USA > New York > Comley's history of the state of New York, embracing a general review of her agricultural and mineralogical resources, her manufacturing industries, trade and commerce, together with a description of her great metropolis, from its settlement by the Dutch, in 1609 > Part 27
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friends know him as such when they are in trouble. He is loved, honored, and re- spected by a large circle of admiring friends and acquaintances. In 1864, he was Presi- dential Elector for A. Lincoln and A. John- son.
He was joined in wedlock to Abigail Hendrickson Roberts, of New York City, April 20th, 1834, and she lived to brighten the comforts of his domestic happiness until January 27th, 1866.
Schoellkopf, J. F., was born on the 15th of November, 1819, in a small town of 5000 inhabitants, named Kirchheim U Teck, in the Kingdom of Würtemberg, Ger- many. His father was a tanner, and his grandfather also. After going to school till his fourteenth year, he was apprenticed to his father's trade, and after staying with him five years, he went to a mercantile house, and from there went to the United States aged twenty-two years, arriving here December roth, 18.41.
After working for a living for about two years in currier shops and tanneries, he came to Buffalo in the spring of 1844, and started, with a capital of $Soo-which he received from his father-a small leather store on Mohawk street.
The same fall he bought a small tannery at White's Corner for $1200, payable in six years. In the spring of 1846, he started a sheep-skin tannery, and after successfully running those concerns, he started, in the spring of IS48, with some friends, a tannery in Milwaukee, Wis, under the name of G. Pfister & Co., where he remained partner until 1857. In 1851, he started a tannery in Chicago under the firm of C. T. Grey & Co., and went out of this last- named firin in 1856. Both were successful
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concerns, and at present rank with the largest in the West. In 1853, he bought a tannery at North Evans, N. Y., which he ran for about twenty years. In 1856, he built the North Buffalo Mills, and in 1857 bought a small tannery in this city, which in time he enlarged, so that to-day it is one of the largest in Buffalo. In 186.4, he purchased a site for a tannery in Sheffield township, Warren County, Pa., and built a tannery, which is to-day in full operation. The " Frontier Mills" he bought in 1871. Be- sides aforesaid establishments, he interested himself largely in the building up of the Buffalo, N. Y., and P. R.R .. also in the Citizens' Gas Works of this city, of which he is at present president, besides being a director of the Buffalo, N. Y., and Philadel- phia R.R., "Citizens' Gas Co.," " German Insurance Co.," and of the German Bank, and senior partner in the firm of J. F. Schoellkopf & Son, proprietors of the " City Tannery" at Buffalo, the " Sheffield Tan- nery" at Sheffield, Pa., also of the firm Schoellkopf & Mathews, running the "Frontier," and "North Buffalo Flour Mills," located at Black Rock, and has always been identified with various enter- prises for the good of the city of Buffalo.
The fortune Mr. Schoellkopf has amassed has been made legitimately in the business enterprises he has organized and developed. His motto in life was to excel in all he un- dertook, and his success in life shows how well he has lived up to the maxim which he set before him as a guide.
Seabury, James M .- The subject of this sketch was born at Hempstead, Queens County, N. Y., January 29th, 1810, and was the son of Samuel and Catharine
Seabury. His great grandfather was the well- known Bishop Seabury, the first bishop of the Episcopal Church in this country.
James M. Seabury received only a com- mon school education, part of which he re- ceived in his native town, and part in Brooklyn, to which place he moved with his parents when nine years old. When fourteen he left school and moved to New York City, where he learned the trade of a baker, his term expiring when twenty-one. In 1821, he commenced the business for himself in Brooklyn, which he was engaged in for a period of twenty years, the result proving very successful during his business career. He was appointed a member of the Board of Education, and in 1853 was elected by the Democratic party to fill the important office of County Treasurer. In this capacity he served nine years. being elected three successive terms. During his first term as Treasurer, finding the position required his undivided attention to properly fulfil the duties imposed upon him, he dis- posed of his business, and though the posi- tion of Treasurer was offered him for the fourth term, he respectfully declined the nomination. How well he filled the posi- tion of Treasurer is best acknowledged from the fact that Kings County never had a better one. In 1866, or about two years after retiring from the County Treasurership, he was elected president of the Long Island Savings Bank, which position he has held ever since. Mr. James M. Seabury has been successful in all of his business pur- suits, from a rare combination of industry and judgment, and has gained the confidence and respect of the community by at all times exhibiting a rectitude of character which has never wavered from the proper direc- tion.
