Lawrence, D. Sc,
Civil Engineer, Author.
"Coming events cast their shadows be-
fore." At the age of twelve Dr. Corthell
was librarian at the village library, and
at that age had read all of the two hun-
dred volumes in that library, a collection
ranging from "Confessions of an Opium
Eater" to "Dwight's Theology." At six
teen the walls of his bedroom were plas-
tered with Latin and Greek mottoes, such
as "Improbus Labor Omnia Vincit" (Per-
severing Labor Overcomes Everything"),
"Gnothi Sauton" ("Know Thyself"), who
later ranked as one of the great civil engi-
neers of the world.
Bibliography of his own publications
reads like the catalogue of a library, and
at the time of his decease, May 17, 1916,
he was in the full prime of his intellectual
and professional strength. After com-
pleting a record of most distinguished
achievement the opinion of Dr. Corthell
as to the value of college training was
valuable, as valuable as his opinions,
which great corporations, governments
and municipalities sought and paid liber-
ally for when contemplating engineering
projects of magnitude. He said in his
argument for the affirmative : "I say here
advisedly, and as a result of experience,
that I was enabled to attack and to solve
the problems (engineering) solely by this
discipline of a classical education at Ab-
ington, Exeter and Brown University.
There is no opinion about this matter.
It is a fact that has appeared plainly at
many times of my life. The education
outlined has enabled me to do things that
I never could have done without it. It
has given me power in my professional
work during the past forty-seven years
(1914) — more than that it has carried me
far afield of engineering, and given me
world-wide interests along many lines of
human activity. What I have said about
the real value of a classical education in
my own case I can say from personal
knowledge about engineers all over the
world where my business and my inter-
ests have taken me."
In view of the strong position Dr.
Corthell took in favor of a classical edu-
cation, and the importance he gave it as
a vital force in his own success, the course
of preparatory and college study he pur-
sued is of deep interest. He was born
at South Abington (now Whitman),
Massachusetts, September 30, 1840, son
of James Lawrence and Mary Ellis (Gur-
ney) Corthell, of Scotland, the founder of
the family in America. His ancestor on
his father's side, six generations ago, was
Robert Corthell. His mother's family
was French and came to England with
William of Normandy. The French name
was Gurne — anglicized to Gurney. John
Gurney, the noted Quaker, was a member
of the family. His father, a man of little
school education, craved it for his chil-
dren, and at the age of three years sent
his son, Elmer L., to the village school.
At twelve he was librarian of the village
library and familiar with the contents of
every book it contained. Rollin's "An-
cient History," Grote's "History of
199
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
Greece," Gibbon's "Decline and Fall of
the Roman Empire," Hume's "History
of England," Cooper's and Irving's works,
were part only of his reading at that age,
and the contents of those books remained
in his memory, although read at so early
an age. At sixteen he entered enthusias-
tically into the study of Latin, Greek and
higher mathematics, one of a class of ten
boys and girls studying under the village
school master, a young man fresh from
Bowdoin College.
Early in 1858 he was prepared for en-
trance to Phillips Exeter Academy as a
senior, but disappointed in not receiving
$1,000 for his education promised by his
grandfather, and his father not having the
means to send him, he borrowed $15.00
from him, for which he gave his note, and
with a small shoe-mending kit of tools, a
little leather, and a flat iron, which his
mother gave him, he entered Exeter,
where the door of his room was adorned
with the announcement, "boots and shoes
mended" and "washing done here." He
literally "worked" his way through the
first year, won a scholarship, and was
graduated with honors. In 1859 he en-
tered Brown University, and as at Exeter
earned the money to meet expenses, doing
the most menial work if honorable. He
also found some private pupils to "tutor,"
yet stood second in his class at the close
of his freshman year. During the ensu-
ing vacation he obtained through the
kindness of Professor Cilley, of Exeter,
the position of "coach" in Latin, Greek
and mathematics to the two sons of Gov-
ernor Anderson, of Ohio, who had been
"conditioned" at Harvard, for which serv-
ice he received a "professional fee" of
eighty dollars, a sum which he testifies
amounted to more, to him, than later the
two thousand gold pesos did when handed
him for one month's services as consult-
ing engineer of the Argentine Republic.
Before the close of his sophomore year
he enlisted in May, 1861, for "three years
or the war" as a private in Battery A,
First Regiment Rhode Island Light Ar-
tillery, was at first battle of Rull Run and
saw four years and two months of active
service, principally with the Army of the
Potomac in Virginia, and in North Caro-
lina. He was promoted, corporal, ser-
geant, second lieutenant, first lieutenant,
and in the last year of the war in the
Shenondoah valley, captain of Battery D
of his own regiment.
Following his return from the army
was his return to Brown University,
whence he was graduated as Bachelor of
Arts, third in his class of 1867, and the
following year won the degree of Master
of Arts. In 1894 the degree of Doctor of
Science was conferred upon him by
Brown for distinguished engineering serv-
ices to the country and for his contribu-
tions to engineering literature. His work
in the earlier years of his course won him
the Phi Beta Kappa key, and his later
work the Sigma Xi, and in 1894 his alma
mater conferred the degree "Scicntae Doc-
toris pro Mcritis." He applied himself so
closely to his studies that before the close
of his senior year he was advised that to
escape a permanent breakdown he should
secure out-of-doors occupation. This neces-
sitated a change in his plans, but he met
the situation squarely, abandoned his
original intentions, and selected civil engi-
neering, a profession he was prepared for
only as every liberally educated boy is
prepared for anything. Almost imme-
diately after graduation he was called to
Hannibal, Missouri, as assistant on the
construction of the railway line, now a
part of the Missouri, Kansas & Texas
railway system. His work demanded a
knowledge of railway and bridge con-
struction which he did not possess, but in
place of experience and practice he had a
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
fund of knowledge stored up and the dis-
cipline from his college study which en-
abled him, with a night's special study, to
solve engineering and construction prob-
lems submitted to him during the day.
Thus with but the little time devoted to
special technical study in the offices of
Cushing & DeWitt, civil engineers, Provi-
dence, Rhode Island, he was able to satis-
factorily fill the position of assistant engi-
neer. His equipment was largely the
regular college classical course. It is on
this fact that he based his argument in
favor of a classical college education no
matter what profession is to be followed.
In less than a year he was made division
engineer of forty-five miles of the Hanni-
bal & Central Missouri lailroad and so
rapid was his rise that in 1870 he was ap-
pointed chief assistant engineer on the
construction of a bridge across the Mis-
sissippi river at Hannibal.
During the years 1871-1874 he was chief
engineer of the Sny Island levee on the
Mississippi river in Illinois, and in 1873
chief engineer of the Chicago & Alton
railroad bridge over the Mississippi at
Louisiana, Missouri, with a draw four
hundred and forty-four feet long, the
longest draw in the world at that time.
He had in the meantime attracted the
favorable regard of the great engineer,
James B. Eads, and at his request Mr.
Corthell, furnished a statement and gave
an opinion regarding the proposed jetty
construction for improving the South
Pass of the Mississippi river. This state-
ment was used before Congress, and when
Mr. Eads was awarded the contract he
chose Mr. Corthell to take charge of the
construction of the now famous jetties at
the South Pass mouth of the Mississippi.
He was engaged in this work for four
years, the results obtained in deepening
the pass amply justifying the confidence
and faith in the success of the project held
by both Mr. Eads and Mr. Corthell. These
jetties increased the depth on the South
Pass Bar from nine to over thirty feet,
and have maintained that depth of chan-
nel until the present time. As a result the
ocean commerce of New Orleans has
vastly increased, as has the importance
of the city as a railroad terminus in the
development of the "Mississippi Valley
Route." One of the interesting and valu-
able books emanating from Mr. Corthell's
pen, "History of the Mississippi Jetties,"
was published in 1880. But a little over
a decade had passed since with some mis-
givings he accepted his first engineer's
position. His reputation had in that time
become national and he was rated with
the brightest lights of his profession.
In the winter of 1880 he went to the
Isthmus of Tehuantepec, Mexico, to make
surveys for the ship railway, associated
with Mr. Eads. He made a survey of the
mouth of the Coatzacoalcos river, on the
gulf of Mexico, and an examination of the
Pacific coast for a harbor for the ship
railway. In 1881-1884 he was chief engi-
neer on the construction of the New York,
West Shore & Buffalo, and the New York-
Ontario & Western railways and their
terminal at New York City, being in
charge of the work "in the field." He was
in charge at the same time as chief engi-
neer of the extensive surveys on the
Isthmus of Tehuantepec for the ship rail-
way. From 1885 to 1887 he gave nearly
his entire attention to this important
project and the inter-oceanic question,
studying and writing upon its engineer-
ing and commercial features. He ad-
dressed the commerce committee of the
House of Representatives, United States
Congress, which had before it the bill to
charter the ship railway. He delivered
addresses in several cities of the United
States, particularly at Ann Arbor, Michi-
gan, before' the American Association for
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
the Advancement of Science ; the Lowell
Institute, Boston; the Academy of
Science, New York; the Franklin Insti-
tute, Philadelphia ; a Commercial Con-
vention at Pensacola, Florida ; at the Ex-
position, New Orleans; and in the Acad-
emy of Music, Galveston, Texas. Sev-
eral of these addresses were printed and
widely distributed. He wrote a complete
illustrated exposition of the subject, treat-
ing fully its historical, engineering, con-
structive and commercial features. The
pamphlet, with others written by him,
was sent to every civilized country, and
did much to enlighten the world upon the
method proposed and the great value to
commerce of an inter-ocean route.
In 1887-18S8 he was associated in an
engineering partnership in New York and
Chicago with George S. Morison, en-
gaged in the design and construction of
railroads, bridges, harbor works and water
works. During this partnership there
were constructed : The Cairo bridge over
the Ohio river for the Illinois Central
railroad, the longest steel bridge in the
world; Nebraska City bridge over the
Missouri river for the Chicago, Burling-
ton & Quincy railway; the Sioux City
bridge over the same river for the Chi-
cago & Northwestern railway; two
bridges in Oregon ; the railroad bridge
over the St. John's river at Jacksonville,
Florida, and several other large bridges
and viaducts. Mr. Corthell made at that
time several expert examinations of rail-
road properties for bankers in London
and New York.
In 1889-1890 he was chief engineer of
the construction of the St. Louis Mer-
chants' bridge over the Mississippi river ;
chief engineer of the improvements at the
mouth of the Brazos river, Texas, con-
sisting of jetties built into the gulf of
Mexico, increasing the depth of water
from five feet to twenty feet. In 1890-
1893 ne was m charge, as consulting engi-
neer, of important railroad constructions
in Chicago for the Illinois Central & Atch-
ison, Topeka & Santa Fe railways, called
the "Independent Entrance" of these
roads. This work comprised the construc-
tion of a six-track railroad, where only
one had existed, and a rearrangement of
the tracks at one of the most complicated
track situations in the United States, if
not in the world.
In 1889 he made examinations, plans
and report on the proposed improvement
of the harbor of Tampico, Mexico, for the
Mexican Central railroad, and had charge
of the construction of the jetties as chief
engineer during /1890-91-92. They in-
creased the depth from about eight feet,
which existed at the mouth of the Panuco
river, over a changeable and dangerous
bar, to a wide navigable channel with a
least depth of twenty-eight feet. They
raised the port of Tampico from one of
little importance to be second entrepot of
Mexico, and reduced freight rates from
all United States and European ports to
the entire interior of the Mexican Repub-
lic. In 1895 Mr. Corthell wrote a descrip-
tive and illustrated paper upon these
works for the Institute of Civil Engineers,
London, for which he was awarded the
Telford premium and the Watt medal. The
deep channel was practically produced by
the works alone without resort to dredg-
ing, except to remove some hard material
which had formed around a large num-
ber of wrecks sunken into the bar. The
channel was maintained without any
dredging whatever. In 1890 Mr. Corthell
made a thorough personal examination
between the Great Lakes and Quebec,
Canada, of the question of an enlarged
waterway between Chicago, Duluth and
other ports of the Great Lakes, and the
Atlantic seaboard, and wrote a paper on
this subject for the Canadian Society of
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
Civil Engineers, and the Western Society
of Engineers at Chicago. He was presi-
dent and chief engineer of the Southern
Bridge and Railway Company, incorpor-
ated in 1889 to build a bridge over the
Mississippi river at New Orleans, and
completed the plans and specifications for
construction.
In 1891 Mr. Corthell visited Europe
with several important objects in view.
As trustee of the University of Chicago
he examined six of the leading universi-
ties and technical schools of Europe to
obtain information for the university in
carrying out its purpose of establishing
in connection with it a great school of
engineering and architecture. As a mem-
ber of a committee of the Western Soci-
ety of Engineers, engaged in solving the
difficult railroad problem of Chicago, he
examined in Europe thirty-five railroad
terminals and complicated situations. He
examined twenty-six harbors of Europe
to get special information to use in con-
nection with his work at Tampico, Mex-
ico, and elsewhere. He examined nearly
all the subways of the world from Buda-
pest to Glasgow.
In 1892, under a contract with the Mex-
ican government, he was engaged with
two associates (Messrs. Stanhope and
Hampson) on the completion of the Na-
tional railroad of Tehuantepec, Mexico,
which opens up a new and important
inter-oceanic route across the Mexican
Isthmus. He had charge of the surveys,
plans and estimates for the harbors for
the route, and made a report upon them
to the Mexican government. He was
chairman of the executive committee of
sixteen engineering societies, which or-
ganized an International Engineering
Congress, held at Chicago, at the World's
Exposition in 1893, and was chairman of
the general committee of the Congress.
In November, 1895, Mr. Corthell deliv-
ered a lecture before the National Geo-
graphic Society, at Washington, D. C, on
the Tehuantepec Inter-oceanic Route.
This lecture was considered by the United
States Senate of sufficient value to the
general subject of inter-oceanic transit to
authorize the printing of about 1,850
copies.
In 1897 Mr. Corthell undertook an ex-
tensive tour of Europe to examine a great
variety of engineering works — harbors,
terminals, railroads, mountain railways,
methods of building and maintaining ship
canals, methods of dredging, the protec-
tion of sandy coasts against encroach-
ments of the sea, ship building, under-
ground rapid transit, and particularly to
learn the present methods of engineering
education with the view of presenting the
subject to President Harper of the Uni-
versity of Chicago. His report on this
subject was exhaustive, after examining
nearly all the best schools of Great Britain
and Continental Europe. This report was
published by the Massachusetts Institute
of Technology.
Many of the results of his various ex-
aminations and investigations were pub-
lished in the Engineering Magazine in
New York and London. The most ex-
tensive work done by him, however, in
the two years' time in Europe was upon
the subject of maritime commerce, its
past, present and future. In August,
1898, he presented the results of his work
to the American Association for the Ad-
vancement of Science, which held its fif-
tieth anniversary at Boston, Massachu-
setts. The object of the paper was to
show the development of commerce in the
half century past and probable develop-
ment in the half century to come.
In the spring of 1898 the Secretary of
State, Mr. Sherman, commissioned Mr.
Corthell as delegate to the seventh Inter-
national Congress of Navigation held at
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
Brussels in July of that year. He was
elected vice-president of the congress, and
placed upon the bureau of the congress
to arrange for a permanent organization
to be adopted at its next meeting at Paris
in 1900. He wrote a report upon the Brus-
sels Congress of two hundred and forty-
five printed pages and one hundred and
fifteen illustrations, which was printed as
a United States Senate document by the
suggestion of Secretary John Hay, one
thousand copies being bound and distrib-
uted by the State Department to all parts
of the world.
Mr. Corthell, upon his return to the
United States, was engaged as expert on
several important works in the United
States and Mexico. He was for eleven
years engaged as engineer upon the pro-
ject of the "Boston Cape Cod and New
York Ship Canal" across the Isthmus of
Cape Cod to shorten the distance between
points south and points north of the
peninsula, around which now pass annu-
ally over 28,000,000 tons of commerce.
In 1899 the Argentine government re-
quested the United States government to
recommend an engineer of large experi-
ence upon river and harbor works who
would undertake to act as its consulting
engineer for two years upon the impor-
tant problems connected with the great
rivers and harbors of that country. Mr.
Corthell was recommended for this posi-
tion, the contract for which was signed
in New York on March 23, 1900, and on
the 26th of the same month he left for
Buenos Aires, where for over two years
he was engaged in solving problems for
commerce, and reporting to the minister
of public works. Thirty-six different sub-
jects were referred to him for investiga-
tion and report.
He presented to the International Navi-
gation Congress, Paris, 1900, a paper on
"The Ports of the World," in which he
compiled important information relating to
one hundred and thirty-one principal ports
and ship canals of the world. The object
of this paper, the tables of which were
made up after an extended correspond-
ence, was to show the necessity of making
deep channels for sea-going vessels and
the paper was really supplementary to
that upon maritime commerce noted
above, presented to the American Asso-
ciation for the Advancement of Science in
1898.
In 1902 Mr. Corthell was elected presi-
dent of the government board of the port
of Rosario, Argentine. The propositions
and plans from Europe, presented to the
government, were examined by the board
during two months. It decided upon the
plans and made its report to the govern-
ment. The works were inaugurated by
the president of the Republic on October
26, 1902. They cost $12,000,000 gold. Mr.
Corthell represented the Argentine gov-
ernment as a delegate to the International
Navigation Congress held at Dusseldorf
in the summer of 1902. He was also ap-
pointed by the United States upon the
permanent international commission of
Navigation Congresses, which has its
domicile in Brussels, and which position
he held up to the time of his death. He
was commissioned by the United States
State Department delegate to the Inter-
national Navigation Congress, convened
at Milan, Italy, September 24, 1905, which
he attended and where he presented a
paper on the dimensions of vessels and
ports of the world, the result of five years
of investigations of two hundred and
twenty ports from Aberdeen to Yoko-
homa. During the winter of 1902 and the
spring of 1903 Mr. Corthell delivered
thirty-six lectures in thirty cities of the
United States and Mexico upon "Two
Years in Argentine as Consulting Engi-
neer of National Public Works." These
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
were delivered before universities, com-
mercial bodies, engineering societies, etc.,
at the request of the Argentine govern-
ment.
He was appointed in February, 1904,
by Governor Odell of New York State
upon the advisory board of consulting
engineers, to build the barge canals of
that State, to cost over $100,000,000, from
which he resigned later to give all his
time to Brazilian works. During 1904-05
he was engaged in making examinations,
plans and estimates for extensive works
in Brazil, at Para, in St. Catharina, and
Rio Grande do Sul, and was engaged in
the construction of the Para and Rio
Grande works, consulting engineer of the
former and chief engineer of the latter.
He was engaged as consulting engineer
on commercial works in other countries,
and in hydraulic works of the United
States.
In 1904 he presented a paper to the
International Engineering Congress held
at St. Louis on "Railroad Terminals, Re-
view of General Practice." In the same
year he wrote an illustrated article for the
Encyclopedia Americana on "Large Pas-
senger Stations of the World." In 1906
he presented a paper to the Institution of
Civil Engineers, London, on "Pressures
on Deep Foundations," and to the French
Society of Civil Engineers on "Currents
in the Navigable Waterways of the
World." All four papers were the results
of very extended investigations covering
several years.
The cost of the works of which Mr.
Corthell had responsible charge exceeded
$140,000,000. In 1912 he presented a re-
port on the required dimensions of mari-
time canals to the International Naviga-
tion Congress at Philadelphia. In 1915
he presented a paper on the improvement
of mouths of rivers, etc., to the second Pan
American Scientific Congress, Washing-
ton, D. C.
After forty-eight years of exceedingly
active and laborious work Mr. Corthell
found his chief source of satisfaction in
the fact that his works were conducive
to the benefit of commerce by sea, river,
canal and rail, and he could point with
pride to the results which, in a measure,
aided in reducing the cost of transporta-
tion on land and water, and so have bene-
fited mankind.
Mr. Corthell was a member of the fol-
lowing societies: The American Society
of Civil Engineers, of which he was presi-
dent in 1916; the Canadian Society of
Civil Engineers; the Institution of Civil
Engineers of Great Britain ; the Royal
Society of Arts of Great Britain ; membre
d'honneur of the French Society of Civil
Engineers, and corresponding member
of that society ; the Mexican Association
of Civil Engineers and Architects ; honor-
ary member of the Geographical and Sta :
tistical Society of Mexico ; member of the
American Geographical Society ; the Na-
tional Geographic Society, Washington,
D. C. ; fellow of the Royal Geographical
Society, London ; the Boston Society of
Civil Engineers; the Western Society of
Engineers, Chicago; fellow of the Amer-
ican Association for the Advancement of
Science, vice-president and member of the
council ; second vice-president of the
American Society of Civil Engineers, in
1888, first vice-president in 1893; presi-
dent of the Western Society of Engineers
in 1889; honorary member of the Engi-
neering Society of Portugal, the Institu-
tion of Engineers of the River Plate, of
the Centro de Navigacion Transatlantica,
and Sociedad Cientifica of Argentine, and
a life member of the Engineers' Club of
Rio de Janeiro ; member of the American
Railway Engineering Association ; Amer-
ican Institute Consulting Engineers, pres-
ident in 1915, reelected in 1916; Franklin
Institute of Philadelphia ; American High-
way Association ; Pan American Society
205
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
of the United States; a founder of the
Pan American Chamber of Commerce ;
chairman (1916) of Section D, American
Association for the Advancement of
Science, and a member of the council ;
Chamber of Commerce United States of
America, and member of committee on
merchant marine.
He was a member of several military
and patriotic societies : Grand Army of
the Republic; Military Order of the Loyal
Legion of the United States ; Sons of the
American Revolution ; the New England
Society ; Society of the Army of the Po-
tomac, and of academical societies and
clubs, including the University Club of
New York City, and of honorary college
societies — Phi Beta Kappa and Sigma Xi.
Bibliography of publications of Dr. E.
L. Corthell : "Leveeing on the Upper Mis-
sissippi," 1874 (Civil Engineers' Club of
the Northwest). "Sny Island Levee Com-
pared with Levees on the Lower Missis-
sippi," Louisiana, Missouri, 1874. "Im-
provement of the Mouth of the Missis-
sippi River," New York (American Soci-
ety of Civil Engineers, Eighth Annual
Convention, 1876. "History of the Mis-
sissippi Jetties — -The South Pass Jetties,"
1880. "The Overflow of the Mississippi
River," presented to American Society of
Civil Engineers, 1882. "Tehuantepec
Ship Railway ; its Practicability and Com-
mercial Features," from the "Mexican
Financier," December, 1884. "South Pass
Jetties : Ten Years' Practical Teachings in
River and Harbor Hydraulics," American
Society of Civil Engineers' Transactions,
vol. 13, 1884. "Tehuantepec Railway,"
1885, reprinted from "Journal of Franklin
Institute," June, 1885. "Inter-oceanic Prob-
lem and its Scientific Solution," (Amer-
ican Association for Advancement of
Science), Ann Arbor, 1885. "The Radi-
cal Enlargement of the Erie Canal," pre-
sented to American Society of Civil Engi-
neers, 1885. "Isthmian Ship Railway,"
address before New York Academy of
Science, December 20, 18S6. "Statement
before Committee United States House
of Representatives on Commercial Ad-
vantages of Tehuantepec Ship Railway,"
1886. "Atlantic and Pacific Ship Railway
across the Isthmus of Tehuantepec in
Mexico," considered commercially, prac-
tically and constructively, 1886. Exposi-
tion of the Errors and Fallacies of Rear-
Admiral Ammen's Pamphlet entitled :
"The Certainty of the Nicaragua Canal
Contrasted with the Uncertainties of the
Eads Ship Railway," Washington, 1886.
"Levees," Johnson's "Universal Cyclo-
pedia," vol. iv., 1886. "Ship Canals,"
Johnson's "Universal Cyclopedia," vol.
vii., 1886. "Venetian Ship Railway," read
June 18, reprinted from Proceedings of
Engineers' Club of Philadelphia, vol. 6,
1887. Remarks at a meeting of the West-
ern Society of Engineers, June 4th, on the
resolution to cooperate in erecting a
monument to the late James B. Eads,
1S90. "New Orleans Belt Railway, Union
Depot and Bridge," with other papers,
New Orleans, 1890. Articles in Johnson's
"New Cyclopedia" on "Jetties, Levees,
Ship Canals and Ship Railways," 1890.
"An Enlarged Waterway between the
Great Lakes and the Atlantic Seaboard."
presented to the Canadian Society of Civil
Engineers, 1891. "Improvement of River
Mouths," presented to International Con-
gress of Maritime Navigation, Paris,
1892. "Tehuantepec Isthmus Railway,"
by Matias Romero and E. L. Corthell,
Washington, 1894. By Gustav W. Triest,
"New Waterway — Rotterdam to the Sea"
(sixth International Inland Navigation
Congress, Hague, 1S94), a paper based on
notes and observation by Mr. Corthell and
revised by him, 1894. "Literary Product
of the International Engineering Con-
gress of 1893," rea d June 21, 1895 (re-
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
printed from Proceedings of American
Society of Civil Engineers, vol. 21, 1895).
Lecture before the National Geographic
Society, Washington, D. C, on the "Te-
huantepec Route," 1895. "Growth of
Population of Great Cities," American
Association Advancement of Science,
1895. Resume of correspondence from
Engineering Societies, relating to estab-
lishing closer international relations,
(American Society of Civil Engineers,
Proceedings, vol. 21, 1895). "Proposed
International Railroad Bridge over the
Detroit River," 1896. "Civil Engineer of
the Twentieth Century," reprinted from
Society for Promotion of Engineering
Education, 1896. "Some Notes Physical
and Commercial upon the Delta of the
Mississippi River," read before Section
D, American Association for Advance-
ment of Science, Buffalo, August 26, 1896.
"Tampico Harbor Works," Mexico-Lon-
don, 1896, Institution of Civil Engineers,
minutes of Proceedings, 1896. Remarks
before committee on rivers and harbors
United States House of Representatives,
upon closing Crevasse of Pass a Loutre,
Mississippi River, 1898. Report to Secre-
tary of State, United States of America,
upon seventh International Congress of
Navigation, Brussels, 1898. "Maritime
Commerce, Past, Present and Future,"
Berne, 1898 (American Association for
Advancement of Science), Boston, 1898.
International Congress of Navigation
held at Brussels, July, 1898 (American
Society of Civil Engineers), Annual Con-
vention, Cape May, New Jersey, June 27,
1899. "The Approaches and Transporta-
tion Facilities of the Paris Exposition of
1900," presented to American Society of
Civil Engineers, 1899. Articles in "Engi-
neering Magazine" on "Rock Railways,"
1897. "Protection of Sandy Shores,"
1897. "Large Sea-going Dredgers," 1898.
"Ship Canals," 1899. "The Harbors of
the World." "Their Present and Re-
quired Conditions of Navigability and
Facilities," presented to International
Congress of Navigation, Paris, 1900. Epi-
tome of lecture delivered in Buenos Aires,
April 22. "Mexico, Tableland to Gulf,
Canyons, Waterfalls, Railroads, Panuco
River, Harbor Works," 1901. Lecture on
"Argentine, past, present, future," 1903.
"Report upon Engineering Education,"
reprinted from Technology Quarterly, vol.
16, n. 3, 1903. "Population of Great
Cities," presented to American Associa-
tion for the Advancement of Science,
1903. "The Tampico Harbor Works,
Mexico," monograph to accompany
models at Louisiana Purchase Exposi-
tion, St. Louis, 1904. "Railroad Termi-
nals," Review of General Practice, Inter-
national Engineering Congress, 1904, re-
printed from Transactions of American.
Society of Civil Engineering, Vol. 54,
1905. Article in Encyclopedia Americana
on "Large Passenger Stations of the
World," 1905. "Rapid Increase in the
Dimensions of Steamers and Sailing
Vessels," presented to International Navi-
gation Congress, Milan, 1905. "Allow-
able Pressures on Deep Foundations,"
presented to the Institution of Civil Engi-
neers, 1906. "Conditions hydrauliques
des grandes voies navigables du globe,"
presented to the Societe des Ingenieurs
Civils, Paris, 1906. "Port of Para, Bra-
zil," presented to the International Asso-
ciation of Navigation Congresses, Brus-
sels, 1907. "The Port of Para," article
in "Engineering Supplement, London
Times," September 4, 1907. "Results of
Investigations into Cost of Ports and of
Their Operation," presented to Interna-
tional Association Navigation Congresses,
Brussels, 1907. "Port and Barra Works
of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil," article
in "Engineering Supplement, London
Times," July 15, 1908. "Report Upon the
207
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
Second International Road Congress,
Brussels," July 31-August 6, 1910, "Engi-
neering News," September 1, 1910. "The
Wetterhorn Lift," "Engineering Record,"
1910. "The Loetschberg Tunnel," "Engi-
neering News," 1910. "Dimensions of
Maritime Canal for International Navi-
gation," Congress, Philadelphia, 1912.
"Proper Methods of Improving Mouths
of Rivers," Second Pan-American So-
ciety Congress, 1915.
Dr. Corthell married (first) in July, 1867,
Emilie Theodate Davis, who died in 1884,
daughter of William S. and Betsey A.
(Wood) Davis, of Providence, Rhode
Island. They were the parents of a
daughter, Alice E., and a son, Howard L.
Corthell. He married (second) April 21,
1900, Marie Kuechler, of Bern, Switzer-
land. Their only child, a daughter, Kath-
leen Mary, died in 1901.
YATES, Arthur Gould,
Man of Affairs.
One of the most versatile business men
the City of Rochester, New York, has
ever known was the late Arthur Gould
Yates, who left the impress of his indi-
viduality so indelibly upon the develop-
ment of the city and upon the public life
and thought of the State, that a history of
that section would be incomplete were no
mention made of him. But it was not the
possession of excellent business qualifica-
tions alone that gained him eminence ; as
a man and a citizen he displayed a per-
sonal worth and an excellence of char-
acter that not only commanded the re-
spect of those with whom he was associ-
ated but won him the warmest personal
admiration and the stanchest friendships.
Aside from his business affairs he found
time for the championship of many pro-
gressive measures, recognized the oppor-
tunities for reform, advancement and im-
provement, and labored effectively and
earnestly for the general good. With him
success was reached through his sterling
qualities of mind, and a heart true to
every manly principle. He never devi-
ated from what his judgment indicated to
be right and honorable between his fel-
low men and himself, never swerved from
the path of duty, and his abilities were
such as to gain him distinction in every
field of labor to which he directed his
energies.
Dr. William Yates, grandfather of
Arthur Gould Yates, was born in Sapper-
ton, England, in 1757, and immigrated to
Philadelphia in 1792. He was a physician
of note in his day, and was one of the first
to introduce the practice of vaccination in
America. Later he took up his residence
in New York State, and there married
Hannah Palmer, of Unadilla, New York.
Arthur Yates, eldest son of Dr. William
and Hannah (Palmer) Yates, was born in
Morris, Otsego county, New York, Feb-
ruary 7, 1807. He commenced the prac-
tice of law in Tioga county, New York,
and while county judge there married
Jerusha Washburn.
Arthur Gould Yates, son of Arthur and
Jerusha (Washburn) Yates, was born at
Factoryville, now East Waverly, New
York, December 18, 1843, and died at the
Waldorf-Astoria, New York, February 9,
1909. He was the recipient of a liberal
education, attending various academies
in the southern tier, and later came to
Rochester. Immediately after attaining
his majority he became associated with
the Anthracite Coal Association, which is
no longer in existence, and subsequently
was engaged in this business independ-
ently for a number of years. A man of
great foresight, Mr. Yates early recog-
nized the possibilities of Charlotte and
entertained the idea of making it one of
the most important ports on the Great
Lakes. He constructed the first of the
Genesee docks, generally known as the
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
Yates Docks, shortly after engaged in the
coal business, and the advance he made in
the anthracite business had never betore
been known in that section. In every
direction markets were developed and
vessels that were carriers of coal shipped
by Mr. Yates were practically on every
lake. In 1876 the coal firm of Bell, Lewis &
Yateswas organized, and became one of the
most important coal firms in the country,
having large docks at Charlotte, Buffalo,
Cleveland, Detroit, Chicago and Duluth.
