USA > New York > Encyclopedia of biography of New York, a life record of men and women whose sterling character and energy and industry have made them preeminent in their own and many other states, Vol. 2 > Part 28
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Ten Cent Store, died at his home, No. 1045 Delaware avenue, Buffalo, New York, May 16, 1915. He was descended from William Knox, who, according to the history of Blandford, Massachusetts, came to that town from Belfast, Ireland, in 1737. 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
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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 11, 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 '80'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
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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
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 I, 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, and 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.
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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, 1868-84. 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
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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
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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 to 1847 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
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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
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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 1838, died in Rochester, New York, Feb- ruary I, 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.
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