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Selden, G. V., was born at Williamstown, Oswego County, N. Y., April 9th, 1816, to which place his father, Asa B. Selden, emi- grated from Connecticut when fifteen years old. The subject of this sketch remained in his native town until 1851, receiving a very limited course of study. His first business experience was work on a farm, though since eighteen years of age he has been en- gaged in the lumber business.
In 1851, he moved to Rome, where he opened a grocery store in connection with his former business; this he continued for eight years. Since that time he has de- voted himself wholly to the lumbering and manufacturing business. In 1867, it be- came necessary to enlarge the business and include manufacturing, and, to consummate his object, he bought out the firm of H. S. Armstrong & Co. Continuing to grow, the business soon demanded larger premises, and during 1868-9 he built his present factory and mill, a fine three-story brick building fitted up with all the latest and best-improved machinery for facilitating and economizing labor, and the successful production of doors, sashes, blinds, mould- ings, etc.
Besides his large business cares, Mr. Sel- den is a director in the Fort Stanwix Na- tional Bank, also a stockholder in the Mer- chants' Iron Mill, and the Rome and Clin- ton Railroad, and has probably done more to build up Rome than any other single in- dividual. He is well known to the citizens of Rome, and, in connection with his acknowl- edged business qualifications, he is highly esteemed for his moral attributes. He is now in the full vigor of manhood, and has long since accomplished what most men lay out as the work of a protracted life -- wealth, honor, and the good-will of all men.
Seymour, Horatio, LL.D., nephew of Senator Horatio, was born at Pompey, On - ondaga Co., N. Y., May 31st, 1810 ; removed in childhood to Utica; studied at Oxford and Geneva Academies, N. Y., and at Part- ridge's Military Institute, Middletown, Ct .; was admitted to the bar at Utica, 1832, but soon withdrew from its prac- tice to devote himself to the manage- ment of the large estate he inherited by the death of his father; was a member of the staff of Governor Marcy, 1833 -- 39; was elected to the State Assembly as a Demo- crat, and three times re-elected, serving as speaker in 1845; was chosen Mayor of Utica, 1842 ; was an unsuccessful candidate for Governor, 1850 ; was Governor, 1853- 55 ; vetoed a prohibitory liquor law March, 1$54; was defeated in the election of that year by the prohibitionist candidate, My- ron H. Clark ; was again elected Governor as a War Democrat, 1862; aided in sup- pressing the riots in New York City, and forwarded efficient co-operation to the na- tional Government in the war of the Union ; was defeated in the election of 1864, in which year he presided over the national Democratic Convention at Chicago, as he did again at New York, 1868, when he was himself nominated for the Presidency much against his will, and received eighty electoral votes. He resides at Deerfield, near Utica, and is president (1876) of the National Dairyman's Association and of the American Prison Association.
Shapley, M. W., was born June, 1817, at Cazenovia, Madison County, N. Y. He lived there until eighteen years of age, re- ceiving the advantages of a good schooling. At the age of sixteen he taught school, and when eighteen he moved to Skaneateles,
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N. Y., and learnt his trade with Hannum & Delano, with whom he stayed three years. He then returned to his home. where, with his father's aid, he immediately started in business, together with a partner (Mr. Backus). This continued about two years, when Mr. Backus retired, and Mr. Shapley's brother John became his part- ner. This continued nine years, during which time they were principally building machinery for woolen mills. In about 1850, the firm was dissolved, Mr. M. W Shapley taking the foundry as his share, and his brother the machine shop. Six months after that time, the subject of this sketch sold out his entire business, and moved to Binghamton, where he has since resided. At first he took charge of the Empire Works, where he continued about eight months. After that he took charge of the Binghamton foundry and machine shop; here he remained fifteen months, when he commenced business for himself, under the firm style of M. W. Shapley, doing gen- eral machine work until 1855, when he asso- ciated himself with A. Dunk, the firm style changing to M. W. Shapley & Co. This con- tinued until 1858, when Mr. P. A. Hopkins was admitted, and the firm became Shapley, Dunk & Co. It did not change again un- til 1863, when Mr. Dunk retired, and the firm changed to Shapley, Hopkins & Rob- bins. In 1867, Mr. Robbins retired, and the firm became Shapley & Hopkins. In 1870, Mr. J. S. Wells bought Mr. Hopkins' interest; the firm changed to Shapley & Wells, which still continues. They are now chiefly engaged in the manufacture of the Shapley Engine, which they sell all over the United States. They have a warehouse in Philadelphia, where they dispose of their goods. The works at Binghamton cover
three quarters of an acre of ground, fitted up with all the modern improvements for expe- diting and facilitating work and labor. When busy they employ over one hundred hands.