The Rochester and State Line Railroad
Company had been in existence for sev-
eral years with one terminal in Rochester
and the other in Salamanca ; it was not a
road of great importance and there were
but few shareholders. Bell, Lewis & Yates,
miners and shippers of large quantities of
bituminous coal, saw the State Line rail-
road, as it was popularly termed, taken
over by men of great wealth who made of
it the Rochester & Pittsburgh, and later by
building into Buffalo the Buffalo, Roches-
ter & Pittsburgh. They had organized
a subsidiary company, the Rochester &
Pittsburgh Coal & Iron Company. The
Bell, Lewis & Yates Coal Mining Com-
pany was incorporated as the Jefferson &
Clearfield Coal & Iron Company. Mr.
Yates saw perhaps more clearly than the
owners the possibilities in the Buffalo,
Rochester & Pittsburgh Railway, and on
April 11, 1889, the company he was in-
terested in purchased a large block of
the company's stock. The immediate re-
sult was that, on April 24, 1889, eight of
the directors of the company retired and
seven others were elected. On the same
day Arthur Iselin, retired from the presi-
dency of the company, and was succeeded
by Arthur Gould Yates, who remained
the incumbent of this office until his
death. Mr. Yates was elected to the
board of directors to represent the firm of
Bell, Lewis & Yates, and subsequently,
when the other members of the firm
wished to withdraw from the railroad
business, Mr. Yates purchased their in-
terest in the railway stock and became
his own representative in the board.
The Buffalo, Rochester & Pittsburgh
railway was at first, and when Mr. Yates
became associated with it, a single track
trunk line between Rochester and Punx-
sutawney with a branch from Ashford to
Buffalo. During Mr. Yates' occupation
of the presidency the road was extended
to Pittsburgh and the Clearfield branch
was built. Foreseeing the demand for
bituminous coal that would come with
the twentieth century, Mr. Yates, as soon
as he became president of the company,
planned to enable his road to care for its
share of the increased business which
would surely come. He secured new coal
land and mines were opened by the two
mining companies controlled by the rail-
way company, and where there had
hitherto been a wilderness, long trains of
coal laden cars commenced to appear.
Iron properties were developed in the
same manner, and the guiding and pro-
gressive spirit of Mr. Yates was felt
everywhere.
The possibilities of Canada now began
to play a part in the calculations of Mr.
Yates, and he considered the best means
of supplying the growing cities, towns
and villages of that country at the least
expense. Transportation by water ap-
peared to be the best and cheapest
method, and he at once considered the
advisability of constructing a ferry boat,
running between Charlotte and some
suitable point in Canada, and capable of
carrying a train of cars loaded with coal.
When he advocated the building and
operation of such a boat his project was
laughed at and derided, but nothing
daunted he persisted and the result was
the Ontario Car Ferry Company, Limited,
NY-VolIII-14
20<)
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
composed of officials from the Buffalo,
Rochester & Pittsburgh and the Grand
Trunk railways. The success of the ven-
ture more than realized the predictions of
Mr. Yates.
Mr. Yates was identified with many
lines of business, a director in many com-
panies, and interested in many others in
which his name appeared only as a stock-
holder. He was a director in the Buffalo,
Rochester & Pittsburgh Railway Com-
pany, the Reynoldsville & Falls Creek
Railroad Company, the Silver Lake Rail-
way Company, the American Fruit Pro-
duct Company, the Duffy-Mclnnerney
Company, the Pittsburgh Gas Coal Com-
pany, the General Railway Signal Com-
pany, the Ontario Car Ferry Company,
Limited ; the Rochester & Pittsburgh
Coal & Iron Company ; the Mahoning In-
vestment Company ; the Columbia Trust
Company of New York ; the Cowanshan-
nock Coal & Coke Company. He was a
large stockholder in the National Bank of
Rochester, the New York & Kentucky
Company, and the National Hotel Com-
pany.
Mr. Yates was an ardent supporter of
the Wilgus plan to have a Rochester sta-
tion adopted by the New York Central.
He became a leader of the supporters of
these plans when they were proposed,
and practically his final act as a citizen
of Rochester was to go as chairman of a
sub-committee from the Chamber of
Commerce to New York to confer with
President W. C. Brown, of the New York
Central, and President Horace E. An-
drews, of the Rochester Railway Com-
pany, relative to the adoption of those
plans. Those who were present at this
conference say that Mr. Yates talked with
greater enthusiasm and pleaded with
more earnestness than he had probably
done at any time in his life. This con-
ference took place on the Saturday pre-
ceding the death of Mr. Yates, and im-
mediately after it, and several times in
the course of the day, he was heard to
remark that his trip had been an emi-
nently successful one, that it was the
greatest day of his life, and that he was
as happy as a boy. During the afternoon
he took a short nap, then attended the
dinner of the Society of the Genesee in
the evening. At its conclusion he was
chatting with some friends when he com-
plained of feeling ill and at once went to
his apartments in the Waldorf-Astoria,
which he considered his New York home.
Unconsciousness ensued almost immedi-
ately, and he never regained conscious-
ness. While his recovery was not ex-
pected at any time, he lingered until the
following Tuesday afternoon. With him
at the last were his wife, his eldest son,
his daughter, Mrs. Ward, Miss Daintry
Yates, of New York, a cousin, and Dr.
Carlton Yates, another cousin. The re-
mains of Mr. Yates were taken to Roches-
ter in his private car, the "Virginia," and
were immediately removed to the Yates
home at No. 130 South Fitzhugh street.
The "Virginia" was attached to the Fast
Mail on the New York Central. In the
car Mr. Yates had made many trips,
usually accompanied by Mrs. Yates, who
was Miss Virginia L. Holden, for whom
his car was named. When traveling Mr.
Yates most enjoyed sitting in the obser-
vation end of the car, looking at the coun-
try and conversing with his guests. Here,
where he had passed many happy hours,
the casket was placed for the journey to
Rochester. Mr. Yates had been a com-
municant of St. Paul's Protestant Epis-
copal Church, and a warden in it for more
than thirty years, and it was there that
the funeral services, attended by innumer-
able men eminent in every walk of life,
were held; the interment, in the family
lot in Mount Hope Cemetery, was pri-
vate.
Mr. Yates married, December 25, 1866,
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
Virginia L. Holden, a daughter of Ros-
well Holden, of Watkins. Of the six
children of this union there are now liv-
ing: Mrs. Levi S. Ward, Frederick W.,
Harry and Russell P. Mr. Yates had been
a trustee of the University of Rochester
for some years ; and was a member of the
Genesee Valley Club of Rochester, the
Ellicott Club of Buffalo, the Duquesne
Club of Pittsburgh, and the Transporta-
tion and Midday clubs of New York.
All the newspapers along the line of the
Buffalo, Rochester & Pittsburgh Railroad
contained long sketches of the career of
Mr. Yates. The "DuBois Daily Express"
said in part:
The name of Arthur G. Yates is inseparably
connected with the development of the coal
business in Central Pennsylvania, and he was
one of the first alert minds to grasp the possi-
bilities of the region. He was the last of the
trio of capitalists who opened the Rochester
mine in Du Bois in 1875, and launched the first
gigantic coal operations in this region. In 1890
the firm of Bell, Lewis & Yates bought out all
of the smaller mines in the vicinity of Reynolds-
ville, together with considerable adjoining ter-
ritory. They also secured other workings at
*Du Bois and Falls Creek. In all these trans-
actions Mr. Yates was the pusher and planner.
He was also the selling agent and sometimes
came home from his trips with contracts for half
a million tons of coal.
Among the many resolutions by vari-
ous social, religious and commercial
bodies are the following: The special
Committee of Fifteen of the Chamber of
Commerce which had the work of push-
ing the plans for the new Central Station,
met February nth, and took action on
the death of President Arthur G. Yates,
who was a member. The following
minutes were adopted :
The members of the Committee of Fifteen
recognize in the death of their friend and asso-
ciate, Arthur Gould Yates, an irreparable loss to
the City of Rochester, of which he was so loyal
and valuable a citizen. From the organization
of the Committee up to the time of his demise,
he rendered conspicuous service to promote the
movement for which the Committee was formed.
Possessed of a truly patriotic and public spirit,
he gave freely of his time, experience and counsel
for the public good, and his remarkable executive
ability in the organization and management of
affairs rendered his cooperation of the greatest
value in any position to which he was called.
Generous, charitable, sympathetic, he was in
both private and public life a man who endeared
himself to his associates, winning their affection,
commanding their loyal support in every under-
taking in which they were engaged. He possessed
to a remarkable degree the qualities of courage,
foresight, energy and enthusiasm, which won for
him a commanding position among his fellow
men.
We regard his death not only a public, but a
personal loss. We extend to his bereaved family
our sincere sympathy in their great sorrow, and
we desire that this brief minute in affectionate
expression of his worth be transmitted to them
by the secretary of the Committee.
The vestrymen of St. Paul's Church, of
which Arthur G. Yates was senior warden
for many years, have adopted a memorial
in which a tribute is paid to Mr. Yates,
and his long service in the church organi-
zation is recounted. It is set forth that in
his death the church has suffered a great
loss and each member of the vestry a per-
sonal bereavement. The memorial was
spread upon the minutes and a copy was
sent to Mrs. Yates.
WHITBECK, John Fonda Ward,
Physician and Surgeon.
Dean of the medical fraternity of
Rochester and one of the leading sur-
geons of the State of New York, Dr.
Whitbeck, whose passing came to his
city as a public calamity, was one of the
most modest of professional men, and
while secure in the knowledge of his own
great skill, was slow to recommend a sur-
gical operation, saying: "All operations
are dangerous."
For many years his name stood for
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
leadership of the best type in the medical
profession, and his reputation as a sur-
geon was wide. Following in the foot-
steps of his father, he began the study of
medicine and surgery because he loved
them and felt the call of his ability in
their direction. He became a most diligent
student, showing a fine aptitude for his
chosen work, and after receiving his de-
grees he rose rapidly as a thorough and
skillful practitioner. In a little time his
reputation had extended until his advice
and counsel, as well as his surgical skill,
were sought from many sections of the
State. In the city he had a clientele
which constantly grew and which re-
ceived his ministrations with confidence
and gratitude. He belonged to the old
school of practitioners which held rigidly
to the ethics of the profession, and he
would not tolerate sham of any kind.
As a citizen he was deeply interested in
the intellectual and cultural development
of Rochester, having a fine appreciation
of good literature as well as a keen in-
terest in art. He was also interested in
public improvements, especially those
that were in any way related to his pro-
fessional work. At the time of his death
he was president of the staff of the Gen-
eral Hospital and president of the board
of directors of Iola, having given gener-
ously of his time and ability to the work
of these institutions, and having labored
diligently to make their influence felt for
good among all classes of people. And it
has been largely owing to his inspiration
and untiring labors that they have grown
and flourished.
Dr. Whitbeck carried into his practice
the fine instincts of a gentleman and a
conscientious regard for his responsibility
to those under his care. In his home, and
within the circle of a large number of per-
sonal friends, his relationships were ideal.
His life has been one of immense useful-
ness, and in all his endeavors he bore the
stamp of sincerity and truth. He served
his day and generation nobly and well.
If the years spent in preparatory study
at home and abroad be counted, Dr.
Whitbeck had been connected with the
medical profession for a half a century,
his years of actual practice in the city of
Rochester, New York, numbering forty-
three, 1873-1916. He was a graduate of
the old Rochester High School, class of
1863, and of the University of Rochester,
class of "67." For over thirty years his
father, Dr. John F. Whitbeck, practiced
in Rochester, father and son being con-
temporaries from 1873 unt il tne death of
the senior doctor in December, 1880, at
the age of sixty-eight years. Both were
graduates of the medical department of
the University of Pennsylvania, Philadel-
phia, and it was from the noble life and
example of his honored father that Dr.
John F. W. Whitbeck gained the inspira-
tion which culminated in his own en-
trance to the oldest of all professions.
During the forty-three years Dr. Whit-
beck had been engaged in practice he
gave special attention to surgery and
gynecology, although he did not confine
himself strictly to those branches until
several years had been passed in general
practice. For twelve years, 1892-1904, he
conducted a private hospital on Park ave-
nue, and under Governor Flower's admin-
istration was a member of the State
Board of Health. The literature of his
profession is enriched by many contribu-
tions from his able pen. He was an
honored member of many professional so-
cieties, and fairly won State reputation as
a highly successful surgeon and gyne-
cologist. Even when past the meridian
and in the full evening of life he gave
little evidence of the years he carried save
in the depth of his wisdom and his cool,
calm, deliberate manner and the sound-
ness of his judgment. His practice was
always large, and his friends were legion.
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
Dr. John F. Whitbeck, the elder, was
born in Herkimer county, New York, but
after graduation from Fairfield Medical
School and the medical department of
the University of Pennsylvania, located
at Lima, Livingston county, New York,
where his son, John F. W. Whitbeck, was
born. He only practiced at Lima a few
years, then located in Rochester, New
York, where he conducted a successful
practice until his death in 1880, full of
years and honors. His wife, Elizabeth
(Ward) Whitbeck, was also born in New
York State, and was the mother of five
children.
Dr. John F. W. Whitbeck, son of Dr.
John F. and Elizabeth (Ward) Whit-
beck, was born at Lima, New York, No-
vember, 1844, his parents soon afterward
moving to Rochester. He died at his
home, No. 800 East avenue, July 3, 1916.
He was educated in the public schools,
the University of Rochester and the L'ni-
versity of Pennsylvania, gaining his A. B.
from the University of Rochester, class of
1867, his M. D. from the University of
Pennsylvania, class of 1870. He then
spent three years abroad, studying in the
hospitals and universities of Berlin, Vien-
na, Breslau, Heidelberg and London, pur-
suing special courses in surgery and
gynecology, his instructors being men
highly renowned in those special branches
of the profession.
In 1873 Dr. Whitbeck returned to
Rochester and began the practice of his
profession. Father and son were closely
associated for the following seven years,
then the elder Doctor Whitbeck jour-
neyed to that land "from which no
traveler ever returns," leaving his son the
inspiration of his valuable life, the benefit
of his example and the legacy of an
honored name. The "good doctor" stead-
fastly followed his professional career in
the years which followed and turned not
aside to engage in other pursuits, nor was
he lured by the enticements of political
life. He pursued his healing art to the
great benefit of a large clientele, and most
honorably bore the name transmitted to
him through several generations of Amer-
can ancestors, paternal and maternal. He
served for many years and was president
of the surgical staff of Rochester City
Hospital ; in 1893 was appointed a mem-
ber of the State Board of Health by Gov-
ernor Roswell P. Flower ; established and
conducted a private hospital, 1892-1904,
freely gave to the service of the poor,
without the hope of fee or reward. His
life was one of usefulness and blessing,
his labor severe, but his reward abundant
in the consciousness of duty well per-
formed.
Dr. Whitbeck was a member of the
American Association, New York State
Medical Society, an ex-president of the
American Association of Obstetricians
and Gynecologists, Monroe County Medi-
cal Society, Rochester Academy of Medi-
cine, ex-president and honorary member
of the Rochester Pathological Society, and
a fellow of the American College of Sur-
geons. He contributed many papers to
the proceedings of these societies and
had for many years been a frequent and
valued writer on his specialties for the
medical journals. At the time of his
death he was president of the board of
managers of Iola Sanatorium, an institu-
tion which lay very near his heart. Said
Dr. Montgomery E. Leary, superintend-
ent of the sanatorium, "Whatever was
done at Iola was not the spirit of the
Sanatorium, but the spirit of Dr. Whit-
beck. I know of no one who can fill his
place." Socially inclined but so devoted
to his profession as to preclude his taking
more than passing interest, he was a
member of the Genesee Valley and
Rochester Country clubs, and of Delta
Kappa Epsilon.
Dr. Whitbeck married Fannie A. Van
213
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
Husan, of Detroit, Michigan, and had two
sons: Dr. Brainerd H., a graduate of Har-
vard College, and of the College of Physi-
cians and Surgeons, Columbia University,
New York City, now practicing his profes-
sion in that city; Caleb Van Husan, a
graduate of Harvard, a newspaper editor
and publisher, died March 2, 1914. Dr.
Whitbeck erected a beautiful house on East
avenue, Rochester, and there a charming
hospitality had ever been dispensed by a
most gracious host and hostess, the latter
surviving her honored husband.
Dr. Whitbeck sleeps in Mount Hope
Cemetery near his eminent father and
other members of his family. At the
final services there were representatives
present from the University of Pennsyl-
vania, the city government, the medical
societies, the various institutions he
served and from the social organizations
to which he had belonged. The pall
bearers, active and honorary, were the
leading physicians of the city, the active
bearers professional brethren who had
long known, loved and honored him.
JENNINGS, George E.,
Banker.
At the age of nineteen years, Mr.
Jennings in 1853 entered the employ of
the old Union Bank of Rochester and
from that year until his death in 1884
was closely associated with banking in
Rochester, his native city. His irre-
proachable character and Christian graces
secured for him the confidence of the
public, and in all he was a plain dependa-
ble man with that indefatigable personal
magnetism which drew men to him. His
high personal qualities which gained him
public confidence, the esteem and warm
affection of a host of friends were com-
bined with a business ability and sagacity
of a high order. Kind-hearted to a fault,
he yet demanded the strictest attention
to duty from his subordinates, who were
devoted to him, in fact one of the ele-
ments of his success was his ability to
surround himself with assistants and as-
sociates who were able, loyal and de-
voted. As a business man he was one of
the foremost of his time, cautious, con-
servative and careful, yet possessing a
will to decide and the courage to venture
when opportunity led the way. Until the
time of his death he was actively engaged
in private banking and was a factor in
the successful management of other en-
terprises. His reputation for integrity
and fair mindedness was of the highest
and he left a record without a stain.
George E. Jennings was born in Roches-
ter, New York, February 19, 1834, son of
Peter W. Jennings, a leather merchant,
member of the firm of Jennings & Keeler,
of Rochester. George E. Jennings passed
his entire life in his native city and his
death occurred on April 8, 1884. He was
educated in the public schools of Roches-
ter and Genesee Wesleyan Seminary,
Lima, New York. He began business life
at the age of nineteen as clerk in the old
Union Bank. He displayed great apti-
tude for banking and at the time the
Union Bank passed out of existence was
its cashier, having been successively
bookkeeper, teller, assistant cashier and
cashier. In 1867 the Union Bank went
out of business, the charter and such
assets as it possessed being purchased by
Aaron Erickson and George E. Jennings
and they conducted the private banking
house of Erickson & Jennings. For a
time George E. Mumford was admitted
as a partner and the firm was then known
as Erickson, Jennings & Mumford. Mr.
Mumford retired in 1879. Then the house
continued as Erickson & Jennings until
the death of the senior partner when Gil-
man H. Perkins was admitted to the busi-
ness and it was continued under the name
and title of Erickson, Jennings & Com-
^
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
pany. Mr. Jennings continued in busi-
ness for many years, was a director of the
Rochester Savings Bank, was interested
in other corporations of the city and was
uniformly successful in all his undertak-
ings. He was a Republican in politics, a
member of the First Presbyterian Church,
and of the Rochester Club, twice serving
as president of the club.
Mr. Jennings married, October 14, 1858,
Nancy B. Granger, of a prominent Troy,
New York, family, who survives her hus-
band, residing at No. 1005 East avenue.
Mr. and Mrs. Jennings were the parents
of two sons : Edward R. Jennings, now
engaged in the real estate business with
offices in the Chamber of Commerce
Building, Rochester, and Emmet H. Jen-
nings, of Avon, New York.
REAM, Norman Bruce,
Man of Affairs.
The preparation of a review of the lives
of men whose careers have been of signal
usefulness and honor to their country,
and especially to certain localities, would
be incomplete if mention were not made
of the late Norman Bruce Ream, one of
America's greatest financiers, and his
connection with the great Empire State.
Mr. Ream was one of the men who
essentially belonged to the active class,
wherever his residence might have been
located, and few achieved greater results
or enjoyed a higher standing. His was a
personality that lives in the memory of
his friends as that of the highest type of
loyal citizen and progressive business
man. From the humble beginning of a
farmer boy, progressing through the
grades of country school teacher to still
higher fields of endeavor, becoming fi-
nally one of the country's recognized au-
thorities on all matters financial, all by
sheer force of intellect and innate busi-
nes ability, combined with unusual pluck
and perseverance, without which the
greatest of talent might remain unde-
veloped, he attained prominence and its
consequent affluence.
Norman Bruce Ream was born in Som-
erset county, Pennsylvania, November 5,
1844, a son ot Levi and Highly (King)
Ream. His family is of historical lineage
and in this country dates back to the colo-
nial epoch, in which important period of
our country's history his ancestors played
an important part, both in business and
civic affairs. His paternal great-grand-
father, John Ream, fought as a private in
the War for Independence of the colonies,
and his descendants have shown them-
selves of no less importance by being
identified with the upbuilding and de-
velopment of the country in the succeed-
ing years. The earliest emigrants of the
name were of German extraction, arriv-
ing in this country at an early day, and
were here engaged in agricultural pur-
suits. Mr. Ream himself was brought up
on a farm, where he acquired the very
useful habits of industry and thrift, the
discipline and environment being a valu-
able one to him, as well as to anyone, no
matter what their subsequent station in
life, for the formative period of one's ex-
istence. His early opportunities in the
educational line were those of the com-
mon school, followed by a course in the
Normal Institute. But a scholar, as well
as a poet, being "born and not made," he
naturally improved those opportunities,
and so well that at the age of fourteen
years we find him serving in the capacity
of teacher, a true evidence that he had
succeeded so far beyond his fellows. His
particular bent, however, was more in a
business line, and with the aid of the
photographic branch of business en-
deavor he was enabled to procure the
means for his course in the Normal Insti-
tute at Somerset. In spite of the effort
it had cost him, and his evident love of
215
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRArHY
study, his sense of patriotism was
stronger, and like the true American that
he was he put aside his text books, after
a brief attendance at the school, and on
September i, 1861, he enlisted in answer
to the call of President Lincoln for troops
to suppress the Rebellion, and as his an-
cestor had fought in the cause of Free-
dom, he also added his quota of patriot-
ism to make that Freedom universal
throughout this land. He assisted in or-
ganizing, and became a member of Com-
pany H, Eighty-fifth Pennsylvania Volun-
teers, as private, although tendered a com-
mission. It seems that no matter what was
his endeavor the same spirit of thorough-
ness was exhibited in all his enterprises,
and in military affairs it was recognized by
promotion to first lieutenant for gallantry
on the battlefield He was wounded at
Whitmarsh Island, Georgia, February 24,
1864, and again at Wearbottom Church,
Virginia, on June 17, following, this time
so badly that he was incapacitated for
further military duty and resigned in Au-
gust, 1864.
Desiring to make his business education
more complete, on his return from the
war, Mr. Ream attended a commercial
college at Pittsburgh, and followed this
with a position of clerk in Harnedsville,
where he remained until September, 1866.
Like so many others he became ambitious
to try his fortune in the West, and found
his next employment at Princeton, Illi-
nois, where he secured a position as clerk
in the general store of C. A. Stoner. His
first independent business venture was
when, early in 1867, C. H. Mosshart and
he purchased Mr. Stoner's interests and
continued to run the store under the firm
name of Ream & Mosshart until Novem-
ber of that year when the concern was
annihilated by fire, along with thirty-five
of Princeton's business houses. His next
move was considerably farther into the
West, for in 1868 he removed to Osceola,
Iowa, and engaged in the grain, live stock
and farm implement business, which also
suffered disaster through the failure of
crops. Mr. Ream, having given credit to
the farmers, and being unable to realize
on his assets, was forced out of business
in 1870. Notwithstanding these reverses
there was never at any moment a shadow
of doubt cast on his integrity or honesty,
and this fact at this critical period of his
career was of inestimable value. In 1871
he went to Chicago and formed a partner-
ship with Mr. Coffman, under the firm
name of Coffman & Ream, and carried on
a live stock commission business. Hav-
ing an extensive acquaintance with stock-
raisers, he succeeded in having their con-
signments made to him and it was not
long before he had regained his former
position, and to his great honor be it re-
corded that he applied the first money
earned toward settling the indebtedness
of $15,000 caused by his failure This he
continued to do until he had paid the en-
tire principal and interest, the latter at
the unusually generous rate of ten per
cent.
From the beginning of his Chicago en-
terprise Mr. Ream was singularly fortu-
nate, or rather should we say — his honesty
and ability met with a deserved reward,
and he laid the foundation of his later
and more complete success. In 1875 he
retired from active participation with the
firm of Coffman & Ream, but continued a
connection with the company until 1878.
He became a member of the Board of
Trade in 1875, entering with George C.
Ball & Company, of which his name was
the "Company." In 1877 he withdrew
from that firm also, and carried on an in-
dependent commission business under the
style of N. B. Ream & Company. In 1880
R. W. Clark purchased an interest in his
business, but the firm name remained un-
changed until 1884, when Mr. Ream with-
drew from active business connections.
216
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
The firm then became R. W. Clark &
Company, with Mr. Ream as special part-
ner, and he was likewise connected with
the commission house of H. H. Carr &
Company. Upon becoming a member of
the Board of Trade, Mr. Ream's very first
venture was crowned with success, and
marked him as a man of keen perception
and excellent judgment. He conducted
some of the largest operations on the
board, and so successful was his career
that he was numbered among the most
extensive operators, and ranked finan-
cially among the millionaires He served
as vice-president of the Call-Board, but
his numerous business interests pre-
vented him from accepting other posi-
tions of a like nature. In 1883 he assisted
in the reorganization of the Western Fire
Insurance Company of Chicago, of which
he was vice-president until he disposed of
his interests. In 1888 Mr. Ream retired
from the board and invested his means in
various enterprises, the management of
which engrossed his attention thereafter.
As organizer, stockholder and director he
was connected with numerous enterprises
which have been great factors in the de-
velopment of the business of the country.
Later Mr. Ream became a resident of
the City of New York and from that time
until his death he was identified to a
greater or lesser degree in various enter-
prises connected with the Metropolis, in
all of them proving his worth and desira-
bility as a citizen. He was the owner of
considerable real estate, which he im-
proved and developed, a proceeding
which is not one of personal aggrandize-
ment alone but adds materially to muni-
cipal advancement as well. He was not
a speculator, but his work was rather that
of a constructor and creator, and one of
vast industrial force, an operation that
proves of great benefit to all classes of a
community He was one of the most un-
assuming of men but withal of mighty
force in the realm of industry, a veritable
commander-in-chief. In this brief review
it would be impossible to do justice to his
many and varied accomplishments in the
financial and industrial realm, for his ca-
reer touched the immense field of the busi-
ness world at so many points that a re-
cital would be wearying, but he touched
nothing in any line of endeavor that was
not the better for his having been con-
nected with it, and his special field of
effort was one of magnitude and impor-
tance.
Mr. Ream married, at Madison, New
York, February 17, 1876, Caroline T. Put-
nam, a woman of charming personality
and many fine traits of character, greatly
beloved by all with whom she was ever
thrown in contact. She was a daughter
of the late Dr. John Putnam, of Madison,
New York, and a descendant of Henry
Putnam, a near relative of General Put-
nam, of Revolutionary War fame. Mr
and Mrs. Ream were the parents of nine
children, six of whom are living: Marion
B., wife of Redmond D. Stephens, of
Chicago ; Frances M., wife of John L.
Kemmerer, of Short Hills, New Jersey;
Norman P. and Robert C, of New York;
Edward K., of Johnstown, Pennsylvania,
and Louis M., of Worcester, Massachu-
setts.
Mr. Ream Was prominent in social
circles in New York, as he had been in
Chicago. He was a member of the Chica-
go, Chicago Athletic and Commercial
clubs, and in their day of the Calumet
and Washington Park clubs. In New
York he belonged to the Metropolitan
and Union clubs. He was also affiliated
with the time honored Masonic frater-
nity, was a Knight Templar, an Odd
Fellow, and a member of the Stock Ex-
change in both cities. Before he took up
his residence in New York he was the
217
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
advisor and associate of many of the emi-
nent figures in the financial world of the
middle west, and here in the Metropolis
he was on still greater and closer terms of
intimacy with the mighty factors in the
realm of finance in that for fifteen years
he was a close and personal friend of J.
Pierpont Morgan, as well as James J. Hill
and Elbert H. Gary. His death came as
a loss to countless numbers of friends and
acquaintances, and brought a sense of
desolation not alone to the immediate
family, to whom the loss was of course
heaviest, but caused a profound feeling
of sorrow to many the world over, re-
moving as it did one of America's most
brilliant financiers, and a highly respected
citizen, one who was beloved as well as
admired for his eminent qualities.
Mr. Ream had a summer home at
Thompson, Connecticut, but maintained
an office in New York, and made this
city his winter residence, although he had
varied interests outside the municipality.
In business life, to sum up the many ex-
cellent qualities he possessed would be
well nigh impossible, but suffice it to say
he was alert, reliable and sagacious, as
well as successful; as a citizen he was
honorable, prompt and true to every en-
gagement, while in private life he was
genial, wholesouled, and a delightful
host, and, needless to say, a welcome
guest. In fact under all circumstances
he measured up to the highest standards
of manhood, a well rounded character,
and a useful and valuable factor in the
world's work for advancement and prog-
ress. He died in February, 1915, peace-
fully and honorably, and more, generously
had he met and discharged all life's
duties, and honored and beloved he passed
away, sincerely mourned, but leaving a
memory that will long be cherished for
the good he had done as well as the great
deeds he accomplished.
PHELPS, George Roswell,
Agriculturist.
Energy, self-confidence and a strict ad-
herence to the moral law and those prin-
ciples of human conduct that play so vital
a part in the moulding of society, were
the traits which lay at the base of the
character of George Roswell Phelps, late
of Gloversville, New York, acting as the
mainspring of his life, shaping and guid-
ing its whole development. His business
success, as must all true success, de-
pended first upon his highly moral char-
acter and then upon the special knowl-
edge of his subject, a later and acquired
power. In all that he did for himself Mr.
Phelps kept the interests of those about
him ever in sight and made no step, how-
ever conducive to his own advantage it
might seem, if in his candid judgment it
appeared inimical to theirs. It was in
line with this — it should not be called
policy, for it was too spontaneous for that
— but in line with this instinct that all
his relations with his fellows were carried
out. He would not allow, for instance,
his extremely exacting occupation to in-
terfere with what he considered to be
due his family any more than he erred
in the opposite direction and allowed
domestic ties to interfere with the dis-
charge of his obligations to the outside
world. Indeed, the only person whose
inclinations and comfort he consistently
sacrificed to the rest of the world was
himself, for he rose early and retired late
to fulfill his engagements with others and
minister to their wants. His death at his
home in Gloversville, May 19, 1903, was
a loss to the entire community. George
Roswell Phelps was typical of that fine
class of rural manhood which is char-
acteristic of New York State and upon
which, as upon a sure foundation, its
wealth and prosperity rests. It was for
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
him and such as he to illustrate so clearly
that all might discern that agriculture is
not an occupation to be relegated to men
without a due share of ambition and en-
terprise, or even those who are content
to remain without pecuniary reward, but
that rather is it full of manifold un-
suspected opportunities for any bright
young man who, with a strong love of
nature, withdraws from the more com-
plex urban life and gives up his time and
attention to this, the primitive, basic in-
dustry. For this life, indeed, certain posi-
tive virtues are necessary in order that
success shall crown effort and these Mr.
Phelps possessed in large measure. But
to such as do possess them nature will
make a bounteous return, even as it did
in his case. It is to the presence of such
men, progressive, wide awake and full of
enterprise, that communities owe their
prosperity.
