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 36
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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
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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 1911 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 Realty Com-
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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, Germany, 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 18II. 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, Hiram 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 1811, 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
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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. Platt, 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
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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, 1913, 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 1016; 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
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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
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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-
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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
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