Mr. S. was married to Miss Jane E. Ber- throng, of Cazenovia, in January, 1843, by whom he has had three children, two of whom survive, both in the works with their father.
He has given the whole of his time to the details of his business, never mixing with politics, and through a long and suc- cessful business career never had to suc- cumb to financial embarrassment. The fortune Mr. Shapely has amassed has been made legitimately in the business he has followed, and he has never strayed into other channels. His motto in life was to excel in all he undertook, and his success shows how well he has lived up to the old maxim set before him as a guide.
Sherman, Augustus, one of the re- markable men of his day, was born in the town of Arlington, Vt., on the 11th day of February, iSor. He was the fifth child, and third son, of Ware Darwin and Anna D. (CanGeld) Sherman, the latter of Arlington, Vt., the former of Con- way, Mass. When he was five years of age, his parents removed, first to Kings- bury, N. Y., and the following spring to the then frontier settlement of Fairfield (now Luzerne), on the Hudson River. Mr. Sherman's opportunities for acquir- ing an education were exceedingly lim- ited, and only derived from an occasional winter attendance upon such schools as the wilderness districts then afforded. The father followed both lumbering and farming. To lighten his labor by sharing his toils, and to have his father relieved from debts
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which had accumulated, was to his young son Augustus sufficient inducement for hard and exhaustive labor, for his father was to him the great and the good man. In December, 1823, the family sought a new home in Pennsylvania, where the father had purchased a farm, making the journey to Buffalo in a covered wagon, young Sher- man driving the horses. Having seen thein thus far on their way, he returned to Lu- zerne, and now, with a right good will, went to work for himself. His first venture was the purchase of one fourth of a saw mill, whose running gear consisted of two saws. He also had the running of a small grist mill near by, besides drawing and rafting his lumber to market. At this laborious double task he laid the foundation for the princely fortune he has since acquired. On the 4th of March, 1824, he was married to Miss Nancy Weed, of Luzerne. Of this mar- riage there were nine children, six of whom are now living. Having disposed of his in- terest in Luzerne, he removed to the Feeder Dam, where he resumed the manufacture of lumber, with increased facilities, and on a larger scale. Two years later, he took up his residence in Glen's Falls, which has since been his home, and about this time made has first investment in timbered lands by the purchase of half of the sixteenth town- ship. His wife died June 12th, 1848. He was married again September ist, 1856, to Charlotte HI., daughter of the Rev. S. L. Conkling, of Martinsburg, Lewis County, N. Y. Of this marriage four children have been born, though none now survive. Stead- ily but surely his business increased, until it assumed vast proportions. He is foun- der and senior member of the old estab- lished firm of L. Thomson & Co., lum- ber dealers in Albany, N. Y., and still
manages his extensive lumber business with its numerous branches and establishments. (Mr. Sherman is the oldest lumberman now doing business on the Hudson River, put the first loom in that river for catching logs. and was one of the first to send a boat out of the Feeder.) When Mr. Sherman moved to Glen's Falls, it had no bank, and credit is due him for first agitating the subject, when, in 1853, he was instrumental in orga- nizing the "Commercial," now First Na- tional Bank of Glens Falls, himself one of the directors, and now the only original director remaining in the board. In IS55, he was made vice-president of the bank, and president in 1858, still holding the office. His skilful and successful management of this bank is well known and appreciated, as in all his business affairs procceding carefully and cautiously at first with his newly-adopted measures, whilst legal pro- ceedings against delinquent customers were rarely resorted to. The stock of the bank soon rose from 70 to 100 per cent, and for a number of years has paid eight per cent serai-annually. He is the senior partner of the private banking house of Sherman & Johnson, proprietor of the Sherman Lime Works of Glen's Falls, president of the Glen's Falls Paper Mill Co., vice-president of the Glen's Falls Insurance Co., and was made first president of the Bald Mountain Lime Co. (which position he resigned), besides owning moneyed interests in other industries which have developed Glen's Falls into an important business centre. Never venturing into the uncertain depths of speculation, but conducting his business into legitimate channels, he did not commence grasping at once for immediate returns, but allowed it to fully develop and secure a foundation strong enough to guarantee permanent re-
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sults. Neither does he owe his fortune to having been born under the auspicious star, for he started at the bottom round, with- out wealth or influence, but, possessed of rare good judgment and strong common sense, he has by degrees crept forward through a checkered life until he has at- tained a fortune greater than that of any other person in the county, and owes his- present position to his indomitable perse- verance. Though he is seventy-six years old, he is still vigorous and active, giving his personal attention to his business affairs, while the purity of his character and the frankness of his disposition have endeared him to a large circle of friends.