Mr. Phelps was born in Johnstown,
Fulton county, New York, June 2, 1830,
a son of Chester and Sally A. (Powell)
Phelps, old and highly honored residents
of that region. The Phelps family had
lived for many years in Fulton county,
the first of the name to appear there be-
ing Oliver Phelps, the grandfather of
George Roswell Phelps, who came to
New York State from Hartford county,
Connecticut, where he was born some-
time after the middle of the eighteenth
century, and settled first in Montgomery
county and later in Fulton, in both of
which he continued to follow the occupa-
tion of farming to which he had been bred
and trained The original Phelps farm
became later the town site of the prosper-
ous community of Johnstown. Chester
Phelps, son of Oliver and Abigail
(Brown) Phelps, and father of George
Roswell Phelps, was born June 15, 1792,
and died March 13, 1870. To him de-
scended the farm his father had pur-
chased and which was at that time
rapidly increasing in value as the commu-
nity was developing and it was found to
be the most available location for the town.
He became a man of considerable sub-
stance and added largely to his property,
buying a number of farms adjacent or in
the near neighborhood of his original
possession and carrying on farming opera-
tions on a very extensive scale Besides
the general farming, he also devoted
special attention to fruit raising and dairy
farming and was successful in all of these
branches, being known as one of the
largest agriculturists in the region. As
Johnstown continued to grow much of
the original property was disposed of,
but, nevertheless, a considerable portion
of town property remained in the hands
of the Phelps family, Phelps street being
at one time owned and occupied by thir-
teen families of the name. Chester Phelps
was married to Sally A. Powell, born
March 4, 1796, in Johnstown, and died
September 11, 1857. To them were born
nine children as follows: Charles A., born
August 22, 1817, died September 28, 1847 ;
Gilbert, born February 9, 1819, died No-
vember 16, 1900, married Anna C. Van
Nostrand, of Johnstown, who bore him
one daughter, Margaret ; Lucius A., born
March 20, 1821, died February 16, 1837;
Eliza Ann, born February 24, 1823, died
October 12, 1908, married Hart A. Mas-
sey, of Kingston, Ontario, to whom she
bore six children : Charles, George, Ches-
ter, Lillian, Walter Hart and Fred Vic-
tor; Sylvia Adelia, born February 24,
1825, died November 3, 1901, married
Horace W. Porter, of Johnstown, and
they had one child, Mervin A. ; William
Henry, born October 8, 1827, died Janu-
ary 24, 1899, married Louisa Deming, of
Perth, New York, by whom he had four
children : Charles Edwin, Clara, Albert
and Nettie ; George Roswell, of whom
further; Chester Powell, born December
16, 1832, married Alice Brown, of Johns-
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
town, by whom he had two children:
David and Arthur; Sarah Jane, born
July 6, 1835, died April 29, 1890, married
Lehman Edwards, of Johnstown, and
they had no children.
The early life of George Roswell Phelps
was passed in the old Phelps homestead
where he was born, in his native town of
Johnstown. He received his education in
the public schools there, and was brought
up in the occupation so long followed by
his father until he became an expert
farmer. He succeeded his father in the
ownership of the old place and in its
operation, which he conducted with great
success for the remainder of his life. In
the year 1899 he purchased a residence
in the city of Gloversville, and there made
his permanent home, travelling back and
forth each day between his dwelling and
his farm. Mr. Phelps was particularly
interested in the question of fruit culture
and made a specialty in that line on his
farm, which he rapidly converted into one
of the show places of the district. Small
fruits and berries were the chief product
and these he raised in very large quanti-
ties. He was wholly devoted to his work
and the greatest success crowned his
efforts, and he was regarded as an au-
thority on agricultural matters through-
out the neighborhood.
Besides his very successful farming,
Mr. Phelps had large business interests
in Gloversville and here as elsewhere his
affairs prospered. He was always strong-
ly interested in the welfare of the com-
munity and gave a great deal of his time
and energies to that cause. His political
affiliations were with the Prohibition
party, and this cause was one of those
which made the deepest appeal to him. He
was very outspoken in the matter and did
much to advance the interests of the
party in the city. He was a life-long
Methodist and for many years a member
of the church of that denomination at
Gloversville, holding the office of steward
for a considerable period. Mrs. Phelps is
a member of the same church and has
been connected for many years with the
Sabbath school work as well as many
other departments of the church activity,
being a Sunday school teacher for forty-
rive years.
Mr. Phelps was married on March 17,
1858, to Josephine Matilda Whitney,
born April 18, 1838, a daughter of Asa
Hervey and Almira Matilda (Wait)
Whitney. To Mr. and Mrs. Phelps were
born six children, whose births occurred
in Johnstown, as follows : 1. Inez Marian,
born July 15, 1859, died June 10, 1887. 2.
William Edwin, born November 12, i860;
married (first) December 27, 1882, Emily
Ann Banks, by whom he had two chil-
dren, Jessie Marian and Harry Chester;
married (second) April 6, 1898, Jane
Munns, by whom he had one child, Ray-
mond Chester. 3. Warren Whitney,
born August 23, 1863 ; married, August
30, 1884, Abbie Lansing, by whom he had
one child, Florence Catherine. 4. Emma
Belle, born December 28, 1865 ; married,
February 15, 1884, Elmer J. Staley, by
whom she has had one child, Harold
Phelps. 5. Lillian Almira, born January
11, 1870; married, April 7, 1899, John M.
Smith. 6. Alma Leona, born October 26,
1877; married, September, 1910, Clifton
Elliot Sanborn, and they have one son,
Clifton Elliot.
POTTS, George Cumming,
Man of Affairs.
The prominence men bearing the name
Potts have attained in the business world
is not confined to one, two or three gen-
erations, but from the coming of David
Potts from Wales the name has been one
of the most familiar ones in Pennsylvania
coal and iron annals. There it is forever
preserved in the nomenclature of the
J?.
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<Z S7^r
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
towns of the anthracite region, Pottstown
and Pottsville ranking high in commercial
importance. While this branch of the
family has attained high rank in New
York City and State, both George dim-
ming Potts and his father, George Alex-
ander Henry Potts, were born in New
Jersey, as were all preceding generations.
The family name was Pott in ancient
times; in 1278 it appears among parlia-
mentary writ: "Robertus atte Potte, of
county Surrey," as serving in military
duty. At that period it was not infre-
quently written Potte. Regarding the
arms of the Potts family, the earliest rec-
ord in the Herald's College of Arms
granted to one of the name bears date
1583; given to John Potts, an eminent
barrister of Lincoln's Inn. It is de-
scribed: Azure, two bars or, over all a
band of the second, that is, on a shield of
blue are two bands of gold, making in all
five horizontal bands of equal width, with
the blue showing at top and bottom, and
from upper left to lower right a band of
same width of gold. Crest : On a mount
vert, an ounce sejant ppr. collared and
chained.
(I) The line of descent of the Potts
family here to be set forth was instituted
by David Potts, who was born about 1670,
in Montgomeryshire, Wales. He was a
Friend, and settled in Bristol township,
Philadelphia county, Pennsylvania, where
he died in 1730. It is thought he came
when a youth, the first notice of his resi-
dence in America being 7 mo. 24, 1692,
when signing as a bondsman for Eliza-
beth Bennett, as executor of Edmund, her
late husband, and his signature may be
seen on file in the register's office in Phil-
adelphia, Pennsylvania. As a Friend he
first belonged to the Philadelphia Monthly
Meeting. He purchased in 1695 a tract
of one hundred and fifty acres of land in
Bristol township, Philadelphia county,
Pennsylvania, near Germantown ; subse-
quently selling fifty acres, settling on the
balance, and there resided the remainder
of his life. The deed for this first pur-
chase in the Potts family reads as follows :
"The Commiss'rs by Patent dated 26th 9
mo., 1685, Granted 500 acres to Rob't
Longshore, Purchaser in Bristol Town-
ship, in the County of Philad'a, joyning
in Germantown, Irenia Land, and Will'm
Wilkins, of which deed dated 1st 4 mo.,
1686, he sold to Samuel Bennett 200 acres,
who by Deed dated 2. 4. 1695, sold 150
thereof to David Potts, who sold to Wm.
Harman 50 acres now in Possession of
Peter Clever." And further: "The said
David Potts requests a Warr't of Resur-
vey on the said 150 acres according to the
True bounds of the Tract and to Cutt off
50 a's to said Harman or Clever. Ordered
that a Warr't be accordingly granted for
the said 50 acres to be cutt off as by
agreement made between them and a Pat-
ent on the Return if required, they paying
the Overplus, if any." In 1716 he had a
grant of one hundred acres of land in the
Manor of Springfield, for which he was to
pay £80. When the Friends established
a Meeting in Germantown, he was trans-
ferred to it, and under date of October 11,
171 1, he bought land there, the sellers
being trustees of the Germantown Meet-
ing there, and he was entrusted with im-
portant matters relating thereto. He was
a man of good standing in the community
where he resided for so long a time, and
represented Philadelphia county in the
Provincial Assembly for 1728-29-30. His
death occurred November 16, 1730. He
made his will, November 13, 1730, which
was probated November 26, 1730, and is
on file in the register's office at Philadel-
phia, in Will Book E, page 142. In it he
wrote : "I Give & Bequeath to my son,
John, the sum of Twenty Shillings money
af'd he having likewise received his por-
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
tion in my life time w'ch s'd money is to
be paid to him in two years after my De-
cease."
David Potts married Alice Croasdale,
who was born 8 mo. 3, 1673, and whose
parents came as passengers with William
Penn in the ship "Welcome," Robert
Greenway, master, in 1682. Although the
records of the Meeting are far from per-
fect, many matters relating to this couple
are ascertainable. She was the youngest
daughter of Thomas and Agnes (Hathern-
waite) Croasdale. They declared their in-
tention of marriage with each other be-
fore the Philadelphia Monthly Meeting,
10 mo. 29, 1693 (December, 1693) ; passed
the Meeting the second time on 11 mo.
26, 1693-94 (January, 1694), and were
granted a certificate to marry under the
care of Middletown Monthly Meeting in
Bucks county. The following is a copy
of the entry in the minutes of the latter
Meeting: "David Potts and Alice Croas-
^dale have requested to solemnize their
marriage within this Meeting, because her
relations mostly dwell here, and they be-
longing to Philadelphia have brought a
Certificate from that Monthly Meeting
that testifies they have proceeded there
orderly, and nothing is found against
them, and also requested that they may
accomplish their marriage here, which
they have granted them ; so this Meeting
is satisfied and grants their requests." A
subsequent record shows that they were
married in an orderly manner on 1 mo. 22,
1693. This date, according to the modern
system of reckoning, would correspond to
March 22, 1694. The following is a copy
of the marriage certificate as it is recorded
by the Monthly Meeting: "Whereas,
David Potts and Alice Croasdale, both of
Philadelphia, in the Province of Pennsyl-
vania, having declared their intentions of
taking each other in marriage, before sev-
eral public meetings of the People of God
called Quakers, in Philadelphia, in the
Province of Pennsylvania aforesaid, in
America, according to the good order used
amongst them, whose proceedings there-
in, after deliberate consideration thereof,
were approved by the said meetings ; they
appearing clear of all others."
(II) John Potts, son of David and Alice
(Croasdale) Potts, was born 8 mo. 8, 1696,
and died in September, 1766. He learned
the trade of a millwright. When grown
up he settled in Upper Dublin township,
later on included within the limits of
Montgomery county, where he purchased
a tract of land from Isaac and John
Phipps, about 1748, the deed for which is
recorded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,
showing title back to the original grant
by William Penn, in 1681 ; still owned
(1900) by his descendants. It is located
about two miles east of Fort Washington
village. His will, made September 28,
1766, in many respects is quaint and reads
in part as follows :
Be it remembered that I, John Potts of the
Township of Upper Dublin, in the County of
Philad'a and province of Pensilvania, Mill
Wright, being now far advanced in Years, but
yet of Sound and Disposing Mind and Memory,
for which mercy and favour May I ever prais
the great author of my being, and at times feel-
ing the Simtoms of Mortality through the
Decay of nature, but relying on the merits of
my Redeemer, hope for a happy change from
this life to that which is to come of Eternal
Peace, and rest in Daily Expectation of such
a Change. And in as much as God in his
Mercy has blessed me with some worldly estate,
do think Proper to make this my last will and
testament in the manner following, that is to
say, first of all I will that all my Just Debts
and funeral Expenses be well and truly paid
and Discharged.
Item, I will Devise and Bequeath unto my
Dear and Loving wife Elizabeth all my Real
and Personal Estate whatsoever during her
natural life, giving her full Privilege to will or
dispose of as much household goods as she shall
see proper in her life time to either her Chil-
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
dren or grand Children and after her decease.
I will devise and Bequeath unto my son John
the Plantation & Tract of land I now live on
containing one hundred and fifty acres of land,
be it more or less with all the Buildings and
appurtenances thereon or any wise thereunto
belonging unto him his heirs and Assigns for-
ever and the remainder of my Personal estate
except what is hereafter Excepted he paying
the several legacies hereafter mentioned that
is to say, — I will and Bequeath unto my son
Thomas my Chamber Clock and fifty Pound
Lawful money of Pensilvania to be delivered
and paid unto him by my Executors hereafter
named within one year after my wife's Decease.
John Potts married, in July, 1726, Eliza-
beth McVaugh (or McVeagh), daughter
of Edmond and Alice (Dickinson) Mc-
Veagh. She was born in 1699 and died
1 mo. 5, 1791.
(Ill) Thomas Potts, son of John and
Elizabeth (McVeagh) Potts, was born in
1729, died July 29, 1776. He was a mill-
wright, and resided in Moreland township
for some time. Walter Moore and his
wife, Sarah, on June 22, 1753, conveyed to
him, as millwright of the Manor of More-
land, one-half of a certain corn mill and
two parcels of land there. Later on he
removed to Sussex county, New Jersey,
settling in Chelsea Forge, where he pos-
sessed much property, became high sheriff
of Sussex county in 1772, and a member
of Provincial Assembly in 1775 and 1776.
Thomas Potts was a member of the Con-
tinental Congress which convened in Phil-
adelphia in 1776; he was in all respects a
patriot, but being a member of the Society
of Friends he refused to sign the Declara-
tion of Independence, not wishing to co-
operate in an act that meant war and
bloodshed for the colonies. Thomas Potts
married, January 16, 1753, Elizabeth Lu-
kens, daughter of William and Elizabeth
(Tyson) Lukens, who, when a widow,
married Dr. John Rockhill, a widower
(born March 22, 1726, died April 7, 1798),
whose descendants (by their previous
marriages) intermarried.
The Lukens family was one of the most
notable of the early Pennsylvania fam-
ilies, and was of Holland descent. Joseph
and John Lukens were brothers-in-law
of Thomas Potts. The first mentioned
was a lifelong resident of the Lukens
estate, at Sandy Run, a man of wealth,
held in high esteem for many good
qualities. The latter was appointed to
the responsible position of surveyor-gen-
eral of Pennsylvania, under the king.
Upon the agitation of the momentous
question which prepared the way for
American independence, he espoused the
cause of the patriots and so closely was
he identified with the leaders in the Revo-
lutionary movement that it was in one of
the apartments of his residence, in Phila-
delphia, that the Declaration of Independ-
ence was drawn up by Thomas Jefferson.
His granddaughter, the celebrated beauty,
Sally McKean, became the wife of the ^
Marquis D'Yrugo, the first minister from
Spain to the United States under the con-
stitution. Elizabeth, the eldest child of
Thomas and Elizabeth (Lukens) Potts,
married Robert Barnhill, and among their
children was a daughter Margaret, who
married Cornelius V. S. Roosevelt, and
had a son Theodore Roosevelt, who was
the father of Theodore Roosevelt, former
President of the United States.
(IV) Hugh Henry Potts, son of Thomas
and Elizabeth (Lukens) Potts, was born
in 1773, and died in 1842. One gains an
excellent idea regarding him from a de-
scription in a letter written to Thomas
Maxwell Potts, the skilled and intelligent
genealogist of the Potts family, by the
late William John Potts. It reads: "This
summer I have renewed my acquaintance
with Mr. George H. Potts, of the City of
New York. He is, as you are aware, first
cousin to my father, and is now seventy-
223
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
four years old, — a tall, distinguished and
elegant looking man of at least six feet
high, not inclined to stoutness, which
characterizes two of his sons. Among
Mr. George H. Potts' traditions of his
father, uncles and grandfather, were sev-
eral which are confirmed in part by my
aunt, (Hannah) Elizabeth Potts and my
uncle, Charles Clay Potts, both aged
above seventy years. Hugh Potts, as he
was commonly called, though his full
name was Alexander Hugh, father of the
said George, and brother to my grand-
father, was a remarkably handsome man.
One of the Robesons who had known him
in his youth, possibly an old sweetheart
of his, said he was the handsomest man
she ever knew. The said Mary Robeson
died in Philadelphia, aged about seventy
years, ten or more years ago. Hugh Potts
was six feet one inch high ; weighed 220
pounds, and was a most powerful man.
On one occasion he lifted with one hand
fourteen 56-pound weights to above the
knee. He held on his outstretched hand
one Ramsay, sheriff of Hunterdon coun-
ty, in a standing position, he being
steadied by a man on each side ; took him
entirely across the room. He also car-
ried said Ramsay, standing on his (Mr.
Potts') knee, the back part of it turned
up, across the room. Mrs. Rockhill, sis-
ter of Hugh Potts, was also of large
frame. She was six feet in height.
Thomas Potts, high sheriff of Sussex
county, New Jersey, father of Hugh Potts,
on one occasion had to arrest Edward
Marshall, the hero of the famous Indian
walk, who lived on an island in the Dela-
ware, out of his jurisdiction, and was be-
side no mean adversary. My great-grand-
father, Thomas Potts, a large and power-
ful man, took a boat and crossing over to
the island where Marshall lived, bound
him hand and foot, and when he landed
his prisoner on the Jersey shore, served
his warrant on him."
Hugh Henry Potts married Elizabeth
Hughes, about the year 1800, at Carlisle,
Pennsylvania. She was the daughter of
Captain John Hughes, a distinguished
officer of the Revolution, who enlisted as
a sergeant in the Sixth Pennsylvania Bat-
talion, January 29, 1776, and served in
various capacities to the close of the war.
His position of brigade quartermaster
during the years 1778 and 1779 brought
him in close personal companionship with
General George Washington. Hugh
Henry Potts also inclined to a military
career and near the close of the War of
1812 was appointed to a captaincy in the
United States army.
(V ) George Alexander Henry Potts, son
of Hugh Henry and Elizabeth (Hughes)
Potts, was born September 22, 181 1, died
in New York City, on April 28, 1888. He
was born on his father's estate on the
Delaware river in Bucks county, Penn-
sylvania. Bereft of his mother by death
in 1813, he found a home in Pittstown,
Hunterdon county, New Jersey, in the
family of his father's sister, Mrs. Judge
Rockhill. In 1829 he removed to Potts-
ville, Pennsylvania, and at once engaged
in mining operations, and from 1834 to
1845 was tne most extensive individual
coal operator in the region. He erected
the first engine for mining coal below the
water level ever set up in Pennsylvania;
he also built the first boat which was em-
ployed to convey coal from the Schuylkill
region direct to New York City. In 1853
George A. H. Potts removed to New York
City and became the head of the New
York branch of the wholesale coal and
iron firm of Lewis Audenried & Com-
pany. On the death of Mr. Audenried in
1874 this firm, was dissolved, Mr. Potts
retiring, and the business has since been
continued by his sons, Frederic A. Potts
and William Rockhill Potts, and still later
by his grandson, Frederic A. Potts.
George A. H. Potts was one of the origi-
224
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
nal incorporators of the National Park
Bank, and its president from September,
1879, to the time of his death in 1888. In
person he was above the medium height
and of striking personal appearance.
On September 19, 1832, he married
(first) Emily Dilworth Cumming, at
Pottsville, Pennsylvania. She was the
daughter of George M. Cumming, who
was born March 15, 1813, and died in
1857. On July 2, 1863, he married (sec-
ond) Helen Blendina Hard. She was
born at Albion, New York, October 17,
1837, and was the daughter of Judge
Gideon Hard. George A. H. Potts re-
sided on Madison avenue, New York City,
and had a summer home and farm at Som-
erville, New Jersey.
(VI) George Cumming Potts, eldest
son of George Alexander Henry and
Emily Dilworth (Cumming) Potts, was
born at Pottsville, Pennsylvania, August
3, 1834, died at his home in Culver Road,
Rochester, New York, Sunday, May 7,
1916. George C. Potts, after obtaining a
good education, was taught the detail of
coal production and mine operation at his
father's mines, was engaged in coal min-
ing at Locustdale, Schuylkill county,
Pennsylvania, operating the Potts Col-
liery, in 1852, but later withdrew to be-
come a member of the stock brokerage
firm, R. Ellis & Company, of Philadel-
phia. He spent many years in business
prior to becoming general northern coal
salesagent for the Philadelphia & Read-
ing Coal and Iron Company, his territory
Northern New York and Canada. In
1893 he moved to Rochester as represent-
ative of that company and until 1912 was
engaged in the duties pertaining to the re-
sponsible position he held. In 1912 he
retired, the best known coal and iron
agent in the northern tier of States. He
was a man of strong mind and body, had
been connected with coal business almost
NY-VolIII-15 225
from boyhood and inherited a capacity for
business operation from his distinguished
father, who had also guided his first ven-
tures. His acquaintance was widely scat-
tered and he was a well known figure on
the Philadelphia and New York Ex-
changes, he being a member of both. He
was bold in his operations, yet always
kept within the bounds of his judgment
and accurate knowledge. He was rated a
wise and honorable man of business, one
whose word it was always safe to rely
upon.
Mr. Potts was a Democrat in politics,
but took little active part in public affairs.
In Rochester he was a member of the
Chamber of Commerce, the Genesee Val-
ley, the Rochester and the Rochester
Whist clubs. His Philadelphia club was
the Philadelphia, his New York City club,
the Union. Before locating in Rochester,
he had been an active member of the
Lighthouse Club of Currituck, North Car-
olina. He was ever fond of sport, and
particularly partial to horses and hunting,
taking active part in such out-of-doors
recreation even after the years warned
him to desist. He was in his eighty-sec-
ond year when he died and until within
six months of his last illness could have
been considered a man hale and hearty.
Mr. Potts married (first) in 1852, Mary
Dallas, daughter of Judge Dallas, who
died the same year. He married (sec-
ond) December 4, 1863, Mary Laurette
Eustis, born at Milton, Massachusetts,
January 14, 1845, died at Pottsville, Penn-
sylvania, November 4, 1868, daughter of
Alexander Brook and Aurore (Grelaud)
Eustis. He married (third) Nancy
(Wheaton) Phillips, who survives him.
She is a daughter of David R. and Mary
(Galusha) Wheaton, of Western New
York, the former named born 1817, a pio-
neer in that section of the State, and the
latter named in Exeter, Otsego county,
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
New York, 1830. Children all born to Mr.
Potts and his second wife, Mary Laurette
(Eustis) Potts: Maude Eustis, married at
Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, April 8, 1890,
Augustus C. Paine, Jr., and resides in
New York City; George Eustis, born
April 15, 1866, married at Marquette,
Michigan, September 14, 1898, Sarah
White Call, and resides at Short Hills,
New Jersey ; Hugh Eustis, born October
14, 1867, married Grace Paine, and re-
sides in Willsborough, New York ; Lau-
rette Eustis, born at Pottsville, Pennsyl-
vania, October 12, 1868, married at Ger-
mantown, Pennsylvania, January 24, 1905,
L. Frederick Pease, and resides in New
York City.
WARD, Henry Augustus,
Scientist, Traveler, Explorer.
There have been great scientists, great
travelers, and great explorers, each a spe-
cialist, but rare indeed is it to find such a
character as Professor Ward, scientist,
traveler and explorer, yet in no sense a
specialist. His quest was for all that was
wonderful in natural science ; his field, the
world. With all his attainments he was
a man of singular modesty and simplicity
of character, yet in every seat of scientific
learning in his own and other lands his
name is honored and will live when the
names of more self assertive scientists
shall have long been forgotten. The great
Museum of Natural Science in Sibley
Hall, University of Rochester, a priceless
heritage, perhaps best represents his high-
est work, while Ward's Natural Science
Establishment, which he founded in
Rochester, is still the Mecca of scientists
in search of rare and valuable specimens
illustrating the various branches of nat-
ural science. His collection of meteorites,
known as the Ward-Coonley Collection,
is now a part of the Field Museum of
Chicago, and is the largest private collec-
tion in the world. To it he devoted about
nine years of his life. Professor Ward
often said, "This collection will be my
monument." One of his recent trips was
to Teheran, Persia, to secure a piece of
the Veramin meteorite owned by the Shah
and jealously guarded in his palace. He
was successful and a specimen is on ex-
hibition with the collection in New York.
Professor L. P. Gratacap, of the Amer-
ican Museum of Natural History, in his
article in the "Popular Science Monthly"
entitled "The Largest American Collec-
tion of Meteorites," says : "No one in the
United States has exhibited greater perse-
verance or more boundless, almost reck-
less, enthusiasm in the work of collecting
meteorites than Professor Henry A.
Ward. His audacity and zeal have gone
hand in hand with a very keen scientific
sense of the meaning of meteorites and
an admirable acquaintance with the litera-
ture and the results that have developed
in their study. He has himself been an
explorer in this field and it would be safe
to predict that he would to-day be the
first arrival at the scene should a meteorite
fall." Professor Carl Klein, State Coun-
selor and Director of the Royal Mineral
Collection at Berlin, referred to the Ward-
Coonley Collection as "one of the finest
and richest meteorite collections in the
entire world."
As a traveler in search of the rare and
wonderful in nature he established a rec-
ord unsurpassed, carrying the name and
fame of Rochester literally into the far
corners of the earth. He was known to
all of the older scientists of the world, and
for many years the highways of the earth
converged at Rochester. He made at
least thirty-five trips to Europe, circum-
navigated the globe, and visited every
continent and almost every country the
sun shines upon, as well as all the impor-
226
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
tant islands of all the seas. He spoke
many languages a famous Frenchman
saying, "He is an American who speaks
French like a Parisian." His command of
German was equally good, and he spoke
Spanish fluently.
This knowledge of the languages of the
world was not obtained through a desire
for linguistic attainment but through
necessity, for he literally ransacked the
earth in his quest for specimens and often
he was the only member of his party who
could converse with the natives. He knew
South America as well as he did the high-
ways of his native city. His first collect-
ing tour was made in 1854, prior to receiv-
ing his degree from Harvard University,
and was made at the expense of the elder
General Wadsworth, of New York, who
sent him to Europe as tutor to his son,
Charles Wadsworth, now deceased. The
young men traveled all over Continental
Europe, then crossed to Egypt, visited
Alexandria and Cairo and ascended the
Nile to the second cataract, a notable
journey in those days. While this jour-
ney was undertaken solely for the benefit
to be gained through foreign travel it was
at this time that Professor Ward col-
lected his first specimens. It was also at
General Wadsworth's expense that the
"Wadsworth Collection" of rocks, min-
erals and fossils, donated by General
Wadsworth to the Buffalo Natural His-
tory Society and yet on exhibition, was
made by Professor Ward when a young
man.
His next journey of note was made
while he was still a student at the School
of Mines in Paris, France. This journey
carried him to Joppa, Jerusalem, the Dead
Sea, and other points of scientific interest
in Palestine, Arabia, Nubia, and Egypt;
up the Nile to the fifth cataract; across
the desert to Abyssinia, Somaliland, Zan-
zibar, Mozambique, Portugese East
Africa, Zululand, Natal, Cape Colony;
then one thousand miles northeasterly
from Cape Town through the interior to
Griqualand, visiting the diamond fields;
thence again to Cape Town. He next pro-
ceeded up the West Coast to the mouth
of the Niger, where he left the ship and
ascended the river four hundred miles,
that being the record trip into the interior
of Africa for an American. On his return
to the coast he continued his northward
journey, visiting Liberia, Sierra Leone,
Senegambia, Senegal, and Morocco, re-
turning to Marseilles, the point also of
his departure. It was on this journey
that he visited the island of Fernando
Po, in the Bight of Biafra, off the Came-
roons, West Africa, where he was
stricken with yellow fever and narrowly
escaped death. Professor Ward's travels
in South America were very extensive,
for he visited every country at least once,
and was familiar with trails leading over
the Andes. His last trip there was made
at the age of sixty-nine years and was
completed the year of his death, 1906.
He crossed the continent several times
from Valparaiso to Buenos Ayres, ex-
plored the Magdalena river for hundreds
of miles from its mouth, and traveled for
days over tortuous, dangerous mountain
trails to Santa Rosa and Bogota. On his
last trip, in order to reach home, he
crossed the Atlantic from Rio de Janeiro
to Senegal, Africa, thence to Lisbon and
Bordeaux, there intending to meet Judge
Albion W. Tourgee, who had been a
student at the University of Rochester
while Professor Ward was a member of
the faculty and who was then United
States Consul at Bordeaux. The morn-
ing after his arrival he called at the con-
sulate and was informed that Judge
Tourgee had died during the previous
night.
Professor Ward visited Australia sev-
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
eral times, living in gold camps and
camping on the border of the great
interior desert. His last trip there was
at the request of the younger Professor
Agassiz, of Harvard University, to obtain
a collection of Australian corals, the jour-
ney resulting in his securing the largest
and finest collection of corals character-
istic of a given locality, ever made. The
ship chartered for the expedition made
the passage inside the Great Barrier Reef
that skirts Australia on the east from
Torres Strait almost to Brisbane.
In North America he had visited every
State and territory within the borders of
the United States except Alaska, had
crossed British America from the Pacific
to Newfoundland, and had traveled
thousands of miles in Mexico and Central
American States. While traveling in
Colombia, South America, in 1905, he
was captured by the insurgent General
Uribe, but was held prisoner only a short
time.
In 1871 he was appointed by President
Grant as naturalist to accompany the
expedition he was sending to Santo Do-
mingo, the purchase of that island of the
West Indies being then contemplated and
further information regarding its re-
sources being desired. Professor Ward's
duties were especially of a geological and
zoological nature. The vessel carrying
the expedition was wrecked, but all lives
were saved and no material injury was
sustained to thwart their mission.
A summary of the countries he ex-
plored and searched shows the earth
circumnavigated and every country in
Europe and every large city visited. In
Asia, all countries of the Indian and
Pacific littorals, as well as the large
islands of those oceans, including Java,
Borneo, New Zealand, Tasmania, New
Guinea, New Caledonia, Hawaii, and
Japan ; Africa, coastal and interior ; South,
Central, and North America; all laid
under contribution, for these journeys
were not for pleasure but to secure speci-
mens for Ward's Natural Science Estab-
lishment in Rochester, to be distributed
among museums, college collections, and
private collectors. The last eight or nine
years of his life were spent in search for
meteorites, but prior to that all specimens
of value to natural history students were
collected. Professor Ward was not a
voluminous writer and it was almost im-
possible to prevail upon him to face an
audience. He did, however, publish
"Notice of the Megatherium Auveri" and
"Descriptions of the Most Celebrated
Fossils in the Royal Museums of Eu-
rope," and had in preparation at the time
of his death a great work on meteorites,
upon which he had worked with his secre-
tary at his summer home at Wyoming,
New York, for about three years. In his
last years he consented to deliver lectures,
very few in number, before the Rochester
Academy of Science and the Buffalo So-
ciety of Natural History. Although
Ward's Natural Science Establishment is
a commercial enterprise, its business is
carried on through an extensive corps of
assistants at home and personally trained
collectors whom he sent to all points of
the world for materials for "Ward's
Cabinets." Professor Ward, the founder,
during the years of his management
subordinated the commercial to the
scientific. Hence, while the institution
is in no sense a school, many men whose
names are high upon the scientific roll of
fame received their early practical train-
ing under him. Among those going out
from under his instruction the more
notable are : G. K. Gilbert, of the United
States Geological Survey; Edwin E.