Sherman, George .- The subject of this sketch was born October, 22d, ISor, in Rutland County, Vt. When one and a half years old, he, in company with his parents, moved to Moriah, Essex County, N. Y. During his early life he received a limited education, and when only seven years old commenced to work on a farm, in the woods, which he continued until thirty-six years of age, when he became the possessor of a farm himself, which he sold : four years later. About 1846, he, in com- pany with John .1. Lee and E. Hall, bought two iron ore beds of David E. Sanford, and commenced digging ore and disposing of it to the furnaces. They then exhumed about 1000 tons annually. He has ever since been in this business, and has increased their production to so great an extent that the firms he has been a member of have pro- duced as much as 150,000 tons of iron ore in one year. In 1873, the Cedar Point Fur- nace, one of the finest and best extant, was built, and Mr. Sherman is a large stock- holder and director, besides being interested
in other furnaces, and for many years he has been a director in the First National Bank of Port Henry. In 1822, Mr. Sher- man was married to Miss Theda Tarbell, of Chester, Vt. The issue of this mar- riage was two sons, one of whom (Kinsly Sherman) died January 28th, 1873. The other, G. R., is now president of the First National Bank of Port Henry, president of the Lake Champlain and Moriah R. R., and director in the Furnace Co. Mr. George Sherman lived at Moriah until two years ago, when he virtually retired from active -busi- ness life, and, together with his wife, moved to Saratoga Springs. In 1870, he endowed the "Sherman Academy" at Moriah with S30,000, besides fitting the building for school purposes, and giving them new ad- ditions of land. Thus he has liberally dis- pensed his charities while living, and thou- sands of young hearts who are and will be educated by his bounty, breathe his name with gratitude.
Sherman, Kinsly, was born at Moriah, Essex County, N. Y., June 19th, 1825, and was the eldest son of George Sherman, also of Essex County. In early life, the subject of this sketch received a common-school educa- tion, and at the age of sixteen was clerk in a general store in his native town, where he continued until 1844. At this time, his father became identified with the iron industry, and Kinsly Sherman took a similar position with him, that of managing the general store at- tached to the iron ore mines. Here he re- mained until 1852, when, seized with the California excitement, he left for San Fran- cisco to seek his fortune in the gold-fields, only remaining about seven months, when he returned to his native place.
In 1853, he went into Wisconsin and pur-
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chased considerable farming lands, and in the fall of the same year, after spending some lit- tle time at home, he moved to Cleveland, Ohio, and became resident agent of With- erbee, Sherman & Co. Soon after, he com- menced operating for himself, buying his ores mostly from Witherbee, Sherman & Co. In this business he remained until his death, which occurred January 28th, 1873. He was joined in wedlock during 1862 to Miss Sarah J. Holcomb, who died less than a month before him.
In early life, the subject of this sketch de- veloped remarkable talent for business pur- suits, which was followed by untiring energy and undoubted ability, which enabled him in subsequent years to plan and execute large and important business operations. He was a man of the most delicate tenderness of feeling, and, in his intercourse with others, was gentle and unassuming. His death caused a deep gloom to be spread among all who knew him.