Howell, the most skilled maker of relief
maps in the world, who came to Roches-
ter an untaught country boy ; Dr. Wil-
228
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
liam T. Hornaday, director of the Bronx
Park Zoological Garden, one of the larg-
est in the world ; Curator Frank C. Baker,
of Chicago, a leading natural scientist;
Charles A. Townsend, of the United
States Coast and Geodetic Survey, the
most successful collector of deep sea
specimens known ; A. B. Baker, assistant
superintendent but practical head of the
Natural Zoological Garden at Washing-
ton ; Frederick A. Lucas, curator-in-chief
of the museum of Brooklyn Institute of
Arts and Sciences; George Turner, a
native of Rochester, now chief taxider-
mist of the United States Natural
Museum, Washington; Walter C. Bar-
rows, professor of zoology in Michigan
Agricultural College; Rufus H. Pettit,
professor of entomology in the same insti-
tution ; and Carl Akley, chief taxidermist
of the American Museum of Natural
Science, New York City.
The tribute Dr. Hornaday lays at the
feet of his master and friend expresses
the feelings of all. Dr. Hornaday came
to Rochester in 1873 from an Iowa agri-
cultural college. He did such excellent
work that in 1874 he was sent to Florida
in the interests of the establishment and
was so successful that in 1876 he was sent
by Professor Ward around the world on
a collecting tour, a journey described in
"Two Years in the Jungle" by Dr. Horn-
aday (New York, 1885). The esteem in
which he held Professor Ward he thus
expressed : "In my estimation he has
done more towards the creation and ex-
pansion of the scientific museums of the
world than any other twenty men I could
name. The value of his work as a scien-
tific educator can never be estimated in
dollars and cents. He deliberately chose
as his sphere of usefulness the gathering
and distribution of specimens and collec-
tions for the promotion of scientific study.
The work of his life has been to place in
the hands of scientific students and inves-
tigators the objects they could not obtain
for themselves."
In his philanthropy Professor Ward
was particularly generous to institutions
and collectors of small means, frequently
adding to their orders useful specimens
without charge, reducing his profit to
nothing and in some cases not receiving
enough even to cover the original cost.
Many young men of this country and
some in Europe owe their education and
opportunities to him, nor was it neces-
sary that they should be scientific
students, as he was equally ready to help
any ambitious young man to a business
education. Money meant nothing to him ;
his work was everything. The zoological,
geological, and mineralogical collection
installed by him in the Lewis Brooks
Museum of Natural Science at the
University of Virginia in Richmond at a
cost to Mr. Brooks of eighty-eight thou-
sand dollars netted Professor Ward a
profit of but one hundred dollars, and this
did not pay for the time he spent in plac-
ing the collection in position in the
museum.
Professor Ward met death by accident
in Buffalo, after escaping the perils of
explorer and traveler in wild and un-
frequented regions during the greater
part of a life of seventy years. He him-
self planned and placed his tomb in
Mount Hope Cemetery, Rochester,
several years prior to his death. It is an
immense boulder of crystalline quartz
with jasper inclusion brought from the
north shore of Lake Superior, the only
region in the entire world known to
produce such a rock. A niche in the
center contains the urn that holds his
ashes.
Henry Augustus Ward was born in
Rochester, March 9, 1834, died in Buffalo,
July 4, 1906, son of Henry M. and Eliza
229
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
(Chapin) Ward. He attended Rochester
schools for a time, but in early life spent
several years on a farm in Wyoming
county. He then became a student at
Temple Hall Academy, Geneseo, New
York, Marshal Oyama, the famous
Japanese warrior, being a classmate. He
next entered Williams College, where for
about a year Charles E. Fitch, of Roches-
ter, was a classmate. It was while a
student at Williams that he walked
twenty-eight miles to hear Professor
Agassiz's lecture and was then introduced
to him. This resulted in the abandon-
ment of his college course and his going
to Cambridge as Professor Agassiz's
assistant. After a number of years of this
congenial work which resulted in his
lifelong friendship with his great master,
he went on the tour with General Wads-
worth. This was followed by five years
at the Jardin des Plantes, the Sorbonne,
and the School of Mines, shorter courses
following at Munich in Bavaria, and
Freiburg in Saxony. He then threw his
books aside and made the African jour-
ney previously described. During his
travels he studied the zoological and geo-
logical features of the country through
which he passed, while at the same time
he made a vast collection of minerals,
geological specimens and fossils. During
his student life in Paris he supported him-
self by the collection of fossils and other
geological specimens found in Paris,
which he either sold in London or ex-
changed for scientific material that he
could convert into cash. The result of
his African journey, that valuable col-
lection now owned by the University of
Rochester, was made with the assistance
of his uncle, Levi Ward. This collection
of mineral rocks and fossils was shipped
to the United States and on its arrival
he exhibited it in Washington Hall, at the
corner of what is now West Main and
Washington streets. The collection at-
tracted widespread attention, being the
largest and most complete of its kind ever
made. It was the center of so much
interest that it was purchased by popular
subscription for the University of
Rochester, where, greatly enlarged, it
occupies an important place in Sibley
Hall. Shortly after his return from
Paris he was elected professor of natural
science, filling that chair for five years,
i860 to 1865.
His knowledge of minerals, his experi-
ence abroad, and the dearth of mining
engineers brought Professor Ward flat-
tering proposals from several mining
companies. He accepted one of these,
from the Midas Gold Mining Company,
of Midasburg, Montana, that company
being largely owned by Rochester capital-
ists. In 1865 he severed his connection
with the university and became super-
intendent of the Midas Company. He
procured for his mine the first stamp mill
used in treating free milling gold ore
ever used in the Rocky Mountains. This
mill, which crushed the ore to a fineness
allowing the greatest economy in hauling
from the mine, was brought from Sacra-
mento, California, over the mountains to
Midasburg, through a hostile wilderness,
ten months being consumed in the jour-
ney. From Midasburg Professor Ward
went to Southern California as superin-
tendent of a gold mine owned largely by
his friend, Cyrus McCormick, inventor of
the reaping machine. After a year there
the call of science won him and he re-
turned to Rochester to complete the col-
lection made by himself and owned by
the University of Rochester. The serious
gaps in that collection, especially in the
fossil department, were comparatively
easy to fill, there being excellent examples
of the large extinct animals to be found
in the museums of Europe. To fill these
230
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
gaps required the making of accurate
moulds to the number of several thousand
and to that work he addressed himself.
When the moulds were ready to be
shipped to Rochester three frame build-
ings were erected on the campus to re-
ceive them and there the casts now to be
seen in the museum halls of the Univer-
sity of Rochester and many other similar
institutions were made, the work attract-
ing the attention of colleges and univer-
sities all over the United States, many
requests for duplicates being received.
This was the inaugural work of "Ward's
Natural Science Establishment," that is
one of Rochester's notable enterprises,
with a member of the Ward family still
its executive head. The establishment
grew with the years until every branch
of natural science is represented. In its
early years Professor Ward was its
directing head and until his death was a
large stockholder though not actively
identified with its management. He ran-
sacked the earth for specimens, as told
heretofore, his natural history work under
the elder Agassiz, his geological work
under D'Aubigny and De Beaumont, his
private explorations and travels, all qual-
ifying him for leadership in such an
enterprise. His interest in meteorites
developed during the last decade of his
life and he became as famous in that
field as in others longer cultivated. His
business in Buffalo on the day of his
death was partly to talk over with his
friend, Dr. Roswell Park, an expedition
which he proposed to lead into Africa,
although then in his seventy-second year
and not then three months returned from
a South American expedition.
Professor Ward's remarkable restor-
ations or facsimiles range in size from a
shell to an ichthyosaurus and a mastodon,
and are remarkable in the minuteness and
exactness of their detail. He formed and
installed museums costing many thou-
sands of dollars each for Allegheny Col-
lege, Cornell, Syracuse, Vanderbilt, Yale
and other universities, in all over one
hundred institutions throughout the
United States.
Professor Ward's scholarly degrees
earned through work in the class room
were those of Bachelor of Arts, Williams
College, i860, and Master of Arts, Univer-
sity of Rochester, 1862. The University
of Rochester conferred on him the degree
of Doctor of Laws in 1896, and Doctor of
Science, Albertus Magnus, in 1902, and
he was a fellow of the American Asso-
ciation for the Advancement of Science
and of the American Society of Natural-
ists.
He married (first) in i860, Phoebe A.
Howell, of York, New York, whom he
met while both were students at Geneseo.
Alice, their daughter, died in 1901 ;
Charles H., the eldest son, lives in
Rochester; while Henry L., is director
of the Milwaukee Public Museum. Both
sons received their business and technical
training in Ward's Natural Science Estab-
lishment. On March 18, 1897, Professor
Ward married (second) Mrs. Lydia
Avery Coonley, of Chicago, where they
afterwards resided in winter, making
their summer home at Wyoming, New
York. It was on his way to this country
home, associated with his boyhood as well
as with his later years, that on July 4,
1906, Professor Ward fell a victim to the
reckless driving of an automobile.
DRAPER, Andrew S.,
Lawyer. Educator, Administrator.
Dr. Andrew Sloan Draper was not a
genius, nor did he possess great original-
ity, but he was an administrator of re-
markable ability. In that respect he has
not been equalled by anyone in this coun-
■231
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
try who has had to do with public educa-
tion. His mind was always open to sug-
gestions from any source, and he was at
all times ready to act upon such sugges-
tions as to him seemed worthy and likely
to succeed. He had none of that pride of
opinion that is the weakness of small
minds. When he decided that a thing
should be done, the matter was perma-
nently settled in his mind, and rebuff and
temporary failure did not dishearten him.
He had the ability to bide his time and
seize the favorable moment for action
when it arose.
His career shows clearly that men suc-
ceed or fail in life not primarily because
of the opportunities that they may have
had, but because of what they are. Dr.
Draper was not what is generally con-
sidered an educated man; at least his
schooling was somewhat meager. Al-
though he was the successful president of
a great university, he was not a college
graduate, nor had he ever attended any
college, if his course at the Albany Law
School be excepted. Why then should
he achieve the great success that he did?
How did he fit himself for his work? He
knew men. He was a masterful man. He
saw clearly and clung to his purposes
persistently. He prepared himself care-
fully for every event that he thought was
likely to arise. He had not that fear of
failure that so often prevents action.
Added to these characteristics was what
after all is a good training for life. He
was born in the country. When a mere
boy he began to be self-supporting.
Andrew Sloan Draper was the son of a
farmer, Sylvester Bigelow Draper, and of
Jane Sloan Draper, was born at West-
ford, Otsego county, New York, on June
21, 1848, and died at his home in Albany,
April 27, 1913. He came from good stock.
On his father's side he was descended in
a direct line from James Draper, "The
Puritan," who settled at Roxbury, Massa-
chusetts, in 1646. Through his paternal
great-grandmother he was descended
Degory Priest, one of the "Mayflower"
Pilgrims. His mother was Scotch-Irish.
Two of his great-grandfathers were offi-
cers in the early French wars ; one of
them was killed in King Philip's War.
Two of his ancestors were soldiers in the
Revolution.
His first occupation was that of a news-
boy at Albany, New York, for which he
received two dollars and fifty cents a
week. His experience in teaching was
meager. He began teaching in a private
school in his native county at the age of
eighteen, and at the age of twenty was
principal of a small village school in the
county of Otsego. For three or four
years he taught in the Albany Academy
and other institutions. He attended the
Albany public schools, and graduated
from the Albany Academy in 1866, and
from the Albany Law School in 1871. He
became a member of the law firm of
Draper & Chester in 1871. He married
Abbie Louise Bryan, of New Britain,
Connecticut, May 8, 1872. He was a
member of the Albany Board of Educa-
tion, 1879-81 and 1890-92, and was a
member of the Legislature in 1881. He
was a member of the board of trustees of
the State Normal College, and was made
Judge of the United States Court of Ala-
bama Claims.
Dr. Draper was a strong temperance
man, and was at one time grand worthy
chief templar of the Independent Order
of Good Templars of the State of New
York. He was frequently heard on the
temperance question from the same plat-
form as Horace Greeley, Neal Dow and
John B. Gough. He was for years an
active politician, and came to see a side
of human nature that is not usually well
known to those who are not in politics.
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
He was for several years the head of the
Republican organization in Albany. One
might say that this was no preparation
for educational work, yet with him it
proved to be the best possible prepara-
tion — it made him the master of men ; it
trained him to understand the public; it
led him to appreciate the value of organi-
zation, without which no great work can
be successfully carried on. Because of
this training he became an untiring
worker, and quick to see danger signals
and to prepare to meet opposition.
Dr. Draper was elected State Superin-
tendent of Schools in 1886, serving until
1892, his choice being almost universally
opposed by school men on the ground
that he was a politician. He was, and he
remained one until the day of his death,
but partisan politics never entered into
the great department over which he pre-
sided. After two terms of service as
State Superintendent of Public Instruc-
tion he was succeeded by a Democrat,
but he had cast his lot permanently with
educational workers. He was then elected
superintendent of schools at Cleveland,
Ohio, which office he held from 1892 to
1894. In the latter year he was chosen
president of the University of Illinois. In
both of these positions he made an envia-
ble record. In 1898 he was elected first
superintendent of schools in Greater New
York, but declined. When the unifica-
tion of the school systems of New York
took place he was called back to his
native State to administer educational
affairs, and spent the remainder of his
life at this work. He was elected by the
Legislature in 1904, and in 1910 was re-
elected for life by the Board of Regents.
While engaged in educational work Dr.
Draper spoke on many educational prob-
lems and in many States, and he wrote
largely and effectively. Beyond question
he was the ablest educational adminis-
trator of his time, and probablv the ablest
our country has produced. He held many
official educational offices. He was presi-
dent of the superintendents' section of the
National Educational Association from
1889 to 1891, and presided at these meet-
ings with rare skill and efficiency. He
was president of the North Central Asso-
ciation of Colleges and Secondary Schools
in 1903-04. In 1898 he was made a mem-
ber of the Board of United States Indian
Commissioners, and was chairman at the
time of his death. Dr. Draper loved his
State intensely, as he loved his country,
and he had the greatest faith in the char-
acter and the endurance of both. He was
an optimist, and had small patience with
a man who was disposed to look upon the
dark side of things. He was interested in
history, and was a member and a trustee
of the New York State Historical Asso-
ciation, and read several papers at its
meetings. He was also a member of the
State Historical societies of Illinois and
of Wisconsin, as well as of the Chicago
Historical Society. He loved, respected
and honored his State, and felt it was
without an equal among the Common-
wealths of our Union. In the course of a
controversy with Mr. Martin, of Massa-
chusetts, in regard to the matter of pri-
macy in educational work, he made use of
this expression: "New York made his-
tory, but Massachusetts wrote it."
It is a matter of interest to know that
the magnificent educational building
stands on the same site as that occupied
by the humble boyhood home of Dr.
Draper.
Dr. Draper was a speaker with no spe-
cial graces, yet one who held and influ-
enced his audiences because of his hon-
esty, his earnestness, and his clearness of
thought and expression. His educational
work may be summarized as follows : He
removed the public schools of the State
from the influence of partisan politics. He
provided uniform examinations for teach-
233
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
ers' licenses. He secured the recognition
of the fact that the schools were State and
not local institutions. He secured the
enactment of laws designed to insure the
appointment of efficient supervising offi-
cers for rural schools. He secured the
passage of a law providing for three thou-
sand State scholarships in the approved
colleges of the State. It was chiefly
through his influence and efforts that the
Educational Department is housed in the
finest building in the world devoted to
that purpose. He received the degree of
Doctor of Laws from Colgate (1889), Co-
lumbia (1903), and the University of Illi-
nois (1905). He received an award at the
Paris Exposition (1900) for a monograph
on the "Organization and Administration
of the American School System," and a
gold medal and one of two grand prizes
given at the St. Louis Exposition (1904)
for collaborating two or more exhibits and
for unusual services in educational ad-
ministration.
The life of Dr. Draper should be an in-
spiration to all boys and young men who
have ideals and ambitions. He was a
poor boy. He had no special educational
opportunities. He had good native abil-
ity, but was in no sense a genius. He
made his way through persistent hard
work. He earned his success. He was
not vacillating. He stood for the right as
he saw it, let the result be what it might.
He detested dishonest, mean, cowardly
men, and men who were always yielding
to difficulties. On one occasion when
talking to a school official who was mak-
ing excuses for not doing his duty he
said : "I have no faith in a man who is
always seeing a lion in the way. I pin
my faith to the man who, when he meets
an obstacle will find a way over it, around
it, through it or under it." This was Dr.
Draper's own spirit, the spirit that con-
tributed so largely to his success.
The magnificent educational building at
Albany will be a lasting monument to Dr.
Draper. The State scholarships that he
was successful in securing will for all
time secure to thousands of boys and
girls a college education, and many of
these could never have hoped for a lib-
eral education but for these scholarships.
Not only will thousands secure these
scholarships, but many more thousands
will accomplish much more in life than
they otherwise would have done, because
of these scholarships. They will cause a
general uplift in the educational work of
the State. In this act alone Dr. Draper
has rendered the State he loved so dearly
an invaluable service.
Sherman Williams.
CULVER, Oliver,
Pioneer of Brighton.
Coming from the town of Orwell, Ver-
mont, a section rich in historical associa-
tions, Oliver Culver made local history in
the town of Brighton, now a part of the
city of Rochester. John Lusk, the pio-
neer settler, came to Brighton first in 1787
and then returned to his Massachusetts
home, carrying wonderful stories of the
resources of the Genesee valley. Through
his influence and the favorable reports he
took back to New England, several fam-
ilies followed his example when he re
turned and became a permanent settlei
in Brighton, among them Oliver Culver,
who came in 1791.
He at once secured land and began
clearing a farm, he and Solomon Hatch
having a saw mill running on Allyn's
creek as early as 1806. His farm was
just east of Brighton village, and when
in 1810 the population of the afterward
created town of Brighton had reached
two thousand eight hundred, he, in ad-
dition to his farm and saw mill, engaged
234
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
in business with Judge Tryon and trans-
ported many boatloads of goods to the
infant settlements in the then "Far West."
He operated perhaps the first distillery in
the town, having one located near his
tavern west of Brighton village, and one
north of his residence.
When the Erie canal was completed
through the eastern part of the county in
1822, Oliver Culver built and put in the
canal at Brighton the first packet boat of
that region, and the fourth to operate on
the canal anywhere. When the old town-
ship of Smallwood was divided on March
25, 1814, and its territory organized into
two distinct towns, Brighton and Pitts-
ford, he was elected at the first town
meeting held in Brighton in 1814, the first
supervisor of the new town, serving two
years. He was again elected in 1838, serv-
ing three years, and again elected in 1844.
He continued his boat building for sev-
eral years, with two others being the
leaders in that industry, and during their
earlier years (1812-1815) the little settle-
ment was a busy locality, much lake navi-
gation having its beginning there.
Oliver Culver was well born, and was
one of the important men of the new set-
tlement. He was a son of William Cul-
ver, who was a soldier of the Revolution,
and was a brother of John Culver, whom
he persuaded to come to Monroe county
and purchase a tract of one hundred and
fifty acres, now included within the cor-
porate limits of Rochester, between Good-
man and Barrington streets on East ave-
nue. John Culver made a horseback jour-
ney to see his purchase in 1810, but soon
returned to Vermont. In 1812 he again
came to Rochester and permanently
located on his farm.
McQUAID, Bernard J.,
Prelate, Educator, Philanthropist.
To have achieved fame in one direction
is conceded to be an enviable condition by
the majority of human beings, but in the
late Rt. Rev. Bernard J. McQuaid, first
bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of
Rochester, New York, we had a man who
attained eminence as minister, educator
and philanthropist. In every one of these
fields he was undoubtedly successful, and
in every instance he labored for the best
interests of humanity, with never a
thought of self-aggrandizement. His
courage and fearlessness, his personal
self-sacrifice, his executive ability and
foresight, are well-nigh unparalleled. It
is difficult to estimate the value of such
services as Bishop McQuaid rendered the
cause of religion and humanity. It is not
alone by what he did that results must be
measured, but by the influence his ad-
mirable life has had upon others. Many
of the younger clergy who were his asso-
ciates sought his counsel, which never
failed them, and his sympathetic and
fatherly advice helped to spread the noble
doctrine which his entire life exemplified.
Tender and loving, his heart was filled
with good will toward all humanity.
Bishop Bernard John McQuaid was
born in New York City, December 15, 1823,
and died at the Episcopal residence on
Frank street, Rochester, New York, Janu-
ary 18, 1909. His last illness had been of
a number of weeks' duration, and yet the
announcement of his death was an un-
expected shock to the thousands of peo-
ple who had learned to love and appre-
ciate him, and who had hoped against
hope for his recovery. The early years
of his life were spent in New Jersey, and
it was at the home of his father that the
Catholics of that State held their first re-
ligious service. At the age of fourteen
years he was sent to Canada, and for
some years was a student in a classical
school at Chambly. Upon his return to
New York he commenced the study of
theology at St. John's College, Fordham,
from which he was graduated in due
235
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
course of time. He was ordained to the
priesthood in the old Mott Street Cathe-
dral, New York City, January 16, 1848.
He was at once assigned to the Parish of
Madison, New Jersey, which covered
many square miles, some of them closely
settled. Energetic and conscientious, he
made a point of visiting personally every
family in his parish, and as many of these
journeys were made on foot and the dis-
tances great, he was obliged to stay at
the houses of his parishioners overnight,
and thus gained an insight into the family
life of those under his charge which he
could have obtained in no other manner.
It was through his efforts that the Roman
Catholic churches at Morristown, Mend-
ham and Springfield, New Jersey, now
among the most prosperous in the State,
were organized. The results he achieved
were of so satisfactory a nature that, when
the Diocese of Newark was created and
James Roosevelt Bayley, D. D., was made
Roman Catholic bishop of New Jersey,
young Father McQuaid was called to the
rectorship of the cathedral, before six
years had expired after his ordination. The
energy of the man, his interest and abil-
ity, and his faith in education, are clearly
shown by what he accomplished while
attached to St. Patrick's Cathedral, New-
ark. He planned, and saw that his plans
were properly carried out, a college for
young men, a college for young women, a
society for young men and an Order of
Sisters. These are respectively: Seton
Hall College, St. Elizabeth's College, the
Young Men's Catholic Association of
Newark and the Order of Sisters of St.
Joseph. In 1866 Father McQuaid was
made vicar-general of the Newark cathe-
dral and performed the duties of this office
in addition to those of president of and
professor in Seton Hall College.
When the creation of the Diocese of
Rochester was announced Father Mc-
Quaid was nominated the first bishop,
and was consecrated to the episcopate in
St. Patrick's Cathedral, New York City,
July 12, 1868, by Archbishop McCloskey,
later the first American cardinal, assisted
by Bishop Bayley, of Newark. He found
the parochial schools and orphanages of
his diocese in a very unsatisfactory state
and at once sent for some of the sisters of
the Order of St. Joseph, the educational
order which he had established. It was
his aim to have a parochial school in
every parish, and he accomplished this.
Feeling the need for still better equip-
ment for the teachers, he founded the
Nazareth Normal School, which holds a
charter given by the University of the
State of New York. He delivered many
lectures at this institution on the question
of the education of the masses from the
Roman Catholic point of view, these arti-
cles being later collected and published
in a volume entitled "Christian Free
Schools." The importance of this work
was recognized throughout church. In
the letter of Pope Pius X. to Bishop Mc-
Quaid, dated June 25, 1908, the Holy
Father said: "We know that while you
diligently discharge the duties of a good
pastor, you have always given special
care to the education of the young and
especially those intended for the priest-
hood. And this, assuredly, is a thing so
great that there is nothing of more im-
portance to the State." Bishop McQuaid
desired to have about him a considerable
number of priests who were natives of his
diocese, men who had been trained in
accordance with his own ideas of the
priesthood, because he believed that hav-
ing breathed from their birth the atmos-
phere in which they were working for the
glory of God, they would be able to
accomplish results impossible to priests
reared in other environments. To this
end, in September, 1870, within the
236
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
shadow of the cathedral, St. Andrew's
Preparatory Seminary was opened. Bishop
McQuaid's educational ambitions culmi-
nated in the founding of St. Bernard's
Seminary in Rochester. This project had
been on his mind when he first entered
upon diocesan work. He commenced to
husband his resources as early as 1875,
and was so well prepared when he
broached this project to the priests of the
diocese that their enthusiastic support
was at once secured. He personally
superintended the construction of this in-
stitution from the laying of the corner-
stone in March, 1891, to the dedication of
the new Hall of Theology in August,
1908. It is a fitting monument to his
memory.
The circle of personal friends and ap-
preciative and admiring acquaintances of
Bishop McQuaid was an exceptionally
wide one. He was somewhat retiring in
his disposition, but his uniformly agree-
able manner, his keen appreciation of
character and motive, his abiding and in-
tense interest in the welfare of the people
of the city in which he was prominent for
so many years, endeared him to tens of
thousands of his fellow citizens. Strict in
his ecclesiasticism, he was yet charitable
regarding the views of others, and his
circle of friends and acquaintances was
not bound by lines of creed, party or sta-
tion in life. He was one of the few promi-
nent men of whom it could be said that
his acquaintances were invariably his
friends. His charity, while not obtrusive,
was broad and far-reaching, and it took
the form of mentally and morally uplift-
ing its objects, while not neglecting their
immediate physical necessities. Whoever
experienced the pleasure of meeting
Bishop McQuaid at his home will never
forget his unvarying courtesy. He was
ever ready with useful advice, and guests
never departed from his presence without
the sense of having come within a strong,
uplifting influence. It is not alone as a
distinguished prelate, a faithful pastor
and a broad-minded citizen, that Bishop
McQuaid will long be remembered, for
not only throughout the city, but in the
remotest corner of the Diocese of Roches-
ter, his memory will be cherished as that
of a personal friend.
The last public occasion on which
Bishop McQuaid was present was at the
dedication of the Hall of Theology of St.
Bernard's Seminary. His physical condi-
tion would not permit participation in the
exercises until the close of the banquet,
when he was brought into the banquet
hall in a wheeled chair. On behalf of the
priests of the diocese, Bishop Hickey pre-
sented a check to be used in founding a
professorship at St. Bernard's. As Bishop
McQuaid rose to respond, his voice failed
for a moment, but he soon regained his
self-possession, spoke for about fifteen
minutes, and then suddenly collapsed and
fell back in his chair unconscious. So
critical was his condition that it was not
until the late fall that it was possible to
remove him to his home on Frank street,
the Episcopal residence. He never re-
covered from this illness. The funeral of
Bishop McQuaid attracted the largest
crowd that had ever assembled in the city
on such an occasion. The people com-
menced to gather early in the morning at
the doors of the cathedral, although the
services did not take place until ten
o'clock. Archbishop Farley, of New
York, celebrated the mass and chanted
the prayers for the dead, assisted by
Father McQuaid, of Philadelphia, a cousin
of Bishop McQuaid, and Rev. M.J. Nolan,
of St. Bernard's Seminary. The funeral
sermon was preached by Rev. Phillips B.
McDevitt, superintendent of the parochial
schools of the Archdiocese of Philadel-
phia.
237
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
Bishop McQuaid's work in Rochester
covered a period of more than forty years,
and during those years he was identified
with all of the great civic movements
which have made for the betterment of
the city. At an early date he became, in
association with the late Dr. E. M. Moore,
an advocate of a great park system for
Rochester. At the time of his death he
was an active member of the park board,
with which he had been connected sev-
eral years. In many other vital civic mat-
ters Bishop McQuaid's influence was con-
stantly, although unostentatiously, ex-
erted for the benefit of the people among
whom he lived and labored for the greater
part of a half century.
A special meeting of the park board
was held for the purpose of acting on the
death of Bishop McQuaid, who had been
a member of the board twenty-one years.
It was decided that the board attend the
funeral in a body, and that it also visit the
cathedral in a body while the remains
were lying there in state. A tribute was
paid to the memory of the bishop and the
following resolutions adopted :
Resolved, That in the death of Right Rev-
erend Bernard J. McQuaid, D. D., Bishop of
Rochester, the Board of Park Commissioners
has lost a member who, from the date of his
appointment by Act of Legislature, in 1888, has
steadily shown an active interest in the creation,
maintenance and development of our Park Sys-
tem.
From the first he favored the purchase of all
the lands that were acquired for park purposes,
and boldly stood for what he deemed the best
interests of the city when any citizens were
greatly opposed to the creation of public parks.
Without his powerful influence for the park
project, the City of Rochester to-day might be
without its great Park System. During all the
twenty-one years that he held the office of park
commissioner, he was a constant attendant at
the meetings of the Board and took a strong
interest in the consideration of all its policies.
It would be difficult to estimate the immense
value of the Bishop's services rendered in the
interest of our system of parks. We are sure
that his rare business ability and the great
respect and admiration in which he was held,
added greatly to the dignity and efficiency of
the Park Commission.
Resolved, That a page of our records be set
apart on which shall be recorded the above
expressed sentiments, and that a copy of the
same be sent to the Episcopal residence.
SCRANTOM, Hamlet,
First Permanent Settler of Rochester.
In the days when Rochester existed
only in the optimistic mind of Colonel
Nathaniel Rochester, Hamlet Scrantom,
who had come from Durham, Connecti-
cut, and settled at Geneseo, and seemed a
desirable citizen, was persuaded by Henry
Skinner, also of Geneseo, to settle on the
lot Mr. Skinner had purchased from Colo-
nel Rochester. That lot, now the site of
the Powers Block, the third lot sold by
Colonel Rochester, to whom the title
finally passed November 20, 181 1, was
sold to Mr. Skinner for two hundred dol-
lars — a much higher price than the first
two lots brought. This was due to the
fact that it was on the "new State road,"
and on the corner of Buffalo street — as
that part of the new road was called —
(now Main street) and Carroll (now State
street). In order to induce Mr. Scrantom
to come to Rochester, Mr. Skinner offered
to build him a house, an offer which was
accepted. The house, more properly a
log cabin, was well built and roofed with
slabs from the Enos Stone saw mill on
the east side of the river, and was suffi-
ciently large to accommodate the Scran-
tom family. The building was com-
pleted in May, 1812, and was at once
occupied by its intended tenants, Hamlet
Scrantom thus becoming the first perma-
nent settler and the house the first erected
in Rochester, that name having been de-
cided upon by the proprietors.
Hamlet Scrantom had a large family.
238
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
One of the sons of this first family, Ed-
win Scrantom, a prolific writer for the
press in adult life, preserved through his
writings much of the history of those
early times. Another son, Hamlet D.
Scrantom, was mayor of Rochester in
i860. Another member of the family,
who came in 1812, became a prominent
miller, and was the father of I. Gridley
Scrantom, of Rochester, vice-president of
the Hayden Company. Many of the name
still reside in the city, to which came in
its earliest days their honored grandsire
and great-grandsire, Hamlet Scrantom,
the first permanent settler of the city.
PECK, Everard,
Representative Citizen.
Everard Peck was born at Berlin, Con-
necticut, November 6, 1791, and died at
Rochester, New York, February 9, 1854.
Having gone to Hartford, Connecticut, at
the age of seventeen, he learned there the
book binder's trade, and, having com-
pleted his apprenticeship, went from
there to Albany, New York, where he
plied his vocation for a few years. Not
succeeding as well as he had hoped, he
came to Rochester in 1816, bringing with
him the implements of his calling and a
small stock of books. Many of the in-
cidents of his life are given in the follow-
ing extract from an article in one of the
daily papers at the time of his death :
Seeing, through the discomforts and rudeness
of the settlement, indications which promised a
prosperous future, he set up the double business
of book selling and book binding. Being pros-
perous in business he enlarged his facilities by
opening a printing office and commencing, in
1S18, the publication of the "Rochester Tele-
graph," a weekly journal. He afterward erected
a paper mill, which he operated with great suc-
cess until it was burned. Mr. Peck left the book
business in 1831. After three or four years, in
which he was out of health — so that, for recov-
ery, he was obliged to spend one or two win-
ters in Florida and Cuba — he engaged in the
banking business and was connected successively
with the Bank of Orleans, the Rochester City
Bank and the Commercial Bank of Rochester,
being the vice-president of the last named insti-
tution at the time of his death. Immediately on
taking up his residence here Mr. Peck gave his
warm support to the infant charitable and reli-
gious enterprises of the place, and from that
time to this has been the devoted friend of all
such institutions. To public office he did not
aspire, but labors for the poor, the suffering and
the orphan he never shunned. The successful
establishment of the University of Rochester
was in a large measure owing to his exertions
in its behalf. The friends of the institution
accorded to him merited praise, and they will
ever respect his memory. Up to the time of
his death he was a member of its board of trus-
tees. He was one of the zealous promoters and
founders of the Rochester Orphan Asylum. Our
citizens have been accustomed to rely upon his
judgment in all matters of moment pertaining
to the common weal, and he always exhibited a
sagacity and solicitude for the welfare of the
people which entitled him to the public confi-
dence.
He was thrice married — in 1820, to Chloe Por-
ter, who died in 1830; in 1836, to Martha Farley,
who died in 1851; in 1852, to Mrs. Alice Bacon
Walker, who survives him.*
For more than two years past Mr. Peck has
been suffering from a pulmonary complaint, and
he spent the winter of 1852-53 in the Bermudas,
but without obtaining relief from the disease.
He has, since his return, been secluded in the
sick room, gradually declining until he expired,
surrounded by his wife and all his surviving
children.
It may be not inappropriate to give as
a reminiscence the following extract from
an article in the "Albany Evening Jour-
nal" of February 21, 1854, by the pen of
Thurlow Weed, then at the head of that
paper, in which, after copying a long
biographical sketch of Mr. Peck from the
columns of the "New Haven Daily Pal-
ladium" of a few days before, Mr. Weed
remarks:
This deserved tribute to the memory of "a
just man made perfect" comes from one who
•Mrs. Alice B. Peck died December 2, 1881.
knew the deceased well. The editor of the
"Palladium" grew up under Mr. Peck's teach-
239
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
ings and was long a member of his household,
a household whose memory is hallowed in many
grateful hearts. In another paragraph the edi-
tor of the "Palladium" alludes to our own rela-
tions to Mr. Peck, but in a spirit of kindness
which excludes all but the following from these
columns:
Mr. Weed, of the "Albany Evening Journal,"
began his career in the "Rochester Telegraph"
office. He was a young man wholly without
means when he applied for employment. We
remember Mr. Weed's application as though it
were but yesterday. Mr. Peck at first declined
his offer, but there was something in Mr.
Weed's manner that touched a sympathetic
chord in Mr. Peck's bosom and he called him
back and gave him the post of assistant editor,
where he soon made the "Telegraph" one of
the most popular journals in western New
York.
The heart upon which the memory of its early
benefactor is engraven will glow with gratitude
until its pulsations cease. We were, indeed,
wholly without means and with a young family
dependent upon our labor, when, thirty-two
years ago we applied to Everard Peck for
employment. He did not really want a journey-
man, but his kindly nature prompted him to an
effort in our behalf. It was agreed that in addi-
tion to the ordinary labor as a journeyman in
the office we should assist Mr. Peck, who had
the charge of his book store and paper mill, in
editing the "Telegraph." But our friend did not
content himself with giving employment. We
enjoyed, with our family, the hospitality of his
mansion until a humble tenement (tenements
were scarce in Rochester in those days) could be
rented. The compensation agreed upon was
four hundred dollars per annum. That year
glided pleasantly and peacefully away, teaching
lessons to which memory recurs with pleasure
and in forming ties that have linked us in after
life to dear and cherished friends. At the close
of the year Mr. Peck added one hundred dol-
lars to our salary, with expressions of confi-
dence and regard which enhanced the value of
his gratuity. And ever after, through whatever
of vicissitudes and change we have passed, that
good man's counsels and friendship have helped
to smooth and cheer our pathway.
PECK, William Farley,
Lawyer, Journalist.
With a virile intellect that made him a
power in the community, and with a
gentleness of spirit that made him appre-
ciate the tiniest beauty in this wonderful
world, the late William Farley Peck, of
Rochester, New York, was a man, who,
once known, could never be forgotten.
Of Revolutionary descent on his father's
side, and of Pilgrim ancestry on his
mother's, he was reared amid the refining
influences of a home of Christian culture,
where were nurtured all those tendencies
that later became strongly developed
traits of manly character. He left the
impress of his splendid nature upon all
with whom he came in contact, and his
influence was a vital force.
William Farley Peck, son of Everard
and Martha (Farley) Peck, was born at
Rochester, New York, February 4, 1840,
and died December 6, 1908. His educa-
tional training was commenced in private
schools of his native city, was continued
at a boarding school in Connecticut,
where he was prepared for entrance to
college. He matriculated at the Univer-
sity of Rochester in 1857, but at the end
of one year was transferred to Williams
College, from which he was graduated in
the class of 1861 with the degree of
Bachelor of Arts. He commenced read-
ing law in the office of Danforth & Terry,
of Rochester, remained with this firm
one year, then became a student in the
State Law School, in Albany, and was
graduated in 1863 with the degree of
Bachelor of Laws. Not long afterward
he was admitted to practice at the bar of
Monroe county, New York. The legal
profession did not, however, appeal to
him very strongly, and he accordingly
devoted his time and attention to the field
of literature for which he had shown
marked ability for many years. Journal-
istic work was the particular field to
which he devoted himself, and for some
time he was connected with "The Ex-
press," now "The Post Express," and in
1867 became the city editor of "The
Democrat." He then became associated
240
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
with "The Chronicle," remaining tele-
graph editor of this journal during its
entire existence — from November, 1868,
to December, 1870. It then became
merged into what was published as "The
Democrat and Chronicle," and Mr. Peck's
connection with this publication was
severed. As editor of "The Sunday Trib-
une," a post upon which he soon entered,
he maintained the popularity of that
paper, of which he was a part proprietor
for a portion of the time he was con-
nected with it, until his retirement from
direct journalistic work more than thirty
years ago. At this time he engaged in
writing of a desultory character — club
papers, articles for the magazines, and
more particularly for encyclopaedias and
biographical dictionaries, and prepared
a number of works concerning local his-
tory. The best known of these are as
follows : "Semi-Centennial History of
Rochester," 1884; "Landmarks of Mon-
roe County," 1895 ; "A History of the
Police Department of Rochester," 1903;
and "History of Rochester and Monroe
County," 1907. For a period of thirty-
five years Mr. Peck was a consistent
member and liberal supporter of the Uni-
tarian church, and his connection with
other institutions and organizations of a
varied character is as follows : The Fort-
nightly, a literary club of which he was
one of the organizers ; board of directors
of the Rochester Athenaeum and Me-
chanics Institute, of which he was the
corresponding secretary from the time of
its inception ; board of managers of the
Rochester Historical Society, of which he
had always been the recording secretary ;
board of trustees of the Reynolds Library,
of which he was the secretary ; Society
for the Organization of Charity, of which
he was one of the vice-presidents ; Gene-
see Valley Club, of which he was a char-
ter member: Rochester Whist Club;
Genesee Whist Club ; Society of May-
flower Descendants in the State of New
York; Society of the Genesee, in New
York City; and corresponding member
of the New York Genealogical and Bio-
graphical Society. Mr. Peck was sur-
vived by his brother, Edward W. Peck,
of No. 121 Troup street, and by three
nieces : Mrs. Gurney T. Curtis, Mrs. Ed-
ward Harris, Jr., and Edith W. Peck.
Expressions of sincere sorrow at the
death of Mr. Peck were numerous, and
varied in form and character, but the
limits of this space will only permit the
reproduction of one of them. This is as
follows :
At a special meeting of the board of directors
of the Mechanics Institute, Monday afternoon,
the following resolutions were adopted :
The death of William Farley Peck removes
from our Board one who has been with us from
the organization of our Institute, and as cor-
responding secretary for the entire period of
our existence, and as a trustee for the same
period, he has cheerfully given us his best
thought and constant effort, and we have had
no more devoted friend. He was especially
gifted in writing, and his thoughts, always
lucidly expressed, in pure and correct English,
in all his communications to, and for, our Board,
were a source of keen pleasure and great con-
stant value to us. The uncomplaining bravery
with which he bore his misfortune, and the wealth
of information, especially in regard to literature,
which he possessed, his great knowledge of local
history and his intelligent observation of current
events, made him a most delightful companion,
and endeared him to all who knew and came in
contact with him. His published works are well
known and have given him an excellent reputa-
tion as an intelligent and truthful historian. We
shall miss his thoughtful counsel and his genial
personality, and we feel deeply grateful for the
life which has been passed with, and among, us,
and for the intelligent work which has been so
freely and generously given to the upbuilding of
the Mechanics Institute, in token of which we
direct that this minute be inscribed on our rec-
ords, and a copy sent to his family and the daily
press. The Directors of the Mechanics Insti-
tute will attend the funeral in a body.
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
RICKETTS, Jonathan,
Manufacturer, Railroad and Bank Director.
Leaving his home in Yeovil, Somerset-
shire, England, in the same year as that in
which Victoria the Good ascended to the
English throne — in 1837 — Jonathan Rick-
etts sailed for the United States, landed at
New York, and immediately proceeded to
Aurora, Erie county, New York, where
for a year he obtained employment. In
1838 he removed to Rochester, New York,
and a year later settled permanently in
Johnstown, Fulton county, New York.
In the community and business life of
Johnstown, for a period extending over
sixty years, Jonathan Ricketts became
well known and highly regarded.
The name Ricketts is one frequently
encountered in England, and many of
that patronymic have held high office in
British national affairs, but records are
not available by which the connection of
the Jonathan Ricketts branch with the
main family can be established. Amer-
ican records trace no farther back than
to Thomas Ricketts, father of Jonathan
Ricketts, who was of the ancient town of
Yeovil, Somersetshire, England, where he
reared his family of seven children :
George, Jonathan, David, Edmund, Har-
riet, Eliza and Amelia.
Jonathan Ricketts, second child of
Thomas and Melinda Ricketts, was born
at Yeovil, Somersetshire, England, Feb-
ruary 11, 1819. That Jonathan Ricketts
had within him that quality of courageous
enterprise and dogged perseverence by
which America has forged for herself so
securely and rapidly a leading place
among the nations of the world is evident
in the bare record of his early years and
his ultimate success. He was only
eighteen years of age when he left a com-
fortable, even if humble, home and ven-
tured alone into what, to him, was a
strange country. He landed in New York
poor in all save courage and a determina-
tion to win a place for himself in the new
world. When he arrived at Johnstown,
he was still in his minority. Two years
he passed in the glove factories of Johns-
town and then, although only twenty-
two years of age, he ventured with con-
fidence into the independent manufacture
of gloves at Johnstown, under the firm
name of Jonathan Ricketts, and quickly
established his right to a place among the
nation's manufacturers. He was a re-
sponsible manufacturer at a time of life
when most young men are more con-
cerned in pursuits of folly rather than in
serious business. Jonathan Ricketts was
a man of sound judgment and logical rea-
soning; consequently he built steadily
and firmly, rather than rapidly and pre-
cariously ; and from his first entrance into
independent business never received a
serious check, the volume of business
steadily increasing year by year. His fac-
tory continued in successful operation for
fifty years, until 1889, when he was per-
suaded to retire. During that period he,
in addition to the accumulation of more
than a sufficiency of monetary wealth,
gathered a wealth of respect among those
with whom he had associated. His initia-
tive and adaptability produced many
changes of importance in the glove-mak-
ing industry. It is claimed that he was
the first manufacturer in the county —
which at that time was an important
glove-making centre — to dress sheep skins
within the county, and employ them in
the manufacture of gloves. Hitherto,
manufacturers had been dependent for
their supply upon foreign tanners, who
controlled the market, and the initiative
of Jonathan Ricketts in this respect re-
sulted in a considerable advantage to him-
self, and to those of the home manufac-
turers who later emulated him.
242
JOIlCllll
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
In the course of his useful life, Jona-
than Ricketts entered whole-heartedly
into the affairs of the community and be-
came a factor of much influence in Johns-
town. He was largely interested in the
Johnstown, Gloversville & Kingsboro
Horse Railroad Company, of which he
became a director after it passed under
the control of the Fonda, Johnstown &
Gloversville Railroad Company on De-
cember 15, 1890. He was further honored
by election to a seat on the board of direc-
tors of the People's Bank of Johnstown.
His standing not only as a capitalist, but
as a man of whom the community thought
highly, can be appreciated by the fact
that he was elected by the people to the
town's highest office — the mayoralty. He
was a staunch Democrat, but never
sought office, having no desire for that
which might draw him away from his
business duties, but in the affairs of the
church he was ever ready to give of his
time and wealth ; in fact, his activities and
interest in the charitable work of the
church were considerable and substan-
tial. He was directly associated with the
Episcopal church, and was a member of
the St. John's Vestry, but his interest and
support were at the disposal of all Chris-
tian churches of the community. A con-
temporary biographer wrote of Mr. Rick-
etts : "He was a good citizen and always
arrayed with the progressive, enterpris-
ing element of the village," and his high
standing in the county and town was all
the more meritorious because of the fact
that it was absolutely all earned by him-
self; that his start was at the very bot-
tom of the ladder.
He married, November 4, 1846, Mary,
daughter of James and Isabella (McClel-
lan) Pierson, and granddaughter of James
and Mary (Veghte) Pierson. Their chil-
dren were: 1. Mary Eliza, born February
13, 1848 ; married William Van Voast, May
25, 1870; children: i. William, born July
17, 1871, died July 10, 1882; ii. Herbert,
born May I, 1874, married Luella Anibel,
and has three children : William, Marian
and Robert; iii. Mary, born April 1, 1876,
died November, 1878 ; iv. James, born No-
vember 10, 1880; v. Katherine Adams,
born January 13, 1883; vi. Isabella, born
April 24, 1886. 2. Isabella, born January
2, 1850, deceased ; married Horace Gree-
ley, of Syracuse, New York ; children : i.
Earl, married Bertha Hanson, and has
two children : Helen and Mary ; ii. Flor-
ence, married Daniel Cheney. 3. George,
born April 24, 1852, deceased; married
Celia Steele ; children : Jonathan, Ed-
mund, Nannie, Josephine. 4. Emma, born
April 9, 1854; married Willis E. Diefen-
dorf. 5. Katherine, born July 11, 1857,
deceased. 6. Esther, see further. 7. James
Pierson, born October 13, 1862, deceased.
Esther Ricketts, daughter of Jonathan
and Mary (Pierson) Ricketts, was born
in Johnstown, New York, December 26,
1859; married Charles S. Shults, who was
a well known glove manufacturer in
Johnstown, partner of the firm of Wade,
Shults & Company. Mrs. Esther (Rick-
etts) Shults still resides in Johnstown,
having survived both her father and hus-
band. Mr. and Mrs. Shults had one child,
Ethel, who married Frank L. Rogers.
CHILD, Jonathan,
First Mayor of Rochester.
On April 28, 1834, the New York Leg-
islature passed the act incorporating the
city of Rochester, the act also containing
the charter of the city. Rochester at that
time contained twelve thousand inhabi-
tants, thirteen hundred houses, nine
hotels, ten newspapers (including all
grades) and two banks.
At the election held after the passage of
the act, Jonathan Child was elected first
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
mayor of the city. He was inaugurated
June 10. 1834, but did hold the office for
the full term of a year and a half which
had been made a provision of the charter
in order that the executive and the com-
mon council should not enter upon office
at the same time. During the first year
there had been differences of opinion be-
tween Mayor Child and the council on
the subject of licenses, the mayor being a
consistent temperance man, but he had
waived his objections and allowed the
council to grant licenses to which he was
opposed.
In June, 1835, a new council was elected
and it soon became evident that even
greater laxity was to prevail in the issu-
ing of licenses. Mayor Child quickly de-
cided upon his course of action. In a
message to the council, after reciting the
fact that the new board had issued numer-
ous licenses, he concluded by saying: "It
becomes incumbent on me in my official
character to sanction and sign these
papers. Under these circumstances it
seems to me equally the claim of moral
duty and self-respect, of a consistent re-
gard for my former associates, of just
deference to the present board and of sub-
mission to the supposed will of the peo-
ple, that I should no longer retain the re-
sponsible situation with which I have
been honored. I therefore now most re-
spectfully resign into your hands the
office of mayor of Rochester." His resig-
nation was accepted and General Jacob
Gould, who was elected to succeed him,
proved more complaisant. In this inci-
dent the nature of the man shines forth.
He would not surrender principle for per-
sonal gain ; and throughout a long life he
never deviated from a strict observance
of that rule of conduct.
Mayor Jonathan Child was one of the
strong business men of his day, the asso-
ciate of Judges Samuel Lee Selden and
Roger Lee Selden, and at the time Pro-
fessor Morse was beseeching capital to in-
vest in his telegraphic invention he joined
with the Seldens and a few others in
organizing a company to construct a tele-
graph line forty miles in length between
Harrisburg and Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
This company, formed in 1845, to whose
capital stock he subscribed, the Atlantic,
Lake & Mississippi Valley Telegraph
Company, was the forerunner of the
Western Union Telegraph Company, and
with the Seldens he could claim to have
been among the pioneers of telegraphy in
the world. Mr. Child was also among
the pioneers in the application of steam
as a motive power, a system first em-
ployed in this country by the Baltimore &
Ohio railroad early in 1831. Its applica-
tion to any road running out of Roches-
ter was in April 4, 1837, when a mixed
train of freight and passenger cars, in
charge of L. B. Van Dyke as conductor,
was run out on the Tonawanda railroad.
This road was chartered in 1832 for
fifty years, with a capital of $500,000,
with Daniel Evans as the first president
and Jonathan Child as the first vice-presi-
dent. He was interested in other early
railroad enterprises, his sound judgment
and upright character being sought for
in that day of new enterprises.
He was equally interested in educa-
tional matters, and when in 1835 the
Rochester Female Academy on South
Fitzhugh street was organized, he sub-
scribed liberally to the stock and was a
member of its first board of trustees.
Jonathan Child is one of the men to whom
Rochester is indebted for her present
proud commercial position, and the world
owes him the debt it owes to all men of
public spirit who risked their fortunes in
the establishment of those then unknown
and untried innovations — the telegraph
and the railroad.
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
HOOKER, Charles M.,
Prominent Horticulturist and Nurseryman.
In 1820 Horace Hooker, father of
Charles M. Hooker, the well known nurs-
eryman, came to Rochester, New York,
from Windsor, Connecticut. He settled
first on St. Paul street and there engaged
in the nursery business, which was re-
moved to Brighton in 1856. He was suc-
ceeded by his son, Charles M. Hooker,
who in turn admitted his sons in the man-
agement of the Rochester Fruit Farm and
Nurseries. Three generations of the fam-
ily have successfully conducted the nurs-
ery business in Brighton, the present
farm of one hundred and thirty acres on
Clover street, Brighton, having been pur-
chased by Charles M. Hooker in 1877
from his former partners. For over fifty
years Charles M. Hooker was a member
of the Western New York Horticultural
Society, and represented the society in
national convention, being instrumental
in securing State legislation which has
been efficacious in many ways, especially
in fighting insect life which preys upon
the business of the farmer, nurseryman,
fruit grower and florist. He was one of
the oldest of Rochester's nurserymen,
having been in business since 1853, when
he reached the age of twenty-one years.
Mr. Hooker was a descendant of Rev.
Thomas Hooker, whose colony founded
the city of Hartford, Connecticut, and
whose statue adorns the State capitol in
that city. The first of the family in his
direct line to come to Western New York
was his father, Horace Hooker, in 1820.
He came by stage and team from Wind-
sor, Connecticut, and on his arrival in
Rochester found little to indicate the pros-
perous city which was to arise on the site.
But he was gifted with prophetic vision,
for he believed in the future of the town
and invested largely in lands on St. Paul
street and in the Carthage district just
north of the city. He engaged in milling at
Rochester and Ogdensburg, also owned
storehouses at the head of Genesee river
navigation, and for a number of years all
the goods exported to Canada passed
through his warehouses. He was senior
partner of the firm of Hooker, Farley &
Company until 1861, then retired with his
son, Horace B. Hooker, and later resumed
the nursery business in the town of Chili,
Monroe county. He died at the home of
his son, Henry E. Hooker, on East ave-
nue, Rochester, November 3, 1865. He
married Helen, daughter of Erastus Wol-
cott, of Windsor, Connecticut, of the dis-
tinguished Connecticut family which
numbered a signer of the Declaration of
Independence among its members. Hor-
ace and Helen (Wolcott) Hooker were
the parents of eight children : Henry E. ;
Julia Wolcott, wife of Josiah W. Bissell ;
James Wolcott ; Fannie ; Horace B. ;
Charles M., of further mention; and two
who died in infancy.
Charles M. Hooker was born at the
family home on St. Paul street, Roches-
ter, New York, November 9, 1832, and
spent his life in the city of his birth,
Brighton now being a part of the city.
He was educated in the public schools,
finishing at high school. He early began
the business which he never abandoned
until his death, working first for the firm
of Bissell & Hooker on East avenue, later
known as Bissell, Hooker & Sloan. In
1853 he became a partner of the firm of
Hooker, Farley & Company, then on
North St. Paul street, his father then being
senior member of the firm, and his broth-
ers, Horace B., now deceased, and Henry
E., also partners. In 1856 the firm pur-
chased the Roswell Hart farm on Clover
street, Brighton, and removed the busi-
ness there. In 1861 Horace and Horace
B. Hooker retired, the firm continuing
under the old name for a time, but in 1867
245
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
became H. E. Hooker & Brother, H. E.
Hooker purchasing the interest of Joseph
Farley. In 1887 Charles M. Hooker re-
tired from the firm of H. E. Hooker &
Brother and purchased the property on
Clover street, Brighton, continuing the
nursery and fruit growing business under
the name of C. M. Hooker & Sons. Fruit
growing is an important part of the busi-
ness of the Rochester Fruit Farm and
Nurseries, the nursery stock handled
being partly grown on the farm and
partly grown for the farm under rigid
contract. A retail department of large
proportions is also conducted at No. 57
Trust Building, Rochester, under the
firm name Hooker Brothers (Horace,
Charles G. and Lewis). While the father
had surrendered the heavier burdens to
his sons his was a potent voice, and he
was in the management of the business
until his death.
A long time member of the Western
New York Horticultural Society, he was
an efficient representative of the nursery
and horticultural interests in securing the
passage of laws which were to their great
benefit. He was a delegate from the Hor-
ticultural Society at the convention in
Washington, D. C, called to formulate
plans for combating the destructive San
Jose scale and other destructive pests
which afflict the growers of nursery stock,
fruit growers and horticulturists. He
labored diligently and effectively for the
passage of the present New York State
laws concerning San Jose scale and other
insect enemies. He was also an honored
member of the New York State Fruit
Growers Association and of the Eastern
Nurserymen's Association. In politics he
was a Republican, but never sought pub-
lic office, his business being his chief in-
terest and ambition. An octogenarian at
the time of his death, he reviewed a well
spent, exceedingly useful life, and his
heart was gladdened by three sons to
carry forward the work under the name
their father had transmitted to them with-
out blemish, as he had received it from his
honored father.
Mr. Hooker married, November 13,
1861, in Penfield, New York, Kate, daugh-
ter of Daniel E. Lewis, an early settler of
Penfield, from Lynn, Massachusetts. She
died July 16, 1907. She was connected
with the Penfields after whom, the town
is named, and was a descendant of Gen-
eral Henry Fellows, an officer of the Rev-
olution, serving on General Washington's
staff. Mr. and Mrs. Hooker were the
parents of Horace, Charles G. and Lewis
Hooker, of C. M. Hooker & Sons, and
Hooker Brothers ; and of daughters,
Mary, Kate and Edith. For over fifty
years the farm on Clover street has been
the family home, and there is no better
known locality to fruit growers, horticul-
turists and nurserymen than the Roches-
ter Fruit Farm and Nurseries. Charles
M. Hooker died August 18, 1913.
GATES, Charles Gilbert,
Financier, Promoter.
Charles Gilbert Gates, son of John
Warne and Dellora R. (Baker) Gates,
was born at Turner Junction, now known
as West Chicago, Illinois, on May 21,
1876. His early education was received
at Smith Academy, St. Louis, and later
he attended Harvard School, Chicago, and
Lake Forest College. At the age of
seventeen he entered the employ of the
Consolidated Steel & Wire Company. In
1897 he became a partner in the firm of
Baldwin, Gurney & Company, stock com-
mission brokers of Chicago, and in 1902
formed with John F. Harris the broker-
age firm of Harris, Gates & Company
with headquarters in New York and
branch offices in the principal cities
246
^vlA^
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
throughout the country. This firm, was
dissolved in 1904 to be reorganized as
Charles G. Gates & Company, which con-
tinued until 1907. In these five years the
Gates house was one of the most active
factors in the security and commodity
markets and it has been estimated that
during this period ten per cent, of the
business of the New York Stock Ex-
change originated with this organization.
Charles G. Gates was usually intrusted
with the details of his father's activities
and developed able methods of stock ex-
change operation that can be fully appre-
ciated only by those who were intimately
acquainted with the Gates house. In
June, 1907, the brokerage business was
dissolved and Mr. Gates gave his atten-
tion to industrial affairs. Mr. Gates was
actively interested in the various enter-
prises with which his father was con-
nected and took part in many new busi-
ness ventures in Southeast Texas, includ-
ing the development of the city of Port
Arthur, all of which proved to be of last-
ing benefit to that section of the country.
As the son of a world famous financier,
associated with immense possessions, ac-
customed from youth to transactions of
tremendous magnitude. Mr. Gates fol-
lowed in his father's footsteps, developing
forcefulness. ability, shrewdness and
allied qualities. His ability was akin to
that of his father, but fairly he won suc-
cess in a great measure through his own
efforts. Between father and son there
was unusual sympathy ; they were com-
rades and partners as well. Among his
business associates he was known for his
remarkably retentive memory and rapid-
ity of action, both mental and physical.
The president of one of the largest rail-
roads in the country said in reply to a
statement that Mr. Gates had a quick and
brilliant mind: "I should say it was; as
quick as a chain of lightning." In his
office Mr. Gates was known as an inde-
fatigable worker. When his business
affairs did not require his presence, he
travelled extensively and was a great
lover of all outdoor sports, his favorite
diversion being big game hunting.
He was generous and kind and took his
greatest pleasure in helping those in need.
His numerous kindly deeds will cause him
to be most gratefully remembered by
many. One of his characteristics that will
ever be remembered by his associates was
a peculiar high order of honesty. Both in
his business and in the daily happenings
of a busy and active career he was dis-
tinctly frank and outspoken. He abhorred
all manner of sham, pretense and hypoc-
racy and governed his actions accord-
ingly.
Charles G. Gates was twice married.
His first wife was Mary W. Edgar, of St.
Louis, Missouri, whom he married in 1898.
In 191 1 he married Florence Hopwood,
of Minneapolis, Minnesota. His untimely
death occurred at Cody, Wyoming, on
October 28, 1913, at the age of thirty-
seven years, from a stroke of apoplexy
while on his return from a hunting expe-
dition in the Thoroughfare mountains,
near Yellowstone National Park.
Mr. Gates had been a member of the
principal exchanges throughout the coun-
try, including the New York Stock Ex-
change, the New York Cotton Exchange
and the Chicago Board of Trade. At the
time of his death Mr. Gates was president
and director of Moose Mountain, Limited,
and of the Port Arthur Rice Milling Com-
pany ; he was a director and member of
the executive committee of The Texas
Company and United States Realty and
Improvement Company ; he was a direc-
tor in the Plaza Operating Company ; the
First National Bank of Port Arthur,
Texas ; Home Trust Company of Port
Arthur, Texas ; Port Arthur Realtv Com.-
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
pany ; Heisig & Norvell, Incorporated ;
Griffing Brothers Company; and East
Texas Electric Company. Among the
clubs of which he was a member were
the New York Athletic Club, Automobile
Club of America, Atlantic Yacht Club,
Westchester Country Club, Columbia
Yacht Club, Chicago Athletic Club and
the Calumet Club of Chicago.
HOTCHKISS, Hiram Gilbert,
Merchant, Manufacturer,
In 1839, Mr. Hotchkiss manufactured a
quantity of pure oil of peppermint at
Phelps, Ontario county, New York, which
he shipped to the New York City dealers
in essential oils. They had no use for the
pure oil, the adulterated oil having pos-
session of the market. Mr. Hotchkiss
then sent the entire shipment to London,
England, and Rotterdam, Holland, these
markets quickly absorbing it and de-
manding more. That was in 1839 and
the beginning of the large business
built up by Hiram G. Hotchkiss, which
made the name of "Hotchkiss" a standard
of purity wherever essential oils were
used. For many years he supplied the
markets, domestic and foreign, with pure
peppermint and other oils, the business
he founded still being conducted by his
sons, Calvin and Hiram, who are the con-
trolling mediums in ruling the pure es-
sential oil market so far as their particu-
lar lines of manufacture extend. World's
exposition committees have placed the
seal of approval upon "Hotchkiss" oils,
and in those held in England, German)-,
America, France and Austria, since 1851,
they were awarded first prize medals. On
his way to the Paris Exposition of 1878,
Mr. Hotchkiss stopped in London, and
while there received the congratulations
of prominent London wholesale dealers on
the excellence of his oils. Each case of oil
he packed contained a pamphlet reciting
the story of the honors awarded the
"Hotchkiss" brand of oils, and before he
died he had the pleasure of knowing that
his own country recognized his merit and
that of his oils by an award of the highest
merit at the Columbian Exposition held in
Chicago in 1893. During his trips abroad,
especially to Germany, he became con-
vinced of the importance of transplanting
the sugar beet to the United States and
made strong efforts to do so, but neither
the farmers nor the refiners were ready
for it then, and the honor of introducing
that important industry to the farmers of
the United States goes largely to another.
Mr. Hotchkiss was of English ancestry,
his father, Ephilet Hotchkiss, moving to
Phelps, Ontario county, New York, in
181 1. He was a pioneer merchant, built
up a large business, which at his death
in 1828 was continued by his sons. His
store was largely patronized by the
Oneida and Mohawk Indians with whom
he had many personal fights at the
Oneida Castle store, but they were his
friends generally and he was a very suc-
cessful Indian trader. He married Chloe
Gilbert who bore him several children in-
cluding two sons, Lliram G. and Leman
B.
Hiram Gilbert Hotchkiss was born at
Oneida Castle, Oneida county, New York,
June 19, 1810, died at Lyons, New York,
October 27, 1897. His parents moved to
Phelps, Ontario county, in 181 1, and in
his father's store there he obtained his
business training as well as some public
school education in a log schoolhouse,
but it was sufficient for a foundation and
as the years progressed he read and
studied, becoming a well informed man.
His father was also a partner with James
F. Bartle, Morton & Company, who were
pioneer merchants of the town of Arca-
dia, and the village of Newark. The sons
248
/i^#&czi£r^
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
of Ephilet Hotchkiss also working in that
store. His father died when Hiram G.
Hotchkiss was eighteen years of age, and
he, with his brother, Leman B., con-
tinued the general store at Phelps until
1837 when he engaged heavily in milling
operations, shipping his flour to New
York City. In 1839 he took advantage
of the not large quantity of peppermint
grown in the neighborhood of Phelps, ex-
tracted the oil, and shipped to New York
City dealers with the result previously
outlined. The success of the oil in the
foreign market encouraged him to con-
tinue and he ran his small plant at times
until 1843, finding a ready market abroad.
In 1843, finding the lowlands around
Lyons, Wayne county, admirably adapted
to the culture of the peppermint plant,
he purchased a large tract there and be-
gan cultivating it on a large scale. In
1844 he moved his extracting plant to
Lyons and gradually built up a large ex-
port business, the domestic market re-
sponding later after the name "Hotch-
kiss" became the last word in the perfec-
tion of manufacture of essential oils, and
a household word with the consumers. He
prospered abundantly and at the time of
his death he was a large owner of farm
lands and village real estate.
Mr. Hotchkiss took little part in poli-
tics and although his sympathies and
vote were usually Democratic, he was a
warm personal friend of the eminent Re-
publican statesman, William H. Seward.
He belonged to no fraternity, club or so-
ciety, but was the soul of hospitality,
delighting in filling his home with guests,
and made it the social center of Lyons.