Shumway, Horatio, was born at Bel- chertown, Mass., in 1788. Descended from Huguenot and Puritan ancestry, he inherited the distinguishing virtues of both peoples. Belonging to a family of twelve children, he was noted, even in childhood, for truthful- ness and reliability, qualities which strength- ened with his youth, and became prominent characteristics of his manhood.
ITis thoughtful disposition inclined him to a student life, and his own persevering efforts enabled him to prepare himself for admission to college. After his graduation at Middle- bury, he entered the office of the Hon. Luther Bradish, in New York City. Becoming, at Mr. Bradish's urgent request, a member of his family, he was ever regarded by him with true interest and affection.
In 1817, he commenced the practice of his profession in Watertown, and was soon appointed District-Attorney for Jefferson County, the duties of which office he fulfilled with fidelity and honor.
In the year 1824, the attention of Mr. Shumway was drawn to Buffalo, and with many others he established himself in that city when it was just commencing that devel- opment of its natural advantages which re- sulted in the creation of a great city during his lifetime. At that time, Buffalo was but a village of twenty-five hundred inhabitants, and though the ranks of its legal profession were adequately filled in number, by his studious habits, integrity of action, and con- tinuous industry, Mr. Shumway soon acquired a reputation and practice which placed him among the more eminent of the Buffalo bar -- even then taking a decided rank for ability with older and larger towns of Western New York.
In the year 1847, he was elected one of the members of the State Legislature, in which he bore a distinguished part in introducing and advocating the rights of married women in the protection and possession of their prop- erty.
One of the most important acts of Mr. Shum- way's professional life was the settlement of the estate of the late Jabez Goodell, a well-known citizen of Buffalo, who bequeathed to various benevolent and religious societies property estimated at $200,000. This was mostly in real estate in the city and county, and some- what embarrassed by debts; but so skilfully was it managed that the sum of $400,000, or nearly double the amount bequeathed, was realized and paid to the various beneficiaries of Mr. Goodell. Owing to his careful atten- tion to details, his watchful interest and scrupulous honor, the American Bible Society
on hoando
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and the Board of Foreign Missions, as resid- uary legatees, were placed in possession of a sum much larger than they could have pos- sibly anticipated. These societies marked their grateful appreciation of his services by presenting him the highest testimonials in their power to bestow. It is worth while to mention here, that not a cent of the assets did he appropriate to his own use during the settlement of the estate, voluntarily accepting at its close a small sum, totally inadequate to the arduous labor of years.
Through the influence of Mr. Shumway, the large donation of land was secured from Mr. Goodell, so essential to the establishment of the female academy, whose name, " Good- ell Hall," perpetuates his memory. He was deeply interested in the prosperity of that in- stitution, was the first President of the Board of Trustees, and its life-long friend.
In 1861, Mr. Shumway retired from the active duties of his profession, with the con- sciousness that every duty had been dis- charged faithfully and well.
Ten years later, at the age of eighty-three, this long career of usefulness and honor closed, amid the sincere regrets of his fellow- citizens, leaving no enemy to reproach an act of his life. In his own family, Mr. Shumway was the true gentleman; all his actions indi- cated kindness and refinement. In him the profession lost an able member, society an example of integrity and honor, the world a noble living example of a proper life.
(See portrait tage 365.)
Smith, Elijah F., was born in Groton, New London County, Connecticut, Decem- ber 13th, 1792. He left his home and re- moved to Petersburg, Virginia, where he was engaged in mercantile pursuits until the year 1825, when he was married and removed to
Rochester, N. Y. Here he was engaged in the wholesale grocery business until about 1860, doing a very heavy and successful busi- ness. He has been trustee of the Rochester Savings Bank since 1840, and president of said bank the greater part of the time. Mr. Smith was twice elected mayor of the city of Rochester, in the years 1839 and 1840.
Mr. Smith was not bom to affluence, but began from a humble commencement, and owes alone to his efforts and industry his present position and fortune. What he has done can be done again if the same method be used for its accomplishment. Any young man who will copy his perseverance, econo- my, and industry, and like him be sedulous in preserving his reputation and credit, must at- tain affluence and reach a reputable position. Who properly sows in spring, must reap a harvest ; and he who in youth commences life with the practice of temperance, industry, and economy, must gather bountifully of the fruit they naturally produce.
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