His home was a mansion in the village,
containing twenty-seven rooms, and he
was never happier than when it was
taxed to its fullest capacity. In religious
belief he was an Episcopalian, very help-
ful and generous to the church and to all
good causes. He made trips abroad in
the interest of his business and was well
informed on all matters of national and
international importance. He made many
friends at home and abroad and was par-
ticuarly proud that he had won so high
a reputation as a manufacturer of oil free
from even a suspicion of adulteration.
Mr. Hotchkiss married, January 3,
1833, at Lyons, New York, Mary, daugh-
ter of Dr. Robert and Polly (Jones) Ash-
ley, her father being one of the first physi-
cians to settle in Lyons. Mrs. Hotchkiss
died leaving the following children : Ellen,
married Colonel A. D. Adams ; Mary,
married Thomas F. Attix; Emma, mar-
ried the Rev. Charles H. Piatt, of New
York City ; Lesette, married Henry Par-
shall, of Lyons ; Anne, married Charles
K. Dickinson, of Detroit; Leman, now
deceased ; Adrianna, married the Rev.
W. H. Williams, of Lyons ; Calvin and
Hiram Gilbert, their father's successors ;
Alice, married William G. David.
BUCKNER, Franklin Fernando, D. D.,
Well Known Divine.
An exceptionally eloquent preacher, a
devoted pastor, and an exemplary citizen.
Rev. Franklin F. Buckner for the last
four years of his life pastor of the Uni-
versalist Church of Newark, New York,
exerted a strong influence upon that com-
munity. He fought vigorously the forces
of evil, and although he made many ene-
mies among them no man in the village
exerted a more powerful influence for
good. His idea of religion extended far
beyond his parish into the community-at-
large, and wherever he found a man or a
woman or a condition needing an uplift,
and he was able to help, he was always
ready, eager, strong and confident. He
was not only a theological student
and a preacher, but a great lover of liter-
ature, and was familiar with every vol-
ume in his library, one of the finest in
249
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
the county. He took a deep interest in
national politics and was well informed
on all great public questions. He was in-
terested in community work, in the
charges he filled, and at Bristol, Middle-
port and Newark, New York, instituted
community lecture courses, also at Bris-
tol organizing a free library. He wrote
of himself not long before his death : "On
August 3, 191 3, I completed twenty-five
years of unbroken ministry, during which
period only three Sundays have been lost
by any manner of illness. To-day I en-
joy as good health and soundness of body
as at any time previous to date. I have
lived quietly, studiously, industriously,
effectively, without creating any pro-
found impression or gaining much fame
beyond the respect and good will of my
fellows. Late in 1908 I published a vol-
ume of poems entitled 'A Wreath of
Song,' which has been so well spoken of
as to lead me to hope for other adven-
tures in a literary way." These words
bespeak the modesty of the man, and
give little idea of the influence he exerted
for good. At the time of his death he had
another book of poems almost ready for
publication. He was a son of Josiah and
Lorana (Henry) Buckner, his father a
farmer.
Franklin Fernando Buckner was born
on a farm two miles northeast of Mason,
Illinois, May 20, 1866, died at his home in
Newark, New York, August 4, 1916, after
an illness of but two weeks. He attended
the district public school, one-half mile
away, until he was thirteen years of age,
his parents then moving from the farm
upon which he was born to Effingham,
Illinois, where he attended school for the
three following years. In 1884 he taught
a brief term of school in Moccasin town-
ship, and in September, 1886, he entered
the Lombard Divinity School of Gales-
burg, Illinois. He completed his studies
at that institution in June, 1889. became
a minister of the Universalist church, and
began his ministry at Le Roy, Ohio. In
connection with his pastorate of that
church he served one year at Huntington
and one year at Attica, Ohio. He was
ordained in the Le Roy church, January
25, 1890, and a little more than a year
later was married in the same church.
In March, 1893, he moved from the
church at Le Roy to the pastorate of the
church at Urbana, Illinois, and in March,
1895, to Macomb, Illinois, serving the
church at Urbana until April, 1899. From
April to July, 1899, he supplied the pulpit
of Bradley Memorial Church at Peoria,
Illinois, and in August, 1899, was settled
over the church at Bristol, New York,
serving that congregation until Septem-
ber, 1903. The next seven years he was
pastor of the church at Middleport, New
York, also preaching at Ridgway Sunday
afternoons during three years of that
period. He left Middleport in Septem-
ber, 1910, was in Medina, New York,
until March, 1912, then became pastor of
the church at Newark, so continuing until
his death.
He married in Le Roy, Ohio, May 14.
1891, Lillian May, daughter of Erastus
and Eliza Simmons, of Le Roy. They
were the parents of four children : Marian
Lorana, married Dr. James Sanford, of
Newark, New York, and has two daugh-
ters, Anne Elizabeth, born August 9.
1913, and Damaris Buckner. born Febru-
ary 27. 1916; Orella Simmons, a gradu-
ate of the University of Illinois, class of
iqi6; Dorothea Aurora, a graduate of
Newark High School; and Henry Ed-
ward, educated in the same school.
NORTON, Luther M.,
Lawyer and Jurist.
Although a native son of Livingston
county, New York, Judge Norton's entire
professional life was passed in Wayne
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
county, where he was held in the highest
esteem by his brethren of the county bar,
and by the public-at-large. He was a
lawyer of ability, and his service as coun-
ty judge demonstrated that he possessed
the high qualities of the jurist. He was
of calm, unruffled demeanor, fair and im-
partial in his decisions, serving only the
cause of justice as revealed by the evi-
dence presented to him. He was learned
in the law, but did not rely upon his own
construction of its technicalities, never
deciding an intricate point without close
study of previous published decisions and
all law bearing upon the controverted
point. From 1855 until his death he was
a member of the Wayne county bar, and
a resident of Newark.
Luther M. Norton was born at Grove-
land, Livingston county, New York, Feb-
ruary 26, 1832, died at his home in New-
ark, Wayne county, New York, October
25, 1908. He obtained his education in
the public schools and Genesee-Wyoming
Seminary at Alexander, New York, and
after graduation began teaching, a pro-
fession which he sucessfully followed for
eight years. During those years he
studied law and was a regularly regis-
tered student in a Mount Morris law
office. In December, 1855, he was ad-
mitted to the bar, and the same year
moved to Newark, New York, there
spending his entire after life. For one
vear he was a partner with Judge George
H. Middleton, and rapidly rose in public
favor as a general practitioner. He was
a Republican in politics, and took an ac-
tive interest in public affairs, gaining a
county-wide acquaintance and winning a
host of friends. He was made a justice
of sessions, and in November, 1869, was
elected county judge, serving one term
of five years, the office of surrogate at
that time being coupled with that of
county judge in Wayne county. In No-
vember, 1891, he was again elected coun-
ty judge, the term having been extended
to six years.
As a lawyer Judge Norton practiced in
all State and Federal courts of his dis-
trict, and ever conducted a large practice.
He was one of the organizers of the
Wayne County Bar Association, Novem-
ber 10, 1890, and a member of its first
executive committee. He was a power-
ful advocate for the cause he espoused,
strong in his presentation, submitted the
clearest and most logical briefs, and was
an orator of eloquence and force. Few
of his decisions as judge but which stood
the test if appealed to a higher court, and
none ever questioned the purity of his
motives nor the fairness of his decisions.
He was a life-long member of the Baptist
church, interested in all good works, his
private character beyond reproach, his
public spirit ever displayed in all that
tended to elevate the moral tone or im-
prove the temporal condition of his village.
Judge Norton married, in 1853, Sarah
M. Stilson, of Mt. Morris, Livingston
county, New York, daughter of Edwin
and Hulda (Lake) Stilson. Judge and
Mrs. Norton were the parents of two
daughters and a son : Flora A., now Mrs.
F. E. Brown, of Newark. New York;
Grace I., a graduate of Elmira Female
College, a teacher; Willis I., married
Maud Hicks, of Phelps, New York.
WINSPEAR, Charles W.,
Public Official.
The life history of Charles W. Win-
spear, for seventeen years superintendent
of the New York State Custodial Asylum
at Newark, is the record of a self-made
man who by ability and exertion made
his way upward and succeeded in his ca-
reer by reason of individual merit, guided
by sound judgment and common sense.
He came to Newark in 1893 when he was
appointed to the responsible position of
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
superintendent of the New York State
Custodial Asylum. The institution re-
ceived for seventeen years the benefit of
his magnificent intellect, unerring judg-
ment and his unwavering fidelity. It be-
came the leading State institution of its
kind with the lowest per capita cost and
the highest record for efficiency of man-
agement. Its plans of development under
which it has made its great growth was
to a large extent the product of his mas-
ter mind. Its successful private water
works system was exclusively an achieve-
ment of his and accomplished against
many difficulties, and the plans of its
buildings and its general improvements
were developed under his direction.
Leaving the institution, which he had
served so faithfully, Mr. Winspear se-
lected a site of land of several acres in
extent on West Maple avenue in Newark
and developed its natural resources by
hemming in Military Brook between high
banks and making a beautiful spring
water lake, on the banks of which he
built his pleasant home, where he passed
in merited enjoyment the recent years of
his life, surrounded by his family and en-
joying the comforts of a delightful domes-
tic life. He was a man of unusual poise
and dignity and approached every sub-
ject with calmness and impartiality. He
was gracious and courtly in manner, con-
siderate of others, particularly those of
his own household, respected and hon-
ored by all who knew him.
Charles W. Winspear was born at El-
ma, Erie county, New York, July 6, 1854,
died at his beautiful home in Newark,
New York, August 8, 1916, son of Wil-
liam and Hannah (Richardson) Win-
spear, his father born in England, a
lawyer by profession and a farmer.
Charles W. Winspear spent his early life
on the farm, attended the public schools
of the district and remained his father's
assistant until the age of twenty-three
years. On January 1, 1877, he was ap-
pointed clerk in the Erie County Alms-
house and Insane Asylum, serving in that
position one year. He then was pro-
moted to the position of deputy keeper,
a post he faithfully filled for sixteen
years. During the last ten years of his
term he also served as special agent of
the State board of charities in the city of
Buffalo, and became well skilled and pro-
ficient in the line he had chosen as his
life work.
During his long term he had become
well known for his interest in this phase
of State philanthropy and a vacancy oc-
curring, he was appointed on July 1, 1893,
superintendent of the New York State
Custodial Asylum at Newark, an institu-
tion devoted to the care of feeble minded
women. This choice of a superintendent
by the board of trustees was a most
fortunate one for the institution and for
seventeen years he devoted himself ex-
clusively to the care of those unfortunate
wards of the State committed to his wise
government. He resigned his position as
superintendent October 1, 1909.
Mr. Winspear was a most capable busi-
ness man, an interesting worker, apply-
ing himself to every task with concentra-
tion, energy and force. After resigning
his position, he spent much time in
Buffalo, where he was a partner in the
real estate firm of Winspear & Northrup.
there conducting a large and successful
business, two streets in Buffalo being de-
veloped entirely through the efforts of
the firm. He also manifested his public
spirited interest in Newark, his adopted
home, investing his resources in various
village enterprises, was a director and
vice-president of the First National Bank,
president of the board of trade and an
active working member of that organiza-
tion.
He was fond of sports of the out-of-
doors, a member of the Audubon Shoot-
252
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
ing Club of Buffalo, and an ardent fisher-
man. The artificial pond on his estate
stocked with game fish was to him a
source of much pleasure and not infre-
quently he devoted an hour to luring a
trout to his fly and hook. He was very
successful in his business enterprises and
was frequently sought in counsel in
matters important to the village. He was
a Democrat in politics, a member of
Washington Lodge, No. 240, Free and
Accepted Masons, of Buffalo, later be-
coming a member of the Newark lodge,
also belonging to the Acacia Club of that
city. In religious faith he was a Presby-
terian, serving as trustee and elder for
many years.
Mr. Winspear married, in Buffalo, New
York, June 18, 1893, Gertrude E., daugh-
ter of George F. and Harriet Winspear,
of Lancaster, Erie county, New York.
Mrs. Winspear survives her husband
with three children: Alta Grace, born
September 28, 1897; Ethel G., June 14,
1899; Harriet, September 18, 1906.
Judge McLouth, of Palmyra, writes
the following appreciation of the char-
acter and achievements of Charles W.
Winspear:
Much has been said, and properly so, of Mr.
Winspear, yet as much left unsaid. When at the
instance of the Managers of the State Custodial
Asylum for Feeble-minded Women he came to
Newark he resigned the position he had long
and under different political administrations held,
of Deputy Superintendent of the Poor of Erie
county, which was one of great responsibility.
To some extent it had fitted him for the new
duties he was to undertake, yet there was largely
more. He had as an officer of the State a more
difficult position, which involved the care and
management of larger property as well as many
persons, and either case was not more varied
than the other. His work was as largely humane
as it was constructive, and it required that he
should constantly look ahead. He saw largely
increasing needs of a growing population. Per-
haps his value to the State and its defective
wards was nowhere more largely manifest. No
need was more so than the procuring of an
ample supply of pure water. There were some
difficulties in obtaining sufficient from the vil-
lage water works, as then existing, both as to
quantity and quality, and the State was not
swift to respond to demands made upon it.
After much deliberation Mr. Winspear believed
that in the springs near Marbletown the suffi-
cient supply might be found, and that gravity
would bring it to the doors. With untiring
energy, but no noise, he secured the options of
the springs and rights of way, and then sub-
mitted to the Managers his project. He had not
much support. The conservatism of the board
thought it visionary, or, if not, hardly practical.
But they had learned to defer so largely to his
judgment that they and the State acquiesced.
It was a great and permanent success. It led to
another as important — the removal of the power
house from the center of the group of buildings
to the foot and rear of the hill — and so the
danger of fire was almost totally minimized.
The water was and has been all of the time
abundant and satisfactory, insomuch that when
the village supply threatened deficiency its auxil-
iary was obtained from the hill with less fric-
tion and more composure than its supply to the
hill had formerly been furnished.
A little later Mr. Winspear proposed to place
on the extreme elevation of the hill a storage
tank of suitable dimensions and store there a
supply of water for emergency. That was not
much believed in, but it was allowed, and he
succeeded beyond expectations. The question of
proper sewage disposition was always largely
considered by him, and he was as successful as
was possible, until the present combination was
worked out, and in large degree he was respon-
sible for that.
The largest achievement of Mr. Winspear, and
by far the most valuable, was found in the car-
rying out of the purposes of the Institution.
Mental deficiencies were and are largely misun-
derstood. Susceptible improvements are much
underrated. And to this his thought never
ceased to be directed, with the result that, with
time, patience, thoughtfulness and such changes
as from time to time became apparent, very
marked improvement in reading, writing, figures,
music, dancing, dress and general appearance
appeared, so that he made his Institution known
in this and all countries where similar efforts
have been directed.
The location and construction of buildings;
the supply to each of proper heat, water and
light; the classification of inmates; the refusal
253
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
to build and the depopulation of floors above the
second; the embellishment of grounds; the suc-
cess of greenhouses; the building oi roads; the
systematizing of the office and help; and the
organization of the entire administrative work
and force, was the marvel of the man. He was
of infinite detail and larger patience, and, with
the latter, he bore the platitudes of success as
calmly as he did undeserved, malicious, wicked
and absolutely groundless assaults. The latter
is not an unusual accompaniment of success.
WILSON, Jacob,
Journalist and Litterateur.
From January, 1869, until 1906, Mr.
Wilson was proprietor, editor and pub-
lisher of the 'Newark Courier," one of
the most popular country weeklies in
New York, bringing to his work the cul-
ture of college, foreign travel and long
experience as an educator. The "Couri-
er," established in 1838 as the '"Wayne
Standard," an organ of the old Whig
party, had a varied and checkered ex-
istence under different names and pub-
lishers until its purchase by Mr. Wilson,
who a little later changed its politics to
Democratic, and being constantly on the
alert for improvements and being himself
an accomplished writer, he gave the
paper an interest it had never possesed.
His work in journalism was such as to
class him with the great county editors
of the State and brought him prominently
into the public eye. He was unfortu-
nately located politically, as his congres-
sional district, composed of Wayne, Ca-
yuga and Seneca counties, was normally
from 6,000 to 7,000 Republican. He.
however, made the attempt in 1874 and
although pitted against the popular Gen-
eral MacDougall as his opponent and
confronted with the huge majority which
the district usually gave, he came within
a few hundred votes of an election to
Congress, although he gave little atten-
tion to the campaign waged in his favor.
Aside from his journalism he was a well
known litterateur, the author of educa-
tional works and books of general thought
in which he discussed religious and eco-
nomic questions, works commended by
the leading men of the country and en-
titling him to high rank and literary fame.
Jacob Wilson, or as he wrote his name,
J. Wilson, was born in St. Johnsville,
Montgomery county, New York, May 12.
1831, died in Newark, New York, March
16, 1914. At the age of twenty years he
was graduated from Union College, now
University, read law and in 1852, as soon
as legally eligible, was admitted to the
bar. He practiced but little, however,
but turned to teaching as a profession
and for nearly twenty years was an edu-
cator, attaining high rank as principal of
some of the best academies in the State.
When the Civil War broke out he warm-
ly espoused the Union cause, gave up his
profession, recruited a company of one
hundred and seven men at his own expense
and served as their captain during part
of 1861 and 1862. He continued in edu-
cational work of a high class until Janu-
ary, 1872. then purchased the "Newark
Courier" and devoted himself to journal-
ism and literature until his death. He
was a pronounced Democrat, and on Oc-
tober 23. 1874, received the unanimous
nomination of the Democratic conven-
tion for Congress from the Twenty-Sixth
Congressional District. The district was
hopelessly Republican and he took little
personal part in the campaign, but so
great was his popularity and so favor-
ably had he made the "Courier" known
throughout the district that he narrowly
escaped election. In 1880 he was on the
New York Democratic electoral ticket,
but he was not an aspirant for political
honors at any time, much preferring the
independent position he held as editor of
a prosperous newspaper. In 1868 and
again in 1888 he toured Europe, and later
made two other trips, his cultured mind
254
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
reveling in the artistic beauties and won-
ders of the Old World.
Mr. Wilson began his literary work
while engaged as an educator and in 1858
published "Errors of Grammar, - ' fol-
lowed in 1864 by "Phrases," "A Treatise
on the History and Structure of the Dif-
ferent Languages of the World." In
1870 his "Practical Grammar of the Eng-
lish Language" appeared, and in 1874
"The Bible as Seen by the Light of the
Nineteenth Century" was published, a
work which created intense interest and
much discussion. "Practical Life and
Study of Man" was published in 1882,
"Radical Wrongs" in 1892. These works
won him literary fame and brought him
into personal contact with the best men
of the literary world. They showed the
depth of his research and the strength of
his intellectual power, those relating to
educational work having become stand-
ard. He was the most scholarly writer
Newark ever had. His skill lay in his
clear thinking and writing, his work at-
tracting the attention of men of letters in
Germany, where he was perhaps as well
known as in his own country. He was
not a popular writer ; he was a philoso-
pher and his name will go down in honor.
AVERILL, Edward Samuel,
Journalist.
At the time of his death in 1910 Mr.
Averill was the oldest newspaper man in
New York State in point of years of serv-
ice, his connection with Wayne county
journalism having begun in August, 1856,
with the purchase of the "Palmyra Amer-
ican" which he restored to its former
name the "Palmyra Courier.'' From that
year until his death, fifty-four years later,
he continued in the editorial manage-
ment of the "Courier." making it one
of the largest and ablest journals in
Western New York. The "Courier" was
founded in 1838 by Frederick Morley,
who continued its publication until 1852
when it passed to the ownership of J. C.
Benedict, and in January, 1853, to B. C.
Beebe, who renamed it the "Palmyra
Democrat." and a little later the "Pal-
myra American." In August, 1856. Mr.
Averill purchased the paper, renamed it
the "Palmyra Courier," and dedicated it
to the newly formed Republican party,
a party whose faithful and valuable ally
it has been until the present date, now-
being owned and edited by Ralph E. and
Harry L. Averill. sons of Edward S.
Averill.
The history of the "Courier," under the
Averill management, was one of progress
in every department. When the senior
Averill obtained control local happenings
received but scant attention in the press
of the county, a condition he at once set
out to correct, enlarging the paper to
make room for a department of local
news. The innovation was greatly ap-
preciated and was rewarded by a greatly
enlarged subscription list which encour-
aged the editor to again enlarge. In
April, 1857. the "Courier" appeared in an
entire new dress and greatly improved.
In 1S58 it was again enlarged and again
in 1865. The paper became a tower of
strength to the Republican party in
Western New York, and became a source
of honor and profit to the man who, in
his youth, devoted himself and his paper
to the support of a then young and un-
tried party. As the years progressed the
"Courier" kept pace with the march of
progress in printing and publishing and
retained its place as a power in the party.
Himself a man of clean mind and soul he
kept the "Courier" equally clean and its
columns free from a suspicion of sub-
servience to evil influences. He was de-
voted to his paper, cared little for money
making, but was ambitious that it should
be a welcome and esteemed visitor to
255
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
every home. All who knew him held him
in the highest esteem and although he
lived for over half a century in the fierce
light of publicity no taint of dishonor
ever attached itself to his name. He was
an able editorial writer and made that
page of the "Courier" one from which
the State press often quoted. He hon-
ored the profession he embraced and the
present policy of the paper under the sons
he trained in journalism is as he would
have had it.
Edward Samuel Averill, son of Erastus
and Hannah Averill, was born in Albany,
New York, in 1835, died in Palmyra,
Wayne county. New York, September 5,
1910. He was educated in the public
schools of Medina, New York, learned
the printer's trade in Medina when very
> oung and for a time was connected with
"'The Spirit of the Times," a paper pub-
lished in Batavia, New York. Prior to
reaching his twentieth year he had been
editorially connected with that paper and
with Albany and Geneva papers. He
located in Palmyra in 1855 as editor of
the "Palmyra Democrat and American."
On coming of legal age in 1856 he pur-
chased the paper from B. C. Beebe, re-
named it the "Palmyra Courier" and
henceforth was its owner, publisher and
presiding genius.
The "Courier" represented the personal
politics of its editor and was always a
reflection of his own opinions, and al-
though always a stalwart follower of
party doctrines was never a subservient
organ. His fidelity was rewarded not
only in public confidence, but in substan-
tial recognition so far as he would allow.
From 1863 until 1868 he was the collector
of canal tolls at Palmyra, and in 1871
and 1872 he was postmaster of the vil-
lage. He was a warm friend of public
education, and for several years was an
efficient member of the Palmyra Board of
Education. In 1868 he was chosen cor-
responding secretary of the Palmyra
Union Agricultural Society, an office he
held for thirty years. He was very liberal
and broad minded in his religious views
and while not a regular attendant him-
self his family were Episcopalians.
Mr. Averill married, in 1859, at Geneva,
New York, Mary, daughter of Maurice
and Mary (Mason) Caulkins. They were
the parents of three sons and a daughter:
Ralph E., who succeeded his father as
editor and publisher of the "Courier" in
association with his brother Harry L. ;
Annie, residing in Palmyra ; Robert, an
attorney of Rochester, New York; Harry
L., associated with his brother Ralph E.
as joint editors and publishers of the
"Courier."
ROCHESTER, John Henry,
Financier, Man of Affairs.
The mention of the name of John Henry
Rochester recalls the presence of a man
who is not remembered solely for his
great business ability, public service and
consistent enterprise, but of one who also
lives in the hearts of his many sincere
friends as a genial, warm-hearted, social
and hospitable man, gracious as a host,
charming as a guest, who esteemed the
companionship and regard of friends more
highly than business success. Courte-
ous and courtly, a Chesterfield in deport-
ment, he was of the old school, never for-
getful of even the smallest detail that
marks the true gentleman. Seventy-four
years marked his span of life and from the
age of eighteen he was continually en-
gaged in the banking business, being at
the time of his death the oldest banker in
active service in the city of Rochester.
He was the organizer of the Mechanics'
Savings Bank and for nearly thirty years
its secretary and treasurer. His sympa-
thetic heart responded freely to the call
of charity and philanthropy. His public
256
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
official service was mainly as park com-
missioner, his membership of the board
extending over a period of many years,
terminating only with his death. He was
keenly alive to his responsibilities as a
citizen, had well defined political convic-
tions ; was an earnest Republican, with a
deep interest in public affairs, manly inde-
pendence, abhorrent of all political abuses,
but never seeking nor accepting political
office. He traveled extensively at home
and abroad, was extremely well read, with
refined taste in literature and was a well
known patron of the fine arts. His social
nature and love of the companionship of
friends led him into clubs, societies and
fraternities, in fact he was interested in
all that affected the civic, business, social
or religious life of his city. All of his
mature life he was a devoted churchman
and when death erased his name from
the roll of St. Luke's parish, was its oldest
communicant in point of years of mem-
bership. In his long-time home, his
widow, with whom he spent nearly half a
century of wedded bliss, survives him
aged eighty-two years, charming in her
personality, mentally keen and bright as
of yore, a true type of the Southern gen-
tlewoman, remarkable in the victory she
has won over her weight of years.
The lineage of the Rochester family is
traced to the year 1582, and to the County
of Essex, England. The American an-
cestor, Nicholas Rochester, came in 1689,
settling in Westmoreland county, Vir-
ginia, on an estate in Cople parish, upon
which his grandson, Nathaniel Rochester,
founder of the city of Rochester, was born
February 21, 1752. With Nathaniel
Rochester, whose life story is also told in
this work, the family residence in Roches-
ter, first called Fallstown, began.
Thomas Hart Rochester, son of Colonel
Nathaniel Rochester, settled in Western
New York with his father and with his
N Y-3-17 257
brother-in-law, William Montgomery,
built the "Old Red Mill" at the Middle
Falls. In 1834 he superintended the con-
struction of the Tonowanda Railroad ;
was the first cashier of the Commercial
Bank and president of the Rochester City
Bank; was a member of the board of
trustees of the Rochester Orphan Asylum
in 1838; was mayor of Rochester in 1839;
was a member of the board of trustees of
Rochester City Hospital in 1847 and was
one of the most highly esteemed men of
his day. He married Elizabeth Cuming,
daughter of a one-time governor of one of
the English West Indies. She bore him
children, all of whom have now passed
away: Thomas Fortescue, M. D. ; Na-
thaniel, died in California while in quest
of gold in 1849; John Henry; Caroline
Louise, who never married ; Montgomery ;
Phoebe Elizabeth, who died in 1859.
John Henry Rochester, third son of
Thomas Hart and Elizabeth (Cuming)
Rochester, was born in Rochester, April
20, 1828, died in his native city after an
illness of two years, October 23, 1902.
He was educated in the select schools of
Rochester, and at the age of eighteen en-
tered the banking business, a line of ac-
tivity with which he was connected for
fifty-six years. His first position was as
clerk in the Rochester City Bank, of
which his honored father was president,
there obtaining an intimate knowledge of
banking methods and of the laws gov-
erning finance. In 1849 ne caught the
"gold fever" and with his brother Na-
thaniel joined a party bound for Califor-
nia, Nathaniel being one of the party who
never returned, dying in California the
same year. After returning from his gold
quest John H. Rochester formed a part-
nership with his brother Montgomery
and established the private banking
house of J. H. Rochester & Brother.
After several years as a private banker
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
he retired from association with his
brother to become cashier of the Flower
City Bank, a position he held for three
years. During the years 1852 to 1855
Mr. Rochester was a resident of Vicks-
burg, Mississippi, and during that period
occurred his marriage.
He organized the Mechanics' Savings
Bank, a successful financial institution of
which he was secretary and treasurer for
nearly thirty years. His fifty-six years
as a banker brought him rich experience,
rare wisdom and ripened judgment, his
rank as a financier being with the ablest.
His business capacity was of the highest
order and in his display of public spirit
and enterprise his was an example worthy
of emulation. He held his honor and
promise sacred and was most punctilious
in his observance of the strictest code
governing business men. His friends
were "legion," attracted not more by the
sterling business qualities of the banker
than by the winning personality of the
man. Courtesy and consideration marked
his daily intercourse with the world and
there was neither blot nor stain upon his
business or private character.
Mr. Rochester was one of the first
members appointed on the city board of
park commissioners and for many years
he so served, leaving a record of efficiency
and faithfulness unsurpassed. He was
vice-president of the board at the time
of his death in 1902 and during his whole
term of membership rarely missed a
board meeting. For twenty-seven years
he served St. Luke's parish as treasurer
of the church and of the Church Home ;
was treasurer of the Red Cross Society
and of the Yellow Fever Fund ; organized
the local chapter, Sons of the American
Revolution, and was its president ; was
president of the Rochester Historical So-
ciety for two years ; was prominent in
the commemoration of the semi-centen-
nial of the city's birth ; was charter mem-
ber of Rochester Lodge, No. 660, Free
and Accepted Masons, and for many years
its treasurer; belonged for many years
to the Genesee Valley Club, the Roches-
ter Club, the Rochester Whist Club, and
in all these organizations was prominent
in their activities. So a long and useful
life was passed and the flowers that
bloom at his grave are not more fragrant
than his memory.
In 1853, Mr. Rochester married Eliza-
beth L., daughter of Dr. George Moore,
of Vicksburg, Mississippi, a lady of rare
charm and gentleness, who survives him.
Two sons were born to Mr. and Mrs.
John H. Rochester: Dr. Thomas Moore
Rochester, born November 12, 1854, died
leaving five children — Haydon, Thomas
A., John C, Edward F. and Katherine ;
Paul Affordby Rochester, born August
21, 1857, now general traffic manager of
the Catskill Evening Lines, with offices
in New York City.
VAN CAMP, William,
Journalist.
In September, 1841, the name Van
Camp became associated with journalism
in Wayne county, New York, William
Van Camp then becoming owner of the
paper established in May, 1822, by Hiram
T. Day, under the name of "The Lyons
Advertiser." The paper had passed
through various experiences during those
first nineteen years, had many owners
and policies, but at the time of Mr. Van
Camp's purchase was a six column paper
known as "The Western Argus." One
year sufficed the new owner, and in 1842
he transferred it to Charles Poucher. who
sold it in 1849 to S. W. Russell, he chang-
ing the name to the "Lyons Gazette."
In 1852 William Van Camp again entered
the journalistic field, purchased the paper
he had sold in 1842 and from that date
Van Camp has been a name honored in
258
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
Western New York journalism. The
paper was run as the "Lyons Gazette"
until June, 1856, when Mr. Van Camp
purchased from Pomeroy Tucker, of
Palmyra, a new printing establishment
from which had been issued five numbers
of "The Wayne Democratic Press." He
brought the paper to Lyons, consolidated
it with the 'Gazette," but retained the
name of the new purchase "The Wayne
Democratic Press." With the consolida-
tion an era of prosperity began which
has never been checked and the "Press"
has long been recognized as a leading
organ of the Democracy of Western New
York. Until 1884 the veteran journalist
dictated the policy of the paper, and his
able pen furnished the editorial page with
many articles, inspiring, logical and con-
vincing. Then when that hand was for-
ever motionless and the active brain for-
ever at rest, the capable sons whom he
had trained, William and Harry T. Van
Camp, conducted the "Press" from 1884
to 1890, then William Van Camp became
sole owner and until his death, Novem-
ber 24, 191 1, continued the "Press," add-
ing to its physical equipment all modern
improvements possible in a country print-
ing office, building up a large circulation
yearly and extending its influence. With
William (2) Van Camp's death the owner-
ship again reverted to Harry T. Van
Camp, the present editor and publisher.
Thus for seventy-five years, minus the
ten years the senior Van Camp was out
of the publishing business, Van Camps
have been potent in Wayne county jour-
nalism, and for sixty years their paper
"The Wayne Democratic Press" has been
a leader of Democratic thought in West-
ern New York. But is it not as party
agents alone that William Van Camp,
senior and junior, shine in journalism,
they persistently worked for a greater
Lyons and a greater Wayne county, and
through the columns of the "Press"
rendered yeoman service in many move-
ments, moral and temporal, furthering
that end. The paper has grown as Wayne
county has grown and no single influence
has been more strenuously exerted for
the benefit of Wayne county as a whole
than that of the "Press."
The members of the Van Camp family
in this branch date in America from 1750.
William Van Camp was born in Madison
county, New York, in 1820, but in early
life went with his parents, William and
Sarah Van Camp, to Seneca county, New
York, where his father operated a farm.
The family were of Dutch ancestry, and
in religious faith members of the Society
of Friends, William Van Camp being
reared in the austere tenets of that sect.
He obtained a good English education,
and early in life learned the printer's
trade in Palmyra, Wayne county, New
York. While working at the printing
trade he also acted as clerk in his em-
ployer's book store, his evenings being
devoted to that work. He became an ex-
pert compositor, and at the age of twenty-
one years had sufficient means and con-
fidence in himself to purchase the "West-
ern Argus," which must have proved a
disappointing venture for he sold it a
year later. He continued working at his
trade during the next ten years, and in
1852 again became a newspaper owner
by purchasing his old paper, but enlarged
and known as the "Lyons Gazette." He
continued owner, editor and publisher
of the consolidated papers as previously
told until his death thirty-two years later
in Michigan, March 24, 1884, and left to
his sons that valuable newspaper prop-
erty "The Wayne Democratic Press" of
which his son William (2) was editor
and publisher from 1890 to 191 1, being
succeeded by Harry T. Van Camp. The
"Press" was not made a Democratic
paper through any idea of expediency or
gain, but reflected the personal politics
259
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
of its owner and publisher who was stal-
wart in his Democracy. During the try-
ing period of the Civil War the "Press"
was the only Democratic newspaper in
Wayne county, but Mr. Van Camp re-
mained steadfast and made the county
recognize the fact that in spite of his
quiet retiring nature he had the courage
of his convictions. All men respected
him and when the rancor and hate en-
gendered by war had died away in men's
hearts the most cordial relations were
established between those whose political
views so widely diverged. His courage
was admirably blended with tact and
there never was a time his influence was
not felt in county affairs, and he was held
in high esteem. He was devoted to his
paper, and had few outside interests or
affiliations, his home circle drawing him
in hours off duty.
He was an early member of Humanity
Lodge, No. 406, Free and Accepted Ma-
sons, was a supporter of the Episcopal
church, but broad minded and liberal in
his religious views. He was a useful
man to his community and was ever to
be depended on to further all good causes
and to give personal service. Long years
have elapsed since he retired from earthly
scenes, but his influence lives and the
"Press" now edited by his son is but the
"Press" founded by the father, enlarged,
improved and adapted to modern con-
ditions.
Mr. Van Camp married, in Lyons, New
York, in 1854, Mary Wood Terry, daugh-
ter of Captain Horace G. and Emily
Terry, of Sodus Bay, New York, her
father a captain of lake vessels. Mr.
and Mrs. Van Camp had three children :
William,, born September 18, 1856, died
November 24, 191 1, a journalist and long
time editor of "The Wayne Democratic
Press," succeeding his father; Harry T.,
born December 20, 1859, journalist, now
editor of the paper with which the family
has so long been identified ; Mary W.,
born August 3, 1862, married, in 1889,
Edson W. Hamm, an eminent lawyer of
Lyons.
VEEDER, Major Albert, M. D.,
Scientist, Physician.
The leading scientist of Wayne county,
New York, and an eminent physician, Dr.
Veeder lived a busy life, one not devoted
to worldly gain but rather to the better-
ment of humanity, a life void of reproach,
a life filled with good work. His con-
tributions to medical science were many
and valuable, but his activities were not
confined alone to medical research but
along other branches of science in which he
became equally proficient and his ability
duly recognized. In the branches of sci-
ence to which he devoted himself, he
stood as one of the leaders and by some
of his co-workers his opinions were fre-
quently sought. His life was not the
result of fortunate circumstances but was
rather due to the intrinsic merit of the
man himself. He chose deliberately to
make the most of his gifts and he spared
no effort by which these gifts could be
developed to the highest point of ef-
ficiency. He was apparently unambitious
for earthly honors but was content with
the consciousness of work well done, for
which he merits the respect and love of
his co-laborers and fellow workmen.
Dr. Veeder was a descendant of Simon
Volkertse Veeder, born in 1624, who is
first mentioned in 1644, belonging to the
ship "Prince Maurice" plying between
Holland and New Amsterdam, New
York. In 1652 he bought land in New
Amsterdam, selling it in 1654 for thirty
beaver skins ; moved to Beverwych (Al-
bany) ; and in 1662 located at Schenec-
tady, New York, where he owned lands.
His son, Gerrit Veeder, owned the land
about "Veeder's Mills," and had a lease
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
from the church granting him the mill
privileges and water power in 1718.
From Gerrit Veeder sprang Dr. Major
Albert Veeder, his branch of the family
settling in Ohio. Dr. Veeder was a son
of Captain Gerrit W. and Martha Anna
(Williams) Veeder, his father master of
deep sea and lake vessels ; his mother of
English descent.
Major Albert Veeder was born in Ashta-
bula, Ohio, November 2, 1848, died at his
home at Lyons, New York, November
16, 191 5. His boyhood days were spent
in Ashtabula, his education beginning in
the public school. In early life he re-
turned to the home of his ancestors,
Schenectady, New York, there entered
Union College, whence he was graduated
A. B., class of 1870, A. M., 1871, having
prepared for the collegiate course in the
preparatory department of the same col-
lege, finishing that course in 1866. From
1871 he was for several years principal
of Ives's Seminary, at Antwerp, New
York; then during the years of 1878-79
was a student at Leipzig University, Ger-
many. In 1879 he returned to the United
States, began the study of medicine and
in 1883 was graduated M. D. from Buffalo
Medical College, Buffalo, New York. In
1883 he located in Lyons, New York, and
there continued in active practice until
his death, thirty-two years later.
Dr. Veeder became a member of the
Wayne County Medical Society, July 10,
1883, and until his death was an active
member and frequent contributor of valu-
able papers. He was president of the
society from July 14, 1903, until Decem-
ber 10, 1913; was its treasurer and from
the latter date until his death both secre-
tary and treasurer. In the agreeable con-
troversy between the American Medical
Association and the New York State
Medical Society, which resulted in the
formation of the New York State Medical
Association, and which controversy af-
fected the Wayne County Medical So-
ciety, he took no part, but the final result
of that controversy was in accordance
with his view and sympathy. The con-
troversy he ignored, but the pursuit of
medical knowledge he continued regard-
less of schism.
The records show that he contributed
a most valuable paper, probably his first
written paper to the society, October
14, 1884, entitled "Practical Points as to
Prophylaxis," contributed at a time when
the "drug cure" of disease was promi-
nent and prophylaxis largely in the fu-
ture, the morning light of which was
just beginning to appear. This paper
was prophetic of what he should and did
accomplish in after years and for which
he became well known both at home and
abroad.
Dr. Veeder began and continued his
investigations as must be done in all re-
search work along true scientific lines,
not in establishing a pre-conclusion and
the distorting and omitting of data that
such a pre-conclusion might be proven,
but rather collecting, arranging and clas-
sifying data and from such classification
arriving at a conclusion, be that conclu-
sion what it may. For his conclusions he
stood steadfast, without regarding the
opinions of others, opinions expressed
without proof, but he was ever ready to
present to others his evidence on which
his conclusions were based, presenting
such evidence in the spirit of fairness and
in their defense, though steadfast, he was
a non-combatant ; he waited for time to
adjust differences and nowhere was this
spirit more manifest than in his home
town.
Of Dr. Veeder's contributions to medi-
cal literature, which are numerous, it is
only possible at this time to mention a
few of the more prominent and advanced
ones which have been published, viz:
"Chorea ;" "Drinking Water and its Puri-
261
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
fication ;'" 'Atmospheric Changes Rela-
tive to the Diseases of Central New
York;" "Practical Use of the Micro-
scope;" "Questions in Regard to the
Diphtheria Bacillus;" "Diphtheria, its
Disinfection Within and Without the
Body;" "Roentgen Radiations;" "Flies
as Spreaders of Sickness in Camps ;"
"The Relative Importance of Flies and
Water Supply in Spreading Disease;"
"The Spread of Typhoid and Dysenteric
Diseases by Flies." Paper entitled "Flies
as Spreaders of Sickness in Camps" is
the first article ever published showing
or demonstrating clearly the agency of
flies in the spread of disease. This paper
was published in the "Medical Record"
in 1898, and in it he stated his belief that
flies were carriers of typhoid germs.
Other papers relative to public health
should be mentioned, viz: "Public Water
Supply for Small Towns," "Typhoid
Fever from Sources Other than Water
Supply," "The Human Being as a Ty-
phoid Carrier," "Why the Open Air
Treatment of Consumption Succeeds,"
"Garbage Reduction by Steam," "Dan-
gers of Hypnotism," "Faculties of the
Mind Not Understood and Not Used,
with Special Reference to the Curability
of Epilepsy," "Defective Development
and Disease, with Special Reference to
the Curability of Consumption and Can-
cer."
These are not all of Dr. Veeder's con-
tributions to medical science but enough
has been cited to demonstrate the trend
of his thoughts and the depth of his re-
search. In other branches of science he
also delved deep and among his pub-
lished papers may well be named, viz:
"Ice Jams and What They Accomplished."
"Geology of the Erie Canal," "Geology
of Wayne County," "Magne-Crystallic
Action and the Aurora," "Solar Electro-
Magnetic Induction," "Solar Electrical
Energy Not Transmitted by Radiation,"
"The Relation Between Solar and Ter-
restrial Phenomena," "Forces Concerned
in the Development of Storms," "Thun-
der Storms," "Why Barns are More De-
stroyed by Lightning than Houses," "The
Zodiacal Light," etc. He also worked
in connection with Peary, the Arctic ex-
plorer, in regard to the meteorological
phenomenon known as the "Aurora Bore-
alis."
Dr. Veeder acted as health officer for
Lyons, New York, for over a quarter of
a century, during which term of service
some intricate problems relative to sani-
tation were solved. His services along
this line were valuable to the health serv-
ice of the State and as such were duly
recognized. He held membership in sev-
eral distinguished organizations and in
their transactions he assumed an active
part. He became a fellow of the Ameri-
can Association for the Advancement of
Science ; member of the American Public
Health Association ; American Micro-
scopical Society, of which organization he
was at one time vice-president ; London
Society of Arts ; International Conference
of Charities and Corrections ; New York
State Medical Society ; Rochester Acade-
my of Science, and other organizations
of note. He was a Democrat in politics,
and a member of the Methodist Episco-
pal church. He belonged in addition to
his professional and scientific societies to
the Wayne County Grange, Patrons of
Husbandry, and to the Holland Society
of New York.
Dr. Veeder married, in Schenectady,
New York, in 1871, Mary Eleanor, daugh-
ter of Peleg and Eleanor Wood. They
were the parents of four children: 1.
Sarah Eleanor, born June 10, 1872; a
graduate of Syracuse University. 1896,
in painting course; twice studied art in
Paris; taught in the Frances Shimer
School for Girls; was in charge of the
art department of the Ohio Wesleyan
262
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
University, and is now teacher of draw-
ing in the Lyons High School. 2. Martha
Anna, born September 22, 1873 ; graduate
of Cornell University, 1895 > taught at
Huguenot College, South Africa, for five
years, now an instructor in the Western
College for Women, Oxford, Ohio. 3.
Albert Foster, born January 28, 1875 ;
Ph. G., Columbia; Rochester State Hos-
pital. 4. Willard Hall, born February 17,
1879; graduated M. D. from Buffalo
University, class of 1903 ; now senior
assistant physician at the Rochester State
Hospital.
KEENER, Stephen Nicholas,
Architect, Builder.
A native son of New York, Mr. Keener
did a great deal toward the architectural
adornment of his State, and all over
Western New York stand buildings
planned and in many cases erected by
him, for to his profession of architect he
added contracting and building. Al-
though a man of seventy-four, he con-
tinued active until the last, death coming
to him suddenly through the medium of
an apoplectic stroke. He was a son of
John Keener, born in Germany, a wheel-
wright, who located at Lowville, New
York.
Stephen N. Keener was born in Low-
ville, Lewis county, New York, January
31, 1841, died at his home in Newark,
Wayne county, New York, December 23,
1915. He was educated in the public
schools, and before he had attained his
twenty-first year had served an appren-
ticeship at the trade of carpenter, and
was an expert workman. He came of
age in January, 1862, and the following
June settled in Newark, that village ever
afterward being his home. On July 25.
1862, he enlisted in Company A, One
Hundred and Sixtieth Regiment, New
York Volunteer Infantry, served until
the close of the war, and received an hon-
orable discharge. He saw hard service,
but escaped wounds, although he was
captured and served a term of confine-
ment in Southern prisons.
After the war Mr. Keener returned to
Newark, and resumed business, becom-
ing the leading architect of his section of
the State, and conducting a large per-
sonal contracting and building business,
as well as superintending the construc-
tion of many buildings for which he had
furnished plans and specifications. He
continued active in business until his
death, being well known in Western New
York as a reliable builder and skilled
architect. He was for over a quarter of
a century a trustee of the Cemetery Asso-
ciation, and served the village as trustee
for two terms, as president of the village
one term and as a member of the school
board for many. He was an official mem-
ber of the Methodist Episcopal church of
Newark for more than twenty-five years.
He was a prominent Grand Army man
and served on the staff of the State com-
mander and as chaplain of Vosburg Post,
of Newark. He was highly regarded in
his community and was deserving of the
universal esteem in which he was held.
He was a man of quiet domestic tastes,
devoted to his home, not seeking public
office, but when called upon faithfully
performing every duty connected with
the offices he held.
Mr. Keener married, in Lyons, New
York, January 21, 1868, Catherine E.
Espenscheid, daughter of John Espen-
scheid, born in Germany, February 17,
1813. He came to the United States
when a boy, located at Sodus, New York,
afterward in Clyde, finally in Lyons, New
York. He married Helen Derich, also
born in Germany, who bore him six chil-
dren : John M., Catherine E., Philip J.,
■■63
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
Mary E., William H. and Helen E. John
Espenscheid died October 5, 1888, sur-
vived by his wife, who died in 1897. Mrs.
Keener died in 1904. She had no chil-
dren.
RAINES, George,
Lawyer, Legislator.
For forty-one years George Raines was
a member of the Monroe county bar,
practicing in Rochester. At the age of
twenty-four he was elected district attor-
ney for Monroe county, and in that office
he made his remarkable personality felt.
As the years passed he grew in strength
as a lawyer, finally closing his career
with a reputation second to no criminal
lawyer of the State of New York. As
prosecutor or for defendant he appeared
in over forty murder trials in which the
indictment specified a crime the punish-
ment for which is death. Of those he
prosecuted none escaped, and of those he
defended none suffered the extreme pen-
alty. The only exception to the first
statement was the case of the three Sodus
murderers who were sentenced to life
imprisonment, the growing sentiment
against the infliction of the death penalty
alone saving them from the electric chair.
Besides a large private practice Mr.
Raines was deeply interested in public
affairs, sat as State Senator, elected as a
Democrat in a Republican district, in the
New York Legislature and was high in
the councils of the Democratic party- As
an orator he had few equals and was
often chosen to deliver important ad-
dresses. He was the orator of the day
at the semi-centennial celebration of the
city of Rochester, at the laying of the
cornerstone of the new Court House, and
by joint resolution of the New York Leg-
islature was designated and invited to de-
liver before that body on May 23, 1887,
a memorial upon the life and public serv-
ices of Samuel J. Tilden. That memorial
was delivered before an audience remark-
able for the many men it contained who
were high in public life. The orator out-
did himself and the occasion was one
long to be remembered.
Mr. Raines was of English lineage the
ancient family seat in Yorkshire. The
homestead, Ryton Grange, entailed for
many generations, is held by representa-
tives of the family to-day. John Raines,
grandfather of George Raines, was a ship
owner, and in 1817 gathered the remnant
of his fortune which, invested in the
shipping industry, had been sadly de-
pleted by the Napoleonic wars and
sought a new field of investment. He
resided for a time at Philadelphia, Penn-
sylvania, and about the year 1830 moved
to a farm near Canandaigua, New York,
his property near that of Colonel Thad-
deus Remington who settled there in
1798, coming from Vermont. John
Raines had a son, Rev. John Raines, who
was a minister of the Methodist Episco-
pal church. He married Mary Reming-
ton and they were the parents of George
Raines, to whose memory this tribute of
respect is dedicated.
George Raines was born November 10,
1846, at Pultneyville, Wayne county,
New York, died at his residence on East
avenue, Rochester, New York, Novem-
ber 2~, 1908. His education, begun in
public schools, was continued in similar
schools wherever his father was stationed
under the rule of the itinerancy govern-
ing the location of ministers of the
Methodist Episcopal church. In 1856-
1858 he attended public schools Nos. 14
and 10 in Rochester, and until 1862 was
a student at Elmira Free Academy. In
that year he entered Genesee Wesleyan
Seminary at Lima, New York, but a few
weeks later his father was again assigned
to a Rochester church the family moving
to that city. There he entered the Uni-
264
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
versity of Rochester, won high honors,
taking the first prizes in Latin and Greek,
won the prize for the senior essay and
also several in oratory, was a graduate of
the class of 1866, receiving the customary-
Bachelor's degree.
He at once began the study of law
under the instruction of John and Quincy
Van Voorhis, and in December, 1867, was
admitted to the Monroe county bar, hav-
ing just passed his twenty-first birthday.
He began his legal career as clerk in the
law office of H. C. Ives, his salary five
dollars weekly. That arrangement con-
tinued for one year when a partnership
was offered the young man by his em-
ployer. Ives & Raines practiced until
1871, when Mr. Raines was elected dis-
trict attorney of Monroe county. In that
office he demonstrated his quality as a
lawyer, his courage and the depth of his
devotion to his oath of office. The Ste-
phen Coleman case, one of receiving
stolen property, aroused a great deal of
interest at the time. Coleman was strong-
ly defended but Mr. Raines secured his
conviction. Then followed his successful
attack upon the political ring dominating
Rochester, a crusade in which he was
strongly supported by the "Democrat and
Chronicle," J. A. Hockstra then being the
city editor. Mr. Raines was successful in
breaking the power of the "Ring," writing
out a resignation which the chief of police
signed. In 1874 he was again elected
district attorney and during that term
tried the Clark, Ghaul, Stellman and
Fairbanks murder cases, securing convic-
tion in all. The most famous of these
was that of John Clark, the gun fighting
burglar who was defended by Howe &
Hummel, the then great law firm of New
York City.
After the expiration of his term Mr.
Raines returned to private office practice
and in his professional capacity was con-
nected with many famous criminal cases.
These included the Pontius-Hoster trials
in Seneca county, the Boyce-Hamm,
Heyland and Hulsey murder cases in
Monroe county and the Williams murder
trial in Wayne county. In 1881 he be-
came associated with his three brothers
in practice under the firm name of Raines
Brothers. In 1883 he secured the ac-
quittal of Higham in Watertown, a case
celebrated in Northern New York law
annals. His practice became very ex-
tensive and at different times he appeared
in most of the celebrated criminal cases
of his day and section. He was desig-
nated by Governor Flower to conduct the
trial of Bat Shea and John McGough for
murder, growing out of the election riots
in Troy, New York, securing a convic-
tion. He tried the George A. Smith and
Leland D. Kent homicide cases and many
others.
His practice was not confined to crimi-
nal cases, quite the contrary, he acted as
counsel for many large corporations and
had a large clientele whose civil law busi-
ness he conducted. He was noted for his
wonderful memory, the careful prepara-
tion of his cases and a thorough knowl-
edge of the rules of evidence. His last
appearance in court was in the George
Ellwanger will case, which he won for the
contestants, his fee being placed by the
surrogate at $25,000. He was a great
lawyer and was so rated by his brethren
of the bench and bar. Court records of
various counties testify to the importance
of his clientele and to many victories he
won. He reached the front rank in his
profession and was accorded high civic
distinction.
Mr. Raines began life a Republican and
as such was first elected district attorney.
He, however, joined in the Liberal move-
ment which culminated in the nomina-
tion of Horace Greeley for the presidency
and thereafter acted with the Democracy,
his last election as district attorney in
265
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
1874 being as a Democrat, in a Republi-
can county. In 1878 he was the candi-
date of the Democracy for State Senator,
from the district then composed of Mon-
roe county alone. He was elected and
served with honor, but in 1881, when
again a candidate at the personal request
of Samuel J. Tilden, Orleans county hav-
ing been added to the district, he was de-
feated by a very small plurality. He car-
ried his home county and ran far ahead of
his ticket, but Orleans county reversed
Monroe and decided the contest in favor
of the Republican candidate. In 1880 he
was a delegate from New York State to
the Democratic National Convention.
served in similar capacity in 1888, and in
1904 was elected as delegate-at-large. He
presided as chairman of seven State
Democratic conventions and was an ac-
knowledged leader of his party. Yet he
was not a bitter partisan^ numbered his
friends in both parties, and all respected
him.
He was a strong supporter of Governor
Samuel J. Tilden, a leader of the sup-
porters of the reform policy of Governor
Robinson, and of Governor and President
Cleveland. Many honors were conferred
upon him in connection with events of
public importance and as orator of the
occasion he was in great demand. He
was a most eloquent speaker and could
sway a large gathering with his impas-
sioned words, and was a strong advocate
for any cause he espoused. He was a
trustee of Rochester State Hospital from
1891 to 1907 and a commissioner of
Niagara Falls State Reservation from
1893 to I 9°7- He served for seven years,
1875-82, on the staff of Major-General
Henry Brinkner, New York National
Guard, as judge advocate with the rank
of colonel. He was a member of the vari-
ous bar associations, and when the fact
of his death became known, although
there were no courts of record in session.
a special meeting of the Rochester Bar
Association was called and glowing reso-
lutions of respect and eulogy were passed.
He was a member of St. Paul's Episcopal
Church and interested in many charities.
KENT, John H.,
Photographic Artist.
Eighty-three years was the span of
John H. Kent's earthly career and few
men wrought more diligently or accom-
plished more abundantly than he. He
was among the first photographers, if not
the first, in either Europe or America to
appreciate the artistic value of the camera
and the first to avail himself of its won-
derful capacity. He was a man of most
lovable character, his friends were with-
out number, and until a few days prior to
his death his kindly face and erect form
were a familiar sight upon the streets of
Rochester, notwithstanding the weight
of his years.
John H. Kent was born in Plattsburg.
New York, March 4, 1827, son of John
Kent, a prominent citizen of that place.
He died at his home on South Washing-
ton street, Rochester, November 25, 1910.
He inherited from old New England an-
cestors a keen mind and intellectual and
executive force. His first known ances-
tor in this country in the paternal line
was Thomas Kent, who came from Eng-
land, and received, in 1643, from the town
of Gloucester, Massachusetts, a title to
land which he had early occupied. His
house and land were in the West Parish
of Gloucester, where he died April 1,
1658. His wife's name is not recorded,
but her death is noted October 16, 1671.
Their second son was Samuel Kent, who
was in Brookfield, Massachusetts, soon
after 1667, but returned to Gloucester,
where he was made a freeman, May 11,
1681. He married, January 17, 1654,
Frances Woodall, who died August 10,
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
1683. They were the parents of John
Kent, born 1664, who was in Suffield,
Connecticut, as early as 1680, and died
there, April 11, 1721. He married, May
9, 1686, in Suffield, Abigail, daughter of
William and Mary (Roe) Dudley, born
May 24, 1657. Their eldest son, John
Kent, was born January 26, 1688, in Suf-
field, where he made his home, was cap-
tain of the militia, and represented the
town from 1724 to 1732. He married,
May 27, 1709, Mary Smith. Cephas Kent,
third son of John and Mary (Smith)
Kent, was born April 13, 1725, in Suf-
field, and removed, in 1773, to Dorset,
Vermont, where he kept an inn, and died
December 5, 1809. He was first select-
man of the town, served on the com-
mittee of safety during the Revolution,
was the town's first representative to the
State Legislature in 1778, and a deacon
of the church. A convention for the pur-
pose of forming a State organization was
held at his house in Dorset, September
25, 1776, and as a result the organization
was formed January 15, 1777. He mar-
ried, May 20, 1747, in Suffield, Hannah
Spencer, born July II, 1728, in that town,
daughter of Thomas and Mary (Trum-
bull) Spencer, died November 5, 1821, in
Dorset. The eldest son of this marriage,
John Kent, born October 31, 1749, in
Suffield, married Lucy Sikes, and their
eldest son, John Kent, settled in Platts-
burg, New York, where he had recorded.
December 25, 1799, a deed of one hundred
acres in lot No. 42 of the old patent of
Plattsburg. Later he became a Metho-
dist exhorter, and removed to Ellenburg,
Clinton county, New York. He had two
sons, Benjamin Beach and John. The
last named, John Kent, married Lodoski
Howe, resided in Plattsburg, and they
were the parents of John H. Kent, of
Rochester, New York, lately deceased.
John H. Kent early developed artistic
talent, studied under capable teachers,
and while yet a young man became in-
structor in oil painting at Brockport Nor-
mal School. In 1868, shortly after his
marriage, he moved to Rochester and
there began his long and successful ca-
reer as a photographic artist. He ven-
tured successfully into new fields and
obtained results deemed marvelous. His
exhibit at the Centennial Exposition in
1876 was a revelation to photographers
and won him fame ; his exhibits were
the largest as well as the finest ever
produced by direct contact printing and
were a puzzle as well as a revelation to
photographic artists the world over and
ushered in a new era in art. He won five
awards at that exposition, but that was
but a small victory compared with the
international fame he won as a wonder
working photographic artist. He was no
mechanical maker of pictures but a mas-
ter of the art of pose, color, light and
shadow. He was recognized as the lead-
ing photographic artist of the country,
a reputation he enjoyed as long as he
continued his studio work. He later
turned from picture making to picture
taking machines, and associated with
George Eastman in developing the
modern camera, known as the Kodak.
He was closely connected with the great
industry built up by Mr. Eastman in
Rochester, was one of the incorporators
of the Eastman Kodak Company, and
until his retirement was a director and
vice-president of the company. In 1884
he was elected president of the Photo-
graphers' Association of America, and in
1903 was elected a life member of the
order. Few men were so well known in
Rochester as Mr. Kent, none were more
universally or more highly esteemed. He
was a member of the Society of the
Genesee, and an honorary member of the
Rochester Art Club and the Mechanics'
Institute. He gave largely to public and
private charities, but so quietly and un-
267
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
ostentatiously that few of the benefici-
aries knew from whom their help came.
He was an attendant of the Plymouth
Congregational Church at the time of
Rev. Myron Adam's pastorate, and in his
private life was actuated by purest mo-
tives.
Mr. Kent married, January 16, 1865,
Julia Ainsworth, of Canandaigua, New
York, who died September 16, 1916. One
daughter, Ada Howe Kent, is the sole
surviving member of the family. She is
a notable artist in water colors, her work
taking first rank in many important ex-
hibits. She is also very active along
social and philanthropic lines, being a
charter member of the Century Club, one
of the managers of the Industrial School
of Rochester, and is also a member of
the board of the Young Women's Chris-
tian Association, to which she has given
the valuable property at No. 57 South
Washington street.
ERICKSON, Aaron,
Man of Enterprise.
All honor to the builders, not necessarily
those whose work is the erection of build-
ings of brick, wood and stone, their work
is also estimable, but to the great con-
structive minds that erect the extensive
business enterprises of a community, a
labor fully as arduous, just as enduring
and vastly more far reaching in its effect.
Among the names which stand out with
prominence on the pages of Rochester's
history is that of Aaron Erickson, who
contributed in so large a degree to the
upbuilding of the city of his adoption.
He located in Rochester in pioneer times
and his life record extends over a period
of seventy-four years — a long period de-
voted to successful accomplishment and
fraught with good deeds, for which he re-
ceived a gracious meed of honor and re-
spect.
Aaron Erickson was born February 25,
1806, in Freehold, New Jersey, a place
made famous by its proximity to the
historic battlefield of Monmouth. The
Erickson family was one of the oldest
and most prominent in the State; his
father served with the American army
during the war for independence, and
though his birth occurred after that mo-
mentous conflict the participators therein
were the early friends of his youth and
must have influenced him in some degree
by giving him direct knowledge of the
times through eye witnesses, more forci-
ble than any written page could ever be.
He was the youngest of ten children and
passed a comfortable childhood and
youth in the home of his parents. How-
ever, when he had reached the age of
seventeen years he felt that to test his
strength and develop whatever latent
powers nature had endowed him with it
would be necessary to venture for him-
self, and consequently the year 1823 wit-
nessed him as a resident of Rochester,
at that time a small town. His first at-
tempt at business life was as a worker at
the machinist's trade in the manufacture
of axes and similar commodities, making
his home with C. H. Bicknell. From the
start he evinced those basic qualities of
success and prosperity, industry, close
application and determination, and even
in this first undertaking he could through
all his later life point with pride to his
accomplishment of the work attempted,
among which was the fact that he made
with his own hands the iron yoke from
which swung the bell in the old St.
Luke's Church.
A few years after his coming to Roches-
ter Mr. Erickson deemed a change of
occupation to his betterment and began
the manufacture of potash at Frankfort,
an article then in great demand. He
made a decided success of this venture
and rapidly increasing patronage soon
■*Wi
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
put him in control of what for the time
must be considered a very extensive busi-
ness. He still felt, however, that there
were wider fields to conquer, with broad-
er opportunities and greater scope for
his business perspicuity and industry, hia
predominating qualities. He therefore
became a dealer in wool and morocco on
Water street in Rochester, having as a
partner in the enterprise Ezra M. Par-
sons. This business rapidly developed
and on a thoroughly substantial basis,
until the firm became the largest buyers
of wool in this section, warranting, as
Mr. Erickson wisely prophesied, the
establishment of a branch, and in 1850
he founded the famous wool house of
Erickson, Livermore & Company, at Bos-
ton, which soon became the leading en-
terprise of this character in this country,
doing a mammoth business.
Every step in his career was a forward
one and brought him a wider outlook,
and every opportunity was quickly taken
advantage of, this being one of the
strongest elements in his business success.
Some three years after embarking in the
wool business he organized and opened
the Union Bank, capitalized for five hun-
dred thousand dollars. He was president
from the beginning and the institution
enjoyed a prosperous existence under
that name until the spring of 1865, when
it became the National Union Bank. A
year later, however, Mr. Erickson pur-
chased the bank and established in its
stead a private banking house under the
firm name of Erickson & Jennings. Upon
the admission of George E. Mumford to
a partnership the firm name became
Erickson, Jennings & Mumford, and
under this style the business continued
for twelve years. Mr. Mumford with-
drew in May, 1879, and was succeeded by
A. Erickson Perkins, a grandson of Mr.
Erickson. which partnership continued
until the death of the founder on January
27, 1880. Mr. Erickson's strict integrity,
business conservatism and excellent judg-
ment were always so uniformly recog-
nized that he enjoyed public confidence
to an enviable degree. For many years
he was a director in the Park Bank of
New York City, and was a member of the
board at the time of his death.
Mr. Erickson was married, in 1827, to
Hannah Bockoven, of Lyons, New York,
and soon after erected a dwelling on Clin-
ton street, which remained his home for
many years. Mr. Erickson left no son
to carry on his work, his last surviving
son, Aaron Erickson, having passed away
at Revere, Massachusetts, in August,
1871. There were eight children in the
family but only three daughters survived
the father: Mrs. W. S. Nichols, of Staten
Island; Mrs. Gilman H. Perkins, of
Rochester; and Mrs. W. D. Powell, of
New York. In 1842 he built his home on
East avenue, and during his lifetime saw
this thoroughfare transformed into one
of the most beautiful in the city. His
home was ever the seat of a most gracious
hospitality, and the name of Erickson
figured prominently in the social circles
of Rochester for over half a century.
Mr. Erickson had a keen realization of
the obligations and responsibilities of
wealth, and therefore as his success in-
creased so did his charities and benefac-
tions expand. Not that he believed in
the indiscriminate liberality which does
not help but rather fosters vagrancy and
idleness, on the contrary he made careful
distribution of his gifts and where real
need was apparent the aid was most spon-
taneously given, the poor and unfortu-
nate being his direct beneficiaries. A
man may be admired but is not loved for
his attainments ; but he is beloved for
the good he does, and it was the kindly
spirit, the ready sympathy and extreme
helpfulness of Aaron Erickson that so
enshrined him in the hearts of his fellow-
269
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
men and caused his memory to still be
fresh in their hearts although a quarter
of a century has come and gone since he
was an active factor in the world. He
found especial pleasure in assisting young
men to make a start in business life. His
employes were well aware that faithful-
ness and capability meant promotion as
opportunity offered, and when their busi-
ness relations were severed he was al-
ways ready to speak a good word of com-
mendation and encouragement that
should speed them on their way to take
a forward step in business life.
He was particularly friendly to charit-
able organizations, which received his ac-
tive assistance. He was president of the
board of directors of the City Hospital
for years and occupied that position at
the time of his demise. He not only gave
freely to the different benevolent organi-
zations of Rochester but also to many
other institutions situated elsewhere. His
deeds of charity, unknown save to him-
self and the recipient, were innumerable.
Few other men have found as much
pleasure in unostentatious giving, and
in the reward that comes solely from
helping a fellow traveler along the jour-
ney of life.
He did not neglect his duties of citizen-
ship, and in return for the protection of
government and the mutual benefit of
municipal interests, he gave cooperation
of a generous nature to all movements
and plans tending to promote local ad-
vancement and national progress. He
was never an officeseeker for the personal
emoluments gained thereby, yet he filled
some local offices, as a matter of princi-
ple, regarding it as his duty towards his
fellow citizens. He served one term as
alderman from the old Fifth Ward, and
also represented the Seventh Ward at
various times as both alderman and su-
pervisor. He was one of the commission,
with the late Amon Bronson, in i860, to
erect bridges at Clarissa and Andrew
streets over the Genesee river, and these
municipal improvements stand as a
monument to the manner in which the
work was accomplished, being an excel-
lent example of the thoroughness in which
he carried out the trusts imposed upon
him. He never relinquished his interest
in his home city and in those things
which are a cause for civic virtue and
pride. Though in his later years he lived
retired to a considerable extent from ac-
tive participation in business, still his
nature was such that want of occupation
could have no attraction for him ; and
his later years were largely spent in the
development of those strong intellectual
tastes which were ever with him a
marked characteristic. In fact at all
times during his entire life he was a stu-
dent of the issues of the day, the great
sociological problems, the governmental
questions and of the sciences, especially
in the adaptation of the latter to the prac-
tical benefit of mankind. He was an
earnest student of horticulture, pomology,
floriculture and the natural sciences, and
took great delight in the society of men
of intellect, with whom he was regarded
as a peer and often a superior. He had
greatly enriched his mind by travel and
extensive reading. In 1869 he visited
Palestine and ascended the Nile. He also
visited many other European countries
and spent the last summer of his life
abroad. It must be acceded, in an an-
alyzation of his character to ascertain the
motive springs of conduct, that in all
things he accomplished he was prompted
by the true spirit of Christianity. He
was an Episcopalian in his religious pref-
erence, having first been a member of St.
Paul's Church and when that building
was destroyed by fire in 1846 he joined
St. Luke's Church, with which he was
identified to the end of his life. How-
ever, his was not a religion expressed by
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
dogmas and creeds, but rather one which
found expression in the faithful perform-
ance of every duty, winning over the
wrong by the force of right and overcom-
ing the false by the true. He was truly
one of nature's noblemen, standing
staunch and true whate'er befell, and
leaving a memory that is a blessing as
well as an inspiration to all who had the
good fortune to have known him.
PERKINS, Gilman Hill,
Business Man.
To write the personal record of men
who have raised themselves from humble
circumstances to positions of honor and
respect in a community is no ordinary
pleasure. Self-made men, men who have
achieved success by reason of their per-
sonal qualities and left the impress of
their individuality upon the business and
growth of their places of residence, and
who have affected for good such institu-
tions as were embraced within the sphere
of their usefulness, build monuments more
enduring than marble obelisk or granite
shaft. To this class of men we have the
unquestioned right to say belonged the
late Gilman Hill Perkins, of Rochester,
New York, one of the early business men
of the city, whose name for many years
was well and favorably known through-
out the community, and although he is
now numbered among those who are
sleeping in "God's acre," his influence is
still potent for good, for he was a broad-
minded, obliging, kindly, whole-souled
man, who used his influence in every man-
ner possible to advance the prosperity and
general good of Rochester. A public-
spirited citizen, he was ready at all times
to use his means and influence for the
promotion of such public improvements
as were conducive to the comfort and
happiness of his fellow-men, and there
was probably not another man in the
community so long honored by his resi-
dence who was held in higher esteem by
the population, regardless of sects, poli-
tics or professions. He was especially
distinguished by his honesty, firmness of
character, piety and intelligence. He was
one of the most unostentatious of men,
open-hearted and candid in manner, al-
ways retaining in his demeanor the sim-
plicity and candor of the old-time gentle-
man, and his records stands as an endur-
ing monument, although his labors have
ended and his name is become but a
memory.
Gilman Hill Perkins was born in Gene-
seo, Livingston county, New York, March
4, 1827, and died at his home in Roches-
ter, New York, November 16, 1898. He
was but four years of age when his
mother died, and early in 1832 he was
sent to Bethlehem, Connecticut, to make
his home with his grandmother. In 1834
his father remarried, and he again went
to live with him. His education had been
commenced in the schools of Connecti-
cut, and was continued in the district
school in Geneseo for a period of three
years. From 1837 to 1842 he was a pupil
in the Temple Hill Academy, but left
school finally at the age of fourteen years,
when he entered upon his business career.
Prior to leaving school, however, he had
already commenced to partially earn his
own living. During the vacation periods
he was employed in the office of the
county clerk, comparing mortgages and
deeds for Samuel P. Allen, who subse-
quently became a resident of Rochester.
Mr. Allen was the editor of the "Geneseo
Republican," and for almost a year young
Perkins folded this paper every Saturday
afternoon, this being prior to the time
when folders were attached to newspaper
presses, and for this work he received
twenty-five cents per week. The natural
271
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
energy and ambition of the lad was ap- employment which would necessitate his
parent at the very outset of his career.
When he finally left school and was able
to devote his entire time to business
affairs, he did so with the zeal which had
been one of his chief characteristics al-
ways. He lost no time in looking about
for a suitable position, and found one in
the book store of John Turner, where he
was employed six months at a compensa-
tion of twelve shillings per week. A few
weeks after entering upon the duties of
this position, Mr. Turner died, and al-
though Oilman H. Perkins was but fifteen
years of age at this time he showed such
marked executive ability that he assumed
the management of the store and was
given entire charge for half a year. He
longed, however, for a wider sphere in
which there would be more opportunity
for advancement than the position in the
book store offered, and he determined to
go to Rochester, where he arrived at eight
o'clock in the morning of March 19, 1844,
having left Geneseo as the only passen-
ger on a stage coach at nine o'clock the
previous evening. His worldly posses-
sions consisted of three dollars in money
and two suits of clothes, and with these
he felt amply provided to conquer the
world. Compared with present condi-
tions, Rochester was a small, unimportant
town, but Mr. Perkins, with keen fore-
sight, recognized the possibilities of the
town and saw here the opportunities he
was seeking.
He looked about carefully for a busi-
ness which- showed growing possibilities,
and found employment in the wholesale
grocery house of E. F. Smith & Com-
pany, where he remained three years. He
had worked with such unremitting zeal
that the close confinement of his indoor
work made serious inroads upon his
health, and he considered it better to leave
the concern for a time and take up an
being outdoors at least a part of each day.
He found a position of this kind at the
"Old Red Mill," owned by Harry B. Wil-
liams, where the labor he was called upon
to perform was of a much lighter char-
acter, a part of his duties being the driv-
ing about the country to purchase wheat.
In the short course of one year his health
had improved to such an extent that he
resumed his employment with E. F. Smith
& Company, becoming a clerk there, and
ascending, step by step, until he became
a member of the firm, January 1, 1852, his
business ability being amply recognized
and appreciated by the other members.
Later the name of the firm read Smith &
Perkins, and still later the firm was incor-
porated, the style being Smith, Perkins
& Company, and for many years prior to
his death Mr. Perkins had been president
of this corporation. In this office his ex-
ecutive ability was felt in the continued
progress and growth of the concern.
While progressive in his methods, and
ready to take prompt advantage of every
opportunity that presented itself, yet the
proceedings of Mr. Perkins was tempered
with a certain amount of conservatism
which always enabled him to steer clear
of danger. The grocery business, how-
ever, was not the only business interest
with which Mr. Perkins was prominently
identified. He was connected with many
leading enterprises of the city, a partial
list being as follows : Became trustee of
the Rochester Savings Bank in 1879. ar >d
was the incumbent of this office at the
time of his death ; officer and director of
the Rochester Union Bank from 1858. and
president at the time of his death ; trus-
tee of the Rochester Trust and Safe De-
posit Company from 1888 ; when the Se-
curity Trust Company was organized in
1891, he became one of its trustees ; was a
director of the Genesee Valley Railroad
272
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
Company, and of the Rochester Gas and
Electric Company.
Mr. Perkins married, July 17, 1856,
Caroline Erickson, a daughter of Aaron
Erickson. Four sons and four daughters
blessed this union, of whom there are
now living: Erickson, Gilman N.; Caro-
lyn, who married Thornton Jeffress ;
Berenice, who married H. V. W. Wickes ;
and Gertrude, who married John Craig
• Powers.
During the first seven or eight years of
the residence of Mr. Perkins in Rochester,
he attended the First Presbyterian
Church and was a member of the choir
during a part of this time. He then, in
1852, in association with John Roches-
ter, William Pitkin, Edward Smith and
Frederick Whittlesey, took one of the old
box pews at one end of the choir of St.
Luke's, and retained this seat until his
marriage. He served as vestryman of St.
Luke's from 1858 to 1869, with the ex-
ception of 1864-65 ; in 1869 he was chosen
a warden of the church, and held this
office until his death ; was trustee of the
Episcopate Fund of the Diocese of West-
ern New York from 1870; a member of
the standing committee ; and manager of
the Church Home from 1869. Charitable
and benevolent work, whether connected
directly with the church or not, was ever
sure of his hearty and active support. He
served as a member of the board of trus-
tees, and was at one time president, of
the State Industrial School ; was a trustee
of the Rochester City Hospital ; treasurer
of the Deaf Mute Institution from the
time of its organization ; and a trustee of
the Reynolds Library. He was a leading
spirit in furthering the interests of a num-
ber of projects for the public welfare ;
was a member of the Hemlock Water
Works Commission, which furnished the
city with its first pure water supply ; and
in 1892 was chosen a presidential elector
on the Republican ticket. His social
membership was with the Genesee Val-
ley Club, of which he was one of the
founders and at one time its president.
ROCHESTER, Colonel Montgomery,
Man of Affairs, Veteran of Civil War.
The late Colonel Montgomery Roches-
ter, distinguished member of the famous
Rochester family which settled and gave
its name to the city now known as
Rochester, New York, was a lineal de-
scendant in the sixth generation of Nich-
olas Rochester, the first of the name in
America up to the year 1689. The fam-
ily, an old and honorable one in Eng-
land, had its principal seat in the county
of Essex, was of the gentry class and
entitled by royal patent to bear arms.
It is proved by the Herald's Visitations of
1558, that the family was in Essex at that
time, when the coat-of-arms was con-
firmed and allowed to the family. The
arms are : Or, a fesse between three cres-
cents sable.
(I) Nicholas Rochester, progenitor of
the family in America, was born in Kent
county, England, about 1640, and was
married there, previous to his emigration
to America. He left England and came
to the colony of Virginia in 1689. On De-
cember 26, of the same year he purchased
one hundred acres of land (which shows
him to have been a man of at least mod-
erate means) in Westmoreland county,
from John Jenkins, planter, who by pat-
ent from Governor Richard Bennett, had
obtained one thousand acres of land "in
consideration of importing twenty per-
sons into the Colony." Little more is
known of Nicholas Rochester than that
the following order concerning him,, made
on May 25, 1719, by the county court of
Westmoreland, then in session : "Nich-
olas Rochester, an ancient person is upon
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
his mocon acquitt from future payment
of liens in this county." Nicholas Roches-
ter died soon after this date.
(II) William Rochester, son of the pro-
genitor, Nicholas Rochester, was born in
England, and came to America with his
father in 1689, settling in Westmoreland
county, where he grew to manhood on
the plantation which his father purchased
from John Jenkins. Upon reaching his
majority he purchased the lands adjoin-
ing those of his father. On these lands
he built a homestead which is one of the
oldest in the country, stands in good con-
dition, and bears in the chimney corner
the legend, "W. R. 1746," cut in a broad
brick near the coping stone. This planta-
tion, comprising four hundred acres, was
located partly in Richmond and partly in
Westmoreland county. William Roches-
ter married Frances, widow of William
McKinney. He died between the 23rd
and 30th of October, 1750. His children
were : John, mentioned below ; William.
(III) John Rochester, son of William
and Frances (McKinney) Rochester, was
born about 1708, and died in November,
1754. He married Hester or Esther
Thrift, daughter of William Thrift, of
Richmond county, Virginia. After his
death, she married Thomas Critcher, and
with her entire family moved about 1763
to Granville county. North Carolina. The
children of John and Hester (Thrift)
Rochester were: William, John, Ann,
Phillis, Nathaniel, mentioned below ;
Esther.
(IV) Nathaniel Rochester, son of John
and Hester (Thrift) Rochester, was born
in Cople parish, Westmoreland county,
Virginia, February 21, 1752, on the place
which came into the possession of the
Rochester family in 1689. He was taken
by his stepfather to Granville county,
North Carolina, where he became a prom-
inent merchant and public man, serving
in high political and official positions and
taking a leading part in public affairs.
During the Revolutionary War he served
in the American army with the rank of
major, lieutenant-colonel and deputy com-
missioner general of military stores. He
was a member of the first provincial con-
vention, and a member of the State Legis-
lature. In 1783, in association with Colo-
nel Thomas Hart, father-in-law of Henry
Clay, he began the manufacture of flour,
rope and nails. In 180S he was the first
president of the Hagerstown Bank, and
successfully filled the offices of member
of the Assembly, postmaster, judge of the
county court and presidential elector. In
1800 he first visited the "Genesee Coun-
try," where he had previously purchased
six hundred and forty acres of land, and
the same year made large purchases of
land in Livingston county, New York,
near Dansville. In 1802, with Colonel
Fitz-Hugh and Major Carroll, he pur-
chased the "one hundred or Allen Mill
Tract" on what is now the city of Roches-
ter, then called Fallstown. In May, 1S10,
having closed up his business in Mary-
land, he became a resident of Western
New York, settling at Dansville, where
he remained five years, during which time
he erected a large paper mill, and made
many improvements. In 1815, having
disposed of his interests in Dansville, he
removed to a large and well-improved
farm in Bloomfield, Ontario county, New
York. After staying there for three years,
during which time he constantly visited
the Falls of the Genesee and his property
there, laying it out in lots, in April, 1818,
he took up his residence there, the town
in the interim having been named after
him, Rochester. In 1816 he was presi-
dential elector. He was the first clerk of
the county of Monroe, and its first repre-
sentative in the State Legislature in 1821-
22. In 1824 he was one of the organizers
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
of the Bank of Rochester, and was unani-
mously chosen its first president, a posi-
tion which he soon resigned on account of
impaired health and the infirmities of age.
He was a lifelong member of the Protes-
tant Episcopal church, and one of the
founders of St. Luke's Church of Roches-
ter. He died May 17, 1831, the first citi-
zen of the town of Rochester, a man gen-
erally beloved and revered for the integ-
rity of his principles and the magnetism
of his personality. Nathaniel Rochester
married Sophia Beatty, great-grand-
daughter of John Beatty, immigrant an-
cestor of the Beatty family in America.
She was the daughter of William and
Dorotha (Grosh) Beatty. Colonel Na-
thaniel Rochester and his wife Sophia
(Beatty) Rochester were the parents of
twelve children.
(V) Thomas Hart Rochester, son of
Colonel Nathaniel and Sophia (Beatty)
Rochester, was born September 23, 1797,
in Hagerstown, Maryland. He came
North with his father and settled in
Rochester. He married Phoebe Elizabeth
Cuming, September 26, 1822. Among
their children were the late Colonel Mont-
gomery Rochester, mentioned below ; Dr.
Thomas Fortescue Rochester, at the time
of his decease the most prominent physi-
cian and surgeon of Buffalo, New York,
and the greatest medical authority in
Western New York; Nathaniel, died in
California in 1849; J onn Henry; Caroline
Louise ; Phoebe Elizabeth, who died in
1859.
(VI) Colonel Montgomery Rochester,
son of Thomas Hart and Phoebe Eliza-
beth (Cuming) Rochester, was born in
the family homestead in Rochester, New
York, August 24, 1832. He received his
education in the public schools of Roches-
ter, and was engaged in business in that
city at the time of the outbreak of the
Civil War. He served throughout the
entire war, bringing honor and distinction
on himself for bravery and daring in the
service. He held the rank of colonel
under General Sherman. His commis-
sion as quartermaster-general, bearing the
signature of President Abraham Lincoln,
with the sword which he used during the
war, is in possession of the family. He
was mustered out of the service on May
1, 1865, as lieutenant-colonel. He had
held the rank of assistant adjutant-gen-
eral of United States Volunteers.
Colonel Rochester was throughout his
entire life a man of deep literary and ar-
tistic tastes. After the war he was elected
treasurer of the Art Museum of Cincin-
nati, and devoted a large part of his life
to his work in this capacity, purely for
the love of it. He was a quiet, scholarly
man, of dignified demeanor, possessed of
a wonderful fund of dry humor. He was
a member of the Loyal Legion, the Grand
Army of the Republic, and numerous
other literary, military, fraternal, art, and
civic societies. Colonel Rochester was
always active in church work, and was a
member of St. Luke's Church in Roches-
ter, and St. Peter's in Albany, in which
city he resided. He married, January 15,
1857, Mary Hewson Pruyn, daughter of
Casparus Francis Pruyn, and a member
of one of the oldest families in the State
of New York. Mrs. Rochester survives
her husband and resides at No. 435 State
street, Albany, New York. The child of
this marriage was : Montgomery Hewson
Rochester. Colonel Montgomery Roches-
ter died in Albany, New York, February
2, 1909.
(The Pruyn Line).
(I) Johannes Pruyn, progenitor of the
Pruyn family in America, was a Hol-
lander. He had two sons, Francis and
Jacob. Jacob Pruyn was enrolled among
the "Small Burghers" of New Amster-
dam, April 18, 1657; and purchased a
2/5
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
house and lot "outside of the Gate of this
city," February 19, 1659, from Sybout
Classen.
(II) Francis Pruyn, son of Johannes
Pruyn, was in Albany, New York, as
early as 1665, with his wife, where he
was a tailor. It is recorded that in 1668,
representing Jacques Cornelise Van Slyck,
he conveyed a piece of property in the
Colony of Rensselaerswyck (later Al-
bany) to one Jan Labatie, and later in the
same year bought for himself a lot at the
northwest corner of Maiden lane and
James street, in that city. On February
19, 1686-87, he bought from Johannes
Clute and wife, Bata, a lot on Broadway,
Albany, about the third south from Steu-
ben street, running through to James
street, for which he paid the sum of
twenty-two beavers. His son, Johannes,
afterward occupied the same house built
thereon. Being a Papist, in January,
1669, he refused to take the oath of allegi-
ance to King William, but expressed him-
self willing to swear fidelity. However,
his son, Johannes Pruyn, subscribed. His
wife, Alida, joined the Reformed Protes-
tant Dutch church in 1683. She died Sep-
tember 20, 1704, and he died May 6, 1712.
(III) Samuel Pruyn, son of Francis
and Alida Pruyn, was born December 2,
1677, and buried January 27, 1752. In
1703 he was one of those "who furnished
labor and materials for the Dominie's
house." In 1720 his name appears on the
list of freeholders in the old third ward
of Albany. He lived, between 1703 and
1727, at the northeast corner of Maiden
lane and James street, Albany. He mar-
ried, January 15, 1704, Maria Bogart, born
June 14, 1681, the daughter of Jacob Cor-
nelise and Jeanette (Quackenbush) Bo-
gart.
(IV) Francis Samuelse Pruyn, son of
Samuel and Maria (Bogart) Pruyn, was
born in Albany, and baptized there on
March 15, 1705. He died August 27, 1767.
He was a prominent man in Albany and
held the following public offices: Fire-
master, 1731-32; assistant alderman, 1745-
46 ; alderman from the second ward, Al-
bany, 1761-62. He was twice married.
On the death of his first wife, Anna, he
married Alida van Yveren, daughter of
Warner and Anna (Pruyn) van Yveren.
(V) Casparus Pruyn, son of Francis
Samuelse and Alida (van Yveren) Pruyn,
was born May 10, 1734. His name ap-
pears as lieutenant on the roll of the First
Albany County Regiment; in 1785 he was
an assessor of the second ward of the
city. He was for some years an elder of
the Reformed Dutch church. The follow-
ing memorandum, refers to his aid of the
United States government : "This is to
certify that Casparus Pruyn has due to
him from the United States the sum of
Seventy-one pounds four shillings specie,
for work done for the use of the Indians,
by the request of the Commissioners of
Indian affairs, in 1779-1780. P. Van
Rennsselaer." He married, December 19,
1762, Catherine Groesbeck, born May 8,
1737, died February 17, 1788, the daugh-
ter of David and Maria (Van Poel)
Groesbeck. Casparus Pruyn died Octo-
ber 7, 1817.
(VI) Francis Casparus Prupn, son of
Casparus and Catherine (Groesbeck)
Pruyn, was born at Albany, New York,
July 19, 1769, and died June 14, 1847. He
married, August 30, 1791, Cornelia Dun-
bar, born January n, 1770, and died July
12, 1844, the daughter of Levinus and
Margaret (Hansen) Dunbar.
(VII) Casparus Francis Pruyn, son of
Francis Casparus and Cornelia (Dunbar)
Pruyn, was born May 26, 1792. At the
age of thirteen years he entered the office
of the Van Rensselaer estate, of which
vast property his uncle, Robert Dunbar,
was the agent. In 1835 Mr. Dunbar re-
276
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
signed and Casparus F. Pruyn was ap-
pointed the agent for the manor, which
position he filled very satisfactorily.
Upon the death of General Stephen Van
Rensselaer, the Patroon, on January 26,
1839, the estate was divided, the portion
on the east shore of the Hudson river
going to William Paterson Van Rensse-
laer. To be in the vicinity of this prop-
erty, of which he still continued to be the
agent, he removed to the other side of the
river to Bath, Rensselaer county. He
held the position of agent for "East
Manor," as it became known, until he
resigned in 1844. He died two years later,
February 11, 1846. Mr. Pruyn married,
April 19, 1814, Ann Hewson, born Janu-
ary 27, 1794, died February 12, 1841, the
daughter of Robert and Elizabeth (Fryer)
Hewson, of Albany.
(VIII) Mary Hewson Pruyn, daugh-
ter of Casparus Francis and Ann (Hew-
son) Pruyn, was born April 13, 1834, in
Albany, New York. She married, Janu-
ary 15, 1857, Montgomery Rochester, son
of Thomas Hart and Phoebe Elizabeth
(Cuming) Rochester.
TRACY, Benjamin Franklin,
Lawyer, Soldier, Statesman, Diplomat.
To few men has it been given to bear
the master part in so many lines of en-
deavor for the advancement of the race as
fell to the lot of General Benjamin F.
Tracy, and few were able at the age of
eighty-five years, as was he, to continue
in active participation in the affairs of
life. Cradled in Central New York, he
was reared under conditions calculated
to bring out the best that was in him.
From a multitude of worthy ancestors he
inherited those qualities of courage, forti-
tude and adherence to principle which
have made the New Englander and his
descendants the leaders in directing the
affairs of a mighty nation. It is interest-
ing to give a few moment's attention to
the character of the men who preceded
him in a long line of strong and efficient
ancestors.
The name of Tracy was taken by a
Norman family from Traci-Boccage, in
the Arrondisement of Caen, France, called
in the documents of the eleventh century,
Traceium. At the time of the Conquest,
members of this family went to England
and were subsequently Lords of Barn-
staple, in Devonshire, where several par-
ishes bear the word Tracy as a portion of
their name. Beginning with Ecgbert,
first Saxon King of England, who reigned
from 800 to 839, the history of this family
has been brought down to the twenty-
seventh generation, represented in this
country by Stephen Tracy, the Pilgrim
ancestor, who came to Plymouth, Massa-
chusetts, in the ship "Ann," in 1623. He
was the father of John Tracy, born at
Plymouth, 1633, died at Windham, Con-
necticut, 1718. His wife Mary was a
daughter of Governor Thomas Prince, of
the Plymouth Colony. Their son, John
Tracy, was born about 1663, in Duxbury,
Massachusetts, and was the father of
John Tracy, a resident of Providence,
Rhode Island. John (4) Tracy, son of
John of Providence, lived in Scituate,
Rhode Island, and was the father of
Thomas Tracy, the pioneer of Western
New York. He lived for some time in
North Adams, Massachusetts, and trav-
eled thence with his wife and infant son
to the headwaters of the Susquehanna
River, in Otsego county, New York,
where he built a raft, and on it conveyed
his family down the stream in the year
1790. He landed at the mouth of what
has since been known as Tracy creek, in
the present Broome county, New York,
then a part of Tioga county. He was the
father of two sons, of whom the junior,
277
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
Benjamin Tracy, born 1795, in Tioga
county, resided at Owego, where he was
a highly respected citizen, and died Janu-
ary 31, 1882, in his eighty-eighth year.
He was a soldier of the War of 1812, and
was an industrious pioneer in clearing the
forests along the Susquehanna, and in the
cultivation of crops. He had four sons,
of whom the third is the subject of this
biography.
General Benjamin Franklin Tracy was
born April 26, 1830, at Owego, and began
attendance at the district school at the
early age of five years, and continued
through both summer and winter terms
until the age of thirteen years, after which
his summers were occupied by such farm
labor as he was competent to perform.
At the age of sixteen years his last win-
ter term of the district school was com-
pleted, and during the following winter
he taught a school in the suburb of
Owego, with success. Because of his own
youth, he was advised against under-
taking this work, since the school was one
of the largest and most unruly in the
town. For his efficient service in this
school he received an emolument of six-
teen dollars per month, with board. His
father was long a justice of the peace,
and the attention of the son was early
attracted to legal matters through trials
conducted before his father, and he re-
solved to take up the law as a profession.
As a means of preparation, he joined a
debating club at the age of fifteen years,
and soon attracted attention therein by
his power and skill in public addresses.
At the age of nineteen years he began the
study of law with a firm in Owego, and
was admitted to the bar in May, 185 1. In
the meantime he had conducted several
trials in justice's courts, had gained
thereby some practical experience, and
clients came to him rapidly after his ad-
mission as an attorney.
His active mind grasped readily many
of the subjects attracting public interest
at this time, and at a very early age he be-
gan to take part in the political move-
ments of his section. When only twenty-
three years old he was nominated by the
Whig party as candidate for district at-
torney for Tioga county, and was the
only candidate on the ticket who did not
suffer defeat. It is probable that he was
the youngest district attorney ever elected
in this State. He was again a candidate
in 1856, and defeated his personal friend,
Gilbert C. Walker, the Democratic candi-
date, with whom young Tracy soon after
formed a law partnership. It is worthy
of note in connection with the beginning
of practice by General Tracy, that in his
first eight years he never lost a jury trial
in a court of record in which he was at-
torney. His civil practice in this time
exceeded that of any other attorney in
the county, and it is a matter of record
that the court was forced to adjourn at
one time because of his illness, as there
was no case on the calendar in which he
was not engaged on one side or the other.
His active practice was temporarily aban-
doned soon after this, and his attention
was given to aiding in suppression of the
rebellion of 1861-65 in his native country.
At various intervals since, he resumed
practice, and actively engaged in the pro-
fession of law, and occupied a most com-
manding position at the bar of the State
down to the time of his death.
The formation of the Free Soil party
occurred when he was still a young man,
and he was a representative of this party
in various conventions, and was among
the leaders in the formation of the Repub-
lican party, which began simultaneously
in New York, and in other States, east
and west. His home county was one of
the first in the State to take action in this
direction, and Mr. Tracy was a delegate
278
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
in the joint convention of Republicans
and Whigs held at Auburn in September,
1855. His guiding hand was most potent
in directing the destinies of the nation at
this and subsequent periods, and to him
has been given credit for great achieve-
ments in the establishment of safe gov-
ernment, based upon sound principles.
He was a member of the committee at the
Auburn convention in 1855, to prepare
the address issued to the people of the
State, and in the same year was made
chairman of the Republican committee of
Tioga county. In 1861, immediately after
his party came into governmental control
of the nation, he began his legislative
career as a member of the State Assenv
bly, elected by a combination of Repub-
licans and War Democrats. Here he be-
came the acknowledged leader of his
party, an unprecedented accomplishment
in a member's first term. With patriotic
ardor he engaged not only in civil affairs,
but also in the military movements which
ultimately resulted in the downfall of
secession. Between July 21 and August
21, 1861, young Tracy raised and equipped
two regiments, as chairman of a district
embracing the counties of Broome, Tioga
and Tompkins.
He proceeded to Washington as colo-
nel of the One Hundred and Ninth Regi-
ment New York Volunteers, and was
assigned to the protection of the railroad
leading into Washington. In the spring
of 1864 he was attached to the Army of
the Potomac, and especially distinguished
himself in the battle of the Wilderness,
during which he suffered a complete
breakdown from over-exertion. For his
gallantry in this action he received the
Congressional medal of honor. Return-
ing to the north for a short time after
recuperation, he was commissioned colo-
nel of the One Hundred and Twenty-
seventh Regiment United States Volun-
teers. Before the close of that year he
was appointed commander of the military
post at Elmira, New York, which included
a prison camp where ten thousand pris-
oners had been held by the United States,
and also a volunteer camp for the organ-
ization of Union soldiers to be sent to the
front. Colonel Tracy was brevetted brig-
adier-general, March 13, 1865, "for gal-
lant and meritorious services during the
war," and three months later he tendered
his resignation, receiving an honorable
discharge from the army.
At this time he removed to Brooklyn,
New York, and became associated with
the well known law firm of Benedict,
Burr & Benedict, of New York City, con-
tinuing at the same time the management
of his farm at Owego. He at once took a
leading position at the metropolitan bar.
In October, 1866, he was appointed
United States Attorney for the Eastern
District of New York, and one of his first
duties in this capacity was the prosecu-
tion of the whiskey distillers who were
defrauding the government by the eva-
sion of payment of revenue. Here he
achieved one of his greatest triumphs in
civil affairs. His efforts were greatly
handicapped by the absence of adequate
laws for the protection of the govern-
ment's interests, and he immediately set
about the framing of statutes which
should prevent a continuance of the
frauds he was then engaged in prosecut-
ing. He secured for the first time a law
covering criminal conspiracy, and fol-
lowed this up by a virtual remoulding of
the internal revenue law, shutting off this
imposition upon the nation. Under the
beneficent operation of the law drafted by
United States District Attorney Tracy,
the revenue tax was increased in one year
from, thirteen millions to sixty millions of
dollars. In 1873 he resigned this office in
order to devote himself to private prac-
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
tice, and acting as counsel in much of the
most important litigation of his time. He
was a member of the counsel which de-
fended Henry Ward Beecher in the
famous case brought against him by
Theodore Tilton, in association with Wil-
liam M. Evarts and other leaders of the
bar. His opening of the case for the de-
fense before the jury has been character-
ized as most complete and masterly, al-
though it was undertaken unexpectedly
through the indisposition of the counsel
to whom this duty had been assigned.
One of the most remarkable triumphs
achieved by General Tracy was the con-
viction of John Y. McKane, a political
boss at Gravesend, N 
